NBA
The Chicago Bulls get cleared to restart practice sessions
It's been a difficult time for the Bulls having seen practices suspended, games postponed and several players placed in the league's health an safety protocols, however, it seems they're taking a step in the right direction.
After a covid-19 scare the Bulls are back to work, the question is, however, will things stay that way?
The Chicago Bulls cleared after covid-19 issues
According to reports on Saturday, the Chicago Bulls were cleared by the NBA to return to practice. It means the team will now return to training and group activities for the first time in one week. As things stand, Chicago has not played since last Saturday night when they faced the Miami Heat. After it became clear that there was a team wide covid-19 outbreak with as many as 10 players forced into the league's health and safety protocols, the Bulls had no choice but to abandon their facilities and activities.
The NBA's reaction and the Bulls current situation
In response to the Bulls' covid-19 crisis the NBA took the decision to postpone two of the team's games this past week, however, with the recent development and subsequent clearance, the Bulls will now play host to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in Chicago. In addition to the end of their hiatus, it has also been reported that a handful of the Bulls' players have exited the league's health and safety protocols, meaning the Bulls will be able to count on some of the regulars.
Who can the Chicago Bulls count on?
It was on Friday in fact that the team announced that star DeMar DeRozan was out of the protocols along with Coby White and Javonte Green who also came to the end of their isolation periods. As per reports, the trio are now participating in individual workout sessions. Indeed, the Bulls have been quite adamant in expressing their desire to see their players be allowed to practice before playing any games, following the end of their 'time out.' Even more so those who were isolated due to the league's protocols.
During a zoom call with reporters, Bulls coach Billy Donovan explained what the team has been going through. "We're dealing with a conditioning factor, we're dealing with a rhythm and timing situation," Donovan said. Although the Bulls are starting to come together -literally and figuratively - they are still without seven players who continue to go through the protocols. Even worse is that one of those seven is Stanley Johnson, who signed a 10-day contract via hardship exception before being forced into protocols. As for the others who remain sidelined, there is still the case of Zach LaVine, Derrick Jones Jr., Matt Thomas, Ayo Dosunmu, Troy Brown Jr. and Alize Johnson.