Oct. 29--The medical and training staffs have spoken.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said following Tuesday's practice at the Advocate Center that Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah would play "pretty much what it was at the end of the preseason" in Wednesday's opener against the Knicks.
Rose and Noah, both returning from knee surgery, logged preseason highs of just fewer than 32 minutes in last Friday's finale in St. Louis against the Timberwolves. That conservative plan of 30 to 34 minutes is in place for the foreseeable future, sources said.
In his return from his first knee injury of a torn ACL, Rose averaged just above 31 minutes in 10 games last season before tearing his right meniscus.
"He just has to keep concentrating on improving, put everything he has into each day," Thibodeau said. "There will be more game-planning for him. He has to be ready for that."
Rose closed the preseason in sometimes spectacular fashion, averaging 24.7 points on 56.6 percent shooting in his only three games with somewhat extended minutes.
"I'm not too worried about him," Noah said.
Noah also closed strong, posting nine assists and 17 rebounds in his only exhibition over 30 minutes. His excitement over opening in the city where he grew up in front of friends and family was palpable.
"We have a lot of talent and we've had a lot of talent in the past," Noah said. "A lot of things have to go our way. I love the mentality on this team. We've just got to keep grinding."
Thumbs up? Jimmy Butler added dribbling with his left hand to his improving situation, but the starting shooting guard again didn't practice with his sprained left thumb. If he plays, Butler said his thumb, injured on Oct. 19, would be taped.
"I feel better," Butler said. "My thumb has to be able to hold up and not get re-injured. Obviously everyone knows I want to play, but I don't want to rush back too early. ... Especially on the defensive end, I like to gamble so I have to put my hand out there."
Kirk Hinrich has started in Butler's place. Butler is the Bulls' best perimeter defender, and Knicks' All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony poses quite the defensive challenge. Butler's coming-out party during his rookie season featured him coming off the bench to defend Anthony well at Madison Square Garden.
"That was a long time ago, man," Butler said lightheartedly. "I was young. I'm getting old."
Condolences: Jim Paxson Sr., the father of Bulls executive vice president John Paxson and Bulls director of basketball operations Jim Paxson Jr., has died, the University of Dayton confirmed.
Paxson, 81, and son Jim have the distinction of being the first father-son first-round NBA draft picks. John also was picked in the first round.
After he starred at Dayton as a 6-foot-6 forward, the Minneapolis Lakers made Paxson the third overall pick of the 1956 NBA draft.
Layups: The Bulls are 2-0 all-time in openers at Madison Square Garden, including Michael Jordan's 50-point performance on Nov. 1, 1986. ... In a conference call, respected ESPN analyst and former Bulls coach Doug Collins said Doug McDermott should start over Mike Dunleavy to stabilize both units. "I expect him to play well," Thibodeau said of McDermott. ... Is Thibodeau extra excited for the opener? "They're all the same," he said.
