Chicago Bulls: Health Should Be a Primary Concern Going Forward

The Chicago Bulls lost to the Miami Heat in a game that went down to the wire, 97-93.

Saying that the last minutes were chaotic would be an understatement considering they included bizarre occurrences like an inadvertent whistle and not-so-clutch moments from two of the game’s most productive fourth-quarter players.

If there’s one silver lining to take away from this loss, it would be the competitiveness a depleted Chicago team showed against a fully-manned Miami squad.

Injuries have been no stranger to Chicago for the past few seasons, and it seems like this season will be a continuation.

It’s something to be expected with the rapid succession of games and little time for rest in between.

Coaches have to be more mindful of player rotations as it relates to prospective opponents. A coach might want to stay as normal as possible against stronger adversaries while looking for opportunities to steal away minutes for their primary players against lesser foes.

Keeping in mind what the Bulls have suffered in seasons past along with the woes they have experienced during their current run, the long-term health of this team should be an increasing concern.

The Bulls primary backcourt players Derrick Rose, Richard Hamilton and CJ Watson have missed a total of 27 games so far this season.

Rose seems to have recovered enough to get back to playing his big-time brand of basketball; however, Watson and Hamilton seem to move from one nagging injury to another.

Watson has already missed nine games with a dislocated elbow and recently sat out against the Washington Wizards with a wrist injury.

Hamilton re-aggravated a groin and thigh injury against the Miami Heat this past Sunday and also missed the Wizards game.

Add to that the extended time to be missed by Luol Deng and the Bulls have found themselves in a pretty tough personnel spot.

Luckily for Chicago, the schedule leading up to the All-Star break is on their side.

With 12 games between now and the weekend festivities in Orlando, the Bulls have only two opponents with records above .500 in the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks.

The Boston Celtics are close to that mark and could very well be above it by the time Chicago faces them February 12.

That is not to say that Thibs should just sit players against these perceived lower-caliber teams, but there will be more opportunity to give his reserves some extended minutes.

It also goes without saying that this allows for Luol Deng to rest his injured wrist.

Chicago can’t afford to keep playing and sitting players in spurts over the next four months. This team showed against Miami that they need everyone at the ready to make a serious run for the title.

For a team that’s used to playing at full throttle night in and night out, it may be time to start pumping the brakes a little.