Derrick& Doug: Mask and task
Rose trying to make opener; McDermott working on ‘D’
Derrick Rose and Doug McDermott have different tasks ahead with training camp winding down.
Rose, who’s wearing a mask, is in a race to be ready for the regular season after surgery to repair a broken orbital bone suffered during the first day of camp.
After working out Friday during the Bulls’ day off, Rose participated in much of the noncontact portion of practice Saturday but sat out scrimmages as he tries to make it back for the Oct. 27 opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It’s all about getting that body ready to go to battle again,’’ said coach Fred Hoiberg, who didn’t know if Rose would travel to Charlotte for the preseason game Monday against the Hornets. ‘‘When you take 2½ weeks that you don’t do anything, it’s going to take awhile to get that back.
“The next step is getting him contact drills and getting him ready for the season, and the big thing is getting that confidence that he can take a hit and everything is going to be OK.”
McDermott is trying something altogether different: establishing himself as an NBA regular.
He was slowed by a knee problem his rookie season and was ineffective when healthy.
Under former coach Tom Thibodeau, McDermott appeared in 36 games, averaging only 8.9 minutes and 3.0 points, and his lack of use turned into a subplot.
Though he’ll likely start Friday in Lincoln, Nebraska, McDermott apparently isn’t part of the mix to replace rehabbing Mike Dunleavy in the starting lineup. He will, however, have more of a concrete role.
McDermott is averaging 16.6 points in the preseason and settling into his spot.
“I didn’t play a whole lot last year, so I wanted to prove something in the preseason,” McDermott said. “I feel like I didn’t even play great in the Summer League, so this is kind of a time-where I’m getting my swag back, my confidence back, and it feels great.”
That doesn’t mean he’s a finished product. His defense needs work, and he acknowl- edges that he has to get better at dealing with screens, getting back and staying out of foul trouble.
“I’ve got a long ways to go on defense,’’ McDermott said. ‘‘I can’t pick up early fouls like I have the last few games.
‘‘Part of it is just learning the NBA game, but part of it is just keeping your hands off out there.”
While McDermott tries to handle the finer points of playing NBA defense, he still could provide value with his shooting.
That would hold whether it’s starting alongside Rose, Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol or coming off the bench and providing another offensive look. He’s fine with either role. “You see guys like that in the league all the time, coming off the bench and just kind of firing away,” McDermott said.
“I feel like that’s something I can do, but, at the same time, if I was out there with Derrick and Jimmy and Pau, I feel like I’d really space the floor for them. I think Derrick would get a lot of driving lanes, along with Jimmy.
“So, either way, I think I can help out wherever they ask.”
NOTE: Tony Snell (ankle) didn’t participate in practice, and Hoiberg didn’t think Snell would play Monday.
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