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BULLS TRAINING CAMP GUIDE
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Location Berto Center; Deerfield, Ill.
Preseason schedule (all times ET) Oct. 10: at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11: Toronto, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 14: Phoenix, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 15: at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Oct. 18: L.A. Clippers, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 19: at Memphis, 8 p.m. ET Oct. 21: Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 23: at Phoenix, midnight
Team roster | Depth chart | Offseason moves
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Camp question
The Bulls are the kiddies of the NBA. They have two 20-year-olds in Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry and two 21-year-old point guards of the future in Jamal Crawford and rookie Jay Williams. We're talking, in order, the Nos. 2, 4, 8 and 2 picks of the last three drafts. There is also Marcus Fizer, the No. 4 overall selection in 2000 who's a contributor but certainly not a player with star potential. Now it's up to coach Bill Cartwright and hoops president Jerry Krause to make this work at something better than the 21 games the Bulls won last season, most of the victories coming after they dumped poor Tim Floyd. Now that there are some solid veterans on this team (Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall), it's going to be decision time for the young.
Camp project
They put Chandler in the starting lineup 31 times in his 71 games as a rookie. He averaged 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. Then Krause went out and signed Marshall. Cartwright says he is going to start his best five players. Translated, Marshall starts at power forward. That means a slower learning curve for Chandler unless he takes a big step forward in training camp. The Bulls, who lost rookie guard Roger Mason to a pickup-game injury, may also want to take a good look at big Lonny Baxter from Maryland. But if Baxter makes the roster, a veteran under contract has to go.
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FANTASY GAMES KEY CAMPER
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Who to watch: While newcomer Jay Williams will have the ball in his hands plenty, don't forget about Jalen Rose, who thrived as the lone go-to Bull late last season and hasn't ever dealt with a scoring point guard like this before. Will they coexist? Watch in camp to see if Jalen gets enough shots, but also assume the assists won't be near 5 a game. — Eric Karabell
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Camp comeback
Eddie Robinson was signed as a free agent to a five-year contract because the Bulls loved his energy. They haven't seen much of it. Robinson played in only 29 games last season after being bothered by a variety of injuries, and his health is an ongoing problem. Sesamoidititis of the toe cost him two months during one stretch, and it threatens to have further impact this season. Robinson might not be polished but he has Dennis Rodman energy. If the Bulls can get him healthy, they are a far more dangerous team.
Camp controversy
Jamal Crawford came back early from a torn ACL and appeared in 21 games last season to show the Bulls he is ready to become their full-time point guard. Then Crawford went to the Berto Center on draft night and watched his team take Jay Williams with the No. 2 pick, an indication that they consider Williams to be the point guard of the future. Let's get ready to rumble. Even with 82 NBA games under his belt, Crawford might not be much ahead of Williams, who played three years at Duke to Crawford's 17 games at Michigan. But the Bulls are going back to the triangle offense full time, and Crawford has had a good taste of it. On the other hand, it would not be outrageous for the two of them to start in tandem.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.