If someone had told you in training camp that the Bulls player with the best chance of making the All-Star team this season was Joakim Noah, your most likely response would have been laughter.
How much of a long shot was Noah? He wasn't even among the five Bulls listed on the official NBA ballot.
But two months into the season, no one is laughing when the subject of Noah possibly being an All-Star is brought up now. The 6-11 center has been one of the few bright spots for the Bulls, averaging 10.5 points and 12.4 rebounds (third-best in the NBA).
''He's been strong,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''He's one of the top rebounders in the league with his energy and his length. He's around that basket, and he's been pretty consistent the whole year.''
After Noah had 17 points and 18 rebounds in the Bulls' 96-85 victory over the New Orleans Hornets, Del Negro was asked if he would begin pushing Noah for the All-Star Game.
''No question,'' Del Negro said. ''Everyone will talk about his rebounding, but he's made strides with his offense. He works hard. He puts the time in. He's building on that, working before practice, after, after shootarounds.
''When you work at things, you usually get better and he's seeing that. He's gaining confidence with that.''
Noah almost seemed embarrassed when the subject of his All-Star chances was brought up.
''I don't think about it at all,'' he said. ''That's not why I go out there and play the games; it's not for individual accolades. It's definitely flattering, humbling, but at the same time that's not why we go out there and play the game.''
Despite his solid numbers, Noah still is a long shot to become the Bulls' first All-Star in the post-Jordan era.
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is a lock to be the starting center on the Eastern Conference team. Since the East likely will have just two centers on the roster, the battle for the backup probably will come down to Noah and Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks.
Horford, a former teammate of Noah's at Florida, is averaging 14 points and 9.9 rebounds, so the two have similar numbers. Horford, though, likely will get the nod because he has a big edge in field-goal percentage (59 percent to 47.7 percent) and the Hawks (21-8) have a far superior record.
While being an All-Star would be nice, Noah said he is focused on doing what he can to get the Bulls back to the playoffs this season.
''I feel like we have a lot of potential on this team,'' he said. ''To make the playoffs [last season], to me that was probably the most fun I've had playing basketball, including those NCAA tournament runs [at Florida].
''Just playing and competing at the highest basketball level, that's what it's all about and I hope we can go back and play in the playoffs.''
Despite Tyrus Thomas' big performance in his return (21 points and 9 rebounds), Del Negro said the starting lineup will be the same Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers with Taj Gibson starting at power forward and Thomas coming off the bench.
''Let's just stay with it the way it is,'' the coach said. ''Let's not rush into it. We got a win; let's just focus on that. The starting lineup is what it is for now and we'll stay with that.
''It gives us great versatility because Tyrus can play three [small forward] or four [power forward] off the bench. It's the first game. Let's just take it one game at a time.''
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