SALT LAKE CITY -- Finding a way to impact games has never been a question for Jimmy Butler. Air Max 270 React Safari . Still, he is unlocking a whole new level with his skills this season.Guarding Butler is quickly becoming a defensive nightmare for a host of NBA teams. The sixth-year guard is averaging 28.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.4 steals over the past five games and has Chicago (7-4) climbing the Eastern Conference ladder. The Bulls are riding a three-game winning streak heading into a Thursday night game against the Utah Jazz.Butler is a major driving force behind the surge. His fingerprints can be found everywhere on both ends of the court as he has taken visible ownership of the team early in the season.Its going to have to be me to lead the charge when it comes to coming out with the right energy -- making sure were doing everything were supposed to do at both ends, Butler said Tuesday before the Bulls 113-88 win over the Trail Blazers in Portland.Chicago needs Butlers efforts, as point guard Rajon Rondo is recovering from a sprained ankle. Rondo did not play against the Blazers and did not practice Wednesday. His status remains day-to-day heading into Salt Lake City.Jerian Grant has fared well so far in relief of Rondo, scoring a season-high 18 points and recording a career-high five steals against Portland. On defense, he limited high-scoring Blazers guard Damian Lillard to just 19 points on 7-of-22 shooting.Utah (7-5) is still dealing with injuries to a couple of starters, forcing the Jazz to dig deep into their bench early in the season.Derrick Favors is not expected to play against Chicago after playing only 22 minutes in the Jazzs 102-96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. Favors did not play in the fourth quarter after experiencing soreness in his left knee. He missed the season opener and played under a minutes restriction for several games while dealing with problems in the same knee.George Hill and Rodney Hood also did not play against the Grizzlies. Hill remains day-to-day as he continues to recover from a sprained right thumb. Hood is expected to return to action after missing a game because of an undisclosed illness.One thing that keeping the Jazz going even while they battle the injury bug is solid defense. Utah is holding opponents to 93.8 points per game while allowing teams to shoot just 43.9 percent from the field. The Jazz are forcing 12.8 turnovers per contest and blocking 5.3 shots per game.Anybody that sets foot on that court can guard, Utah coach Quin Snyder said. If thats our focus, things may not be as pretty as we want offensively, but thats at least something we can pretty much make a constant and (we can) have stability by defending.Utah and Chicago split the season series a year ago. The Jazz beat the Bulls 105-96 in overtime in Salt Lake City on Feb. 1 behind 27 points from Gordon Hayward. Air Max 270 React Mid Century . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Air Max 270 Pink White . Howard Ganz, an MLB lawyer, said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos that Rodriguezs claims do not come "remotely close" to what is needed to overturn an arbitration decision in federal court. http://www.cheapairmax270react.com/air-max-270-2021-fake/air-max-270-lilac.html . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. SALT LAKE CITY -- Joe Johnson had options of where to chase a ring in the twilight of his career and the seven-time All-Star chose to sign a two-year deal with a Utah Jazz team that hasnt reached the playoffs since 2012.Johnson, 35, bought into the widespread belief that the Jazz will improve from young up-and-comers to a competitive playoff team.It was the talent level and knowing from talking to (coach) Quin (Snyder), they wanted some veteran guys around these young guys and help lead the way, Johnson said. That was probably the biggest part.Thats the story on the Jazz entering the 2016-17 season: a team no longer on the cusp, but one with postseason expectations.Snyder and general manager Dennis Lindsey have tried to temper those expectations, but the offseason moves to add veterans spoke volumes. The Jazz traded for George Hill and Boris Diaw and signed Johnson -- ending the slow rebuild. The league, however, wont see what this roster looks like at full strength for some time.Gordon Hayward is out for an unknown amount of time with a broken finger on his non-shooting hand. Derrick Favors played just one preseason game due to a knee issue. Key reserve Alec Burks still hasnt returned from arthroscopic surgery to his knee and ankle in June.So the Jazz didnt get to fully integrate the new veterans with the established players during the preseason.I feel like weve got a lot done in spite of (injuries), Snyder said. (Diaw, Hill and Johnson) have probably played more preseason minutes than I intended. ... It has given them a chance to get acclimated. Their roles, particularly Joes, will probably change and evolve when Gordon comes back. Outside of that, theres challenges. You just dont know. Certain players, certain lineups. ... I dont think we were able to build quite the connectivity that wed like at this point. But I felt like this was a team that was going to take a while to develop, too. Hopefully it doesnt set us back too much.The Jazz begin the season on the road against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday. Eight of their first 11 games are on the road.Things to watch as tthe Jazz prepare to tip off the season:STIFLING TOWER: The 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert has already established himself as one of the best defensive centers in the game, averaging 2. Air Max 270 Bright Violet. 27 blocks over the last two seasons, but hes shown off a little more offense this preseason. He seemed to catch and finish better than in the past and averaged 14.8 points in six games. The most notable improvement has been Goberts free throw shooting. He shot 56.9 percent last year and 74.5 percent this preseason.RETURN OF EXUM: Dante Exum is back for regular season games for the first time since tearing his ACL in the summer of 2015. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft is fully healthy and still an upper echelon defender on the perimeter with his 6-foot-6 frame. He looks to become more active on the offensive end with a better floater in the lane and improved 3-point shooting. The point guard showed the ability to log minutes at shooting guard next to Hill during the preseason.GROWTH AREAS: The Jazz hope the additions and another year of growth will affect three areas in particular. The Jazz were No. 28 in the league with a scoring average of 97.7 points per game. That must improve. Johnson, Hill and Diaw already improve the depth. The team also struggled in close games, finishing 14-28 in games that were within five points with five minutes or less left.IMPRESSION TIME: Not making the playoffs could not only be disappointing, but a detriment to the future. Hayward has a player-option on his contract after this season and is expected to use it to become a free agent. There will be a large market for his services, so the Jazz need to prove theyre an organization that can compete for championships in the near future. Gobert will become a restricted free agent in July if he doesnt sign an extension by Oct. 31. Favors is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2017-18 season.---Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KareemCopeland ' ' '