Bulls’ Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah causes for concern

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Joakim Noah (left) and Carlos Boozer combined for eight points and 10 rebounds Wednesday. | Tamara Bell~Sun Times Media

Updated: February 14, 2012 10:21AM

The Bulls are an impressive 10-2 and tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the NBA heading into their road game Friday against the Boston Celtics.

It’s even more impressive when you consider that they have played eight of their first 12 games on the road and that Derrick Rose, C.J. Watson and Rip Hamilton have missed a combined 15 games with injuries.

Reasons for hand-wringing
remain, though. It’s expected for a team that must maximize its potential to realize its goal of winning an NBA championship.

Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah have spent the fourth quarter of the last two games on the bench, while Taj Gibson and Omer Asik have logged critical minutes. That can be viewed as a deeply troubling trend or explained away as a matter of exploiting matchups and sticking with hot hands while playing a frenzied schedule.

‘‘We’re in the midst of a lot of games in a short amount of time,’’ coach Tom Thibodeau said. ‘‘You just have to go with the guys who have some energy. [But] we need those guys. Carlos and Jo are a huge part of our team. On a lot of nights — on most nights — they carry us, along with Derrick. We need everyone.’’

It’s too early in the season for sweeping indictments. It will take another month to know exactly what the Bulls’ strengths and weaknesses are. Just because Boozer and Noah are struggling now, that doesn’t mean they won’t be playing well come playoff time.

The two combined for eight points, 10 rebounds and one blocked shot in the Bulls’ victory Wednesday against the Washington Wizards.

‘‘It’s tough, but .  .  . we’re winning,’’ Noah said after the game. ‘‘I’ve just got to find a way to be more effective when I’m on the court. It’s nothing personal. We’re playing great basketball. I understand Omer is playing great basketball; Taj is playing great basketball.’’

Boozer averaged 17.5 points and 9.6 rebounds last season. but those numbers have dropped to 13.3 and 7.9 this season. Noah worked hard on his offensive game during the offseason, even developing a hook shot, but there has been little evidence of that thus far. He’s averaging 7.1 points and 7.5 rebounds, well below the 11.7 and 10.4 he posted last season.

The problem extends beyond numbers. Noah has had trouble hanging on to the ball, which might become an even bigger issue after he strained his left thumb Wednesday. He also has struggled to finish inside, with several shots being blocked or rolling off the rim.

‘‘Everyone tries to measure him in how he’s scoring,’’ Thibodeau said of Noah. ‘‘I don’t do it that way. Both he and Omer help our offense with screening and offensive rebounding [and] Jo with his passing. They can play very well offensively without scoring points.

‘‘When Jo is playing great defense and he’s active, that’s when he plays well offensively, running the floor. There’s not a better athlete at the five position than Jo. He’s got to get down the floor quickly. He’ll be fine. He’s just got to keep working.’’

The complaints about Boozer have remained consistent: He’s not a reliable enough defensive presence, and he too often settles for outside jumpers instead of attacking the rim.

‘‘In some ways, it’s good because their minutes aren’t piling up,’’ Thibodeau said. ‘‘We feel the strength of our club is depth up front. They’re all different, depending on what you need. You can go to whatever the skill set you’re looking for. If you need more defense, you go one way. If you need more scoring, you go another.’’

Criticism of Boozer and Noah should be tempered by praise for Gibson and Asik, who were so
effective in shutting down the lane against the Wizards that Thibodeau left them in the game. The two combined for 17 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

‘‘That’s Thibs’ decision,’’ Boozer said about not playing in the fourth quarter. ‘‘You just ride with it. As long as we keep winning, everybody’s happy.’’

NOTE: Guard Derrick Rose
received treatment for the injured toe on his left foot at the Berto
Center, a team spokesman said, and his status for the Bulls’ game Friday in Boston is day-to-day.

Guard Rip Hamilton (groin) and guard C.J. Watson (elbow) also
received treatment and are listed as day-to-day.