honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 12:52 a.m., Wednesday, October 10, 2007

NBA: Bulls rookie Noah displays glimpse of his future

By K.C. Johnson
Chicago Tribune

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Go ahead and take his lunch money, as Ben Gordon did earlier this week when the rookie brought the wrong doughnuts.

Haze him further by spelling his name wrong on his road reds, with long-time equipment manager John Ligmanowski laughing as the rookie squirmed about in a "NOHA" jersey that eventually would be replaced with the correct name.

Challenge him by starting Tyrus Thomas at power forward.

No matter: Joakim Noah is going to keep coming at you.

The rookie's irrepressible spirit was as evident last night at the La Crosse Center as it was throughout his star-studded college career.

The Bulls, lost to the Bucks, 93-88, in both teams' exhibition openers as the intriguing battle for the starting power forward position continued.

With Joe Smith still sidelined with swelling in his right knee that isn't considered serious, Noah finished with six points and four rebounds in 23 minutes. Thomas, whom coach Scott Skiles challenged with pointed pregame words, battled foul trouble to finish with a strong second half. He had eight points and five rebounds in 21 minutes.

Noah, like most rookies, will experience his fair share of ups and downs this season. But one thing is clear: The downs often get followed by ups—and typically quickly.

Consider Noah's first touch as a professional, shortly after he entered with 3 minutes, 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He dribbled into traffic and forced a wild air ball that clanked only backboard.

On the next possession, Noah responded with a dunk in traffic. He followed that by blocking Andrew Bogut's shot at the other end—and flashing some emotion.

"He's excited," Skiles said. "He's the kind of guy that we want to be excited out there because that's his personality. But we also just want him to learn what we're doing."

Noah has admitted to struggling some in this department. In this aspect, he's not alone.

Before the game, Skiles revealed he spent time Monday showing Thomas film from Sunday's fan friendly scrimmage at the United Center.

"He made a couple of explosive plays but he mostly just stood around flat-footed and looked out of gas," Skiles said. "He knows that staying focused on every possession is still a part of his game that he needs a lot of work on.

"It's an important exhibition season for him. He played well last year in exhibitions. But if he's going to play against first-tier guys this time in exhibition, it will be important to see how he starts the game. We're looking for a starter at that spot and he gets first crack at it."

Thomas, who had three fouls and three turnovers by halftime, took his sit-down in stride.

"I take it as motivation and I just look at is as they're concerned about me right now and they want to see the best of me," Thomas said. "So I actually appreciate it. Because I don't think they would demand out of me more than what they think I can do. And the more they demand, I feel the better I can be."

Who knows what the ceilings are for Thomas and Noah. This is clear: Noah continues to display the ability to handle and distribute the ball, a rare skill for a player nearly 7 feet tall.

Perhaps that's why a small contingent of Bulls fans even started a "Noah! Noah!" chant. It sounded better than "Noha! Noha!"