Obviously, we're going out there to win. That's what we do. That's the only way you can get better and that's how you compete; that's how you progress as a team. As players, we're going out there to win and compete every game. I'm not putting expectations on this season. Obviously we want to make the playoffs, we want to compete for championships. So that's what we're going to start with, starting tomorrow. Build those championship habits. - Zach LaVine The NBA season often is likened more to a marathon than a sprint, but it's still a race. The Bulls Monday opened their 2018-19 season—the second day of the next part of their lives in the second season of their rebuild—with their own race. It's the one to find a star. No one actually mentioned it that way, and Bulls executives were anxious to maintain limited expectations. "I said earlier this summer after we went to the draft and through free agency that we were pleased in terms of where we are in the rebuild," said Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson. "With that said, we also understand that we have a lot of work to do. There is an excitement with the group. (But) you're not going to hear us talk about wins or anything like that; the expectations for us are to see this team come together. Our goal is to be the best basketball team we can be, and that's through this group coming together. We have talent, I believe that, and how it comes together, how we play, will determine what kind of win total we end up with, but we're not going to focus on that.' The players generally tried to offer the right balance between competitive nature and company narrative. "I think expectations for us is just going to be taking it day by day and being competitive," said Zach LaVine. "I think we'll be fine because we're going to be so excited. We're really hungry. We hear the outside expectations (about another 27-win season). But I think we use that as fuel. We're going to get off to a hot start with training camp coming. We've all been here and it's going to be fun. That's why I think we're all able to get a jump on the season because we're all healthy now. Obviously, we're going out there to win. That's what we do. That's the only way you can get better and that's how you compete; that's how you progress as a team. As players, we're going out there to win and compete every game. I'm not putting expectations on this season. Obviously we want to make the playoffs, we want to compete for championships. So that's what we're going to start with, starting tomorrow. Build those championship habits." "Hopefully," added Lauri Markkanen with a smile, "get more wins than 27 like last year." Betting the over, which probably is OK now that the NBA has an official betting partner in Las Vegas, sounds right for the Bulls. This is no 27-win team. Hey, no 22-win team jokes. It's a team that could/might/should compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It's not a promise, though also not an unreasonable expectation. "We're going to have to have a lot of sacrifice with this team because of the talent and the many weapons that we're going to have. It may be a different guy every night. And that will have to be accepted. We want growth. We want to continue to get better. If you get guys to compete and buy in, you're going to have a chance every night." - Coach Fred Hoiberg Consider that a year ago with the preseason starting, Kris Dunn was behind Jerian Grant on the depth chart, LaVine was three months away from playing 18 minutes, Jabari Parker was in Milwaukee trying to return from a second ACL surgery, Markkanen was being eased into the season after playing much of the summer for native Finland and Wendell Carter Jr. was wondering where the heck Marvin Bagley Jr. came from and where his shots were going. That's probably the finishing five with veteran Robin Lopez likely the starting center based on seniority more than his new goatee. But it's also a group of five, young, talented lottery picks, most of whom have had uncertain NBA debuts. Which also is why most are in Chicago. The second time around often works as well. But it's also a race for these five potential thoroughbreds to becoming a star or stars. Rebuilding with young players isn't guaranteed. The Bulls will probably be the youngest team in the NBA. That's not necessarily a great thing, at least for the coming season. Raw fruit isn't that appealing; nor really is steak tartare. There aren't many rookies in the Finals. So you need to grow and grow together. But a team, you also need a star before the growth matters much. Perhaps the most intriguing element of this Bulls season is that they have five players who could become stars based on their talent and draft status. Most of the NBA believed all were potential stars at some point given their draft lottery placement. But all won't be or can't be. The hope of the team is someone—or three—are. Partly because most successful teams develop or acquire a star and fit a team around that talent. Of course, everyone will say it's great to have multiple top players who can all take and make those last shots and the big plays; though the fact is a team needs that mega talent or two not so much for that last shot, but so