Bulls’ Noah apologizes for ill-advised ‘Big Macs’ shot
By By JOE COWLEY cowley@suntimes.com November 7, 2012 10:32PM
Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and center Joakim Noah have a discussion on the sidelines during a free throw in the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls-Sacramento Kings NBA game Wednesday October 31, 2012 at the United Center. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times
Updated: December 9, 2012 7:47PM
Nate Robinson wasted no time pointing the finger at Joakim Noah.
With the Bulls up 99-93 against the Magic and 3.8 seconds left in the game on Tuesday, Noah fired up a three-pointer in hopes of cracking the 100-point total and getting the fans at the United Center free Big Macs through a promotion the team had going.
“Talk to Joakim about that,’’ Robinson told the media after the game.
Media types weren’t the only ones who wanted to talk to Noah about it. Coach Tom Thibodeau was not pleased with Noah’s decision.
“I talked to him about it, but I’m going to keep that private,” Thibodeau said after Wednesday’s practice.
Not that Noah needed a visit to the principal’s office to know it was wrong. He realized that right after the game.
“You have to respect the game because you never know what can happen in a game,’’ he said. “I just got caught up in the moment and I was trying to get the people a Big Mac. They really wanted a Big Mac and I felt like, not only did I take the shot and miss the shot, we didn’t even get the Big Mac. Next time, I won’t take that three-pointer.’’
Noah is the second Bull known to have had a one-on-one with Thibodeau because of something that happened on the court. Thibodeau also was upset when Robinson made an off-the-backboard pass to Jimmy Butler in a preseason game.
Thunder struck
Thibodeau knows that his team has a real tough task on Thursday night, with Oklahoma City coming to town. As far as Thibodeau was concerned, team defense is the only way to handle the Thunder.
“You just have to try and make them work for their points,’’ he said. “You can’t gift them points. We have to stay disciplined.’’
Around the rim
Butler, who grew up in Houston, Texas, gave his outrageous prediction of the Texans-Bears game this week. “Texans 120, Bears 3,’’ Butler said.
◆ A memorial service for former Bulls announcer Jim Durham will be held at Holy Name Cathedral on Nov. 13, at 10 am, with a viewing from 9-9:45 am.
