Thibs not worried over Rose missing practice
Derrick Rose skipped Thursday's practice due to soreness, but Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau didn't seem especially concerned.
"Well, we knew we were going to give him one of the days off," Thibodeau said at the Advocate Center.
The Bulls will dedicate three straight days to practice before playing their third preseason game on Saturday at Milwaukee. That game will begin a busier stretch, with five games over 10 days.
So far, Rose has played only the first half of the first two preseason games. Thibodeau was asked if he plans to play Rose in the next five games.
"Yeah, if he can go, he'll play," Thibodeau said. "Just take it day by day."
A spotlight figures to be on Rose's health status for the remainder of his career. He missed all but 10 games the last two seasons because of a torn ACL in his left knee and torn meniscus cartilage in his right knee. So far during training camp, Rose hasn't had any significant issues.
Taj talks heavy practice:
The Bulls have been spending considerable time on the practice court. Thursday's session lasted more than two hours. Taj Gibson suggested a reason for practice schedule.
"I just felt like last year we had a group of guys that understood the offense real easily. Guys that had been around," Gibson said. "This year, we've got a lot of new guys, a lot of new free agents and we're starting all over again. They're trying to figure out how Thibs coaches, how Thibs likes to practice and how guys really have to understand the defense. All of these things are just coming at guys from two different angles.
"It's going to be tough the first couple weeks. But one thing about us, we always get it right at the right time."
The regular season begins in just under three weeks on Oct. 29 at New York. Most of the Bulls' regulars will be the same this season, but Derrick Rose is returning from time off from injury, and newcomers Pau Gasol, Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic and Aaron Brooks could all be in the regular rotation.
"Thibs' practices are real aggressive," Gibson added. "He wants it to be like a gamelike speed, and a lot of these guys coming from different teams aren't used to that and aren't used to having a coach on their back. It's a learning process, and we're getting into the swing of things. Like I said, it's really tough being away from a group of guys all summer, work on your game, and then everyone is just mushed back into the huddle. But guys have to work on it and I think it will be fine."
Butler visits post:
One new strategy on display in the first two preseason games was shooting guard Jimmy Butler working in the post against smaller defenders. He hit 7 of 9 shots for 18 points on Tuesday against Detroit.
"I like the matchups in there and I like him moving without the ball," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "I thought he had some really good cuts too off of Pau (Gasol's) post ups, so that was encouraging. I thought he was real active, aggressive in transition and the all-around game. He's tough in the paint with his physicality and ability to draw fouls. It's important for our team."