Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t discuss who would guard the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, who is expected to play Sunday despite tearing a ligament in his wrist.
The plan likely will include Rip Hamilton, whose length would be an asset in checking one of the league’s potent scoring threats.
“I enjoy it,” he said. “It’s fun because we’ve known each other since we were 16 playing on the same [AAU] team and getting an opportunity to play [against each other] in high school and in the finals.”
Hamilton doesn’t think Bryant’s wrist will be a factor. After all, Bryant played all 82 games last season despite nursing an ailing knee.
“When the ball is thrown up, a lot of guys are able to tune that out, to go ahead and compete,” he said. “So you can’t ever look at that as a disadvantage.”
Rotation
Thibodeau said he’s fairly set on the Bulls’ rotation, but the players aren’t focused on the minutes.
“As players, we don’t go into the game focused on that,” Ronnie Brewer said. “I feel like whenever our name is called by Thibs, we’re ready and we’re ready to perform to the best of our ability.”
New-look Lakers
The Lakers traded forward
Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks at the beginning of training camp, and center Andrew Bynum will serve the first of a four-game suspension Sunday for body-slamming Mavs guard J.J. Barea in the playoffs last season.
“They have great depth and are experienced,” Thibodeau said. “Look at guys like [Steve] Blake and [Troy] Murphy and [Josh] McRoberts, [Matt] Barnes. Those guys have been through a lot of different situations.”
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