Chicago ? Call Drew Gooden an optimist.

In one breath, the veteran big man out of Kansas talked excitedly about visiting a specialist Tuesday and getting “nothing but good news” about the abdominal and groin strains that have sidelined him for 11 straight games.

In the next, he confirmed he would be out through the All-Star break and that if the injury didn’t respond in the first few games afterward, season-ending surgery is a possibility.

“Keep my fingers crossed when I come back,” Gooden said. “They said if it’s a real sports hernia, I won’t be able to play longer than two or three games without it coming back.”

Gooden said he felt good after practicing so hard Monday that he even dived for a loose ball. He added that he passed all of the specialist’s physical exams.