Chicago Bulls know no one person will fill Derrick Rose's shoes

The Chicago Bulls are on the eve of opening the 2012 NBA season, and as they approach that game against the Sacramento Kings, the team is aware that replacing Derrick Rose will not be easy. That said, the Bulls are confident in their ability to be successful as Rose recovers.

"We prepare hard," All-Star forward Luol Deng said. "And we know how to win games. The past two years, we've proven that. We have the same core back. No one individual is going to fill Derrick's shoes. But collectively, we understand the situation. We know we need each other to get better."

(via Chicago Tribune)

The Bulls, of course, were a success last season as Rose missed a host of games with various injuries. That is until the team collapsed in the playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers after Rose tore his ACL, something that has undoubtedly left a bad taste in the team's mouth.

Charles Oakley, a key cog in the Bulls team that in 1985-1986 that had to deal with the loss of Michael Jordan for 64 games after he broke a bone in his foot, says that the team needs to do the "things that win games" like defense, rebounding and generally playing tough.