Circus trip offers chance for Bulls to learn who they are

The annual circus trip hasn’t always been kind to the Bulls.

But optimism was high in practice Monday as the team prepared for a six-game, 12-day sojourn that will end Nov. 25 in Philadelphia.

Coach Fred Hoiberg confirmed this would be the Bulls’ final circus trip — the circus won’t return to the United Center after its run ends this month — but the positive mood at practice seemed to be more about the chance for the team to strike out on the road and learn some things about itself.

‘‘I guess, like most teams that have as many new faces as we have, there’s been a lot of ups and there’s been a lot of downs with our group,’’ Hoiberg said. ‘‘Now it’s a matter of trying to be a more consistent basketball team. I think we took strides in the right direction defensively in these last two [games].’’

The Bulls’ victories on the road Thursday against the Heat and at home Saturday against the Wizards extended a trend that has seen them hold opponents to fewer than 100 points in all six games they have won this season.

That will be tested by the Trail Blazers, Jazz, Clippers and Lakers, dynamic teams that all are above .500. By the end of the trip, even the Nuggets and 76ers might be enough to pose problems for the road-weary Bulls.

‘‘We’re playing some really good teams, and we’ll figure out a lot about ourselves, especially on the road,’’ Hoiberg said. ‘‘In my playing experiences, on these long road trips, it does give your team an opportunity to bond and spend a lot of time with each other. I think we’ve talked all along — since the beginning of training camp — just how much chemistry this team has built, how well they get along and just the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time on the road.’’

Count center Robin Lopez, who is in his first season with the Bulls, among the players looking forward to getting better acquainted with his teammates.

‘‘It’s great being on the road with the guys,’’ Lopez said. ‘‘You definitely get to know them, get to know their habits a little better. It’s always kind of nice, just the change of pace, too. I don’t like getting stuck in a rut one way or another — five games in a row at home, five games in a row on the road. I like mixing it up. At least on the road, you’re changing cities.’’

And in the future, without clowns or high-wire acts to schedule around, the Bulls can do it on their own terms.