Doug Padilla, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Joakim Noah vows improved rebounding

CHICAGO – Just because it is the preseason does not mean the Chicago Bulls have not taking the results seriously.

Red flags have been raised with the team’s rebounding as the Bulls have been beaten on the glass 314-312 in seven preseason games. Opponents also have 81 offensive rebounds to the Bulls’ 74.

It wasn’t expected to be this way, not with the 7-foot Pau Gasol joining the 6-foot-11 Joakim Noah in the frontcourt this season.

“Obviously, you’re always concerned about that,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Your defense and rebounding and keeping your turnovers down are three things you have to do to put yourself in position to win. You eliminate the ways you beat yourself first. Those are areas we locked into.”

While Thibodeau has yet to spell out what his chief concerns have been during training camp, no doubt the rebounding remains one of the biggest issues yet to be resolved.

“The turnovers have gone way down, the challenge of the shot has been there, the contact has been there,” Thibodeau said. “But then the fight for the ball hasn’t been there. You have to do all those things. That’s all part of establishing a multiple effort mentality. Part of that is your toughness and conditioning and discipline. Those are things we still have to work on.

Gasol leads the Bulls with 8.3 rebounds per game in the preseason. Noah has averaged 6.8 rebounds in the six preseason games he has played, well off his career mark of 11 rebounds per game, but he is also playing reduced minutes in the preseason.

“I think it will get better,” Noah said after practice Thursday. “Obviously, it’s been a concern right now of ours, but I think it’s going to be better and better.”

Noah, who is coming off offseason knee surgery, wouldn’t blame his minutes for his low rebounding totals. “I would never make excuses for rebounding,” he said.

So what is the answer?

“The answer is, it will get better,” he said.

If there is one chief focus heading into Friday’s preseason finale against the Minnesota Timberwolves at St. Louis, getting after rebounds figures to be it.

“That’s what Thibs does, make sure that we’re ready for every second we’re together, whether it’s a meeting, watching film, whether it’s practice, a preseason game, staying in the moment,” Noah said. “We need this [last game]. We need this as a team.”

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