that everyone else can get their shots and find their place. Make the defense watch someone else and it opens things for everyone else. "Great teams seem to have a pecking order," agreed Paxson. "In terms of our leadership, that's something that will play itself out. We didn't have this group play together very much last year. It's a young group. They do have some experience in the league now, which is a good thing. I know we're going to try to play quickly, throw the ball ahead a lot, movement." Which is the responsibility of coach Fred Hoiberg to enforce. "There aren't a ton of teams in the league who have only one guy that take the last shot," Hoiberg noted. "We had multiple occasions when we were going through our really good stretch last year where Lauri would take the last shot. Or Kris Dunn really developed into a closer in a lot of those wins that we had. Zach had a couple games where we put the ball in his hands late in games. Obviously, Jabari is capable of making a big play, especially at the three when you can put him on the block and you can take advantage of the mismatch. That will develop as we go along. We'll understand who has the makeup to be that guy that we put the ball in their hands late in games." But can they accept that? Will they? "We're going to have to have a lot of sacrifice with this team because of the talent and the many weapons that we're going to have," Hoiberg acknowledged. "It may be a different guy every night. And that will have to be accepted. We want growth. We want to continue to get better. If you get guys to compete and buy in, you're going to have a chance every night." Which is the play it out part that the coaches and management talked about. But it's also a race to develop that All-Star, which is the goal of every rebuilding team, and the Bulls get in the starting blocks with the first practice Tuesday. In lane one, Kris Dunn: "We have multiple playmakers, so I don't have to create all the plays for everyone. At the same time, I'm a point guard and whoever's got it rolling I have to make sure they get the ball.<doc-sep>Thursday’s Bulls’ practice brings another opportunity to work on the foundation of setting the team’s offense and defensive plans for the upcoming season. With only five pre season games this year it won’t give Coach Hoiberg a lot of opportunity to experiment so expect him playing the core group perhaps a bit longer than usual in selected games along with working in different lineups on the floor. A few observations: I’m expecting Kris Dunn to have a break out year. Dunn is a confident player who plays with an edge to his game and there is no doubt he will be a significant piece as the Bulls move forward this season. The backup point guard position is going to be very competitive. Jabari Parker playing the three (small forward) for the first time will be an adjustment so patience is needed. Zach LaVine will have a monster year. Lauri Markkanen will not suffer a “sophomore jinx.” He’s in great shape and his versatility of outside/inside will create nightmares for opponents. Bobby Portis will be a major factor for the Bulls as he will come off the bench and be a difference maker in many ways. Robin Lopez and Wendell Carter Jr. will compliment each other very well. Carter will be a headache for opponents when the Bulls switch on defense. With the versatility of the “new age” NBA showing a variety of offensive sets, switching has become common place. Better get used to it because every NBA team, if they’re not putting packages in now will be doing so soon, some more than others, but it’s here to stay. CCI 24 seconds: Jimmy Butler is still property of Minnesota but you may want to refresh the web server from time to time just to make sure. Anthony Davis, who will be back in his hometown of Chicago Sunday leading the Pelicans, believes he’s the best player in the NBA. Do you agree? Name your top three players in the league? If you started a franchise TODAY who gets the prize? Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton and LeBron James in the near future will discuss how many games and how many minutes James will play in pre season. The Lakers play five exhibition games and James is entering his 16th season. Lost in the blockbuster Spurs-Raptors, Leonard-DeRozan deal was San Antonio acquiring big man Jakob Poeltl. I’m a big fan of his and he will bring youth and energy to the black and silver. No one asked me but why doesn’t Washington’s John Wall get the respect and publicity from fans and media around the league? He is a top ten player in the NBA in my opinion. Thanks for reading CCI. Go Bulls Reach me at cswirsky@bulls.com or Twitter: @ctsbulls<doc-sep>READ | UGA soccer player from Johns Creek named SEC Freshman of the Week READ | Music for your commute: 9 times MARTA is mentioned in rap songs Gates, 21, then played for three years in college at Xavier. Foregoing his senior year, he entered the NBA Draft a year early this past summer, but went unselected through 60 picks. The Bulls signed him to their summer league team, and liked enough of what they saw out of the 6-foot-8 forward to bring him aboard for the preseason training camp. In the summer league, Gates played in three games with the Bulls, averaging 6.