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Jannero Pargo spent a year playing in both Russia and Greece before returning to his native Chicago.

Jannero Pargo may have led professional basketball in frequent flier miles last season.

The veteran guard made the unusual move of leaving the NBA and signing with a team in Russia. When that team was having a hard time paying its bills, Pargo landed in Greece, capping off the type of year that most NBA players would never even think about.

This season, Pargo is back playing for the Bulls, the team he grew up rooting for. It's been a long, strange trip back to Chicago to say the least, but it's easy to understand why the 30-year-old player is so happy to be back.

Nick Friedell: If you had to describe your season last year in five words how would you describe it?

Jannero Pargo: Five words? Oh my goodness. I think I need more than five words. Different. Exciting. Unpredictable. (Pauses) Fun. And humbling.

NF: If you had to do it all over again, what would you do?

JP: If I had to do it all over again, I would make the same decision that I made. I would go overseas and I would get that experience. I have no regrets on any decisions that I've made to this point. You make decisions and you live with them.

NF: How many people from around the league have called you up and said, "OK, tell me the story -- what happened?" since you've been back home?

JP: (Smiles) A lot of guys around the league don't really have my number. But, guys that I'm friends with -- when we played just about every team. We played Orlando, Vince [Carter] a lot of guys are like, "Hey, how was it over there? Did you like it?"

Maybe two or three guys from every team that we've played. Guys have come up to me and asked me about the experience. It feels good that those guys are keeping up with me and asking about how things were over there. It feels good.

NF: Did guys come up to you at all and say, "Man, you're crazy." Did you get any reactions like that at all?

JP: No, I didn't get that. I got a lot of guys that were happy for me. They saw an opportunity for me to make some money and to actually have a team that's built around me. That's how it was over there when I first went to Russia. A lot of the responsibility was in my hands. I was the starting point guard, the lead guard. It was a great opportunity for me. I think guys around the league realize that and they were happy for me.

NF: How did the European basketball lifestyle compare to the NBA lifestyle?

JP: There's not much difference. I think the NBA, maybe the hotels are a lot better that you stay in.

NF: So there are no Ritz Carltons in Moscow?

JP: No. (Laughs) There [weren't] any Ritz Carltons over there. Not bad hotels, just not the ones that we stay in here. Maybe just some of the other nuances of the game [were different] -- gear and shoes and things of that nature, it's all just handed to you when you're in the NBA. But when you're overseas it's a bit of a difference. You have to kind of make your shoes last over there. It's different. I don't think it's bad or worse, as far as being in the NBA, it's just different.

NF: Was there ever a point in time, either in Russia or Greece, when you went, "Whoa, what is going on here?"

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Want a Big Mac in Russia? Pargo says be prepared to wait awhile.

JP: Yeah, I think when I first got to Russia. It was a culture shock. We were in a hotel that was not very nice. Couldn't read any signs. Couldn't get around. I had to stay in the hotel pretty much the whole time. Once we stayed over there for a while and got our apartment, and got to go outside and go to the mall and go do things, everything was OK.

But, when I first got there it was a bit of a culture shock. It was like, "Hey, am I making the right decision or ...?" It was crazy at first, but we got used to it.

NF: If somebody called you today and said, "Jannero, I'm thinking about making the move." What would you tell them?

JP: I would tell them to just weigh their options. Look at what you have in front of you. What kind of options do you have in the NBA? D-League, whatever. I think it's different for everybody. Some people may be going through different things with their family or whatever.

I wouldn't tell those guys, "No, don't do it. It's a bad idea." I don't believe that at all. I think it's a way to provide for your family and a way to learn basketball in a different way, and see the world. So, I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

NF: Did you follow the NBA when you were overseas?

JP: Yeah, every morning, every night I'm on NBA.com. Hoops Hype. And I'm reading, and I'm involved in the NBA game. Probably more so then, then I am now (Laughs). I was keeping up with every rookie. Every team. Just seeing how everybody was doing. Keeping up with the Hornets, as you probably would know. Just seeing how things were going.

NF: Did they have League Pass over there or anything like that?

JP: No, they didn't have League Pass. I had a thing called Slingbox, though. So I'd catch the games at maybe 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning. But I didn't really do that too often. We practiced twice a day over there, so I was like, "Hey, I got to go to sleep."

NF: I was going to say, it must have been a pretty big game if you were staying up for that.

