Rose ready for Jennings

''It's not one guy guarding him; it's a team effort. We have to make a conscious effort to control his penetration and contest shots.''

Still, Bulls point guard Derrick Rose will match up with Jennings most of the time -- just like when their teams played AAU games in high school.

Rose also got a chance to face Jennings earlier in the season and made one of the key defensive plays when he blocked Jennings' shot in the lane in the final minute.

''You have to make sure you always stay in front of him, contest all his jump shots; it's like that with any other good guard,'' Rose said. ''He can score and so can every guard in the league. You just have to make it difficult for him.''

If he were healthy, Kirk Hinrich also would be matched up with Jennings quite a bit -- especially because Milwaukee uses a small backcourt at times with Jennings and Luke Ridnour.

Hinrich, though, is doubtful and was scheduled to have his sprained left thumb examined by a specialist today. He was examined by a Bulls physician on Friday, but management wants to get another opinion before moving forward.

''We got the MRI, and we know what it is,'' Del Negro said of Hinrich's injury. ''Now we just want someone with a lot of experience who specializes in that to take a look at it, and the doctor we want him to go to is available [today].''

If he's cleared, there's a chance Hinrich could play tonight, but he conceded Sunday the injury would have to improve significantly for that to be possible.