Injured Dunn tries to remain upbeat
Bulls point guard Kris Dunn was sitting on the bench in a suit, playing the role of coach/banged-up player Wednesday.
It wasn’t what he was expecting this season, but he tried to remain upbeat and stay connected to the team any way he could.
Admittedly, it’s an uncomfortable role, but he’ll have to get used to it for the next four to six weeks.
On Tuesday, the Bulls surprisingly announced that Dunn, who finished the game Monday, had strained his left medial collateral ligament in the second quarter but played through it.
Dunn initially checked out after the game when several doctors and trainers looked at him.
“When I came down, it felt weird,’’ Dunn said. “You can see after the play that I was kind of wobbling when I was running back. I just thought it was a bruise, so I kept playing.
“It got a little stiff on the plane. I don’t know if it was the altitude. And then that night, it really locked up on me. I tried to ice it, but it got worse.’’
So did the prognosis.
An MRI exam revealed the slight tear, and a season of promise for Dunn was put on hold.
“Just like anybody, you’d be upset,’’ Dunn said. “I put a lot of hard work into this. It comes with the game. So I have to accept it. It’s just unfortunate that I was unlucky.
“I can either cry about it or try to work my way around it. I’m going to stay positive, be a man about it. Whatever happens, happens. I’m going to rehab the best I can, get back on the floor and work.’’
His mood was surprisingly positive — at least outwardly toward the media.
The same can’t be said about the team’s mood, especially with Dunn joining Lauri Markkanen (right elbow) and Denzel Valentine (left ankle) on the list of the Bulls’ walking wounded.
“Guys are hanging in there as much as possible,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said. “For the guys that this will affect, their roles and their minutes, it’s a great opportunity for them to come and see what they can do, to show if they are a part of the future.’’
Hoiberg has little choice but to try to turn the latest negative into a positive, but even his players were feeling more than a little snakebit.
“Obviously, it’s painful,’’ new starting point guard Cameron Payne said. “We haven’t had our full team now in probably two or three years. It just still keeps happening. Obviously, it’s tough for the team. But we still have to play hard.’’
Just not ready
Payne will have some time to prove himself, especially because newly signed Shaquille Harrison isn’t even close to ready to roll out there with only one practice under his belt since he signed.
“Not very much,’’ Hoiberg said when asked how much of the offensive and defensive packages Harrison had actually been given.
“We try to keep it real basic with him. We’re working extra with him every day, but it’s just based on the way our schedule is right now. We have not had a lot of floor time just because we’ve had so many games in a short amount of time.
“But with that being said, we are getting work in with him. Shaq has been getting work in, and he’s going to get an opportunity.’’