Living It All in 2013

As I try to reflect on what 2013 meant to the Bulls, it's not so easy.  In the past 12 months, they've experienced some nifty highs, awful lows, plenty of drama and everything in between.  While there are some teams both far better and far worse off than what they're experiencing now, a bit of everything was what we got from the Bulls this year.

When it began, folks were still optimistic Derrick Rose would return from his ACL rehab in time to give the Bulls the boost they needed in the playoffs.  The Bulls were merely just biding their time so the former MVP could surprise everyone just like Adrian Peterson before him.  Surely, he could face Miami when the time came.

In the meantime, Luol Deng earned his second straight All-Star selection and Joakim Noah his first.  We were amazed at how Deng seemed so subtle in his contributions and yet, was so important to the team's makeup.  Noah was having the best season of his career and having fun while doing so.  Without him, there wouldn't be nearly as much energy for the Bulls on game nights.

Things looked even better when the Miami Heat came to the United Center and saw their 27-game winning streak, the second longest in NBA history, be put to rest.  The Bulls did it shorthanded too, which gave the home crowd enough reason to make the arena as loud as it could get during a regular-season contest.  That's how they clinched a playoff spot too.

Meanwhile, Rose never returned despite never ruling out the possibility of doing so.  The whole situation became a PR nightmare for both camps, splitting both the media and the fan base as to what he should do.  If anyone had just said the right thing, all the turmoil could have been avoided, but it didn't happen, so we were left to the stupidity spouting from the mouths of many.  For many, the notion of Rose being a humble, hometown kid was gone.

While this was going on, the Bulls took a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, capped off by a Game 4, triple-overtime win for the ages with Nate Robinson leading the way.  Then suddenly, Deng came down with a spinal tap and Kirk Hinrich had to sit with a calf injury, so the Nets unsurprisingly tied the series at 3.  All seemed lost heading into Game 7 at Brooklyn, but the stretched-out Bulls somehow shocked the world by earning their first-ever road victory in a winner-take-game.  There's no way it should have happened, but you can never count out a Tom Thibodeau-coached team.

That set up a second-round meeting with the Heat.  Still missing Deng and Hinrich, the Bulls would have been considered lucky to win one game in that series unless either of those players returned.  It began with LeBron James accepting the MVP award prior to Game 1.  Immediately following those festivities was the Bulls winning against the odds yet again.  They were in front of the defending champions 1-0 and now with the home-court advantage.

Just like in 2011 however, Miami stormed back to win the next four.  Among the lowlights for the Bulls were a team-playoff record for offensive futility in Game 2, frustrations boiling over, a few ejections and getting blown out of the United Center in Game 4 before much of the crowd even had a chance to sit down.  Their depth proved to be too short and you can never underestimate Miami's talent or will to win.  The result wasn't surprising, but it didn't make things any easier.

The offseason saw the key departures of Robinson and Marco Belinelli.  Only Mike Dunleavy was brought in via free agency and the Bulls used the draft to take Tony Snell and Erik Murphy.  Still, none of it compared to the prospect of having Rose for a full season.  Excitement around the Bulls going for a title was as high as it's been in the Thibodeau era.  This was a team that could challenge Miami's crown.

Unfortunately, we won't fairly know the answer to that now.  Rose was still getting back into his rhythm during the first few weeks, but early in the circus trip against Portland, he came up limping in his other knee.  We found out the next evening that it was a torn meniscus, which would result in surgery.  Though it was successful, everyone's worst fears were confirmed when Rose was ruled out for the season.  The championship dream was dead only a few days shy of Thanksgiving.

Immediately, many called for the Bulls to tank the season so they could have a shot at a big name in next year's draft class, thought to be the best since 2003.  Plus, with Deng's contract set to expire and Carlos Boozer likely to be amnestied, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.  However, the East is so godawful this year the Bulls might just back into the playoffs, especially if they don't trade any significant pieces.  Even that might not be enough as that would still leave a lot of talent on the roster.

If there's one part of the franchise really worth looking forward to, it's Jimmy Butler.  He was barely on my radar when I did my 2012 recap, but that has certainly changed.  He played his way into the starting lineup during last season and not only began every playoff game, but often played all 48 minutes.  He cemented his status as a swingman and has played well on both sides of the ball. 

Often, he's the player the Bulls look most to when they absolutely need him and most of the time, he'll deliver.  Whether the Bulls contend again next year or down the line, Butler will most certainly have to be a part of the core.  He has proven to be one of the big steals of the 2011 draft.

It's really hard to be a Bulls fan right now with all the uncertainty surround the team.  They look mentally exhausted from having to play out the rest of the season with the knowledge that they're no longer contenders.  It shows by the series of bad losses they've suffered recently.  No one can tell for sure if they'll trade anyone away, continue to go for it all or even see if Rose will return for a potential playoff run, which he won't rule out.

Despite this all, their unpredictability shows anything can happen with them, even a pleasant surprise.  Who are we to say something to change the franchise's fortunes for good won't happen in 2014?  It happened in 2008 when they received the top pick in the draft and selected Rose.  That worked out well, at least for awhile, right?

There's one more chapter of 2013 to write as the Bulls play the Toronto Raptors tonight, but the year's story has already been told.  We've felt every possible feeling as Bulls fans in the past 365 days and that's what following a team is all about.  Have a Happy New Year and may the hopes of good Chicago basketball be with you all.

Grizzlie Taming

Things sure look dark for the Bulls these days.  There have already been more blowout losses than any team would like.  Luol Deng remains injured and we just learned that Tom Thibodeau learned of his father's passing right after the Christmas win in Brooklyn.  The funeral was today, but it didn't stop him from flying to Memphis for tonight's game against the Grizzlies.

FedEx Forum has not been kind to the Bulls, who had won there just once since the 2005-06 season entering tonight.  But this game saw the Grizzlies playing catch-up late and falling short.  The Bulls will happily take this 95-91 victory.

The Bulls led by just two at the half, but came out strong in the third quarter, opening on a 20-4 run.  Memphis responded with a 24-8 run that extended into the fourth quarter.  An 18-point Bulls lead was cut down to two, but they seized control for good midway through the fourth when D.J. Augustin fired up a prayer behind the three-point line to beat the shot clock and hit it.  The Grizzlies didn't get any closer the rest of the game.

Jimmy Butler scored 14 of his 26 points in that glorious third quarter and finished the game knocking down 12 of his 14 free throws.  With Deng still out, the Bulls needed more offense from somewhere and they got it from the swingman battling through turf toe.  They also got production from Carlos Boozer, whose latest double-double was 21 and 10.  Augustin scored 10 off the bench and Joakim Noah grabbed 10 boards and tied Taj Gibson with a game-high four blocks.  The 10 blocks and 13 steals as a team were season highs for the Bulls.

The Bulls somehow kept their composure after the bad loss to Dallas this past weekend.  To go into a building unfriendly to them without Deng and find offense from their promising young gun in Butler and amnesty target in Boozer is pretty darn good.  Yes, the issues remain and fixing all of them won't be easy.  Games like this get the tanking crowd upset, but for those who just want to see a win, it's all good.

There's still one more game to be played before the calendar flips to 2014.  It will be at the United Center tomorrow against the Toronto Raptors.  I won't be able to recap that game, but I will sum up this maddening calendar year before I go to work.  2013 had its ups and downs, so it's worth taking a look at.  Until then, may your New Year's planning go smoothly.

Staying in Iowa

Yes, I know I'm a little late in talking about this, but better now than never.  Also, if you've heard me say similar things before, I advise you to stop reading now.  Otherwise, you know what this is about.

Marquis Teague was sent back to Iowa of the D-League not long after the Bulls' Christmas victory over the Nets.  This time, he'll actually suit up there as he wasn't summoned back the moment he landed.  His continued lack of production, the emergence of D.J. Augustin and Kirk Hinrich becoming healthy again made him expendable.  It was only a matter time before this happened again and we've finally come to it.

I know I've been harsh on Teague recently, but here, I'll go a little softer.  The Bulls knew they were drafting a young player who still needed work in 2012.  He still can't legally buy a drink in this country and his game remains a work in progress.  Unfortunately for him, that means he won't be getting minutes with this team anytime soon.  When Tony Snell is ahead in the rotation with a coach known for playing rookies very little, you know you have to take your game elsewhere for the time being.

