Oct. 30--Obviously, the Bulls aren't always going to shoot 50.7 percent and place six in double figures against opponents less dysfunctional than the Knicks.
But the 104-80 season-opening blowout victory highlighted many points. Here are three:
Aaron Brooks is the latest point guard reclamation project.
Following in the proud tradition of C.J. Watson, John Lucas III, Nate Robinson and D.J. Augustin, Brooks turned the game with his energy and unique shotmaking ability during a late-first to early-second quarter stretch. Brooks finished with 13 points and six assists in 23 minutes, 39 seconds.
Tom Thibodeau already professed his love for Brooks during the preseason -- seriously -- and Brooks will have some nights where his shot selection confounds. But he can score.
"Honest to God, Aaron can really score any time he wants," Taj Gibson said. "He's also trying to get guys good looks and get guys going. But when he feels he needs to score, he scores."
Derrick Rose didn't answer one question about his health.
Who said serving as Kyrie Irving's backup during USA Basketball's romp to the FIBA World Cup gold medal this summer didn't serve a purpose? Beyond shaking some rust off his game and providing some confidence for a player who had logged just 10 NBA games in two seasons, Rose answered all his health questions this summer.
Rose spoke at length both at the morning shootaround and postgame and didn't field one question about his surgically repaired knees. Not one.
"I think USA Basketball did a great job making sure my nerves weren't too high or I wasn't too antsy when I was out there," Rose said. "It led to me coming out and playing the way I normally play."
Could Joakim Noah close some games on the bench?
This question isn't posed because Noah sat the entire fourth quarter. Thanks to the blowout, only Pau Gasol logged fourth-quarter action among the starters and only 3:12 for him. It's crazy to think that the NBA's reigning Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA first-team center could take a lesser role this season. But Gasol is here and has made clear he wants to finish games. Gibson had another monster game, reminding all of how he led the NBA in fourth-quarter minutes last season. And Noah is going through the biggest adjustment of all.
No longer is he playing center when Gasol is in the game. No longer is the offense running through him with Rose back and Gasol such an effective passer. Thibodeau has said in the early going his big-man rotation will be situational. Given Noah's offseason knee surgery, there may be games when Gasol and Gibson both have it going and the matchups are right when Noah sits down the stretch. This will be a storyline for one of these three players all season. Luckily for the Bulls, all three players are saying the right things for now.
