Leaving 2012 Behind

366 days is a long period to reflect on.  Yet somehow, people always take the time at the end of the calendar year to do it.  Not wanting to be left out, I've decided to reflect on what these past 12 months have brought our Bulls.

Many times in sports, a team's fortune takes a 180 between the days the ball drops in Times Square.  While I wouldn't say that describes the Bulls in 2012, we've had expectations take a bit of a dive.  In the beginning, the Bulls were going full steam ahead to win home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs.  They were able to do it with amazing depth and tough defense.  No Derrick Rose?  No Rip Hamilton?  No Luol Deng?  No problem.  The Bench Mob kept the team first in the conference to the end of the regular season.  While the reigning MVP and the other starters nursed various injuries to keep healthy for the upcoming playoff run, others held down the fort.  It was the beloved Bench Mob that kept things looking up.  The group of Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson, Taj Gibson, Omer Asik, Jimmy Butler and the beloved Brian Scalabrine made the price of admission to the United Center worth it more times than not.

Better yet, much of the country was getting behind this bunch.  They were going to return to the conference finals and maybe even knock off Miami this time.  It'd be tough, but this group could be very dangerous when it was on.  Once the playoffs began, everyone figured the first two rounds would just be appetizers to prepare for the inevitable rematch with the Heat that was sure to come after.  But my oh my, how things can quickly change.

The championship run ended before it could pick up any steam.  Derrick Rose, after a less-than-healthy regular season, tore his ACL at the end of the first playoff game with Philadelphia.  The air and excitement were sucked out of Chicago with a straw.  All anyone could think about was a lost opportunity and what would become of this hometown hero.  Then, when Joakim Noah badly sprained his ankle two games later, all bets were off.  That precious home-court advantage the Bulls had worked so hard for all year proved for naught as the 76ers bounced them in six games.

Realizing the Bench Mob didn't provide as much depth as previously though, Gar Forman and John Paxson let most of them go.  Gibson and Butler were the only to survive.  It might have helped if they paid Asik, who has become a prolific rebounding starter in Houston and is currently one of the best in the league.  Otherwise, none of the other former Bulls have really made the front office regret their decision.

As we await Rose's return, we're able to concentrate a little more on the new faces that make the current roster.  Kirk Hinrich has returned after a two-year absence and leads the team in assists, though his shooting leaves something to be desired.  Nate Robinson has a tendency to score and despite earlier shortcomings, Marco Belinelli has emerged as the outside threat he was expected to be when signed.  Some have called for him to permanently replace Hamilton in the starting lineup, but I'll save that debate for another day.

Several things are the same or better.  Deng continues to play at an All-Star level and the wrist issue has gone away.  Noah keeps grabbing rebounds and is an all-around improved player whom the Bulls would be in trouble without.  He's sure to be an All-Star this year.  Tom Thibodeau still goes all out whenever his team plays.  It doesn't always work favorably and he can be a bit stubborn, but there's no one else I'd rather have coaching this club.  And of course, people are still calling for Carlos Boozer to be amnestied.  That day will probably come later instead of sooner, so for now, we'll have to settle for the double-doubles that make him look better than he's actually worth.

Most amazing is that the Rose-less Bulls are in a dogfight for first place in the Central.  No one believes a championship is in the immediate future because frankly, it isn't.  Whenever Rose returns, he still won't be in 100 percent shape.  While he returns to his groove, the team won't be at an elite level.  They aren't now and that won't change with an immediate addition.  For now, the Bulls have to concentrate on clinching a good playoff spot.  When that's wrapped up, we'll see how far this group can go.

It's nice to leave 2012 in the distance because it means we can begin 2013 with renewed hope and optimism.  Maybe this will be the year the Bulls finally get that true second scoring option to compliment Rose.  Perhaps then, we'll have a team with a more legitimate chance at a title than ever before.  Until then,  Happy New Year and be safe tonight.  See you next year!

Win Comes, But Boards Don't

The Bulls were lucky to get a reprieve when Wednesday's game in Indiana was snowed out.  In the previous two games, both big losses, they were outrebounded.  More on that in a bit, but first, let's discuss the positive elements of last night's 87-77 victory over the lowly Washington Wizards.