I really do want Teague to succeed, but like most Bulls fans, I still have no clue what he's capable of.  He rarely sees minutes in Chicago and when he does, he looks like he should have stayed at Kentucky longer.  Staying on the bench routinely does him no good.  Playing in Iowa means he'll get to showcase his talent every game, whatever it is.

Whatever future the Bulls are facing, Teague appears to be part of it.  They just need a good idea of how to showcase him to the point where he can help the team as much as possible.  It's hard to judge a flower when it hasn't sprouted yet, so it needs a little sun and water to grow.  Teague still has his petals closed, unlike his brother Jeff, who might become an All-Star with Atlanta this year.  I apologize for being critical of him lately and these latest developments will hopefully help in the long run.

With the Dallas Mavericks in town tonight, Teague's fate will have to wait for the time being.  Until then, we shall go a little easier on the child.  Anyone disagree?

On the Nice List

The Bulls visiting the Brooklyn Nets on Christmas was a good idea at first.  Two marquee teams who faced off in an epic seven-game playoff series last season would be able to settle a score that was still fresh in their minds.

Then, age and injuries started to hit both teams and they got off to below average starts.  Just to make things crueler, Derrick Rose and Brook Lopez saw their seasons come to abrupt endings.  We were left with a match-up seemingly no one wanted to open presents in front of.

As expected, neither team looked very good in the first half, justifying the low ratings this game is likely to get.  Then, after leading 41-38 at halftime, the Bulls outscored the Nets 36-20 in the third quarter, cruising to a 95-78 victory.  Best of all, they'll still have time to spend Christmas back in Chicago.  This victory will only energize whatever celebrations they had planned.

Six Bulls scored in double figures, led by Taj Gibson's 20 off the bench.  His game included a couple of highlight reel dunks.  I'll confess I haven't seen a whole lot of what many have said is an impressive season on his part, mainly due to watching fewer games this year.  Still, nice to know he's been a bright spot in a disappointing year so far.

Of the five starters, only Kirk Hinrich failed to reach double-digit points.  Jimmy Butler led that group with 15.  Meanwhile, D.J. Augustin contributed from the bench too, scoring 13 to continue a run that only impresses me more as the games progress.  For good measure, he led both teams in assists with five, so maybe, the Bulls have found their replacement for Nate Robinson.

I realize this has been a difficult season for the Bulls, but it's refreshing to see them come out on top so easily.  After getting everything handed to them against Houston last Christmas, everyone was expecting a similar outcome given recent events.  Instead, Santa reached into his bag for an easy win when they needed it most.  Whether this jump starts a sleeping giant remains to be seen, but for now, our holiday as Bulls fans is a little brighter.

We also learned to be grateful we're not the Nets, who are making these Bulls look like one of the more successful teams in the league.  Besides losing Lopez, they have a head coach mere months after retiring as a player (Jason Kidd), two-thirds of a broken-down three-headed monster from the 2008 Celtics (Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett), nobody who's started every game, and horrible contracts that are forcing them into a record $180 million luxury tax.  While the Bulls' future looks dire, everything that's happened in Brooklyn recently could set the Nets back for years.

The Bulls can enjoy this for a couple days before they return to the United Center Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks.  The big story will be whether they can extend their first winning streak since before Rose went down.  Until then, Merry Christmas to you and your family and thank you for your continued reading.  God bless us, everyone.

A Deng Shame

As that dreaded word "rebuilding" continues to stick around the Bulls these days, one of the ideas that's been hotly debated is what to do with Luol Deng and his expiring contract.  If anybody gives the Bulls a decent return on the veteran star, the future on the West Side will be hopeful.  Now, it doesn't appear that will come into fruition for the time being.

While it isn't clear just how much teams would offer for Deng, we now know the Bulls are not seeking to deal him.  In fact, they remain optimistic they'll be able to re-sign him during the offseason.  That's an interesting tidbit considering he wants to stay with the Bulls and the demands for both sides are not in the same ballpark.

I know it seems like holding onto Deng would be a way of sticking to the status quo that hasn't seen as much success as we'd like.  Even I would hate to see the Bulls getting nothing if he walks away in free agency.  Really though, if they couldn't do any better than what they have now, is it really worth getting upset over?

It's true this front office hasn't made the most desirable decisions in terms of holding onto top talent.  Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli and Kyle Korver come to mind.  However, keep in mind that they're not incompetent in their decisions.  Whenever they notice a discrepancy in one area, Gar Forman and John Paxson do their best to plug it up.  When Belinelli left, he was replaced with Mike Dunleavy.  Robinson came in for C.J. Watson and did more than we could have asked for.  They'll find a way to rectify this situation.

Of course, any attempts to get something for Deng will be easier said than done, especially with the upcoming draft class.  Teams actually want to be in the lottery.  Adding any kind of All-Star talent would hamper those efforts.  It would be best to deal to someone who is aiming to win a title now.  They wouldn't have to sign him to any long-term deal, but they might be squirmy about taking on the remainder of his contract, which isn't exactly pocket change.  There aren't many takers, so good luck to GarPax in finding a solution that will be cheap, productive and painless.

While they figure this out, the Bulls will play the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow at the United Center.  If it weren't for Kyrie Irving, I'd feel better about their chances.  This isn't a good time to be a fan obviously, but we just have to remain optimistic.  A nice early Christmas present would be a stop to the losing streak.  Will Santa hear our plea?

The Dum-Dums Are Out Again

When Derrick Rose went out for this season, my biggest fear that the Bulls' championship window would be closed was confirmed.  I should have known more that another fear would be realized, which is some people would take whatever swipes at Rose they could.  That was definitely realized thanks to a New York Daily News report that he's worried for his team's potential rebuilding plans.

This has caused a few personalities, notably Dan Bernstein of 670 The Score, to say much of the similar stuff that was blurted when Rose was rehabbing his torn ACL.  Among the accusations thrown his way includes his reputation as a humble kid from his hometown being nothing but a fake.  Others call him a coward for hiding behind B.J. Armstrong, his brother Reggie and others in his camp who have admittedly done a poor job in doing damage control whenever stories like this have leaked out.

Never mind that nothing in this report contained a direct quote from Rose.  If it merely implies that Rose is feeling these things, you'll hear every wild proposition possible, including dumping every prominent member of the organization to Rose going back to college to be a more intelligent human than what he's apparently been showing.

I'm not saying Rose is completely clean of this public relations disaster.  If you're going to just let these things happen, especially with the wrong people speaking for you, then you have your share of responsibility for others turning their backs on you.  Instead, people need to stop being so reliant on speculative reports and proposing moves that could only be fueled by gut reactions.

Only Rose can speak for himself.  If he keeps his mouth shut, the words of his family and his associates should be taken very gingerly.  They may or may not reflect how that actual person is feeling.  Sadly, that doesn't stop some from getting on their soapboxes and declaring they'll pay for Rose's ticket out of town or making some other dumb statement.

Pardon me for getting political here, but this is exactly the kind of thing that caused others to think poorly of Barack Obama before he disassociated himself from Rev. Jeremiah Wright during his 2008 presidential run.  The quick, easy solution would be for Rose to say his brother and others on his side don't speak for his personal feelings.  For all we know however, they could actually be encouraging him to tough out the rebuilding stage the Bulls are likely to take on, so everyone gets lumped in together instead.  It's sad, but this is who we are as a society.

I advise you all to choose your words wisely when talking about this issue.  It's a touchy one and ill-informed folks can quickly be swayed to one extreme or the other.  Good luck and may the sanity in sports be with you.

What's the Point?

Somebody explain to me how one of the Bulls' deepest positions at the beginning of the year has suddenly become a huge question mark.  Sure, the obvious answer is Derrick Rose's season ended, but who would have thought this team would struggle so much trying to fill in for the former MVP?  From additional injuries to struggling play to turnover at the position, there couldn't be a more jumbled mess there.

Since I last blogged on here (apologies for life getting in the way), Kirk Hinrich has been missing games with injury, Marquis Teague has continued to struggle and D.J. Augustin has been signed, causing the suddenly expendable Mike James to be waived.  All it's done is add to a series of problems for a team that currently sits only half a game out of the final playoff spot in the East.  That's a miracle for a team that's lost 11 of its last 14 games.

