Hoiberg says maybe late December for LaVine debut
The Chicago Bulls carried another losing streak into Tuesday's action, so it would appear Zach LaVine can't return soon enough from ACL surgery.
Coach Fred Hoiberg pumped the brakes on that idea before the Bulls played Phoenix, agreeing with a suggestion it might be late December before LaVine makes his Bulls debut.
"I would say so," Hoiberg said. "He's had three really good days with us since he's been cleared for full contact. He didn't do a lot (Tuesday). He was really sore, especially in his hamstrings and in his quads, so we just have to be really careful about not overloading him too early in this process
"But he's itching to get back. He's a competitor, he's a worker. He's a kid that always wants to be out on the floor doing extra stuff, but, yeah, we're going to have to hold him back a little bit as we go along."
Hoiberg said the plan this week is for LaVine and Nikola Mirotic to skip Thursday's trip to Denver and instead get a couple of practices in with the Windy City Bulls.
LaVine tore the ACL in his left knee last Feb. 3 while playing for Minnesota. Mirotic is recovering from facial fractures.
"The biggest thing is getting out there in a 5-on-5 setting where (LaVine) can get his timing," Hoiberg said. "He told me he's the best-conditioned player on the team and after yesterday's practice I said, 'no, you're not.'
"He's got a long ways to go as far as that's concerned, as would anybody that's in that stage of the rehab process."
Floyd calls it quits:
Former Bulls coach Tim Floyd resigned as coach of Texas-El Paso after a loss Monday night.
A couple of guys who played for Floyd's Bulls were involved in the game at the United Center - Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg and Suns center Tyson Chandler.
Hoiberg also played one season for Floyd at Iowa State. With the Bulls, Floyd had the impossible task of taking on the post-championship rebuild and posted a 49-190 record from the 1999 lockout season through Christmas Eve, 2001.
"Yeah, I was surprised," Hoiberg said. "Tim obviously is a guy that I go back a long way with. A guy who came in to a very difficult situation, replaced a legend in Johnny Orr (at Iowa State).
"He came in and did a great job of establishing culture right from the minute he stepped in the building, six seniors, so it was a very tough situation to take over. I thought he did a masterful job with that."
After the Bulls, Floyd spent one season coaching the New Orleans Hornets, then went to USC, where he coached Taj Gibson, among others.
"Obviously a guy who did a lot of great things," Hoiberg said. "If you can survive 42 years in this business, you're doing something right."
Another coach falls:
The NBA saw its second coaching change of the season Monday when Memphis fired David Fizdale. Phoenix was the other team to change coaches, replacing Earl Watson with Jay Triano after three games.
"It's an absolute shock. I've gotten to know David pretty well over the last couple years," Fred Hoiberg said. "It's a tough day, no doubt about it. He's one of the better guys in this business."