NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Monday was just a hang-out, share-the-feelings session. Tuesday featured a trip to Top Golf. Mix in a few team dinners and a scheduled visit to the Titans’ practice facility Friday, and all that is missing from Bulls training camp this week is a bonfire, someone strumming the guitar and ‘‘Kumbaya’’ filling the night sky.
But there has been a method to the madness of this destination camp, and forward DeMar DeRozan was a key figure in why it happened.
In his days with the Raptors, DeRozan and his teammates seldom held camp in Toronto. It was usually off to cities such as Vancouver and Montreal, just to get away from the city where players would spend most of the season.
‘‘That was a big part of our success, quite honestly,’’ DeRozan said. ‘‘On those trips, we did a lot of stuff that we probably wouldn’t do if we were at home just practicing. And that carried over to the season as far as having each other’s backs.
‘‘That’s why I was all for it. I’m going to be honest: I always hated training camp in the city you played in. We’re going to be in Chicago half the year, so why not just get away going into the season to try to lock in?’’
DeRozan’s other point was that there have been too many camp moments at the Advocate Center in which guys put in the practice, then simply went home to their lives. This week hasn’t allowed that. With planned team functions almost every night, heart-to-heart conversations eventually have to go down.
That’s just what this roster needs.
It has been easy to point out the weaknesses of this group the last few seasons, especially with the core of DeRozan, guard Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic having won only one playoff game since coming together.
To a man, however, the biggest off-the-court concern has been an inability to be honest with each other.
‘‘They’re really good guys and all have good relationships, but there’s a different kind of connection that you have to have in your job to be really, really good,’’ coach Billy Donovan said. ‘‘I think that was something they all felt they needed to be better at.’’
It didn’t take forward Torrey Craig very long to notice what Donovan was talking about.
Craig, who has spent only a few weeks of scrimmage time and now four days of camp with the Bulls, said he could tell the players needed some toughness in terms of how they talk with each other.
‘‘Obviously a lot of great talent on the floor,’’ Craig said. ‘‘Now it’s about trying to find that edge. Being honest with each other is a good start.’’
That’s why the departure of guard Patrick Beverely might hurt a bit if newcomers Craig and guard Jevon Carter can’t pick up the slack. According to Donovan, Beverley joined the Bulls in February and instantly forced guys to get together off the court.
‘‘One of the things we talked about [this offseason] is we’re bringing back the same group, so we have to do something different,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘It’s not just about going to dinner; it’s about having conversations about really what they need from each other as teammates, how they can help one another.
‘‘We have to communicate well on the stuff that matters. Sometimes they’re not always going to be easy; they’ll be difficult. It’s not personal. They all want to win and come together and figure out ways to do that. But the more they can connect with one another to have those conversations, I think the easier it is.’’
