Noah's shoulder feeling better after painful injury
Joakim Noah gave reporters an update on his injured left shoulder Wednesday and the diagnosis hasn't changed. Noah was told he could be out from 2-4 weeks.
"Just going with the flow, one day at a time," he said at the Advocate Center. "So I feel better than I did yesterday, which is a good sign. Just trying to get back out there as soon as I can."
The injury occurred late in the third quarter of Monday's loss to Brooklyn when Noah slapped down on a shot attempt by Andrea Bargnani. Once his left hand hit the ball, Noah pulled away and jogged down the court with his left arm limp. After an MRI, the injury was ruled a sprain.
"Well my shoulder popped out and I felt it pop right back in. So I guess that's a good sign," he said. "But it's very painful. I didn't know what else to think to be honest with you. I was trying to figure out what was wrong. We got an X-ray right away. X-ray was negative, that was a good sign. MRI showed a slight tear, so just letting it heal and hopefully I can get back soon."
Noah said he's letting the shoulder calm down before moving into serious rehab. A four-week absence would have him back on the floor Jan. 18 after missing 13 games.
<h3 class="leadin">Noah films anti-gun PSA:</h3>
Joakim Noah was one of four NBA players to film anti-gun violence ads that will air during the NBA's Christmas Day games. Noah joins Steph Curry, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony.
The league released a 30-second spot featuring all four players and others who have lost loved ones to gun violence. The players also filmed longer individual spots. In his, Noah talks about his "Rock Your Drop" campaign and shows off the necklace that his mother, Cecelia Rodhe, designed.
"I think it's great the league decided to take a stance and be a part of it," Noah said. "But the truth is it's a PSA, it's going to take a lot more than a PSA to stop this gun violence issue. It's just important to do as much as we can to change it."
<h3 class="leadin">Bulls lineup a mystery:</h3>
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg doesn't plan to reveal his starting lineup for the Oklahoma City game until Friday. The Bulls started a tall front line of Nikola Mirotic, Taj Gibson and Pau Gasol against Brooklyn on Monday, but that's almost certain to change now that Joakim Noah is out with a shoulder injury.
"It is tough. Jo is definitely our emotional leader out there," Hoiberg said Wednesday. "He's a big reason for the success that second group has had offensively because of the movement he can generate.
"He's going to be on the bench cheering as much as anybody we have, keeping them going, keeping them positive. But he'll absolutely be missed. Bobby (Portis) got an opportunity the other night. He'll probably be extended a little bit more now with Joakim's absence. Niko, we'll probably slide him back a little to some of the four. Anytime something like this happens, it's an opportunity for someone else to step up."