Oh Bother

Derrick Rose's grandmother gave him the nickname "Pooh" when he was little, so the title of this post is appropriate under the circumstances.  It's been roughly 24 hours since we were all subjected to one of the darkest images in Bulls history:  one that ranks up there with Jordan's retirement(s) and Hue Hollins' phantom foul call.  Rose felt a pain in his knee during midflight of a drive and everyone immediately feared the worst.  Even watching on TV, one could recognize the air had been sucked out of the United Center.  Just a few hours later, those worries came true with the news that Rose had torn his ACL and will miss the rest of the playoffs, the Olympics and most likely the start of next season.

I'm not going to point fingers here, like some people are at Tom Thibodeau for leaving in his star in the closing moments of a game that appeared to be decided.  Strictly for the reasons of getting back in sync and keeping the pressure on Philadelphia for the next game, I agree with his decision.  Unless it's blatently obvious, I don't believe pointing fingers at one particular person for a disaster is a good idea.  I really think people do it just to feel better about the situation and they need somebody to blame because it's easy to do so.  They won't admit one thing, so they turn to another.  Regarding this situation, those making Thibodeau a scapegoat need to shut their mouths.  I've already said why, but I'll add that the 76ers were making a run.  You want this series over in four or five games and you don't want to set them up in a position to steal Game 2 on your home court.  This could have happened to anyone at anytime.  It just happened to occur under Thibodeau's watch at the worst possible time.  No way to predict these things.

When it comes to watching sports in general, I tend to be an optimist, the half-full side of the glass analogy.  It's what keeps me going as a fan.  However, even the most positive Bulls fans have to admit that once Rose's season died, the 2012 championship dreams died with it.  I've been saying throughout the year that the Bulls' ability to go far in the postseason depended on Rose's health.  That's gone now.  Without their leader and No. 1 player, this team has been downgraded from championship contender to highly competitive group in the East that can give fits to teams more equipped to go to the NBA Finals, but not get over the hump themselves.  They'll get past Philly and maybe even Boston (assuming they beat Atlanta), but it stops there.  Even with Rose in the lineup, playing Miami in a seven-game series was no gimme.  Many experts still had them falling to the "Hollywood as Hell" bunch.  With last year's MVP now out of the picture, beating the Heat has become impossible.  While C.J. Watson and John Lucas III are certainly capable of staying with those natives of South Beach during a 48-minute game, doing it over seven games is very tough.  They can have offensive spurts, but they lack the arsenal to do that consistently, a very valuable quality in Rose that has made this team tough to beat.  If the Bulls are to beat Miami in the conference finals, a LOT of things will need to bounce their way.  I just don't see it.  Like many of you, I was hoping to spend a nice hot morning in Grant Park this June with a large group of my Bulls bretheren, but those plans appear to have been put on hold for the forseeable future.

We know what's likely to become of the '11-'12 Bulls.  The same can't be said for Rose however.  Recovery time from an ACL tear varies for everyone who suffers it, but it's no fewer than six months.  That means we'd be very lucky to see him ready for next year's Opening Night.  He should be at full strength by the All-Star break, but will it be too late for the Bulls then?  If they've built their roster around him and Luol Deng is recovering from wrist surgery at the same time, that means fewer victories over the first half of the season, which can mean the difference between home-court advantage come next April.  This team might not be at full strength for a championship run again until season after next.

What about Rose's future?  Is he ever going to regain his explosiveness that has helped make him so special?  Will he have to reinvent his game in such a way that it alters his game significantly?  I get flashes of Gale Sayers asking these questions.  He suffered a devastating knee injury in the prime of his career and while he came back in a positive way, he was never quite the same.  Of course, sports medicine has evolved a lot in 45 years and Sayers was a football player, but I can't help but be reminded of that story.  Like everyone else who bleeds red, white and black, I hope Rose can at least approach what he has been up to this point in his young career.  If that explosiveness is no longer there or as effective, he needs to find another way to stay a star in this league. 

