Properly Rested?

Joakim Noah can gripe about sitting at the end of Saturday's loss to the Grizzlies all he wants.  While Tom Thibodeau said in this morning's shootaround that his center understands why it happened, it's nothing more than a personal issue and a subplot in what the Bulls have experienced during the past week.  They played more than three-and-a-quarter games over the past week, which is what it comes out to when your last three contests have gone into overtime.

The Bulls are lucky to have won two of those games.  Those that nearly got away were saved by a beautiful shot from Luol Deng and an ugly one from Marco Belinelli, quieting crowds in Toronto and Boston respectively.  Both were lauded for their heroics.  There would be none Saturday however as the club didn't have enough in the tank to win a third consecutive overtime game.  Unless you're in a playoff series, as was the case in 2009, playing overtime that much in a short period is going to take its toll.  Even the best teams will be gassed if pushed for too long.  This isn't cause for concern, just one of the realities of an 82-game season.

One day off between games probably isn't the best the Bulls could have hoped for under the circumstances.  A longer breather would have been beneficial to Deng as he continues to recover from his hamstring injury.  Instead, he'll be a game-time decision tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers.

For my lamenting on how the Bulls deserve more time off, maybe they're catching the Lakers at the right time.  Yesterday, they lost their fifth consecutive road game, something they haven't dealt with since 2007.  That considered, one would think the Lakers are due to finally win one.  After all, the Bulls are tired and have a worse home record than road record.  But folks have been saying all year that a certain event will turn that team around.  Whether it's Mike Brown's firing or Steve Nash's return, blind optimism has surrounded them all year.  In reality, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol have had trouble staying healthy, Jordan Hill is out for the year and cruelest of all, their spot as the most entertaining NBA team in Tinseltown has been usurped by the upstart Clippers.

Tonight presents a chance to deal the latest blow to the Lakers' season on national TV.  The United Center is sure to get rowdy at the prospect.  You want to kick an opponent while they're in worse shape than you.  The best way to do that?  Go all out.  Thibodeau will make sure that happens.