Bulls with some key harm considerations as play-in recreation in opposition to Hawks nears

It might appear to be a nasty time of 12 months to be undermanned.

Then once more, it is just the Hawks which can be coming to city on Wednesday. The identical Atlanta group that closed out the common season losers of six straight.

So, if Bulls coach Billy Donovan has to go with out Ayo Dosunmu (quad contusion) and Andre Drummond (left ankle) but once more, there’s nonetheless loads of ammo left within the field for the coach contemplating the opponent.

“Ayo is having points with the working and the beginning and the sprinting and the stopping,” Donovan instructed reporters on Sunday. “There’s been some discomfort there for him. He has to recover from that hurdle. I feel there’s hope he can clear these hurdles.”

Particularly as a result of Dosunmu may have a number of days to do exactly that.

The previous Illinois standout initially suffered the harm in Orlando final week and missed the ultimate 4 video games of the common season. No biggie? Not likely. Dosunmu not solely offers Donovan backcourt choices, however he offers Hawks guard Trae Younger matches.

Within the two video games in opposition to Atlanta earlier this season wherein Younger was wholesome and taking part in, Younger went a mixed 5-of-23 from three and 9-of-31 from the sphere. Dosunmu wasn’t the one defender on him clearly, however noticed heavy minutes guarding Younger.

“My size is ready to have an effect on him,” Dosunmu stated after their final assembly in February. “However he’s an excellent participant, and he brings the competitiveness out. I really like competing in opposition to him as a result of each play you’ve received to be prepared.”

The opposite harm regarding Donovan is Drummond, who “nonetheless hasn’t been capable of do a lot with the ankle.”

Not solely is Drummond a key back-up, however like Dosunmu has been a Hawks killer this season, averaging 14.7 factors and 18 rebounds in three video games. That included a Dec. 26 showcase for Drummond wherein he began for an injured Nikola Vucevic and scored 24 factors with 25 rebounds.

“I don’t know the place he’ll be at and if he’ll have the ability to do something.” Donovan continued. “I feel there’s some hope that Ayo can take part in some practices earlier than Atlanta. However till he will get previous that time, I don’t know. I’d simply say this: No one has instructed me these guys are positively in or out for Atlanta. It’s a type of issues that’s up within the air.”
 

Speaking level?

It’s been fairly properly documented that all-time low for this Bulls season was after a humiliating 27-point loss in Boston again in late November that despatched Donovan’s crew to 5-14 on the 12 months.

With the group ending the 12 months 39-43 and with an opportunity to achieve the playoffs if they will get out of the play-in spherical, Donovan credited his group.

“I’d say at that time after that Boston recreation, I didn’t even know if we’d have an opportunity to play after (Sunday’s Knicks recreation),” Donovan stated. “So I feel it’s a tribute to what these guys did. However we additionally paid the value of these 14, 15 video games the place we didn’t play ok basketball which has put us within the state of affairs the place we have now to earn our approach into the playoffs.

“However I actually admire what these guys have executed due to what we’ve needed to endure and what we’ve needed to overcome. It’s not the place we actually need to be. However I’ll say this: It might’ve been rather a lot worse. And it speaks to the character of these guys within the locker room.”

Robust to swallow

For the reason that Bulls fired coach Tom Thibodeau, he has now posted a 14-6 file in opposition to them with the Timberwolves and Knicks.