Bulls' game plan for Shaq: run him into submission
The scene following Bulls practice on Wednesday told the story of what's in store.
On one side of the court, center Joakim Noah spent at least 10 minutes dunking a medicine ball tossed by strength coach Erik Helland. On the other end, point guard Derrick Rose went through a rigorous shooting workout and ran extra sprints with player development coach Randy Brown.
Noah is preparing to guard Shaquille O'Neal on Thursday when the Bulls visit Cleveland. O'Neal just turned in his best performance since joining the Cavs (21 points, 8 rebounds) in Tuesday's win over Washington.
"Imagine pushing a wall as hard as you can," Noah said. "That's what it feels like when Shaq posts you up. It's a good challenge."
The Bulls have won six games in a row when O'Neal was in uniform for the opposing team. The run began during the 2007 playoff sweep of Miami. They've faced O'Neal just once in each of the past two seasons when he played for Miami and Phoenix.
Rose, meanwhile, continues trying to get into game shape. He showed signs late in Tuesday's 83-81 comeback victory over Milwaukee, scoring 10 of his 16 points in the final 6:40 along with tossing in a couple of dunks.
The second-year point guard missed all but one exhibition game with a right ankle injury and hasn't been himself during the first four games of the regular season.
"It's not explosive like I want it to be," Rose said. "Every day it's getting better so hopefully you'll see me flying in the air soon."
Coach Vinny Del Negro has been preaching a common theme for the past five days or so. He wants the Bulls to play at a faster pace. They did that very well at the end of last season, averaging nearly 110 points per game. So far this year, they're averaging 88 points.
"That will come once Derrick gets back in condition and guys figure out exactly what we're doing out there," Del Negro said.
"It's our fourth game. We're going to get better at it," said Luol Deng, who produced 24 points and 20 rebounds against the Bucks. "We still have a little bit bad habits of holding the ball and not moving it. When we do that, our defense kind of gets lazy. As we speed up the game and move the ball, I think our energy will pick up defensively also."
The best way to neutralize O'Neal, 37, might be to pick up the pace. When the Cavs lost to Toronto last week, Chris Bosh sprinted up the court on most every change of possession and O'Neal asked out of the game quickly.
"Of course, we've got to make him run," Rose said. "They want to slow the ball down so him and (7-foot-3 Zydrunas) Ilgauskas can get down the court and clog up the middle."
"I know he's going to put his body on me as much as he can," added Noah. "So that's going to tire me. But that's definitely my goal, to try to run him down the court as much as possible."
The Bulls will most likely be without Tyrus Thomas for the second straight game due to an illness. Deng will get the call to guard James, but that chore could be passed among several players.
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena, 7 p.m.
TV: TNT
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM, or WLS 890-AM if World Series goes to Game 7.
Update: Since starting 0-2, the Cavaliers have beaten Minnesota, Charlotte and Washington to move above .500. Shaquille O'Neal had his best game of the season Tuesday against the Wizards with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while hitting 7 of 9 shots and 7 of 10 free throws. Overall, Shaq is at 11.4 ppg. and shooting 41 percent at the foul line. LeBron James is posting his usual 25.2 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds. The Bulls lost badly in Cleveland twice last season, but won there in each of the previous two years.
Next: Saturday vs. Charlotte Bobcats at the United Center, 7 p.m.