Bulls open season Wednesday in New York

Michael Jordan established long ago that any Bulls-Knicks game in Madison Square Garden will be a major event.

Wednesday's game in New York will be more than just a big-stage season opener. It will be a chance for the Bulls to connect with old friends.

Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah got to know Knicks star Carmelo Anthony during his free-agent recruiting visit to Chicago in July. For Pau Gasol, he will be looking for former Lakers teammate Derek Fisher, now head coach of the Knicks, along with their boss in Los Angeles, Phil Jackson.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau wasn't interested in looking for any sidebars to the season opener, even though he grew up a Knicks fan and spent several years in New York as an assistant coach.

"Gotta start with somebody," Thibodeau said Monday at the Advocate Center. "That's the way it is. I really didn't think about it. New York, Chicago, there's always been that history. It's all good."

Heading into the new season, the Bulls have all the high expectations. New York was able to keep Anthony from leaving home and paid a small fortune to bring in Jackson as team president.

Realistically, the Knicks are looking to play spoiler Wednesday on the way to waiting for next summer, when they'll have cap space to spend on free agents.

Asked if there's any extra incentive to show Anthony he made a poor choice, Gibson laughed off the idea.

"Nah, we're not really thinking about that. That's all in the past," he said. "He made the right decision for his family. We understand that. There's no bad blood."

The Bulls have been more concerned with the consolation prize. Once Anthony said no to the Bulls' offer, they were able to sign Gasol from the Lakers. Getting him comfortable with Gibson and Noah will be one of the biggest challenges early in the season.

"I have a lot of insight (on the Bulls)," Anthony said, according to the New York Post. "I have a better understanding what they're about. The organization, the players, coach Thibs, the front-office ownership. (Thibodeau's) knowledge of the game and what he brings to the game, his excitement and enthusiasm. It doesn't get better than that.

"I give them a lot of credit. They were very impressive."

Gasol had a strong relationship with Jackson when they worked together in Los Angeles. But the veteran center isn't sure if greeting Jackson will be on his agenda Wednesday.

"I don't know if I'm going to see him. I don't know where he sits," Gasol said. "I'll definitely see Derek on the sidelines. It will be interesting to play against a team that is using the triangle that I'm so familiar with and I know pretty much all the actions and all the counters.

"Again, I have to really concentrate on our stuff and how to play a good game to start off with a win."

The Bulls are uncertain if guard Jimmy Butler will play Wednesday. He still hasn't practiced since suffering a sprained left thumb last week, but he continues to shoot around.

"It really is day to day," Thibodeau said. "He came in today and did a little more. He said it felt better. We'll see where he is tomorrow and then the day after. He's moving in the right direction. If he can go, he will. If he can't, he can't."

Besides Butler's injury, most of the Bulls' issues coming out of the preseason are related to execution. They're still figuring out how to play Thibodeau-style defense consistently and are turning the ball over too often.

Derrick Rose seemed perfectly healthy, especially while averaging 28.5 points in the final two preseason games.

There are plenty of question heading into the season opener, but the biggest one - Rose's health - seems to be no issue for now.

"We have the potential, but we've got to put the work in," Gibson said. "It's still early, guys are still learning how hard they have to practice, how hard it's going to be in the regular year when you've got a target on your back. That's the hardest part right now."

• The Bulls on Monday picked up the third-year option on swingman Tony Snell. He's now under contract through the 2015-16 season.

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