No Big Macs For You!

The night was ruined because Derrick Rose missed both free throws at the end, either one of which could have sent the fans away with a chance to redeem their tickets for free Big Macs. Absolutely nothing else about tonight's game against the New Orleans Hornets was worth remembering.

Okay, maybe that's not true, but you couldn't tell by the way some people left the United Center tonight. In any case, a 99-95 victory was what they had to settle for. They better be lucky they got it too because they almost had to leave with neither.

In the first quarter, it looked like it would be about as laughable as the meeting in New Orleans earlier this month, but then, the Hornets cracked down on defense and took advantage of Bulls turnovers, giving them a three-point halftime lead. The Bulls rebounded, but as the game reached its waning moments, the Hornets took a four-point lead and holding their hosts without a point for a good stretch. Finally, Derrick Rose decided enough was enough and helped spark a comeback that culminated with the game-winning shot which fell in thanks to a friendly roll.

If you're a fan of games that shouldn't be as close as they are, then this one was for you. Otherwise, you most likely got frustrated. Yes, the Hornets stopped Linsanity recently, but that didn't make this one any easier to watch. It's not like the Bulls to turn it over as much as they did or have trouble handling the ball. It still happened though. Tom Thibodeau clearly wasn't happy and I'm sure there was still some discussion going on afterward. Not gonna beat Miami playing the way they did tonight.

Plenty of highlights however. Rose stepped up not only in the clutch, but on the score sheet. He had 32 points and nine assists. Joakim Noah came out hot and with plenty of energy in the first quarter. Another double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds. Luol Deng decided he wanted some of that too, so he collected 14 points and 11 boards. Carlos Boozer shot 50 percent from the field and poured in 14 of his own.

Rip Hamilton returned to the starting lineup tonight and was somewhat limited, but he still showed how valuable he can be. Probably best to ease him back in rather than risk further injury against an inferior opponent. Maybe he'll get more playing time tomorrow night in San Antonio against the Spurs. And the Bulls as a whole better be more prepared or their hosts will walk all over them.

Midseason Report

We've finally arrived at the midway point of the season with All-Star festivities in Orlando to look forward to. Before we see two teams battling it out to see who can get the closest to 200 points without actually reaching that total, let's take a look at how your Chicago Bulls have fared so far with a condensed schedule.

As it stands, the Bulls have a 27-8 record good enough for tops in the Central Division and half a game behind Miami for the top spot in the East. So far, expectations have been met. Everyone knew they'd be battling it out with the Heat all season long and there has been no letdown in that department. In fact, the Bulls have led the Heat for most of the way, just not lately (which all depends on your definition of that word). It's hard to imagine they'll just concede the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, so don't do that. Every victory will be earned and every loss will be seen as just a setback to what has already been a spectacular season.

Compared to his first few years in the league, Derrick Rose has not been as healthy. Injuries to his toe and back have had some fans contemplate jumping from a bridge into the Chicago River, but only for a short period. Rose is as dominant as he was last year. Maybe his scoring and rebounding numbers are down a bit, but he continues to create opportunities for his teammates as any true floor general would. He also still has that drive to the basket and the ability to navigate through traffic with no regard for his own body that has made him so beloved in the city and throughout the league. No question the Bulls' championship hopes will be resting on him. He's learned from last year and he'll at least try to improve his postseason resume.

It takes at least a couple of dominant players to be a true contender in the NBA. This season, Luol Deng has been the perfect compliment to Rose. After years of being marketed as an All-Star, he's finally made it. Someone had to step up and help the reigning MVP when he was either down or unable to get it going. Deng was it. Any team who wouldn't want Deng is crazy. He's not flashy nor does he try to make SportsCenter's top 10 plays every night. Instead, he does all the right things and does them well. The worth ethic he brings to the table is admirable and perfect for Tom Thibodeau's system. I don't know how much longer he'll be in a Bulls uniform, but he has my ultimate respect regardless. I like to think he'll make another All-Star Game or two before his time is up.

Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer have also improved this year for their own reasons. Noah has turned into an automatic double-double and Boozer has been out on a successful mission to make fans forget about the somewhat less-than-desirable season he had a year ago. When he scores at the right times, it makes everyone's jobs easier. This frontcourt will continue to improve as we get closer to the playoffs.

