Deng: 'I want to be emotional out there, more vocal'

Maybe Luol Deng wasn't feeling any added pressure last season after turning down the Bulls' final offer for a contract extension.

But between the Bulls' slow start, some nagging injuries and incessant questions about that contract decision, any traces of happiness quickly disappeared from Deng's face.

For three seasons, he was as friendly as anyone in the NBA, still relishing his unlikely journey from Sudan to London to the NBA by age 19. Last year, though, Deng's locker-room expressions seemed to range from slightly perturbed to borderline surly.

This season should be different. The 6-foot-9 forward agreed to a six-year, $71-million contract in August. As far as total compensation, it's the largest deal in team history, though his annual salary will fall far short of the $33 million earned by Michael Jordan in 1997-98.

"I'm just focusing on me," Deng said. "I'm not focusing so much on what I've got to show everybody or talking to the media about things I don't like to talk about. I never really liked talking about my contract. I'd rather just focus on basketball and play, and it's been great so far.

By increasing their contract offer, the Bulls obviously are counting on Deng to shake off last season and build on his 2006-07 performance, when he averaged a career-best 18.8 points and 7.1 rebounds.

Deng's strategy heading into this season might seem a little surprising. He wants to be a more of a team leader, but that's not the full story.

"Really, I want to be emotional out there, more vocal," he said. "I think when I play with emotion, I play a lot better than when I have things hanging over my head. So that's the biggest thing I've got to do."

This is the point where folks who follow the Bulls regularly stop and ask themselves if they've ever seen Deng show much emotion on the court. He typically carries a businesslike approach to the game.

"When I'm happy, I'm emotional," he said. "Hopefully that will be the case this year."

Deng agreed that he may have abandoned his midrange jump shot too often last season. He felt is wasn't a conscious decision but had more to do with back and Achilles injuries making it difficult to get much lift on his jumpers.

"I couldn't do that and went to my post game," he said. "Hopefully this year with the way I feel right now, I'll be able to do both effectively."

Outside of second-year center Aaron Gray, none of the Bulls have been particularly impressive in the first two preseason games. They are back in action tonight against Minnesota at the United Center.

Like the rest of his teammates, Deng is trying to learn the schemes of a new coaching staff. He also was busy in the weeks leading to training camp, carrying the Great Britain national team to a 4-2 record in the qualifying round and clinching a spot in next year's European championships for the first time.

"He's been great," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "He's a great kid. He had a busy summer playing and I think he was a little fatigued the first few days of camp. He's starting to get his legs under him, like everybody.

"He's a big focal point of what we're doing. He has that midrange game that we want to take advantage of."

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