Selfless Bulls share the wealth in knocking off Pacers

CHICAGO | Make yourself at home, Rip.

It was fitting that amid all the hype and expectations, Richard "Rip" Hamilton scored the Bulls' first basket Tuesday night in their exhibition finale against the Pacers.

The former Detroit Piston was just warming up.

Hamilton had 13 points and six assists as five Bulls scored in double figures for a 93-85 win before a United Center sellout of 21,659.

Carlos Boozer led the way with 24 points, Luol Deng 14, Derrick Rose 12 and Ronnie Brewer 11.

The Bulls had 30 assists on their 39 field goals.

Tyler Hansbrough's 24 points topped the Pacers.

Rose, who reportedly agreed to a five-year, $95 million extension earlier but would not confirm it, also chipped in nine assists.

"The guys put me in a great comfort level out there. They were talking to me and helping me out through the plays," Hamilton said. "Coach (Tom Thibodeau) was great. Every timeout, he was teaching me the plays and where he wanted me to be on the floor.

"Other than that, we were just playing, feeding off the guys, trying to get up and down the court, trying for easy baskets."

Playing alongside last year's MVP also was a big thrill for Hamilton.

"It was fun. It was exciting. It was probably the first time I ever played with someone who was faster than me," Hamilton said. "I can get so many easy baskets running with him."

Rose is more than happy to oblige.

"Rip is a guy who's been able to fit in very well. He can run the floor with me, is a great shooter as we all know and can help us just being on the floor with his experience," Rose said.

"Tonight, the game sometimes felt easy, especially when we had the ball. (Rip) took a lot of pressure off us. I've just got to knock down open shots now. All of us."

Before tipoff, Indiana coach Frank Vogel applauded the Hamilton signing, which cost the Bulls $15 million for three seasons.

"Having to chase Rip off screens the whole game will take pressure off Rose to do it all," Vogel said. "He's an excellent defender, too.

"He understands one-on-one defense and team defense. They had one of the best defensive teams maybe ever in Detroit and he was a solid part of that. I don't think there'll be any dropoff."

The Bulls' lead grew to as many as 18 in the second half, but Indiana kept it respectable. 

Thibodeau didn't focus on the 6-foot-7 Hamilton as much as he did on all who checked into the game.

"It's not only Rip. It's the team. You're looking at how the team is functioning," said Thibodeau, a hard guy to please. "I'd like to see us execute, take better care of the ball, play better defense and rebound the ball better."