It's just not fair.  Rose was supposed to fit the role of a basketball icon remembered for generations.  He's supposed to retire having led the Bulls to a title or two and taken the NBA by storm.  His No. 1 needs to be raised to the United Center rafters before eventually being enshrined in Springfield.  Imagine if all of that potential was derailed because of one play, one move, one moment.  It can't happen.  Simply can't.  But as my buddy Lucas Mitzel told me after former North Central football star Shaun Wild was murdered this past February, life isn't fair and we have to play the cards we're dealt.

Nothing we can do now except watch the rest of the season play out.  I made a promise to post after every playoff game and I intend to keep it.  Besides, you never know when or if a lucky bounce will come.  It's happened in the NBA before.  It can happen again.

Looking at the Positive

Before I begin, let me just say that as of this writing, Derrick Rose is heading off for an MRI.  Just how serious his injury is can't be known at this time, but I pray there's nothing too wrong with him.

In Game 1 of this conference quarterfinal against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Bulls came out running.  They allowed a few runs here and there, but aside from that and Rose's injury, everything went smoothly in a 103-91 victory.  15 more of those until a championship celebration.

Four of the five starters scored in double figures, led by Rose's game-high 23 points.  He finished a board and a dime short of a triple-double, so if he is indeed out for an extended period of time, he'll at least have one memorable performance from these playoffs under his belt.  Rip Hamilton played just like the experienced postseason player he is, making all but one shot for 19.  Luol Deng had 17 and Joakim Noah finished with 12.  Those two did just what was expected of them.  Kyle Korver's 11 points off the bench were a nice asset, but what about his defense?  He was all over the Sixers offense like it was his final game.  With or without Rose, he'll be key if the Bulls are to go far in the playoffs.  You may recall last year, he disappeared after the Indiana series.  A lot of what he does won't show up in a box score.  Unlike what some people think, he's not strictly a shooter.  Especially now, that defense and doing the little things help make up his game.

The 76ers wanted the Bulls and they got 'em.  I wonder if Evan Turner is having second thoughts about his comments regarding that yet.  In any case, regardless of who Philadelphia's playing, they won't be long for this series.  Like the Bulls against LeBron's Cavaliers two years ago, they're out to get just a win out of this.  I'll be surprised if a second trip to the Wells Fargo Center is required in this series.  It might be tougher to get a sweep right now, but I'm not worried about whether the Bulls will make it to the next round.  They're just as lethal without their reigning MVP.  Even against Miami, but that's for a future post.

Game 2 will take place Tuesday at the United Center.  By then, we'll know Rose's fate.  Whatever it is, keep up the intensity and crisp teamwork demonstrated today so we can head East with a 2-0 lead.

Pacing for Victory

Since my last post, the Bulls wrapped up the top seed in the East thanks to Miami's recent loss to Boston.  So these last two games are more about getting people in sync than fighting for playoff positioning.  The Indiana Pacers have been a worthy opponent this year, but despite the game never being blown open to epic proportions, I felt confident about things from the opening tip.  The Bulls controlled the tempo early and never looked back, winning 92-87 in their final road contest of the regular season.

Derrick Rose played only 26 1/2 minutes tonight and didn't fare too well from the field, shooting 3-of-11, but made all four free-throw attempts to finish with 10 points.  He also led everyone with seven assists, showing he's at least finding opportunities for others again.  Tonight was a good night for the often streaky Kyle Korver, who led the Bulls with 20 points and going 4-for-6 from downtown.  Carlos Boozer had a good shooting performance of 8-for-10, scoring 16.  Sticking with a theme of nice performances from the big guys, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson respectively had 14 and 10.

This is what the Bulls are going to have to do all playoffs long:  get out to a controlling rhythm early so that the hill for their opponents to climb will be a steep one.  I'd like to see a lot of what I saw tonight in the team sense.  Yes, there'll be times when it appears the other team is launching some sort of comeback, but don't make it easy.  Any team can get out to a nine-point lead at any given time, but the dynamics of such a thing can be different.  If you have that lead and look vulnerable, the momentum can shift to the other side, which is all that would be needed to complete a comeback.  If you play strongly under those circumstances however, you'll keep the momentum for yourself and that mean the difference between winning and going home as the league likes to declare come the postseason.  Nobody is going to roll over for the Bulls, especially away from the United Center.  They'll be foes, not foils.  Everyone wants an upset and everyone wants to be the team to pull it off.  Therefore, control is everything in the playoffs and if the Bulls don't possess it, they'll be going home without a ring.

