Clip Show Becomes the Bull Show

We finally got what we Bulls fans have been waiting for this season: a pretty victory. It was also made better by the fact that the Clippers were able to match their guests for much of the game. But in the fourth quarter, the Bulls stepped on the gas to put enough distance between them and their hosts, winning 114-101. This was the first game this season I couldn't find anything really wrong with, but let's analyze this anyway.

Derrick Rose finally looked like the MVP he was last season. His 29 points and 16 assists only told part of the story. The shots he hit, the drives he made to the basket and the passes he made were pretty, crisp, highlight-worthy and above all, efficient. He actually made me cheer the most since his winner over the Lakers on Christmas.

Luol Deng looked all right with 19 points. I really liked the shots he took and even though he's been struggling from three-point territory, he did hit one in this game. Don't forget his eight rebounds too. It wasn't just Rose and Deng making a difference though. All five starters scored in double figures: 19 for Noah, 16 for Hamilton and 10 for Boozer, who is really impressing me with his hustle and overall improved play. There may be hope for him yet to fully play up to the contract he signed.

Off the bench, Ronnie Brewer scored seven points and made both of his field-goal attempts. If he keeps this shooting barrage up, the Bulls may have finally found their true sixth man, though obviously not on a Jason Terry level. Kyle Korver knocked in two of his three shots from beyond the arc for six points. Encouraging signs from both players. Let's hope they continue that on New Year's Day when the Bulls finally get to play at the United Center against the Memphis Grizzlies. Expect a nice ovation after the team went 3-1 on its season-opening West Coast swing.

On a personal note, I'm thrilled to announce that I have been offered a job with the Chicago Tribune as a part-time editing assistant for the Scoreboard page. This will probably affect the frequency of my posting, but I'll keep this updated in an orderly manner. Happy New Year, everyone! See you in 2012!