Bulls' bench getting job done
SAN ANTONIO -- For two games in a row, the Bulls' reserves have played well in the second quarter. They helped outscore Houston 30-15 on Tuesday, and the lineup of Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson, Kyle Korver, Omer Asik and Luol Deng stretched a short-lived, second-quarter lead against San Antonio.
It's no coincidence that Brewer finally has started playing like his old self. He scored 11 points in the first half against the Rockets. On Wednesday, he brought the Bulls' bench to its feet with a lane drive and tomahawk jam.
“I think it adds a lot his length, his athleticism, his ability to get up and down the floor,” coach Tom Thibodeau said.
Brewer got off to a slow start after missing the first two weeks of training camp with a sore hamstring. He also had to sit out the final two months of last season with a torn right hamstring.
“You can't simulate any style of speed in the summer of what you see in the NBA,” Brewer said. “Then missing training camp and having limited minutes in preseason, it takes some time.
“Your shot might not be down. Your legs might not be as explosive. It felt good to actually be able to have a total game out there.”
Free throw failures:
After missing 13 fouls shots Tuesday against Houston, the Bulls ranked 28th in the league in free-throw percentage at .698, ahead of only Detroit and Orlando.
Individually, several players have been a little off their usual accuracy. Luol Deng is shooting 69 percent, while Taj Gibson is at 63.6 percent.
“We practice them quite a bit,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “At the end of every practice, we're making either 50 or 100 and we're doing different things to try to focus on concentration.
“It's different in practice than it is in the games. I think if we continue to work on it, we will get better.”
The funny thing is, they've had a couple of great games at the foul line. At Boston they went 17-for-18. In the home win over Golden State they were 21-for-23.
Thibs remembers Tark:
Tom Thibodeau said he has taken something from every coach he has worked with and worked for. So what about his short stint as an assistant for Jerry Tarkanian in San Antonio?
“I tell you what, it was short period of time, but I thought he did a great job,” Thibodeau said. “One of the greatest communicators I've been around. (Because) he put time in and just the way he dealt with players honest, open and committed.”
Bull horns:
Tuesday's game at Houston drew the highest television ratings for a Bulls broadcast in the history of Comcast SportsNet. … St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols sat courtside Wednesday in San Antonio.