Villains Take WWE Night

Were the Bulls really the villains in this game?  It could be argued since they were the opponents on the night of a Cleveland Cavaliers promotion.  Regardless, the Bulls couldn't care less about that and stayed focused on bringing down Luol Deng in his new home.  They did just that with a 98-87 final.

Even though Carlos Boozer and Kirk Hinrich both sat out with injuries, they weren't needed on this impressive shooting night.  The Bulls shot 52.9 percent from the floor and 10-for-21 from behind the arc.  Early on, it was clear good shooting and defense would prevail on this night.  Though just 3-for-6 at the start, the Bulls got off to a 7-0 lead, setting the tone.  They survived Kyrie Irving's scoring binge in the second quarter and his 26 total points, outscoring the Cavs 28-18 in the third.  That decided the game, putting any fears that Deng, who shot just 2-of-11 from the floor and scored 11, would haunt his old mates in their first meeting.

Backing up an increasing notion that almost any point guard can thrive in Tom Thibodeau's system, D.J. Augustin led everyone with 27 points and seven assists.  He just might be the Bulls' best player not named Joakim Noah in January.  That's how much of an impact he's made, especially considering he's had his minutes increase due to an injured Hinrich on more than one occasion.  Don't forget he picked up the slack for Marquis Teague as his time with the Bulls winded down.  At least now, he has Mike James, the same guy whose job he took, to give him a breather when needed.

Taj Gibson, starting for Boozer, scored 26 and had three blocks in 43 minutes.  It was surely a glimpse of when he likely becomes the regular starting power forward next season with Boozer amnestied.  Mike Dunelavy showed Deng his old starting spot is in good hands by pouring in 22, though I doubt Deng is that concerned with how that's holding up.  Noah's campaign for an All-Star berth continued by collecting 18 rebounds and dishing out six assists.  Seriously, if he's denied a trip to New Orleans a few weeks from now, bring me the Eastern Conference coaches who snubbed him on their ballots so I can hear why.  The Bulls don't go on this January tear without him.

Just when you thought the Bulls were finished with the Derrick Rose injury and the Deng trade, they suddenly find themselves one game over .500 at 21-20.  They sit just one game behind the third seed in the East.  You have to praise a team that's clicking offensively, playing shutdown defense and playing that grind-it-out style they've become known for in the absence of their former MVP.  There's no way a team with considerably less talent than they had to start the season should be doing this, yet they are.  If you can't appreciate it because you're hoping for a high lottery pick in June, I sincerely apologize.

The fun will continue Friday when the Bulls welcome their second Los Angeles team to the United Center this week.  The Clippers will be the foes and while I'm not predicting a good outcome, at least it should be entertaining.  Lob City is coming, so prepare for the rim to come close to shattering.  Sorry if it sounds like cheerleading for the enemy, but when you have an exciting opponent, entertainment is plentiful.