Rivers: Bulls are better this season

Before Friday’s playoff rematch with the Bulls, Boston coach Doc Rivers revealed that he thinks the Bulls are much better this year, even without leading scorer Ben Gordon.

“I think they’re a better team,” Rivers said. “I think they’re longer, I think they’re a better defensive team. I think they fit. That’s taking nothing from Ben, he was phenomenal in the playoffs last year. But so was Ray (Allen). We thought they had a UConn deal going to get each other off (scoring).

“I think now their team does fit. (John) Salmons is at two, probably what he is. (Luol) Deng gives them more length at three. (Kirk) Hinrich is playing one and two. I just think they’re a better fit.

“And the fact that they had (Brad) Miller and Salmons this year in training camp. I thought that was lost on a lot of people last year. They had to kind of learn on the run. This year, they had the ability to work on things.”

Rivers, a Maywood native, was then asked if he’s glad he doesn’t have to match up against the Bulls’ small backcourt, like he did when Gordon and Derrick Rose starting in the playoffs.

“No,” he answered. “Hinrich’s pretty good. He may be a better ballhandler and a better defender. Ben’s a shot-maker. I guess you lose that. Other than that, I think they’re a better team this year. I don’t even think it’s close.”

OFFENSIVE EDGE TO KG
At the start of Rivers’ pregame news conference, the questions were lagging, so I asked him about my theory that the Celtics might have been a better offensive team last year in the playoffs with Glen Davis, who averaged 18 points against the Bulls and set plenty of wide-bodied, moving screens for Ray Allen. No question the Celtics are much better defensively with Kevin Garnett.

Anyway, Rivers laughed off the idea.

“I think Garnett’s a little better offensively,” he said. “He’s probably the best passing big in the league. He’s probably the best pick-setter, as a matter of fact. We’re a better team with Garnett on the floor, offensively and defensively. There’s no doubt about that.

“People guard Kevin. Last year, Glen was afforded the ability that everyone was helping off of him because they didn’t know he could make shots. This year, they’re going to guard him closer.

“I think sometimes we get lost in numbers and not how they get numbers. Sometimes its the other team’s defense that’s allowing plays. They were trying to take away Rondo’s drives and they were giving that shot. Glen stepped up and made it.”

FIRE ALARM CLOCK
Even with the heavy rains in Chicago late Thursday night, the Bulls’ flight got out OK. But after arriving at their Boston hotel around 3 a.m., the Bulls were greeted by a fire alarm about an hour later.

“It’s fine,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “We got plenty of sleep and had a late walkthrough. So it’s fine.”

--Derrick Rose says he’s feeling good after playing 33 minutes against the Spurs on Thursday night. As usual, it took him a short time to get his injured right ankle loose before the game.

One other odd thing about Rose: He’s now beginning most every sentence he speaks to the media with, “I told you…” I don’t think he’s trying to be sarcastic or anything. Reporters do ask plenty of repeat questions.

--One funny moment before Friday’s game: The door to the Bulls locker room opened just as new Celtic Rasheed Wallace walked past in the hallway. Wallace stopped and screamed, “Hunter’s a goon!” into the room, a nod to his former Pistons teammate Lindsey Hunter. Only one problem -- Hunter was out on the court at the time, not inside the locker room.