Mirotic getting comfortable - on and off the court

Bulls rookie Nikola Mirotic is having success on the court, but is still adjusting to life in the U.S.

The 6-foot-10 Mirotic was born in Montenegro and has lived in Spain the past several years while playing for Real Madrid. He moved here with his wife Nina and infant son Alexsej.

"It was really difficult, especially the last two months, because no friends, my language was difficult, too. Everything was new," Mirotic said. "Right now, we are feeling more comfortable, me and my wife. We have family here in town, so right now we are enjoying Chicago and Chicago is a great city - great restaurants, great food, great museums.

"It's true that it's a little bit cold. We don't care about that. Really, we are enjoying living here in Chicago."

Even though he's still working on his English, his teammates say Mirotic has fit in well with the Bulls.

"He's comfortable around his teammates," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "We see how confident he is. I think confidence comes from your preparation. When you watch how he works, you understand why he is confident. His approach, his attitude is top of the line."

Rose shrugs off slump:

Derrick Rose isn't letting his shooting slump bring him down. Heading into Wednesday's action, he'd shot 26.3 percent from the field in the previous five games and his cold shooting continued Wednesday night.

"It was a slump. Just part of basketball," he said.

At the same time, the Bulls have won 13 of their last 15 games, so Rose's poor shooting hasn't messed up the team.

"It's very fun. That's what this league is all about, winning," he said. "I want my legacy to go down as a winner, more than anything. Somebody who knows how to win games, no matter what's going on, no matter how the game is going at the end. I just want to be known as a winner."

Snyder on Mirotic:

Utah coach Quin Snyder got a sneak preview of Nikola Mirotic during the 2012-13 season when he worked as an assistant coach for CSKA Moscow. Snyder's team matched up with Real Madrid at least twice in EuroLeague play.

"I was impressed then," Snyder said before Wednesday's game. "Obviously, his skill level, but he's a good rebounder and is really able to pass the ball. I think there's a lot to be excited about with him.

"I think one of the things about younger players in the EuroLeague is they're faced immediately with playing against older, physical guys. I think, more so than college, playing against guys that have experience and have toughness and know how to play prepares players in a slightly different way."

Time to get busy:

The Bulls will play six games in nine days, beginning Friday at Washington. As usual, though, coach Tom Thibodeau was in no mood to think ahead.

"We just take a win any way we can get it," he said before Wednesday's game. "We don't get wrapped up in 8 in 12 or anything like that. It's just getting locked into competing against Utah tonight, then we'll worry about tomorrow tomorrow. If you start looking ahead like that, then you lose focus on what you have to do today."