The Chicago Bulls may have Joakim Noah come off the bench to start the season, putting Nikola Mirotic in the starting lineup alongside Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol. Derrick Rose is recovering from his facial fracture injury and is hoping to play in a preseason game before attempting to play in the season opener against the Cavaliers.
Rose has been working his way back from a fractured left orbital injury that he sustained in the first training camp practice of the season. According to ESPN, Nick Fridell reports that Rose was able to take some contact in practice on Thursday and that he is "optimistic" about playing in the season opener on Tuesday. Rose has been dealing with some swelling around his eye and double vision, but the point guard said that he is hoping to play in the preseason game on Friday and that he has been "practicing pretty hard."
Rose said that he would like to play even while dealing with double vision and head coach Fred Hoiberg said that Rose took a "step in the right direction" in practice this week. Rose said that he wants to play in the season opener, but added that "if I feel like I can't go there's no point of rushing it or pushing myself." Rose has dealt with serious injuries over the past few years with his knees and he comes in after playing in 51 games last season, his highest total since back in 2010-11.
According to KC Johnson at the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls likely will start the season with Joakim Noah coming off of the bench and Nikola Mirotic in the starting lineup. Hoiberg has not made the lineup official yet, but he used Noah off the bench in the last preseason game and as things stand now, the former defensive player of the year will come off the bench. Noah said that it's "an adjustment" but that he will not change the way he prepares and works to get himself ready to play.
Noah was a bit banged up last season and his numbers dropped to 7.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, down from 12.6 points and 11.3 rebounds the previous season. Noah played in 67 games last year and now Hoiberg will have Noah as part of the second unit to start the season. Noah is coming into a contract year and that could add some extra motivation for the forward to embrace his role and play his best basketball when he is on the court.
Noah added that he is "down with whatever coach thinks is best for this team" and that it will be an "adjustment" to come off the bench. Mirotic has played well alongside Pau Gasol and the two reportedly built some chemistry while playing in Spain over the summer. Mirotic averaged 10 points per game last season in 82 games played and the Bulls were more efficient on offense when he was on the floor. Hoiberg now has some flexibility with his bigs with Noah coming off the bench.
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