TORONTO -- Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will have surgery Thursday to repair a torn ulna collateral ligament in his right thumb, the team announced. Noah, who was in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors despite the injury, is likely to miss 8-10 weeks. "I feel like it's just tough not playing at a high level," Noah said following Wednesday's game. "It's hurting and I'm playing and I've got to take anti-inflammatories every time I play. I can't practice. I have to get right. I have to get right and get back to this team. I'm going to miss playing with the guys. It's frustrating because I feel like we have a chance to be really, really good. And I've never been in a situation where we're winning like this. But I know in the long run, this is what needs to be done. "I've had the same exact surgery before on my left hand. It sucks. It's not what I want, but you can't ... I've [played] through it for a couple weeks now and I got to get back to playing at a high level." "As the days proceeded from the original injury, it became clear for all that surgery was best for Joakim," Bulls general manager Gar Forman said in the statement. "We have always valued Joakim's toughness and willingness to put the team above himself, but in this case his health took precedence." "Joakim's injury presentation was unusual in that he was able to function at a high level with the injury," Bulls physician Brian Cole said in a statement. "More often, athletes are unable to play at all due to pain and instability of the thumb." link
Disappointing but not a crushing blow with us entering the easiest part of our schedule through to end of January/ The 2nd road trip out West is shorter and easier then the Allstar break approaching. Looks like Jo makes it back after AllStar break for the run home and to get primed for the playoffs. Anyway... the upside is Omer Asik is going to get some good minutes that will allow him to progress , and , this is also an opportunity to get Kurt Thomas to spin his wheels around so that he's game primed coming into the 2nd half of the season
It seems like -- just following basketball and I have no stats on this -- there usually seems to be one starter on your team who is injured. You just hope everyone is healthy when the playoffs roll around. I guess it was Noah's turn. He hadn't been able to hit open jumpers or catch the ball the last ten games or so, so it was time for the surgery. I hope Noah's absence from the lineup will prove to be an opportunity for Osik to make strides. I don't think Deng will make it an entire season if Thibodeau keeps playing him at power forward. I would be willing to forgo wins, if it means Deng is healthy and active in May.
Boozer's going to play C with Taj at PF. Asik will play more minutes, no doubt. Deng at 4 and some small ball isn't a bad thing, but depends on the opponent and the match ups. Last year we lost Noah and went 0-10 while he was out. We had Miller, but he's no Boozer. I don't expect 0-10 this year.
I don't usually give much credence to the wire chatter, but I would love to see the team ink Rasheed Wallace. He's such a smart player, especially in big game settings. I'd like to see them take flier on him.
I am fine with having Sheed. I dont expect him to be a star, but he can spread the defense even more with with 3 pt shooting. Could be valuable in the playoffs That being said, I think the Bulls are still looking for a SG. We have three big men on the bench not playing. They can if need be. We NEED a good scoring guard more.
