PHILADELPHIA -- Although Omer Asik started Thursday night's Game 6 of the Bulls-76ers first-round playoff series, after testing his injured left ankle pregame, center Joakim Noah will be available to play.
"He's going to give it a shot," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau said during his pregame media availability session. "He's going to go with our doctors and trainers.
"He's diligent with his rehab. he's done a lot of work. the swelling's down and if he can go, he'll go. If he can't, he'll get ready for the next one," continued the coach, who joked that Noah "looked good" in the team's morning film session. "We know his will. He obviously wants to play. Joakim is a fierce, fierce competitor, but if he cant move thats not going to help us, so we have to make sure hes healthy enough, gets cleared medically and that he can function well on the floor.
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"None of our players are going to be jeopardized. they have to be cleared medically by our training staff first and once they clear that hurdle, then we make a decision whether they play, but we're not taking a chance with any of our players."
Noah did not comment to media before the Bulls' morning shootaround, during which there was no live drills, or after warming up at Wells Fargo Arena, though he engaged with a heckler that taunted him as he left the floor.