This is though Eastern conference big men dropped off like flies this past week is first of Shaquille O’Neal with the Cleveland Cavaliers will have to sit for 6 to 8 weeks and won’t be back until the playoffs and now Joakim Noah is Chicago Bulls looks to be facing a similar fate as he left to miss three weeks with plantar fasciitus in his left foot.

Obviously the Chicago Bulls on a title contender like the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern conference, what they still could be playoff bound and Joakim Noah has played a huge part of this team over the past two seasons.

Fortunately, the injury report stays the same and his plantar fasciitus heels within the three-week time frame, Noah will be able to get back on the floor in time to get back in shape in preparation for the playoffs, but according to head coach Vinny Del Negro, this is one of the injuries that can linger on for quite some time and he might still be feeling the affects for two months instead of three weeks.

Even if Noah is good to go in three weeks time, this injury could still follow him throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs which is not good news by any means for Derrick Rose and company.

Noah is having his best season as a pro so far by averaging a double-double with 10.7 points and a team leading 11.4 rebounds per game. Noah is also one of the best rebounders in the game as he has been battling back and forth with Dwight Howard all season long.

As a result of this injury to Joakim Noah, the Chicago Bulls will probably be in the market for a free agent big man to fill the void for the time being like former Sacramento Kings forward Kenny Thomas. Former Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is also on the market, but there is little chance he will choose to go anywhere other than back to Cleveland.