Richard Hamilton returned to action for the first time in nearly a month, sending Marco Belinelli to the bench.  No matter.  The hot shooting guard led all scorers with 17 points.  Carlos Boozer achieved a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds while Joakim Noah was one point shy of his own, grabbing 11 rebounds.  Luol Deng, having benefited from the last game's postponement with his ankle, showed he's fine by dropping 11 points, though a 4-for-13 shooting night could have been better.  Kirk Hinrich had 10 points and seven assists while Hamilton put up a respectable nine points.

While the Bulls will accept any win, Tom Thibodeau will not accept his team getting beat on the boards, which happened last night for the third game in a row, this time to the tune of 56-49.  Emeka Okafor himself finished with 18 rebounds, which no doubt kept the game close.  Thibodeau said afterward he'll be adding more rebounding drills to the practice routine.  Definitely a good idea.  For a team that prides itself on hustle and defense, those elements have been a bit lacking since about the fourth quarter of the win in New York last week.  Yes, it's probably just a bad stretch in a long season, but Thibodeau doesn't want to make this a long-lasting problem.  You're in a jammed Central thanks in no small part to the loss of its biggest superstar and you want to stay as far ahead of the pack as possible until said superstar returns.  Not easy as there's a three-way tie for first as of this writing.  To pull ahead, the Bulls have to remember a simple philosophy:  get the ball and take away second chances.  When that happens, another blowout will come.

The Bulls will close out 2012 with a New Year's Eve matinee against the reeling Charlotte Bobcats, who are making a run at the record 26-game losing streak the Cavaliers from just two years ago.  Maybe this is just what the team needs to shake out of the doldrums.  I'm not sure if I'll recap it, but I'll definitely take a look back at the Bulls during the first full calendar year of this blog.  Hey, everyone else in the media seems to be doing these things.  Why not me too?

Bah, Humbug

I work in a 7-day-a-week business.  That means people even have to work in it on holidays.  I had to labor on Thanksgiving, but was fortunate to have today off.  Even so, I had co-workers making the trek to Tribune Tower to put out tomorrow's paper tonight.  They most likely brought everything they had to the table, which is more than I can say about the Bulls tonight.  It appeared they'd rather have been eating ham tonight than slowing down the Houston Rockets.

In one of the worst showings of the Tom Thibodeau era, the Bulls were run right out of the United Center, losing 120-97 and bringing their unbeaten home winning streak on Christmas to an end at seven.  It was an embarrassing performance on the NBA's biggest TV day of the year and former Bull Omer Asik was only too pleased to dish the worst blows out.  Continuing to show the front office they made a big mistake letting him walk, he delivered a crushing double-double of 20 points and 18 rebounds, of which five were on the offensive end.  That was just the beginning.  The Rockets' starting trio of James Harden, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin gave respective scoring performances of 26, 23 and 20.  Just for good measure, Marcus Morris, the remaining starter, poured in 10.  He was one of four Houston starters with at least five rebounds.  This team was properly prepared and had every intention of turning the contest into a blowout if the opportunity came.  Sadly, the Bulls were in too much of a giving spirit on this holiday.

The hapless Bulls were led in scoring by Nate Robinson, whose 27 points off the bench somehow provided a late spark that proved too difficult to overcome.  Marco Belinelli had the best scoring game by a starter with 15 points.  Luol Deng trailed just behind him with 14.  He sprained his ankle in the first quarter, but played through it for 36 minutes.  A healthier Deng might have given his team more of a chance, but it wasn't to be.  His status for tomorrow's game is questionable.  Even though a struggling offense was an issue, it would have had to be close to lights out to win tonight as the Rockets shot 56 percent.  But that doesn't excuse poor shooting nights from Carlos Boozer (3-for-11) and Kirk Hinrich (2-for-8, including 0-for-4 from beyond the arc).  They're supposed to be the leading veterans on this team.  Nights like tonight only prove detrimental to the rest of the roster.  It's discouraging and I don't wish to see them simultaneously stinking up the joint again, though that may be asking too much.

There's no better way to describe tonight's performance than the Bulls let the Rockets do whatever they wanted almost all night.  Houston controlled the tempo early and just wouldn't let up.  One thing we're learning about this team is they don't stick with opposing full-court offenses too well.  I was reminded of the loss to the Clippers that turned into a dunk contest between teammates.  The Bulls have to learn to adjust to these teams or more games like the one tonight will happen.  They're not pretty to watch and they're not fun.

