ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Derrick Rose, Shooting guard Ben Gordon, Small forward Luol Deng, Power forward Drew Gooden, Center Joakim Noah. Bench -- Guard Larry Hughes, Guard Thabo Sefolosha, Guard Kirk Hinrich, Guard Lindsey Hunter, Forward Andres Nocioni, Forward Tyrus Thomas, Forward Michael Ruffin, Forward Cedric Simmons, Center Aaron Gray. The Bulls released guard Demetris Nichols on Nov. 17.
PLAYER NOTES: --F Tyrus Thomas turned in his best game of the season against Philadelphia, piling up 14 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. He also sent the game in overtime on a follow slam with 17.6 seconds remaining in regulation. As always, the Bulls were left to wonder why Thomas, with good skills and eye-popping athleticism, doesn't do this kind of thing more often.
--F Luol Deng sat out the final 9:37 of the loss to Philadelphia, including overtime. Deng, still working his way back after missing three games recently with a hamstring strain, wasn't terrible against the Sixers, scoring 10 points. But coach Vinny Del Negro liked how Andres Nocioni was aggressive defensively against Andre Iguodala.
--F Drew Gooden was on a nice roll in the previous five games, but never recorded a field goal in the loss to the 76ers. Gooden missed all five of his shot attempts, scored all nine of his points at the foul line and committed six turnovers.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G Kirk Hinrich (torn ulnar collateral ligament in right thumb) had surgery and is expected to be sidelined for three months. Hinrich hurt the thumb while trying to swipe the ball out of Amare Stoudemire's grasp in a win over Phoenix on Nov. 7.
--F Michael Ruffin (sprained left ankle) has been sidelined since the second day of training camp. After being released and re-signed, he has been inactive for every game in the regular season.