John Paxson said in an interview recently that he'd have to give the season so far an incomplete grade since the team has never been 100 percent healthy. Rip Hamilton has been the main reason for that. He's shown what he can do when in rhythm with Rose, but I'll have to reserve further judgment on him until he comes back. The Bulls need him for the playoffs, so I can wait.

The bench has been nothing short of spectacular this year. Even in losses, they've shown to be more effective than the starters on those nights. I could run down what every player specifically has brought to the floor, but they didn't earn the nickname "Bench Mob" for individual talent. Everybody on that bench knows exactly what his role on the team is. That's how the best in the league work. Whenever somebody has gone down, the fill-in (most often Ronnie Brewer) has done an admirable job. Depth is the name of the game here. It's not something many teams in the league can boast and it's a big reason the Bulls are where they are in the standings. Other teams falter whenever a starter goes down, but not this team. Up top, down low, in the corner and everywhere in between, there's always someone there to do what they were brought in to do.

Tom Thibodeau lives and breathes basketball. There's really no better man to lead this team. He's been rewarded for his success this year by being named the Eastern Conference All-Star coach. While he's said he'll relax on defense for that one night, defense is what makes him flow. If it were up to him, he wouldn't even have assistant coaches. He doesn't need that much advice. He knows what he's doing. Everyone in that locker room knows he knows what he's doing. His message has been received by his players and they've bought into it. Often times, a coach will be tuned out if the roster doesn't care much for him, but the religion of Thibodeau has members who do their main work in the Berto Center, the United Center and 28 other arenas throughout the country. Make him a drill sergeant and I can almost guarantee the newest Army recruits would listen to him and listen good.

So where does it all go from here? With a whole 'nother half of the season to play, there's still so much more to learn about this team. Will they find the wind necessary to secure home-court advantage throughout at least the Eastern Conference playoffs or will the compressed schedule not allow enough rest to make that possible? When will Rip Hamilton be able to show off everything he's capable of? And the most obvious question: can they beat Miami in a seven-game series? All of these answers will come over the next few months and it promises to be quite a ride. I myself intend to get to at least one game at 1901 W. Madison before it all ends because I want to be part of the firsthand experience. Wouldn't you?

Hope to see you back here on Tuesday when I recap the first second-half game against the New Orleans Hornets. Until then, enjoy this break.

Noah. What More Can Be Said?

Since we're officially at the All-Star break, I know a midseason post is in order and I promise I'll get to that in the next couple of days, but right now, I want to talk a little bit about Joakim Noah in honor of his most recent accomplishment, that being his triple-double last night against Milwaukee.

With all the double-doubles Noah has achieved this season, it was only a matter of time before he got over the next hump. Some may not have believed it would happen, possibly myself included, but Noah proved those folks wrong last night. The final line of 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists was certainly cause for celebration. It was the first triple-double of his career and the first by a Bulls center since Artis Gilmore in 1977. When you put it in that context, it's a pretty special thing. The Bulls are not exactly known for a history of dominant centers. Tom Boerwinkle, Gilmore and Bill Cartwright are probably the three players that come closest to big guys who turned heads while in a Bulls uniform. Luc Longley played a pivotal role in the second three-peat, but he didn't exactly strike fear in the hearts of opposing players and fans. Nate Thurmond and Robert Parish were past their primes by the time they suited up in Chicago. That said, Noah has a chance to be very revered in Bulls history.

It's true that although the Bulls will be well represented in the All-Star Game on Sunday, Noah will not be among them. It could happen in a few years however. Just my theory. He brings that hard-working attitude and emotion the team needs every single night. Whatever you think of him, he helps make that well-oiled machine known as the Chicago Bulls work. It's still hard to believe just how far he's come since he was drafted.

Remember when everyone thought Bozo the Clown designed his suit the night of the '07 draft? Few took him seriously then or throughout most of his first two years. The faith I held in him from the beginning could probably be described as blind as I was still drinking the Kool-Aid from his days at Florida. I really had no business believing in him, but it's a good thing I did. Once he pulled off the steal and dunk in Game 6 of the '09 playoff series against the Celtics, the rest of the city fell in love with him. Now, everyone has to take him seriously and if the Bulls are to win the championship in the next few years, they'll need him.

