Bulls guard Josh Giddey (hamstring) has started his ramp-up period.
“This is going to be a big week for him,” coach Billy Donovan said.
Giddey has been out since straining his hamstring on Dec. 29 against the Wolves. The Bulls end the week with a home-and-home game against the Nets on Friday and Sunday. Because of the games, it doesn’t leave much practice time for Giddey. But he has been sprinting and cutting on the court.
Given he’s recovering from a soft-tissue injury, the Bulls are going to be cautious as they ease him back into basketball activities. The team will monitor Giddey for any soreness or tightness.
Donovan said the team won’t have a timetable for his return, but they’re hoping that if he clears the hurdles this week, he can return next week.
“Pretty soon after that, I would guess,” Donovan said. “I’m a little hesitant to say that will happen,because I don’t think they’ve really stretched him out to sit there and say.
“But the plan is, if everything goes well over the course of the week, he should be back relatively soon after that. That will be the biggest thing. I don’t know how it’s going to go, but he is clear to start.”
The Bulls desperately need Giddey to return to the lineup. They miss his playmaking ability and improved shot-making. The Bulls are 3-4 without Giddey and have the 20th-best offense in the NBA over that stretch (113.3).
Smith’s impact
Center Jalen Smith has been a big factor in his second season in Chicago. The team’s insistence on playing two bigs has allowed Smith’s versatility to shine.
Smith’s ability to stretch the floor opens up driving lanes for his teammates. He’s not a premier shot-blocker — entering play Wednesday, his 2.2 block percentage was in the 65th percentile —but he’s at least a deterrent at the rim and active on the glass. Entering Wednesday’s game, Smith had a +12.9 on-off differential, which is the highest on the team.
“The biggest thing with him giving us really rim protection is besides even the shot-making, I think he’s impacting the game on different levels,” Donovan said. “He didn’t really shoot the ball particularly well [Tuesday against Houston] from three, but he was around the basket.
“The one thing about Jalen is he’s not afraid to put his body in play. He’ll try to protect the rim as best he can. He does really go after [it] rebounding-wise. He does a lot of things that maybe people wouldn’t find glamorous, but he really competes. I [have] great respect for the way he physically competes, night in and night out, and I do think his shot blocking has helped us when he and [center Nikola Vucevic] are out there together.”
Injury update
Center Zach Collins (toe sprain) likely won’t return before the All-Star break. He had a consultation Wednesday, and Donovan said the plan is for him to remain in a boot for two more weeks before being reevaluated again. Collins and the team doctors are trying to figure out how to maintain his calf’s strength while he’s sidelined.
“He’s got to go through the two-week period,” Donovan said.
Forward Julian Phillips (wrist) missed Wednesday’s game