JP: (Smiles) I probably saw one game, that was it.

NF: Most people I know who go over Europe have a crazy European story. What is yours?

JP: I don't really have any. I was pretty much in the house and just hanging out chilling. Only thing I can say about Moscow is that the McDonalds are crazy over there.

NF: What's the difference?

JP: The line is so long. It takes you 30 minutes to get McDonalds. Every time you go. I don't care if it's Sunday morning, Friday evening. It doesn't matter. Whenever you go into McDonalds, it's going to be 30-45 minutes. The line is that long.

NF: Did you go in there a lot?

JP: No, just every time I went it was 30-40 minutes. Every time. And nothing is in English so I had to point to whatever I wanted.

NF: So is the biggest athlete in Russia still Drago? Is there a mega-star in Russia?

JP: (Laughs) It would have to be Drago, still. They love him. They love him over there. I think Andrei Kirilenko is big over there. They love Andrei. I think anyone who's a good player in Russia, they love 'em.

NF: I talked to your brother [Jeremy] last season at the Old Spice Classic and he had a mohawk. Any thoughts of putting one in for this season?

JP: Oh no, no. I had a mohawk before he did, but it wasn't wild and crazy like his.

NF: That's what he was saying.

JP: Yeah, his is wild and crazy, so I'm not ... nah. He's a lot more outgoing and flamboyant than I am.

NF: I'm sure you talked to him all the time last season, but how did you follow his games?

JP: He sent me video. On the Internet, looking at stats and whatever.

NF: How is he doing now?

JP: He's doing great, actually. Last two games -- last game he had 36, the game before that 25, so he's playing really well. [Note: Jeremy is playing in Israel now].

NF: As a kid who grew up in Chicago, what is it like playing for the Bulls?

JP: Just think about the biggest dream you ever had coming true and that's what it's like. Growing up watching the Bulls, watching Michael Jordan and those guys win championships, you always dream about being in this organization and winning a championship. And to be here, it's really just a dream come true.

NF: Is there a time during games where you just look around and say, "Man, I'm here."?

JP: Yeah. When the game's going on you pretty much focus on trying to play well and getting a win, so I don't really think about it then. But, sometimes, when I come back to the gym late at night and I shoot and just look in the middle of the court and [see] the big Bulls head, you're just like "Wow, this is a great opportunity."

NF: Do you have a nickname you go by?

JP: I have a lot of names I go by: Some people call me JP, or just Pargo. One of the coaches here kept calling me Geronimo. A lot of names.

NF: What is the best restaurant in the city?

JP: Ruth's Chris [Steak House].

NF: Ruth's Chris? You can get that anywhere though.

JP: The best.

NF: Really? You could go to any restaurant in Chicago and you're going to Ruth's Chris?

JP: Ruth's Chris. Yep, that's where I'm going.

NF: All right. All right. If you've got a free day and you could go anywhere you want in the city, where would you go?

JP: I'm going to 71st and Racine, on the block where I grew up.

NF: And just hang out?

JP: Just hang out.

NF: So no Wrigley, no Cell, no nothing?

JP: I'm going on the block where I grew up and hang out with my peoples.

NF: talked to Taj [Gibson] the other day and he said he's big into reality TV. Are you into any of that stuff?

JP: (Smiles) You know what, I'm not really into it, but if I'm watching TV flipping through the channels and I see one on, it kind of just catches you and once you watch it for two or three minutes, you're kind of hooked on it. I never set my TV to go and watch it, but flipping through the channels sometimes I stop and catch a reality show.

NF: Is there a specific one that catches your eye every time?

JP: Right now, I think "For the Love of Ray-J" is on. The new season. That's always interesting. What else? The relationship things, there was one with the rock star.

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Rap star Flavor Flav is definitely one of a kind. Just as Pargo

NF: Taj says he watches Flavor Flav.

JP: Yeah, Flavor Flav, all that, man. It's crazy. It's fun to watch, but I don't get into it too much.

NF: Is Flavor Flav comparable to any guy you've played with so far in the NBA?

JP: HMMM, I don't think so. I don't think there's one in the world. He's definitely one of a kind.

NF: If you could pick one guy on this team who would wear the clock like Flav, who would it be?

JP: Oh, man. Who would that be? Maybe Lindsey [Hunter].

NF: Really?

JP: (Smiles) Yeah.