Hope he enjoys his time off in the next few days. May he bring fantastic energy and emotion in whatever he chooses to do.

No Bull: Gasol Not Coming

I can't say there's 100 percent truth to the title of this post because the NBA is a very unpredictable world. However, I can say with high confidence that we won't be seeing Pau Gasol in a Bulls uniform anytime soon. Rumors have been floating around about Gasol's fate with the Lakers and several potential suitors, the Bulls being one of them. Kobe Bryant has come out and said that team management better make a decision soon.

Like it or not, the Bulls' front office is nothing short of confident with this current staff. Ever since the franchise has dug itself out of the dark days, there have always been rumors about them acquiring that one big star to immediately make them odds-on favorites for the championship. Kobe Bryant almost came in 2007, but that deal fell through. The Bulls were one candidate for LeBron before he announced he was taking his talents to South Beach. More recently, there have been rumors about Dwight Howard. Now we have Gasol?

Even if a big superstar was willing to come here, it wouldn't be thanks to Derrick Rose. He's made no secret that he's in no hurry to do any pleading on the team's behalf. That might be hurting Chicago's chances of being home to Howard or Gasol. It's not really important here.

What is important is that the front office spent the whole summer of 2010 putting together a team that finished with the best record in the NBA last year. Though he hasn't been a big benefit this year, Rip Hamilton has shown flashes of being able to help out that team chemistry. Foreman and Paxson are not going to upset what has been an almost perfect balance of whatever it is that makes the Bulls work. Before you order your custom Gasol Bulls jersey, just consider what I've said. Dream if you must, but don't expect the city to be turned upside down by this type of news. Just sit back and enjoy what we have now.

Net Loss

The game's not over yet, but I wanna get this in before I head off to the Wolves game tonight.

The Nets came out hot today and never looked back. Even when the Bulls did their best to get back within striking distance, it just wasn't enough.

This just happened to be one of those games where either nothing goes right for you or everything goes right for them. In this case, I think it was a combination of both. I'll skip all the great things the Nets did, but the Bulls' offense never looked to be in sync. The team also couldn't win battles for boards or loose balls. Turnovers didn't do them any favors either. A lot of second chances were given up. The starters were pulled early in the first quarter, a clear indicator that Tom Thibodeau wasn't happy. Strangely, the bench was very competent when they got their chance to shine. Still, Stacey King's flat tire that made him late for the game should have been a omen for things to come.

I can't offer a reasonable explanation for why this happened. They should have stomped all over this terrible team. Maybe it was the time of day. Maybe they didn't take New Jersey seriously. Whatever it is, they just gotta let it go. Come back for another matinee on President's Day against the scrappy Atlanta Hawks.

James (Not LeBron) Shows Even More Depth

The Boston Celtics came to the United Center tonight hoping to capitalize on their victory over the Bulls Sunday. It appeared they would for awhile, but their hosts said no to such a notion. 89-80 in favor of the Bulls was what the scoreboard showed at the end of the game, so the home team held onto the best record in the NBA.

What angle to take about this game? Could it be Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer each scoring 23 points? Joakim Noah's latest double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds? C.J. Watson continuing to fill Derrick Rose's shoes nicely with 11 points? 27 team assists? Those are all nice things worth exploring, but instead, I'll go with the newest Bull (even though he was already on the roster earlier in the year).

Mike James fits the definition of NBA journeyman. You can look up his career on your own time, but I'd rather elaborate on what he has going for him right now. Signing another contract with the Bulls a couple of days ago (likely as insurance for Rose), James finally saw some floor time tonight. No bench player on either team was more efficient. You could make an argument for Chris Wilcox of Boston, but only if you're biased towards players who can finish alley-oops. James finished with eight points and four assists, really coming alive in the fourth quarter. He only had two field goals, but the shots he took were mostly ones an average point guard can knock down. What impressed me more were two smooth passes to set up Carlos Boozer layups. One was directly to Boozer himself, the other he passed to a teammate (I forget who specifically) who then passed it promptly to Boozer for the easy deuce. It was Luol Deng's three in the final minute that clinched the contest, but James earns high marks from me tonight.

