Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine’s tweet suggests positive news

The Chicago Bulls have dealt with injury after injury during the 2021-2022 NBA Regular Season but have still managed to remain among the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

The Bulls’ run at the top of the Eastern Conference may be in jeopardy depending on the injury status of guard Zach LaVine. He has missed the Bulls’ past two games with a left knee injury and was scheduled to meet with doctors on Tuesday.

LaVine’s left knee is the one that was surgically repaired when the guard tore his ACL during his 2016-2017 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

LaVine will not be available in the Bulls’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night and head coach Billy Donovan is hopeful that LaVine’s meeting with doctors will uncover the origin of the knee soreness for the Bulls’ guard.

"“He swells after games sometimes, and sometimes he doesn’t,” Donovan said. “So I think getting to the bottom of some of that stuff, you know, they’ve obviously done imaging. He is cleared to play. There is discomfort there. He doesn’t feel great. It really kind of just depends.”"

Donovan has yet to meet with reporters ahead of the Bulls’ game against the Kings on Wednesday night but LaVine’s recent tweet would seem to suggest that he received positive news regarding his knee.

LaVine’s tweet would seem to suggest that the injury is not as severe as originally speculated. The All-Star Break begins after Wednesday and this could serve as the time that LaVine needs to rest before returning to action once the second half begins next week.

LaVine is currently scheduled to participate in the three-point contest on Saturday as part of the NBA’s All-Star weekend but it would seem likely that he forgoes the event.

The Chicago Bulls are going to need a healthy Zach LaVine in the second half.

While DeMar DeRozan is having a historic season for the Bulls, the team is going to need a healthy LaVine if they are going to have any chance of making an extended run in the playoffs.

On the season, LaVine is averaging 24.6 points per game with a field goal percentage of 48.2 percent and a player efficiency rating of 20.4. The Bulls have been able to survive the extended injuries of guards Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso as they are currently in the weak part of their schedule.

However, the Bulls’ second-half schedule begins with a brutal six-game stretch that includes two games against the Atlanta Hawks, as well as games against the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, and Philadelphia 76ers. LaVine will be needed if the Bulls plan to survive those six games while remaining at the top of the Eastern Conference.