Joakim Noah doesn't look like the guy this time in 2008.
Last year, Vinny DelNegro couldn't opt for the guy because he wasn't in shape. He couldn't depend on him because he's too lazy, too out-of-focus.
On Thursday, he was seen holding off a 380-pound balloon they formerly called Shaq. While he didn't shut down the hall-of-fame center, Noah was effective in holding his ground, rebounding, getting his hands in the passing lanes as the Bulls beat the Cavs 86-85.
That's what smart players do: They' exploit mismatches--whatever it is.
Instead of trying to outmuscle that thing, he used his length and athleticism.
Noah also helped out when LeBron James tried attacking in the lane.
In the big picture of things, it looks like Vinny had this team prepared as they crashed on Shaq and made a priority to rebound not trying to give this team calls.
Even in the closing play, as LeBron drove the lane with Luol Deng covering him Noah came and helped out. The refs made the right call by letting the play go as LeBron did lose the ball, hoping to get the bailout from Noah.
Didn't happen. Game over.
I'm not suprised that the Bulls played well against the Cavs; they usually play up to their competition. At the same time, it wouldn't suprise me if they rolled over against the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday--a team they should put away in the second quarter.
They won't. The Bulls are not built for that.
Even as Derrick Rose tries to come back from injury, points are not coming from all directions. While Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng both had solid showings, John Salmons continues to struggle.
And he simply does not fit this offense well as he tends to hold the ball instead of shooting when open. Salmons does make tough shots, certainly, but they often don't have to be.
Players like that don't often have the ability to pull the trigger when wide open. It's a mental thing and they're so accustomed to having to work for their shot, that standing at the arc with no one them can cause them to be hesitant.
There was a lot of good Thursday. While I'm not as excited as everyone else with Taj Gibson, he did show his value against a team that is slow to rotate and doesn't want to stand near the perimeter.
He has a true stroke in his jumper. It's not a forced big-man's shot because he's open and it will be of huge value as the season develops because teams are going to continue to crash on Rose and Hinrich in pick and roll.
My favorite play of the game: Rose weaving through two defenders, shielding his strong side and going to his left for what looked like an acrobatic left-handed lay-up.
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mmitchell
I'm a journalist who has previously worked for the Sun-Times News Group in the Chicago area, covering features, entertainment, city government, police and crime, and--yes--sports. More
