Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine could miss extended time with ankle injury
Although you’d figure that this would be obvious at this point, the importance of star shooting guard Zach LaVine playing up to his potential for the Chicago Bulls is paramount to the team finding success in the win column. That fact was discovered with the Bulls’ new-look roster in the last two games since the trade deadline concluded, as they were convincingly beaten by both the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors in road meetings since March 27.
First-year head coach Billy Donovan saw LaVine played on an injured ankle for the last few days. And more specifically, LaVine reportedly “rolled and reaggravated his sprained ankle” in the Bulls’ double-digit loss to the Warriors at the Chase Center on March 29.
LaVine said he feels like he’s “back to square one” and that he will “communicate with training staff” on how to proceed next after re-injuring his ankle early this week in a road loss to the Warriors. And he capped off his feelings for this injury situation by saying “it just sucks”.
Can you really blame him for feeling that way?
Zach LaVine said he rolled and reaggravated his sprained ankle tonight vs. Warriors.
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) March 30, 2021
On potentially taking rest day(s): "It's a decision I'm going to have to make coming up." Said he feels he's back to square one. Will communicate with training staff.
"It just sucks."
What would the Chicago Bulls do without Zach LaVine?
The Bulls have one full day of rest before their next meeting during this Western Conference road trip. Next up for LaVine and the Bulls is a meeting with veteran star point guard Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns on the night of March 31. That might not give LaVine enough time to recover if this even slightly a severe ankle sprain.
This is the type of nagging injury that could hinder LaVine down the stretch if he’s not careful. If this is something that really could heal if he takes one or two games off in the next week or so, then it might be worth it over the long haul.
LaVine clearly wasn’t feeling like himself in the last two games. In the losses to the Warriors and Spurs, LaVine combined for just 30 points on 10-of-31 shooting from the field and 2-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, along with seven rebounds, five assists, and six turnovers.
Really since the Bulls March 21 win over the Detroit Pistons, LaVine was not the same. Four of his eight lowest game scores of the season to date came in this five-game span in the last 10 days.
Next. 3 young Bulls players struggling to find their way. dark
Following their loss to the Warriors on March 29, the Bulls now own a record of 19-26, and they’re rapidly sliding out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. If LaVine is forced to miss more time due to this ankle injury, things won’t get any easier for the Bulls in the near future.