Nov. 18--LOS ANGELES -- The Bulls improved to 8-3 with their shorthanded, 105-89 victory over the Clippers. Here are three observations:
Joakim Noah looked like himself again.
This is not a knock against Derrick Rose or Pau Gasol, both of whom missed the victory with injuries. Of course the Bulls will need them to play at a high level to win a championship. But without those two, Noah returned to his role from last season more frequently. The offense ran through him more. The defense allowed him to patrol the paint and roam for rebounds. The results? A nice box score of 11 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. Add to that the activity Noah showed as he continues to look better after offseason knee surgery and it's a good night for the Bulls.
"I thought Joakim was terrific," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I thought it was his best game of the season."
Jimmy Butler is playing like, well, an All-Star.
Don't take our word for it. Clippers coach Doc Rivers called it that way Monday night. And that was before Butler finished with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds in 45 minutes, 17 seconds to boost the victory. That's Butler's sixth game of 20 or more points. He had just nine such performance in his first three NBA seasons combined. But he continues to downplay his scoring prowess.
"My teammates are finding me in positions to score," Butler said.
The Bulls are masters at such unlikely victories because of Tom Thibodeau's consistent mindset.
The line almost has become a parody for Bulls fans because Thibodeau says it so often. We have more than enough to win. But as much as the Bulls have played shorthanded in Thibodeau's four-plus seasons at the helm, it's a belief system he must and does have. And it spreads to the players, who are numb even when they get late-game news that one of their key players got scratched.
Kirk Hinrich didn't know Gasol was out with a strained left calf until a casual pregame conversation. But the Bulls didn't blink, overcoming a 14-point deficit for easily their most impressive victory of the season. Hinrich proved huge with 14 points and five assists, as did Mike Dunleavy, who sank four 3-pointers in his 19 points with seven rebounds. This is the defining characterisitic of the Bulls' shorthanded victories: multiple players contributing.
"Any time you're shorthanded, you know your margin of error is smaller," Thibodeau said. "But I have great belief in this team. I think the team has great belief in itself. We have the belief that if we do the right things, the results will take care of themselves. So when somebody's out, the next guy steps in and does the job. Just get the job done."
