MIAMI -- The Bulls have just 10 fast-break points through two games and Vinny Del Negro's message for Derrick Rose before Sunday's tipoff against the Heat is simple: Play faster.
"Derrick has to play with a little more thrust, more pace," Del Negro said. "Kirk (Hinrich) does that a little bit better. That's just kind of his makeup. We want to be smart, but we also want to push it up and see what we can get and use Derrick's athletic ability and get him in the open court."
Rose will start and is matched against Heat point guard Mario Chalmers, his former adversary from their NCAA title-game matchup in 2008.
Asked if Rose's inflamed tendon behind his right ankle could be limiting his aggressiveness, Del Negro demurred.
"I don't know if anybody knows," Del Negro said. "It's early in the season. He missed a lot of training camp. He's not in great condition right now. I think he's feeling his way through a little bit. And we've had two tough opponents. Derrick has to pick up his game like everyone."
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I'm a little late to this party but..."..."Kirk (Hinrich) does that a little bit better. That's just kind of his makeup...". Huh?!! Kirk, looks like he's running in quicksand compared to DR. DR running backwards is faster than Kirk! Alas, the man-crush continues. Vinny, lets not have any more games where Kirk plays more minutes than DR, please. The fans aren't paying to see the dribbling machine and your team has it's best chance to win when DR is on the floor. Just go ahead and marry Kirk and let him be a stay-at-home spouse.