ROTATION: Starters -- point guard Derrick Rose, shooting guard Ben Gordon, small forward John Salmons, power forward Tyrus Thomas, center Joakim Noah. Bench -- guard Kirk Hinrich, guard Lindsey Hunter, guard Anthony Roberson, guard DeMarcus Nelson, forward Tim Thomas, forward Linton Johnson, center Aaron Gray, center Brad Miller.
PLAYER NOTES: --G Derrick Rose has been piling up the turnovers in this series. After getting six in Tuesday's Game 5, Rose has committed 20 turnovers in the last three contests alone. Rose tried to get things going and finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists but never went to the foul line despite getting hit on a number of drives to the basket.
--C Joakim Noah has thrived on being a focal point of this series. The Boston crowd loves to get on Noah's case, but he came through with 17 rebounds and 11 points in Game 5.
--G Kirk Hinrich was the Bulls' second-leading scorer with 19 points in Tuesday's Game 6 and played 31 minutes. Coach Vinny Del Negro would have liked to use Hinrich more, but he was getting stitches above his right eye during the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. Hinrich hit the floor hard after getting fouled late in the third.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--F Luol Deng (right tibia contusion) has been out since Feb. 28. A variety of doctors agreed that Deng has a tiny break in tibia that could be the early stages of a stress fracture. The Bulls announced on April 9 that he won't return this season unless the Bulls reach the second round of the playoffs.
--C Jerome James (torn Achilles tendon) was already out for the season when he joined the Bulls in a trade from 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.