If it's not one injury plaguing the Bulls, it's another.  Jimmy Butler returned from his long break, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah got healthy, but now, Hinrich is missing games due to a bad back.  The result, in conjunction with Rose being out, only further convinces you Gar Forman would have been better off shelling out the dough for Nate Robinson.  You see Teague baring little resemblance to an NBA player with no signs of improving.  Augustin has done better, dishing out eight assists in Monday's loss to the Magic.  Even so, what does that tell you when he's the one trying to save the offense from embarrassment?

Don't get me wrong:  I like what Augustin has done so far during his Bulls tenure.  I just have my doubts of whether he can morph into Robinson 2.0.  He only had scoring averages in double-digits for the Bobcats because he played so often for them.  Since leaving Charlotte, he's had trouble finding minutes, which I suspect is for good reason.  Maybe this blind squirrel will find another nut here, but I don't like how he's one of the players trying to keep the Bulls afloat.  If he and Mike Dunleavy are the best players on the roster now, that doesn't speak well to the rest of the team.

There needs to be some kind of regular production at the one.  If the position that runs the offense isn't getting much together, that has to be one of the bigger reasons the Bulls are struggling to break 80 on a nightly basis.  I know everyone invested heavily in Rose handling that department, but given past events, they shouldn't have counted out the possibility that he might miss yet another season.  There's no excuse for point guards not to be able to run plays in their sleep.  Plus, they should know how to create opportunities for others.

I suppose I should cut Augustin some slack since he's still settling into his new home.  Hinrich also gets a bit of leeway for his health issues.  Maybe Teague just doesn't have what it takes to succeed at the highest level right now.  A trip to the D-League would hopefully do him some good, although his youth and inexperience could mean he hasn't hit his stride yet.

Those are all good reasons for struggles, but there's no reason a roster with as much talent as it has should be struggling to keep their record above .500, with or without Rose.  Somebody needs to raise their hand and say "I'll get this anemic offense rolling again.  Just follow my lead."  Otherwise, the drama that's been building here will reach the point where every relevant part of the organization is overhauled, and not in the smoothest fashion.

Of course, as this is happening, some Bulls fans are snug in their beds while visions of Jabari and Bradley dance in their heads.  Wake up, people.  I don't how many times this needs to be said, but even if the Bulls uncharacteristically decide to tank this season, it's going to be difficult. 

The East is bad enough that they could just back in.  It's also tougher to throw games than to win.  To paraphrase a line from the short-lived Comedy Central series That's My Bush, the Bulls are such losers they can't even lose.  Maybe they can still land Doug McDermott in the draft though.  That's who NBADraft.net has them taking at 15th right now.

The Bulls' next two chances to right the ship come on back-to-back nights as they travel to Houston and Oklahoma City respectively on Wednesday and Thursday.  They might be able to handle the Rockets, but Chesapeake Energy Arena has been a living nightmare for the Bulls ever since the Thunder became a regular contender.  You can look up the gory details yourself for that.  Regardless, pray for the point position to find a rhythm.

Why yes, this is also post number 200 for me.  Just like in my 100th post, let's count down the most viewed of my previous 99 as of this writing.

5) Dunked Out By Hot Clippers  - Dec. 12, 2012 (34 views):  The Bulls lose to the Clippers in a game that featured many dunks from the team that features Lob City.

5) Rose No Distraction - Feb. 27, 2013 (34 views):  As Derrick Rose continues his ACL rehab, people start to get a little stupid among both the media and fan base, even his absence is not why the Bulls are struggling.

4)  Selfish Recovery - July 4, 2013 (36 views):  Rose mentions he had to be selfish during his rehab.

3) Buckled - Nov. 26, 2012 (37 views):  The Bulls blow a 27-point third-quarter lead against the Bucks and lose 93-92.

2) Who You Gonna Call? Streakbusters! - March 27, 2013 (47 views):  Despite having fewer healthy bodies available, the Bulls end Miami's 27-game winning streak.

1) Guess We're Doing This Again - Nov. 24, 2013 (51 views):  Rose suffers a torn meniscus that will require surgery, which could end his season (spoiler alert:  it did).

Thanks for reading and hope you continue to do so.

At Least They Made a Game of It

The good news:  Joakim Noah returned to the Bulls' lineup against the New York Knicks after a one-game absence.  The bad news:  it didn't make a difference in the end result unless you count margin.  Perhaps it would have been different if Luol Deng and/or Jimmy Butler suited up, but it wasn't to be in an 83-78 loss.

Though the Bulls held a two-point lead after one quarter, the Knicks took over in the next frame and led by as much as 21 in the third quarter.  But, as Bill Wennington put it on the radio broadcast, New York is the kind of team that will let you back into games.  They did just that and the Bulls tied it at 74 late in the fourth.  They couldn't muster much offense after that though and they just looked lost at the most critical times.  The Knicks were only too happy to take advantage and end their six-game losing streak.

Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 30 points, hitting 11 of 12 free-throw attempts, and completed a double-double with 10 rebounds.  The only other Knick to reach double figures was Amare Stoudemire, who came off the bench to score 14 and grabbed nine boards.   True that there wasn't a lot of offense for the victors, but there didn't need to be with the struggles the Bulls have had.

Mike Dunleavy continued his recent trend of leading this team in troubling times with 20 points.  He was only 3-of-11 from behind the three-point line, but it was the largest number of long balls by anyone all night.  Carlos Boozer's latest double-double was 12 and 12 while Noah followed closely behind at 12 and 11.

 Taj Gibson also had 12 and Kirk Hinrich scored 11, but his shooting woes continued.  He shot 3-of-11 from the field and for the second straight game, he freely dribbled all over the court in the final seconds when the Bulls needed a bucket to tie.  By the time he got the ball to Dunleavy, the shooting specialist had to fire a prayer that didn't even find the rim and a 24-second violation was called.  This inability to find a go-to player not named Derrick Rose is becoming serious.  They don't even have Nate Robinson to fill that role anymore.

Injured, stretched out, not shooting well and failing miserably to go for the kill in close games, there's very little we can say about the Bulls that hasn't already been said.  They're definitely not doing this on purpose.  It's simply the story of what happens to teams that are put in similar situations.  When guys go out, you have lineups not used to each other and lacking the chemistry to put together a competent play that will allow the team to succeed.

There's not much talent left either.  When you have Marquis Teague trying to be a hero in the closing minutes, your chances of pulling it off are not very good.  I know I've been picking on the poor sophomore lately, but I'd like to hear from anyone who thinks he's helping the team in a way that doesn't include filling a hole.

It's pretty sad that our conversations about this team have come to this.  Sadly, this is the reality we've come to face as fans.  There are many others stories like this in NBA history.  We just happen to be living it right now.

Friday will be the latest chapter of this season that gone into a bit of a tailspin.  The Bulls will meet the same Milwaukee Bucks that dealt them yesterday's defeat.  Hopefully, they can find a win against a crowd that cares even less than the one that came to the United Center Tuesday.  Seriously, something good needs to happen and fast.

Boringly Ugly

Since this was one of a only a few days off I have coming in which the Bulls were playing at home, I enlisted my friend, WSCR personality Nick Shepkowski, to come with me.  He politely declined, citing the undesirable matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.  Considering the slew of injuries that decimated the lineup and the outcome that was to follow, I have to thank Shep for saving my money and keeping me out of the cold.

Missing Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Luol Deng was bad enough, but we then learned before the game that Joakim Noah would be sidelined with a bruise right thigh.  That left a starting lineup that included Mike Dunleavy and Nazr Mohammed, which certainly would have made it tough for me to get excited during the pregame introductions.  It was even hard to feel disappointment at the end of a 78-74 loss.

Without their best player, veteran scorer, emotional leader and everyman, the Bulls looked like anything but a competing team.  They were inconsistent with their offensive schemes, not converting on second chances, missing rebounds they normally would have grabbed and showing enough urgency.  They tried their best with what they had, but the personnel just wasn't there to pull away.  The Bucks didn't exactly take control either.  They were just as stretched thin by injuries and didn't make anyone awestruck, but somebody had to win.