NF: You think he's gotten to that level as a veteran where ....?

JP: Yeah, he just does and says whatever he wants to say. Kind of like Flavor Flav.

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LOS ANGELES -- Phil Jackson gave Los Angeles reporters a Chicago history lesson during Thursday night's pregame press conference. When asked if the circus trip existed when he was the Bulls head coach responded quickly.

"Oh yeah," he said. "There was the ice skating trip and the circus trip."

After giving a few more details about the proceedings, Jackson took a mini-dig at his former team. "I told [ESPN 1000 on Wednesday} this trips already successful for the Bulls. They already won one game on this trip. They've had some unbelievable tough times out here early in the season."

"Even when you were there?" a reporter asked.

"No," Jackson responded, giving the assembled media members a chuckle.

"But it has been tough," he continued after the laughter subsided. "Early-season, it's tough to go on the road. Usually teams are full of themselves, the injuries are limited and they're really playing at a high level. There are a number of years we had some really great years coming West."

Of course, Jackson left out the fact that he had Michael Jordan on his team.

Jackson also reiterated his admiration for Bulls center Joakim Noah during the session comparing him to former Kansas City King Sam Lacey.

"[Lacey] could run the court, wasn't really a power body, but kind of tall and angular," Jackson said. "Can play the game from a different perspective than a power situation. I admire the way [Noah's] playing, the way he's coming, his attitude this year looks like it's tremendous. He's really improved."

Jackson was then asked if free-spirited players like Noah should be allowed to be who they want to be on the floor and the Hall of Fame coach came up with a good line while discussing the rap on taller players.

"They're called goons because they get that tall because they're a little goofy," he said. "And that's all right. That's their individuality. And that's fine. It's unique to this sport. I think [Noah] brings an individuality that's pleasant to see.

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LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers' roster is flooded with different kinds of weapons that can consistently hurt you. The Bulls just don't have that kind of ammunition right now.

They simply couldn't match up with Pau Gasol and company on Thursday night as the Lakers steamrolled to a 108-93 win.

"It's unbelievable," Joakim Noah said after the game. "There's nobody you can really help off of. They just made it look really easy. It was like an exhibition out there tonight (Thursday). It felt like a varsity team compared to a JV team. I was tired as hell and I was looking around on the court and nobody from the Lakers even broke a sweat."

The Bulls had to play a perfect game in order to have a chance to win at Staples Center and that didn't happen. The Lakers had six different players in double figures and overwhelmed the Bulls throughout the night. They proved once again why they are arguably the most talented team in the league.

"It's difficult," Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro said of facing the Lakers. "That's why they're world champions. They haven't had Pau and they're getting him back and he's an All-Star player in this league and they can feed off that. Our guys battled with what we had. We didn't shoot the basketball well enough and our turnovers hurt as well."

Gasol, playing in his first game of the season after sitting out with a strained hamstring, absolutely crushed the Bulls down low. He had 24 points and 13 rebounds.

"He's a player," Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said. "There's no matter if it's his first or his last [game]. He's a player. A great NBA player. And they got a good team."

A good team that gave Rose and his teammates match-up problems all night.

"They not only have length they have talent," Del Negro said. "There's one thing to be tall, but there's [another] to be tall and talented and they got both. So that helps."

Rose put it another way. "They got great players," he said. "Even when two of them or one of them is off, they still win. It's going to be tough for someone to beat them. They're absolutely too big for us, but we can't use that as an excuse. We could have competed a little harder."

This game should serve as a solid motivational tool for the Bulls the rest of the season. They saw what the best of the NBA looks like, and they know they are still a long way from getting there.

"We just got to get better," Noah said. "It's humbling but at the same time it's a learning experience."

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LOS ANGELES -- Joakim Noah has a theory as to why it's always different playing the Lakers.

"Championships," the Bulls center said recently. "Simple as that. They have a lot of championships. They're the defending champs. They added Ron Artest. They're very good. They have the best coach in the NBA in Phil Jackson. It's just exciting to go up against the best and see where we stand."

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Kobe Bryant, who is averaging 31 points a game, likely will be guarded by John Salmons for much of Thursday night's game.

Noah and some of his teammates are looking forward to all the extra attention that comes with playing the Lakers Thursday night at Staples Center.

