Noah optimistic about Bulls' outlook

Joakim Noah was scratched from Monday's game due to general soreness. It was the second time in less than two weeks he has taken a game off.

Earlier in the day, Noah was thinking positive. Jimmy Butler returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a sprained left elbow, so the Bulls are one step closer to full health, assuming Noah is back soon.

"I still think we're the toughest team to beat in a seven-game series," Noah told reporters after shootaround. "That being said, we have guys coming back, we have to work on our chemistry."

Noah acknowledged the fact that the Bulls haven't been as good defensively this season as they've been in previous years under coach Tom Thibodeau. But Noah is hoping for a late-season turnaround.

"Thibs' defense is predicated on five guys moving on both sides of the ball," he said. "Live and die by the contested two. That's our philosophy. Hopefully we can get our defense to a higher level.

"It's very important to get our guys back. Jimmy's a big part of what we're trying to do, and we're really excited to have him back. Just, you know, he's a tough-minded player who plays to win.

"I think everyone does on this team, but Jimmy's a heck of a talent and he brings us toughness, which we need."

Rose making progress:

With Jimmy Butler back on the floor, all eyes will turn to Derrick Rose, who has been out since Feb. 25 due to arthroscopic knee surgery.

"Basically, he's doing everything in practice except the contact part," Tom Thibodeau said before Monday's game. "Normally, you're not doing a lot of contact this time of the year. We'll have an opportunity, hopefully, as the schedule unfolds, to get some work in."

Asked if Rose could be cleared for contact practice by Tuesday, Thibodeau didn't want to speculate. The Bulls have some off-days coming up, but the coach said he won't plan practice around getting injured guys some work.

"A guy like Pau (Gasol), who's done every practice, played in virtually every game, you want to make sure you're taking care of him," Thibodeau said. "You have to put the needs of the team first, then whatever we have to do for the guys who are making their way back, we can figure that out as well, (use) the younger guys and go from there."

No Spanish rivalry:

Pau Gasol grew up in Barcelona, Spain, and spent several years playing for the local basketball club. Nikola Mirotic is from Montenegro but spent the past few years playing for Real Madrid.

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid might be the world's biggest soccer rivalry these days. When those teams play, as they did Sunday, Gasol said there's no tension between he and Mirotic.

Gasol said they might talk about it and he roots for Barcelona, but he doesn't get carried away.