Sleep-in day leads to sleepy first half for Bulls

Coach Fred Hoiberg tried to jump-start the Bulls' underperforming starting five by giving them a sleep-in day.

Hoiberg canceled the usual morning shootaround Monday, instead holding a walk-through on the United Center floor about three hours before game time against Philadelphia.

“Long homestand right now,” Hoiberg explained. “I talked to our guys and our staff. (Assistant) Jim Boylen said one of the things the Spurs used to do a lot of times when they had a long homestand was go through a lot of the things in a walk-through the day before. Then meet at the arena (before the game).

“We had a film session here before we walked through some of their actions. Just to give them a little more energy coming out of the gate, let the guys get a little more rest in the morning. Hopefully that will happen.”

It didn't happen. At least, not at the start of the contest. The Bulls starters turned in another sluggish beginning, scoring just 8 points in the opening 6 ½ minutes before Joakim Noah checked in as the first sub. During the final 5 ½ minutes of the first quarter, the Bulls scored 16 points.

Noah plays point:

One thing that's been noticeable about the Bulls' second group, mostly when Kirk Hinrich is on the floor, center Joakim Noah essentially serves as the point guard.

Noah dribbles the ball up the court most of the time and even when he doesn't, Hinrich usually crosses half-court and tosses it to Noah, who facilitates the offense from the top of the key.

Coach Fred Hoiberg said before the game it's a plan he'll keep using,

“Our guys have been doing a better job of running with (Noah),” he said. “Before, it was pretty bunched up, different guys were running toward the ball.

“Since we put Jo in the middle of the floor, I like what we've gotten. We've gotten good action. We've gotten some back cuts, we've gotten some good dribble handoffs, some rolls to the rim for Joakim. So yeah, when he gets it, we expect him to push it down the floor.”

Praise for Okafor:

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg had strong praise for Sixers rookie Jahlil Okafor, a Chicago native who played at Whitney Young High School.

“The kid's bringing it on the court,” Hoiberg said. “He's an absolute load out there. He's going to be a superstar in this league.”

Okafor lived up to that billing by scoring 16 points in the first half of Monday's contest. Before the game, Philadelphia coach Brett Brown wasn't sure what to expect from Okafor in his return home.

“You get all caught up in friends and family and you want to impress probably too quick too soon,” Brown said. “We tell our guys all the time, be fast on your feet and slow in your mind, because the game goes quick in your head when you come back to these type of territories. You never know how to predict it. I think it's volatile, uncertain. Especially being rookies.”

Besides Okafor, rookie forward Richaun Holmes, a Lockport native, also played a homecoming game. Brown said before the game he thinks the 6-10 Holmes, a second-round pick from Bowling Green, is a “keeper.”