Winning in Wichita

Has it really been a week since I last blogged?  My apologies for not being able to watch more preseason games.  I'll be home on Opening Night, so you'll definitely see something from me after that game, but let's talk about tonight.

In a potential NBA Finals match-up, the Bulls met the Oklahoma City Thunder in Wichita, Kansas.  Though meant to be a Thunder home game, the crowd looked very bipartisan.  I guess when you only get NBA basketball in your city once a year at most, fans of both teams are going to show up in droves.  What they got was a back-and-forth 104-95 Bulls victory.

Those hoping to see two of the NBA's best do what they're paid for were not disappointed.  Derrick Rose led all scorers with 26 points and Kevin Durant had 22.  Somehow, Jeremy Lamb tied his teammate in points and it would be very shocking if he played like this regularly during the actual season.  Look out for the Thunder even more in that case.

Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng each scored 20 while compiling respective rebounding totals of 14 and 10.  Their agents will love to see those games from them as they prepare to be amnestied or test out free agency.  The Bulls meanwhile, will be happy to see those contributions as they try to back up the preseason predictions that they'll be the team best equipped to knock off Miami in the East.  More on that when I write my official team preview before the opener.

Jimmy Butler looked impressive in scoring 12 and Mike Dunleavy came off the bench with nine, giving a preview of what we'll see from a new regular starter and the bench's new three-point specialist.  There were no previews from Joakim Noah or Kirk Hinrich though.  They're both still out with injuries and there's word that Noah may not be ready for opening night. 

It always seems if one key player isn't hurt on this team, it's another.  Such seems to be the story throughout the Chicago sports landscape in recent years.  The fact that the Bulls are legitimate contenders makes it tougher for them to swallow.  Hopefully, the injuries are getting out of the way now so they won't hurt the team when it matters.

The Denver Nuggets invade the United Center for the Bulls' final preseason game this year on Friday.  More than likely, Tom Thibodeau will play his starters the same number of minutes that have given some media folks fans ulcers.  It happened tonight, so why change it up now?  You can't convince Thibodeau to ever let up, so there's no way to bother trying.  That's a logical argument, right?