CHICAGO _ Ask Fred Hoiberg how he wants to play this season and prepare for a quick answer.
"Fast," the Bulls coach said.
This would've been the plan for Hoiberg's offense anyway this season, but Jabari Parker's arrival accelerated matters.
Perhaps there will be some pace-and-space jokes referencing the offensive versus defensive philosophy. You know, pace on offense and too much space allowed on defense. But if nothing else, the Bulls project to play an exciting style at the offensive end.
Of course, it's also on Hoiberg and his staff's shoulders to determine who will shoulder the bulk of the offensive load. Zach LaVine is primarily a scorer. So is Parker. Kris Dunn, while a playmaker, displayed his ability to hit big shots late during the Bulls' best stretch in December.
And then there's Lauri Markkanen.
"There are going to be different nights when different guys have it going," Hoiberg said. "It's all about the team and going out and putting your team in position to win. Guys have to understand you are going to ride the hot hand and that's how it has to be. We have a lot of guys capable of going for big nights, so it might not be the same person every time we step on the floor. Anytime you have a successful team with a lot of talent, you do have to sacrifice and that is going to be a big message for us.
"The roles in the first days probably won't be what they are in the middle and end of the season. Especially with a young group, you have to experiment some, especially at the beginning. The roles will find a way of playing their way out as far as who is going to get the last shot, who you are going to draw the last play for, what exactly your system is going to be, who is going to get the crunch-time minutes."
It likely won't be that tidy, of course. Even championship teams can hit the occasional speed bump or hiccup in regards to locker room chemistry. There's bound to be a night when a player gets asked about shot attempts, or lack thereof.
But particularly with the ability of Markkanen and Bobby Portis to play some minutes at center, Parker's ability to play either forward spot and even LaVine's ability to play small forward in small lineups, Hoiberg has plenty of options for versatile lineups. Portis and Denzel Valentine are scoring reserve options, and the Bulls believe backup point guard Cameron Payne proved most adept at advancing the ball upcourt with a go-ahead pass in his minutes last season.
"Jabari can play multiple positions, whether he is a rim runner or wing runner," Hoiberg said, citing the direction of Parker's upcourt sprint. "He should be able to get out and we can throw ahead and attack. Zach should be able to do that as well. I think we have two point guards (Dunn, Payne) who are committed to doing that.
"That's got to be a huge emphasis going into training camp, getting the ball up the floor in a hurry. And we feel we have the athletes to do that. I feel that's the way this team has a chance be successful."
And then Hoiberg took a breath. He had been talking quickly.
