Boylan will keep shaking things up to find rotation that works
When the Bulls started Kirk Hinrich, Thabo Sefolosha, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, and Joakim Noah on Monday, it was the 16th different first five the team's trotted out this season.
It was also the 10th that Jim Boylan put together since he took over as head coach when the Bulls were 9-17. Only three of the first 15 starting fives combined for winning records, the trifecta Boylan's.
With 26 more games, the coach could be using a pencil rather than inking in his starters and bench rotation.
''Nothing's written in stone right now, everything's fluid,'' Boylan said. ''We'll shake things up and try different combinations and see how things go. You try not to be all over the map. You want to give guys a chance, not one shift out there and if you don't like what you see, you don't go back to it again. You want to give it an opportunity and give it a game or two and see if something works.''
Guard Chris Duhon sat a second consecutive game and was joined on the bench by backup center Aaron Gray.
No rest
Normally the Bulls would not take the court on the lone off day when playing three games in four nights. But the four new Bulls who joined the team from Cleveland as part of the trade Thursday for Ben Wallace and Joe Smith have yet to have a full practice with the team. So the Bulls will workout in Indianapolis today as they prepare to play the Pacers Wednesday.
''It's unfortunate, but right now we haven't had time to practice, where we could take a look at combinations,'' Boylan said. ''The season the way it is, we just haven't been able to do that.''
Which is why the Bulls will practice today in Indianapolis. Normally the team playing three games in four nights would review video in a meeting and stay away from the court on such an off day. But this will be the first full practice for the four new players who joined the team Thursday from Cleveland.
Kidd stuff
Boylan believes Jason Kidd, who played another solid game against the Bulls after a slow start, will be a difference-maker for the Mavs, who swung an eight-player trade with New Jersey in order to land the All-Star point guard.
''Jason's going to bring a whole other level to them,'' Boylan said. ''Everywhere he's gone, he's done that and he's going to do it here. He's going to energize the team. He's going to do all the things winners do. He's going to rebound at the right time. He's going to come up with a steal at the right time. He's going to make a key basket at the right time. He's going to find someone for an open shot at the right time. That's just what he does. He's done it his whole career and I don't see that being any different.''
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