Bulls are praising Thibodeau for days off

New Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau seems to have a consistent guideline for practice: If the team has two days off between games, the first one will be practice-free.

Thibodeau used that policy last week after the opening game in Oklahoma City and repeated it by giving the Bulls some free time Tuesday, following the 110-98 victory over Portland.

Whether the players are encouraged to watch film, lift weights or work on their games isn't clear, since the media is not invited to sit around and watch what's going on.

It does seem as though Thibodeau believes in working hard in practice, while also trying to keep legs fresh.

“We appreciate (the day off), because I think that's because we practice so hard,” Luol Deng said after scoring a career-high 40 points against the Blazers. “I think we earned it. Coach has been an assistant coach for 22 years. I think we're all into what he's trying to do.

“We all buy into it and we believe in what he's trying to do. I know it's going to take awhile, but whatever he says, we're trying to lock down and do it.”

So far, Thibodeau's teachings have helped the offense. In just three games, Derrick Rose has matched career highs with 39 points and 13 assists, in addition to Deng's 40-point night.

Through Monday, the Bulls ranked fourth in the NBA in both field-goal percentage (.480) and defensive field-goal percentage (.400).

“We practice hard. We don't come in and just put an hour in,” guard Kyle Korver said. “This team goes hard, starting with Derrick. Derrick goes harder than anybody else. This team is going to work.

“It's a very coachable team. Coach like to coach. He's got some great stuff. He's got great plays. He has great philosophies. He's a great teacher. I think it's going to take a little bit of time before we're where we really can be. But I thought (the Portland win) was a big step in the right direction.”

Deng stays defensive:

Before erupting for 40 points and hitting 14 of 19 shots against the Blazers, Luol Deng shot just 30 percent from the field in the first two contests. His all-around play drew praise, though, from coach tom Thibodeau.

“I thought he played well because of all the things he's doing,” Thibodeau said after Monday's game. “He's moving without the ball, he's cutting hard, he's making the extra pass, and he's playing very good defense.

“We want to be a defensive team first and I thought Luol from the start of camp has been that way. He goes hard on defense every day in practice.

“I was glad in the first two games he didn't get down. He just kept working, kept working on his game, got in early, stayed late, got a lot of shots up. So I was very confident he'd come around.”

Stripe envy:

Fouls continue to be a huge problem for the Bulls.

They recorded 13 fewer free throws Monday against Portland but still managed to win by 12. Omer Asik fouled out, while Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and James Johnson each finished with 5 fouls.

Through three games, the Bulls are minus-40 in free throws made and have given up a staggering average of 41 free-throw attempts.

Dropping:

Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah both dropped out of the lead in a statistical category after Monday. Rose (27.7 ppg) is now second in scoring to Kevin Durant, while Joakim Noah (15.3 rebounds) is second to Toronto's Reggie Evans.