Chicago Bulls Preseason Post-Game quotes

Minnesota Coach Randy Wittman:

"As I told the guys, we're going to have nights like this where we didn't get a bounce on layups. We have a lot of 1-for-7s, 1-for-10s, another 1-for-7, a 1-for-5... We put that upon ourselves in the first quarter. We didn't move the ball when we were doubled. After that I thought we did, and we got back into the game. Defensively, the first eight minutes we did no talking, but then they got after it defensively."

"Realistically, after two quarters with nine points, we had a chance to win the game. I do like that about our guys. They hung in there from a defensive standpoint, and we've stressed it all October. They hung in there and they gave themselves a chance to win. It's tough winning games when you have 18 points in two quarters. But I think we'll look back on it and see a lot of good shots that missed, they just didn't go in. It's better to get it out of the way now in the preseason than a week from now."

"I don't have any big men. I'm going to play some bigs. (Madsen) is really my only healthy one, he and Chris. We wanted to take an extended look at Chris tonight. We've got to have some big bodies, and that's going to come. Collins just got released (by the doctors) to do some more yesterday on his elbow. It's unfortunate that we had the injuries we did with some of those guys, but (Madsen) gives you energy and effort, especially at the start of the game. Defensively he's going to be in the right position at the right time. I think he, for a majority of our preseason, has actually played pretty well."

"I don't know who I'm going to start at that spot yet. Love started a game in Denver, he and Al together. We've gone with a lot of different combinations. You have to earn what you get. We'll get one more game and some scenarios to look at tomorrow. We'll probably look at another big. I want to get another big involved. Calvin's pretty healthy and I might try to get him into the game tomorrow and get him some minutes for the first time this preseason."

"We've got a lot of different avenues we can go. We've got to sit down as a group here, and with Telfair's suspension for the first three games, there are some different things we can do there to protect ourselves. We could go with three guards still, without counting Telfair."

"(Love) has got great strength. Trust me, he doesn't miss those shots inside that he missed tonight. He'll get offensive rebounds, he has great hands off the penetration, off the drop-down, that's how he's going to score. If they put a bigger guy on Al, and he's got a smaller guy on him, then he can take that guy down to the post. He missed two good jump hooks in the second half that just didn't go in."

Minnesota Forward Kevin Love:

"Most of my shots went in and out tonight. Most of them were right there. I mean, they're easy shots that I make 80-90 percent of the time, but I missed them tonight. I just have to come out tomorrow, it's a new day. For me, I'm the type of guy that doesn't like to lose. I don't like to play bad, either. I just missed some easy shots and hopefully tomorrow they'll fall."

"It was good. Hopefully once the season starts we'll get our fan base out there even more. I wish I could've had a better outing. Luckily it wasn't my first regular season game in the NBA. Hopefully I'll come out tomorrow and be in better rhythm with things."

Minnesota Guard Mike Miller:

"Every team has one. Tonight was our game in the preseason that we didn't play well. Give Chicago credit. There are things we need to work on, but that's why it's the preseason. We just have to bounce back and play well tomorrow."

"Very frustrating. You don't ever want to start like that, but that's on our starting unit. Listen, we've been in and out, suffering injuries... (but) no excuses. We're going to be a lot better than that. What I like is in the second half when we came back with a lot of energy that got us back in the game."

"The kid (Rose) has a great future. I think they knew that when they picked him number one. I saw him a lot last year in Memphis. He's a great basketball player. They're going to grow with him and he's going to get a lot better."

Chicago Coach Vinny Del Negro:

"I thought we competed. We played hard at times. It wasn't pretty. Obviously neither team played well in the fourth quarter, but we found a way to win again. It's a good sign with the injuries. We need a lot more time together. Hopefully we can have a couple good days of practice and move forward and get ready for Opening Night. Obviously we have to play Milwaukee on Friday. Playing them the last preseason game and first regular season game, I'm not sure about the scheduling there. But like I said, they're on the schedule and we'll play them."

"Well, we're just trying to get (Rose) into the open court -- he's so athletic, explosive off the court and dribble, and makes things easier for the guys, trying to push the tempo of the game when he's in there -- and have the guys feed off him a little. But we have a long way to go in terms of getting our timing down, getting our sets in, comfortable. At times we play fairly well and at times we force things. We weren't moving the ball from side to side as much as I liked, but we've got a lot of work to do."

(on Larry Hughes' injury) "Dislocated shoulder. He'll be out, I suspect, for a while. Too early to know. I'm sure he'll see the doctor, but it's a tough, tough blow for us. His arm was extended, Mike fell on him a little and then popped out on him. It's painful. You've got to put the M*A*S*H unit back together. We'll see who rolls out there for practice tomorrow. Makes it hard, no question."

Chicago Forward Luol Deng:

"You know it's good for us to get two wins. Winning builds confidence... It's game day, so I was trying to catch a little rhythm. It felt like I had a little rhythm in the first quarter today, but it's a team game. It's about getting a rhythm going as a team and figuring out what our strengths are. We all know that it's going to take time. We've got a new staff, but as long as we keep playing hard it'll be fine."

"Aaron Gray played great. Joakim, I don't know, he still has... no, I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Joakim and Aaron did a great job for us tonight. They were big in there. Joakim came in and had some energy for us. Gray did a great a job filling in tonight also."

Chicago Forward Drew Gooden:

"It's nice, especially on the road. It's tough to put two back-to-back games together even in the regular season. We did it. We're making steps."

"I warned the team about it (comeback). I thought it was going to be a mirror image of when we took the lead at home and they slowly but surely came back and beat us. Tonight we never gave up the lead and we took control of the game in the crunch."

"I think (Hughes' injury) is something that could've been a lot more serious. Thank God it's not. Hopefully we have him back soon."

Chicago Guard Larry Hughes:

"I was just trying to get the touch back. Once I got it going, I got a tough break. I'm just looking to bounce back and do what I need to do to get healthy... It's not a break or anything like that. It's a matter of seeing what I need to do as far as rehab and getting back strong."