Wade, Rondo taking no-nonsense approach with Chicago Bulls
Reporters generally aren't allowed to watch practices while covering NBA teams, so there's no way to visually confirm if there are significant differences at Bulls camp with the addition of veterans Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo.
Based on what those players said after Wednesday's practice, they favor a no-nonsense approach with leadership and team chemistry.
Wade, who won championships with two different sets of teammates in Miami, was asked if players have to like each other to be successful.
"Well yeah, definitely. You ask the guys that were here last year, how rotten it was," Wade said. "Things are done differently different places.
"So I sat down and listened to guys. But the thing is, some of the things they talked about I know are not going to take place. Not while I'm here, not while Rondo's here, not while Jimmy (Butler) continues to grow as a leader. You talk about last year, but at the same time, last year doesn't matter. We have a different core, and I think our culture is fairly different."
Did last year's Bulls dislike each other? There didn't seem to be any glaring feuds, but the overall chemistry was poor.
It was apparent during the NBA playoffs when the good teams went into timeout huddles and the players would often do all the talking. The Bulls, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007, would usually go to the sideline and stare ahead with blank expressions before the coach began speaking.
The roster dynamic is different this year. The Bulls respected Derrick Rose, but he was never very vocal or a natural leader. Pau Gasol brought championship experience, but kept a calm, quiet demeanor most of the time.
Second-year coach Fred Hoiberg said the new veterans have already stopped practice to address the team and Rondo was specific about why it happened.
"You just want to cut down all the chatter," Rondo said. "It's early. Only a couple guys should be talking in practice, as far as disrupting it. When they do stop practice, coach has the voice, the assistant coaches have a voice, then the older players."
Whether the Bulls have the talent to challenge for the Eastern Conference title is questionable, but a key to success will be improvement from the young players. Having a couple vocal former champions in the locker room should be helpful for their development.
Two days in a row, Hoiberg praised Rondo for having a great voice on the practice floor. On Tuesday, he raved about Wade's leadership.
"I expected him to come in and have great leadership qualities and he's gone above and beyond that," Hoiberg said. "Again, he's such a smart basketball player."
There are entire YouTube videos dedicated to the Wade-Rondo rivalry when Miami and Boston were two of the top contenders in the East. Now teammates, both have downplayed that history.
"I don't think I have a problem with chemistry with anybody I've ever played with," Rondo said. "I try to be unselfish. We all love the ball, but we all have one goal, which is putting the ball in the hole and getting stops defensively."
Wade countered with strong praise for his former rival.
"He's obviously the best point guard I ever played with," Wade said. "He knows how to get the ball to his guys, so we've all got to get used to him. … He zips that ball to you."
If Wade and Rondo can get along this well, the younger Bulls should have no excuses.