Rookies and reserves often use exhibition games a little like a teenager practicing for a driving test. In their first experience in back-to-back games, the young Bulls drove without mom or dad in the car last night at the United Center in a 100-88 victory over the Pacers.
With three of the Bulls five probable starters — Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Joe Smith — reduced to spectator status, the younger players sometimes had trouble figuring out when and how much to accelerate or change lanes.
They were good enough to pass Saturday night, against a similarly star-reduced Pacers lineup.
The Bulls shot 70.6 percent in the first quarter, only to make 5 of 17 shots (29.4 percent) in the second quarter. Gas, brake, gas, brake.
They still held a 53-43 halftime lead and extended it to 77-62 after the third quarter, which suggests what the Pacers lineup is like without Jermaine O’Neal (hyperextended left knee) and Troy Murphy (strained left Achilles). Kareem Rush also sat out for the Pacers with a sore right Achilles.
Skiles was interested to see his young players respond to their first run at back-to-back games after a loss in Toronto Friday night.
Andres Nocioni, beginning his fourth season, guided the Bulls with 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Tyrus Thomas scored 15 points before the crowd of 21,328.
Skiles has been slow to throw out compliments to Aaron Gray. The rookie from Pittsburgh was hot and cold.
He quickly picked up three fouls and played less than six minutes before halftime. But in the second quarter he nailed the first three of his four shots. Gray left the third quarter with 5 minutes 27 seconds left after picking up his fifth foul with 10 points and finished with eight rebounds.
After leaving Friday’s loss to the Raptors with a right wrist/hand contusion, Luol Deng took the night off solely for precautionary measures, he said, noting the injury is not related to the right wrist injury he suffered as a rookie.
Deng said he would have played if this was the regular season, well, probably.
“I might have,” he said. “I think I could play. I think it would be sore.”
Gordon has yet to play an exhibition game, nursing a right ankle sprain, but he sat out as well. He has said he would like to play in an exhibition before the season begins Oct. 31 against the Nets.
Layups
With everyone predicting domination for the Celtics, Deng could not really say much about it … yet. “We can’t really be like, ‘What about us?'” he said. “We won one series in the playoffs, so it’s OK with us to say whatever you want to say. We’ve just got to show up when the season starts.” So, are people forgetting about the Bulls? “Yeah,” he said. “The East got stronger. But a lot of things happen in the year. Hopefully, we stay healthy. Not all teams stay healthy.” Including his right now. … The Bulls also were without Adrian Griffin (sore lower back) and Joe Smith (right knee). Skiles said that he had hoped to play Smith, a 12-year veteran. “He didn’t feel like he could go,” Skiles said. “I intended on trying to get him some work [Saturday] but I think he wants to be extra cautious right now.” Smith logged 17 minutes 10 seconds Friday for seven points and three rebounds. .
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sryan@tribune.com
