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.