Deng: Bulls' Win A Glimpse Of How Good They Can Be
(WSCR) To one Bulls star, the team's 40-point pounding of the Grizzlies in their home opener was just a glimpse into good this team can be.
"We just showed how good we can be," Bulls forward Luol Deng told The McNeil and Spiegel Show on Monday. "Memphis is a very good team. That's exactly the same team that beat San Antonio last year. We were just so excited. Even before the game we were talking about it -- we just wanted to play in front of our home court. With the lockout and everything, I mean, it's New Years now and we're just finally playing at home."
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Through his first seven seasons, Deng's career has been rather up-and-down. When he was first drafted out of Duke as the seventh-overall selection in the 2004 draft, Deng appeared to be a part of the nucleus that would bring a championship back to Chicago.
But after signing a six-year, $71 million contract extension with the Bulls, his play began to diminish. Now, however, Deng appears to be coming back into the form that was worthy of the extension.
"I battled some injuries -- some very serious injuries that would've set a lot of people back," Deng said. "I had to fight to get back to the level I was at before those injuries occurred. Being a professional, I've always just listened and done my thing. The best thing that's happened to me is coach Thibs coming over here. His style of play, the way we play, it really fits me. It fits who I am. Now, I can just go out and play basketball."
Still, with a shortened, 66-game season, Deng and the Bulls will need to remain at the top of their game throughout the season.
"I'm mature enough now where I do a good job taking care of my body," Deng said. "I do a good job resting. Right after the game, I know what to do to get back with recovery. With all that being said, with 66 games, it's going to be a lot of pounding. But I'd rather be playing games than practicing, to be honest with you."
