Boozer encourages Rose to be himself
The Bulls had a day to figure out what went wrong in Carlos Boozer's debut.
It's tough for the Bulls to take it as much of a learning experience, though, since they played so badly in Wednesday's 29-point home loss to Orlando. They face another test Friday with a road trip to Boston.
“The challenge right now is how quickly we can all get on the same page,” coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday at the Berto Center. “I'm not going to put it on Carlos that we played that way. I think collectively, we played poorly.”
Boozer has averaged double-figure rebounds during his eight-year career, yet somehow the Bulls set a franchise low with just 21 boards against the Magic. Center Joakim Noah, who ranks second in the league in the category, had none.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose was asked Thursday if he deferred to Boozer too much in their first game together. But it's hard to see how that could have happened since Boozer took just 5 shots. He finished with 5 points and 2 rebounds.
“On the offensive end, we tried to put him in, but I guess it was a little bit too soon to try to work him in that early,” Rose said. “I know right when he has a good game, he'll feel good about himself and it will click very soon.
“I've been working with him on pick-and-roll, just to get used to playing with him. We put in a couple of plays for him (Thursday), so he can get a groove on.”
Boozer's message to Rose was just keep doing what he's doing and don't worry about the new guy. Boozer participated in four days of double practices early in training camp before breaking his right hand on Oct. 2, so he didn't even play a preseason game with his new team.
While Boozer was sidelined for eight weeks, Rose was the NBA's second-leading scorer. Rose had 15 points and 4 assists against the Magic.
“I just told Derrick, ‘You've got to do what you do. You're the point guard. You're the quarterback. No matter who's out there with you, we play off you. So if you have a lane, if you have the ability to score, go do it,'” Boozer said. “There hasn't been a team in the league that stops him since I've been watching him play.”
Rose essentially agreed with Boozer's assessment.
“I figured out that I still have to play my game, no matter what,” Rose said. “Stay aggressive the whole game and make people adjust to me.”
Asked to explain the Bulls' dismal offense against Orlando, Thibodeau leaned on the basics: Low energy, too many jump shots, not enough fastbreak opportunities.
The glaring lack of defensive rebounds hurt the offense as much as anything.
The Magic also had the Bulls scrambling on defense the whole night. The home team couldn't contain Orlando's high screen-and-rolls, which led to Bulls defenders hurrying to help in the lane or watching helplessly as someone launched an open 3-pointer.
“I thought we gave them everything,” Thibodeau said. “You allow them to get deep in the paint, then you close slow to the (3-point) line and give them second shots, you're putting yourself in a big hole and that's what we did.”
Rose loves to point out after every tough loss that the NBA schedule offers another chance within a day or two, which makes those bad performances easier to forget.
The Bulls already made a trip to Boston on Nov. 5 and lost 110-105 in overtime after erasing a 16-point deficit.
“Their crowd really gets to you, makes you play hard,” Rose said. “It's fun when you play there and you can silence their crowd, because it shows a lot about your team. If you can win there, you can win almost anywhere.”
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden, 7 p.m. Friday
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: The Celtics improved to 14-4 with a 99-95 win over Portland on Wednesday. PG Rajon Rondo has been bothered by plantar fasciitis and a sore hamstring, but still leads the league with 13.8 assists. These teams played in Boston on Nov. 5, with the Bulls losing in overtime 110-105 after erasing a 16-point deficit. Center Shaquille O'Neal (11.9 ppg.) did not play for the Celtics that night, but should be on the floor for the rematch. Jermaine O'Neal, who scored 12 points against the Bulls, is now sidelined by a knee injury. Guard Delonte West is out with a broken wrist.
Next: Houston Rockets on Saturday at the United Center, 7 p.m.