AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Talk about endearing oneself to Tom Thibodeau.
One of the first things rookie Tony Snell did after completing his first NBA start on Monday in Utah was review his performance on film.
“I did pretty decent,” Snell said. “There are areas I have to work on but it’s very manageable. I knew my spots defensively pretty well. Offensively, I moved the ball well and tried to make plays. Some shots I didn’t take very well but the rest were pretty good.”
Snell drew his second straight start against the Pistons on Wednesday night. And from the sound of things, that will become the norm until Jimmy Butler returns from turf toe. Butler remains weeks away.
“It’s how it fits with both units to try to maximize the strengths and weaknesses of both groups,” Thibodeau said. “The second group I thought had been playing well throughout training camp and regular season so I wanted to get back to that. And I also wanted to see Tony with the starters.
“I thought his defense (against Utah) was good. He made some good plays. He had some good looks at the basket. I believe he’ll knock them down. He’s very serious-minded, which I like.”
Snell said his approach doesn’t change whether he’s starting or not playing.
“I just keep working and stay ready,” he said.
Snell had 13 points, three assists and three turnovers in 37 minutes in Wednesday night’s 99-79 victory over the Pistons.
Point, counterpoint: Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks didn’t need to grow up in Chicago to know what the impact of losing Derrick Rose for a second straight season meant to his hometown team.
“He’s a great player,” Cheeks said. “He was the MVP. The way he plays the game with such passion, when you lose a player like that, it’s a blow for everyone. Not just the team and the city, the NBA itself.
“The humbleness with which he carries himself makes it even tougher to see him go down. You just hate to see that.”
Layups: On Monday in Utah, Mike Dunleavy became the 72nd player in NBA history to sink 1,000 3-pointers. … The Bulls flew home overnight Wednesday for the holiday and will practice at the Berto Center on Friday before flying to Cleveland to finish the season-high, six-game trip Saturday. … A large picture of Mike James and his then-Pistons teammates celebrating the 2004 NBA championship adorns the media room at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