Perhaps more concerning right now is this is the first time since Thibodeau took over as head coach that the Bulls have sustained back-to-back double-digit losses.  Granted, the first one came the night after grinding out a tough win against the Knicks in New York, but this will no doubt cause Thibodeau to take longer looks than usual at the film.  To get back on the right track, the Bulls will have to remind themselves that their strength lies within Thibodeau's philosophy of playing lockdown defense from start to finish.  It begins tomorrow on the road against the Indiana Pacers, who have no respect for this team.  They just moved into first place with tonight's loss and now, they'll want to build on that.  Look for some bad blood and pray Deng's ankle has healed enough for him to go.  The Bulls can still win if he can't, but their chances drop in that case.  Time to show them who's boss in the division.  Take the Bankers Life Fieldhouse crowd out of it early.

And of course, Merry Christmas to all!

Garden Rumble

If I had taken a time machine from 1993 to tonight and sat down to watch the Bulls-Knicks game, I never would have known the NBA has changed much over the years.  It was at Madison Square Garden (albeit reconfigured), a Bulls victory of 110-106 and the teams were going at each other's throats before it was all over.  The general sentiment afterward was that this rivalry was back in full force.  The fact that no blood was actually spilled is nothing short of a miracle.  All that was missing was a fight between Derek Harper and Jo Jo English.

Before I get into the gruesome details, let's recap some of the heroes for the Bulls tonight.  None was bigger than Luol Deng, who led the team with 29 points and 13 rebounds, hitting nearly half of his shots.  He's the focal point of the offense right now and he showed it tonight.  On a night the Bulls got off to a hot start and never let the Knicks back into it until there was too little time left for a complete comeback, a leader was needed and Deng filled the role.  Marco Belinelli played a career-high 45 minutes and made the most of it with 22 points, half of which came on an 11-of-12 night from the free throw line.  Something happened to Kirk Hinrich on his way to New York because he looked nothing like the player who's struggled for most of the year.  He scored 16 points and was 4-of-5 beyond the three-point line.  If you're looking for one player to epitomize how hot the Bulls were tonight, Hinrich's your guy.  Or if you choose, try Joakim Noah with another double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.  More on him in a bit.  Nate Robinson helped close it out thanks an 11-point game.  Terrific performances from many different guys.

As big a story it was that the Bulls appeared to hit everything and the Knicks struggled, it took a backseat to all that transpired in the fourth quarter.  It began when J.R. Smith fouled out with 26 points.  Tensions were already high with questionable officiating and a liberal number of technicals being called.  Carmelo Anthony (29 points) and Knicks coach Mike Woodson each got T'd up for the second time and earned early trips to the locker room.  The Knicks crowd let the officials know exactly how they felt and it wasn't pretty.  The boiling point came when Noah and Tyson Chandler ran into each other going after a Jason Kidd three that eventually counted.  Then, they got in each other's faces, causing the rest of the players on the floor to intervene.  Both were tossed for their actions and may face suspensions.  It won't be pretty when these guys are matched again.

By the time I started following the NBA at age 7, the prime of the Bulls-Knicks rivalry had mostly passed.  They were starting to have more intense games with Pat Riley's Heat than with the Bulls.  The physicality just wasn't as brutal as when Patrick Ewing's window to a title was realistically open.  But tonight, I got a good lesson in what it's like when the two teams genuinely despise each other.  This won't be forgotten anytime soon.  You just know everyone involved has already circled the Jan. 11 rematch on their calendars.  I'm likely to be working when it's going on, but I can still imagine the badder blood that's sure to come.  It'll be every man for himself.  As others have already said, this is a good thing for the NBA.  Everyone looked forward to this game when the league saw some of its very best days in the '90s.  When both teams are competitive, it can rival any match-up between the Celtics and Lakers under similar circumstances.  Those who watched nationally on NBA TV tonight got their time's worth.  Ratings are sure to be higher when the next game is broadcast on ESPN.  Bulls fans are typically trained to hate the Knicks.  Hope you brush up on your history between the two teams in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, the Bulls have a quick turnaround as they head to Atlanta to play the Hawks.  This holds significance in that a win would move the Bulls into third in the East.  The Hawks continue to be on their way up, though they may not have enough to get further than the conference finals.  No matter tomorrow night though.  Just concentrate on beating them and forget how good they are.  That's what hot teams like the Bulls do.  But you knew that already, right?

