The Bulls’ Tuesday will begin with team physicians operating on Carlos Boozer’s fractured fifth metacarpal of his right hand and end with the exhibition opener against the Bucks in Milwaukee.
Taj Gibson will start for Boozer and Keith Bogans steps in for Ronnie Brewer, who won’t play with a sore right hamstring.
“Keith has been working more with the first unit, so I want to take a look at that,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We may get to Kyle (Korver). We’re going to look at different combinations and figure it out as we go along.”
Bogans started 50 games last season for the Spurs and offers a defensive element that Korver lacks. Korver also provides bench scoring.
“Any role I have I’m going to take and make the best of it,” Bogans said.
Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Derrick Rose will be the other starters.
‘D’ it up: While praising improved defensive transition, Thibodeau is looking for improvement at both ends in Tuesday’s opener.
“Defensively, we’re nowhere near where we want to be,” he said. “And offensively, we have to clean up our timing and spacing.”
Thibodeau said starters will play roughly 16-20 minutes and increase that time as the preseason schedule advances to the Oct. 27 regular-season opener in Oklahoma City.
Layups: Scottie Pippen viewed practice and worked with Brewer and James Johnson for over an hour afterward. … Rose turned 22 and Kurt Thomas 38 on Monday. “Kurt’s a senior citizen now,” Bogans joked.
