ATLANTA -- The Bulls are hopeful that Joakim Noah can keep playing despite suffering from plantar fasciitis of the left foot. But coach Vinny Del Negro knows the organization might be forced to sit the 6-11 center down if he continues to be limited last he's been the previous two games.

"Yeah, absolutely," Del Negro said Thursday. "We're just going to try to see what we can get out of him until he can get some rest at the All-Star break. We'll monitor it every day. Some days, you feel better than others with it. We'll use him as much as he can move."

The problem is the only cure for plantar fasciitis is extended rest -- at least six weeks -- and that's not an option right now.

"If you shut him down for a week, that doesn't guarantee he will feel better," Noah said. "That's not how that condition works. You don't know. I had it for two years when I played."