The Chicago Bulls continue to deal with injuries that are leaving important players on the bench more times than not. Coming off a big win over the Miami Heat, the Bulls are looking to keep momentum going but will be doing so without several key players. Both Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah remain game-time decisions for the Bulls while rookie Doug McDermott is out for the foreseeable future.
The Bulls are preparing to face the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night but might be without Noah once again. The center is a game-time decision as he continues to try and heal from an ankle injury that has caused him to miss three straight games. Pair that with his ongoing knee issues and Chicago has a problem. Noah is averaging 8.9 points and 9.6 rebounds, but continues to be on and off the court trying to get healthy.
"I mean if I could play, I could play," Noah said, via ESPNChicago.com. "But right now, my ankle is still bothering me. Yeah, I have to be smart. Yeah, it's lingering, it's lingering, but it's the life we chose. And doing all the rehab and getting all the information, hopefully it won't be too much longer."
The injuries to Noah have allowed Pau Gasol to shine in his first season with the Bulls. The power forward has found his place on the court while averaging 19.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48.8 percent. That is a drastic improvement from his last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The biggest improvement comes in his time on the court where he is averaging almost 36 minutes per game which has helped with the absence of certain players.
"A variety of factors, I guess," Gasol said. "The structure and complexity of the team. The complexion of the team. It's just a really nice fit for me, and something I evaluated before I made my decision. ... The system, the way we run things, our principles, how we want the ball to touch the paint and get to the post and then operate from there."
Nikola Mirotic is also taking advantage of his extended playing time in wake of Noah's injury. The rookie is coming off a game against the Portland Trail Blazers where he put up 15 points off the bench, leading a 19-2 run by Chicago. The versatile power forward is excelling in wake of injuries. In the 11 games Gasol, Noah or Gibson have sat out, Mirotic goes on to average 12.1 points and 7.8 rebounds. Those numbers will be amplified later in the season.
"Niko, he's only going to get better and better," coach Tom Thibodeau said, via CBSSports.com. "I loved the way he ran the floor (against the Blazers), made hustle plays. As he gets used to the league, it's going to be better for him, too."