The regular season wraps up tomorrow at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom I hope continue to make leaps and bounds with Kyrie Irving in the future.  Even so, let's send them into the offseason with one more bad taste in their mouths.  Hey, a division rival has to do that, right?

64 Down, 2 to Go

Even Dirk Nowitzki can't believe Rip Hamilton's latest emergence as the player the Bulls thought he would be.  Feel free to insert your own caption on the above picture to make it more humorous.

With that out of the way, I think with two games left in the regular season, a new post is in order, especially since I haven't updated since Wednesday, the Blackhawks aren't on yet and I gotta be somewhat productive with my day off.

The biggest story at the moment is that the Bulls' magic number to clinch the top seed in the East is 1.  Even those at ESPN, which stands to try and get America on Miami's side, has conceded that the Bulls would have to lose out and the Heat lose out for the top of the standings to change.  The regular season ends with a back-to-back slate against Indiana and Cleveland.  The Pacers might pose a challenge, but the Cavs are more of a gimme, so I don't see the Bulls dropping both contests.

Life is pretty good right now if you're a fan of this team.  Rip Hamilton is finally healthy and playing up to his potential.  He's heating up at the right time with the playoffs looming.  How long this hot streak will keep up is anyone's guess, but the rest of the year would be all right by me.  Everybody else continues to play his part in order to keep this group at the head of the pack.

Now, I said life was pretty good, not great.  The reason is Derrick Rose.  Though he played in the win against Dallas on Saturday, he wasn't the dominator he's become known for.  That has to change if the Bulls are to go far in the playoffs, much less win the NBA title.  Unfortunately, this injury-plagued season hasn't been kind to him.  There's nothing he wants more than to lead this club during the postseason.  He most certainly will do that because that's when the real season begins.  This year however, he's had to go to most of us consider the more practical option of listening to his body.  That means not risking further injury by sitting out games that on paper don't look to be so big.  As a Bulls fan, you pray that somewhere in that banged-up 23-year-old body is last year's MVP who defies all logic and reason with everything he does on the court.  Honestly, it seems like the last time he did something that was replayed on SportsCenter was a year ago.  While clearly not the case, he needs to be amazing or it'll be another exit in the conference finals or sooner.

Of course, having another true scoring option would help.  As implied already, Rip Hamilton has been the closest to that lately.  At the same time, Hamilton has never been one you build your offense around; part of a well-rounded offense, but not the centerpiece.  Nobody stood out on the '04 Pistons championship team he was on, but the Finals MVP had to go to somebody and it was Chauncey Billups.  Still, they wouldn't have won it all if Hamilton didn't perform the tasks expected of a great shooting guard in this league.  The question now is whether that postseason experience will help Rose and the rest of his team reach the top.  Step one is to get past Miami.  After that, top the Western champion (Thunder, Spurs, Lakers, whoever comes out).  Finally, celebrate with your fans in Grant Park.

I'll post after Wednesday's game and hopefully be able to talk about a regular-season conference championship.  Usually, I've avoided posting on nights I've worked, but I'll tell you right now that I plan to post after every playoff game whether or not I'm at the Tribune Tower that night.  Some posts might have to wait until the next day, but they'll get on here.  That's all for tonight and go Hawks!

Running It Up and Leaving No Doubt

The real Bulls didn't show up when I was at the United Center on Monday. They did tonight however in Charlotte against the NBA-worst Bobcats. With this team struggling lately and Miami looming tomorow, some sort of a boost was needed. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng sat out again, but their services weren't required as Michael Jordan's Bobcats continued their slide into oblivion by losing 100-68.