Jo Puts Pistols Away

I could talk about Joakim Noah's triple-double of 11 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists during last night's 100-89 win over the Boston Celtics, but two reasons tell me I won't.  First, I was working last night and thus couldn't watch much of the game.  Second and more importantly, I would just be recycling the post I made last week about how Noah's on his way to his first All-Star appearance.  It was in that very post I used the above picture minus the touch-up.  Nobody could have anticipated I'd be coming back to it for reasons we wish wouldn't exist.

You won't be seeing the celebration anymore.  After turning in his latest big performance, Noah told the media he's retired it for good in the wake of Friday's elementary school shooting in Connecticut.  He said he received a few comments on social media regarding his schtick which contributed to his decision.  It probably wasn't the ultimate reason it happened, but at least Noah did something about the pistols before it turned into major backlash in the immediate aftermath of this tragedy.

Honestly, I only began to notice Noah's routine when I attended the win over Orlando last month and my friend John brought it up.  I probably would have caught on eventually as Comcast SportsNet has even run promos with the pose.  Like many Bulls fans, I'm sorry to see it go, but am perfectly understanding of the reasons.  Way more often than we'd like this year alone, we have seen too many mass killings at the hands of people who use these weapons.  Continuing this celebration would not only be insensitive to the families of the victims, but given the mental states of many of those who pulled the trigger in these cases, you want to discourage anyone in similar situations from even considering these acts.

The violence in this country will always be a topic of debate.  Both sides are able to make convincing cases for why there is or isn't too much or whether or not certain images send the message that absolutely nothing is off limits.  What's not debatable is that young people's lives are ending far too prematurely because some of their fellow men don't hold the same regard for human life as everyone should.  It's a shame that Noah's act had to end like this.  We'd rather have seen it conclude on his own time.  Sometimes however, circumstances force your hand.  By taking it down a notch, Noah can restrict at least some of the violent messages people are exposed to.  You can guarantee he'll be doing more than he ever has to push his anti-violence agenda.  It's something we should all get behind because this way, we can prevent more tragedies like those in Newtown and Aurora.

The slightly calmer Noah will continue the season with the rest of his season Friday at Madison Square Garden to visit the hot New York Knicks.  Last time the Bulls were there was on Easter and they lost a heartbreaker thanks to a big three from Carmelo Anthony that was played over and over again on highlight shows everywhere.  They'll be ready to play as I'm sure the memory remains fresh in their minds.  And hey, as long as Noah looking for new ways to find enemies in opposing crowds, how about doing something to rile up Spike Lee?  That would be entertaining.

Sputtering Down South

After pulling out a win over the Nets Saturday, some might have finally been convinced the Bulls can stick with above-average teams in the NBA.  While that certainly may be the case, it wasn't shown Monday when they took on the Memphis Grizzlies in Tennessee.  To the tune of 80-71, the Bulls have now lost seven of eight when visiting the town Derrick Rose called home for a year.

It appeared things would run smoothly on this night as the club got hot in the first quarter and the Grizzlies shot poorly.  Then, Lionel Hollins sent in his bench and everything changed.  Led by the hot shooting of Wayne Ellington, who finished the night with 11 points, Memphis made all five three-point attempts in the first half.  Ellington knocked down three of those tonight.  Mike Conley Jr. shot 50 percent from the field and led all scorers with 17 points.  Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph, the best known members of the Grizzlies' roster, had respective point totals of 12 and 10.  Randolph achieved a double-double with 15 rebounds and Marc Gasol grabbed 11 boards.  It was an all-around effort that showed why this team is challenging San Antonio for first in the Southwest.

Don't let Carlos Boozer's 16-point, 13-rebound performance fool you.  Both of those numbers should have been much higher.  Tonight was the latest reason why some people can't see him amnestied soon enough.  While the Grizzlies' defense may have simply overwhelmed him, it was still very discouraging to see close shots not falling and rebounds he should have pounced on taken away.  He may be averaging close to a double-double per game, but those stats are often bloated.  You have to actually watch him play to know he's not worth his contract.  Of course, there's likely the thought in the back of his mind that he should improve immensely if he ever wants to make this kind of money again.  When you have the roster the Bulls do, you can't afford this liability.  Hoping Boozer plays up to his contract may be wishful thinking by now, but perhaps that time is coming.  Probably not, but we can still hope.