Few clutch plays were made on the Bulls' end and they mostly seemed to run into quality basketball more than find it themselves.  Even then, something ugly was attached.  One particular bad sequence saw them come up with a defensive rebound, but only after Milwaukee grabbed three offensive boards on that possession.  They somehow forced the Bucks to turn it over as they trailed by three with 13.1 seconds left.  Rather than the Bulls going for the tie, we saw Carlos Boozer's jumper blocked and the ball turned over after it was chased out of bounds.

John Henson led the Bucks with 25 points and 14 rebounds.  Though it wasn't the dagger, he hit a long floater in the final two minutes that appeared to be well-defended to the point where we couldn't see the rim, but it somehow fell through, stunning the United Center crowd.  Brandon Knight also had a double-double of 19 and 10.  Ersan Ilyasova came off the bench with 10.

Dunleavy scored 18 of his 24 points in the second quarter.  For awhile, it appeared he would be the one to lift the Bulls to an unlikely win.  Boozer's latest patented double-double had 21 points and 12 boards.  Snell, who has made the most of his opportunities to start recently, continued an impressive run by scoring 13.  Taj Gibson wasn't as hot as he's been, but still scored 10 and narrowly missed his own double-double with nine rebounds.

This setback is the latest of many the Bulls have had.  Aside from a dominant third quarter in Detroit two weeks back and the blowout win over Miami, very few things have gone right.  Even when it seems like an easy opponent is put in front of them, something happens to cripple them further, causing them to look nothing like the championship contender they were when the season began.  While there's plenty of time to right the ship, watching Bulls basketball in their current state is about as enjoyable as watching Marquis Teague finding his shot.

The good news is Jimmy Butler is moving even closer to trading in his bow tie for his game jersey (seriously, did you see how he was dressed tonight?).  Once he (or Deng or Noah) return, the Bulls will get back to some resemblance of a decent team.  To play this poorly in a year when the Eastern Conference is not very good should not be acceptable.  Tom Thibodeau knows this and will let his players know it until he's blue in the face.

There's not much time to dwell on this.  Tomorrow night, the Bulls will be in New York to take on the lowly Knicks, who are in even worse shape at the moment.  From injuries to accusations that they're definitely tanking the season, there's not much to be excited about there and this matchup will draw quite a few yawns.  Still, it would be worth watching Spike Lee shaking his head even further.

Earlier today, the Chicago sports landscape lost an innovative mind in Jim Corno Sr., who succumbed to cancer at age 66.  This was the man behind every local cable sports channel to date.  Thus, he was responsible for allowing us to watch Bulls games on cable from the beginning of the idea.  He leaves behind a legacy that will be tough to match and my prayers go out his family.

Another Heat Extinguishing

When I learned a Bulls-Heat matchup coincided with my trip to Minnesota to see the Blackhawks play the Wild, I was initially a little bummed.  Then, Derrick Rose went out, so the blow was somewhat lessened.  After watching the Blackhawks lose, I got to see most of the second half of Thursday's 107-87 Bulls win, so the night wasn't a total wash.

Carlos Boozer scored 27 and Luol Deng had 20, but the more telling stats were the team ones.  The Bulls shot 50 percent from the field, held the Heat to a season-low 41.6 percent shooting and Miami grabbed just nine rebounds in the first half.  While the Heat certainly did enough to shoot themselves in the foot, they were just as much a punching bag for a Bulls team that need someone to take all their recent frustrations on.  Who better than the defending champs?

Never mind that this was a victory the Bulls sorely needed after a bad road trip and a triple-overtime loss to the Pelicans afterward.  Also forget that Dwyane Wade sat this one out with an illness.  All this does is merely add to the legacy of the Bulls giving everything they've got every time they play Miami, regardless of stakes.  It's always enjoyable, especially when it comes in front of a bloodthirsty United Center crowd.

I won't pretend to know how the Heat choose to approach any given regular-season game.  I can't read one person's mind, let alone those of a whole basketball team.  Still, you have to wonder if this is just their way of conserving energy for when the games really count in the playoffs.  Depleted Bulls teams have gutted out wins against mostly healthy Heat teams before.  As we've seen though, it all changes when a championship is close by.  They will come out like a steamroller against the Bulls when they absolutely need to.

Don't get me wrong when I say I love whenever the Bulls knock off the Heat, regardless of what type of game is being played.  I just think it's gotten to a point where we have to recognize there are two kinds of Miami teams that come out with the Bulls.  No Derrick Rose means the defending champs should be handling the Bulls more easily.  Then again, they completely shut Rose down on opening night, resulting in a blowout victory.  A lot of it doesn't seem to make sense.  Of course, I'm just an outsider viewing these games on TV.  There's probably more to these games than we realize, so it's almost impossible to figure it out.

There was also the story of Rose not ruling out a postseason return, but that can be touched on another time.  I'm about to head to Target Field in below freezing temperatures, which is definitely unusual for December, but it's the Twin Cities, so that's acceptable here.  In the meantime, enjoy Saturday's game against the Detroit Pistons.  Hopefully, another blowout like the one against the Miami and the one in Auburn Hills last week is in order.

Teague's Strange Day

Only two years out of college, I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on how people change jobs within their companies or organizations.  Still, I'm going to guess it's unusual for someone to get demoted and then regain their old position on the same day.  That's exactly what happened to Marquis Teague on Tuesday.

One would have thought Derrick Rose's latest season-ending injury was a great opportunity for Teague to give the Bulls some valuable minutes at point guard.  Instead, a 1.2 scoring average and an inability to crack Tom Thibodeau's rotation gave the team reason to assign him to Iowa of the D-League.  It's an unprecedented move for the Bulls, but one they felt necessary. 

Then, it was announced Mike James will miss a week or two with a knee injury, so Teague was brought back to the parent club.  This is as good a second chance as Teague is going to get before he heads back to the Hawkeye State.

True, it's only Teague's second NBA season, he's only 20 years old and it took a little time for Jimmy Butler to earn regular minutes during his sophomore campaign a year ago.  But at least then, Butler had a few signs that he could be something special in the league soon.  Teague has not shown any of that.

In fact, it's probably common for casual Bulls fans to forget he even exists.  James was brought in as insurance for point guard and to give a veteran presence.  However, the fact that he jumped Teague in the hierarchy suggests the former national champion with Kentucky has not been living up to Thibodeau's expectations.  I'm sure he still has an upside, but that is not yet clear.

Now, with James' injury, maybe we'll finally get to see him blossom into something that sets him apart from other NBA players.  Butler became an everyman when given his chance.  Teague will be the second point guard behind Kirk Hinrich, but is he about to become something more?  He probably won't break out against Miami tomorrow, but with Detroit and Milwaukee coming to the United Center next, this will be a perfect chance for him. 

He's not old enough to buy a drink in this country and yet, his chances to run an NBA offense are about to increase.  The question is will he know what to do when directing a crafty group of veterans?  The Bulls could also use a boost from an unexpected source.  Treading water right now, anything to get the team out of this funk would be welcome.

It's time to shape up and do what's expected of an NBA point guard, young man.  It won't be easy and it won't be smooth right away, but as long as you help your team win, everything will fall into place.  Do you want to stay here or head to Iowa?  Ultimately, that decision lies with you.  Your play will dictate it.  Now, go out and perform your job well.

Losing Dominance

Never mind that the Bulls have lost Derrick Rose for another season and are subsequently less relevant than ever.  Everyone knew that would be the case when the news broke a little more than a week ago.  More pressing is how the Bulls look like anything but a legitimate playoff team right now.

After slumping home from a 1-5 circus trip, the latest setback came Monday in a 131-128 defeat in triple overtime to the New Orleans Pelicans.  Really though, it should have been over way before that.  The fact that the Pelicans aren't proven winners yet is the only reason the game dragged on for as long as it did, making the Chicago Tribune sports desk nervous about whether the game would make the first edition. 

The Bulls were extremely lucky to extend the game by hitting a few clutch shots, but that would have been a non-issue if they were playing even an average team.  Their chances to end the game themselves in the final seconds were sloppier than my kindergarten handwriting and the lineup looked completely clueless.  Plus, New Orleans was at less than full strength with Anthony Davis out.  If this recent Bulls play shows up against Miami on Thursday, it will be over before the 10:00 newscasts even begin.

