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Thibodeau was asked about Joakim Noah's quote from late Saturday, in which he playfully talked about being tired and said Thibodeau is "a great coach, but he doesn't understand the whole rest thing yet I don't think." "I felt in moving forward that he could handle starters' minutes now," Thibodeau said. "Last year, we had Omer (Asik) so they shared the position more. I think he's grown. The added minutes have turned him from being an average player into an All-Star. If you pull his minutes back to 28-30 minutes, then he goes back to (averaging) 9 (points) and 9 (rebounds). He has shown he can handle it. He keeps playing better and better." Noah is averaging 38.4 minutes, 5.6 more than his career-high. "A starter who is young should be able to play 36-38 minutes," Thibodeau said. "There are a lot of guys doing that." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, Joakim Noah 

“What do you want me to say? Yeah, I’m tired, pretty tired,” Noah offered with a shrug. “Working on (his plantar fasciitis) every day, massages, lots of treatments, doing everything possible to keep it under control. It’s not really right after the game (you feel tired). It’s the next morning that’s the roughest. Bulls.com

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

“We’ve got a great coach,” Noah said as he began to smile and let out a laugh and you know one of those subtle, understated zingers was coming. “But he doesn’t understand the whole rest thing yet I don’t think. But it’s all good. We all want to win. It’s good. Bulls.com

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

“I don’t have a choice,” Noah said about the way he plays. “This is my job and this is my life. Everything is built around this. There’s nothing better right now than winning basketball games. It’s been an up-and-down year, but I really feel like when we’re playing our best, we can beat a lot of people. The potential is definitely there. I think when we’re playing confident and we’re playing together, I think we can make some noise and there’s no better feeling than doing that in the playoffs, “It doesn’t matter [what others say]. It really doesn’t matter,” added Noah. “I know our building is always packed and they show us a lot of love in Chicago. It’s up and down. But I know that when we’re playing good basketball, we’re tough to beat. We can beat anybody. We’re tough to beat.” Bulls.com

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

I also thought Joakim Noah’s pride was palpable all weekend. And the moment when he dropped into a defensive stance and clapped at Chris Paul was priceless. I asked Noah about it afterward and he said, “I appreciate you bringing that up, especially him hitting that jumpshot in my face after I hyped it up, clapping. Thanks, K.C.” Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Joakim Noah 

In the fourth quarter, he dropped into an intense defensive stance while isolated on Chris Paul, who buried a 3-pointer in his face. Noah responded by accidentally elbowing Paul in the face as he led a fast break. Yep, Noah only knows how to play one way. "I can't half-ass it or else I would really look like (crap) out there," Noah said. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Joakim Noah, All-Star 

But even if Noah's intensity didn't perfectly fit the fan-friendly, glorified exhibition, the Bulls center felt right at home. Roughly 30 friends and family from all parts of his background attended to witness his unlikely ascension. "I haven't slept in three days, and I've enjoyed every minute," Noah said. "There isn't one of my close friends who isn't here. My Pops is here, smiling and proud. It means so much to me." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah, All-Star 

Joakim Noah: What's your stripper name.... Not your real name Twitter @JoakimNoah

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

Noah fielded a question on Vinny Del Negro's growth as a coach. "Experience definitely helps, whether it's good or bad," he said. "Playing in that Boston series (when Del Negro was coaching Noah and the Bulls) and even that Cleveland series were fun years for me. Those teams were really exciting. I see he's doing really well. I'm happy for him. The Clippers are a great team. I wish him nothing but the best." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Joakim Noah 

A European reporter asked Noah if had met Toni Kukoc, who is an occasional visitor to the Berto Center. Noah smiled again. "He always watches our games and shows support by telling me I can't shoot and my right hand sucks and that I have to work in the gym with him," Noah said. "He always gets mad at me because I never call him to work." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah, Toni Kukoc 