Neil Funk said in tonight's postgame that Rip Hamilton is officially at 100 percent and the last few games have shown why. In this game, he led all scorers with 22 points and looked a lot like the player he was in Detroit. Let's hope we're finally getting the type of player advertised in him when he arrived in Chicago and this isn't just a string of a few good games. John Lucas III scored 12 points off the bench, so did starter Joakim Noah, who didn't have his patented double-double tonight. Two players did come close though. Omer Asik and Taj Gibson dominated close to the hoop, converting a few slams and nine points each with respective rebounding totals of 15 and 12. And while Carlos Boozer continues to be on pace for his worst scoring season since his rookie year, he chipped in 10 tonight. Personally, I think he's doing all right, but probably because he's started every game, playing two more than he did all last season.

I hope the Bulls learned some valuable lessons from these past few games, which I will now run off. You can't afford to play down to your level of competition when you're trying to secure the top seed in your conference and a talented bunch like Miami is lurking closely behind. When you play the Detroits, Washingtons and Charlottes of the world, you gotta pound and pound away until nothing besides a miracle run in the final few minutes will allow them to come back. Biggest of all, you need to send a message to each and every team in the league that you're trying to win a championship and won't roll over for anybody, with or without your reigning MVP and/or other All-Star.

You know they'll be ready to play Miami at American Airlines Arena tomorrow night. Who knows if Derrick Rose will be able to try and get redemption for his failure to win it there for the Bulls last January. Regardless, emotions will run high and a nationwide TV audience is sure to be entertained. Most important, let the Heat know the top seed is yours and they're not taking it away from you. It'll be tough, but that's what makes it fun to watch.

Guess I'm Bad Luck

That's the view from my seat at tonight's game against the Washington Wizards. In what will probably be the only time I get to see our beloved in person this year, things didn't quite go as planned. It was Benny's Birthday Bash and some furry friends from Minnesota, San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Denver were on hand to help celebrate (you should have seen their antics on the concourse before the game; whether they were entertaining or scary is purely one's opinion). You'd think having the backing of mascots of two NBA Finals contenders would rub off on the Bulls, but it looks like that of the last-place Timberwolves did so instead. Final: Wizards 87, Bulls 84.

The fact that the Wizards had already beaten the Thunder and Lakers this year should have been reason enough not to overlook this team. It was in the back of my mind. Then, while shopping in the Bull Market beforehand, a graphic appeared on TV saying Derrick Rose and Luol Deng would be out. Rose wasn't even on the bench tonight. The Bulls really could have used both. Maybe they would have made better decisions and kept pace on defense. More on that in a few seconds.

Rip Hamilton had a game-high 22 points, definitely an encouraging sign that he'll be ready for the playoffs. Wizards center Kevin Seraphin (I know, who?) was just below him with 21. C.J. Watson and Carlos Boozer had good nights as well, scoring 17 and 16 points respectively. Watson especially stood out as he made all but one of the Bulls' four three-pointers. Have to love the way he's been playing lately. Boozer grabbed 13 boards for a double-double, something Joakim Noah failed to record, but he had 11 rebounds and five blocks anyway.

So why did the Bulls lose tonight? Well, there are a few things you could look at. How about the 17 turnovers leading to 27 Washington points? Maybe being outscored 20-2 on the fast break? Or being dominated in points in the paint? For a team that prides itself on defense, and I know I've used that term on here before, these aren't stats and facts that mark the sign of a contender. As you can see by all that, the transition D was terrible. There's no way they should be giving up two-handed jams on the break with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but that's exactly what happened.

The shot selection also seemed questionable tonight. It didn't help that they were cold all night, but these guys have played together long enough, even Hamilton to some extent, to know who can score from any given distance. That shouldn't happen against an inferior club like the Wizards. Saying the absences of Rose and Deng were key is true, but also an excuse. They've beaten better teams without those two in the lineup. The opportunities were there, but they didn't convert. They should have. It's not only luck that's involved. Simply put, they need to play up to their potential every night when trying to lock up the top seed in the East. In that department, it didn't help that Miami beat New Jersey tonight, so the lead shrinks to 2 1/2 games.

