Loul Deng Out, Kirk Hinrich Questionable For Chicago Bulls In Game 7
The Chicago Bulls will once again take the floor with limited fire power. The Bulls have battled injuries all season and they aren’t getting a break in the playoffs. Loul Deng has been ruled out of game 7 and Kirk Hinrich will be a game time decision.
Deng missed game six due to an illness and spent the weekend at a Chicago-area hospital. Deng underwent a spinal tap and said that this is “the weakest” he’s ever felt.
Deng wrote on Twitter: “As a result of the spinal tap I suffered the worst headache I’ve ever experienced and been the weakest I’ve ever felt. Yesterday I was unable to walk or even get out of bed. I made it to the UC and was sent home. (Friday) morning my symptoms worsened.”
Kirk Hinrich, who also missed game 6, will be a game time decision tonight due to a bruised calf. Coach Tom Thibodeau said that Hinrich will participate in warmups before making a decision tonight.
Thibodeau said: “He did some shooting. We’ll see tonight. I want to see him warm up tonight to see where he is.”
Hinrich gave a marathon effort during the Bulls triple overtime win to give the team a 3-1 edge in the playoff series. The point guard has missed both games since then and it has shown on the scoreboard. The series is now tied at three games a piece and Hinrich is hoping to give his team a chance tonight in Brooklyn.
Hinrich said: “Just get down there tonight and try to do a normal pregame routine and see how it goes … I’m going to do my best and evaluate it and my thinking on it is if there’s any way, a chance, I could help I’m going to go out there and give it a go.”
If Hinrich does sit out, Nate Robinson will be expected to take up point guard duties. There’s also the 1 in 1 billion shot that Derrick Rose suits up and make an appearance to fill the void left by Hinrich.
Do you think the Chicago Bulls have a chance tonight against the Brooklyn Nets? The Bulls may be a bit depleted at the moment but Coach Tom Thibodeau reiterated that the team will have enough to win.
Thibodeau on Hinrich: “He made good strides today. We’re hopeful [for Saturday], but there are no guarantees. If he’s not, we have enough.”
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 3, 2013
