Noah could be out for several weeks
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES — After a day off Sunday, the Bulls return to practice today to prepare for their game Tuesday against the Pacers in Indianapolis.
”We were a little short-handed, and some guys have had to play extra minutes,” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said of the last two games, a loss at Atlanta on Friday and a victory over the Miami Heat at the United Center on Saturday. Del Negro specifically cited Brad Miller, who logged 40 minutes, 13 seconds against the Hawks and 36:26 against the Heat while filling in for injured starter Joakim Noah.
”[Miller] will be in the ice tub,” Del Negro said. ”Everyone played hard [Saturday] and made plays when they had to in the fourth quarter.”
The Bulls were without forward Tyrus Thomas, who was suspended by the team for one game for unspecified ”conduct detrimental to the team,” and Noah, who’s shut down with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Noah was in the locker room after Saturday’s game and said he had blood from his arm injected into his ailing foot Friday morning — a procedure which could sideline the Bulls’ leading rebounder for several weeks. He was wearing a boot and limping but said he still hopes to return soon after the All-Star break.
”What they did was take some blood [from the shoulder] and just put it into your foot,” Noah said. ”Apparently, it’s supposed to make the healing a little bit faster. Right now, all I’ve got to do is just keep it in this boot. It just feels really numb right now, but they said it’s going to start hurting more [Sunday]. I just hope to recover as soon as possible.”
Del Negro said it’s ”really unfortunate” to be missing Noah.
However, ”we were able to make plays down the stretch [to] make up for the lack of rebounding,” he said.
The Bulls got a lift Saturday from 6-9 Chris Richard, who signed a 10-day contract Friday to help in Noah’s absence. He had two points, seven rebounds, two blocked shots and a presence inside in his debut against the Heat.
”I think it is easier coming off the bench because I can watch,” said Richard, who was with the Bulls during the preseason before playing with Tulsa in the developmental league. ”I had to refresh my memory, but that is all a part of being a professional.”
Del Negro stood by the decision to suspend Thomas.
”There’s a responsibility to do things right, I think, by handling the situation the right way, which I think we are,” Del Negro said. ”You have to be committed to what your role is on the team. You have to be committed to your teammates, your coaches, your organization.
”It is disappointing, but the one-game suspension was the right thing to do. We need to get Tyrus back in practice. It is unfortunate, but it is an internal matter, and no one player is better than the team.”
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