With former MVP Derrick Rose set to miss at least half the season as he rehabs his ACL, the Chicago Bulls will have a completely different look this season. Kirk Hinrich takes over at starting point guard, and the bench has been completely reshuffled, giving the Bulls basically a whole new team.
Which makes this media day and start of training camp basically a very new beginning. A season that will look quite different from the past couple years.
Here are some of the highlights of what was said at media day
Gar Forman and Tom Thibodeau addressed the media first
“I don’t like to put a cap on what a team can become, my only hope is that whatever our potential is, we reach it. Our goal is whatever the potential is, we reach it,” Forman said.
Coach Thibs agreed to a four year contract extension today. So that off the court issue is resolved. There’s also a whole new roster revamp. The bench mob is gone, and in it’s place seven new players. Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, and C.J. Watson are all gone. This year, fan and media expectations are lower.
“the challenge is every year you start from a different place, you have to put our system in, our offense. You start with a zero base and go from there,” Thibodeau said.
Luol Deng also talked to the media.
On what to expect with Derrick out until February…
“We know how to win games, we’ve got the same core back and we understand how to win games. We know replacing Derrick won’t be just one individual, but collectively.”
Deng of course, answered questions about the wrist, and says that it’s getting stronger, and was stronger than it was during the Olympics. He bypassed surgery so he could play in the games.
On how he’s gotten better under Coach Thibs
“The past two years I’ve played my best basketball with him here”
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Chicago Tribune.com, Fox Sports, MSN, Walter Football and Yardbarker
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