Perhaps Jimmy Butler's eventual return will put the Bulls back on the right track, but right now, we're looking at a team with a bunch of talent that should have some knowledge of how to play together.  Unless the additions of Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell  have messed up chemistry to an unprecedented degree, there's no reason the dynamic should have changed that much.  It's like Rose was the cog holding everything together and suddenly, the rest of the team is left doing doggy paddles in the shallow end of a pool.

Hopefully, this is just a bad stretch that will be followed by a couple of nice winning streaks.  Then again, when have we seen this kind of listlessness in the Tom Thibodeau era?  The defense is soft, the offense isn't being smart with shot selection and nobody is finishing plays that decide the outcome of a given game.  Thibodeau is a defensive coach forever, but does he have any idea yet of who should be taking the biggest shots in the biggest moments?  Since giving the ball to Rose and getting out of his way is no longer an option, a plan B should be in effect.  This team is not all that different from last year's, so you have to think there are still some plays in the back of Thibodeau's mind that he can reach for and simply apply it to now.

We can talk all we want about what exactly has gone wrong since the circus trip commenced, but it's also worth asking how much of the city cares about these struggles.  No doubt the latest developments are a pipedream for the tanking crowd and a nightmare for those who still want an all-out effort.  While the Blackhawks keep winning and earning more hearts, the Bulls are doing a lot to convince the middle crowd they shouldn't even look at a hardwood floor until next season. 

It's amazing how a team with a few other marketable names (Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, etc.) could suddenly lose their way of how they go about business.  With the impending breakup however, you could see how it's hard for them to get into some of these games.  The championship dream is dead, players are injured and morale couldn't possibly be lower.  Then again, this team has responded well to adversity in the past and the good news is there's more than enough time to right the ship.

No, TNT won't be getting the LeBron-Rose matchup they got on Opening Night on Thursday, but at least they'll get a Bulls team trying to rise out of the darkness by any means necessary.  Although that's not always fun to watch, one has to at least admire the Bulls for looking a favorable momentum swing.  They stopped a long winning streak by Miami last season.  Now, they have to stop their own bleeding.

Keeping Woes in the Motor City

Although the city of Detroit has fallen on hard times, that meant little to the Bulls as they entered Auburn Hills tonight to play the Pistons.  They have their own issues to deal with and the path to treating those had to begin with a win.  No matter what those wishing that they tank the season say, they still have to give it their all.

That's what they did in this game.  The Pistons controlled a good portion of the first half and led by two at the break.  The Bulls finally decided they had enough bad luck on this road trip and stepped up their game tenfold. They took a lead in the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth, going in front by as much as 24 before stopping a four-game losing streak to the tune of 99-79.

A couple of players were most responsible for getting the Bulls' record back to .500 (7-7).  Luol Deng performed like the All-Star he is and led all scorers with 27 points.  His 11 field goals were matched by Taj Gibson, who came off the bench to score a career-high 23.  Gibson appeared automatic from wherever he took a shot, 13 coming from the field.  That translates into an 84.6 field-goal percentage.  13 was apparently a popular number for the Bulls tonight.  That scoring total was reached by Joakim Noah, Tony Snell and Kirk Hinrich, who had a game-high seven assists.

Yes, the Bulls had beaten Detroit in 18 of their last 19 meetings, but nothing appears to be a given anymore.  It didn't come when they played the lowly Jazz on Monday, so automatic wins are out the window.  They needed something to remind everyone that despite the loss of Derrick Rose for a second straight year, they're still in position to be one of the better teams in the East.  Although it took them until the second half to pounce on that message, no one ever awarded points for timeliness in winning a game.

Gar Forman blatantly said in an interview the Bulls are not tanking this season, although circumstances might suggest they should.  No one should have expected them to lay down to the Pistons especially.  That is not a good team, so the Bulls will make them earn the win, which didn't happen tonight.  Even if you throw out all the reasons I laid out earlier for not tanking any given season, it's just not in this team's nature to lose on purpose.  Tom Thibodeau especially would never allow his team to do that.  Whether you like it or not, the Bulls are going to the playoffs barring another major setback.  It's not going to change, plain and simple.

The non-tanking Bulls will end their circus trip Saturday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  It will be a chance for them to show a team on the cusp of competing that while a pair of top draft picks is nice, it takes more than that to win in the NBA.  The Bulls have experience with that.  Too bad they won't be able to say that with this group much longer.

Until next time, Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

Tomorrow's Further Away

We'll never know what wrong Derrick Rose did in a past life to have such horrible luck strike him twice in 19 months, but he sure is suffering a greater penance than we could have ever imagined.  In turn, an entire city and organization must also suffer the consequences as he was the one man who could make incredible success possible.  Now, those potential rewards either must wait or will never come.

Although Rose had successful surgery on the medial meniscus in his right knee, he was officially ruled out for the season afterward.  Another Bulls run at a championship is down the tubes and the future is even more uncertain for both parties involved.  Rose may never be the player that won him the MVP award.  The current Bulls core will have nothing more than back-to-back division titles to show for their work.

Their most recent game, an 89-83 overtime loss to the 1-win Utah Jazz, is a reminder of just how grueling a path lays ahead.  Sure, they'll win some more games in the near future, but there's been too much of an emotional drain with the road trip and the loss of their leader.  Meanwhile, Rose kicks himself and curses in front of the TV, knowing he can do nothing to stop his team from slipping under .500 or do any significant damage in the playoffs.

We don't know where Rose will go from here, but unless something drastic changes for the better, he could become the biggest what-if in NBA history.  He's not the cornerstone player we thought he was and it has nothing to do with his playing ability.  His knees have betrayed him, perhaps more than any athlete who has ever played a sport professionally, or at least someone with his talent. 

Although he can still contribute at a high level, he's going to need someone to help him.  The drive and explosiveness his game is built on will only put him at further risk, which will make everyone watching him edgy.  If he wants to make the Hall of Fame, he'll need to find another way to wow the crowds.  Even that might not be enough as we now know just how injury-prone he is.  It's a very sad story unfolding before our eyes.

To that end, the story of the Bulls might be even sadder.  They put this team together with winning a championship in mind.  Now, a series of injuries, upcoming free agency and a likely amnesty have thrown it all out of whack.  With the head of the snake gone, several people have called for the Bulls to tank the season in hopes of landing one of the top college freshman in next year's draft.

I stand by my opposition of losing today for a better tomorrow.  As I've stated before, it's being dishonest to what you have as a team as well as the fan base.  Plus, it's tougher trying to lose than trying to win.  Throwing games in NBA 2K without making it too obvious isn't easy either, so how could the same apply to real life?

You also don't typically step onto a court with losing in mind.  Your brain is trying to relay the message of how you're going to succeed during a given possession.  How can throwing a game even stay in your brain for a full 48-minute game?  It's not possible, especially when each contest is two hours minimum.

Then of course, we find that the Eastern Conference just isn't bad enough for the Bulls to tank, even if they wanted to.  They have too much talent and would walk into a lower playoff seed anyway.  That's what happens when only three teams are above .500 four weeks into the season.  You have the Heat, the Pacers and everyone else.  Losing on purpose in the East is not possible and not an option.

My solution is to continue playing to your abilities, but shop around whoever you can in the interim.  It's early enough in the season that the Bulls can still change how they go about it.  Since you know reshaping has become a mandatory task for the front office, there's no time like the present to get started on it.

For instance, this is the perfect chance to get something for Luol Deng.  If he simply walks, the Bulls are out of luck.  Whether you can acquire young talent or future draft picks, this move should be at or near the top of the list.  Carlos Boozer's contract is more than anyone is willing to take on, Joakim Noah's injury history could be seen as a liability and Kirk Hinrich likely wouldn't fetch much.  At the very least, move the player who's an All-Star and could be the final piece for any team trying to make a run.

Whatever Gar Forman and John Paxson decide to do, they absolutely must get a good return on any and all deals.  That means finding future pieces for the next core, players who could be bait to make big deals and stocking up on draft picks.  If they can't get anything of the kind, they're better off just waiting until after the season to do something.

We didn't plan for the franchise to be set back for the next few years, but that's exactly what's being faced here.  Watching games will still be enjoyable, but the number of championship banners hanging at the United Center will have to remain at six while a new team can be constructed that includes Derrick Rose, but doesn't live and die with him.  Any quality player in the league is welcome to come to Chicago.  It would help speed up the process. 

