Bulls’ Boozer expects to be back soon
Carlos Boozer suggested he could be back on the court by the end of the week. The Bulls power forward missed his first game of the season Saturday with a sore right knee and is unlikely to play Tuesday against Phoenix.
“Yeah, day to day. I don’t think it will be a long-term thing,” Boozer said Monday at the Berto Center. “Hopefully by the end of the week I’ll be back out there. If not tomorrow, Friday (at Milwaukee).
“I don’t want it to be one of those lingering things. We’re doing great right now, trying to make a move, move up in the East a little bit, and I don’t want it to be something that lingers on for the next three or four weeks.”
Luol Deng was given the day off from practice but is feeling fine, according to coach Tom Thibodeau. Deng missed nine games last month with a sore left Achilles.
Always warm in the gym:It was historically cold outside Monday but business as usual for the Bulls inside the Berto Center.#147;It#146;s cold out there, but I don#146;t think about it. It#146;s nice and warm in here,#148; coach Tom Thibodeau said.Houston native Jimmy Butler provided a list of cold-weather clothing he planned to wear for the trip home. Juneau, Alaska, native Carlos Boozer had a cold story that trumped anything going on in the Midwest.#147;My last game when I was in high school was in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was minus-55 (degrees),#148; Boozer said. #147;We flew to Fairbanks; we had a game against Lathrop High School the next day. It was minus-55 when we woke up that day.#147;We were all bundled up. We have the face-mask thing going, covering our hands with crazy gloves. It was cold. But we won the game.#148;So many questions, though. Did any fans head out in the cold to watch the game? Was there enough parking for all the snowmobiles and dogsleds?#147;It was packed,#148; Boozer. #147;We#146;re used to the snow (in Alaska), so for us it was no big deal. And no, we had cars.#148;Butler ready to sing:When the topic of music came up Monday, Jimmy Butler vowed to sing the national anthem someday before a game at the United Center. Either that or play the guitar while Joakim Noah sings.Carlos Boozer was later asked if Butler has the best voice in the Bulls#146; locker room.#147;Not everybody sings, first of all,#148; Boozer said. #147;We#146;re guys. We don#146;t go around singing. But at the same time, Jimmy is one of those guys who goes around singing, so I#146;d give it to him, hands down.#147;I don#146;t know if he#146;s that good (to sing before a home game). I#146;ll have to pay more attention next time I hear him singing.#148;A player singing the national anthem happens once in awhile. Brooklyn#146;s Jerry Stackhouse did the honors before Game 1 of last year#146;s playoffs against the Bulls and was amazing.