Just put tonight behind and get back at it Wednesday at Charlotte. I'll close by saying that the White Sox were 2-3 in games I went to in 2005 and the Blackhawks lost the one game I was at in 2010. My point? Maybe it's a good omen I was at a loss tonight and this was most likely the only game I'll get to at the United Center this season. You know what those two teams went on to do. We'll see how this year turns out.

Get Well Soon, Derrick (Again. Please)

The good news: the Bulls indeed got their revenge against the Knicks by beating them at home last night. Rip Hamilton easily had his best game of the season by scoring 20 points.

The bad news: they did it without Derrick Rose, whose comeback lasted all of one game. This time, it's his ankle bothering him.

The worse news: Rose is a game-time decision for tomorrow's game against the Miami Heat. And how many game-time decisions this year have actually resulted in him playing?

It's gotten to a point now where you have to question just how reliable Rose will be health-wise for the rest of the season. The compressed schedule is probably playing a factor here as he's never gone through a season as tumultuous as this one. A lot of what's come into play here is mostly out of his control, so nobody's pointing fingers here.

As the Bulls have proven time and again this year, they can get by without him in the regular season. Heck, they've even beaten Miami with him nursing injuries, so there's not as much concern of his potential absence this time around, especially with the game being played in Chicago.

However, that time is going to come to an end when the playoffs roll around. That's why as we begin to count on our hands the number of games remaining, we have to hope the new father-to-be is going to make a bit more of a push to come back sooner. With Rip Hamilton finally healthy (hopefully for good), that's going to be critical. Those two need to be in sync if the Bulls are to succeed in the conference finals. Of course, it didn't help that Tom Thibodeau didn't play Hamilton down the stretch of Sunday's loss, but that's for another post.

This upcoming contest with the Heat really gets you thinking about chemistry. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have proven they can find each other on the floor (though LeBron's closing skills are still questionable). Rose is the only real superstar the Bulls have and with Hamilton as his fellow starting guard, that's the closest he can get to a star helping him out and no, Luol Deng is not the answer. That's why Hamilton was brought here, but we're still waiting to see the fullness of his game. To be fair, Wade has had his own health problems this year, but at least he's now had a couple of years with James under his belt. Rose and Hamilton have barely had any time together and don't think that's not concerning. They need to gel and the only way that can happen is if Rose plays. If he can't go tomorrow, let him play the final regular-season games after that just to tune up for the postseason.

Yes Derrick, you have a couple of years worth of a window of opportunity, but wouldn't you rather exorcise last season's demons sooner than later? I know you want to play and are aware that you can't risk further injury before the playoffs start. But think of your team and their fans. We need you in game shape because that's the only way a championship will be celebrated in Chicago. Choose everything wisely from here on out if that's what's best for everybody.

This One Hurts

Bulls fans woke up this morning with a ready Derrick Rose in their Easter baskets. Not totally in rhythm, but Rose nonetheless. Still, that trait helped contribute to a 100-99 overtime loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

At the start, the Bulls didn't really deserve this one as they were getting blown out. They brought it to within eight at the half and took a lead late in the third quarter. With a close contest winding down, all they had to do was protect the lead. But Rose and Luol Deng showed shades of the 2008 Memphis Tigers, a team Rose knows all too well, by missing four straight free throws at the end of regulation. That prompted Carmelo Anthony to hit a three that sent it to overtime. During the extra session, the Bulls found another lead, but the defense failed on the Knicks' final possession, getting outrebounded and outhustled. Several times, they had a chance to take the ball back and didn't. Again, Anthony made them pay by knocking down a three, which proved to be the game-winner after Rose missed the final shot. It sent the Garden patrons, Ben and Jerry Stiller among them, into a frenzy.

