Chicago Bulls Notes, Quotes 2009-08-21 News Chicago Bulls

--Forward Luol Deng will concentrate on recovering from a stress fracture in his right shin and won't play for the Great Britain national team later this summer. Over the past two years, Deng helped carry the English team to a spot in the European Championships, which will be held in Poland. But Deng has also had two straight injury-plagued NBA seasons and he missed the Bulls' final 29 games because of the stress fracture. "With the pace I'm going right now, I should be healthy enough to play in (Bulls) training camp and in the season," Deng said. "I'm just not 100 percent right now, but I am able to put more pressure on my foot."

--The Bulls' 2009-10 schedule features the usual rough start. They'll open at home against San Antonio on Oct. 29, then visit Boston a night later and Miami on Nov. 1. Toss in the traditional November "circus" road trip and the Bulls will end up playing 10 of their first 15 games on the road, with 10 of those opponents playoff teams from last season. Ben Gordon is scheduled to make his return to the United Center with Detroit on Dec. 2, while the defending champion Lakers come to town on Dec. 15. One significant change from the past is the Bulls are moving the start time for homes games ahead 30 minutes to 7 p.m.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to be good. The main goal is we want to get further each year. Now we just want to make it past the first round and hopefully go to the championship. That's the goal. I'm not looking to get any less." -- Guard Derrick Rose, on what he expects from the Bulls next season.