It once again started grabbing at Otto Porter Jr. late in the game against Portland.
By the second half against New York on Monday, the grabs turned to painful squeezes.
Just like that the often-injured veteran forward was back on the shelf for the Bulls.
“It’s been something that’s been bothering and nagging with him,’’ coach Billy Donovan said on Wednesday. “He felt better going into the last game against New York. And I think toward the second half just wasn’t feeling great. So we’re going to try to just help him get corrected and feeling better.
“Obviously, I think he wants to play, but I think he knows he can’t play to the level he knows he needs to. Right now, we’re going to rest him and let him get some rehab, some treatment and then we’ll see what happens going into Orlando.’’
Considering how long Porter has been dealing with the back, it would be a surprise to see him even make the weekend trip.
It’s a back-to-back with the Magic, so the best case scenario would be having him available for just one game. At this point, why?
Yes, Porter has been a key addition to the veteran bench core, but the last thing Donovan wants to see is a minor injury become a major one. Considering Porter will be a free agent this offseason, he’s likely in that same boat.
Even if he is petitioning to play, Donovan carries around a strong enough presence to make sure to protect Porter from himself, but at the same time have an open dialogue with the forward on a day-to-day basis.
“I’m not going to tell a guy ‘Hey, listen we are going to sit you for a week because I think and that is the best thing the medical staff thinks.’ ‘’ Donovan said. “He’s got to be part of those conversations. He’s a grown man and has been in the league for a while and knows his body better than anybody else.
“He hasn’t shot the ball particularly well in the [last few games], but we are going to have to take some inventory on him and how he’s feeling before we go in and say, ‘You are going to sit for the next week or three games or whatever it may be.’ I do agree 100 percent he needs some time to get himself right physically. I don’t think there’s any question about that, but he’s also got to be part of that discussion in terms of actually when he feels he’s right.’’
Bench options
If Porter does miss the weekend in Orlando, his coach has options at that position.
Chandler Hutchison would be the logical option to continue getting bench minutes at the forward spot, but Donovan has shown that he’s willing to go small at times, which means extended playing time for Denzel Valentine or Garrett Temple.
Both are more suited to a backcourt spot, but both are also physical enough to play some forward.
Not a second thought
With the NBA and Players Association closing in on a one-day All-Star Game in Atlanta come Mar. 7, if Zach LaVine is asked to play in it he has absolutely zero concerns with his safety in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think the NBA knows what they’re doing,’’ LaVine said. “I think they’ll obviously make everything safe. I don’t think they would do the game if it wasn’t safe for the players or the fans, so I mean I’m always up for that.’’
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Bulls’ Otto Porter is back on the shelf with a reoccurring back injury - Chicago Sun-Times
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