Chicago Bulls hope to take advantage of long break
Besides being the first Bulls' home game in 18 days, Wednesday's date against the Los Angeles Lakers will be the team's first game action in five days.
The end of the circus road trip featured a rare extended break - four days off and just one game in a seven-day span.
"I liked it," coach Fred Hoiberg said Tuesday. "We got a good chance to catch our breath after a long road trip. We gave the guys basically a day and a half to get back and see their families and get off their feet.
"The guys who needed extra work got in here and had a couple good work days. We were able to send three of our younger guys down to play in the D-League, which got them some conditioning and timing. And then we had two really good days of practice."
Jerian Grant, Cristiano Felicio and R.J. Hunter played for the Windy City Bulls last Saturday at the Sears Centre, with Grant scoring 34 points in a win over Delaware. All three players have rejoined the NBA Bulls.
The Bulls played the Lakers in Los Angeles on Nov. 20, winning 118-110 without Dwyane Wade.
"It will be a good test for us," Hoiberg said. "Again, it's going to be great to get back home. We've got to come out with the same energy that we've been playing with and we've got to hopefully get off to good starts."
McDermott still sidelined:
Forward Doug McDermott was checked by the doctor, but has not been cleared for a full-contact practice. He has been shooting after practice at the Advocate Center the past two days.
"(He) still has a little bit of symptoms," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "No headaches. I honestly don't know what it is. He went to the physical therapist and met with the doctors and they didn't think he was quite ready for the full contact yet."
McDermott suffered a concussion when he hit the floor hard on Nov. 12 against Washington. Wednesday will be the seventh game he has missed with this injury.
Butler knows Deng:
With the Lakers in town, Jimmy Butler will get another chance to go against former teammate Luol Deng. Actually, they didn't match up directly in Los Angeles on Nov. 20 because Dwyane Wade sat out and Butler slid over to shooting guard.
"I don't say too much to Lu," Butler said Tuesday. "Lu showed me the ropes when I got here as a first year (rookie). The way I look at it, I owe him a little bit. That's why I'm going at him to show him the protégé is doing it."