Bulls get high ranks in GM survey

NBA general managers made it clear what they think of Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.

The league released the annual GM survey and the Bulls won two categories — best defensive team and which coach has the best defensive schemes.

The GMs picked Miami to win its third straight championship, Indiana to beat out the Bulls as Central Division champ and San Antonio to repeat as Western Conference champs.

The Bulls did get some consolation titles. Derrick Rose was voted second best point guard, but placed well behind the Los Angeles Clippers’ Chris Paul, who grabbed 70 percent of the vote. Joakim Noah finished second in best interior defender, well behind Houston’s Dwight Howard.

In the category of best head coach, Thibodeau tied for third with Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, behind San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich and the Clippers’ Doc Rivers.

Technically, the Bulls did win another category. In “Who is the best foreign player not in the NBA,” Real Madrid’s Nikola Mirotic finished first with 25 percent of the vote. The Bulls own his rights and are hoping to bring the 6-foot-9 sharpshooter to the NBA next summer.

Preseason is not perfect:After the Bulls beat Milwaukee on Monday to improve to 6-0 in preseason, coach Tom Thibodeau was asked if it means anything to win every exhibition game.#147;No, the games just tell you where you are,#148; he said. #147;They#146;re like tests. You#146;re striving to be ready for the start of the season. You want to be a 48-minute team. Every game reveals something to you. It tells you what you need to work on. I think it#146;s important to understand why you win or why you lose, then you have to be ready to adjust quickly.#148;Homecoming for Griffin:The Bulls didn#146;t practice Tuesday, but did fly to Wichita, Kan., for Wednesday#146;s preseason game against Oklahoma City.The main purpose of a game in Wichita is probably to drum up some more fan support for the Thunder. It#146;s about a two-hour drive between the cities.But the Bulls will also bring one of Wichita#146;s favorite sons. Assistant coach Adrian Griffin grew up there, graduating from Wichita East High School in 1992.#147;That#146;s why we#146;re playing there,#148; Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. #147;We#146;re looking forward to it. It#146;s a chance to go to Wichita and Oklahoma City is a good team. It will be good for us. It#146;s a good test.#148;