SACRAMENTO --- Who can forget the Bulls' last trip here?
Surely, Vinny Del Negro can't.
On Jan. 30, 2009, Del Negro and the Bulls woke here, two hours behind the news in Chicago, where team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf went on Comcast Sports Net and labeled the 2008-09 season as "a disaster" and "embarrassing."
The Bulls were 19-27 at the time. Del Negro, taken aback by Reinsdorf's comments, responded to questions for five minutes at the Bulls' morning shootaround at Arco Arena and then coached the team to a 109-88 victory over the Kings later that day.
"That's just Jerry trying to motivate and get guys going," Del Negro said that morning. "Jerry wants to win just like every owner and every coach. It's not easy. ... Some people are more patient than others.
"Jerry is a great owner. He lets you go do your job. We'll talk once in a while. We'll text once in a while. Frustration builds for him just like everybody else. So I focus on what I can control and that's making this team better. And I feel we are."
The Bulls went 4-3 on that extended trip. Now the Bulls are back here, tipping off the six-game circus trip tonight against the Kings (9, Ch. 9, 1000-AM).
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