Darnell Mayberry: Joakim Noah when asked if there's any chance Bulls guard Derrick Rose plays next Sunday against the Thunder: "Probably not." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has acknowledged that he is willing to miss next weekend's All-Star Game if his injured right foot doesn't improve. Noah said Sunday that as much as he wants to play in the All-Star Game, he must put his team first. "To me, [the All-Star Game is] pretty important," Noah said after Sunday's practice at the Berto Center. "I mean, it's not that important, but it's something I want to do. I also have to do what's right for the team. There's obviously a bigger picture than the All-Star Game. We'll see." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah, All Star Game 

Thibodeau said Sunday he wasn't concerned about Noah participating in the game just yet. "I'll worry about that when he gets there," Thibodeau said. "I just want him to take care of himself, be ready for San Antonio. It's a valid question. We'll see where he is after these next two games." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Injuries, Joakim Noah, All Star Game 

Whatever Noah decides, this much is certain: The Bulls need him to remain healthy to be a legitimate Eastern Conference contender. "I'm feeling pretty good," Noah said, after first answering affirmatively when asked if plantar fasciitis still bothered him. "I'm happy we have a couple of days of rest. I'm trying to get my foot right and get all the treatment possible. I'm hoping I can play through this and it improves even though I'm playing." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

As Noah missed three games with the condition before facing the Nuggets and Jazz on consecutive nights, he spoke of lessons learned from 2009-10. That's when he missed 18 games with the condition in his left foot. Noah openly admitted ignoring the injury and playing through it for a month worsened the condition, and he vowed not to mimic that mindset. Asked late Friday about that stance, Noah leaned back in his locker and sighed. "There's not that much I can do right now," he said. "I want to get treatments and be out there for my teammates. I really don't want to (sit out). It didn't get any worse from (playing Thursday in Denver). We'll see how it feels (Saturday)." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

It’s all about boys, really. Chicago’s gangs primarily are made up of young males. According to USA Today, of the 62 mass killings in the last 30 years, all but one was committed by a male. The gangs and violence fill in for absentee fathers, broken homes, lost moral compasses. Duncan and Bulls stars Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah stay in close contact, with all of them recognizing the anarchy overtaking the city. ‘‘Derrick and Joakim are two young men I have extreme respect for beyond their court skills,’’ Duncan said. ‘‘They both have stepped up and asked to do more.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah 

That includes summer programs, youth games, even ads that might tell young Chicagoans that shooting isn’t good, that not snitching leads nowhere. ‘‘Oh, man, Arne is cool,’’ the still-injured Rose said at a recent Bulls game. ‘‘I’ll do anything for him.’’ Noah was just as impassioned. ‘‘You play for the Bulls, you represent more than just an NBA player,’’ he said. ‘‘You represent Chicago. I’m a role model, and I love that. But we need to combine forces with players, the community leaders, politicians. We need to try to stop this. Arne? No question, I’m with him.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah 

Beyond the Buzzer: The NBA didn't approve of Joakim Noah's sweater on the bench, league office called and asked him to change pic.twitter.com/yqXzA6WT Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah 

Bulls starting point guard Kirk Hinrich will miss ‘‘a week or so’‘ after getting his injured right elbow ‘‘cleaned out’’ on Friday in Chicago, coach Tom Thibodeau said. The fear is that Hinrich’s status might be the good news on the injury front. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer also did not play against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Kirk Hinrich, Injuries, Joakim Noah 

For their debut appearance at the Barclays Center, it appears that the Bulls could be severely undermanned Friday night against the Nets, CSNChicago.com has learned. In addition to Carlos Boozer, deemed a game-time decision prior to the team’s morning shootaround — Boozer is nursing a right hamstring injury — fellow starters Kirk Hinrich and Joakim Noah could also miss the contest. Hinrich has an infection in his right elbow and after flying to New York with the team, returned to Chicago before the Bulls’ Friday-morning shootaround, a source told CSNChicago.com. CSN Chicago

Chicago Bulls, Kirk Hinrich, Injuries, Joakim Noah