With the lockout starting tomorrow, I got to thinking: what does this mean for our players? Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and the rest are all known to be gym rats, hard workers, etc. So what type of team will we see if and when the Bulls next take the floor? Derrick Rose has mentioned that in the summer he and his roommates will go to the Berto and work out at 3AM. This summer, that wont be available to him because of the lockout. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are both injury prone and need to keep themselves conditioned to avoid being out for an extended period. Both guys also seem to take some time getting back into game shape when they havnt been on the court in a while. Our new draft pick Jimmy Butler wont have the luxury of a summer league, let alone the Berto or UC to start getting familiar with Bulls summer workout programs and facilities. Korver wont have the Berto to practice his three all summer, as he has stated he does. When exactly is Rose supposed to develop this post up game or further his three point shooting if he doesnt have coaches to work with him?

All these guys im sure have some sort of a workout room and at least a half court in their houses, and those who dont could probably go to local rec centers, high schools, etc. But that is no replacement for the state of the art equipment, facilities, and staff that the Bulls have for their players to use. Will this be like the NFL, where teams are getting together on their own to hold practices and workouts? Are Thibs and his staff or the trainers allowed to work with the players during the lockouts? What about the trainers and medical staff? Do we even want the Bulls working out and practicing in a random ass gym or rec center without a medical staff and treatment facilities immediatley available should somebody get hurt? Does the Bulls organization (or any team) have the right to say "yeah, sorry but we're letting our players use the facilities anyway", and would the Bulls consider this if it was a possibility? Will it be tough for players like Rose and Korver who take full advantage of what the Bulls have available to stay in shape and stay sharp? Will it be hard for Noah and Boozer to keep their conditioning up?

Look, I know NBA players will work out, practice, etc. during the lockout. I know they have their own doctors and their own workout partners. I just dont think any of that is any kind of worthy replacement for the facility, equipment, programs, intruction, and medical attention/staff that the Bulls have at the ready (and the players are used to having) at a moments notice.