Bulls open with big early test

Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook literally arrived in the NBA together.

Both players were represented by Arn Tellem and the Wasserman Media Group, which arranged for the electrifying point guards to work out together in Los Angeles before the 2008 draft.

The tradition continued during the next two summers and Rose quickly volunteered Tuesday that Westbrook is one of his best friends among NBA players.

Their next meeting is for real. On Day 2 of the NBA season, the league scheduled a “rising stars” game for national ESPN broadcast Rose's Bulls against Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the Thunder on Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

Rose wouldn't have it any other way.

“We're friends off the court, but on the court it's, ‘I'm trying to kill you,'” he said of going against Westbrook. “It's just being a basketball player, being an athlete.

“When you're on the court against someone, you're trying to do better than them. You're trying to have that mentality where I'm going to kill you every time we step on the court.”

It's not just Westbrook. Rose also is tight with Durant, and all three players spent September with Team USA winning the gold medal at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey.

Rose talked about going shopping, seeing the sights and watching college football with Westbrook and Durant in Turkey.

“We went to a restaurant that was like eight restaurants in one,” Rose recalled. “It was right off the water, right by the bridge that separates Asia from Europe, so that was crazy. If we went out, though, we probably wouldn't go out with (Durant), because he was getting so much attention.”

Bulls-Thunder doesn't carry the same star power as Celtics-Heat on opening night, especially with Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer sidelined by a broken right hand.

But it should be an interesting start to the season.

The Thunder issued a news release asking fans to wear blue and arrive at the arena before tipoff to create a good atmosphere for television. Challenging doesn't begin to describe what the Bulls will face in Oklahoma.

“That's cool with us,” Rose said. “If anything, that tests us right out of the gate. If we win that, I think it should give us confidence that we can win almost any game on the road.”

Durant and Rose were born just five days apart in the fall of 1988. Durant made history by leading the league in scoring at 21 with 30.1 points per game. He was unstoppable for the national team in Turkey.

“Durant is a special player, but it's certainly not a one-man team,” said first-year Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. “I think it will be a great challenge for all of us.”

Luol Deng, coming off an impressive preseason, will likely get a turn at guarding Durant, though the Bulls figure to start with Taj Gibson.

“I've played against so many great players,” Deng said. “I think the best you can do is just make it tough. They're going to get their shots up. I think the key is really as the game goes on, keep making it tough for them.”

The Bulls head into the season with higher expectations than the 41-41 records and first-round playoff defeats of the past two years. They'll have to wait a few weeks to see what Boozer can bring to the table but should have enough pieces to stay competitive.

The four returning regulars Rose, Deng, Gibson and Joakim Noah played well during the preseason. The biggest question is how they'll work in newcomers such as Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Keith Bogans and C.J. Watson, and how quickly they can master Thibodeau's defensive plan.

Ball movement probably was the Bulls' best trait in the preseason, but the defense, rebounding, shooting percentage and turnovers were inconsistent.

A realistic goal is 50 wins and at least the second round of the playoffs. Already, the Thunder is rumbling.