Noah's slow start no big deal
Of the 11 Bulls getting consistent playing time during the preseason, Joakim Noah has had the slowest start. He's averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in just under 20 minutes of action.
There are a couple good explanations, though: He's coming back from having his knee scoped early in the summer, and he's also getting used to playing next to new teammate Pau Gasol.
Noah's knee was a legitimate concern heading into training camp, but he says all signs are encouraging.
“I feel like I'm still in a rehab kind of state right now,” Noah said Wednesday at the Advocate Center. “I feel a lot better today than I did two weeks ago. That's always a positive.
“Just making sure the swelling is down. It's just a lot of rehab and it's boring, boring stuff. But you just have to stay on top of it, be patient. I'm sure it will come back to where I want it to be.”
One surprise in the preseason has been Gasol's defense. The veteran 7-footer has recorded 12 blocked shots in four games and the stat crew probably missed a couple in Milwaukee last weekend.
Obviously, Gasol is a much different player than Carlos Boozer, who started next to Noah the past four seasons. But Noah doesn't think his role is any different. He's still the guy floating around the perimeter, usually checking smaller opponents.
“Pau is definitely a different dimension,” Noah said. “We're a work in progress, but I think it's going to be great. It's great to have another basket protector. I think it's going to make us that much better defensively.”
Coming off a remarkable season that saw him win the defensive player of the year award, make All-NBA first team and finish fourth in MVP voting, Noah would have had a tough time mustering an encore even without the return of Derrick Rose and addition of Gasol.
As it stands, Noah figures to return to more of a supporting role, simply because he has more help around him. Barring more injury bad luck, the Bulls expect to be a Finals contender this season, not a scrappy overachiever. That also means the Bulls need Noah to excel in his two specialties — defense and rebounds.
“The big thing with his rebounding is he's unique,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He's almost like a rhythm rebounder. All of a sudden he'll take it over where he has great rhythm.
“He's got great timing, a big-time multiple-effort guy, and that's not there yet. He's pushing pretty good right now, so I know when he's doing that, good things come.”
When training camp began, Thibodeau appreciated Gasol's versatility. On the Lakers' championship teams of 2009-10, Gasol typically started games at power forward next to Andrew Bynum and finished them at center next to Lamar Odom.
With the Bulls, Gasol figures to stick at center. It will be Noah's job to bounce between power forward and perhaps center when Taj Gibson is in the game.
“Jo and Taj obviously have great chemistry because they've played so long together,” Thibodeau said. “Pau and Jo are just getting to know each other now, so that's a work in progress.”
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