Del Negro looks back on days with unique teammate
Vinny Del Negro never played in the Finals, but he once was the fourth-leading scorer on a team that posted the NBA's best record.
The 1994-95 San Antonio Spurs had a strong connection to the Bulls because of a certain bleach-blond, publicity-seeking rebound machine.
After finishing 62-20, those Spurs lost in the Western Conference finals to Houston while Dennis Rodman frequently sat on the bench with his shoes off.
The following summer, Rodman was traded for Will Perdue, became a national hero (or antihero) with the Bulls, and the rest is history.
"I enjoyed playing with Dennis, because I enjoyed shooting and he enjoyed rebounding," Del Negro said Friday. "So it worked out well."
Everything turned out fine for the Spurs franchise, which drafted Tim Duncan two years later. The Spurs with Rodman didn't quite live happily ever after, for whatever reason.
"Dennis is a different type of guy, but I never had any issues with him," Del Negro said. "I loved playing with him. He definitely brought a different dynamic to your team when he was on it.
"We knew there were going to be some issues with Dennis. But we were such a veteran team, we were focused in on what we needed to do. We just wanted to win, and we knew Dennis helped us win."
True, during his two years in San Antonio, Rodman led the league in rebounds by a ridiculously wide margin. He finished more than 4 rebounds ahead of second-place Shaquille O'Neal (1994) and Dikembe Mutombo ('95).
The other key players on that Spurs team were David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson, Chuck Person, Terry Cummings, Doc Rivers and J.R. Reid.
Age may have been a bigger issue with that roster than Rodman's distractions.
Of course, if Rodman and the Spurs had been able to coexist peacefully, the Bulls' dynasty might have had a different ending.
"Who knows? Probably," Del Negro said. "Things happen for a reason. You never know what the next year is going to bring."
Playoffs have payoff: Here is Kirk Hinrich's take on what it would mean to the Bulls to make the playoffs, even if they are the No. 7 or 8 seed:
"To be in the playoffs, it's an experience I just think is kind of invaluable," he said. "You get out there and experience how much the intensity picks up, how much more preparation there is before the series and in between every game, all the adjustments.
"It would definitely be good for us to get in."
Injury update: John Salmons (groin strain) shot around Friday, but he won't know his playing status until he gets out on the court before today' game against the Nets.
Kirk Hinrich turned his ankle in Tuesday's loss to Indiana but says he's fine. Luol Deng (stress fracture) has not been able to do any full-speed running yet, so his return is far from imminent.
Bull horns: Derrick Rose won Eastern Conference rookie of the month for the third time this season. Minnesota's Kevin Love took Western Conference honors. - The Bulls will wear green uniforms - a different shade than on St. Patrick's Day - next week against Philadelphia as part of NBA Green Week.