With the recent news of point guard Rajon Rondo on the shelf for the series until further re-evaluation, Chicago Bulls star forward Jimmy Butler figures to get more run as a facilitator for the team throughout his absence.

“I've been doing it all year,” Butler said after shootaround Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson.

Butler had a very respectable 5.5 assists per game throughout his 37 minutes per game during the regular season — but most interestingly, he has racked up 10 or more assists eight different times this season, including a couple of triple-doubles.

Rondo's play has been a catalyst for this team to nab home court advantage this series and have a chance at the first 8-vs-1 upset since 2012.

His dynamic ability to find the open man and creativity on the floor will be sorely missed by a Bulls team that is looking forward to put an end of this series as soon as possible — thus giving their point guard time to get a re-evaluation and potentially join them later in the playoffs.

Perhaps the most critical aspect Chicago is missing with him on the shelf is the constant defense on 5-foot-9 dynamo Isaiah Thomas, who has kept up his numbers, but hasn't been as effective in the fourth quarter as he's been through the regular season.

SportsCenter/ESPN
SportsCenter/ESPN

“It's definitely a loss for all of us,” Butler told Johnson. “But damn. I mean, we wish we had him, but we don't. There's not too much more to say.”

The Bulls will need Dwyane Wade to step up and create a one-two punch with Butler in order to deal with a Boston Celtics team that will try to steal their home court advantage back, starting today in Game 3.