NEW YORK — Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg knows about on-the-job health scares. His playing career ended abruptly because of heart issues, and he had to have another heart surgery while he was coaching at Iowa State.
So the news that Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue — reportedly affected by chest pains and other symptoms — was taking a break to focus on his health hit close to home for Hoiberg.
Lue had to leave the game with the Bulls on Saturday and didn’t coach in the second half.
“I didn’t have an opportunity to talk to him,” Hoiberg said Monday. “But obviously, our thoughts go out to him, and we hope everything is OK. They were coming back from a West Coast trip, and that’s always a grind, especially when you leave right after the game. You get in early in the morning. Most coaches don’t sleep on those flights. You’re watching film. You’re preparing for the next one. You’re watching the previous night’s game. It’s scary. As someone who has dealt with health issues, it’s tough.
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“There’s so much pressure in this position. It’s a daily battle. You have to do the best job you can of taking care of yourself. I’m happy he’s taking the time and hopefully getting healthy for the stretch run. He’s a great person. He’s done a hell of a job with that team.”
Lue walked out of the United Center on his own after the game Saturday but looked worn down. Hoiberg said lack of sleep is the big battle for coaches.
On a usual game night, “I start my film session on the bus,” Hoiberg said. “You get on the bus on the way to the airport and watch film. And then you get on the plane and watch it again. And then you get home and a lot of times you watch it a third time. And then you start preparing for your opponent. There are a lot of sleepless nights.
“You get up early, start preparing, try to catch your kids before they go to school, and then you head into the office. I’ve got a little couch in my office where I try to catch a 20-minute nap here and there.
“I think it’s documented Tyronn didn’t sleep. That’s the No. 1 thing right now is his health.”
The standoff
Former Bull Joakim Noah is still on the Knicks roster and still owed $54 million of the four-year, $72 million contract he signed as a free agent. But at the moment, he’s being paid to stay away from the team — the result of a heated exchanged with coach Jeff Hornacek in January.
It’s still not a comfortable topic around Madison Square Garden.
“He’s away from the team right now, and that’s where it’s at,” Hornacek said.
Hornacek said he didn’t know how the situation would be resolved.
“That’s stuff we went through as a team,” he said. “The team now is heading in a different direction. Things happen.”
Follow me on Twitter @suntimes_hoops.
Email: jcowley@suntimes.com
