advertisement

Bulls' Deng looking forward to reunion

Luol Deng is looking forward to seeing a couple of old friends Tuesday when the Bulls host Philadelphia.

One is Sixers coach Doug Collins, whose son Chris is an assistant at Duke, where Deng spent one year in college.

The other is Andres Nocioni, who lived next door to Deng and had a neighboring locker for several years in Chicago. Nocioni was traded from Sacramento last summer.

“Every now and then (I talk to Nocioni),” Deng said. “Only when he's in the mood to talk stuff. Noc is Noc. Every time he plays the Bulls, he's going to be up for it. That's the kind of guy he is.”

Collins was a candidate to coach the Bulls two years ago and there were rumors he could have replaced Vinny Del Negro. When the Bulls went in a different direction, many were surprised Collins jumped back into coaching with Philadelphia, where he spent most of his playing career.

“I was surprised. I thought if he didn't get this job, he wasn't going to coach,” Deng said. “But I think he wanted to get back into coaching. Philly's a good situation for him.

“I've known him since I was in high school when his son Chris recruited me. I got to know him real well. Real good guy. I'm glad they're starting to play well.”

After getting off to a 3-13 record, the 76ers have won eight of their last 11 games.

“Once you come into a team that hasn't been winning in the past, to change the habit takes a while,” Deng said. “But he's starting to do that.”

Noah watching closely:

At the end of Monday's practice, injured center Joakim Noah was on the court with his teammates and took a couple of shadow hook shots. His right arm is in a cast from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb.

“It's frustrating, but it's part of the process,” Noah said about sitting out. “It's not the end of the world. We're a very capable team that's capable of winning basketball games.”

Coach Tom Thibodeau suggested Noah will be able to start running on Tuesday after being fitted for a new cast.

Season of no change:

Coach Tim Thibodeau was asked Monday if the Bulls need to change their style without center Joakim Noah and possibly Taj Gibson.

“I don't think you do, because when you go into your season, you prepare for a lot of teams that go small,” he said. “We prepared from training camp with Lu (Deng) and James (Johnson) at the four. Scal (Brian Scalabrine) can go from three to four. We have three guys that are capable of swinging to a big position.”