Bulls preseason No. 6: Tyrus speaks up again

Yesterday, I pointed out that Tyrus Thomas didn’t actually predict he’d average 20 points and 10 rebounds this season during a post-practice interview. Then after erupting for 22 points and 13 boards in just 25 minutes of action against Minnesota on Friday, Thomas essentially did predict 20 points per game.

“If I come out and do what I have to do, it’s possible and not to go out on a limb, but it’s likely,” Thomas said after the Bulls’ 94-90 victory over the Timberwolves at the United Center.

Thomas’ thoughts are in the right place, because he’s talking about being active on the boards and playing with energy. If he keeps that up, he’ll score plenty of points.

Here are some other notes from preseason game No. 6, beginning with another Thomas quote:

--When someone mentioned making up for the points lost by Ben Gordon’s departure, Thomas was clearly tired of the topic.

“Everybody keeps saying making up Ben’s points,” he said. “Ben’s no longer part of this team, so they’re not Ben’s points. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do to win. We’re not looking at it as making up for Ben because Ben is gone. Ben isn’t here for training camp, he’s not going to be here this season, so we’re not looking at it like that.”

--One of the best non-Tyrus highlights from Friday’s victory was rookie James Johnson rushing in from behind to reject a fast-break layup attempt by Minnesota rookie Wayne Ellington.

Of course, there was a little ACC action going on there with Johnson from Wake Forest and Ellington from defending NCAA champ North Carolina.

After the game, Johnson said he considered Ellington an unfriendly rival in college, but then they worked out together in Los Angeles before the draft. Ellington was even at the same predraft workout Johnson had with the Bulls.

So now they’re friends, but Johnson did admit doing some talking after that block.

--Derrick Rose sat out again with a sore ankle, while John Salmons was with his wife awaiting the birth of their second child. Veteran guard Lindsey Hunter was under the weather and did not play Friday. Kirk Hinrich logged 28 minutes, but played with a sore elbow.

“I had (James Johnson) run the point a couple plays tonight and he’s never run the point one time in practice,” coach Vinny Del Negro said.

--The Bulls’ 5-1 preseason record doesn’t mean much, but I think it’s an encouraging sign for the team's depth that the Bulls’ rookies and reserves were able to pull out three close games in the fourth quarter this week, two against Minnesota and one against Milwaukee.

In Friday’s fourth quarter, Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis went with his regulars, using Al Jefferson, Damien Wilkins, Corey Brewer and both Ramon Sessions and Jonny Flynn at point guard down the stretch. Former Wizard Oleksiy “Stewie” Pecherov took the place of Kevin Love, who broke a bone in his left hand during the third quarter.

The Bulls finished the game with Jannero Pargo, James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Derrick Byars and Joakim Noah on the floor. Not sure why Chris Richard, who recorded a double-double on Wednesday at Minnesota, didn’t play at all Friday.