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Bulls ready for opener against Knicks

Oct 29, 2014 - 2:19 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls are considered one of the few teams in the NBA with a reasonable chance at winning an NBA title and that odyssey for a ring begins Wednesday night in a trip to Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks.

Derrick Rose is the key to it all.

After missing the entire 2012-13 season after ACL surgery, Rose hurt his knee again and played only 10 regular-season games in 2013-14. He played for USA Basketball in this summer's FIBA World Cup and looked decent in what amounted to an extended training camp.

"For the Bulls fans, I can sit here and say a million times that I'll be fine, but I think the only way to answer all the critics and everyone asking about me, is actually being on the court and actually playing," Rose said. "My confidence in my body is very high. I haven't been worried. This is a new journey for me and I'm trying to take it all in."

The Bulls made the postseason in both of Rose's lost seasons. They made huge moves in the offseason with the hope being the new additions, coupled with Rose's MVP-like return, and head coach Tom Thibodeau's stifling defensive schemes, could lead them to a title.

Pau Gasol left the Los Angeles Lakers via free agency to replace Carlos Boozer, who was amnestied by the Bulls in the summer. The Bulls swung a draft- night trade for sharp-shooter Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic, a decorated international star.

That all goes along with Joakim Noah, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-NBA performer. Noah will once again anchor a strong defense.

If Thibodeau trusts Mirotic and McDermott, they could pair up with Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks to form a great bench.

And the Bulls might need it with their injury history. It's starting already as Jimmy Butler sprained his left thumb and didn't practice on Tuesday, leaving his status for Wednesday's opener in the air.

"He has to be able to play," explained Thibodeau. "He does a lot of other things besides shoot the ball. We'll see. We have more than enough."

The Knicks had a great offseason in some respects. Carmelo Anthony returned to the team in free agency, agreeing to a max contract and spurning the Bulls in the process.

Phil Jackson is now the man in charge of basketball operations and his first choice for head coach, Steve Kerr, jilted Jackson in favor of the Golden State Warriors.

That left the job for Derek Fisher, who retired from the Oklahoma City Thunder to take the vacancy left by Mike Woodson's involuntary departure. Fisher played under Jackson in Los Angeles and he will implement the famous triangle offense.

Anthony should have no problem scoring out of the triangle. Anthony can score every way imaginable.

Jackson acquired a new point guard in the offseason, Jose Calderon. He came in a deal that also brought in starting center Sam Dalembert in exchange for Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton.

Amare Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani will be high-priced bench players as Fisher announced he will start Jason Smith at power forward. (Bargnani will miss the first three games with a hamstring injury.)

Fisher actually decided he is going to tinker with the starting lineup based on matchups.

The Bulls have won seven of the last nine meetings between the two, but the Knicks claimed both of last season's matchups at MSG.