Despite slow starts, Thibodeau not planning any lineup changes

The Bulls have made a nasty habit of falling behind early in games.

They delivered crazy comebacks in the last three games of the circus trip against Phoenix, Denver and Sacramento, winning two of the three.

But this has been an issue going all the way back to the home opener against Detroit on Oct. 30, when the Bulls rallied from 21 points down to win. Against Orlando on Wednesday, they trailed by 24 at halftime and never got closer than 16 the rest of the way.

Coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned two essentials for faster starts.

“Being ready for the speed and energy of the game and establishing an inside-out attack,” he said. “Sometimes if you settle for jumpers early without the ball hitting the paint, it's going to lend itself to them getting into transition and attacking us before we're set.”

Maybe the Bulls are ready for a lineup change. After all, Ronnie Brewer has averaged 25.6 minutes since the circus trip began and has gotten more playing time than starter Keith Bogans in eight straight games. Second-year forward James Johnson brought a spark off the bench during those recent comebacks and may deserve a more consistent role.

“Basically, we're going through the adjustment of Carlos (Boozer) right now,” Thibodeau said. “The rotation will basically be the same.”

Eyes on Cleveland:

Carlos Boozer can relate to what LeBron James experienced Thursday. Boozer himself wasn't very popular in Cleveland when he left the Cavs for Utah in 2004.

James made his first visit to Cleveland since jumping to Miami as a free agent this summer.

“It will be tough for him,” Boozer said. “As a personal friend of his, I know it's going to be a tough moment for him, because he has a lot of great memories there. I just wish him the best of luck.

“I know it's the kind of place he embraces because he built so much there, coming from there, being from there, giving everything he had for those seven or eight years. I know it will be emotional for him.”

Derrick Rose wasn't nearly as interested in the Cleveland drama.

“I've got my second season of ‘Dexter,' to watch,” he said, referring to the Showtime series. “I'll just have to hear about it tomorrow.”

The brace is over:

Carlos Boozer plans to discard the padded glove he wore on his right hand in Wednesday's game. It seemed to work, since Boozer said he had no issues, even when Orlando guard Jameer Nelson reached in while Boozer had the ball and raked the injured hand.

“I think I just tried it yesterday to see; to ease your mind a little bit when you have something protecting your hand,” he said. “I'm not going to wear that again.”

Pillow talk:

Derrick Rose said the stiff neck that kept him out of last week's game at Denver has gotten better and he thinks it might have been a byproduct of the long road trip.

“I guess (it was from) changing beds every night,” he said. “I guess I've got to bring my pillow on the road trip.”