It’s been a rocky season for the Chicago Bulls so far.
The team, which was toward the top of the East at this point last season, is currently in 12th place with a 9-11 record.
This is not the way that fans or the team expected 2022-23 to play out.
There are multiple reasons for the rough start to the year but one of them is definitely the absence of Lonzo Ball.
However, Ball might be coming back within the next couple of months.
𝙍𝙀𝙋𝙊𝙍𝙏: The #Bulls and Lonzo Ball are “hopeful” he will return in early 2023.
(via @ShamsCharania, https://t.co/dxDCA2NGES) pic.twitter.com/MkN8Cr79jr
— Digits Hoops-n-Stats (🏀,📊) (@Digits3Hoops) November 30, 2022
The team is hoping that Ball could return to the team in early 2023.
Now, that might feel like a long time from now – and it is.
But a return in early 2023 will still give Ball and his crew enough time to turn things around and resemble the team they were last season.
Ball Bouncing Back
Ball’s recovery from his left knee has taken much longer than expected.
The plan was to have Ball back already but his rehabilitation has been slow and full of fits and starts.
Meanwhile, the Bulls have been suffering without him.
The team has problems beyond Ball’s departure but he would certainly help them and fill some of the voids that are slowing them down.
Other guys on the squad have been hurt too, and that only makes matters worse.
Alex Caruso has had ankle issues, Goran Dragic with his neck, Ayo Dosunmu with his knee, and Derrick Jones Jr with his thumb.
There must be something in the water in Chicago.
The chances of the Bulls still having a strong season aren’t gone, other teams have bounced back from bad starts before.
But hopefully, Chicago can start to compile more wins before Ball’s tentative return date.
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