Brewer: Bulls can learn from Utah's win
Utah's furious comeback and overtime victory at Miami on Tuesday night captured the attention of NBA fans, and ex-Jazz swingman Ronnie Brewer was no exception.
One of three ex-Utah players who joined the Bulls this summer, Brewer also wondered that if Jazz power forward Paul Millsap can score 46 points, how will Carlos Boozer fare against Miami's suspect interior defense?
“I don't think Boozer is going to be shooting any threes (Millsap made three in the fourth quarter),” Brewer said. “But I think he was definitely watching to see how Paul was successful in scoring so many points. He did a really good job making it hard on the defense to slow them down.”
Boozer is expected to make his Bulls debut in a few weeks after recovering from a broken right hand. Even though Brewer was traded from Utah to Memphis last season, he was excited for his former teammates.
“I hit them all up after the game and told them congratulations,” Brewer said. “I definitely talked to Paul, told him he played a heck of a game. I told him it's about time he started shooting some threes, because he works on them in the summertime, then the season comes and he never shoots any.”
Rose toes the line:
When Derrick Rose casually mentioned Tuesday he has been suffering from turf toe on his left foot since late last season, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was caught off guard.
“That was the first I heard of it,” Thibodeau said Wednesday at the Berto Center. “You wouldn't know it by the way he's playing. the speed and quickness. He never missed anything in practice. He's always here early, stays late. I asked him about it today, he said he felt fine.”
Watson faces old team:
If Bulls guard C.J. Watson is fired up about facing his former team when the Golden State Warriors visit on Thursday, he did a nice job of masking his emotions.
“It's just a regular game,” he said. “It's going to be fun to play against them and see everybody and just go out there and play the game.”
Watson spent three seasons with Golden State after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2007. The most significant difference in the Warriors this season is Keith Smart replacing Don Nelson as head coach. They owned a 5-2 record heading into Wednesday's game at New York.
“He has their trust right now,” Watson said of Smart, a former assistant. “I think they're playing a lot better defense. They're out there attacking.”
Bulls game day
<P>Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors at the United Center, 7 p.m. Thursday</P>
<P><B>TV:</B> Comcast SportsNet</P>
<P><B>Radio:</B> WMVP 1000-AM</P>
<P><B>Update:</B> With new coach Keith Smart and ex-Knicks power forward David Lee on board, Golden State jumped out to a 5-2 start heading into Wednesday's game at New York. Top scorer Monta Ellis (27.9 ppg) suffered a back injury against Toronto on Monday and his status is questionable. Second-year guard Stephon Curry is averaging 21.0 points, with ex-Miami forward Dorrell Wright at 16.4. Golden State has lost seven of its last eight games at the United Center.</P>
<P><B>Next:</B> Saturday vs. Washington at the United Center, 7 p.m.</P>