Oct. 26--Taj Gibson captured the importance of Derrick Rose to Fred Hoiberg's offense and to Hoiberg constantly preaching for a faster pace with one comment following Sunday's practice.
"It felt like we were really pushing it fast. But he took it to another level," Gibson said. "Those minutes he played in Nebraska, he was just so fast."
Rose reacted favorably to those 10 minutes Friday in the Bulls' victory over the Mavericks in Lincoln, practicing fully on Sunday and remaining on track to play in Tuesday's season opener. Hoiberg said he hasn't determined whether Rose will start or come off the bench against the Cavaliers and doesn't know if Rose will be under a minutes restriction.
"We play three (games) in four days to start, so we'll have to be a little more careful because he hasn't had a ton of reps," Hoiberg said.
Gibson said Rose, who will wear a mask to protect the left orbital bone he fractured on Sept. 29 and had surgically repaired the next day, was dominant on Sunday.
"He's in top form," Gibson said. "We've been talking a lot of trash to him, throwing so many bodies at him, and he's been responding well. We couldn't stop him (Sunday)."
Rest in peace: Hoiberg had just finished his media session when the Timberwolves announced Flip Saunders had succumbed to cancer at age 60. In a testament to a man so widely liked and respected throughout the NBA, the Bulls coach returned to address the loss of his former coach in Minnesota.
"Special, special person," a visibly emotional Hoiberg said. "Riding home on a plane, win or lose, Flip was always upbeat. He'd sit down and see how you're feeling, especially during struggles. He's a fatherly figure, such a caring individual. ... He'll be missed. There's not one person you could talk to to get to say one bad thing about Flip Saunders."
The King: Hoiberg was asked how to defend LeBron James at his hiring news conference in June and again on Sunday. James practiced fully Sunday and is on track to play Tuesday, along with newly re-signed Tristan Thompson.
"You have to try to make him make jump shots," Hoiberg said. "You have to give up something with him. He's so talented."
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