March 16--Last week, Fred Hoiberg admitted to peeking at the upcoming schedule, a practice more coaches undoubtedly employ, even if they won't admit it.
Surely Hoiberg sees opportunity, even if, given the Bulls' injuries and inconsistency this season, nothing is assured. Still, if the Bulls are to make the playoffs, this is the time to achieve.
Wednesday's road game against the Wizards marks the first of seven straight against teams with sub-.500 records. Four come at home.
This is no small stretch for a team just one game above .500 that has more road games remaining (nine) than the seventh-place Pacers, who have five, and the tied-for-eighth-place Pistons, who have four and begin a nine-game homestand Wednesday. The 10th-place Wizards also have nine road games left.
"Every game obviously has so much importance," Hoiberg said. "The teams around us are winning right now. To keep pace, we have to take care of business and worry about ourselves. That has been a big message the last few days."
Rest day: The Bulls didn't practice officially Tuesday. Players worked out individually and got treatment. This included Derrick Rose, who has missed two straight games with a sore left groin, and Taj Gibson, who continues to play through a sore right hamstring.
Gibson said he's playing against the Wizards. Mike Dunleavy, who sat Monday in Toronto with a stomach virus, is hopeful to return. Hoiberg said whether Rose plays depends on how he reacts to his workout. The Bulls finish a back-to-back set Thursday at home against the Nets.
"You use (the groin area) a lot on the basketball floor as far as explosiveness, defensively getting in a stance, moving," Hoiberg said.
Bombs away: Doug McDermott has scored a career-high 30 points and another 29 on Monday in his last two games against the Raptors. McDermott, who pointed out he played well against the Raptors in summer league as well, scored 24 first-half points without missing a shot Monday. That included a four-point play.
"I just was in that zone," he said. "Everything I shot felt good. The second half was tough because they were all over me. I was happy to help us win. I hope I can use this going forward."
