Bulls finally approach full strength as Dunn, Portis return
Playing at full-strength has been an elusive goal for the Bulls, but they finally got as close as they'll get this season.
Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis returned from knee sprains on Monday against Sacramento. They checked in separately in the latter portion of the first quarter.
"We've got the whole band back together and see what we can do from here on out," Dunn said at Monday's shootaround.
Dunn had played in just one game this season and had been out since Oct. 22. Portis played in the first four games before being injured on Oct. 24. The Bulls are still missing Denzel Valentine, out for the season after having ankle surgery. Otherwise, every player is available.
Dunn returned seven weeks to the day of when the injury occurred in a game at Dallas. He and Portis were originally given recovery estimates of four to six weeks.
"There were some up and downs," Dunn said. "They (the Bulls medical staff) has been pushing me. The last couple days, my knee didn't react as well, but then these last three days I think I did a good job of getting my body back and getting through the pain."
When his injury first happened, in the fourth quarter of a game against Charlotte, Portis feared it might be season-ending.
"No issues at all," he said Monday. "I did everything possible, checked every box that needed to be checked to come back and play."
Portis got on the board first, following in a Jabari Parker missed shot. About 30 seconds later, Dunn drove past Kosta Koufos for a runner and 3-point play. Both players scored 7 points in the first half, with Dunn collecting 3 assists and Portis 6 rebounds.
Boylen OK with union call:
Bulls players checked in with the NBA players association when there were concerns about a practice being scheduled for Sunday after a set of back-to-back games, according to Yahoo.com.
Asked about it, Bulls coach Jim Boylen gave his blessing.
"That's great. They have every right to do that," he said. "I'm not taking it personally. I'm not like, 'Oh, you can't call.' They can call. I know the rules. So yeah, no problem. But it doesn't deter from we're going to work and practice and the guys that want to work are going to work."
Boylen was also asked if he's concerned the publicity he's gotten for Sunday's event would dissuade free agents from joining the Bulls in the future.
"No, I don't think it's a deterrent, because the free agent we would want is a guy that wants to work after a 56-point loss; a guy that wants to work after a coach takes over and he's in his eighth day," Boylen said. "That's the kind of free agent we want. I'm not fearful of it at all."
So did Boylen say he's expecting another 56-point loss in the future? Maybe that's reading too much into the quote.
Stevens supports Hoiberg:
When the Bulls lost to Boston in Game 6 of the 2017 playoffs and fans at the United Center chanted, "Fire Hoiberg," Celtics coach Brad Stevens was caught on TV mouthing, "Shut up," as he stood on the sideline.
So it was a little ironic that five days after the Bulls fired coach Fred Hoiberg, Stevens' Celtics curb-stomped the Bulls by 56 points. Hoiberg and Stevens have been friendly since both were college coaches.
"Yeah, I've got a great deal of respect for Fred," Stevens said after the game. "The way he treats people is first-class. He's a great guy. If he continues to coach and my son could ever play for a guy like Fred Hoiberg, I'd be thrilled.
"At the end of the day, as coaches we all have expiration dates on us and we just know that going in. How you treat people and everything else is of utmost important and Fred sets the bar for that."