Rude awakening for some newcomers
By Mike McGraw
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2005

The Bulls spent the past three days trying to acclimate three new players — Tim Thomas, Michael Sweetney and Jermaine Jackson — to their system.

There were at least two perspectives on the difficulty of the adjustment the three former Knicks have faced.

“The thing that’s been very evident is how hard our guys play compared to guys from other programs,” coach Scott Skiles said. “We practice hard, we prepare hard, and we play hard. Our guys are now in the habit of doing that.

“Sometimes when we pick up other guys or sign another guy in the middle of the season or something, they’re caught a little off guard by how we do it.”

Thomas said he could tell last season how hard the Bulls play and didn’t think it was difficult at all to match his new teammates’ intensity at practice. Thomas feels he has had it tough because he’s trying to learn both forward positions.

“It’s kind of difficult on guys that are as talented as I am ...(that) can play different positions on the court, because coach wants to use you in all those situations the best as he can,” Thomas said. “You need to know each and every set. Once I get it down, I’ll be OK.”

Knicks still without Davis: According to reports, the New York Knicks thought Antonio Davis might practice with the team Monday, but there was no sign of the veteran power forward at Knicks camp in Charleston, S.C.

It still appears likely that Davis and the Knicks will agree to a contract buyout so Davis can rejoin the Bulls.

A rule was added to the new collective-bargaining agreement that says if a team trades a player and that player is then released, he must wait 30 days before re-signing with his former team.

But if the trade happens before the start of the regular season, the wait is only 20 days from when the trade is completed. So Davis would be eligible to return to the Bulls on Oct. 27 if he is released before that date.

Cook waived: The Bulls released guard Omar Cook on Monday, but coach Scott Skiles was full of praise for the 23-year-old, who played one season at St. John’s.

“I think Omar’s an NBA player,” Skiles said. “I wanted to give him the opportunity to get something else going, because we have too many players right now. It’s kind of unfair, but it’s an unfair business.”

Bull horns: Coach Scott Skiles listed Chris Duhon (groin), Andres Nocioni (sore hip and back) and Darius Songaila (sore right shoulder) as questionable for tonight’s preseason opener. Eric Piatkowski (knee bruise) will not play but said he’s close to returning to practice. … A crew from NBA TV’s Real Training Camp show was at the Berto Center on Monday. The look at Bulls practice will most likely air next week on NBA TV.

Quote of the day: This is from the Palm Beach Post and Shaquille O’Neal, who said he has been a fan of new Heat point guard Jason Williams since seeing him in a pickup game years ago.

“I was trying to ask (former Lakers GM) Jerry West to move some people to get him because he reminds me of a hip-hop Scott Skiles,” O’Neal said.

This guy is the worst. Good riddance.

looks like they are going to use him at PF mostly.

LOL

Wow Tim Thomas. How can anyone be so conceited? Yeah Tim, your the best player in the NBA. You might have the athletic ability and the raw skills but you'll never come close to being the NBA player your supposed to be, look at your career averages, your terrible. Geez.

I was going to type a response but it's hard for a poster as talented as me to come up with the right thing to say when there are just so many jokes.

TT can go the hell......

I think he just took a shot at our team. He probably upset because we robbed them for Eddy Curry. The trade happened like right after media day so how could anyone be in shape training camp hadn't even got started. What a moron!

They have such low expectations of Sweetney in Chicago that anything that anything he gives them is like a plus. I am rooting for Sweets to do well. Curry has the dreaded "upside" but I hope that Sweetney goes out and has a monster year. Knowing Paxson he will make sure that he tries and get some compensation for Sweets but he has like zero interest in the guy.

TT is a jerk for saying that he is so talented. To have talent is one thing, to have it and not use it is another and TT is the other.

Sweets will do fine, if given the burn. I think his weight will hold him back there as will more active guys like Nocioni and Songalia.