No Luol Deng for Bulls for Game 1 against the Heat, which again should have Marco Belinelli as a starter.
As of now, Bulls starting Robinson, Hinrich (but he's battling illness), Butler, Boozer, Noah. Belinelli, Noah will play limited minutes. Deng said he bruised his right hip in Wizards game, played through it and is sitting to get it right.
Noah and Belinelli improving according to Coach Thibs. Game time decision tonight
Thibodeau said he's "optimistic" about Noah, Belinelli playing vs. Pistons. Taj, Rip, DRose out.
Thibs says Taj is day to day. He will be reevaluated today. He won't play tonight. Jo and Marco are unlikely to play tonight.
Noah, Belinelli, Rose and Rip all out tonight.
Noah says he is not playing tonight. Belinelli says he is likely out as well. Nothing new with Rose. Thibs says his status is the same.
Noah and Belinelli are out tonight.
Chicago Sun-Times "Joakim Noah walked around the practice facility on Wednesday morning with a much less noticeable limp, but the plantar fasciitis in his right foot was troublesome enough to keep him out against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Shooting guard Marco Belinelli [abdominal strain], as well as Rip..." March 28
Noah, Belinelli out vs. Heat.
CSN Chicago "Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau didn’t reveal much about the state of his team’s walking wounded. “Let’s see: Kirk [Hinrich] is good, Jo[akim Noah's] feeling a little better, Marco [Belinelli's] a little better — that’s about it. Taj [Gibson] is good,” he said after Tuesday afternoon’s practice..." March 27
Chicago Tribune "Joakim Noah and Marco Belinelli participated in portions of Tuesday's practice at the Berto Center, and Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau called them game-time decisions for Wednesday's showdown against the Miami Heat. Noah has missed the last two games with a recurrence of plantar fasciitis in..." March 27
Noah, Belinelli did a little more in practice. Gametime decisions vs. Heat.
Chicago Sun-Times "There will be plenty of time for phone calls between agent and organization this offseason. Marco Belinelli has been around long enough to know how the business end of the NBA works. But if it’s up to the free agent-to-be, the phone calls will be few and the handshakes will come quickly." March 17
Chicago Sun-Times "It remains to be seen whether Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau can parlay an MVP-caliber player such as Derrick Rose into an NBA title, but it already has been established that he gets more than most out of supporting-cast members. It’s no coincidence that Nate Robinson — one of the oddest fits of any..." March 10
Chicago Tribune "Nobody said victories would be pretty anymore. Pretty first left the building when Derrick Rose lay in a crumpled heap April 28, his left ACL snapped. Throw in injuries to rotation regulars Kirk Hinrich, Richard Hamilton and Taj Gibson and the need for grittiness intensifies. Gordon..." March 09
Joakim Noah game-time decision tonight vs. Spurs. Hinrich out. Belinelli a go, Thibodeau said.