NEWSLETTER
Revenge just got a little bit harder.
Thaddeus Young will be missing tonight’s game against the Warriors due to personal reasons.
Jim Boylen: “Thad Young will not be with us tonight for personal reasons. He will meet us in Miami.” pic.twitter.com/YbWKo1bLqy
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 6, 2019
The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise considering Young is one of the most reliable players across the league. He played and started in 81 games the past two seasons, and has appeared in all 22 games this season (averaging 21.2 minutes). Fortunately, this doesn’t appear to be a long absence with Young expected to meet the team in Miami on Sunday, but with the Golden State Warriors in town tonight, he could’ve been a helpful piece.
Young scored 6 points with 6 rebounds and 2 steals in the Bulls’ first meeting with the Warriors. Those stats aren’t anything special, but the Bulls were outrebounded 54-42 that game, so missing a big man isn’t the news you want to hear.
Wait! Does this mean we’ll be seeing some four-guard lineups tonight!? Please, don’t blow another game to the Warriors! Ahh!
*takes a deep breath*
Anyway, more bad news.
The Bulls announced earlier this week that Otto Porter would receive his third MRI on his left foot, and we now have the results (or lack thereof).
Otto Porter Jr. underwent a repeat MRI of his left foot on Wednesday which revealed continued bone edema. Following a brief period of immobilization, Porter will resume a program of non-impact activities and targeted therapy. Porter will be reassessed in two weeks.
More:
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 6, 2019
According to the Bulls, the MRI revealed continued bone edema, meaning the veteran forward will have to stay on his current course of rehabilitation and be reassessed in two weeks.
If we jump 14 days into the future (December 20th), that’ll mean Porter will have missed a total of 21 games so far this season. Keep in mind, it’s unlikely he would be cleared to return one game after getting re-evaluated when the Bulls play the Pistons on the 21st, so that number will likely increase.
We got wind of this bad news on Wednesday when Porter spoke with the media. Porter said he had no idea about whether he’d be back on the court “sooner or later,” but sounded semi-optimistic the impending MRI would demonstrate at least how far he’s come along. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear his injury has progressed at all.
The Bulls press release states Porter will visit Dr. Bob Anderson, the same surgeon who repaired Denzel Valentine’s ankle, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound too promising.
The Bulls schedule only gets harder as the weeks pass by, and with Porter arguably being this team’s best two-way player, he’s a very important piece to have on the floor.
Ugh, with the Bulls in position to string together three-straight wins, this news certainly dampens the mood.