"[I'm] just looking forward to the challenge," Bulls rookie Taj Gibson said after practice on Wednesday. "When you think about L.A. and you think about the NBA teams, you think about the Los Angeles Lakers. Nothing but championships. That team is a great team. So much talent. [I'm] just looking to see how we fare against them. And how I play against some of the nation's best. The world's best, actually."

Of course, part of the L.A. allure is the fact that all kinds of celebrities come out to watch the defending champs play. Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro and point guard Derrick Rose say that doesn't affect them.

"Too busy," Del Negro said, when asked if he looked around the court for the stars. "I've been doing this a long time. They'll be here. It's a national TV game, but the focus is on what we can control. I just try to focus in on what we can do to give us an opportunity on the road."

"Other than the people from my agency, I really don't know anybody out here," Rose said after Thursday morning's shootaround. "I don't really get into the celebrities that [show up] at the game."

Bulls center Brad Miller joked that the L.A. fans should come out to see the young point guard play.

"Rose is already the sexiest man alive," Miller said from a few seats away. "They want to come see his sexiness."

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LOS ANGELES -- Joakim Noah believes that Phil Jackson is the best coach in the NBA. After he hears what Jackson said about him Wednesday during the "Waddle & Silvy" show on ESPN 1000, that affinity probably will grow even more. It sounds as if Jackson is a big fan of the Bulls' young center.

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Phil Jackson coached the Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

"He's a rangy guy," Jackson said of Noah. "I've always kind of liked those centers that may not be power based, so much, as the fact they're active and able to do multiple tasks. We have a guy like that in Pau Gasol; runs the court well, can help defend on screen rolls, runs back on transition defense to close lanes and things like that that. Really sets up defense and offensive opportunities.

"Noah's got that attitude. I have a close friend whose son played basketball with him in Long Island. I've followed him from afar since he was a teenager, and he had great college career. We didn't think he jumped into the NBA with both feet to start with. He kind of waddled in. … The Bulls were a franchise that was really suffering at the time; they had no real identity at that point, but [they're] starting to get one."

Obviously, Jackson enjoys the style Noah provides and apparently enjoys watching the Bulls play, as well.

"I like that they're playing the game in a style that's identified as theirs," Jackson said. "They can't be the '90s Bulls, for sure. They have to have an identity for their own. [Derrick] Rose gives them a push, running attack kind of guard who sets an aggressive tone for them. They're having trouble scoring, and that's OK, as long as their defense can hold them in games. That's really their signature right now, is their defense."

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LOS ANGELES --Taj Gibson was all over the place at practice on Wednesday afternoon -- literally.

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A poster of Bulls rookie Taj Gibson hangs at USC's Galen Center, where the Bulls held practice Wednesday.

The Bulls rookie and the rest of his teammates practiced at the Galen Center, which happens to be the home of the USC basketball team. As a USC alum, Gibson was happy to be back on campus, but he had to endure a lot of ribbing from his teammates during the occasion.

The Bulls spent roughly two hours using the same practice floor that the USC men's team uses. The court just so happens to feature several gigantic photos of Gibson on the walls.

"As soon as we came in they were like, 'This place is the Galen Center.' They didn't have a clue [about] the pictures," a smiling Gibson said after practice. "I was like, Please don't go in the picture gym. We went in here and I was like, 'Ahhh!' As soon as we get in here, everybody was like, 'AHHHH!' [Bulls general manager] Gar [Forman], everybody was like, 'Taj is running this place, huh?'"

Bulls players and coaches got a kick out of going to Gibson's alma mater and seeing all the pictures from his days with the Trojans.

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Bulls rookie Taj Gibson averaged 14.3 points per game for the USC Trojans in 2008-09.

"I don't mind it so bad, but the one in front of me right now is like 40 feet by 20," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "But, It's great. I know he was excited to get back here and see a lot of familiar faces and a lot of familiar surroundings, so it was good. Guys had fun with him this morning."

Gibson spent time before and after practice visiting with old teachers and coaches who had come by to say hello.

"It was a fun couple years being here," Gibson said. "Just building the whole USC basketball program up. You see the new photos on the walls, so much hard work we put in. It's good to come back and look at them."

The time in the gym gave Gibson a chance to remember all the work he put in to accomplish his dream of playing in the NBA.

"It's kind of weird because you think about all the times you were in college and you were in here practicing," he said. "And it's just a totally different feeling now, knowing that you're a pro [on] a totally different team. Not the same coaches anymore. You think about all the times you came here at night and worked on your game with. Just blood and sweat. Just looking for the dream of playing in the NBA. Now things are happening. It's great".

