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Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau doesn't think Luol Deng, Joakim Noah are playing too much

Deng and Noah are both averaging over 40 minutes a night in the absence of Derrick Rose, but Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau doesn't see that workload reducing any time soon.

By Neal Coolong
Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Youth is an advantage Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is going to exploit.

Without Derrick Rose on the floor, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah are averaging 41 and 40.1 minutes a game, respectively, for the Bulls (12-9), and Thibodeau is saying nothing to suggest that workload will lessen any time soon.

When asked if Deng in particular was logging too many minutes, he responded, "No, he's in his 20s."

Noah played all but 21 minutes of the Bulls' five-game stretch from Dec. 1-8.

Keeping them on the court is a successful strategy so far this season. The Bulls lead the Central division and have won four of their last five games. With Rose looking to be out for at least another few weeks, Deng, the team's leading scorer at 17.9 points a game, will continue to be the offensive catalyst while Noah's dominant defensive play is being complimented by his improving offensive game.

The Bulls host Brooklyn at 7 p.m. CT Saturday at the United Center.