All this loss does is magnify a problem the Bulls have had going back to last season. Not so much against lesser opponents, but more so in marquee match-ups such as this. Being unable to put away Miami in Games 4 and 5 of last year's conference finals when they had a chance sent them home. Just this year, Rose missed a couple of chances to send Miami to a loss on its home floor. On the flip side, this was Rose's first game in weeks, so a little bit of slack has to be cut here. What about Deng though? He's supposed to be No. 2 on a team that doesn't really have a second-tier scorer. Yes, his wrist is not completely healthy right now, but at least he's been playing. They had a chance to steal a game they shouldn't have come back in and gave it right back. Now, Anthony's clutch play will be the top story on SportsCenter tonight after the Masters recap. The ability to close has to improve against teams superior to the Bucks and Raptors of the world or the Bulls will be watching the Finals on ABC again this year.

Were it not for Rose however, they might not have had a chance. He scored 29 points, far from the 13 Deng and Carlos Boozer each had. More proof of his value to the team, even if it has the best record in the NBA. On the other hand, his eight turnovers led everybody and that didn't do his team any favors in regard to the final score. Taj Gibson poured in 11 points and Joakim Noah reached 10.

I'll try not to let this dampen my Easter spirit when I visit my relatives later. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Bulls will play these very same New York Knicks. It'll be in Chicago this time. When the Pacers won there earlier in the year, Rose stated he wasn't happy with the celebration they had. Next time around, the Bulls creamed them. If today's postgame festivities were no different, he'll have a similar plan in 48 hours. No matter that the Knicks celebrated with their own fans. It felt like they just won Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Rose and the rest of the team will try not to let it happen again. They've lost three of four now, so they need to get it back together at some point.

I'll close by announcing I'll be making the journey to the United Center next Monday when the Bulls take on the Washington Wizards. No idea what I'll be doing for that post, but since it's the only game I'm likely to get to this year, I'll try and make it a special one. Happy Easter to you and yours.

Got It Back Together

The Boston Celtics had a chance to give the Bulls their third straight loss. They almost succeeded. The Bulls looked as down and out in the first half as they did in most of the previous two contests. Trailing at the break, Tom Thibodeau clearly lit a fire under his team because the real Bulls finally came out to play when people were still returning to their seats. A 29-17 third quarter paved the way for a crucial 93-86 win. It was close right down to the end, but the home team weathered the storm and never lost its composure. Sorry Boston, but this team is on a mission to keep the best record in the league.

Four Bulls, all of them starters, reached double digits in scoring. Sadly, Derrick Rose was not one of them as he missed another game (please come back on Easter). No matter. Luol Deng led all players with 26 points. Joakim Noah finished one rebound shy of a double-double, scoring 17. Despite poor shooting nights, C.J. Watson and Carlos Boozer had respective outputs of 15 and 12 points. Rip Hamilton, slowly finding his rhythm again, had nine.

As mentioned already, the Bulls were not pretty in the first 24 minutes. They turned the ball over, were outhustled on the boards and just didn't shoot well. They looked like the true version of the 2009 team that took this same core of Celtics sans an injured Kevin Garnett to the limit of their first-round playoff series. A third straight loss looked very possible. Fortunately, they found themselves before it was too late. Both teams were sloppy with the ball however. Games like that are frustrating for both sides. Shooting 41 percent isn't classified as a pretty performance either. Still, any win that increases your chance for home court throughout the playoffs is acceptable no matter how it comes. We all know the famous Nike slogan, so I'll leave it at that.

Madison Square Garden is the destination for an Easter Sunday date for the Bulls. It'll happen at noon on ABC. Hopefully, a better showing than last Sunday is in order. Until then, hope the Bunny, real or imagined, leaves you some sweet goodies for that morning.

Let's Get It Back Together

Why the long face, Carlos? You're the only Bull to play in every game this season and surprisingly, you haven't had any health issues this year. Shouldn't you be happy?

Oh right. Basketball is a team sport and most of the rest of your fellow starters aren't in the same boat as you as far as playing consistently. Not to mention you're on a team that despite having the best record in the NBA, just lost consecutive regular-season games for the first time since last February. I guess you have every right to feel the way you do right now.

