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Mike Dunleavy Suffers Setback With Back Injury

By Allana Tachauer

Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) is defended by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) is defended by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in game five of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy has suffered a setback regarding his back injury.

As the Chicago Bulls come off of a 92-89 victory over the San Antonio Spurs Monday night, there is a bit of bad news on the horizon.

Forward Mike Dunleavy, who underwent back surgery before the beginning of this season’s training camp, seems to have suffered a setback.

While he was put on an eight- to 10-week timeline when he started his recovery process, it will be a while longer until he is back on his feet. Although Dunleavy has been practicing with the team and even came along on the Bulls’ West Coast road trip, he went to see a back specialist on Monday to reevaluate the situation.

And for now, it will be at least another two weeks until he is back in action.

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Right now there is no concrete word on when Dunleavy will be back for Chicago, but it is no secret that back injuries can be one of the trickiest issues to deal with.

The 35-year-old averaged 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season, numbers that on paper may not look too impressive. But when you look at the bigger picture and who could potentially fill that void coming off of the bench, it becomes a different story.

First off, Dunleavy offers the Bulls some depth when it comes to the wing. Theoretically, guys like Tony Snell and Doug McDermott should be able to help out in that area, but both have been struggling as of late.

Although Snell finished with 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc on Monday night, he has not had a comparatively good game since Nov. 9; he currently averages just 6.3 points on the season. Similarly, McDermott totaled 12 points against the Spurs but is carrying an average of 9.0 points (47 percent in 3-point shooting).

Defensively, things are also dicey without Dunleavy. Neither Snell nor McDermott are as strong on the other end of the court, lacking the experience and therefore confidence, of the veteran. McDermott often gets out bodied, and Snell is on the streaky side.

And what Dunleavy brings to the table is much more important than just mere statistics; few players on the team currently have the same tenacity and leadership qualities. Chicago has a tendency to get inside its head, resulting in misfortunes like playing down to teams. Therefore, it is crucial to have as many mentally strong guys guiding the team, as possible.

Right now, he is signed to a three-year, $14.4 million deal, but things could change moving forward if his back does not start showing signs of improvement soon.

Between Joakim Noah struggling in his new role, Derrick Rose making questionable statements and additional injuries to guys like Aaron Brooks and Kirk Hinrich, the Bulls can not take much more instability to their roster.

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Chicago is currently 10-5, third in the Eastern Conference, just after the Miami Heat. They will take on the Denver Nuggets on the road on Wednesday, December 2 at 8PM ET.

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