Realising that the playoffs will be nothing but a distant memory if his facist plants get any worse, the Bulls have used the upcoming all star break as an opportunuity to give Joakim Noah some rest, officially shutting him down until after the All-Star break.
The Bulls have opted to rest Joakim Noah and the plantar fasciitis in his left foot at least through the All-Star break and Noah is scheduled to return to Chicago for treatment Thursday night.
Noah clearly has labored through the last two games and didn't participate in the Bulls' light practice at Georgia Tech Thursday.
In much the same way that Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon likes to give a star player a day off before a day off, the Bulls will use the extended break to get Noah some respite. It won't heal the injury, but it will assuage some of the damage for a while.
(More baseball references needed. Definitely.)
To cover for his absence, K.C. Johnson reports that the Bulls will sign Chris Richard from the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League to a ten day contract. Richard was a member of the Bulls during preseason and training camp. Remember him? He was the big one that couldn't score. Richard appeared in six preseason games with the Bulls, totalling 119 minutes, 21 points, 32 rebounds and 23 fouls. 17 of those points and 13 of those rebounds came in one game, in an outing versus the team that drafted him (Minnesota) that hinted at some kind of productivity from the big man, as he tipped the ball in all night and out-muscled weaker opposition. However, the other five games told the truth; Richard is a foul machine who can't score.
On the D-League season so far, Richard has appeared in 9 games, and averaged 31 minutes, 10.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks, 0.9 assists, 2.7 turnovers and 4.0 fouls per game. Those are not very good numbers in a league which features starting centres such as Bryson McKenzie, Michael Fey and John Edwards, and while being healthy again is good progress from a man who missed most of last season with a back injury, they are also raw numbers from a man who is now 25 and who has the same flaws as he did when he was 20.
If he plays, expect him to foul.
To be honest, I would have preferred they signed Dwayne Jones, who is averaging 17/15 in the D-League while having actual centre size. Yet the Bulls familarity with Richard (and he with they) seems to have played a part in the selection process, which is why the inferior player is joining the team. Not sure what good it will do for Richard to know a playbook that won't involve him getting any offensive touches or ever leaving the paint, but that is the plan anyway.
It should all be moot, however. Barring another injury, chronic foul trouble, or some kind of SARS outbreak, a combination of Brad Miller and Tyrus Thomas should suffice at centre until Noah's return, despite Thomas's less than ideal size for the position. There also remains the faint possibility that Jerome James might play, if he has been successful with his unfortunate achilles and apathy combination.
Nevertheless, it is a rare and special moment when you feel a twinge of regret at your team trading away Aaron Gray. Strange times.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: Brad Miller, chicago bulls, Chris Richard, Dwayne Jones, Injuries, jerome james, Joakim Noah, Signings, Transactions
Welcome back sham, how is everything been? Wow Richards couldnt avg. double digit rebounds in the NBDL? sad. Prepare to play small ball and prepare to see james Johnson get his 10 minutes a game back.
I for one am excited to see what JJ does with the minutes.
DNP tonight for him and Richards.
I like this move resting noah. i would have loved it if they did announced it sometime b4 monday night, then i wouldnt have to have no center for 2 fantasy games. Can VDN please play JJ at the 4, i just think hed be much better there. hed be open for the 3 more, hed out quick everyone. if we can play tyrus thomas at the 4 when he was a rookie, why not JJ.