HoopsHype.com Rumors

Nick Friedell: Jimmy Butler on how sick veterans Luol Deng and Taj Gibson look "They look the same way they do every day. Lu is dark skinned, Taj is bald" Twitter @NickFriedell

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Injuries, Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler 

KC Johnson: Thibodeau said Hinrich didn't practice. Says he's improving. Deng, Gibson both sick and stayed home. #Bulls Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Injuries, Taj Gibson 

Jessica Camerato: Other vote recipients for #NBA Sportsmanship Award: Stephen Curry, Luol Deng, Mike Conley, Nick Collison, Jameer Nelson Twitter @JCameratoNBA

Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Luol Deng, Jameer Nelson, Nick Collison, Mike Conley, Stephen Curry 

"He really wants to play," teammate Luol Deng was saying in the visiting locker room, after the Bulls became the first road team to win in these playoffs with a 90-82 victory in Brooklyn on Monday night. "And this decision, even though people are coming down on him, it's really killing him. It's really hurting him. I know how much he wants to be out there with us." CBSSports.com

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

KC Johnson: Deng on LBJ: "This is the best I've seen him. For a guy who has guarded him throughout my career, I think he’s a lot better now than before" Twitter @KCJHoop

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Luol Deng 

The Bulls clinched their fifth straight playoff berth, handing the Heat their first loss since Feb. 1. "We've been saying it all year: When we're at our best, we can beat anybody," Luol Deng said. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Luol Deng 

The Bulls trailed the Nuggets 119-118 with the clock winding down in overtime. Marco Belinelli's basebline shot came up short, but Noah was there to tip in the miss and give Chicago a one-point lead. However, the officials gathered, consulted video of the play and declared Noah was guilty of offensive interference. Needless to say, Thibodeau was not happy with the ruling. He shouted at officials Kevin Fehr, Ken Mauer and Kane Fitzgerald and had to be restrained by an assistant and eventually by forward Luol Deng. USA Today Sports

Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Tom Thibodeau, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Marco Belinelli, Referees 

For Luol Deng, All-Star swingman from the Chicago Bulls and a lifelong Arsenal supporter who knows precisely how it feels to chase James around a 94-by-50 hunk of wood, it's Messi. Deng introduces an interesting fresh variable by bringing up Messi's ceiling, which is indeed higher than LeBron's because his whole legacy changes in a dramatic way if Argentina wins just one World Cup in his time. "As good as LeBron is," Deng says, "I have to go with Messi. Because what he's doing, he's about to, he's on pace to (become) the best ever." Whoever Barcelona's playing, you're just interested to watch because Messi's playing." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Luol Deng, FC Barcelona, Spain, Lionel Messi 

An NBA advance scout looks at the race for the Defensive Player of the Year award: "If you're asking me, no single player can be called the Defensive Player of the Year," he said. "It's really a defensive team effort. "Memphis has a very good team defense, and Tony Allen is a hell of a defender. Chicago has a great team effort defensively -- Luol Deng is very good, and so is Joakim Noah. "You could say Kevin Garnett is the spearhead of Boston's defense. But then you also have to take into account that any defensive scheme relies on ball pressure. Without ball pressure, your scheme doesn't get in play. Without Avery Bradley, their team defense doesn't go anywhere. SI.com

Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Luol Deng, Avery Bradley, Tony Allen, Joakim Noah, Kevin Garnett 

Reggie Rose, the older brother of Derrick, did acknowledge the team's two all-stars, Deng and Joakim Noah, but suggested the Bulls should have made a move before the trade deadline. “I don’t know if it did (distract any players), but we didn’t talk about it as a team," Deng said. I don’t think that was the problem." Arlington Heights Daily Herald

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Derrick Rose, John Paxson, Gar Forman, Reggie Rose 

“From an early age, I learned time tells everything,” said Deng. “I felt like with everything I had gone though with the contract (turning down an initial eight figure salary extension offer), the injury (whispered questions about whether he really had a stress fracture that kept him out of the brilliant 2009 Boston playoff series) and everything I feel I spent a lot of time to let people know what kind of player I could be. My mindset was I would prove that here or someplace else. I was going to try to be an All-Star and try to reach how good I could be. Luckily for me, Thibs and the coaching staff came here and made me feel it was better being here. I’ll be honest with you. Before he came, I wasn’t really happy being here.” Bulls.com

