Rob Grabowski – USA Today Sports Images
The Chicago Bulls’ 2012-2013 NBA season resulted in a second round exit from the postseason, but the prevailing theme of their season was injuries. They were without Derrick Rose for the entire season as he recovered from a torn ACL suffered the previous year, but the rest of their roster was almost always banged up and dealing with some kind of pain.
With Rose returning this season and with the Bulls adding some depth to the roster this summer, though, the hope for the Bulls is that they will be healthier throughout the 2013-2014 season. However, the injury bug, even if it is minor, is already reaching to Chicago training camp.
On Thursday, center Joakim Noah and guard Kirk Hinrich both sat out of practice for the second straight day, per a report from the Chicago Tribune. There were no specifics about the two players’ injuries with the report only mentioning “minor soreness.” The report also added that coach Tom Thibodeau sat the two out as a precautionary measure as he wants to keep both players fully healthy.
If Thibs is giving us full disclosure in this case, he’s right for making sure that Hinrich and Noah are fully healthy. Noah, with his defense, rebounding and energy, is a big part of the Bulls’ plans this season and losing him would severely diminish any hopes they have of contending. Along the same lines, Hinrich is important as Rose’s primary backup this season. If Hinrich were to go down, that would move Marquis Teague into the backup point guard role which would work out poorly, to say the least.
Going forward into a 2013-2014 season where they have high hopes and high expectations, it’s a bit unsettling to already be hearing injury news about two key players. However, this could very well just be a precautionary thing, but it definitely is something to keep an eye on as training camp continues.
Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google and like his Facebook page.
Related:
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Chicago Bulls Still Playing It Safe With Derrick Rose, Despite Reports of Great Play
Chicago Bulls: Tom Thibodeau Has Derrick Rose’s Back
