The Chicago Bulls Finally Catch A Break With The Latest Injury Updates
Following the worst injury reports of the season over the closure of Lonzo Ball for the year, the Chicago Bulls have caught their long-awaited break in that division. Heading into the All-Star break a week ago, Alex Caruso, Goran Dragic, DeMar DeRozan, Javonte Green and Derrick Jones Jr. were sidelined due to various injuries. As their 23-game streak begins, good news has finally emerged about the team’s season-long injury plague.
“God knows I don’t want to go home”
On a positive note, the Bulls will use three rotation players against the Nets tonight. Each missed the game before the break, and two also missed the competition before it. For the season, this trio missed a total of 29 games. Starting with the lone Bulls All-Star, DeMar DeRozan says his hip “feels a lot better” and he’ll be back at full capacity tonight.
“I should be fine now, I played on it for a while. It was very uncomfortable. I couldn’t get a lift on my shots. I couldn’t move certain directions. I couldn’t do many things. I didn’t really show it. But I felt it.” … “I didn’t feel any limitations in anything, in any movements. The lift on my shot felt great. I hit my first three shots in the All Star game that made me feel good.”
DeMar DeRozan via @KCJHoop on Twitter
A sigh of relief from Chicago fans who have endured a 1-5 record in DeRozan’s absence this season. Their top scorer and leading in minutes per game will be looking to turn around the six-game losing streak of the season the Bulls are in and have a real point guard to help in their newest signing, Patrick Beverley.
Alex Caruso and Derrick Jones Jr. are also expected to return from their respective ailments tonight and their defensive presence will be welcomed with open arms. Alex Caruso is one of the best full-backs in the league. With new backcourt member Beverley, the Bulls could field one of the NBA’s most suffocating defensive lines, with this duo working together. The return of Derrick Jones Jr. will allow Billy Donovan to take advantage of the “small ball” lineup he often cites as one of Chicago’s most efficient and effective groups.
Now for the bad news
Ball chronicles this season and its eventual closure for the year aside, Javonte Green may well be the Chicago Bulls’ most disappointing injury record. After missing 31 of a possible 59 games this season, Green has been a terrific source of energy and scored a superb goal with the bench when healthy, posting a career-best field goal and a three-point percentage. Its length and explosiveness also provide a defensive intensity similar to Beverley or Caruso.
The Bulls are currently two games away from the Eastern Conference playoffs. Unless they sneak into the play-in scenario and make a post-season run, early indications are that Green is likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. Green is an unrestricted free agent this summer, so there’s a good chance he played his last game in a Bulls uniform.
The journey begins tonight
“Each of these games we have to treat like a game 7“…”That must be our mentality. We have to stop talking. “We’ll be right there, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” But the reality is there are 23 games left. And we have to Treat every single game as if you’re going to win or go home.”
DeMar DeRozan via @KCJHoop on Twitter
Couldn’t have said it better; it’s all or nothing for the Chicago Bulls. The signing of Patrick Beverley, the recovery of DeRozan, Caruso and Jones Jr., and the week-long hiatus will hopefully be the perfect recipe for a miraculous 23-game hike straight into the postseason. According to Basketball Reference, the Bulls currently have a 15% chance of reaching the postseason and will look to buck analysis with every matchup.
Will a comeback for the ages begin tonight, or an all-for-not attack that misses a playoff spot?