Bulls don’t need Derrick Rose for further road domination

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The Bobcats' Bismack Biyombo fouls Joakim Noah on Friday. Noah finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds. | Chuck Burton~AP

Updated: March 12, 2012 8:08AM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Coach Tom Thibodeau refers to it as readiness to play.

It’s his belief that being focused to start a game is one of the hallmarks of successful teams. His team has responded by making a habit of burying inferior opponents early.

The 95-64 victory Friday against the overmatched Bobcats was the latest example.

Even without Derrick Rose, who was a late scratch because of back spasms, the Bulls led by 14 after the first quarter and are 20-0 in games in which they lead after the first.

“Guys get up to play us,” forward Luol Deng said. “You guys hype us up so much. If I was playing against the Chicago Bulls, I would be circling that date. You watch ESPN, and everybody hears about the Bulls. Guys watch TV. We know guys are going to be excited to play us and want to show they can play with us. That helps us come out ready to play.”

As it turned out, Charlotte played its best basketball in the first quarter.

The Bulls dominated the Bobcats, who appeared to be going through the motions before a lifeless crowd at Time Warner Cable Arena, holding them to 32.9 percent shooting, outscoring them 54-30 in the paint and finishing with nine more rebounds.

It was the Bulls’ fifth consecutive win, all on the road, and their NBA-record fourth straight road win by 20 points or more.

“That’s a great accomplishment,” Deng said of the record. “We just attack. We’re so focused on us. Even though we’re winning by 20, we see things we can still work on. That’s just the kind of group we have here.”

If there was a night to rest Rose and his aching back, it was Friday. The Bobcats were without two of their top scorers and have lost 13 in a row, matching a franchise record.

Bobcats chairman Michael Jordan watched the first half from his customary seat at the end of the bench. He visited with former teammate and current Bulls assistant general manager Randy Brown at halftime and was nowhere to be seen when the Bulls’ lead ballooned to 32 points in the third quarter.

Rose admitted his back was stiff but said he expected to play earlier Friday. The Bulls are 5-1 without their best player this season.

“It was more precautionary,” Thibodeau said. “We wanted to give him another day of rest.”

How bad was it? Two Bobcats shot air balls from the free-throw line. Derrick Brown led Charlotte with 10 points.

Joakim Noah was dominant for the Bulls, finishing with a game-high 17 points and 14 rebounds. Carlos Boozer had 16 points and six rebounds, and Deng added 12 points. John Lucas III had 11 points.

“We’re just trying to get better,” Noah said. “We’re a work in progress. We’re glad to win. On to the next one.”

The next one is a nationally televised tilt with the Celtics in Boston on Sunday. Expect Rose to return for that one.

“There’s a big one coming up Sunday,” Noah said while trying to explain why his team was so focused against Charlotte.

“We didn’t want to have any letdowns.”