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Joakim Noah out Monday?

by

Jan 24

We all take many things for granted.

Like walking, which has become oh so painful of late for, among others, Bulls center Joakim Noah.

Noah missed Saturday’s Bulls win in Houston with a worsening case of plantar fasciitis, and my guess is Noah doesn’t play Monday in San Antonio and perhaps for the remainder of this road trip.

This is just my observation, and I have not discussed it with anyone from the Bulls.

But when I asked Noah after Saturday’s game about playing Monday, he first looked quizzically and hesitated, and then said he was aiming at that. You can read anything you want from voice inflection and body language. But Noah isn’t the kind of guy to sit out because he’s sore. He had to be in severe discomfort and unable to play. I’d suggest if he’s like that he’s not about to be better for Monday’s game in San Antonio.

Noah had some treatment Sunday as the Bulls took the day off in San Antonio, and the Bulls are listing Noah as questionable, which doesn’t mean anything as he can decide right up to game time whether he’ll play or not.

But the two wins over the Suns and Rockets could be significant for Noah’s situation, I’d say.

If the Bulls were staring at an 0-7 trip, Noah might push himself to get through. But now at 2-2 and with few predicting more than two wins on the trip and with most of the teams around them in the playoff race not doing much, it makes some sense to give Noah some time off now. And that is the only real prescription for plantar fasciitis.

We’ve seen a number of high profile plantar fasciitis cases around the NBA this season. The Spurs’ Tony Parker has been slowed by it along with the Lakers’ Ron Artest. The Bulls Taj Gibson also has been fighting it.

It’s especially difficult for someone like Noah, whose game is to play the entire court and beat his man with speed and effort. Should he push through and potentially lose that edge or take some time off to rest for a post All Star stretch run?

You never know with such injuries as there is varying severity and pain can come and go. It isn’t an injury you treat with surgery.

But if you want to achieve some sort of feat you need the feet.

What do you think? Leave a comment below: