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Joakim Noah has taken major strides to improve his offensive repertoire since entering the NBA in 2007 and is set to receive tutoring from the league’s all-time leading scorer. In an effort to improve on the offensive end of the court, Noah revealed on Wednesday during a visit to a Chicago north suburban high school that he plans to train with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this summer. Noah put up approximately seven points and seven rebounds per game through the first month of this season, but he went on a tear rest of the way and closed the campaign with averages of 10.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and a career-high 2.5 assists. He followed that up with a strong showing in the playoffs, averaging team-highs of 15 points and 9.3 rebounds in the Bulls’ first three games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. However, Noah suffered a gruesome left ankle sprain in Game 3, which caused him to miss the final three contests of the series. RealGM

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 

"The unfortunate part of this year is we didn't measure up against the teams we wanted to measure up against," Joakim Noah said. "But I personally believe this group can compete against anybody and beat anybody. "We had tough breaks throughout the year. That's unfortunate but it's part of the game. You learn from being injured and the hard times. That will make the good times even better. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

"As a player, you can only control what you can control. We just lost. I think it's important for everybody to regroup mentally and make another run at it. Because you know what? Derrick (Rose) is going to come back. "It's adversity. But it's just another challenge for us, like (coach Tom Thibodeau) always says. We are very privileged people doing what we love to do. Let's get better this summer, come back hungrier than ever and make a run." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, who has sat out the past two games with a sprained ankle, will be a game-time decision, and forward Taj Gibson says he will play against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 Thursday night of their Eastern Conference first-round series. "I'm feeling better," Noah told BullsTV on Tuesday, his first interview since the injury. "I'm just trying to get out there for the next game." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson 

KC Johnson: Thibodeau said Taj will do shootaround and is expected to play. Noah gametime decision but still limping and won't do full shootaround. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson 

Jeff Zillgitt: France names 18-man preliminary roster for London Olympics. NBAers on list: Batum, Beaubois, Diaw, Mahinmi, Noah, Parker, Seraphin, Turiaf. Twitter

Tony Parker, Kevin Seraphin, FIBA, Rodrigue Beaubois, Ronny Turiaf, Ian Mahinmi, Joakim Noah, France, Boris Diaw, Nicolas Batum 

KC Johnson: Joakim Noah, who declined interview requests, tells @Chuck Swirsky on team web site he's "feeling better" and he's "hoping" he can play Game 6. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: Joakim Noah shooting free throws in gym shoes as shootaround ends. Thibodeau calls him gametime but said Asik is starting. Noah limping. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is "most likely out" of Game 5 on Tuesday night because of a sprained left ankle, according to head coach Tom Thibodeau. "He's a little better," Thibodeau said after Monday's practice. "He'll be a game-time [decision], most likely out." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Thibodeau said he wasn't sure if Noah is still using the crutches. "He's doing some walking around now," Thibodeau said. "He's better." Noah is the second Bulls' starter to go down this postseason after Derrick Rose tore the ACL in his left knee at the end of Game 1. Rose spent part of Monday at the Berto Center talking to his teammates as he awaits surgery to fix his knee. "They're still working through things," Thibodeau said, when asked if a surgery date has been set yet. "He's coming along well. He's doing a lot of rehab and feels pretty good so that's encouraging." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Joakim Noah ditched his crutches Sunday in favor of a large walking boot to protect his severely sprained left ankle, which also will force him out of Tuesday's Game 5 at least. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Despite coach Tom Thibodeau calling Noah day-to-day and saying he is improving, Noah still can't put full weight on the ankle, which remains swollen. "Jo's a much better shooter than he's given credit for and can knock down those 16-foot shots pretty consistently," said Thibodeau, when asked what they miss. "That opens things up for you." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: No surprise: Joakim Noah officially out vs. Sixers. Omer Asik to start. #Bulls Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Tzvi Twersky: According to Thibs, Joakim Noah is feeling better -- but not good enough to go today. Omer Asik to pick it up. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Although coach Tom Thibodeau said X-rays were negative, Joakim Noah’s availability for Game 4 on Sunday against the 76ers is extremely doubtful. “Most likely he’ll be out [Sunday],” Thibodeau said. Noah rolled his ankle in the third quarter of Game 3 only to return briefly in the fourth quarter before being taken out. He was walking on crutches with his ankle tightly wrapped before and after a film session at the team hotel Saturday. Backup Omer Asik is expected to start. Forward Taj Gibson will back up Noah’s backup. “Omer is better offensively than he’s given credit for because of his rebounding, his offensive rebounding, his screening, and he’s also a very underrated passer,” Thibodeau said. “He’s not accustomed to playing starters’ minutes. That will be a little bit of an adjustment. We have the ability to play Luol [Deng] at the four also.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

The sight of Joakim Noah tossing in one more "Tornado" jumper and then barely being able to run back on defense will linger, a snapshot of a proud, tough-minded player giving his all. But Noah's 2 minute, 6 second, fourth-quarter stint in Friday night's loss to the 76ers also raised questions. Specifically: Did Noah's re-entry make the sprained left ankle that has him doubtful for Sunday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals even worse? "He thought he could go," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Sometimes you can get through it. Obviously he was struggling." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Following a team film session on Saturday, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said center Joakim Noah is "doubtful" to play against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Noah turned his left ankle during the third quarter of Chicago's Game 3 loss on Friday night. The 76ers lead the series 2-1. Initial X-rays on Noah's left ankle were negative, a league source said. The Chicago Tribune, however, is reporting that the team hasn't ruled out a fracture. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

After Chicago's 79-74 loss, Noah was seen on crutches with a black aircast on his left ankle. He did not speak to reporters. Thibodeau wasn't letting his team use Noah's injury as an excuse. "The thing is, injury is part of the game," Thibodeau said. "You have to have a mental toughness to get past all of that. We've had injuries all year and you just deal with it. If you look, you can find something every night, every game. Shorthanded, regular season, back to back, early start, whatever it is, or you can find a way to win. That's what you need. You need guys that have great will to win, and no matter what the circumstances are will find a way to win." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Noah is in bad shape. Initial X-rays were negative, however the team hasn't ruled out a fracture, two sources said. C.J. Watson, who failed to score, continues to battle lingering ankle and elbow injuries, and has a broken jumper to boot. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

KC Johnson: There isn't much optimism coming from the #Bulls regarding Noah's left ankle injury. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah