Rajon Rondo is a renowned math whiz, but for the purposes of his health status for the season finale against the Brooklyn Nets he should turn into a Shakespearean student.
"To be or not to be (active)."
"To be or not to be (a playoff team)."
Those are the questions yet to be answered. For Rondo, 24 hours before a game, his recovery from a right wrist sprain is still undetermined, as he went through some contact at Tuesday's practice but wouldn't go as far as saying he would definitely play.
"I might (play)," said Rondo when asked by a media member "might you play tomorrow," as he clearly likes the play of words.
Playing around seems to be a common theme for the mercurial point guard, as he held the microphones from the local TV stations in his hand as opposed to allowing them to stand upright on their own — in his left hand, it should be noted.
"It's not as painful as it was two days ago," Rondo said. "I'm confident in my team, but I do want to play. I miss playing the game. I miss getting up and down. But I'm gonna try to do the right thing for myself and for the team."
NBA
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is calling Rondo's injury a gametime decision for Wednesday and credited the point guard for his perseverance in trying to get back from a "significant" sprain he suffered more than a week ago in New York
"He sat out a couple things, but he did have a little bit of contact and that's the important step," Hoiberg said. "I give Rajon a lot of credit for the way he's battled and done everything he can to get himself ready to play. He's done a great job, been very diligent in his treatments and we'll make the call tomorrow pretty much before the tip."
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If Rondo doesn't go, or even if he does, Jerian Grant has been a net positive in a number of ways. Ways that can help a team in a playoff series if they expect to win more than a game against a superior opponent.
Grant has averaged 15.6 points, seven assists and four rebounds in three games since being reinserted as starter and has credited Rondo for assistance.
"No, I don't have any credit. He's studying the game," Rondo said. "We watched film a couple days ago on the plane, and he's seeing where he can make plays and where he can't. The best thing about his stats yesterday is he had zero turnovers. Eleven assists to zero turnovers is big for a young point guard.
"He's had a great opportunity. He was ready when his name was called, and he's doing the same thing the last couple games. I like seeing him out there."
Figuring out Grant or Rondo this year has been a mystery, contributing to the up and down, in and out malaise the Bulls have displayed since October.
For the Bulls, 81 games into a winding, grinding and fatiguing season, the clarity on what they are, the clarity on how this season will ultimately be ranked, is still a "might."
It "might" be considered an epic failure of sorts if they fall below the .500 mark and miss the playoffs again, especially if controlling their own destiny results in two losses in five days to the team with the worst record in the NBA.
Considering the Nets are sitting point guard Jeremy Lin and center Brook Lopez for rest, the Bulls have an even greater opportunity to do what they did against the Orlando Magic in taking care of business against a lesser opponent and taking a deep breath before watching the rest of the playoff bracket settle itself before the weekend.
Hoiberg only mentioned Lin and Lopez by name after Tuesday's practice as the main threats, but that was before the Nets announced the duo would be sitting so it essentially removes any excuse for losing Wednesday.
"Our guys know. They know what's at stake," Hoiberg said. "They understand what happened on Saturday. Just have to be locked in from the minute we walk in this building tomorrow. Be ready to play a game."
One would think that goes without saying, but with this bunch, you never can tell.
Oh, to be ... or not.