All Bull - Chicago Bulls

Things were pretty quiet in Miami before the Bulls-Heat game on Sunday. The only real news was Heat guard Daequan Cook will probably sit out with a shoulder injury.

That might mean something to the Bulls. Cook won the 3-point contest last year. Watching him the last couple years, just when I start to ask what he’s doing in the league, he’ll hit 2 or 3 in a row from 3-point land. He’s also a decent defender at a very long-armed 6-feet-5.

--Dwyane Wade doesn’t talk before games. There doesn’t figure to be any revealing thoughts on his free agent plans next year, but he vowed to have fun with the subject this season, so we’ll give him a try.

Before Friday’s playoff rematch with the Bulls, Boston coach Doc Rivers revealed that he thinks the Bulls are much better this year, even without leading scorer Ben Gordon.

“I think they’re a better team,” Rivers said. “I think they’re longer, I think they’re a better defensive team. I think they fit. That’s taking nothing from Ben, he was phenomenal in the playoffs last year. But so was Ray (Allen). We thought they had a UConn deal going to get each other off (scoring).

“I think now their team does fit. (John) Salmons is at two, probably what he is. (Luol) Deng gives them more length at three. (Kirk) Hinrich is playing one and two. I just think they’re a better fit.

To me, the highlight of Thursday’s season-opening win over San Antonio was the post-game hug between Brad Miller and TNT analyst Cheryl Miller in the Bulls’ locker room. I’m sure there’s an explanation beyond the last name they share.

There really isn’t much need to dissect the 92-85 victory. The Bulls showed nice balance and played good defense – the same positive trends from preseason. Luol Deng (17 points, 9 rebounds) looked very much like his old self, while Derrick Rose (13 points, 7 assists, 7 rebounds) showed that his ankle problem should be history.

The day before the season opener, the Bulls held a light practice Wednesday at the Berto Center without much news to report.

Coach Vinny Del Negro confirmed that he plans to start the same group we expected all along: Derrick Rose, John Salmons, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

Rose had one interesting quote on the eve of Game 1: “We're looking good right now, so people better watch out.”

Rose also said the Bulls are having trouble scoring against their own defense in practice, which could be good or bad.

Here are some quick observations about the first two days of the NBA season:

--After seeing the new referee shirts, I’m convinced that wearing those had to be the sticking point in contract negotiations.

When the Bulls open the season Thursday against San Antonio, it looks like playing time of the two first-round draft picks will be decidedly different.

Power forward Taj Gibson figures to get at least 20 minutes per game early in the year, thanks to his strong preseason. He was hurt by foul trouble, but Gibson was a smart, steady player in preseason who played dependable defense and knocked down most of his open shots.

Forward James Johnson, meanwhile, displayed an interesting combination of skills and athleticism, but was a little erratic in preseason. He’ll probably be the 10th man in the rotation and could collect a few DNPs.

The Bulls completed their second of four “continuity practices” Monday at the Berto Center. This was supposed to be a chance to get the whole team working together for the first time since early in camp.

There was one mishap, though. Jannero Pargo made it through about three-quarters of practice, then tweaked a back injury, which he says is more of a hip problem and a result of overcompensating for a sports hernia that required surgery in June. No telling yet if he’ll miss any more practice time.

Here are some other issues from Monday's practice:

CAPTAINS ASSEMBLED

Following a day off, the Bulls were back in the gym Sunday and had great news to report: All their main players participated in the full practice. That probably hasn’t happened since Oct. 1, the day before Derrick Rose injured his right ankle in the preseason opener at Indiana.

“Practice today was kind of sloppy, little turnovers,” Rose said at the Berto Center. “I’ve just got to get used to playing. (I feel) way better. Right now, I’m feeling good, I just have to get back into condition.”

Asked if there’s any chance he can be 100 percent healthy by Thursday, when the Bulls open the season at the United Center against San Antonio, the answer was no.

Power forward Taj Gibson has obviously been the most surprising story of Bulls camp. He ranked in the top five among rookies in points, rebounds and field-goal percentage during preseason.

So what other rookies have stood out? Here’s a rundown of preseason rookie leaders, starting with every double-figure scorer.

Readers are certain to notice the strong performance of second-round pick DeJuan Blair, the power forward from Pittsburgh, while ex-Memphis guard Tyreke Evans joined Gibson in the top five of three different categories.

Scoring:
1. Tyreke Evans, Sac. 15.1
2. Jonny Flynn, Min. 14.6
3. DeJuan Blair, SA 13.9
4. Blake Griffin, LAC 13.7
5. Taj Gibson, Bulls 12.4
6. James Harden, OKC 12.2
7. Jeff Teague, Atl. 12.1
8. Omri Casspi, Sac. 11.7

The Bulls’ injury-plagued preseason came to a merciful end Friday with the team’s three primary point guards – Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich and Jannero Pargo – all sidelined with injuries.

Still, the Bulls (6-2) hammered the Washington Wizards 93-70 to equal their best preseason record of the past 16 years. They also finished 6-2 during the 2006 preseason, which preceded a 49-win regular season and the only playoff victory this decade. The Bulls haven’t beaten that mark since 1992-1993 when they were 9-0.

--With center Brendan Haywood back from a year off due to injury, the Wizards have a ton of size and the Bulls used to have a real hard time matching up.

Here are the basics from the United Center, where the Bulls finish the preseason against the Washington Wizards on Friday:

--Derrick Rose (ankle), Kirk Hinrich (elbow) and Jannero Pargo (hip) won’t play. Rose said he wasn’t sore this morning after practicing Thursday for the first time in nearly three weeks. He expects to be close to 100 percent by next Thursday when the Bulls host San Antonio for the regular season opener.

“I felt good, wasn’t sore (on Friday morning),” Rose said before the game. “If anything, it was stiff. Hopefully I’ll be back out there at least close to 100 percent. I’m still not that explosive yet, but it’s coming.”