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per-game. Over three years at Xavier, Gates helped the Musketeers reach the NCAA tournament each season. As a senior, Gates averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per-game while shooting 37 percent from behind the arc. After graduating from Chattahoochee High School, Blossomgame, 25, went on to play for four years at Clemson University. He led the Tigers to two NIT tournament appearances and was twice an All-ACC selection. His junior season was arguably his best, when he shot 45 percent from three-point range and averaged 18.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per-game. The Spurs drafted the 6-foot-7 guard with the 59th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but assigned him to their G-League team in Austin. In 50 games with the Austin Spurs, Blossomgame averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per-game. He was fourth in the G-League in two-point field goals made and helped lead the Austin Spurs to the G-League championship. If both Blossomgame and Gates survive training camp cuts, they’ll see each other on Nov. 26 in Chicago, when the Bulls host the Spurs. 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The Bulls went through a full scale workout Tuesday at the Advocate Center as Head Coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff are implementing new defensive schemes with Zach LaVine participating in his first full Bulls camp and the off season arrival of veteran Jabari Parker and rookies Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison. One thing is for certain, this is going to be a very competitive camp. Hoiberg on the team’s ability to switch on defense: “That’s going to be a weapon. That was our primary defense this summer in Vegas was to see how things looked with the switching and I thought Wendell was as good as anyone we had as far as moving his feet and great anticipation when a guard got by him he pursued the play and had unbelievable blocks from behind. He is certainly is a guy we feel comfortable if and when we go to that defense. Right now it’s still all about the basics and putting our behind the pick and roll defense in. Hoiberg on the Lopez-Carter competition for the starting center position: “Robin is really good for Wendell. The fact that he (Lopez) is going in to his eleventh year ,he’s a 30 year old consumate pro and just a great fit to teach Wendell what it’s all about to be a professional. Wendell is not backing down at all. He’s going out there and playing physical; he made some unbelievable plays at the rim defensively and feel really good about that position going in to the season.” I totally agree with Coach Hoiberg. Lopez is an outstanding leader, mentor and has a team first mentality. I am keeping a low vibe on Carter — for now - but I’m here to tell you this young man is going to be special. REAL special. Antonio Blakeney earned a full time NBA contract after doing extremely well as a two way player a season ago (G-League-NBA). Blakeney will turn 22 next week and already has become an inspiration for other players on the cusp who are in a similar position battling for a roster spot in NBA training camps. Blakeney averaged a whopping 32 points per game for the Windy City Bulls and was named the League’s Rookie of the Year. He appeared in 19 games with the Bulls and had huge games coming off the bench against the Lakers and Thunder respectively. His advice to undrafted players is , “Come in early, leave late and work hard. Keep that competitive edge with everything. Try and go at the best players. Me and Zach (LaVine) went at it every day and part of that is because he helped me but I also competed with him to seek that matchup every day to try and make myself better and make him better as well." NBA news and notes. Jimmy Butler is still in Minnesota… for now. That’s all I’ve got. A healthy Boston team is favored to win the East but don’t discount the Raps or 76ers. By the way, did you know Sacramento’s first round pick in 2019 is owned by Boston, protected only for the number one pick? Incredible. Still trying to get my head wrapped around seeing LeBron James in Lakers’ purple and gold. Steve Kerr addressed comparisons to this year’s Golden State Warriors team to the 97-98 Bulls’ ballclub (sixth and last title in the Jordan era) and what may lie ahead after this season with free agency looming for Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Kerr telling Nick Friedell of ESPN: "Last dance?" Kerr said with a smile after his team's first practice Tuesday. "I hope not. I hope we keep dancing. I think the difference is with Phil [Jackson] in '98 we all were free agents and we all knew we were all going to be gone, including Phil," Kerr said. "But we're not in that same position. We do have plenty of free agents, but we're not looking at this as the final dance. Like I said, we want to have some fun and enjoy what we have this year and move on from there." RIP Jack McKinney, former NBA Coach of the Year with the Pacers. A really good man whose world changed when he suffered a serious bicycle accident that changed his life and career forever. Thanks for reading CCI. Always a pleasure.