ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Derrick Rose, Shooting guard Ben Gordon, Small forward Luol Deng, Power forward Tyrus Thomas, Center Joakim Noah. Bench -- Guard Kirk Hinrich, Guard Lindsey Hunter, Guard Anthony Roberson, Forward Tim Thomas, Forward John Salmons, Center Aaron Gray, Center Brad Miller, Center Jerome James.
PLAYER NOTES: --C Brad Miller didn't score any of his 11 points during the fourth quarter of Saturday's comeback win over Houston, but he managed to front 7-foot-6 Yao Ming and prevent the Rockets center from touching the ball in the final minutes. Houston missed nine of its final 10 shots, and most of those came from long range.
--G Derrick Rose was once the Bulls' go-to guy in the fourth quarter. But in recent games, he had been sitting more often at the end of games in favor of veterans Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich. That all changed when Rose scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win over the Rockets. Coach Vinny Del Negro said he was most pleased with Rose's defense.
--F Tyrus Thomas bounced back from some poor shot selection in the last two games to produce 19 points, nine rebounds and two blocks on Saturday against Houston. He hit six of 22 shots in road losses to Washington and New Jersey earlier in the week.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Luol Deng (tibia bone contusion) sat out the second half of Saturday's win over Houston and said after the game that X-rays showed he might have a stress fracture in his lower leg. He'll have an MRI exam soon to further diagnose the injury, but it's possible he could be lost for the season.
--F Tim Thomas (left quad tendon strain) sat out the second half of Saturday's win over the Rockets, and his status is listed as day-to-day.
--C Jerome James (torn Achilles tendon) was already out for the season when he joined the Bulls in a trade with New York on Feb. 19. Considering James played in four games the past two seasons for the Knicks, the Bulls clearly are not expecting many contributions.