More than likely though, the Bulls will have to do it themselves.  That's just fine, though.  It's better to watch a title team that was built more than bought.  And yes, I'm looking towards South Beach as I say that.

Guess We're Doing This Again

I said at the beginning of this road trip we would know more about this team by the time they returned to Chicago.  Perhaps they'd finally be in sync enough to make a run at Indiana's supremacy in the Central.  Turns out they'll look drastically different and once again, the lack of Derrick Rose will be why.

After exiting Friday's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers with a bad left knee, word soon spread that the Bulls were worried their franchise player had torn his other ACL.  As you surely know, Chicago was on edge for quite some time and picturing doomsday scenarios.  The basketball gods clearly had it out for the Bulls to allow this to happen to their star twice in less than 19 months.

Saturday evening, we learned an MRI revealed Rose had torn a medial meniscus in that knee.  Surgery will be required, which will sideline him indefinitely.  He isn't currently slated to miss the rest of the season as previously feared, but it's still bad to lose him for an extended period of time.  Worst of all, we don't know if he'll be out for six weeks or six months, which makes you wonder if there will be any Bulls basketball for him to return to by the time he's cleared to play again.

In any other situation, this type of injury would have had Bulls fans jumping off cliffs or parading the streets, preaching that the Rapture is nigh.  Given Rose's recent difficulties in staying healthy though, it's actually a sigh of relief for some.  At least we won't have to wait until the week before next Thanksgiving to see him play again.

You hear all this talk about the Bulls missing out on another championship run for this season.  Still others believe if the team just treads water and plays good enough for the next few months, they might be able to steal one of the top seeds in the East and gain home-court advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs.  It's the nature of speculating we have as fans.

As for me, I don't see how the Bulls catch the Pacers in the Central now.  That team has too much young talent peaking at the right time while the one here in Chicago can't seem to stay healthy, which was the biggest X factor in contending for this year's championship.  I also have a sliver of hope that Rose can help create some magic against the Heat in the playoffs should he return and the teams meet, but he'll probably show some rust like Michael Jordan did in the 1995 playoffs against Orlando.  It's tougher to pick against the champs in a Bulls-Heat best-of-7 now than it was 48 hours ago.

There are two big concerns to come from all this, starting with Rose's long-term health.  He has three years remaining on his contract and possesses too much talent for the front office to even consider buying him out.  And with the health issue not going away for the foreseeable future, the Bulls have to deal with it.  By the time he returns from this latest setback, how long before the next one hits?  So many parties are going to have to be cautious with him from now on, particularly if his body continues to betray him like this.  Perhaps a change in playing style is in order, but Rose would sooner retire tomorrow.

Rose's career may turn out to be less like Steve Nash and more like Grant Hill:  dominant early in his career before having that superstardom taken away by contest injuries.  Every former MVP who is eligible has been elected to the Hall of Fame.  Something needs to change or Rose might be the only one who doesn't get in, which would be a very tough distinction to have for this sport.

That brings up the second concern, which is where the Bulls go from here.  This was probably going to be their last season as currently constructed, regardless of Rose's status.  Now, Gar Forman and John Paxson could be forced to reevaluate what Rose can bring to the table.  His services are definitely needed in Chicago, but that second primary scoring option is desperately needed now.

With this latest development, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer should really be worried about their status on this team.  They're going to get paid next year, but it might not be here.  Deng's set for free agency and the talk to amnesty Boozer may be more justified

That's because it may be time to consider making Rose a John Stockton:  one of the top players in the game, but not one you build your team around.  Neither Deng, nor Boozer is fit to be Rose's Karl Malone, so that help will have to come from elsewhere.  Who in the league with that capability wants to come to the Windy City though?  That question will have to be considered another time, but what can be stated now is Rose might need to adopt a new role if he wants to have a long NBA career.

The other option would be to tear it down and start over.  Going younger and thus, healthier wouldn't mean championship aspirations for a few years, but Rose might have to wait a little longer so the right personnel can eventually come along and get him that coveted ring.  The franchise's future could depend on how the rest of this season plays out, so these next few months are key.

Although this is close to the worst-case scenario the Bulls envisioned, they should have kept open the possibility this might happen, which they probably did.  It sure doesn't make it easier to take though, does it?  Those Grant Park plans in June will have to temporarily be shelved so we can see how Rose pans out in The Return II.  Perhaps this is the feel-good story of 2014 waiting to happen and this is just the beginning.  A green light would be a good sign, but it needs to be found.

As big a blow as this to the Bulls, remember to keep this in perspective.  Professional basketball is merely an entertainment outlet, so you can't let it keep you from the important things in life.  I learned this the hard way Friday night when I came home from work to learn my grandmother is back in the hospital after just getting out weeks ago.  The good news is I found out this morning she'll be fine, but it helps to have a grip on reality.  If you had to choose between Rose playing again or a relative surviving a hospital visit, I know you'd choose the latter.  I'll pray for both, but I know what's better to have.

Bad Altitude

As surprising as it was to see Mike Dunleavy start for Jimmy Butler instead of Kirk Hinrich, the fact that the Bulls' offense couldn't buy a basket against the Denver Nuggets turned even more heads.  It appeared the Bulls would jump into the lead at any time thanks to their perseverance, but they never found that extra wind.  Denver found an opening they pounced on and the Bulls couldn't make it up in a 97-87 loss.

Six Nuggets scored in double figures, led by third-year forward Jordan Hamilton's 17 points and 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Hamilton came into tonight averaging 8.5 points in this young season and he did a good portion of the damage?  How?  I can buy that J.J. Hickson had a double-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds.  I believe J.J. Hickson came close with a line of 14 and 9.  Heck, I can even let Nate Robinson's 11 points slide.  But if you want to be considered one of the top team's in the East, you have to let Ty Lawson and his seven assists beat you, not allow Jordan Hamilton to have one of the best games of his young career.

Four of the five Bulls starters reached double-digits.  Derrick Rose headed that group with 19 and started to look more like the player of old and the preseason with impressive drives to the basket.  Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah each achieved respective double-doubles of 15-11 and 11-12.  Mike Dunleavy looked all right with 15 points of its own.  Despite Luol Deng leading all players with 13 boards, he shot just 3-of-18 from the floor.  If he even gets close to his season scoring average of 16.9, we might be talking about a different outcome.  It was a very rough game for the two-time All-Star.

Either the offense had an off night or they still haven't gotten into a consistent rhythm.  Granted, that five-game winning streak was due to end at some point, but wouldn't you rather it happen because the team was outmuscled?  Instead, the Bulls looked like a middleweight battling a light heavyweight.  Despite some good movement and hustle, they couldn't thrive in the results-only environment that is a basketball game.  It doesn't matter what level these players are playing at.  This performance wouldn't fly with a high school freshman B squad.

It's true the Bulls' bench hasn't been that overwhelming to begin the year, but if there ever was a wakeup call that the third-generation Bench Mob needed to respond to, this was it.  The Nuggets' reserves outscored the Bulls' 49-21.  Yes, that unit is down a man in the short-term thanks to Butler's injury, but this better not be a sign that they can afford less to be inserted into the starting lineup than last year.  Rose needs the proper support or there will be another playoff exit at the hands of Miami, if not sooner.  You need the bench's leading scorer to have more than nine points (Taj Gibson, who was whistled for two technicals and subsequently ejected).

The altitude in the Mile High City might have something to do with it, but the fact that the Bulls are 1-13 there in the post-Jordan era is definitely frustrating.  They seemed ready to play, but few shots fell when they needed to, resulting in tonight's conclusion.  It just had to happen to begin the circus trip too.  Hopefully, this won't set a tone for the rest of the month.

The Bulls somehow must bounce back from this mess tomorrow night against the Portland Trail Blazers, who have surprised everyone with a 10-2 start.  That doesn't give them much time to correct everything that went wrong in Denver.  They'll need to build momentum and preferably win because the Los Angeles Clippers will be up Sunday afternoon.  If they can tame Indiana, they can handle Portland, or so we hope.

Bad News for Butler

Whether we want to admit it or not, injuries have claimed more than their fair share of Bulls victims since I started this blog before the 2011-12 season.  Maybe I should shut it down for their sake, but I refuse to accept responsibility for outside circumstances.  Not even in light of the latest one.

