Forman's scouting is a sure bet
There was drama on the court before the Bulls-Minnesota preseason game began Friday.
During the summer, Bulls general manager Gar Forman was talking basketball with Geoff Tollefson, head golf pro at the Arboretum Club in Buffalo Grove.
Tollefson, who stands about 6-feet-4, mentioned that he can still dunk. Forman didn't think he could, so they made a friendly wager. Tollefson said, "OK, let's go over to your house and find out."
Forman had another idea. He insisted the bet be settled at the United Center before a Bulls game, and Friday was judgment night.
Tollefson, a 1993 Stevenson High School grad, gave it a good shot and had his hand above the rim several times but couldn't throw one down.
Forman is having a good month when it comes to his talent evaluation skills. Taj Gibson, a No. 26 draft pick, has been the surprise of the preseason, and Forman recognized right away that Tollefson wasn't a dunker.
Maybe on Monday: Derrick Rose missed his fifth straight game Friday with a sore right ankle but thinks it's possible he could return Monday when the Bulls host Orlando.
"I was out there shooting, so I'm improving every day," Rose said before the game. "Hopefully I'll be back on the court real soon, in a couple days. This is the longest I've ever sat out. For me to sit down and watch them play, it hurts."
The Bulls have just two preseason games left, so he won't have much time to prepare for the regular season even if he does play Monday.
"I don't think I need it, but I want it," Rose said of preseason preparation. "I just want to go out there and play. The young players on the other team, I want to play against just to see how good they are.
"If it were up to me, I'd tape it up and be back on the court. They said they just want it to be healed totally before I start the season."
Two steps beyond: According to ESPN.com, the NBA has tweaked the traveling rules this season. Players who catch a pass or finish a dribble will be given two steps before they must stop, pass or shoot.
Taking two steps has long been the tradition in the NBA, but the actual rule book allowed for just one step.
"If it looks like a travel, it's a travel," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "It's not rocket science, I don't think. You can pretty much tell when a guy's shuffling his feet or sliding his feet or crossing his feet or taking too many steps."