The bad news for the Bulls is Tyson Chandler skipped practice Wednesday with a sore back.
The good news for the Bulls is that it’s not that sore back.
Chandler missed 47 games last season with back problems tied to joint soreness in his spine and, essentially, a weak core. After working extensively last summer on strengthening his back, Chandler hasn’t missed a game this season.
The fourth-year big man sported an ice pack on his back after Tuesday’s loss in New Jersey, but Bulls trainer Fred Tedeschi said Chandler was held out of a light practice for “precautionary” reasons.
“He has a mild strain in his mid-back [area], which is different from his previous injury,” Tedeschi said. “I suspect he’ll be fine in short order.”
Chandler suffered the soreness as he got twisted on a drive to the basket. He is averaging nine rebounds and 1.8 blocks, both team highs.
Pause for perspective
Two-game losing streaks used to be cause for celebration around the Berto Center. Now they are cause for concern.
“That’s because [our recent surge] was overhyped,” coach Scott Skiles said. “We’re not an 0-9 team. But we’re not an 18-4 team either. I understand the desperation to want to jump on the bandwagon after such a long period of inadequate play. But we still need to keep it in perspective. We just have to play better.”
Numbers game
With the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaching, the Bulls still are carrying only 14 players. That gives them flexibility to take two players for one if a team made an attractive offer for players like Frank Williams or Jannero Pargo. Solid team chemistry would be factored into any potential move.
