Bulls hoping Caruso can start using broken wrist next week
The Bulls are hoping to inch a step closer to full health next week with some good news on Alex Caruso getting the use of his broken right wrist.
Caruso has been out since hitting the floor hard after a flagrant foul by Milwaukee's Grayson Allen on Jan. 21. Getting back in time for next Friday's rematch against the Bucks may not be realistic, but coach Billy Donovan thinks Caruso will be back in game shape quickly.
"He's really worked hard on his conditioning every day," Donovan said before Saturday's contest. "He really pushes himself to exhaustion. As good as somebody can be conditioned in the situation he's in, he'll be as well-conditioned as he can possibly can be going into it."
Caruso isn't really known for his shooting anyway, so maybe his path from full practice to game action could be brief.
"The biggest thing will be once he gets the ball in his hands, finding his rhythm and shooting again," Donovan said. "He hasn't been able to do any of that stuff. We're really hopeful early this upcoming week he can get back on the floor and start to do some of those things."
Dosunmu gets defensive:
Trae Young's 3-for-17 shooting night on Thursday certainly opened some eyes, and Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins joined the chorus praising Ayo Dosunmu's defense.
"I think really his calling card is on the defensive side of the floor," Jenkins said before facing the Bulls. "He's a guy that picks up 94 feet, he wreaks havoc, he puts a lot of pressure. He's guarding the opposition's best players and he's making an impact there. So I think he just comes in and he identifies where his strengths are, but you also see that his game's growing even more."
After guarding Young, the assignment for Dosunmu doesn't get much tougher than Memphis all-star Ja Morant.
"I think sometimes people view competition as a threat and sometimes people view competition as an opportunity to grow," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. "He views it that he's going to learn something that's going to make him better, so I think he leans into those situations.
"I think as a player, you can never grow unless you go through really intense, competitive situations or a significant amount of adversity."
The road awaits:
The Bulls will play 12 of their next 15 games on the road, beginning Monday in Miami. The United Center is hosting the Midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament, which is one reason for the lack of home games.
The Bulls will go out West one more time to face Sacramento, Utah and Phoenix. But after playing Memphis on Saturday, they have just one home game remaining against a Western Conference team, on Mar. 31 against the Clippers.