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Schuster: Thibodeau Claims Bulls' Confidence Is Unshaken

By David Schuster--

DEERFIELD (WSCR) For the most part, Wednesday was an off day for the Bulls, who now trail Miami 3-1 in the Eastern Conference finals. The team gathered at their practice facility in Deerfield and had a 45-minute film session and then did some light shooting on their own. Most of the players scattered quickly, opting not to talk to the media. Leaving that chore to coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau said the team's confidence is unshaken, and feels his team has been in every game and just needs to play a little bit better down the stretch.

As for Omer Asik, who is now out with a fractured fibula, Thibodeau said its unfortunate, but other players will just have to pick up the slack. A bit of controversy is brewing in regard to Asik's injury, because it was determined that he had that broken fibula even before Game 4.

"It was something [the medical staff] thought he could play with," Thibodeau said. "So he tried to go, he couldn't and that's the way it is."

Members of the media asked to talk to the Bulls training staff and were rebuffed in their efforts.

Regarding Game 5 Thursday night, Thibodeau said minor changes might occur, but it really boils down to making some shots. And as for Derrick Rose's last second shot in regulation in Game 4, Thibodeau said Rose settled for a jump shot instead of trying to draw a foul going to the basket.

"He's made that shot all year for us," Thibodeau said. "If it goes in we're all praising him. And when it doesn't go in, everyone wants to criticize him. One game he's shooting too much, and the next game he's not shooting enough. All that goes with the territory, and the thing I love about him is that he's got the courage to take that shot."

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