Rose will take part in all-star skills challenge
In addition to starting at guard for the East all-stars, Derrick Rose will participate in the skills challenge Saturday night in Los Angeles.
Rose won the event two years ago as a rookie, then backed out last season after taking a hard foul from Dwight Howard just before the all-star break.
The league gave New Orleans’ Chris Paul a spot in the contest, then let fans vote among eight choices for the other four participants. Joining Rose will be Washington’s John Wall, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
The Bulls’ other all-star weekend contributor will be Taj Gibson, who will play for the sophomore squad in the rookie challenge game and lead Team Chicago in the shooting stars contest.
The new Sloan:Now that Utah#146;s Jerry Sloan has retired, San Antonio#146;s Gregg Popovich is the longest-tenured head coach in the NBA at 15 years. In major pro sports, only St. Louis Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa has been on the job longer, according to the Spurs.
#147;To me, he#146;s the new Jerry Sloan,#148; Thibodeau said. #147;Every time you play his team, you know what#146;s coming. They#146;re great at executing. They don#146;t beat themselves. They play hard, they play smart, and they play tough. I think that#146;s a reflection on him.#148;
When Popovich was told of the Sloan comparison, he thought back to his days living in Merrillville, Ind., and watching Sloan play for the Bulls in the 1970s.
#147;I would never put myself in Jerry Sloan#146;s category,#148; he said. #147;I used to come home from (military) leave and eat fried mushrooms and drink Stroh#146;s while I watched him beat the (crud) out of people on TV.
#147;He#146;s more of an idol to me than anything else. Any statement in that regard is certainly flattering, that#146;s for sure.#148;
Thibs#146; wait pays off:Tom Thibodeau and San Antonio#146;s Gregg Popovich probably are the two leading candidates for NBA coach of the year. Before Thursday#146;s game, Popovich had this to say about Thibodeau#146;s instant success after 20 years spent as an assistant coach.
#147;It#146;s the nature of the beast. Sometimes you get pigeonholed,#148; Popovich said. #147;You do what you do, kind of like an actor who does certain kinds of movies and can#146;t get out of it. That#146;s why it#146;s good to see Tom take charge of his own team.#148;
No game for coaches:Gregg Popovich will coach the West squad this weekend at the NBA All-Star Game. He announced plans to start Tim Duncan at center in place of the injured Yao Ming, who was voted a starter by fans.
But when it comes to the game, Popovich tried to make it clear that he#146;s only along for the ride.
#147;I think it would be quite forward on my part to try to coach those guys,#148; he said. #147;They can do whatever they want to do. I#146;m just going to enjoy it.#148;
Bull horns:Joakim Noah was inactive Thursday but should return next week from thumb surgery. #133; Before this game, San Antonio was one of two NBA teams, along with the Lakers, to own a winning record all time in Chicago.