Bulls: Let's get physical

By K.C. Johnson

DENVER -- When Vinny Del Negro assembles Bulls practice at a downtown hotel here Sunday morning, one wonders if he will bring blocking sleds and tackle dummies.

For the second straight postgame, Del Negro has questioned his players' physicality and effort following a blowout loss.

Losing to the Lakers in a landslide is one thing. Denver obviously is a strong team, particularly at home. Nevertheless, the lack of competing from the Bulls' end was apparent to more than just Del Negro.

"We were giving up layups, backdoors," Derrick Rose said. "We weren't communicating out there,"

Given Del Negro's uncharacteristic bluntness following Saturday's late game, here's one guess that the second-year coach will communicate loud and clear at Sunday's practice.

Del Negro probably won't do this, but running sprints alone -- with no other practice -- might help the five players he deems as starters with transition defense.

Portland is next. And with LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and even big guards like Brandon Roy, another physical test awaits.