Doubles for Everyone

Never mind that the Bulls started their six-game road trip against a San Antonio Spurs team that had four of their key players out with injuries, Manu Ginobili among them.  Any win against a perennial contender that's a threat to win their conference yet again can only do wonders for your confidence going forward.  That's exactly what happened tonight with a 96-86 final.

Things looked even for much of the first half, but the Bulls closed it on a 12-0 run to take a four-point halftime lead.  From there, they answered every Spurs run with one of their own.  By the fourth quarter, it seemed every close shot attempt was falling for the Bulls and anything the Spurs put up was off target.  That pretty much told the story for the night as far as who had both the better luck and the healthier bodies.

In something you don't find in box scores too often, all seven Bulls who found the bottom of the hoop reached double figures.  Each of those players made at least three field goals and six of them had at least five.  Jimmy Butler, back in his home state of Texas, led the Bulls with 19 points.  Carlos Boozer's latest double-double consisted of 16 and 12.  Joakim Noah, back after missing Monday's game against Minnesota with an illness, recorded 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.  His final rebound, occurring on the game's last possession, kept his double-digit rebounding streak alive at 17.  Kirk Hinrich returned from a hamstring injury and totaled 11 to show his time off was worth the wait, even if he came off the bench.

This is exactly what the Bulls needed to kick off their Disney on Ice trip.  Everyone not named Derrick Rose was healthy.  They knew that even though the Spurs have been in a slump thanks to injuries recently, they can be dangerous with less than what they had available tonight.  They were ready for that and took full advantage of the situation.  Tom Thibodeau is most certainly happy with what he saw.  To go into the defending Western champions' house and kick them while they're down is extremely gratifying.  Yes, it would have been nice to beat them at full strength, but beggars can't be choosers and every opponent is taken equally around here.  That's why this team always goes all out.

After two days' rest, the Bulls will take on the New Orleans Pelicans.  Hopefully, not only can they win, but they'll have all potential bodies available once more.  Those two combinations will make the fan base and the team itself happy.  And again, if you're one of those pulling your hair out over them not tanking to take advantage of the best of this year's draft, I can only apologize.  This is who the Bulls are and nothing will change that.