Carlos Boozer broke the 5th metacarpal in his right hand after tripping over a bag in his home. He will undergo surgery on Tuesday and miss approximately eight weeks. This is not the way Boozer or the Bulls wanted to start their tenure together. Boozer, an eight-year veteran and two-time All-Star, was the Bulls prized acquisition of the summer after he signed a 5 year, $75 million deal.
Although this is a major setback to the beginning of a much-anticipated season, the Bulls should emerge from Boozer's injury in decent shape. Consider the following points:
- Boozer injured his hand. If he were to break his foot or pull a hamstring, he wouldn’t be able to run. Upon return, he should be in good shape.
- Taj Gibson is a capable backup. The talented second-year man showed a lot of promise in his rookie season, averaging 9 points and 7.5 rebounds. When playing over 30 minutes a night (which he will do in Boozer’s absence), he averaged 11 points and 9.7 rebounds in 31 games. We can expect further improvement on his play based on his hard work and continued adjustment to the NBA game.
- Joakim Noah will be around to snag rebounds. He proved he could handle the glass on his own last year, when he averaged 11 rebounds while battling plantar fasciitis for most of the season.
- Minnesota’s Kevin Love suffered the same injury (4th metacarpal) during training camp last year and had a successful recovery, averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds in 60 games. Love is nowhere near the offensive player Boozer is.
- Boozer’s injury occurred in the preseason rather than the middle of the season or in the playoffs.
- He broke his hand tripping over a bag, not while hitting his girlfriend or fighting a childhood friend, a la Glen Davis.
The debut of a Noah-Boozer front court will have to wait, but not for long. Come January, We'll forget Boozer was even injured.
Boozer broke his hand fingerbanging Noah
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