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, All-Star 

Deng says his determined view comes from his parents, who were positive people despite losing high level jobs and having to run from the country. “It had a lot to do with the way we lived, moving around, being refugees,” said Deng. “I tell people what we went through and they say, ‘Oh, my god.’ Though it wasn’t like that because we were actually happy with each other. All the problems on the outside, not enough money for food or things, it did not matter because we laughed and enjoyed our time together and we always had this positive outlook. “I’m a human being. Things get to me,” says Deng. “But I like to put messages out and maybe someone will read them and it will help them and it’s also to remind myself about being positive.” Bulls.com

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, All-Star 

Britain's basketball superstar Luol Deng has today delivered a hard-hitting letter to the Prime Minister over the slashed funding that is crippling the sport. The Chicago Bulls star has weighed in on the debate after UK Sport's funding was cut in the aftermath of the Olympics. In a letter sent to 10 Downing Street, Deng wrote: 'We all heard about the "legacy" that London 2012 was going to bring to sport in the UK and I refuse to sit back and let that legacy be completely demolished for basketball. 'I, along with other people involved in the game, have put too much in and care too greatly to let this happen. 'The sport of basketball is a pathway, a pathway that teaches so many valuable lessons on and off the court, how are we supposed to motivate these kids to carry along their journey when there’s now nothing at the end? No Team GB, no Olympic dream, no goal.' Daily Mail

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Great Britain 

British Basketball’s performance chairman Roger Moreland added: 'Luol’s support for us is massively important. He recognises the value of funding, not just for the elite levels of sport but to carry on investing in grass roots and creating a route for young people to realise their dreams.' Daily Mail

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, Great Britain 

Steve Kyler: Eastern Conference reserves are Jrue Holiday, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler and Joakim Noah Twitter @stevekylerNBA

Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Chris Bosh, Paul George, Luol Deng, Tyson Chandler, Joakim Noah, Kyrie Irving, Jrue Holiday, All Star Game 

Luol Deng: Man @kyrieirving handles is sick. The basketball is like a yoyo in his hands. Twitter @LuolDeng9

Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Luol Deng, Kyrie Irving 

Thibodeau said Deng "should almost be a lock" for All-Star, said most coaches take team record into consideration. "I think coaches will look at what a guy brings to the team overall," Thibodeau said. "Have they done it consistently? And then some guys it’s a buildup too. I thought two years ago Luol deserved to make it and didn’t but then he made it last year." Sulia

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng, All-Star 

So take what Deng said later, in a more relaxed and private setting, with context. He's not the boastful type. "Personally, I really believe I'm a better player than last year," Deng said. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

The All-Star starters were announced Thursday night. With Derrick Rose off the ballot following knee surgery, fans not surprisingly voted in no Bulls. But when reserves are announced Jan. 24, Deng, along with Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, will draw strong consideration in coaches' voting to make his second straight All-Star game. "When I play with Derrick it makes the game a lot easier for me," Deng said. "So without Derrick, I've worked on a lot of areas of my game. A lot of people will tell you my jumper off the dribble has improved. That's something I worked on a lot. "It was a tough summer with the Olympics and everything. But I never wanted to come back and have people hold fatigue over me as an excuse. I spent all summer working on my game like I was a rookie in this league." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng 

Yes, it was that kind of loss, one the Bulls had few excuses to blame bad luck, lack of preparation or fatigue given the Suns were being dominated in Brooklyn Friday while the Bulls were winning in Manhattan. Though the Bulls uncharacteristically came to blame the officiating as they panicked late, bringing on four technical foul calls and Deng at times so angry and frustrated he failed to run back on defense while arguing with the officials, a stance which only can get you a technical or a tryout with the Miami Heat. “People have been thinking I’m a superhero, so I had to show them I’m human and I get frustrated, too,” Deng joked with media afterward. “I am disappointed that I let my frustration get the best of me. I’ve definitely got to keep my composure. I thought I got fouled a few times, the refs didn’t see it and I’ve got to do a better job of handling it.” Bulls.com

Chicago Bulls, Luol Deng