The Chicago Bulls took great risk to make the Play-In Tournament, sacrificing a chance to hasten their rebuild, develop young talent, and tank for a high draft pick (and the draft’s prize, Cooper Flagg).
The Bulls were rewarded with a home game at 6:30 p.m. CST Wednesday night at the United Center for the 9th versus 10th place contest against the Miami Heat. The winner will take on the loser of the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic game for the right to get smacked around by the Cleveland Cavaliers in first round of the playoffs.
Following Zach LaVine’s trade in February, Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas wanted to see what the team’s current core could do to make a run for the playoffs. Chicago went on a hot streak in March and April, but injuries threaten their chances in the Play-In Tournament.
The Chicago Bulls are unsure of Josh Giddey’s status for Wednesday
Per Jula Poe of the Chicago Tribune, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said the team is uncertain on the status of Josh Giddey against the Heat. He’s been dealing with tendenitis from his right forarm to his pinkie finger for his last six games, which has effected his three-point shooting.
The injury worsened last week.
“It’s a problem,” Donovan said. “He’s trying to manage it as best he can. I think that (medical staff) felt like, even for him, an extra day of rest would maybe help the healing process.”
Chicago has to hope they didn’t waste a shot at Flagg so Giddey could sit the bench on Wednesday.
Chicago rested White, Giddey, and Nikola Vucevic against the Cleveland Cavaliers last week for rest purposes. Their core has been effective against weaker competition but was blown out against the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this month.
Simply put, it’s hard for the front office to calculate if they should give Giddey and White $70 million per year, and it will be harder if Giddey cannot play this week. Not a great thing to be able to say after wasting a chance to tank in order to get out of a cycle of continual Play-In Tournament teams.
Lonzo Ball is set to miss the Play-In Tournament
Defense has been an issue for the Bulls all season. Chicago is expected to be without their key defender Lonzo Ball in the Play-In Tournament. The 27-year-old point guard last played on Feb. 28 against the Toronto Raptors as he deals with a wirst sprain.
The Bulls hope he can play in the playoffs if the team advances this week.
“If he can get through that week and we’re fortunate enough to play beyond the play-in, that would be the goal,” Donovan said. “Unless there’s something that happens significantly between now and Wednesday, my feeling is he probably would not be available (for Wednesday’s) game. I’m not ruling it out, but that’s kind of where we’re at right now.”
Tre Jones is out for the Play-In Tournament and isn’t expected to return in the playoffs due to a left midfoot sprain. The Bulls announced in March that Ayo Dosunmu is out for the season with a fractured shoulder.
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Chicago Bulls: ESPN projects clear winner for Heat Play-In Tournament game
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