I know this was only the first game he played in since the Bulls brought him back, but early results dictate to me that if I'm Gar Foreman or John Paxson, I sign James for the rest of the season. Yes, four point guards for a team that's completely healthy may seem like a lot, but depth is what makes this team work. Other teams play poorly when a big player for them misses even one game, but the Bulls are the best team in the NBA for a reason. Rip Hamilton missing a bunch of games? There's Ronnie Brewer. Derrick's toe or back acting up? Here comes C.J. Watson or John Lucas III. I could go on, but you can never have too many backup plans in the NBA, especially when you're a team in the Bulls' position.

Everyone in the East wants to take down Miami come playoff time and the Bulls are the team best equipped to do it. Will the bench be able to play consistently against LeBron, D-Wade and company for an entire seven-game series? That's a tough question to answer right now. It'll be up to the regular starters to carry the bulk of the load when that time is upon us. In the meantime, for the journey there, the bench has a job to do, which is to fulfill certain roles when anyone in the starting lineup is unable to. It'll be exciting to watch.

Saturday will feature a matinee on the West Side with the New Jersey Nets. Another victory appears to be in order. But will Rose be back? We'll see.

Congrats, Luol and Get Well, Derrick

I realize I've been neglected my blog a bit lately, but as I've warned, my job has kind of prevented me from updating as much as I've liked. That said, I'd like to take these early moments in the Bulls-Celtics game to congratulate Luol Deng on his first All-Star selection.

Luol is the final holdover from the days in which the Bulls were just starting to become a postseason team again. And for good reason. Any fan could look at his career numbers and find those of nothing more than an above average player at best. If you've watched him throughout his career though, you know the intangibles he possesses make him a player 29 other NBA teams would love to have. His smart and aggressive play with the ball as well as his ability to create opportunities for his teammates are just a wonder to watch. Bulls fans might tell you that he should have been an All-Star sooner in his career.

He was billed just that as early as the year the Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals against Detroit in '07. Injuries and sub-par play may have delayed that, but now, he's not only embraced his role as part of the glue that holds the core of this team together. Without question, he's playing the best basketball of his career right now. That's clearly reflected in the trip to Orlando he's earned. Once again, way to go, Luol! Hope there's more to come.

While I'm at it, I might as well talk about Derrick Rose's latest injury concerns, this time with his back. As I've said already, I'm watching the Bulls-Celtics match-up while writing this. Rose is sitting on the bench with back spasms and he won't play for the second straight game. This injury apparently goes back to his senior year of high school and just now, it's starting to reemerge, at least to the point where he can't step out on the court. And it's gotten serious enough that he's going to see a back specialist tomorrow.

I'm not questioning the Bulls' depth or stating that the loss of Rose for the time being will hurt their playoff position. I'm wondering about Rose himself. He's never been more banged up than he has this season. I realize that injuries are a part of sports, but this newest trend is something to think about. We just need to pray that this is a minor nuisance and the other Bulls All-Star won't miss any significant time. Otherwise, well, I'd rather not think about what could happen. Pretty soon, people will start placing bets on what Rose will injure next. I don't want it to come to that. No one does. We need him for not just this year, but also the next few. A flash-in-the-pan MVP? Please. That's for baseball. If we have a future Hall of Famer on our hands, let's see it happen.

As I end this, the Bulls trail the Celtics 28-23 after one quarter. I'll watch what I can before work and until then, will kindly ask Jeff Van Gundy to shut up.

I'm Carlos Boozer and I Still Live With My Mom

Also, Derrick Rose's favorite movie's The Notebook, Joakim Noah's a bad dancer, etc. If you still don't understand what I'm getting at, give yourself 40 lashes, then look up recently added Will Ferrell videos on YouTube.

Now that I have that out of the way, the Bulls, as expected, demolished the New Orleans Hornets on '80s Night 90-67. That 67 came very close to a Hornets franchise low, showing further the damage left by the departure of Chris Paul. But this isn't a Hornets blog, so I'll cut my opinions on them to that.

