Deng struggles with shot in return: Bulls forward Luol Deng was back on the floor as expected on Thursday against Miami, after missing the team’s previous game with a rib injury. Deng played a game-high 40 minutes, however he scored just 11 points in the game, as he had trouble with his shot, hitting just 5 of 15 from the field. Deng also did not do much else in the game, grabbing just three rebounds, with two assists and a steal, as the Heat defeated the Bulls, 83-72. (Updated 04/19/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/25/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Any question about Deng’s health should have been answered by him playing his customary 40 minutes on Thursday. Deng leads the NBA in minutes played per game, and while he has missed some games recently, it has seemed apparent from the beginning that it was more an effort to get home rest. The Bulls have just three games remaining on the season, so it would not be a surprise to see Deng sitting again for at least one, making him a risky Fantasy start moving forward. (Updated 04/19/2012).
05/10/2012 22:02 Eighth-seeded 76ers knock out Bulls
Andre Iguodala made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2 seconds left and the Philadelphia 76ers rallied for a 79-78 victory against the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in Game 6 on Thursday night, advancing to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003.
05/09/2012 04:11 Report Card 5.8.12: Only one team moves on
Each night, Eye on Basketball brings you what you need to know about the games of the NBA. From great performances to terrible clock management the report card evaluates and eviscerates the good, the bad, and the ugly from the night that was.
Luol Deng became a more well-rounded player last season and proved to be a solid No. 2 scorer behind Derrick Rose while helping lead the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals. While his rebounds fell off a bit, he still averaged more than 17 points per contest and became a serious threat from behind the arc. He shot 34.5 percent from the 3-point line, making 115. He made just 101 in his first six seasons in the NBA. He also proved to be healthy for the first time in years, playing in all 82 regular season games in 2010-11. His jump-shooting ability fits well with Rose's prowess for driving to the lane and kicking it out so Fantasy owners should expect more of the same from the 26-year-old in 2011-12. He could easily post close to 18 points with anywhere from 5-8 rebounds per game while shooting for a respectable average from the field. Don't underestimate his ability to chip in with a few steals and blocks as well. Deng can fill up the stat sheet on a nightly basis and will be counted on to do most of the scoring when Rose is on the bench so consider him a No. 2 Fantasy F on Draft Day. (Updated 8/28/11)
