advertisement

Bobcats coach appreciates Jordan’s input

For the record, Michael Jordan sat six seats down from Charlotte coach Paul Silas on Tuesday. So technically, the Bulls legend turned Bobcats owner was not looking over his coach’s shoulder.

Jordan typically sits near his team’s bench in Charlotte and repeated the practice at the United Center.

Before the game, Silas insisted he didn’t mind Jordan sitting near the bench. But, really, so what if he did? Jordan is more than an average boss.

“I hear him sometimes, the things that he says, and they’re right on the money — ‘You need to get this guy out of the game. Come on over here and sit by me,’” Silas said. “When things are not going well, he lets us know it. When we do very well, he lets us know that.

“He’s the man. You’ve just got to recognize that.”

Jordan practiced with the Bobcats a few weeks ago, but Silas acknowledged another comeback is not happening. Jordan turns 48 on Thursday.

“I think now with the success we’re having, he’s really excited about this team,” Silas said. “He’s just tremendous. He gives you his word, he keeps it. That’s what I really like about him.

“I like the fact that he’s so involved with us now. He comes to just about every practice when he’s there, all the shootaround. He and I talk often about what he sees in the team and so forth. I love his input.”

JJ on D-League dominance:

James Johnson is hoping to never return to the D-League. But he will keep some fond memories from his eight-game stint with the Iowa Energy.

It will be tough to beat the night Johnson piled up 31 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 blocks in a game at Rio Grande Valley, which is located at the southern tip of Texas.

“Everything that I’ve been working on, I just really went at it,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t looking up at the scoreboard. I wasn’t looking at anything. I was just playing hard and staying focused.

“At the end of the game, (Bulls scout) Pete (Myers) told me my numbers and it was crazy.”

Asked how he scored his points, Johnson said: “I did a lot of driving. My (jumper) wasn’t falling toward the end. I had to improvise a little bit. But it was worth every minute.”

Milestone for Thomas:

Bulls center Kurt Thomas played in his 1,000th career regular-season game Tuesday. According to the Bulls, he’s the 96th player in league history to hit that mark and the 12th active player.

“It’s just another game. I never really thought about it,” Thomas said. “I just wanted to play this game that I love to play and play as long as I possibly can.”

Bull horns:

Paul Silas, before the game, on Derrick Rose’s comment that this would be an “easy game” for the Bulls if they played with energy: “He was talking a little smack in the papers, so he’s going to be ready for us tonight. Likewise, we’ll be ready for them.” … The Bulls improved to 32-1 when holding the opponent to 95 points or less.