Noah sounds ready to go
Joakim Noah sounds like he's ready to go, but coach Fred Hoiberg made no promises Sunday about Noah's return from a shoulder injury.
The Chicago Bulls center has been out with a left-shoulder sprain since Dec. 21. He's hoping to return Monday when the Bulls host Washington at the United Center, but Hoiberg labeled it a game-time decision.
"I feel good. I'm excited to get back on the court," Noah said Sunday at the Advocate Center. "Being on the bike on the side of practices for a couple of weeks, it's as humbling as it gets for a player to be injured. I think we've been playing really good basketball, and I just want to help our team."
The Bulls have played well lately, going 7-2 in the games Noah has missed.
It would be easy to ask if Noah's return can do anything to improve a good situation. But the fact is, the Bulls' recent improvement has been mostly about the starters playing well together. The reserve group already was doing well with Noah serving as the primary playmaker.
Hoiberg has said he will continue to use the same starting lineup, with Nikola Mirotic at small forward alongside Taj Gibson and Pau Gasol. That likely means rookie Bobby Portis will join Noah on the second team, but Hoiberg wouldn't commit to that strategy Sunday.
"I'm really excited to play with the rook," Noah said. "He's been a great addition for this team, just his energy and his ability. Good guy, and someone who has brought a lot to this team so far and I'm definitely excited to play with him."
The most likely scenario is the bottom few slots in the Bulls playing rotation will change from game to game. Hoiberg already has shown a tendency to mix and match based on opponent. Guards Aaron Brooks and E'Twaun Moore both have gone from playing key fourth-quarter minutes to not playing at all during the past two weeks,
With Noah back, Hoiberg will have to pick favorites between Portis, Tony Snell and Doug McDermott. On the bright side, a deep lineup should come in handy this week when the Bulls play their only set of four games in five nights this season.
"You have to give your guys rest when you can," Hoiberg said of the busy schedule. "A couple of guys might enter the rotation who haven't been in it. Hopefully getting Jo back will help with that."
After losing in Atlanta 120-105 on Saturday, ending a six-game winning streak, the Bulls had a film session instead of practice Sunday. The Bulls have scored 100 points in 10 straight games, but the defense slipped badly against the Hawks.
"We had a good film session," Hoiberg said. "A lot of it right now, we've got some breakdowns because of a lack of communication.
"We're not getting into our ball screen coverages quickly enough. Our transition defense, we're not getting matched up properly. It's a lot of basics, a lot of the things we were doing in training camp that have slipped the last couple games."
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