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LOS ANGELES -- Derrick Rose hasn't felt like himself lately, so he has decided to do something about it. He's not going to cut his hair until he gets back on track.

"I'm not getting my hair cut," Rose said after Wednesday's practice. "I'm just going to try to grind it out for the whole year. If [you] see me around here looking all rough, it's because of the season."

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Second-year Bulls guard Derrick Rose attributes his early-season funk to his injured ankle.

That's one of several things the Chicago Bulls point guard is going to try in hopes of getting himself back to playing the way he knows he can.

It remains to be seen just how long Rose will let his hair grow or what needs to happen on the court to prompt him to cut it, but it's safe to say his frustration level is growing faster than his hair ever could.

"There's got to be something I'm doing wrong," Rose said. "I know the injury was something, but, man, it's taken me too long to get back."

The second-year guard, who says he's still not 100 percent healthy after an ankle tendon injury that caused him to miss most of training camp, admitted that he's in the midst of one of the toughest stretches of his career. He doesn't look like the player everyone came to know last season, and he knows it. He is turning the ball over too much, and he is not asserting himself as much on the court.

"We're winning, so I don't care anything about my game right now as long as we're winning," Rose said. "But if we weren't winning, I'm playing terrible. I'm not going to the hole the way I used to. It seems like to me that I'm not that aggressive like that anymore, but it's going to change [Thursday]."

It's clear that Rose is still getting over his injury to a certain extent. He doesn't seem as comfortable driving up and down the floor as he has in the past.

"The injury definitely has something to do with it, but I just got to fight through it," he said. "We're winning now, so I'm not complaining about it, but I know that I'm not playing like my regular self."

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro knows that once Rose gets over the mental hurdle of his ankle, he will return to normal. After all, this is really the first injury the reigning rookie of the year has dealt with in his pro career.

"I just think he's got to gain a little confidence in his ankle," Del Negro said. "He doesn't have that explosion that he had, so he's trying to get that back with his conditioning. I think he's just a little bit tentative right now. But he's just got to keep on playing, Keep on playing through it, get his therapy and have good practices and transfer that to the game."

Rose and his fans are just hoping that transfer happens sooner than later. The injury seems to have taken some joy out of Rose's game, and the point guard knows he has been settling for jump shots way too often.

"They say it seems like I'm not happy out there, but I'm definitely happy we're winning," Rose said of the feedback he gets from friends. "They're saying that it seems like it's not me out there."

Del Negro has total confidence that his point guard is just going through a rough patch right now. Derrick will be fine," Del Negro said. "He's still very young, and he's got a lot of growing to do in terms of basketball. He's a great kid with great humility, and he knows how important he is for us to be successful with his growth, so we got to be a little bit patient and give him a little bit of space and let him play and enjoy himself.

"He was set back a lot with basically missing training camp so he's had to use the regular-season games to get his training camp in and get some conditioning in. That was unfortunate timing."

Rose can't even remember a time when he has struggled this badly.

"This has got to be the first time in my whole life [I've played like this]," Rose said. "I never had an injury or anything like that. First time I feel like I'm not being aggressive in a long time. [Thursday,] things are going to change."

If things don't change soon, Rose might end up with the kind of Afro hairdo Dr. J & Co. made famous back in the day.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Joakim Noah sat in the victorious Chicago Bulls locker room Tuesday night and started singing.

The Bulls center had just earned yet another double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds), but he had other things on his mind.

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Joakim Noah credits his offseason workouts in California for his newly found toughness.

The gregarious 7-footer channeled his inner-Tupac and started singing "To Live & Die in L.A." in front of all his teammates.

It's safe to say that Noah is looking forward to his trip down the coast toward Los Angeles.

"Very, very, very excited," Noah said of the trip. "I have a lot of friends out there. I'm excited to go to L.A. We're playing against the world champions in L.A. We're lucky people, man. We're very lucky, very privileged [to] play against the best in the world and just go out there and compete."

For Noah, the trip serves as a kind of homecoming for him. Over the past summer, the lanky big man started working out harder in the weight room and spent plenty of time on his game, transforming himself into a chiseled post presence. The famous Gold's Gym on Venice Beach became one of his favorite training spots.

