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 Ben Gordon wasn't quite himself in the second game trying to play with a left hamstring strain. He scored 12 points, hit just 4-of-14 shots and fouled out in the first overtime against Boston on Thursday.
--F John Salmons really stepped up while teammate Ben Gordon struggled in Game 6 against the Celtics. Salmons hit 13-of-22 shots for 35 points, his highest point total since scoring 38 against Boston in the regular season on March 17.
--G Derrick Rose finally got the best of Boston counterpart Rajon Rondo in Thursday's win. Rose finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Rondo dished out 19 assists, but scored just eight points and had a jumper blocked by Rose with about five seconds left in the third overtime and the Celtics down by one.
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.