Yes, times look tough for the Bulls right now. Being without Derrick Rose appears to have finally caught up to them. Rip Hamilton is back, but looked rusty against the Rockets. Luol Deng's wrist continues to draw attention for unwanted reasons. The Bench Mob has been logging more minutes than they should and that's starting to catch up with them too. Whether it's the toll of a compressed season or just bad timing, this is the first time the Bulls have looked vulnerable all year. Even the best teams go through adversity at one time or another, but it doesn't make the past couple of games any easier to take.

Help might be on the way though. Derrick Rose could return Thursday for the nationally televised game against the Celtics. Just today, he went through full contact in practice. But in case he can't go, the team plans to sign Mike James for the rest of the year. C.J. Watson and John Lucas III must be grateful for that. Give those guys more of a rest so they can be fresher come playoff time.

The Celtics game could pretty much represent the start of the home stretch for the regular season. Since the Bulls finally have a losing streak, it's time to see how they respond and it starts against a team that's had a better window for a title, but is still one of the better teams in the East. It's a perfect opponent for Rose to come back against. He's needed for match-ups like this or the Bulls are less than a title contender. The team's destined to win the division as there's no way the Pacers are catching them, but Rose is needed to wrap up the No. 1 seed in the East and the top record in the league. As we've seen recently, teams are hell bent on protecting their turf. When the best meet, the team with the crowd has been winning more often than not. The Bulls love the United Center and we as fans are there to back them up no matter what.

Pray for our MVP so that he returns. We want him. We need him. And we love him. Let's get the Bulls back to 100 percent so they can be the threat they've shown to be.

Not Their Day

This game was so bad I started this post before the fourth quarter was even half over. Brian Scalabrine entered early in the fourth quarter. Never a good sign. In a potential NBA Finals preview against the Oklahoma City Thunder that once again didn't see Derrick Rose or Rip Hamilton, it couldn't have gotten worse. The Bulls trailed by a respectable 10 at the half, but the third quarter saw them outscored 31-12, which should tell you all you need to know. Oh, and the final was 92-78.

Don't think this game was a reflection on things to come though. First off, this is only time these play each other during this regular season. Second, the Thunder had two superstars in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook show up to play and play well. The Bulls had an All-Star in Luol Deng who couldn't find his groove. Add it up and you get a blowout loss. Yes, the Bulls have beaten Miami without Rose while having to face LeBron and Wade. However, the stars on Oklahoma City didn't disappear when it came to putting their guests away. They played defense, passed the ball very well and converted on almost every opportunity they had. They also made plays that lesser NBA teams could only dream of making consistently, such as saving a loose ball from going out of bounds on defense while gaining a possession, leading to more chances at points. It didn't help the Bulls that they weren't the team with home-court advantage.

As has been demonstrated a few times already this year, the Bulls can only live without Derrick Rose for so long. Had he been able to go today, perhaps this would have turned out differently, but given how everybody else struggled, it might not have made a difference. Still, games like this only show how much he's needed if the Bulls are going to make a run at a title. Getting past Miami is the No. 1 priority right now, but should they accomplish that, a potential showdown with the Thunder won't be any easier. Having Rose as well as Hamilton would make it a much more competitive series.

Of course, that brings up an issue mentioned by Mike Tirico and Hubie Brown during today's broadcast. These injuries aren't hurting the Bulls much now, but they might come back to haunt them come playoff time. With Hamilton out a lot and Rose struggling to stay healthy, the chemistry on the supposed starting five could be affected. They'll need to suit up soon to make up for lost time. The Thunder meanwhile have had their starters healthy all year in addition to playing like a team with stars, making them an immediate title contender. The longer a team plays together, the more everyone knows the tendencies of the guys they're out there with. That's crucial as you get deeper into the postseason.

In the end, all you can do if you're a Bulls fan is just hope this is a blip on the radar en route to a championship. Remember, the Bulls lost in Seattle and Utah in the three years of their second three-peat. A lot of time between now and June to make the adjustments necessary to make sure this afternoon's debacle doesn't repeat itself.

No time for pity parties. The Bulls are playing again tomorrow night at the United Center against the Houston Rockets. Maybe Hamilton will finally suit up again. Please let it happen. I'm getting tired of these false starts and declarations.