Jimmy Butler injured his toe during Monday's win over the Charlotte Bobcats and will not accompany the Bulls during the circus trip.  An MRI exam revealed turf toe on his right foot and Butler is officially listed as week-to-week.  He will wear a walking boot for the time being so the swelling can subside.  As of this writing, it is not yet known whether Kirk Hinrich or Mike Dunleavy will fill the two spot in the starting lineup, but both should expect a significant bump in playing time.

It's kind of funny to think that someone who was asked to play 48 minutes frequently in last year's playoffs is suddenly not able to go, but that's the life of an NBA player.  It's also a tough break for someone who is playing the best basketball of his life.  Tom Thibodeau even implied such when asked about it, but agreed that the third-year player "knows he has to do.  He'll be fine."

While the Bulls can most certainly do without him for an extended period early in the season, you hate to see the player widely thought of as the one to watch besides Derrick Rose develop this problem.  The silver lining is that this is happening now and not in the playoffs.  As we all know, the Bulls were only able to compete so much with Miami as Rose, Hinrich and Luol Deng nursed their various injuries.  Of course, the irony with this week-to-week status is that he might miss the Dec. 5 game with the Heat.  Apparently, what goes around comes around.

This also makes Rose's job slightly more problematic as he continues to look for opportunities for his teammates.  He would rather have the most talented players on offense help with his struggling play.  Deng and Carlos Boozer can't be the only teammates to help him in that regard.  Joakim Noah specializes in rebounding and energy, but can't be considered a go-to scorer.  Butler has a more diverse skill set as a swingman.  No, he doesn't pick up the scoring slack like Pippen often did with Jordan, but there's always room for his type on an NBA roster.

Hinrich's veteran presence and Dunleavy's shooting can only go so far, especially if they're expected to play longer than usual.  Between the two, Hinrich is the better option to start thanks to his experience.  He's a point guard who has shown he can play the two in the past.  Bulls fans remember him shifting there in the lineup during Rose's first two seasons before he was dealt to Washington.

Despite everything the two potential replacements have accomplished, Hinrich's body is breaking down and although Dunleavy is potent in what he does, he's not meant to start for an extended period.  The Bulls can try and replace Butler's 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals, but they'll need some luck to make it happen.  Being on the road won't make the task any easier.  Still, we've been proven wrong about this team's shortcomings before.  Anything can happen.

Hopefully, Butler is being told to take it easy.  The last thing the Bulls need is another promising young player continually hampered by injuries throughout the season.  We know how low they've been on fuel late in the last couple of years, so anything that could accelerate that is not advisable.  Thibodeau could always apply a slight brake to try and avoid that, but I have a greater chance of replacing Mike Breen for this year's NBA Finals telecasts.

Another challenge awaits, so it's time to tackle it.

Back on Track and On the Road, Looking for Rose

Luol Deng has plenty to celebrate right now.  Leading the Bulls in scoring at 16.9 points per game is nice, but he likes what his team has been doing.  During the last three games, none of which I was able to watch due to work, the Bulls have had three different types of wins, showing signs of being the contender everyone thinks to be.

In Toronto, Tom Thibodeau elected to sit Derrick Rose so that his star point guard could rest a injured hamstring against an inferior opponent.  The Bulls won handily and were back in Chicago before midnight.  The next evening, the Bulls made Paul George eat his words by handing his Indiana Pacers, the last undefeated team in the NBA, their first loss of the season.  That game was over well before the final buzzer sounded.  It wasn't as exciting as stopping Miami's long winning streak last spring, but the United Center is sure becoming known as a place where lengthy streaks die.  Last night, the Bulls had a little trouble with MJ's Charlotte Bobcats, but pulled away in the last few minutes to win their fifth in a row.  Deng put it away with a clutch three, wrapping up a 21-point night.

Don't make any plans to go to the West Side for the rest of the month if you want to watch basketball.  That's right.  It's time for the annual Circus Trip, a six-game road stretch that really lets you know more about the team.  I know it's never fair to lose your gym for two weeks, but a lot can happen in that time.  While we expect the Bulls to contend this year, they can really make a statement if they do well during these games.  How they perform could depend on the crowd's reception when they return home Dec. 2 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Most pressing has to be Rose's early drought.  In eight games played out of a possible nine, he's third on the team in scoring behind Deng and Carlos Boozer, averaging exactly 15 points.  It's not so surprising that the two players in front of him are those two, but after tearing it up in the preseason, Rose has scored 20 just once, which came in the last Indiana game.

Sure, defenses are playing him tighter now and they probably just took it easy on him during the exhibition schedule.  Still, you would have thought he'd have more than one 20-point contest by the start of this road trip.  I hope he's merely getting used to the competition playing all-out again.  If he truly believes he's the best player in the league, it's going to be time for him to put up or shut up and soon. 

He'll probably get voted onto the All-Star team if he just performs decently, but wouldn't you rather have him prove that fan voting is not just a popularity contest?  He needs to earn that trip to New Orleans in February and shouldn't have to rely on his name to get there.  There's plenty of time to make it happen, but it sure would be nice to get started as November winds down.  Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but a 25-year-old former MVP has to start playing more like one sooner or later.

Rose's next chance at a breakout game comes Thursday, a nationally televised game against the Denver Nuggets.  Plan on being up late as the tip-off is at 9:30.  If you're not used to these West Coast stretches on this trip by now, you've been living under a rock.  The Bulls are great this year, but we may learn how great over these next two weeks.

Rather Dull, But Rather Nice

Many were hoping tonight's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers would live up to its hype as the long-awaited first matchup between Derrick Rose and Kyrie Irving.  It didn't quite happen and both teams looked pretty ugly for the better part of the contest.  If you're a Bulls fan however, you'll take the 96-81 victory.

It was clear from the beginning that turnovers would be plenty, especially on Cleveland's part.  They ended the evening with 20 turnovers, off which the Bulls scored 29 points.  By contrast, the Bulls only gave up nine points off 11 turnovers.  Yeah, that's a pretty high number for this team, but when your opponent makes you look good in that department, you'll take the result. 

Of course, that won't be enough in Tom Thibodeau's eyes.  He's more likely to focus on how his team let a 13-point lead shrink down to one.  Fortunately, since the Cavs don't have the personnel to get to the next level right now, they couldn't retake the lead.  Instead, the Bulls closed the game on an 18-6 run to get to .500 on the year.  Although it's early, any team is at least somewhat legit when they reach that mark.

The scoring was evenly balanced out among six players who scored in double figures.  On a score sheet that looked similar to the one the Heat had on Opening Night, Carlos Boozer was the leader with 17 points.  He also had a great turnaround jumper in the second half that would have made Michael Jordan jealous.  Boozer has 16.8 million reasons to stick around next year and he won't collect them unless he can convince the team brass he's worth it.

Derrick Rose's 16 points and highlight drive to the hoop late in the fourth quarter took a back seat to the immediate aftermath of the play.  He grimaced in pain and didn't return to action as he was examined on the bench.  Bulls Nation held its breath for a period, but Thibodeau said in his postgame press conference it was a minor right hamstring injury.  K.C. Johnson later tweeted Rose left the locker room without a limp, so hopefully, that's where this story ends.

I hope this is the game in which we can see Mike Dunleavy finally came out of whatever shell he's been in to start the season.  He scored 15 and knocked down a pair of three-pointers.  He drew contact on another three-point attempt and made the subsequent free throws.  The Bulls need more games like this out of him if they want to succeed this season.  Otherwise, another promising run could be cut short.  That would also happen if Rose suffered another major injury, but let's not even go there.

Two weeks into the season, there's much room for improvement.  The offense still has problems, mainly due to shoddy shooting and trying to get too fancy as a unit.  Chemistry is still building for some of these players, but they won't be able to perform their individual specialties if the timing is off.  That will lead to turnovers, which result in giving up points.  A better club would have likely beaten the Bulls tonight, which is not a good sign.

Right now, the team looks like something between last year's Bulls and the previous two incarnations:   the star power is there and the bang-bang plays make a few appearances, but the lack of a consistent offense is making some games closer than they should be.  With Kyrie Irving struggling for much of tonight, it never should have turned into a one-point game in the final frame.  Yes, he ended up leading the Cavs with 16 points, but you can't let a team with less talent get into a rhythm for any period.

