Tyrus Thomas back in Chicago Bulls starting role? 'Not yet'

The question started as soon as Tyrus Thomas dropped 21 points and nine rebounds on the Hornets in his first game back after missing seven weeks with a fractured radius in his left forearm:

When will Thomas return to his starting power forward position in place of rookie Taj Gibson?

Coach Vinny Del Negro answered the same way after Thursday's practice as he did in the wake of that Dec. 26 game:

"Not yet," Del Negro said.

Though Del Negro continues to insist nothing is permanent, Gibson's heady, steady play is testing the age-old theory that players don't lose starting jobs to injury. That Thomas has struggled in his reserve role for three straight games -- after three games of major impact -- hasn't swayed Del Negro's stance for now.

The Bulls' coach rejected a question about whether returning Thomas to the lineup might jump-start the fourth-year forward, who is averaging 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in just 19.7 minutes over those last three games.

"Taj has earned every minute," Del Negro said. "With Taj and Kirk (Hinrich) in the lineup, we've had better starts at times. Guys are going to get their minutes if they're productive, execute the game plan and know what we're doing. I'm happy with the starters right now and there's no reason to change anything until I feel differently."

Contrast Thomas' numbers from his first three games back, when he averaged 16 points and 10.3 rebounds in 30.3 minutes and typically played all or at least the majority of the fourth quarter. Not only is Thomas no longer starting games, he's not finishing them either.

"The more consistent he is on the court, the more minutes he'll get just like everybody else," Del Negro said. "We need him to play well and he knows that.

"I don't think he has been in as good of a rhythm as he was the first few. He gave us such a big boost when he came back. He'll be fine. I thought he had an excellent practice (Thursday). We need his activity and shot-blocking and running the court. He gives us more of an athletic presence. We'll get him back on track."

Thomas was the only Bull to make himself available Thursday to a group interview that, given his private and genuine nature, he doesn't enjoy doing. His occasionally terse answers did nothing to dispel that dynamic.

"Next question," Thomas said, when asked if he has struggled to find his offensive rhythm.

But Thomas became more expansive when asked if he's healthy.

"I feel fine," he said. "I'm 95 percent now. Just trying once again to find my niche on this team. I think I have a pretty positive effect, whether it be energy or whatever. I feel as long as I'm on the floor, we have a pretty good chance of winning."

Making the situation more intriguing is Gibson's recent revelation that, while he feels comfortable in either role, he finds coming off the bench easier.

"You can see what's happening on the floor before you go in and then you just work your minutes," Gibson said in a recent interview. "I'm fine in either role, but, yeah, the reserve role is a little easier."

Thomas is tired of doing drama and is looking inward to improve. But this is certain: He believes he is a starter as much as he believes in this team.

"I'm very confident (we can improve)," Thomas said. "We have a great team. We've shown what we can do once everybody's on the same page."

Especially when Thomas is a big part of the story.