Luol Deng, the Bulls' best scorer in the absence of Derrick Rose and primary defender of LeBron James has been ruled out for Game 1 of Chicago's second round series with the Miami Heat, according to reports.
"He had a spinal tap so he's been sick," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Still not feeling as well as he would like so he's gone back to the hospital to get tested more, more treatment. I spoke to him this morning. He's feeling a little better."
This season Deng averaged 16.5 points, six rebounds and three assists a night for the Bulls, and losing him will be a strain both on the scoreboard and defensively. "We know how good Miami is," Thibodeau said. "We're going to have to be at our best, or playing great basketball. They're a very deep team, extremely well-coached, very well-balanced. So we're going to have to be at our best, right from the start."
Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer dismissed talk that Chicago is too short-handed to topple Miami from the NBA throne. "We've been hearing that noise all year that we don't have enough, that we're missing this and we're missing that."
Kirk Hinrich, who has filled in for Rose most of the year is a game-time decision, while all eyes are on Rose, who continues to scrimmage five-on-five and look explosive while doing it. Rose has not ruled out a return to the court at some point in the postseason.
"Everybody has their own opinion," Rose said. "The key words that he said is, 'if I'm ready.' Right now, I'm not ready so I'm just trying to take my time and just really, really be smart. It's definitely hard but I know that this will be over with pretty soon. Who knows when it's going to stop but I can't just get down on myself."
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said his team is ready for either version of the Bulls, with or without the 2011 MVP point guard. "We have to prepare for the awareness that he could possibly come back," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Sunday. "That's all the thought we're giving it. If he does [return in the series], we'll try to be as aggressive as we normally are."
The game will tip off at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on TNT. Game 1 can be live streamed for free by clicking this link.
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