Bulls' small lineup and other thoughts

The end-of-game lineup against Miami didn't produce a win, so it's easy to second guess. Coach Vinny Del Negro used a smaller group featuring Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, John Salmons, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. Brad Miller replaced Noah for a few offensive possessions late in the game.

There was plenty of logic in that lineup. Hinrich is the Bulls' best option to defend Dwyane Wade, while Deng and Salmons were both shooting the ball well.

Wade scored Miami's go-ahead basket on a baseline jumper with 2:58 left, which turned out to be his only bucket of the fourth quarter. In the final six minutes, Heat power forward knocked down 3 jumpers, Jermaine O'Neal had a 3-point play and Quentin Richardson, who'd done next-to-nothing all night, buried a clutch 3-pointer with 1:41 left to put Miami up 89-83.

The Bulls had bigger problems on offense. Hinrich didn't shoot the ball well all night (3 for 11), neither did Miller. Hinrich and Deng both missed open jumpers down the stretch. Rose couldn't finish a drive to the basket, Salmons went to the rim and had a shot blocked, while Noah had some good tip attempts that didn't fall.

Over the final 5:07, the Bulls went 1-for-10 from the field and the official total doesn't include Noah's tips. The only made basket was Salmons' 3-pointer that gave the Bulls their final lead at 83-82 with 3:55 left.

Would a different lineup have done better? Impossible to say, but I would have liked to see Tyrus Thomas in there some because he can hit a jump shot, be a threat on the offensive glass and bother opposing shooters.

I don’t think there’s much point in reading that late lineup as a knock on Thomas. It’s one game.

--Early in the Miami game, the Bulls accomplished something they usually don't do well - exploit a defensive matchup. They let Luol Deng go to work against Quentin Richardson and scored 7 points in three possessions.

--At the end of Monday's practice, when the players gather into a huddle, Lindsey Hunter spent several minutes speaking to the team. Assistant coach Pete Myers followed with some words. Not sure what was discussed, but it was an indication that Del Negro doesn't mind giving way to other voices.

"I like when captains address the team," Del Negro said.

Hunter was voted one of three team captains, along with Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng.

--During an interview following Monday's practice, Derrick Rose mentioned that he'd like to be an actor someday and his first choice for a role would be in a comedy opposite someone like Chicago-area native Vince Vaughn.

Rose is almost abnormally quiet, so acting seems like an odd interest. But Rose did a nice job in his television spot with "The Office" star Rainn Wilson, another North Shore native.
I was going to try to link to the clip, but apparently it’s not on YouTube anymore.