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Opening Night Game Notes: Bulls vs. Bucks
Bulls have won five straight home games over the Bucks
Sam Smith: Bulls have found "The One" in Derrick Rose
Hello Bulls Fan,
The Chicago Bulls endured a disappointing 2007-08, but an offseason filled with excitement - and the selection of a local product as the No. 1 pick in the draft - followed.
On Tuesday, the Bulls will try to carry that excitement over into the new regular season (7:30 p.m. CT | WGN | ESPN 1000).
Chicago native Derrick Rose is set to make his Bulls debut in the season opener at the United Center against the new-look Milwaukee Bucks, led by former Bulls coach Scott Skiles.
After finishing with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference in 2006-07, Chicago had high expectations for last season. However, it finished 33-49 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003-04.
Interim coach Jim Boylan was not retained, leaving Bulls general manager John Paxson in search of a new coach shortly after the regular season. The eventual hiring of first-year coach Vinny Del Negro out of Phoenix's front office turned out to be just one of two big offseason decisions.
On May 20, Chicago hit the NBA draft lottery jackpot despite 1.7 percent odds. Just over a month later, the Bulls selected Rose, who went to high school on Chicago's South Side, over Kansas State forward Michael Beasley with the top overall selection.
Chicago had witnessed what talented young point guards like New Orleans' Chris Paul and Utah's Deron Williams can accomplish, and felt it could not pass up on Rose, who led Memphis to the NCAA championship game in his lone college season.
Rose will try to improve an offense that finished last in the league in field goal shooting (43.5 percent) and 18th in scoring (97.3 points per game) in 2007-08.
"Derrick is unique with his athleticism and things he can do,'' Del Negro said. "As he becomes more comfortable, we'll give him more information and more terminology and more sets.''
Rose seemed plenty comfortable in the preseason, averaging 13.9 points, 5.0 assists and 3.3 turnovers in eight games.
"He's going to make guys better,'' said Luol Deng, whose 17.0 scoring average ranked second on the Bulls last season.
Ben Gordon, who averaged a team-high 18.6 points in 2007-08, is expected to play Tuesday after sitting out seven preseason games because of a jammed left big toe.
There will be a familiar face on the opposing team's bench at the United Center in the opener. Skiles coached the Bulls from the midst of the 2003-04 season until he was fired last Christmas Eve. In April, the Bucks hired Skiles to take over a team that went 26-56 last season.
The team he inherits will look noticeably different. Mo Williams, Desmond Mason, Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons are all gone, replaced by Richard Jefferson, Luke Ridnour and draft picks Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. The newcomers will try to complement Michael Redd, the Bucks' scoring leader for five consecutive seasons.
"It's a competitive mindset we have to have," Skiles said. "We've got some habits maybe from guys that have been here that we have to change. Fortunately, we have a lot of new guys that have come from other places that are eager to win."
Skiles is known as a defensive-oriented coach, and the Bucks need to improve on that side of the floor. Last season, Milwaukee ranked 23rd in the league in scoring defense (103.9 ppg).
Redd has averaged 30.6 points in 11 games against Chicago since the start of the 2005-06 season, but the Bucks have gone only 3-9 versus the Bulls during that same stretch.
The Bulls have won five straight home games over the Bucks, and 12 of the last 14 meetings between the teams at the United Center.
Tune in to watch tonight's game at 7:30 p.m. CT on WGN and listen live on ESPN Radio 1000. Visit Bulls.com or click here now for more coverage.
Probable Bulls Starters | Roster and Statistics
Guard 1 Derrick Rose 6-3 | 190
Guard 2 Thabo Sefolosha 6-7 | 215
Forward 9 Luol Deng 6-9 | 220
Forward 24 Tyrus Thomas 6-9 | 215
Center 90 Drew Gooden 6-10 | 250
Probable Bucks Starters | Roster and Statistics
Guard 13 Luke Ridnour 6-2 | 175
Guard 22 Michael Redd 6-6 | 215
Forward 24 Richard Jefferson 6-7 | 225
Forward 31 Charlie Villanueva 6-11 | 232
Center 6 Andrew Bogut 7-0 | 260
Injury Report
Larry Hughes (dislocated right shoulder) is out. For a full report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the AthletiCo Injury Report at Bulls.com.
Milwaukee has no significant injuries to report.
Sam Smith exclusively at Bulls.com
The Bulls recently announced that prominent and longtime Chicago sports journalist Sam Smith will be doing all his future writing and continuing his popular NBA column exclusively on the team's web site, Bulls.com. He's written two columns since then -- the first shared his predictions of how the 30 NBA teams would rank come April. In Tuesday's, he says that in Derrick Rose, the Bulls have found a player who doesn't come along often. Read the latest from Sam Smith by visiting us at Bulls.com now.
Get more game notes, statistics and player bios at Bulls.com.
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COMING UP |
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Bulls Tickets
On Sale Now!
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Tickets for every 2008.09 home game are on sale now at Bulls.com, 1.800.4NBA.TIX, the United Center and Ticketmaster. For Season Tickets, 11-Game Plans or Group Tickets, call the Bulls at 312.455.4000.
Bulls re-sign
Michael Ruffin
The Bulls announced on Monday that the team has re-signed forward/center Michael Ruffin to a contract. Ruffin (6-8, 248) was a member of Chicago's 2008 preseason roster but missed seven games due to a left ankle sprain. Chicago's roster now stands at 14.
Oct. 28
Bulls vs Milwaukee
7:30 p.m.
WGN
ESPN Radio 1000
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Oct. 31
Bulls @ Boston
7:00 p.m.
ESPN, CSN-Chicago
ESPN Radio 1000
Nov. 1
Bulls vs Memphis
7:30 p.m.
CSN-Chicago
ESPN Radio 1000
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Nov. 3
Bulls @ Orlando
6:00 p.m.
CSN-Chicago+
ESPN Radio 1000
Nov. 5
Bulls @ Cleveland
7:00 p.m.
ESPN, WCIU
ESPN Radio 1000
Nov. 7
Bulls vs Phoenix
7:30 p.m.
CSN-Chicago
ESPN Radio 1000
Buy Tickets
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