Chicago Bulls shooting guard Justin Holiday is set to enter the starting rotation for Wednesday night's game against the Memphis Grizzlies, according to a report from Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. However, Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg also tells ESPN that big man Robin Lopez will remain inactive for Wednesday's game.
Justin Holiday says he is playing and starting tonight. https://t.co/eLD3tPIbr8
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) March 7, 2018
Robin Lopez will be inactive tonight. https://t.co/qHaE2TOQAo
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) March 7, 2018
Though he won't be playing against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night, Coach Hoiberg noted that Lopez will likely be back in the starting lineup alongside Holiday for Chicago's upcoming two-game road trip.
Hoiberg says Lopez and Holiday will start together on the road during the upcoming trip. Says he has some rotations in mind.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) March 7, 2018
The NBA recently issued the Bulls a warning for resting healthy players. By sitting Lopez on Wednesday, the team is adhering to the minimum requirements of the NBA's new rest rules.
Fact Bulls are adhering to minimum requirements of new rest rules by sitting Lopez tonight says, to me, how they feel about situation. They were cooperative & understanding. But this is 1st year of rest rules, which were also designed to stop good teams from resting players.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 7, 2018
Coach Hoiberg, who's still evaluating a lot of his younger players, tells ESPN that Holiday will start in both halves of Wednesday night's game.
“Our young guys will still obviously get an opportunity to play out there,” coach Hoiberg told Friedell. “Justin will start both halves for us. We've got our rotations in mind and how we're going to use it.”
Holiday, now 28 years of age, has played in 57 games for the Bulls this season, averaging 13.0 points on 37.4 percent shooting from the field (36.9 percent from beyond the arc), 4.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Lopez, 29, has made 57 appearances with Chicago this season, racking up averages of 12.3 points on 52.7 percent shooting from the field, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. The former 15th overall pick (2008) hasn't played since before the All-Star break. Cristiano Felicio and Bobby Portis have been playing at the five position in recent games.
Wednesday night's Bulls-Grizzlies game is scheduled to tip at 8:00 p.m. EST inside the United Center.
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