Bulls small lineup a winning strategy
The Bulls' small lineup was a winning strategy on Saturday against Utah, but it was more about availability than anything else.
Tyrus Thomas (concussion) and Drew Gooden (sprained right ankle) were both sidelined and it's possible neither will be back by Tuesday when the Bulls play the first of four straight road games at Detroit.
Thomas sat on the bench during the early part of Saturday's win over the Jazz, but was forced to retreat to the locker room.
"I had to come back in because the light was too much for me," Thomas said. "I'm actually doing a lot better than (Friday). That was nonstop; not really dizziness, but pain, a little blurry. Right now I'm doing a lot better."
Concussion recovery hasn't been much fun for Thomas, who was accidentally elbowed in the head by Gooden during Tuesday's game at Charlotte. Thomas tried to play the following night against the Clippers, but the concussion symptoms became too intense.
"I've just been trying to rest," he said. "I get bored. I can't play video games or anything. They don't want me to do much thinking. I'm just sitting around bored. I've done a lot of sleeping, too."
Forward Michael Ruffin, who has been out since early in training camp with ankle and Achilles injuries, was not ready to return Saturday.
Deron doesn't forget: Utah guard Deron Williams is exceptionally popular in this state for leading Illinois to the 2005 NCAA title game. But he has bad memories of the United Center.
The building is where Williams suffered a nasty ankle sprain in preseason when he went up for 3-point shot and landed on Derrick Rose's foot. The fourth-year point guard missed 13 games with the injury and may never be 100 percent this season.
"I feel like he (Rose) is a big reason for the bad start to my season," Williams said in the Salt Lake Tribune. "But he didn't do it on purpose. It's not like he tried to sprain my ankle."
Jazz still short-handed: Carlos Boozer missed his 16th game with a strained left quadriceps tendon and no return is in sight. He had another MRI exam on Thursday and told the Salt Lake Tribune, "I felt a pain that I haven't felt and I wanted to see what (the doctor) had to say about it."
Bull horns: Ben Gordon is now 6 baskets away from passing Scottie Pippen as the Bulls' all-time leader in 3-pointers. ... Gordon, Andres Nocioni and Cedric Simmons will host a holiday party for local families with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services today in Lisle. Gordon's New Life Foundation will cover the cost of the event.