March 08--SAN ANTONIO -- Readiness to play is one of Tom Thibodeau's consistent talking points. That's the challenge Sunday as not only did the Bulls and Spurs have a noon tip at AT Center, but it followed losing one hour to daylight savings time.
While the Bulls again were without Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson, the Spurs were at full strength and riding a four-game win streak.
"Looks like (Tony) Parker is getting back to being Parker," Thibodeau said. "They got everyone back now. They're the machine that keeps on going."
The Bulls downed the Spurs by 23 in Chicago in January despite playing without Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy. But Sunday's challenge, no matter the tip time, is a big one.
"Our margin of error is so small," Thibodeau said. "You never can underestimate how hard you have to play to overcome being shorthanded. You're not replacing Derrick or Jimmy or Taj individually. We have to do it with everyone. So that's the way we have to play."
