When it comes to the Bulls' so-called "circus trip,"
Derrick Rose's teammates apparently adhere to the thinking that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
"If it was good, people would have been telling me,"
Rose said after practice Monday. "But nobody's been talking, so I don't even want to know."
The Bulls' 6-52 cumulative record on the annual November trek in the 10 years since Michael Jordan last played for them speaks volumes.
The Bulls went a combined 1-11 the last two times they vacated the United Center so Ringling Bros. could take over their home. A 3-3 trip three seasons back was the best the team has done in a decade. The Bulls begin this trip tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Coach Vinny Del Negro spent 15 minutes of the team's 90-minute practice Monday working on defending the triangle offense made famous by Phil Jackson when he coached the Bulls.
Though Rose won't be guarding Kobe Bryant, the Bulls rookie was wowed by Bryant when Rose worked out with Team USA over the summer in Las Vegas.
"He's a great leader, always talking on the court,"
Rose said. "He's probably the most competitive player I played against. It should be fun. I'm just going to take it as him being any other opponent."
Ben Gordon, who likely will get the starting assignment on Bryant, knows he can't defend the Lakers superstar by himself.
"Help on him and try to get the ball out of his hands,"
Gordon said. "Then at the other end, attack him. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you have a great offensive player is not to make him work at the other end."
Rose has been working an average of almost 42 minutes in the five games since Kirk Hinrich was sidelined by a torn ligament in his right hand.
"I never thought I'd play these many minutes, but people are injured, and I'm happy I'm getting them,"
Rose said. "It hasn't hit me yet, but I know later on I'm going to have to get more rest and get more treatment."
NOTE: The Bulls waived Demetris Nichols to get under the salary cap and avoid the league's luxury tax. The roster will remain at 14.
