Team win for Bulls, but all eyes on rookie Rose
BULLS 108, BUCKS 95 | Rose-Del Negro era starts with 'W' as Deng, Gordon get the job done
An hour before realizing his dream come true, the game face of Derrick Rose, the hometown kid, was surgeon serious.
''I ain't nervous at all, nervous has got nothing to do with it,'' the Bulls rookie and top draft pick said of playing in his first regular-season NBA game. ''I'm comfortable. I just have to go out there and play my game. Don't think and just react to the game.''
(Chris Sweda/Sun-Times)
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Bulls 108, Bucks 95
Rose's reactions, through the lane or on the perimeter, often left the Milwaukee Bucks as still as a statue throughout the Bulls' 108-95 win at the United Center.
Less than two minutes into the game, Rose took a fast-break pass off a Drew Gooden steal and all but embarrassed Bucks forward Richard Jefferson with an easy deke and drive.
Rose's paint probing, perimeter patrolling and precision passing quickly opened up shots for the Bulls' big men.
Forward Luol Deng paid some early dividends on the $60 million-plus investment the team made in him last summer, scoring 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting. Starting forward Tyrus Thomas notched a double-double (15 points and 10 rebounds). Gooden added 13 points as the starting front court accounted for 49 points.
Kirk Hinrich, who had started in all but 13 of his 389 games with the Bulls, was not in rookie coach Vinny Del Negro's starting five. But Hinrich (15 points) came off the bench when Thabo Sefolosha picked up two fouls in less than four minutes. Del Negro again emphasized that his rotation and starters are fluid.
''I just thought with Larry [Hughes] being out [shoulder] and Ben [Gordon] missing most of training camp, [the 6-7] Thabo gives us more size,'' Del Negro said before the game. ''With Kirk coming off the bench, it helps our second unit. Like I've said all along, we're going to have flexibility with the starting lineup.''
Ben Gordon, who missed seven of eight exhibition games because of a toe injury, was rusty when he first came off the bench. Gordon, the team's leading scorer the last three seasons, missed his four first-half field goals before scoring 15 of his 18 points after halftime, when the Bulls led 55-52.
''I still have to get fine-tuned and everything like that,'' Gordon said. ''I still feel like I have to catch up. Not practicing as much as I'd like to and not playing, I'm going to have to get my rhythm. That's the only thing I'm thinking about now.''
Rose, who said he was ''blessed'' to get the starting nod over Hinrich and Gordon given their veteran status, gave the Bulls' offense rhythm from the start. Rose led the way with nine of the Bulls' 27 assists. The Bulls had 13 assists on their 16 first-half field goals.
The Bulls broke the game open late in the third quarter. They trailed 73-72 with 2:33 left when a Deng jumper started an 8-2 run to close the quarter.
Losing to the Bulls was bittersweet for Bucks coach Scott Skiles, who was fired by the Bulls on Christmas Eve.
''We were together for several years and went through a lot: 0-9, won 47 games, playoff wins and losses,'' Skiles said before the game. ''When you go through that kind of thing at this level, you develop a fondness for them. The guys were wonderful for me. I want them to always do well, but we want to win the game.''