Joakim Noah will try to play Game 2; Derrick Rose ruled out
BY JOE COWLEY jcowley@suntimes.com April 22, 2013 1:22PM
Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah, left, and Carlos Boozer watch the end of the game against the Brooklyn Nets from the bench during the second half of Game 1 in the first round of the NBA basketball playoffs at the Barclays Center, Saturday, April 20, 2013, in New York. The Nets defeated the Bulls 106-89. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Updated: April 22, 2013 8:00PM
NEW YORK — Joakim Noah said he has tried everything to get the plantar fasciitis in his right foot calmed for tonight’s Game 2 of the playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets. Acupuncture, ice, stretching, heat, you name it.
Noah yelling at an assistant coach just before the shootaround on Monday afternoon was just more evidence of the All-Star center’s frustration.
But the plan is for Noah to again try to play, with the hope that he can be more effective than he was in Game 1.
Noah started Saturday, but played just more than 13 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing five rebounds.
Asked how much of a factor he can be tonight, Noah said, “We’ll see.’’
Coach Tom Thibodeau said team doctors and trainers would meet with Noah before and after his pregame workout, see where he’s at and then pass along how many minutes they feel he can play.
Either way, Thibodeau is looking for a better effort from his team, especially on the defensive end, and with or without Noah.
“It’s everything,’’ Thibodeau said of the importance of his team improving defensively. “The points in the paint were an issue early. It’s finishing your defense, you have to do it all. I believe they had six threes, that’s too many, but more concerned about getting back, getting set, and protecting the rim and the paint first.’’
Thibodeau said he could change up the rotation tonight, but wouldn’t offer any details, and did rule Derrick Rose out.
There was good news with Kirk Hinrich, with the point guard recovered from a thigh bruise that forced him out of Game 1 late in the third quarter.
“We just have to do everything better, harder, more urgency,’’ Hinrich said. “They’re a tough guard and they’ve got a lot of good players, but we have to execute everything we do much harder.’’
Or they go home down 2-0.
“We’re a team with great character,’’ Noah said. “Every time we hit adversity, we’ve responded pretty well. Tonight is probably the biggest test of the year. So it’s exciting.’’
