Jan. 19--The Bulls haven't faced the Cavaliers since losing to them in overtime in the Oct. 31 home opener.
That's also the last time Derrick Rose has even watched the Cavs.
"I haven't been watching basketball other than hearing about it from my friends," Rose said. "When I'm at home, I don't watch other games. I just try to relax and watch other things."
Don't worry: The Bulls traveled to Cleveland on Sunday so Rose left home. And here's a safe guess: Tom Thibodeau's film study featured plenty of clips of Kyrie Irving, Rose's matchup, and LeBron James.
"Make everything tough for him," Jimmy Butler said when asked about James, his matchup. "Everybody knows he's a hell of a player. I think as long as we play team basketball, team defense, we'll be all right."
That's been an issue of late. The Bulls have allowed four straight opponents to score 100 or more points. And James has been a force in his first three games back since missing eight to rest a sore back and sore left knee, averaging 33.7 points on 52.3 percent shooting and 7.7 rebounds.
The Cavaliers went 1-7 without James but closed their West Coast trip with back-to-back victories over the Lakers and Clippers.
"They're winning games now," Butler said. "They have a lot of great players, great scorers on that team. So we're definitely going to have to man up and play some defense."
Kevin Love missed the Clippers game with a sore back but practiced Sunday and is questionable for Monday.
"They're a talented team," Rose said. "They have three good players and a good cast with them. They play well together. We just have to make sure the defense is there. The offense, I could care less about that. It's defense and competing."
