CJ Watson's elbow injury a sprain--for now

[Uman85]

Watson's injury a sprain --- for now - Inside the Bulls

The Bulls impressive blowout victory over Memphis could prove costly as backup point guard C.J. Watson sprained his left elbow early in the fourth quarter while scrambling for a loose ball with the Bulls leading by 40. X-rays were negative. Watson will undergo an MRI on Monday.

Joakim Noah said he thought Watson might miss some games. Derrick Rose, on the other hand, said Watson was joking around afterwards and appeared fine. Coach Tom Thibodeau said more would be known Monday.

"We'll check out the swelling is, check what the doctors say," Thibs said.

John Lucas III replaced Watson and saw his first action of the season. Lucas finished with eight points and two assists in 10 minutes, 16 seconds.

"You get to a point where you don't know when your number will be called so you have to be ready whether you're the No. 1 guard off the bench or the No. 13 guard off the bench," Lucas said.

Watson has been an often-spectacular backup for Derrick Rose this season because his game resembles that of the reigning MVP. His speed allows him to push the pace in much the same way Rose does. When Rose got into foul trouble against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, Watson came off the bench to score eight points and dish out nine assists while helping lead the Bulls to victory.

The Bulls were already shorthanded in the backcourt as Rip Hamilton was a late scratch because of a groin injury. Ronnie Brewer started in his place. Hamilton is listed as day to day.

"We wanted to play it safe," Thibodeau said of Hamilton. "We want to make sure he's good. We decided at the last minute to sit him out."

Lucas played in only two games for a total of 10 minutes last year but played in 47 games with the Rockets in 2006-07 and averaged 3.3 points per game. General manager Gar Forman said he would would access the point guard market but is confident in Lucas and did not feel a pressing need to bring in a more experienced backup.

"When you have an injury the next guy has to step in," Thibodeau said. "That's why you have him."

 

[X]

lol @ JLIII. There's not 13 players on an active roster, let alone 13 GUARDS...

 

[Cloud 9]

Even if it's just a sprain he's gonna be hurting for awhile, better than finding structural damage though.

 

[X]

Sucks for Watson - I like that dude.

Go after Hinrich, imo...


seriously, he's in the last year of his contract, he'd be a fantastic back-up and he can knock down the 3. He can play defense, and he can teach the younger guards. And, he's a fan favorite that can play the 2 in limited minutes if he needed to.



EDIT: Just saw he's out until February - lulz

I still like the move, tho.

 

[Crystallas]

Lucas is fine. He is a backup PG, plays like a backup PG... it is, what it is.

Rip, Brewer, then Butler is the remaining PG depth for us. Yep, we're in the emergency depth zone LOL. I'd imagine that Gar is looking at someone.

 

[Cloud 9]

Nate Robinson would be my guy if we were going to bring someone in.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

lol @ JLIII. There's not 13 players on an active roster,

There are 13 allowed to be now.

 

[Crystallas]

Nate Robinson would be my guy if we were going to bring someone in.

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH *****!


I love Tiny, he's a good guy overall. Plays off emotion. Easily distracted though. If he could settle for the role, he would fit okay here. His perimeter D is solid, but he's still short, so people shoot and pass over him.

 

[Crystallas]

 

[Deng Defense Force]

Lucas is fine. He is a backup PG, plays like a backup PG... it is, what it is.

Rip, Brewer, then Butler is the remaining PG depth for us. Yep, we're in the emergency depth zone LOL. I'd imagine that Gar is looking at someone.

Too bad we never know when Scamilton is going to miss a game because of so called minor injuries.

 

[Crystallas]

Too bad we never know when Scamilton is going to miss a game because of so called minor injuries.

Yeah. I'm with you there. I support Rip now as a fan, but that doesn't mean I am fully sold on him.

But to be fair, he could have played, but the front office played it safe. Which is cool because a healthy Brewer would have been a great starter for us anyways.

 

[Axl Rose]

i wouldnt mind bringin lil nate in

rather have him then john lucas

 

[Chi-Town Brahma]

Here to a quick recovery for CJ.

Hope that injury wont keep him out long.

 

[Scoot26]

Yeah. I'm with you there. I support Rip now as a fan, but that doesn't mean I am fully sold on him.

But to be fair, he could have played, but the front office played it safe. Which is cool because a healthy Brewer would have been a great starter for us anyways.

In a shortened schedule with many games packed into it, you're going to get sits for players with minor injuries so they don't flare up and become worst. They want to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs this year too after obviously being worn down in the playoffs last year with nagging injuries to just about everyone.

 

[BNB]

In a shortened schedule with many games packed into it, you're going to get sits for players with minor injuries so they don't flare up and become worst. They want to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs this year too after obviously being worn down in the playoffs last year with nagging injuries to just about everyone.

i was going to say this.

I think we'll being seeing guys all around the league sit games every once in a while. Especially older guys.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Too bad we never know when Scamilton is going to miss a game because of so called minor injuries.

Billups has missed two straight due to a "minor injury"

With so many games condensed into a short period of time, older players are not going to get rushed back. And that goes for any team.

 

[scottiepippen1994]

Its good for him to sit....we did just fine anyway and its not worth the risk for hamilton to turn a minor injury into a major one....we will need him for the playoffs....that's what we signed him for.

 

[Glide2keva]

Besides, we got JL3!!!!!!!

We're good

 

[Crystallas]

In a shortened schedule with many games packed into it, you're going to get sits for players with minor injuries so they don't flare up and become worst. They want to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs this year too after obviously being worn down in the playoffs last year with nagging injuries to just about everyone.

No doubt. I would have made the same move.

 

[Crystallas]

We can always pick up Bogans for a 7-day.