Still, the Bulls have a gear they can shift to that doesn't allow many of these games to slip away.  They've had it throughout Thibodeau's tenure.  With Rose back, that gear is only more lethal.  By next month, the chemistry will hopefully have been established, resulting in more blowout victories against inferior teams and close wins against the better ones.  There's a lot to look forward to here.

The Bulls will head north of the border Friday to play the Toronto Raptors.  If early indications hold, the concern for Rose will have subsided significantly except for whether he contributes in that MVP style he's known for.  Just laugh if you hear pessimism about his health.  He's here to win, not create drama.

Offenisve Fire Gets No Spark

Anytime the Bulls want to correct this travesty that is heir offensive game plan, they can let us know.  Tonight, they did a fine job relaying the message that it hasn't happened yet.  The fortunate beneficiaries were the Indiana Pacers, the NBA's last unbeaten team.  Nazr Mohammed's fadeaway shot with 4.4 seconds left kept his club out of the 70s in an ugly 97-80 final.

Although the Bulls led 43-37 at the half, shooting problems were merely a negative in a half they were just happy to get out of alive.  Afterward, it was a full-fledged problem, bottoming out in a fourth quarter when they were outscored 34-18.  Their final shooting percentage was a putrid 35.6 percent.  The Pacers weren't much better at 41.9, but in that last frame, it seemed like they couldn't miss.  That made all the difference.  All the Bulls could do was watch as the Pacers played like a team riding the momentum of their first 5-0 start.  It's tough to put on the breaks when you're feeling it.

Paul George led all scorers like the franchise player he is with 21 points, but his supporting cast was just as lethal.  David West had a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds while Roy Hibbert came close to one of his own with an 8-and-10 line.  Those boards for Hibbert were split evenly on both ends and just for good measure, he lived up to his reputation as a blocker with five. 

Indiana's starting backcourt of Lance Stephenson and C.J. Watson also reached double figures, as did Luis Scola off the bench.  Any team that plays with this much balance will always be a threat.  If you don't disrupt their strategy, they'll only be too happy to make you pay.  The Pacers will do plenty of that this year.

Derrick Rose shared a 17-point total with Luol Deng to lead the Bulls, but you could clearly see he's still getting back into regular-game shape.  Four games in and he still hasn't cracked 20.  He shot just 6-of-15 tonight despite occasional flashes of what makes him great.  He won't struggle like this all year, but it's still disheartening to actually see what we might have expected in his early return to competition.  He can only improve from here, so let's observe it.

Kirk Hinrich was the only other Bulls to hit double figures with 12.  Even so, he looked like a player trying to give it all he's got even though his skills have diminished with age.  Nothing looked effortless from him.  He never has been a bang-bang player despite his best efforts.  It would be nice to see him accomplish more of this, which would be valuable.  It's just too bad this came on a bad night.

Whether it's been bad luck with hot opponents or just being unable to solve their offensive problems, the Bulls know this can't go on all season.  They know they're better than what they've shown so far, despite recent evidence to the contrary.  The starters need to find the right wind and the bench players need to be comfortable in the roles they were brought here for.  Either all of them don't recognize it yet or they can't contribute as much as advertised (I'm looking at YOU, Mike Dunleavy).  If they want to avoid an epic letdown after the high expectations, all of this must be resolved before the calendar flips to 2014, preferably much sooner.

The 1-3 Bulls get back at it Friday at home against the Utah Jazz.  Head coach Tyrone Corbin is said to be in hot water due to his team's 0-5 start.  Time for the Bulls to push him closer out of a job.  More than that, they need to do it for themselves so they can get back on track.  The cure for what ails them is out there somewhere, and a struggling team unsure of its direction might be it.

Thibodeau Right to Call Foul?

Tom Thibodeau is understandably frustrated with his team's 1-2 start and will look to right the ship Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers.  While waiting for his next battle, the head coach shared another frustration:  one that discusses the apparent lack of respect his superstar point guard is receiving.  Specifically, he complained how Derrick Rose has not had many foul calls go his way early on.

The 10 free-throw attempts through the first three games for Rose appear to give Thibodeau a legitimate gripe.  The fans side with him, too.  A SportsNation poll shows 84 percent of 805 voters as of late Tuesday night believe Rose should be getting the calls afforded to LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and others.  Perhaps this is due to a lack of initiative on Rose's part to appeal to the referees when a decision goes against him or his team.

Look, I'm not going to pretend I'm an expert on how referees decide to call games.  Each one is different and how they feel on a given night can't be known.  We never know until after tipoff if a tight or loose game is in the works.  However, I don't think it's worth getting upset over a force the Bulls have no control over, lest they get slapped with a hefty fine.

Rose has worked extremely hard to get to where he is.  The drive he has to be the best in the league is one that can only be matched by the best players in league history.  Earlier eras suggest every player, even the stars, had to deal with a more physical sport.  Cracking down on that hard play is a recent trend which has turned some fans away from the NBA and others complaining that star treatment is more dominant than ever before.  Rose appears to be an exception to this newer rule.

The former MVP shouldn't need an assist from outside forces to succeed.  If he needs to get it done on his own, so be it.  Referees can give more calls to the stars who paid their dues long ago and Rose might have the same privileges one day.  Until then, this is how Rose has to win games.

In fact, it's rather surprising Thibodeau would even voice an opinion on this issue.  He's as old-school a coach as can be.  Never mind that other stars seem to be getting preferential treatment.  It seems to go against a lot of what he stands for, which includes hard-nosed defensive basketball that does whatever can within the rules to keep the rock from reaching your basket.  The referees shouldn't be a problem for him unless they've having an adverse effect on the outcome of a game.  Otherwise, you can't really protest judgment calls, at least how they're perceived at a given moment.

Fear not, Bulls fans.  Rose will head to the charity stripe a lot more this year.  He'll get his chances when he draws contact the right way.  In the meantime, he and Thibodeau should just worry how to get back to .500.  Doing it against the Pacers won't be easy, but a win would show everyone it will truly be a two-team race to the top of the Central.  Score, play defense and don't worry about the referees.  It's a game play every team should follow.

Scary, But Satisfying Ending

Derrick Rose might still be trying to find his stride in the regular season, but that doesn't mean he can't provide some clutch moments.  With the Bulls struggling to close out the New York Knicks in their home opener tonight, Tyson Chandler split a pair of free throws to give the visitors a one-point lead with 10.8 seconds to go, setting the stage for Rose, who had a forgettable shooting night of 7-for-23. 

On the subsequent possession, Rose hit a teardrop, knocking the clock down to 5.7 seconds and sending the United Center into a frenzy.  Carmelo Anthony, who led all scorers with 22 points, missed a would-be game winner and Chandler failed on a tip, ending the game 82-81 in the Bulls' favor.

Four Bulls starters scored in double figures, led by Rose's 18 and Luol Deng's 17.  Carlos Boozer had 14, but ceded his double-double card to Jimmy Butler, who finished with a nearly even line of 11 and 10.  On offense, Joakim Noah continued to struggle coming off a rash of preseason injuries.  He dropped just six points, but kept the team in it with 15 rebounds.  He also dropped a "hell yeah" in a postgame interview on the Bulls' radio broadcast, much to the delight of the fans who stuck around to hear it.

There's a long season ahead, but Tom Thibodeau will emphasize those 19 turnovers and being outscored 20-11 in the fourth quarter during the next practice.  We shouldn't expect the Bulls to be perfect in their victories.  Easy contests will become tough ones and more often than we would like, many will come down to the final few seconds. 

Still, every indication seems to be that this is the strongest Bulls team since the last championship.  Rose is himself again, much of his supporting cast is in its prime, Thibodeau won't rest until his group has improved yesterday and the core has been together for a few years now.  Tonight was just a small taste of things to come.  Don't worry.  Not all victories will be this stressful.  It's merely something every NBA team, good or bad, has to go through.  The Bulls are just better equipped than most, as evidenced by tonight's outcome.

As you down your Halloween candy, remember that the Bulls will be back at it Saturday in Philadelphia to take on the 76ers.  Rose would have loved to play in that city with higher stakes a couple seasons back, but maybe he can make up for lost time with one of his best games of this young season.  Of course, he'll need the rest of his team to help get a win.