Focus of Bulls’ core players: Staying in the moment
BY JOE COWLEY Staff Reporter September 30, 2013 7:34PM
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Updated: October 1, 2013 2:24AM
The Bulls’ players are well aware of the makeup of the team heading into this season.
Luol Deng will be a free agent this summer. Carlos Boozer is a prime candidate to have the final year of his deal wiped off the team’s salary cap by the amnesty clause when the 2013-14 campaign comes to an end.
Even with that win-now cloud hanging over this core, stressing over that is not real high on the agenda.
“I don’t worry about that,’’ Boozer said Monday, when asked if the window was closing on keeping this core together. “That’s not for us to worry about. We’re excited for the moment. Everybody is finally healthy and if we can stay that way throughout the course of the season it will be an exciting year.
“Obviously, we want to do something special and win it, but we’re doing the right thing. We’re not skipping steps, we’re taking it day-by-day in practice, which is important. Every day you’ve got to be better than the day before, and that’s what we’ve done so far.’’
Testing Taj
Reserve power forward Taj Gibson will continue getting playing time at the five-spot, and with his development there improving that also means working at center with the starters at times.
“We’ve kept him with the first unit,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau said of Gibson playing center. “He has had an opportunity to play with [Joakim Noah] and Carlos. I’ve liked that. It’s worked out well with those three on the first unit together.’’
