underwent a second MRI on his
bruised left calf Thursday, according to
coach Tom Thibodeau, while Luol Deng
said he is still very weak, and both are
unlikely to face the Miami Heat in
Game 3 of the Eastern Conference
semifinals on Friday at the United
Center.
It's possible neither will be available
the entire series, which is tied at 1-1.
Deng, who looked visibly thinner, said
he's lost about 15 pounds in his battle
back from the effects of the flu and a
spinal tap to detect spinal meningitis.
He admitted he was scared about his
initial illness and acknowledged he isn't
sure if or when he will be able to
return.
"It's hard, man," Deng said of having
to sit out. "We've had a long season.
I've played with a lot of injuries. I've
went through the wrist (injury) with
torn ligaments. I had a fractured
thumb, I played with it. I just went
through all that to be able to play. I
just didn't think something beside an
injury would keep me out, and that's
what makes it really hard. I don't
know what you can do."
When asked how weak he feels, Deng
replied: "Very. It's really my first day
out of the house and out of the
hospital. I haven't really left my bed
much or done much.
"I don't know [about possibly playing
Friday]. I tried to shoot a little bit and
I struggled a little. I couldn't do it, but
we'll see."
Deng has missed the last four games.
It was originally announced that he
was missing his first game with the
flu, but it was important for him to
clarify that and explain the
complications from the spinal tap via
Twitter.
"I just felt like everyone kept saying
I'm missing the game because of the
flu," he said. "I've been here for nine
years and I've played with the flu
without coming to the media and
saying I had the flu. I don't think the
flu would make me miss a game. I
might not play well, I might not play
the minutes I play, but even if I had
the flu I would sit on the bench.
"It kind of bothered me a little bit that
that's what was being said when I had
a totally different thing. It wasn't
really just the flu."
As far as Hinrich, who has missed the
last five games, Thibodeau said: "He's
OK. He's still not great."
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