Derrick Rose played, but continued to be limited by back spasms, scoring only six points. Normally when that happens, it doesn't translate into success for the Bulls. Didn't matter tonight though. A lot of players picked up the slack. Most notable in that department was mama's boy Carlos Boozer and his 18 points, which led all scorers. Taj Gibson had 14 points off the bench. Maybe this is a lately stated sentiment, but I think Gibson is fully recovered from his injury. Joakim Noah had yet another double-double, this to the tune of 13 points and 10 rebounds. There was also Kyle Korver with 12.

As this season has gone on, at least one of two things have become apparent. One is the Bulls really know how to beat up on the bottom feeders of the league. The other is said bottom feeders are really, really bad. Whether it's because of their overall talent or the effect of an increasingly criticized compressed season or any other reason, the Bulls are truly among the NBA's elite. You have the pound the bad teams and do well against the good teams to be considered in that class. The Bulls have done both.

Tomorrow, the Bulls get another terrible team, the worst team in the league in fact, in MJ's Charlotte Bobcats. Should be a snoozer, but an entertaining snoozer if you follow Chicago's team.

Bogans Can't Help Himself

Was the Chicago media ready to hear the lamenting of former Bull and current Net Keith Bogans prior to last night's game? I can't say I know the answer to that question, but regardless, Bogans let it be known that he's still not happy about being let go by the Bulls shortly after the team opened training camp. Frankly, I think his comments were better left unsaid because it gives me and local media members something to talk about and not necessarily pleasant things.

Bogans did start every game for the Bulls last season and there's no questioning that he was a vital part of their run to the best record in the NBA. But everyone, except him apparently, knew that there was serious need of an upgrade at the shooting guard position. I've made this opinion known already on here, but I never understood why he was in the starting lineup in the first place last season. There are certain intangibles he possessed that made him worthy in the eyes of Tom Thibodeau, but more often than not, those didn't show on the stats sheet whereas Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver usually did.

Also, did Bogans really think his playing time was going to be unaffected by the signing of Rip Hamilton? Even the average common NBA fan recognizes Hamilton as the starting two-guard of the 2004 world champion Detroit Pistons. Fewer know much about Bogans. That should give you an idea of the impact Hamilton has had on this league. He might not be a Hall of Famer, but there's no denying his value. He may be hurt right now, but come the postseason, us in the Windy City will realize how capable he is of performing in the clutch, something Bogans could never live up to. How often did you see him on the floor at the end of the Miami games in last year's playoffs? Yeah, I thought so.

Simply put, Bogans' days with the team were numbered as soon as Hamilton dotted the i's and crossed the t's on his contract. No need to act bitter about it. That's the NBA and that's professional sports. If you can't accept that, either get out or at least keep quiet about it.

The Bulls continue their road trip by feasting on the cupcakes of the New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats the next two games. If you're a sucker for the types of games likely coming, you should be looking forward to them.

What a Rip

After pushing it to the best of his abilities, Rip Hamilton has been shut down until his groin heals completely. Tom Thibodeau put his foot down and said enough was enough. He's been sick of having to sit his starting two-guard seemingly every other game (not literally of course).

I honestly can't blame him. With the playoffs still a long way off, there's no need to let your free-agent acquisition do further damage in what in hindsight could be described as meaningless regular season games.

Then of course, you have to wonder what this means for Hamilton as a Bull. He's over 30, has several miles on his odometer and health is starting to become an issue for him. It wasn't thought of as much before, but now, it's coming into the limelight. I'm just concerned that it could keep him out long enough to have an adverse effect on the Bulls. They still hold the best record in the Eastern Conference, but Miami is closing in. Not only that, but the Pacers have been making noise in the division. They're not far behind either. So far, the Bulls have responded to injuries well, but a few losses lately have made them a bit more vulnerable. Get well soon, Rip. Chicago needs you.

In the meantime, they need to shake off last night's defeat in Philadelphia and start a new streak at Madison Square Garden tonight. The Knicks have struggled so far, but you never know when they could right the ship. Establish the tempo early and everything will be good.