Bulls' coach touts Sefolosha's defensive ability

The Bulls had visions of strong defense in their heads when they moved up in the 2006 draft to select Thabo Sefolosha.

The Switzerland native stands 6-feet-7, moves like a guard and has freakishly long arms. He uses that length to deflect a fair share of passes, but during his first year-and-a-half in the NBA, Sefolosha could hardly be called a lock-down defender.

Recent signs suggest that may be changing. In the past 10 days, Sefolosha has done a credible job guarding Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and Atlanta's Joe Johnson, two tall, high-scoring guards.

Then on Thursday, Sefolosha helped limit Cleveland's LeBron James to just 1 fourth-quarter point in the Bulls' 101-98 comeback victory.

James was bothered by back spasms in the second half, so it's tough to say with any certainty whether Sefolosha shut down the NBA's leading scorer. Nevertheless, it was a strong performance.

"He gets better and better," coach Jim Boylan said of Sefolosha's defense. "It's only his second year, and when he's on his game defensively, he's a handful.

"I've had many people come up to me, people who are working for other teams or analysts for other teams, who are very high on Thabo and his ability to get out there every night and guard somebody, which is a nice asset to have on your team."

One question now is how much playing time the Bulls can give Sefolosha over the final seven games. Faced with a crowded backcourt since the addition of Larry Hughes, Boylan typically doesn't send Sefolosha onto the floor until the very end of the first quarter. He's averaged 19.3 minutes in the last three games.

Big Z a handful: The Bulls got their first look this season at 7-foot-3 Cleveland center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. He was out with a back injury the first two times the Bulls played the Cavaliers, then dropped in 23 points Thursday.

It was a particularly tough matchup for 6-11 Bulls rookie Joakim Noah, who watched helplessly as Ilgauskas reached over him to grab 5 offensive rebounds.

"Ilgauskas is very underrated," Noah said after the game. "He was tough to keep off the glass. I feel like their team is a lot better with him, the presence he is offensively. I'm surprised they didn't give him the ball more."

Noah can still get pushed around by thicker, stronger players. But he had a decent game Thursday, finishing with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks while playing a season-high 40 minutes.

Noah's block of a LeBron James shot with about five seconds left protected a 1-point lead and saved the victory for the Bulls.

"Jo's got to initiate some contact on the defensive end and then go search out rebounds, rather than finding himself under the rim (trying to hold off) Ilgauskas or (Anderson) Varejao," coach Jim Boylan said. "He's learning. Each game he gets better and better."

Hughes ready for more: Larry Hughes said all the right things following his best performance in a Bulls uniform. He produced 25 points and 9 assists against his former Cleveland teammates on Thursday, hearing boos from Cavs fans every step of the way.

Prior to hitting 11 of 17 shots against the Cavaliers, Hughes was shooting 37 percent from the field since joining the Bulls. He was 0-for-6 in Tuesday's loss to Boston.

"I want to have more (big games)," he said. "Coming to a new team and trying to figure things out, you want to be consistent. It's not going to be every night when you score the ball. To be an assist guy or the guy who rebounds or gets steals -- everybody has to play well to give us a chance.

"I've been working hard at night and just trying to finish out strong. Just trying to be patient, not trying to do too much; definitely staying off that 3-point line, shooting more twos."

Marquette job mentioned: During the broadcast of Thursday's Bulls-Cavaliers game, TNT analyst Mike Fratello nominated his longtime friend, Bulls interim coach Jim Boylan, for the vacant Marquette job.

"With Tom Crean leaving Marquette and taking the Indiana University job, Jim Boylan, a graduate of Marquette … he would be a terrific candidate for that opportunity, if in fact he wanted to go back to college basketball," Fratello said.

Boylan was an assistant on Fratello's coaching staff in Cleveland from 1993-97 and started at point guard for Marquette's 1977 championship team.

Tonight's tipoff

Bulls vs. Washington Wizards at the United Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 9

Radio: WMVP 1000-AM

Update: Gilbert Arenas returned Wednesday after being out since November with a knee injury. He scored 17 points in 20 minutes during a last-second loss to Milwaukee. In the waning moments of that game, Antawn Jamison injured his shoulder and is most likely out tonight. Shooting guard DeShawn Stevenson also sprained his ankle and is listed as day to day.

Painful memory: When the Wizards last visited Chicago on Feb. 29, they rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to hand the Bulls an ugly 97-91 loss. The Bulls did beat the Wizards in Washington back on Dec. 19.

Next: Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

-- Mike McGraw