Wade isn't worried about poor showing in back-to-back
After getting thumped at Indiana on Saturday, the Chicago Bulls have reason to be concerned about their performance in back-to-back games.
Dwyane Wade, the Bulls' oldest player, hit just 1 of 9 shots from the field Saturday. The Bulls trailed by 16 points by the end of the first quarter and never caught up.
"I think I matched what I did last year on my first back-to-back (with Miami)," Wade told reporters at Monday's shootaround. "My body felt OK; my shot just didn't go in. I only shot 9 shots. Give me 9 more, maybe I'll make some.
"I'm not worried about it. Actually, my body felt OK, it was just the rhythm. It was the first one. Our whole team was flat. So you get better as you go on."
Wade wasn't the only poor shooter Saturday. Nikola Mirotic went 0-for-6 and never scored. Rajon Rondo was 4-for-11.
The Bulls' second back-to-back of the season will be an interesting one. After playing in Atlanta on Wednesday, Wade will make his first and only regular-season return to Miami on Thursday.
"I'm not worried about the back-to-back in Miami, energy-wise," Wade said. "You ain't got energy for that game, for me, then what are you going to have energy for? That's one thing I'm not worried about."
Too soon to sit Wade:
Coach Fred Hoiberg realizes the Bulls may have to adjust their strategy for back-to-back games, but he isn't ready to throw in the towel after one bad experience.
"You look at some of the teams in this league, that first back-to-back hasn't been pretty for a lot of teams," Hoiberg said before Monday's game. "I'd put us up at the top of that list. It's something we'll continue to look at, we'll continue to communicate with our guys."
Whether Wade needs some nights off when back-to-backs show up on the schedule is one of those things Hoiberg plans to monitor.
"We haven't had that conversation yet," he said. "A lot of it's based on how he's feeling. He wanted to give it a go at Indiana.
"We'll continue to monitor it, continue to communicate like we have been doing with him all throughout the preseason as far as when he needs some time off in practices to maybe sit out."
Hoiberg said there are no plans to sit Wade against Atlanta on Wednesday, the night before the Miami game.
Portis gets promotion:
Bobby Portis was singled out as a bright spot by coach Fred Hoiberg in the Indiana loss. Portis hit 7 of 9 shots for 16 points, which tied Jimmy Butler for the team lead.
"He brought the energy. He got things accomplishes just by playing hard," Hoiberg said before Monday's game. "We'll take a strong look at Bobby tonight.
"That second group, with he and Niko (Mirotic) out there together gives us some floor spacing."
True to his word, Hoiberg sent Portis onto the floor with a minute left in the first quarter Monday.
The second-year power forward was buried deep in the rotation when the season began. He essentially took Cristiano Felicio's slot in the first half against the Magic.