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Bulls' confidence on rise
By K.C. Johnson
Chicago Tribune reporter
SAN ANTONIO — On the morning of Jan. 30, 2009, the Bulls awoke in Sacramento with a 19-27 record and to stinging comments from team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who called the season "a disaster" and "embarrassing."
That night, the Bulls beat a Kings team featuring Brad Miller and John Salmons, finished their season-high, seven-game trip 4-3 and acquired Miller and Salmons 19 days later. Those two players were instrumental in the Bulls' 17-11 finish and thrilling seven-game playoff series loss to the Celtics.
Fast forward to this season's season-high, seven-game trip.
Though there were no comments from Reinsdorf, there was muttering from players after they dropped winnable games against the Warriors and Clippers to fall to 18-22. That's why Miller offered this unique perspective late Saturday after the Bulls engineered the unlikely back-to-back sweep of Phoenix and Houston in a 24-hour span.
"This trip last year I wasn't on the team but I knew it was a big building block for them," Miller said. "They were really on a roll before they made the trade. This is the trip where they got back to square. We have to build some momentum on this."
That's certainly possible the way the Bulls are playing offensively. At 20-22, the Bulls are two games ahead of last year's record after 42 games.
And though the plantar fasciitis plaguing Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson presents legitimate long-term concerns, a growing confidence is building that the Bulls again will finish this season in strong fashion.
"The guys have focused in and executed the game plan better," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We've shared the ball and spaced the court better. I like our tempo better. There are a lot of good signs."
The bad signs mostly center on Gibson admitting the pain in his right foot isn't going away despite sleeping with a protective boot and Noah missing his first game this season Saturday with pain in his left foot.
Both players used the Bulls' off-day Sunday to rest and receive treatment.
"I probably won't know anything definitive until (Monday's) shootaround," Del Negro said. "We'll see how he feels after they warm up. It's a tough injury to get rid of it, especially during the season. We'll be aggressive with it and see how they react."
Noah tried treatment, stretching, a massage and a painkilling shot but still couldn't take his double-double average into action.
"I'm definitely aiming for (playing Monday), but (Saturday) morning I could hardly walk," Noah said. "The pain is too much right now. I never had this in college. I had it a little throughout this year. It's just getting worse and worse."
What's getting better and better is the Bulls' offense, averaging 106.1 points over the last 10 games. Throw strong defensive efforts which limited the Suns and Rockets to a combined 39.2 percent shooting, and it follows that the Bulls have won 10 of 15.
There's no guarantee the Bulls will make a trade that improves the team like last season in advance of the Feb. 18 deadline. Mindful that after this trip 20 of the 37 remaining games are at home, Del Negro is thinking positive.
"We had to battle adversity early in terms of Tyrus (Thomas) and Kirk (Hinrich) being injured and getting John to play off guard and developing the rookies," Del Negro said. "We had a very difficult early schedule.
"There are peaks and valleys in any season. You have to improve individually which helps you improve collectively."
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Monday's matchup: Bulls at San Antonio Spurs
Series: Bulls lead 1-0.
Last meeting: Luol Deng scored 17 as the Bulls prevailed 92-85 at home on Oct. 29.
Probable starters (ppg)
BULLS (20-22) SPURS (25-17)
Derrick Rose 19.4; Tony Parker 17
Kirk Hinrich 9.9; George Hill 10
Joakim Noah 11.3; DeJuan Blair 7.1
Taj Gibson 8.5; Tim Duncan 19.9
Luol Deng 17.7; Richard Jefferson 12.8
Team averages (through Saturday)
BULLS CATEGORY SPURS
95.2 (27) Scoring offense 101.1 (11)
98.1 (14) Scoring defense 96.1 (6)
44.0 (26) FG percentage 47.8 (5)
75.5 (18) FT percentage 73.8 (25)
34.8 (18) 3-point FG percentage 38.0 (3)
45.6 (1) Rebounding 42.4 (10)
15 (19) Turnovers 14.1 (9)
Storyline: The Spurs have lost four of five, but the Bulls haven't swept this season series since 1997-98. Noah will test his injured left foot at the morning shootaround. If he can't go, look for Gibson to start on Blair and Brad Miller on Duncan.
