Bulls not fazed by Thibs' screamin' and shoutin'
After Tuesday's practice at the Berto Center, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau got a chance to respond to Joakim Noah's report that Thibodeau was “screaming” at them during shootaround on Monday.
Noah wasn't complaining, especially after the 97-58 win over Atlanta, the fewest points the Bulls have ever allowed in a regular-season game.
“My job is to tell them the truth as I see it,” Thibodeau said. “Each day, for us to improve, we have to know the things we're not doing well. Sometimes you do it through film, sometimes meetings, sometimes practice and sometimes it's all three.
“I thought readiness to play was something that was important for us. Usually with this team, when we practice well, we play well. We had some slippage.”
The Bulls snapped a two-game slide at home and are now 11-10 at the United Center. They are 10-5 away from home as they leave for a road trip with stops in Toronto and Boston.
“We're used to it,” Kirk Hinrich said of Thibodeau's shootaround message. “He's very emotional. He takes getting us ready very seriously. We as professionals just have to do the same thing.”
Boozer at his best:Carlos Boozer collected his eighth double-double in nine games Monday. So far in January, he's averaging 22.3 points and 10.6 rebounds.Coach Tom Thibodeau paid tribute Tuesday to the often-maligned power forward.#8220;We're a much better team when we play through him and we establish him in the post,#8221; he said. #8220;We have to continue to search him out.#8220;I think he's rolling more on the pick and rolls. When he does pop or he catches the ball at 15 (feet), you have to play him for both the shot and drive and those guys are difficult to guard. If there's a body position mistake, he'll make you pay for it.#8221;Oddly enough, prior to this stretch, Boozer's best months with the Bulls were his first two: He averaged 20.6 points and 9.7 boards in December 2010; then 19.0 and 10.9 in January 2011.Hinrich OK:Kirk Hinrich was feeling OK after taking a hard fall in the Atlanta game. He was driving the baseline, was shoved by Hawks guard Devin Harris as he went up for a shot and hit the floor hard near the basket support.#8220;It was just a hard fall,#8221; he said. #8220;It's going to happen. I don't feel any ill effects of it or anything like that. Something like that, if you stick your hand out, you could break your wrist. But I landed on my side and was fine.#8221;The officials' ruling of the play was unusual. Hinrich made the shot, but that was waved off and an offensive foul called on Richard Hamilton for setting an illegal screen on Harris. Hamilton argued that he was posting up, not setting a screen. Harris was given a flagrant foul.Also, give Joakim Noah an assist for wrapping Hinrich in a bear hug when he tried to charge Harris after the play.