--When he was named head coach of the Bulls, Vinny Del Negro sought advice from Celtics boss Doc Rivers. Like Del Negro, Rivers had no coaching experience when he first took on a head job in Orlando.
"I was surprised that he hadn't been in it yet," Rivers said. "I knew he was in the (Phoenix) front office. I was just surprised, sitting next to Vinny and Avery (Johnson) on the bench (while playing with the Spurs in the 1990's), we always talked and sat by each other on the plane and all we talked about were coaching strategies and stuff like that. I was just really surprised that he hadn't dove in yet. Now he's in the fray and it's good for him." --With guards Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon both coming off the bench, the Bulls' reserves outscored Milwaukee 46-30 in the season opener. The subs didn't have nearly as much success in the loss to Boston, but the Bulls are optimistic that their bench strength will be valuable.
"I think we should have an advantage there every night," Del Negro said. "We've got two guys who have started most of their career, been productive, been in the playoffs. So that's an advantage for us and that's one of the reasons I felt the rotation for now, that second unit can do some damage at times."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was just one of those nights. I couldn't even make a dunk. Every shot I took, except maybe two or three of them, they felt like they were good, my rhythm was there." -- F Tyrus Thomas, after going 2-for-17 from the field at Boston on Friday.
