It’s not easy to replace almost two offensive rebounds a game.
That doesn’t sound like a lot, but with margins so small between the NBA’s elite offensive rebounding teams and the middle of the class, the Bulls are feeling the absence of veteran forward Torrey Craig, who missed his 13th game Friday night with sprained plantar fasciia in his right foot.
There was some good news, though. Coach Billy Donovan said Craig, after visiting with doctors this week, was cleared to start some light activity.
“They want him to ramp up activity as pain tolerates,” Donovan said. “So that would include doing some running on the treadmill. He can probably do
some very light shooting. But a lot of it is how he responds to that with the injury.
“It’s a unique injury with what he’s dealing with, and they’re trying to be very cautious because it sounds like it’s the kind of injury that if you don’t handle it correctly or he pushes too hard too much, he could set himself back a little bit, and we don’t want to do that.”
Craig’s original timeframe for returning was about two months, and he’s now about a month in. Although he initially claimed he’s a quick healer and would be back earlier than expected, that probably won’t be the case.
In his 27 games this season — seven as a starter — he’s averaging 6.1 points. He’s third on the Bulls in offensive boards behind centers Andre Drummond (3.4 entering Friday) and Nikola Vucevic (2.7).
“That’s the one thing [Craig has] really impacted, and I think if you look at our offensive rebounding since he’s been out, it’s taken a dip,” Donovan said. “Not to say it’s all him. Collectively, we could all do a better job.
“He gets you a couple extra possessions, and at this level, it’s so tight that they do make a difference. Having him on the bench has been good, so I feel like the leadership with his voice is there, and we haven’t lost that.”
Lonzo watch
The Bulls likely will get a closer look at guard Lonzo Ball in a few weeks. Their West Coast trip includes a game in Los Angeles, where Ball is rehabbing.
Ball, still attempting to return to the NBA after three surgeries on his left knee in less than a year, was ruled out for the whole season in the fall but is expected to start running this month.
Next season is the final season in his contract.
“The optimistic part [of me] wants to believe that he’s going to get back because you see just his attitude,” Donovan said. “But I do think . . . when he’s cleared to play and this thing is moving forward in the right direction, he’s going to need some time to be able to play.”
It’ll be tricky getting Ball back to game shape after 2½ years away from high-level basketball.
“But to see him back on a court to play, I’m hopeful that’s going to happen, and I want that for him,” Donovan said.
Snowed out
Donovan was forced to cancel the morning shootaround Friday because of the weather — a huge disappointment because a good number of the former Bulls in town for the Ring of Honor ceremony were expected to attend the shootaround and interact with players.
