--The Bulls are bound to spend much of the season trying to figure out how to counter defenses moving aggressively against rookie guard Derrick Rose. The last three opponents -- Denver, Utah and San Antonio -- all tried to double-team Rose frequently and get the ball out of his hands.
"We can drill it, we can talk about it and we can show film," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "You just have to go through it. Every team will play him differently and change their defenses up to try to utilize what they can against his athletic ability. He's just got to continually watch film, talk things through with me and just continue to work. Because it's just a matter of time before we realize everything, then we'll be more aggressive at times." --Coach Vinny Del Negro received a warm welcome from fans when the Bulls played at San Antonio on Wednesday. Del Negro spent six of his 12 NBA seasons playing for the Spurs, then became one of the team's broadcasters when he initially stopped playing. San Antonio's Gregg Popovich is one of Del Negro's closest coaching friends. "It's always good to come back to San Antonio and see some old friends," Del Negro said. "You always have a tough challenge against the Spurs, such a great organization and great team for so many years."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We played well the first three quarters and ran out of gas. Their high screen roll affected us, and we settled on too many jump shots and got out of rhythm. But you have to give them credit for their defensive effort on some of those things." -- Coach Vinny Del Negro, after the Bulls went from a nine-point lead to a 16-point deficit during the second half of Wednesday's loss at San Antonio.
