Hoiberg says Bulls set new practice standard

Should the Bulls be worried about peaking too early? Maybe not, but coach Fred Hoiberg brought the superlatives when rehashing Friday's practice.

"Yesterday it was the most competitive practice we've had here in two years," Hoiberg said Saturday at the Advocate Center.

Dwyane Wade essentially agreed, calling it a heck of a practice. But Hoiberg wasn't trying to claim the Bulls are a training camp superteam. He was trying to praise Saturday's effort.

"We talked about the mark of a great team is to back that up with another (good practice)," Hoiberg said. "These guys were fatigued, they're tired. This is a tough time for training camp, especially with today being another two-a-day. So they came in, they were locked in, ready to go. We were a little sluggish to start, which I guess isn't too unexpected, but picked it up and had another very competitive practice."

Wade said this is the most scrimmaging he's ever done in training camp, which is by design.

"It's been good for this team," Wade said. "I think this team needs to get out there with the reps. Needs to play together. Coach is going to be on us about our turnovers, so this is all good. Plus, we're getting in shape, getting up and down."

Wade swears it's not true:

Dwyane Wade took friendly exception to Taj Gibson's claim Friday that Wade has stopped practice to curse people out.

"Yeah, that was so harsh, Taj. I read that," Wade said with a laugh. "I wouldn't say cussing out. I would say getting my point across. Tough love. But good love. I would stop practice if I see something. We have to police each other. And I want people to do the same to me. There are certain times I've done things that I need to be better at and you'll hear (Rajon) Rondo or Jimmy (Butler) say something to me."

Eye on New York:

In case you missed it, former Bulls center Joakim Noah explained his decision to skip a team dinner with students at the U.S. Military Academy, where the Knicks are holding training camp. Noah said it was because he's not comfortable with war.

"I have a lot of respect for the kids who are out here fighting. But it's hard for me to understand why we have to go to war, why kids have to kill kids around the world," Noah said, according to the New York Daily News. "So I have mixed feelings about being here. I'm very proud of this country. I love America but I just don't understand kids killing kids around the world."

Meanwhile, Derrick Rose made another head-scratching comment, considering he's involved in a civil trial that's about to begin in California. A former Rose girlfriend has accused Rose and two friends of committing rape.

"I do penitentiary workouts," he said at Knicks camp. "I'll be in my room doing pushups, sit ups."