<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>But similar to last season, when Brown started the first six games, moved to the bench and then returned as a starter, the power forward position could be a revolving door for coach Scott Skiles. "We may just be game dependent on that," Skiles said after practice Thursday. There are benefits to this situation that go beyond not having to play the cat-and-mouse game with Skiles, who typically refuses to release the identity of even one of his starters. (Shockingly, never mind if everybody knew this, Skiles even said Thursday that "if we have to open tomorrow night against New Jersey, Kirk [Hinrich] and [Ben Gordon] and Luol [Deng] and Ben Wallace are going to start.") The arrival of 12-year veteran Joe Smith, who missed practice with minor swelling in his right knee, allows the Bulls to bring second-year forward Tyrus Thomas and rookie Joakim Noah along at whatever pace their play dictates. Though Skiles likes Andres Nocioni's scoring and energy off the bench, he, too, could start some games if the Bulls want to wring heavy minutes out of a small lineup to create matchup problems. Depth typically is a good problem to have. "I wouldn't read a lot into who's declared the starter," Skiles said. "Much like P.J., Joe has a nice veteran way about him. We need that while Tyrus is still coming on, but Tyrus is, without question, better than he was. Joakim has unique things he can do. It's a matter of how quickly he'll pick things up. So far, so good. But each guy does something a little different."</div></p> LINK</p>
