ESPN: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> LOS ANGELES -- Luol Deng, the Chicago Bulls forward, expects to be sidelined for at least one week after aggravating a back injury during his team's 92-73 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday evening.</p> The forward was listed as doubtful to start the Bulls' game at Staples Center, having woken with a painful lower back on Friday morning, the day after Chicago saw its record slump to 1-6 in a loss to the Phoenix Suns.</p> After undergoing intense treatment, Deng started against the Clippers, scoring eight points while playing all 12 minutes of the first quarter and helping the Bulls race into a 29-16 lead.</p> However, the 22-year-old Deng re-injured his back while scoring on a second quarter hook shot and played only eight minutes in the second half, without adding to his score.</p> Deng, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds in 27 minutes, was ruled out of the second half of the Bulls' L.A. double header -- Sunday's meeting with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers -- and does not expect to play against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.</p> "I'm not going to play tomorrow or Tuesday," said Deng, who will be examined by team doctors and possibly undergo an MRI scan on his back Sunday. "I would think I'm out until Saturday [against the New York Knicks].</p> "I'm so relieved and happy that we played so well and got the win but I'm disappointed to have this problem, I've never had any problem with my back in the past.</p> "Everything felt good in the first quarter but then I went up and twisted when I scored that basket and felt it 'go' straight away. I can hardly walk right now. I've never had back pain like it."</div></p> Mike McGraw: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <p class="News">LOS ANGELES _ Bulls forward Luol Deng came down with a sore back after Thursday's loss in Phoenix and as a result, did not participate in the ensuing practice or shootaround.</p> <p class="News">By tip-off time on Saturday night, Deng felt better and scored 10 points in 27 minutes during the Bulls' victory over the Clippers. But he aggravated the injury in the second half and gave a pessimistic prognosis after the contest.</p> <p class="News">"I don't think I'm going to play (tonight against the Lakers)," he said. "I'm not even sure about Tuesday (at Denver). I'm probably going to be smart about it and wait for it to go away, because this is different. I thought it was one of those injuries you can just play through. But I couldn't really run. I couldn't bend down. All my shots were short.</p> </div></p>
At least Gordon only sits out during the preseason. I think Deng is just trying to avoid the Kobe matchup. Sure didn't look like a guy with a back injury last night or against Phoenix. I think this is some shady politiking on his part.</p>
"However, the 22-year-old Deng re-injured his back while scoring on a second quarter hook shot and played only eight minutes in the second half, without adding to his score."</p> Wow, just because someone is injured he's faking it? It not like he has to guard Kobe.</p>
Skiles on the injury</p> <span class="postbody"><span id="intelliTxt" name="intelliTxt"> "Thats kinda a new thing in the league, ya know, I think I'm not going to play today(mocking the new philosophy)." </span></span></p>
I actually think this will help the Bulls congeal. I'm not sure why I feel this way. Anyone else?</p>
Not so sure. Bulls ARE beating the Lakers 23-16 right now, but Nocioni has10 of those points. Nice to see him with the hot hand, and the Bulls giving him the green light, but I don't think the Bulls want to be a team where Noc scores near half their points </p> In other words, they clearly would miss Deng.</p> My thought at seeing the starting lineup was "take out Griffin and add Gasol and that could have been our team, and this our starting lineup."</p> </p>
