Feb. 23--The Bulls' victory over the Lakers on Sunday showcased Bobby Portis' 3-point range that the rookie first flashed in summer league.
It's no aberration. His 3-for-3 outing raised his season mark to 37.9 percent, more than respectable for a big man.
But that's not where coach Fred Hoiberg is focused. After a tough stretch in which Portis routinely fell out of defensive position -- and into foul trouble -- he is showing improvement at the end where he's needed most with Joakim Noah out for the season after shoulder surgery.
"Where he's really grown is on the defensive end," Hoiberg said. "If you looked at the numbers and splits early in the season, it was a struggle for him. But he has continued to work, watched a lot of film and he's really progressed.
"We've been really proud of how he has gotten better as the season has gone on. It allows us to play him down the stretch a lot more."
Ghost stories: Taj Gibson shook his head when asked about Kyrie Irving getting bitten by bed bugs during the Cavaliers' recent stay at Oklahoma City's Skirvin Hilton Hotel. The Bulls used to stay at that hotel, which is reputed to be haunted by a ghost named Effie, a former housekeeper at the building.
"I was more scared about the bed bugs than the ghost stories," Gibson said.
Gibson claimed in 2010, the Bulls' last stay there, that his bathroom door slammed shut in the middle of the night. Derrick Rose roomed with James Johnson that year out of concern for the hotel's haunted history.
Layups: Pau Gasol missed practice Tuesday because of the flu. Hoiberg said Gasol came to the practice facility to get medicine and is hopeful he can play Wednesday against the Wizards. ... Nikola Mirotic, who underwent surgeries for an appendectomy and hematoma removal, began light jogging. Jimmy Butler has started straight-ahead movements but has had issues moving laterally with his injured left knee. Both remain weeks away from returning.
