Congratulations are nice, but Noah wants Bulls to 'be hungry for more'
Bulls fans may be disappointed by Saturday's playoff elimination, but observers across the globe could appreciate the drama and entertainment of the wild first-round series against Boston. After seven games, seven overtimes and about 100 lead changes, the Celtics finally won the series with a 109-99 victory.
Following a team meeting at the Berto Center on Sunday, second-year man Joakim Noah was in no mood to accept congratulations.
"To me, it's weird how everyone is so positive," he said. "I went to breakfast this morning and people started clapping in the restaurant. It was crazy. I was like, 'Man, we lost in the first round.' It was a little bit embarrassing.
"This is a great learning experience and I'll remember these moments for my whole life. But I think as a team, we've got to be hungry for more."
When Game 7 ended, Noah walked over and sat on the Celtics' bench for a few seconds. He was trying to greet Boston forward Glen Davis, but he was in the middle of a television interview and Noah quickly retreated to the locker room.
"I didn't even say one word to him for the whole series," Noah said. "I'll get his number from Tyrus (Thomas) and congratulate him. I just have a lot of respect for those guys.
"I've known 'Baby' since we were 15, 16 years old. He used to sleep over at my house and my mom always had baby pictures of us (Noah and his sister), but we were naked. He just thought that was the craziest thing ever. He couldn't stop laughing, he was rolling on the floor. My mom's from Sweden, we're European. Being from Baton Rouge (La.), he'd never seen anything like that before."
Tyrus slap not an issue: A Comcast SportsNet sideline camera caught Tyrus Thomas giving coach Vinny Del Negro an aggressive smack on the rear when he was pulled from the game at the 6:40 mark of the third quarter. Thomas didn't return until the final minute of the game.
On Sunday at the Berto Center, Del Negro insisted the slap was no big deal and was something Thomas did at times in the regular season. But Thomas may have been upset by playing just 17 minutes in Game 7. He was the first Bulls player to leave the court after the final horn and also the first out of the locker room.
"That's what being a team is all about, understanding your role," Del Negro said. "Every game is going to be different. (Thomas) is a young player and he's got to find his niche and continually develop and make decisions on what he wants to be - inside player, outside player. He's got to get stronger. But that's what the summer is all about. He's a young kid trying to find his way and it's our job to help him."
BG eyes a title: Looking ahead to becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Ben Gordon listed a chance to win a championship as his top priority. Since the only teams certain to have cap room right now are Detroit, Oklahoma City and Memphis, his best chance might be to stay with the Bulls.
"The guys I was out there on the floor with (in the playoffs) gave it everything they had," Gordon said. "I think this team we have right now, with a few adjustments, we can definitely head in that direction. I guess it's just going to have to be a decision myself and the Bulls are going to have to come to if I'm going to be back here or not."
Bull horns: Vinny Del Negro said he expects the coaching staff to return intact next season. ... John Salmons is planning to visit a couple of out-of-town specialists about his groin strain. ... Luol Deng will have another MRI next week to check the status of his stress fracture. ... After Saturday's Game 7 loss, Salmons said a religious bracelet he's worn nonstop since his junior year of college snapped. It was originally a gift from college teammate James Jones, now a member of the Miami Heat.