LOS ANGELES -- If there was one benefit to the Bulls' blowout loss to the Lakers on Thursday night, it's that the lopsided nature of the game enabled coach Vinny Del Negro to use all 10 players.
This is an odd circus trip in that there aren't any back-to-back games. Still, 11 games into the season and because of injuries to Tyrus Thomas and Aaron Gray, minutes are piling up for players.
Luol Deng is averaging 38 minutes, 39 seconds. John Salmons is at 37:50. Joakim Noah is playing 33:34. Derrick Rose is playing 33:10.
James Johnson played 10:17 against the Lakers, scoring eight points on 3-for-5 shooting. The only game in which Johnson played more is the Bulls' only other blowout loss against the Celtics.
It's time to start letting Johnson play through some mistakes and get some regular rotational minutes, if only to ease the burden on some other players.
Photo: The Bulls' James Johnson dunks during the preseason. (Scott Strazzante/Tribune)
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