Joakim Noah calls Kevin Love's injury "Unfortunate"

You might have expected the Chicago Bulls to express optimism about their chances of beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the next round (barring a truly epic collapse against Milwaukee) after news of Kevin Love‘s shoulder injury, but then you would not know this team very well.

The Bulls are all too familiar with injuries derailing what a team’s potential could be, and so it was not surprising to hear Joakim Noah speak about Love’s dislocated shoulder solemnly.

“Unfortunate. Very unfortunate,” said Noah to the Chicago Tribune. “You don’t want anybody getting hurt. You don’t wish that on nobody.”

Joakim has gone through his own injury problems (summer knee surgery) this season and looks like he’s lost some of his old verticality. But if he is going up against the likes of Tristan Thompson next series, then he might be able to find some of that old magic.

The Cavs also lost J.R. Smith for two games due to suspension because he thwacked Jae Crowder in the face. As for the Bulls, they were not surprised by how physical things got in the Cavaliers-Celtics series.

“That’s usually playoff basketball,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Boston played with desperation. Cleveland is tough. You’re going to have some flare-ups. With two teams competing for the same thing, that’s what happens.”

Thibs is someone who knows a thing or two about physical play and flare-ups, but fortunately there have been no season-ending injuries of that nature for Chicago. Nikola Mirotic getting hurt earlier this series comes to mind; however, he has been able to return to the court.

It is a shame that Love will likely miss the entire postseason, because it would have been a joy to watch Cleveland face off against Chicago with both teams near full strength. Injuries have a way of affecting the NBA playoffs every single season though, and this time it is the Cavaliers who have taken the brunt of it. The Bulls would not trade places with them in a million years, because they know too well how difficult the path is without one of your key players.

Game 6 is tomorrow, and Chicago will first have to close out their first-round series in one of the next two games to have a chance at playing the Love-less Cavs team.