Marco Belinelli had 13 points, but shot just 4-of-12.  Luol Deng was worse, tallying just 11 on 4-of-17 shooting.  His point total matched that of Joakim Noah's.  The toughest shooting came from Kirk Hinrich, who scored just four points and missed all four attempts from beyond the arc.  I know he doesn't have the best range, but how much does he actually have left?  That's something to watch out for.

Surprisingly, the Bulls shot just 0.2 percent worse than the Grizzlies at 37.3.  Still, other than that being a season low, there were at least three reasons the problem was more glaring than that for the home team.  Memphis grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, seven of which came from Randolph.  Take those away and the Grizzlies have just one more than the Bulls as opposed to eight.

Strangely, the Bulls won the turnover battle 16-19.  You couldn't tell by watching though.  The Grizzlies smothered the Bulls with their defense, which was its own problem.  More glaring was that a lot of bad passes were made and trouble holding onto the ball was imminent.  Hollins has really emphasized defense with his team, so if you don't play smart, they'll make you pay.  The Bulls will have to remember that when the clubs meet again on January 19.  It's something to remember when you play teams with this style.

Finally, the bench was badly outplayed.  The Grizzlies have five substitutes come in while Tom Thibodeau called upon only three.  Consequently, the final score for the second unit was 31-16.  A lack of depth and injuries hurt in games like this.  When you're without Rip Hamilton, your offense can suffer.  It will be a relief to have him back in the lineup whenever that time comes.  In the meantime, the Bulls will have to make do with who they have.

It'll be a quick turnaround as the Bulls return home to play the Boston Celtics tomorrow night.  The game is at the United Center and the Celtics have their own problems right now.  A perfect opportunity to return to the win column.  Whether the offense shows up will be a question.  Just reach 80 points and you'll have a shot at winning.  It's practically Winning in the NBA 101.

Jo Sticks It to Philly, Luol Regains Groove

I've got a few friends who love nothing more than to stick it to Philadelphia sports teams whenever possible.  Most of the time, it has little do with the actual players.  It's the fans that rub people the wrong way.  Remember, these are the same folks that pelted Santa Claus with snowballs back in the '60s.  So it wasn't just the fact that the Bulls won 96-89 tonight at the Wells Fargo Center that satisfied some people.  More like who had the best game.

Joakim Noah doesn't have fond memories of Philly.  It's where his sprained ankle in last year's playoffs broke the final straw in the Bulls' backs.  The 76ers fans actually had the nerve to cheer this unfortunate event.  Other fan bases would applaud him as he left, but no, not in the City of "Brotherly Love".  They love seeing opposing players in pain.  Blood is the very reason the exist.  Due to all of this, Noah decided to lead the Bulls with 21 points and hit some big buckets that put the Sixers away.  Early in the game, he showed off his pistol routine to the expected boos of the Philly faithful.  Just one more city in a long list that will surely continue to grow as his career goes on.  Sorry, but these people asked for it.  You do something to anger Joakim Noah, he's likely to go Jordan on you.

Luol Deng had the game he needed after a disappointment last night.  It's rare for him to disappear in consecutive games and that trend continued tonight.  He registered a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.  He'll have games when he doesn't produce, hurting his team.  In the NBA, you need a short memory, especially if you're highly thought of.  Deng answered the call just as he was expected to.  So did Marco Belinelli and Nate Robinson, the makeshift starting backcourt that combined for 30 points.  Sadly, Carlos Boozer took on Deng's role from last night after coming up huge in said game.  He had just five points and three of those came from the free throw line.

The Bulls have continued to play hard and have left the last five games feeling satisfactory (at least most of their fans), even if one of them was a close defeat.  It's why this team currently finds itself ahead in the Central.  As long as Tom Thibodeau continues to have his guys properly prepared every night, they'll be in a good position once Derrick Rose returns.  Don't forget, Rip Hamilton and Kirk Hinrich haven't exactly been able to help much or at all, depending on who you look at.