"Worked out with those big monsters," he happily recalls. "Just lifting with some bodybuilders and stuff. I felt like it gave me confidence, just seeing the intensity they brought into the weight room was a little different than [what] a basketball player would bring to the weight room. It was just good to be around different people and just understanding you have to bring a certain intensity to the weight room to get results."

One of the most important people in Noah's case was one of his closest friends -- another weightlifter.

"In my second year and in my first year I feel like I traveled a lot and I still did in the offseason. I still did this year, but I feel like the difference was [that] I kept a trainer with me -- my best friend, [who] is like a big weightlifter. So when I wasn't in Chicago working out with the Bulls I always stayed with him."

While Noah's recent success may be surprising people all over the league, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said he knew that the 24-year-old could reach his potential.

"I think he's comfortable in what we're doing," Del Negro said after Tuesday night's win. "I think he has confidence in what he needs to do and he understands where he can pick his spots and where he can be effective. He's just on the glass and he's been big for us."

Del Negro isn't surprised that Noah has gotten so much better this season. He knows how much extra time the young center has put in this season.

"I think what you're going to see as the year goes on, and this is what I hope, is that he becomes more of an offensive threat," Del Negro said. "At times, he's getting a lot of his points and tip-ins and dunks and things, but he's got some moves down there and he's got some jump hooks and things that he's been working on hard. The hard work's paying off. I need to probably throw him the ball once in a while with all his hard work."

Noah is taking all the extra praise in stride. He says he never really thought about specific expectations for himself coming into this season, he just knew that a lot was expected of him. That's why he spent all the extra time in the gym instead of on the beach.

"I just wanted to come out here and help my team," Noah said. "Coach always told me that I was going to play a lot of minutes, so I just tried to get ready for that in terms of conditioning, strength and just holding my ground."

He will be headed back to Venice Beach on Wednesday afternoon, but only to take in the scene. He prepared himself for this showdown against the Lakers, and everyone else, a few months ago.

"I think if I lifted how I lifted during the summer I don't think I'd be ready for the game because you can't even lift your arms after you're done with those workouts," Noah said.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- At times on Tuesday night, the Bulls attempted to give back the large lead they had built up. But just when you thought they would hand it all away, John Salmons and Joakim Noah saved the day.

Salmons paced his team with 23 points and seven assists while Noah racked up another double-double (15 points, 14 rebounds) as the Bulls knocked off the Sacramento Kings 101-87 on the first game of the annual circus trip.

"I thought John Salmons was solid for us," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Joakim was a monster especially [in] the second half. [He had] a couple great tip-ins [and we had] some good performances, which we needed -- a good way to start a long trip."

The Bulls seemed to push past the Kings with energy, something they will need a lot of during the next two weeks. The team had 22 fast-break points and ran up and down the floor with Sacramento most of the night. For Salmons and teammate Brad Miller, who spent seven season with the Kings, the win had to feel a little better, especially considering it snapped Sacramento's four-game winning streak.

"It definitely felt good," Salmons said. "Just [having] the fans recognize what you did for their team while you were here. When I go to Philly I still get booed."

Salmons won't be hearing boos from Bulls fans any time soon if he plays like he did Tuesday night.

"He made a couple big shots when the shot clock was running down and I thought he was aggressive going to the basket," Del Negro said. "But I expect John to play well. We need him to play well and I figured he would coming back to Sacramento."

While the Bulls offense finally came alive, it's the Bulls defense that continues to carry them -- a fact that hasn't gotten past Noah.

"The one consistent thing we've been doing very well is just stepping it up on defense," the Bulls center said. "We'll miss three, four shots in a row but we don't let it affect our defensive energy and I think that's a positive so far."

The really positive right now is that the Bulls are 1-0 with six games left to go on this mammoth trip.

"I think it's important," Noah said of getting the first win. "Were playing against the L.A. Lakers next, some big boys coming up, so I think it's just important that we just come ready to play every time there's a challenge."

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Aaron Gray is feeling better, but he won't be rejoining the Bulls just yet.

The backup center, who was admitted to the hospital Monday with cellulitis, might check out later Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, according to Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro.

"He's feeling better," Del Negro said. "Hopefully, he'll be on the trip sometime. [I'm] not exactly sure when he'll be on the trip, but he's feeling better. [Gray] got some of the redness out and stuff, so that was all good."

Gray has not yet played this season.

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