Dec. 03--Doug McDermott revealed Wednesday that Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is installing some offensive sets and actions from last season to jump-start certain players.
Hoiberg, whom management praised for his flexibility upon his hiring, didn't act as if such a move was a big deal when asked about it.
"We've tried to keep a lot of things consistent with terminology and the actions that were good and successful, which they had a lot of these past few years," he said. "We've tried to add wrinkles to them.
"We want these guys as comfortable as possible. That's a big thing with our guys, talk to them about certain areas on the floor where they want the ball."
Jimmy Butler smiled when asked if some sets feature him.
"Some of them do," he said. "But it's not just my play. If the (defense) overreacts to me, that will probably get somebody an open shot.
"That's the focal point on a lot of our plays. Utilize a mismatch to where they have to help or double so somebody else gets an open shot on the other side."
Best foot forward: Butler said his sore right heel isn't making him change his game.
"Not at all," he said. "I have to continually be aggressive. If I'm out there, I'm healthy."
Hoiberg said the team limited Butler in practice Tuesday and could do so again Friday after a scheduled day off Thursday.
Point, counterpoint: Speaking to Colin Cowherd on FoxSportsRadio.com, Kentucky coach John Calipari, who coached Derrick Rose at Memphis, said Rose "will defer to his team" and "doesn't have a real high pain threshold." Calipari said Rose is "one of those guys ... who knows 'I gotta be right.' "
Hoiberg has had no issue with Rose's return from facial surgery and a two-game absence due to an ankle sprain.
"He's been very open," Hoiberg said. "When he hurt his ankle, he talked about how he didn't want to make that like what's happened in the past and maybe lead to another injury. As a guy who has been an MVP and superstar player, to be as coachable as he is has been awesome. And he's giving us great minutes."
Layups: Mike Dunleavy spent Wednesday in Los Angeles visiting the first of two back specialists after his setback. He's scheduled to see another in Dallas and is out indefinitely. ... Assistant coach Mike Wilhelm returned after a multigame absence for a medical procedure.