After a couple of days rest, the rechristened Brooklyn Nets come to the United Center for the first time.  This is a team that doesn't mess around.  The Bulls will know that even before they take the floor.  Can they send Jay-Z's club away empty?  Let's watch and find out.

Dunked Out By Hot Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers were hot coming into tonight's game and let everyone know it.  They also made it known that they've owned the United Center in recent years.  Yes, the franchise that was once a punchline has evolved into one that makes fans of most other teams jealous, including the one here in Chicago.  Despite staying within striking distance all night, the Bulls simply got outplayed in a 94-89 loss, bringing the three-game winning streak to an end.

It's easy to be a Lakers fan in L.A., but Clippers fans have to be growing at a rapid pace due to their style of play.  I haven't seen so many dunks in a game since Space Jam.  There were enough that they could have filled out SportsCenter's Top 10 tonight.  While that didn't quite happen, it was still like watching a live-action version of NBA Jam.  The Lob City duo of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul combined for 40 points while Griffin and DeAndre Jordan each had 10 rebounds.  This team is young, athletic and very big.  If a window of opportunity for a title isn't opened this year, it will come in the foreseeable future.  They'll have to rely less on flash and more on simplicity if they are to ascend to the top of the NBA (I frankly don't believe Vinny Del Negro is the coach to make it happen), but I'm sure everyone in the organization is well aware of that.

Carlos Boozer often registers double-doubles, but they actually meant something tonight.  Without an impressive 24-point, 13 rebound performance, the Bulls would have been in much worse shape at the end of the game.  Alas, he kept them in the thick of things until the last flickering hope was snuffed out.  Can Boozer have more games like this?  I'd like to see more than just a bloated line every night.

Marco Belinelli continued to step up in Rip Hamilton's spot by scoring 18.  He hit four of his 10 three-point attempts, often sending the UC into a frenzy.  Joakim Noah appears to have cooled off from his recent tear, but he was still respectable with 10 points and 11 boards.  Taj Gibson made up for his Saturday ejection by totaling 10 of his own.  It was a disappointing night for Luol Deng, who had just eight points on 3-of-14 shooting.  When you're having a good season and Nate Robinson scores one more point than you, that's a disappointment.  Had he played up to his season average, this may have been a victory.

It could be argued that the Bulls had a better game tonight than their win over the Pistons.  That's simply because they stayed with a top West team throughout while they trailed plenty of times against a reeling Detroit club.  This may have been a loss, but I was very happy with the effort tonight.  Often times this year, they've had trouble when facing top teams.  Not tonight.  They were shades of the last two Bulls teams who could give balanced clubs fits even in defeat.  While this team may not be able to pull this off in every match-up like tonight, you have to at least give them a chance before the opening tip.  This game is an example of that.

Rather than dwell on what could been a win for a day, the Bulls head out to Philadelphia, where their season concluded last year.  The 76ers already lost to the Bulls once this year.  They'll want to protect their home court.  Time to see if our team can have some sort of revenge for having such a miserable time at the Wells Fargo Center last spring.

Pistol Jo

I rarely discuss my work life on here, but it has a bearing on this post.  Last night, I was given the task of creating a chart regarding Joakim Noah's career performance Friday in Detroit.  Consider the line he turned in:  30 points, 23 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks.  Never before in his six NBA seasons had he registered higher scoring or rebounding numbers.  According to basketball-reference.com, only five other players since the 1985-86 season (the earliest the box scores on that site go back) have posted those numbers in a single game.  The last to it was Kevin Garnett, whose performance came exactly nine years and two days prior.  Rounding out this elite list are Dirk Nowitzki, Charles Barkley, Joe Barry Carroll and Charles Oakley during his rookie year with the Bulls.  In that time, there have been 22 instances of a 30-23 game with 2 steals and 30 of one of 2 blocks.  Both are obviously bigger numbers, but you get the idea of how rare you see a game like that from Noah just a few nights ago.

