CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler gingerly walked through the back hallways of the United Center, courtesy of a hard fall he took tumbling over Alex Caruso and meeting an unforgiving floor.
Shortly thereafter, Zach LaVine was showing Butler and Kyle Lowry the area where his left thumb was sprained weeks ago but has played through since.
Call it the scars of war in the Eastern Conference, usually made for April and May but apparently getting an early start in … November?
It’s too strong to say the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls are the two best teams in the revamped East, but the supposed road going through Brooklyn or even Milwaukee could have some unexpected detours, especially if some roster tinkering goes down as trade season should open up in December.