Vinny Del Negro doesn't do self-analysis, at least publicly.
Several times this season, he has been asked about his rookie coaching tenure. Beyond the occasional admission that it's tough to enjoy victories and forget losses, he hasn't said much. "I'm so busy, I haven't really given it a lot of thought," he offered Friday.
But then he finally said more.
"I think it's great with the young team we have to see some of their development," Del Negro said. "I feel some of the guys have improved. We need to get more consistent in areas. But it's nice to see the guys come together."
Ankle analysis: Luol Deng missed his seventh straight game with a sprained left ankle and wouldn't speculate on his status for Saturday.
"I'm making progress," he said. "I just don't want to play 10 minutes and then have to sit the next game."
Deng also -- in unsolicited fashion -- clarified comments he made that led to headlines stating he wouldn't return until he was 100 percent.
"Nobody in the league is 100 percent at this stage of the season," Deng said. "But if I feel I'm capable of helping the team, then I'll do it. I didn't mean 100 percent exactly."
Asked if, once healthy, Deng could recapture the form that prompted many to predict All-Star status for him before last season, Del Negro was blunt.
"He has a lot of work to do," the coach said. "But he has the ability to be effective at the small forward position. He has to work to be more consistent at both ends."
Layups: Del Negro continued his recent trend of resting Derrick Rose more often early in games, playing Lindsey Hunter from the 3-minute-44-second mark of the first quarter to the 8:10 mark of the second. ...
During a general conversation about the importance of Basketball IQ, Del Negro was asked in light-hearted fashion who had a higher IQ during his playing days -- himself or then-Spurs teammate and current Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Tie," Del Negro answered, smiling. "I have too much respect for Doc."
