Dec. 08--The Bulls are allowing an uncharacteristic 100.5 points per game, letting 10 of 20 opponents crack the century mark. That didn't happen until Jan. 24 last season.
The Bulls are 3-7 in those games, which reminds how much the offense has improved while simultaneously underscoring how critical the defensive end is to their formula for success.
"We have a lot of new guys and young guys still trying to figure out the system," said Taj Gibson, active in his return from a six-game absence with a sprained ankle. "We're giving away too many games being lackadaisical on defense and not trusting each other, not talking, including myself.
"We're not having each other's backs on certain things. It's a small thing you can fix, but we have to get it right away. These games keep coming and nobody is going to feel sorry for you."
Injuries and restrictions have limited practice time together, a fact coach Tom Thibodeau has bemoaned consistently since the start of training camp. Though Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have been the most publicized players under restriction, there are softer, targeted restrictions for veterans such as Pau Gasol, Kirk Hinrich and Mike Dunleavy too.
Extenuating circumstances -- Noah incurred foul trouble when Gibson sat against the Mavericks -- have allowed deviations from the general plan. But the restrictions are expected to last for the foreseeable future.
"We've got to get guys working together more," Thibodeau said. "They have to practice together and practice hard together so they can get used to what they're doing in a game against a quality opponent. That's where we have to grow.
"We're still dealing with a lot of restrictions and things like that. We've got to work our way through that."
The Bulls also must figure out how to more consistently and effectively pair Noah with Gasol defensively. Noah, the NBA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, has spent more time on the perimeter guarding "stretch four" forwards since Gasol's defensive prowess is rooted in a more stationary, rim-protecting role.
Noah and Gibson both possess the rare ability to guard smaller players on the perimeter. But too often guards are getting hung up on screens and forcing help defense. And the recovery or rotations to shooters have been lacking.
Draymond Green set career highs with seven 3-pointers and 31 points for the Warriors on Saturday and had several open looks while doing so.
"Everyone in the league has a hard time guarding pick-and-pop (power forwards)," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "There's only so much court you can cover. It you can't stretch the Bulls out, they'll squeeze you (with their size)."
The Bulls took Sunday off but have two practices and a shootaround before Wednesday's home game against the Nets. The defense can't rest.
T-shirt talk: Several NFL players on Sunday joined Derrick Rose by wearing "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts during warmups, referencing Eric Garner's death and protesting this week's grand jury decision not to indict police officers responsible.
Cavaliers star LeBron James, who has weighed in on social issues in the past, told reporters in New York he "loved" Rose's gesture. James called it "spectacular," saying he's looking for a similar T-shirt which he may wear before Monday's game against the Nets.
Rose didn't address reporters after Saturday's game. But the Bulls star has quietly paid respect to other instances of violence, attending the funeral for 14-year-old Endia Martin in Englewood in May after she was killed by another teenage girl.
kcjohnson@tribpub.com
Twitter @kcjhoop
