Chicago Bulls Center Joakim Noah Could Sit Out Game 5 [Ankle Injury]

Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau announced on Monday that center Joakim Noah will “most likely” miss Game 5 after spraining his left ankle earlier in the series.

According to Thibodeau:

“He’s a little better. He’ll be a game-time [decision], most likely out.”

Noah suffered his injury during his teams match against the Philadelphia 76ers when he stepped on the foot of guard Andre Iguodala midway through the third quarter of play. During that game Thibodeau originally removed Noah from the play but put him back on the court in the fourth quarter after he was cleared to play by Bulls’ athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi. After hitting a jumper Noah limped around on the hardwood and was eventually pulled from the game for good.

X-rays were taken after game 3 and came back negative but Noah left the game on crutches with an air cast.

Noah at this time is still not talking to reporters about his injury and Thibodeau wasn’t sure as of Monday if Joakim was still using his crutches only mentioning that he was “walking around now” and “he’s better.”

With the Chicago Bulls in the midst of a playoff run losing Noah couldn’t come at a worse time as team star Derrick Rose ended his 2011 season and likely a good chunk of his 2012 season after tearing an ACL at the end of game 1.

In the meantime a surgery date for Derrick Rose has not yet been determined as doctors attempt to figure out the best course of action for the Chicago Bulls star.

Do you think the Chicago Bulls can keep advancing without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah?