Stars

Sporting royalty Noah does the dirty work for Bulls

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-18 10:01

Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah (13) reaches for a rebound against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of Game 2 of their NBA Eastern Conference second round playoff basketball game in Chicago, May 4, 2011. The Bulls won the game 86-73. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - He may descend from sports royalty and the glamour of a famous father and a beauty queen mother, but Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah is not shying away from the dirty work in pursuit of an NBA title.

The 6-foot-11 (2.11 m) Noah, son of 1983 French Open champion Yannick Noah and Cecilia Rodhe, Miss Sweden 1978, is a pivotal cog in top-seeded Chicago's blueprint for success in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat.

League Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose may direct the team's offense with sensational verve, but defense is the Bulls' bottom line, with Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik tenacious at that end of the floor.

Noah's enthusiasm and energy are infectious, his fierceness contagious on a team that led the NBA in defense and must cool off the Heat's Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to advance to the NBA Finals.