After watching Derrick Rose put up 32 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds against the Pacers in preseason action last night, Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com writes that the Bulls have their closer back. For his part, the former MVP sounds ready for the 2013/14 season. “God is good, man. God is good,” Rose said. “I’ve been working hard, man. Super hard. I think that I’m one of the hardest-working guys in the league, if not the hardest. During the summer, I work out three times a day and really concentrating on everything I’m doing and really taking care of my body, so I’m just trying to make the game easy and just trying to do anything individually to help my team.” The latest from the Central Division..
- Jermaine Taylor is fighting to hang on with the Cavs, writes Bob Finnan of the News-Herald. Taylor has impressed the coaching staff with his relentless style and scoring ability, but he would have to make the Cavs’ roster at the expense of either Matthew Dellavedova or Carrick Felix, both of whom the front office likes a lot. Both rookies also have some guaranteed money in their contracts.
- Offseason acquisition Khris Middleton, who stands at 6’7″, is being slotted at power forward for the Bucks, writes Charles F. Gardner of the Journal-Sentinel. So far, the former Pistons forward looks comfortable in his new role.
- In this week’s mailbag, a reader asks Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer if Daniel Gibson could return to the Cavs. While she sees the guard hooking on with someone before the end of the season, she doesn’t envision it happening in Cleveland.