The Bulls got their first look at 2007 top overall pick Greg Oden in Wednesday night’s late start at the Rose Garden and, unfortunately, their umpteenth look at a recurring problem — injuries.
As Oden and 2008 top overall pick Derrick Rose waged their Rookie of the Year race on the same court, Luol Deng watched, succumbing to the sore left hamstring he suffered during Tuesday’s morning shootaround in Los Angeles.
Deng played 26 minutes against the Lakers but none in the fourth quarter and said late Tuesday said he could be out for a bit.
Deng spent Wednesday’s pregame in the off-limits training room, but coach Vinny Del Negro, who started Larry Hughes for Deng, confirmed Deng’s absence could stretch beyond Portland.
“Yes,” Del Negro said, when asked if Deng could be sidelined awhile. “Hamstrings can linger and those just need rest. The injury situation doesn’t get any better. We just keep trying to find ways to patch this thing up.”
Another patch job came in the form of Aaron Gray replacing the struggling Joakim Noah in the starting lineup. Noah is averaging 2.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in his last five games, three of which have featured foul trouble.
Almost all games have featured his poor conditioning.
“I just have to keep working,” Noah said.
The optimistic Del Negro denied Noah’s performance factored in his decision, saying Gray matched up better with Trail Blazers center Joel Pryzbilla.
“It has nothing to do with that,” Del Negro said. “We’ve changed the lineup with injuries and matchups. You go with what you think. There’s no hidden agenda. Guys have to understand their role and do their job.”
Noah is typically one of the more vocal and upbeat players in the locker room. But he declined to talk to a reporter late Tuesday in Los Angeles and spent pregame in Portland glumly watching game film of Portland’s previous game.
Yet Del Negro said he didn’t believe Noah’s confidence has been affected.
“I don’t think so,” Del Negro said. “He has to keep working. I have to do a better job of helping him understand things. Matchups are key for him.”
The matchup between Oden and Rose is obviously only in the Rookie of the Year race because they play different positions. Oden missed all of last season after undergoing microfracture knee surgery.
An injury to his right foot sidelined Oden early this season, but the 7-footer had posted double-doubles in two of his previous three games entering Wednesday. And size up front has given the Bulls problems.
A couple of weeks ago, Rose said he didn’t pay attention to the other rookies in what is shaping up to be a doozy of a Rookie of the Year race. That has changed.
“Everybody in the rookie class who is getting time is playing well,” Rose said. “They really push me because I want to play as well as them. As long as they’re playing good, I think I should be in the gym working out hard.”
But Rose, not surprisingly, isn’t focused on winning the award.
“Oh, no,” he said. “Just winning. If we’re winning, it will come to me.”
Layup: Del Negro defended Ben Gordon’s shot selection in Los Angeles, where the team’s leading scorer shot 6 of 22. “When he’s open, I want him to shoot,” Del Negro said. “He’s a scorer. We run plays for him. Jump shooters don’t shoot well every night.”
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
Wednesday’s late result
Get complete details of the Bulls’ game in Portland at chicagotribune.com/bulls
