File picture of Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls reacting following a play against the Miami Heat during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

MCT/Chicago


Last week, when it privately became official that Joakim Noah would come off the bench for today’s season opener, the man who finished fourth in the 2013-14 most valuable player voting returned to the Advocate Center for a night workout.
Even better, he invited rookies Bobby Portis and Cristiano Felicio to join him.
If anyone is worried about how Noah will handle his new role, that anecdote should provide evidence to quell it.
“It’s going to be good for our team,” Noah said. “I believe that. I’ve always been a team-first guy. And that’s not going to change.”
Noah looks livelier and more active than at most points from last season, when he laboured after left knee surgery in May 2014 and struggled to play power forward alongside Pau Gasol. The veteran is entering a contract season.
And yet the same workmanlike mentality and infectious intensity that propelled his unlikely rise to All-Star and All-NBA status is underscoring his approach to his new role.
“He’s handling it great,” Taj Gibson said. “I think he’s more excited to play alongside me and Bobby, knowing he’s going to have guys with a lot of energy and grittiness to him that want to come in and attack. Every day in practice, it’s comedy because it’s so much trash-talking that it’s brutal. It’s good to see.”
Noah and Gibson have provided active defensive energy and rebounding in their reserve pairing. With Spanish national team teammates Gasol and Mirotic starting, coach Fred Hoiberg hasn’t indicated how he’ll close games.
Hoiberg has stated the rotation, at least initially, could be in flux, mixing and matching to address what the game needs. If Noah isn’t consistently finishing games, that will further test his team-first mantra. But he insists he’s on board with whatever.
“My role is about the team,” Noah said.
Hoiberg said Noah has been the most vocal player in practice. Several teammates said Noah has been animated and talking trash, which Hoiberg said has helped create a fun atmosphere.
“He has that (second) group frothing at the mouth,” Hoiberg said.
Gibson and Noah have paired for plenty of big moments, including finishing playoff games. Gibson is also eager to play consistently with his fellow New Yorker.
“Me and Jo have an aggressive attitude in how we practice and how we play,” Gibson said. “It’s going to be good for our team, good for a spark, especially when we need energy and how we want to play defense. The chemistry is there.”
Gibson, too, has looked springy following offseason surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left ankle. He closed the preseason strong, averaging 13 points, 6.7 rebounds and two blocks over his final three exhibitions.
“I feel great,” Gibson said. “I feel comfortable in this offense. I feel like I’m back in college, playing freely. Coach has been looking for me. The coaching staff has been looking for me. My teammates have been looking for me. I feel strong and explosive.”
Today, it’s time for him and Noah to show it, off the bench.