If you didn't believe it before, and you might want to re-evaluate your status as a fan if that was the case, you can certainly say now that Noah is on his way to the best year of his career.  Even before the season began, there was a lot of talk that this could finally be the season Noah nets his first All-Star bid.  I don't see much reason to doubt that these days.  He's well on his way to playing with the best in the league in a couple of months.  He may not put up double-double numbers every night, but you'll see that kind of performance more often than not, pistol signs and all.  As I've said many times before, the energy he consistently brings make him the heart and soul of this club.  Without him, the Bulls would easily be below .500.

I'll take this opportunity to once again be glad I didn't jump on the anti-Noah bandwagon in the time before his playoff dunk over Paul Pierce.  I was probably being unreasonable then, but as I tend to do, I held out hope that this particular player would be of immense value to the Bulls eventually.  It was probably because of his role in Florida winning back-to-back national titles.  My optimism for certain guys fails more often than not, but I'm happy this one paid off.  Hate to tell certain people I told you so, but...well, you get the picture.

The next opportunity for Noah's magic comes Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.  8:30 is a late start for a home game, but that's likely to accommodate ESPN's schedule.  That's right.  Lob City is visiting the Windy City.  Despite a rash of injuries and recent lack of success at the United Center against the Clippers (they've lost 9 of 11), I truly believe this will be an entertaining game.  The Bulls themselves are on high ground with their first three-game winning streak of the year.  The Clippers have won six straight, so someone's run will be cut short.  Can Noah win the battle with DeAndre Jordan at center?  Will he challenge Blake Griffin?  The nation will be watching to find out.  Hope you will too.

Keeping Ahead

Although the Bulls never trailed in Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, there were times when the lead didn't appear safe.  You have to give the Cavs credit for continuing to push even when their aspirations looked bleak.  They were able to give the Quicken Loans Arena crowd reason to erupt a few times.  Unfortunately for them, the Bulls had an answer each time and won 95-85.

Marco Belinelli, making his second consecutive start, had the best game of his young Bulls career by leading everyone with 23 points.  He shot 7-of-15 from the field and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.  If I were Tom Thibodeau, I'd make sure he's not out of the rotation for the rest of the season.  Then again, this is the same coach who had no reservations of sitting John Lucas III last season, even after his big performance against Miami.  On the flip side again, perhaps Thibs has finally warmed up to the shooter.  That coupled with this contest can only do wonders for the shooting guard going forward.

Luol Deng shot 8-of-13 from the floor and made all five free throws for 22 points.  Joakim Noah expressed his continued love of Cleveland by dropping a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds.  Carlos Boozer loved that feat so much he decided to collect one of his own, this one to the tune of 10 and 12.  Kirk Hinrich looked better than I've seen him all year.  Going 4-of-7 from the field, he scored 11 points and dished out eight assists.  He looked aggressive, confident and not afraid to do anything.  The same could be said of Belinelli for the reasons listed in the previous paragraph, so the backcourt was key tonight.

With all the talk there's been lately about how the Bulls can't close the door against playoff teams, this game was refreshing compared to some of the heartache this team has recently experienced.  The Cavaliers are on their way up, but they're too inexperienced to stick with a seasoned team for an entire game.  There's a reason they're 4-15 right now.  It will probably be a couple more years before we see them back in contention.  That said, be fortunate that even with the Bulls' current struggles, they're at least treading water until Derrick Rose returns for the late playoff push.  I'm sure you'd rather see what a team can do in the playoffs than look forward to the draft lottery.  That's my view at least.  We may not see a title this year, but competitive basketball is better to watch than below average.  Some may not find the season worth watching with the lower expectations.  Not true Bulls fans though.

Friday means the Detroit Pistons will host the Bulls, probably in front of a sparse crowd.  I saw a picture of tonight's Palace crowd as the home team played the Raptors.  Not very impressive.  We might see more Bulls fans there than the club the place is supposed to be home to.  It routinely happens in Milwaukee.  Why not invade Auburn Hills too?

By George, That Stunk

One quick glance at tonight's 80-76 final in a losing effort could tell you that this was a defensive struggle with the Indiana Pacers.  It could also say that both teams are struggling for offensive firepower (keep in mind the Pacers don't have Danny Granger right now).  Both are legitimate arguments, but upon looking deeper, you'll know this ultimately came down to who had the right players to push their club over the top.  The Bulls were not the beneficiary tonight.

