Joakim Noah Sees Both Sides Of Minutes Restriction Debate
(CBS) After not closing Sunday's narrow loss to the Thunder because he'd hit his 32-minute restriction already, Bulls big man Joakim Noah admitted Wednesday the experience was was frustrating but he also understands what's best for the team.
Team management has placed Noah on a minutes restriction because of health issues following offseason knee surgery. Such a practice has been a main source of the cold relationship between the front office and coach Tom Thibodeau, and Noah indicated he understands both sides of the argument.
"The reason for this minutes restriction is to try to protect me too," Noah said. "It's not to point any fingers or anything like that. We just have to do what's best for me and the team."
Noah explained it was tough to sit down the stretch Sunday.
"It's frustrating, but I'm not the only one who's frustrated sometimes," he said. "I think it's a part of the grind. But I'm just trying to stay focused on what's important, trying to win basketball games. I'm not trying to get caught up in any noise or anything like that. I don't want to be a distraction. We'll figure it out internally and do what's best for the team."
Noah played just shy of 32 minutes in a 109-100 loss at Oklahoma City on Sunday, watching as Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic closed. With Noah being the Bulls' best interior defender, his absence was notable as the Thunder got a handful of easy shots down the stretch.
Asked if he wants to close games, Noah responded, "It'd be nice, it'd be nice."
Noah has played fewer than 32 minutes in his past six games. Prior to that, he'd played more than 32 minutes in seven straight games.
He's played more than 32 minutes on 22 occasions this season, though several of those games went to overtime.
Noah believes there's a good chance his minutes restriction will be lifted for the playoffs.
"Yeah, I think right now I'm just feeling more and more healthy," Noah said. "I'm feeling better and better on the court. I know I still have another gear to get to.
"As coaches, as an organization all together, I think we can talk and figure it out. That's fair."
