Nuggets Not Golden in Second Half

Unlike last preseason, during which the Bulls ran the table, it took them three games this year to get in the win column.  After doing it Saturday against Milwaukee, they did it again Monday, in comeback fashion this time against the Denver Nuggets.  Trailing by 21 in the second quarter, they outscored the Nuggets 52-32 for a 110-90 victory.

Jimmy Butler, whose increased scoring last season was coupled with decreased shooting numbers, led all scorers with 21 points.  This was accompanied by 7-of-8 shooting from the field and making all seven free throws.  Derrick Rose, who has been encouraged by Tom Thibodeau lately to up his game even further, scored 15 despite going 4-of-12 from the floor.  He matched Butler's perfect night at the charity stripe, but had only six attempts.

Doug McDermott gave Denver a taste of what they could be missing from their first-round draft pick by scoring 16 and knocking down three of his four shots from downtown.  Taj Gibson offered the latest evidence that he would start on almost any other team with 15.  Nikola Mirotic showcased the newest reason to think he's the next European to successfully jump to the NBA.  He scored 12 and had a game-high four steals, so that's good reason for optimism.

Although there's still a few more exhibition games to be played, a glance at the box score tonight shows none of the players signed right before training camp have a real chance to make the final cut.  Solomon Jones and Ben Hansbrough both sat on the bench throughout.  Kim English apparently wasn't active, but one has to imagine he wouldn't be in much better shape had he suited up.  If certain players on the team don't have a chance of much playing time this year, the aforementioned players have no chance of even making it to opening night.

More important than the players' performances, tonight reminded everyone that the Bulls will be in most of their games and can never be counted out.  If you take a big lead against them, as Denver did tonight, you have to go for the kill because that won't be safe otherwise.  They can just as easily turn the tables and blow you out right back.

The fake games continue Thursday as the Bulls take on the Atlanta Hawks.  It's hard to expect anything too exciting besides anticipation of a match-up between an East contender and a team that may back its way into the playoffs.  Sometimes, it's rough to be a fan of this conference.