Few in the NBA are as much a creature of habit as Tom Thibodeau.
The former Bulls coach – now sitting in that chair with the Knicks – preaches routine on a daily basis, stressing the importance of routine. No exceptions.
That’s how special Derrick Rose is to Thibodeau.
He was the exception on Saturday.
Despite playing an emotional game in Oklahoma City less than 24 hours earlier, Thibodeau saw his routine thrown out of whack on “Derrick Rose Night,” including an extended 25-minute halftime where Rose was honored in front of a sell-out crowd at the United Center.
“For all his teammates to come back and celebrate him, the city, the fans, but also the entire NBA,” Thibodeau said of the night. “You have to have a strategy for everything, whether it’s a late start, an early start, an extended halftime.
“In terms of Derrick, we’re thrilled that he’s being honored. Grateful to Jerry and Michael (Reinsdorf) for recognizing him the way they have.”
Worth every minute of that extended halftime, as Rose’s teammate and long-time Bull Joakim Noah captured the moment by speaking from the heart, bringing Rose to tears during the ceremony by telling him, “You’re not only the MVP, you’re the people’s champ.” There was a video tribute, and then of course the usual chants of “MVP, MVP …” from the Bulls faithful.
Rose then spoke and thanked everyone for the evening, hugging family members, teammates, friends and even the likes of Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who Rose mentored when Brunson was growing up around the Bulls family with his father – former assistant coach – Rick Brunson.
But when all the pageantry was wrapped up there was still an NBA game to finish, and finish the Bulls did. After seemingly sleepwalking through the first half, Billy Donovan’s defense dug in for the third quarter, as the Bulls outscored the visiting team 41-17 in that stanza to take control in the eventual 139-126 Bulls win.
Zach LaVine and Coby White led the Bulls (16-19) with 33 points each, but White had the standout night by establishing a career-high nine three-pointers, finishing an efficient 9-of-11 from beyond the arc on the night.
Josh Giddey continued turning his season around, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, also putting up a plus-10 in the plus/minus category.
Not in the cards
There were rumors the past few seasons that Rose and the Bulls would try and reunite for one last go, or at least let Rose announce his retirement as a Bull, but according to the guard the timing for that never worked out.
He finished with Memphis and no regrets.
“Nah, I go with the flow,” Rose said. “At the time (I decided to retire) I was preparing for the next season and the time I had off with (son) P.J. and the kids this summer was like life changing. You started to see which each kid needed.”
Stepping back
Before the game with the Knicks, Donovan gave an update on Ayo Dosunmu and the guard’s injured right calf. It wasn’t great.
According to the coach, they tried to ramp up Dosunmu’s activity in the rehab, but he experienced some soreness, so they put a halt to it. Donovan wouldn’t call it a setback as much as it was a sign that Dosunmu wasn’t ready to take that next step in the process.
The hope was to try again in midweek, but either way it was the fifth straight game Dosunmu has missed with the injury.
Besides Dosunmu, the Bulls were also without Torrey Craig, who was still dealing with a right leg contusion. Donovan did not offer up a specific timetable for his return.