Paul George was the man of the evening.  His 34 points were just a few more than his total over the previous four games.  Who does he think he is?  Ersan Ilyasova?  It's probably just bad luck that opposing players are breaking out of recent slumps against the Bulls, but that doesn't make it easier to take.  If he came of age tonight, I hate that it had to be in Chicago.  David West scored 10 as did Roy Hibbert, whose double-double came by virtue of 11 boards.  But it was the George Show tonight.  He's shaping to be someone who could do some real damage in this league as his career progresses.

For awhile, it appeared Nate Robinson would break the Bulls enough out of their offensive doldrums.  Some big plays in the fourth quarter gave everyone at the United Center a lot of energy.  Sadly, his best Joakim Noah impression and 19 points were overshadowed by some questionable decisions down the stretch.  He attempted a failed alley-oop pass in the closing moments that would have been better seen at almost any other point.  People wondering why Robinson isn't always highly thought of got a good lesson tonight.  He may be able to excite you for a few moments, but he's not the one to lead you to a championship.  You might see him towards the end of games like tonight, but not with bigger stakes.  If he wants to change those types of views, his basketball IQ in the clutch needs to be higher.  However, I'm wondering if that ship has sailed at this point in his career.

Luol Deng chipped in 17 points and Carlos Boozer had another double-double, this one to the tune of 14 and 10.  The Bulls really could have used Rip Hamilton tonight.  Perhaps he could turned this into a victory.  Even past his prime, he provides just enough to win you close games.  Maybe with him in the game, he could have also prevented more turnovers.  The Pacers had 23 points off 19 times the Bulls lost the ball.  That's the kind of stuff that translates into losses along with a shaky offense.  These scoring woes are not pleasant to have, but were expected at the start of the year.  We'll probably see a few more of these games before the season ends.  Brace yourselves.

A quick turnaround means the Bulls have to get right back at it tomorrow night.  The Cleveland Cavaliers await at the Q, where the Bulls already have a victory this season.  They'll do everything to make sure we don't sweep them for the year.  Put tonight's game behind you.  And for the love of God, score some points and control the ball more.

Rose May Practice Soon? Stop the Presses!

I'm breaking my rule on not writing about Derrick Rose's recovery unless there's a major development.  Why?  Look no further than the back page of today's Sun-Times.  Rose's picture is on there with the headline "Christmas Wish".  The sub-headline mentions that his teammates expect him to be practicing before the end of the calendar year.  Stories have mentioned he's mere weeks from it.  Then today, Tom Thibodeau told the media he wouldn't expect that.  I hope he's put a stop to the brief nonsense this "story" caused.

Yes, Rose has begun cutting on his repaired knee and sprinting.  Yes, that's an encouraging sign.  But as Chicago sports fans typically like to do, a few made it out to be something better than it actually was.  In fact, one of my high school friends posted about this on Facebook and concluded his post by saying "we going to the Finals."  I don't know if he was just kidding or dead serious, but I know that there's a better chance the Bears win this year's Super Bowl than the Bulls even win the East. 

We all know the Bulls need a second scoring option along with a healthy Rose to be a contender again.  I'll bypass that issue right now in favor of the current one.  Whether Rose returns to the lineup in February, March or even late January, nothing about this team's aspirations is going to change much.  I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here, but Rose will be at a bit of a disadvantage against players who have been playing for months.  Better players are licking their chops at the prospect.  As much as they respect the 2011 MVP, none of that matters if they're on the same court as him.  They'll leave nothing back and drop 30 points if possible.

At least when Michael Jordan returned in 1995, he wasn't coming off a debilitating injury like he did during his sophomore campaign, which was abbreviated by a broken foot.  He was still in athletic shape thanks to baseball in '95.  Broken feet don't take as much time to heal as a torn ACL.  That's why Jordan looked as fresh as ever when he came back each time.  Rose has a greater mountain to climb.  How long it will take is anyone's guess, but it's not debatable that he won't have enough to win a title this year, especially with the current roster.

Back-to-back nights mean back-to-back divisional games for the Bulls.  I'll be posting after both beginning with tonight's home matchup against the Indiana Pacers, the preseason favorites in the Central.  Marco Belinelli will start in place of Rip Hamilton, who won't play for a few games as he deals with his foot injury.  These two teams have had some serious blood the past couple of years, so this one should be entertaining.  Time for the Bulls to make a statement.