Celtics big early test for new-look Bulls

One simple accomplishment tonight in Boston can prove whether the Bulls are serious about being a good team this season.

If the Celtics' starters still are on the floor when "Gino" starts dancing, the Bulls are for real.

The defending champs might have the league's best timeout ritual. At least they did last season. No reason to think it wouldn't continue.

Early in the fourth quarter, they play a video of vintage disco dancing from "American Bandstand." Fans at the Garden go crazy over the frequent appearances of a bearded man who grooves while wearing a tight shirt with the word "Gino" across the front.

The shirt was identified as an authentic Gino Vannelli concert T-shirt, and many Celtics fans wear replicas to the games. Just search YouTube to find several examples of the video.

As a sad side note, The Wall Street Journal identified the actual dancer as California native Joe Massoni and reported that he died of pneumonia in 1990.

Here's how this piece of timeout entertainment relates to the Bulls: Last season they lost two games in Boston by a combined 48 points and were even less competitive than the results indicated.

During a 107-82 Beantown blowout last Dec. 21, Kevin Garnett punctuated the victory by spending most of the fourth quarter standing on the sideline yelling fake instructions to the Celtics' scrubs finishing up the game, then doubling over in laughter with teammate Paul Pierce.

Needless to say, a competitive effort in Boston would be a step in the right direction for the Bulls.

"Last year there were a lot of teams we didn't compete against," forward Luol Deng said. "It's a new year. I think we have to go out there and compete."

"You always want to see how you match up with the world champs," center Drew Gooden added. "It's going to be a fight. We're using this as a measuring stick."

Of course, the Celtics could serve as an inspiration of sorts for the Bulls. Boston was the worst team in the Eastern Conference in 2006-07, then improved by 42 wins after trading for Garnett and Ray Allen.

The Bulls have only one new player on the active roster right now, but he's a good one. This game will be an interesting test for No. 1 draft pick Derrick Rose, who will match up against another young and athletic point guard in Rajon Rondo.

"It's going to be fun, more than anything," Rose said following Thursday's practice at the Berto Center. "We're just going to go out and try to compete with them. You never know what can happen in a game. As long as we play our type of basketball, which is an up-tempo game, we've got a chance."

One thing Rose thinks he has learned from eight preseason games and the opening victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday is to always be on the attack.

"When I'm aggressive I tend to get people open a lot or something good happens," he said. "As long as I'm attacking the basket and getting my teammates to knock down open shots, we have a chance."

This contest also will test the Bulls' ability to play with a small front line. Gooden and Tyrus Thomas will have to battle the 6-foot-11 Garnett and 6-10 Kendrick Perkins, who did a nice job last season of taking advantage when teams keyed on the "Big Three."

"They're a big team," Gooden said. "But coach says, just like we've got to guard them, they've got to guard us. I think that's the mentality we're going to have to carry the whole season."

Rose (thigh bruise) and Thomas (sprained ankle) returned to practice Thursday after getting a day off to rest their injuries.