Reprieve for Rose?

When Gar Forman stepped up to the podium Friday morning, he had a bit of a smirk on his face.  That could only mean one of two things.  Derrick Rose's prognosis for the season was good or he was masking a frown from learning about his franchise player's future.  Fortunately, the former proved to be the case.

Rose, under the care of team physician Dr. Brian Cole, had the torn part of his right meniscus removed and subsequently walked out of the hospital.  His recovery time is believed to last 4-6 weeks, which means he could return to action as early as March 28 against the Knicks or as late as the final three games of the regular season.  In the meantime, he should be back to a regular practice schedule in a week.

It definitely gives a more positive feeling than what we had when the initial news broke Tuesday night.  There's a small glimmer, but a glimmer nonetheless that this season can still be something special.  Still, we don't know what kind of player Rose will be when he returns, especially in the playoffs.  That's a much bigger bear.

And there's still the possibility something could go wrong over the next month, forcing Rose out of yet another postseason.  We really shouldn't think that way, but we've learned anything is possible with Rose.  He's not like other players regarding his talent or his health.  That combination is leading to comparisons of Penny Hardaway and Brandon Roy, two wonderful players whose superstardoms were derailed by constant knee injuries.

The good news is all indications are this procedure for Rose wasn't as serious as his previous two.  Forman indicated he might even restart some of his basketball activities at the Advocate Center tomorrow.  If all the former MVP needed was to get rid of this part of his meniscus, we'll take it.  Any Rose is better for this team than no Rose at all.

Long-term, Rose is now more at risk for arthritis in his knee.  What that means for his career can't really be determined right now, but look for the knee issue to be more chronic than it was before.  Plus,if he really wanted to be pain-free for meetings and graduations down the line, the chances of that have certainly taken a hit.

But perhaps Rose and the doctors recognize there was no point in repairing a meniscus that had been re-torn just 16 months after it was operated on.  And if the Bulls' title window is closing, perhaps that was taken into consideration.  Rose wants nothing more than to be a key contributor on a championship team.  It's hard to tell how much of his input was considered here, but it would be shocking if the current NBA environment didn't play a role.

These Bulls are more stacked than they ever have been, so playing without Rose for a month or so may not be such a bad thing.  Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol have been leading the charge, so they could certainly hold down the fort until their point guard returns.  And no matter what we see from Rose when and if he returns, his mere presence will inspire the team as much as Joakim Noah's emotions.  That doesn't mean he should have lower expectations than E'Twaun Moore, but he can probably play beyond that in his condition anyway.

No need to give up on the season yet, Bulls fans.  This period just happens to coincide with Lent, so consider this a time of penance for everything bad the Bulls have done this year.  When Christ rises again on Easter, so will Rose (we hope).  Hey, faith is sometimes all we need to look ahead.

While you look ahead, check out Rose's new Powerade commercial.

No-Rose Hangover

After the devastating news about Derrick Rose the night before, the Bulls still had to play a game against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.  But the atmosphere in the United Center still felt like a funeral.  Seats were empty on both press row and in the stands.  And those seats saw a 98-86 loss.

It initially seemed like it would be a close game between a bad team and a debilitated team.  We got just that for three quarters, the first two of which ended tied.  But the fourth was when the bottom fell out as the Hornets outscored the Bulls 31-21.  It was merely the latest subplot in what has become the next chapter in the Rose saga.

Four Hornets starters reached double figures and were led by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's double-double of 18 and 12.  Maurice Williams had 17 points while Al Jefferson trailed just behind with 16.  Gerald Henderson added 11 and Brian Roberts came off the bench with 12.  There wasn't a whole lot to write home about besides Kidd-Gilchrist, but no one really needed to be spectacular to beat the Bulls.

Pau Gasol had his latest double-double of 25 and 13.  Jimmy Butler totaled 14 and Aaron Brooks scored 12 in his first post-Rose start.  Tony Snell continued to make his case to stay in the rotation with 10.  Joakim Noah, who was introduced last in the starting lineup (which has to be a first for "the man in the middle"), grabbed 11 rebounds.

It was hard to imagine the Bulls looking like anything but a competitive team fresh off the Rose development.  The club is still recovering mentally and you can't help but wonder how long it will take for that to happen.  And we still don't know if Rose is truly done for the season.  Even if he comes back, these Bulls are no longer championship contenders, so that's an adjustment they might want to take their time in making.

Normally, another home loss to a bad team would further illustrate what has been a disturbing trend all year.  But with no Rose, it hardly seems like a serious concern anymore.  Everyone and their mom knows where this season is ultimately headed, so it pretty seems like a formality from here on out.  Losing sole possession of first place in the Central means far less now than it did just over 24 hours earlier.

Still, the Bulls have a chance to show how strong a playoff team can be.  They can build upon that Friday when the Minnesota Timberwolves pay them a visit.  Kevin Garnett will still be adjusting to life with his old team once again, so maybe, the more talented Bulls can find weaknesses throughout Minnesota's lineup.   At this point, even a tiny bandage over a big wound can be a relief.

I've Got Nothing

What can I say?  Life's a cruel thing.  It just happens to crash down on some people harder than others.  Derrick Rose is one of those people.

On a night which appeared to be just one with no Bulls game, it was reported Rose had an MRI earlier today, which revealed a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.  That's the same one he tore in November of last season.  He will undergo surgery with no timetable set for his return.

This can only be described as cruel, shocking and a tearjerker.  Yet another knee injury to the Bulls' franchise player has possibly brought another season to a halt, taking the championship aspirations with it.  It's such a numb feeling after going through this twice already and now, having it happen again.  We're only left to wonder "what if?"

Even if Rose's meniscus is removed and not repaired, which could result in a return for the playoffs, it's hard to imagine any championship realities playing out now.  In a league where talent reigns supreme and health is crucial, this is a death sentence.  There are teams ahead of the Bulls in both areas right now, and they just tumbled further down the ladder.  So don't be saving any seats in Grant Park and if you already have, pack up and leave.

This was supposed to be the Bulls' best chance at a title, but now, several questions have been raised as to where both the team and Rose go from here.  Talks of rebuilding around the likes of Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic have not been unheard of in the immediate aftermath of this news.  And forget about Rose returning to his MVP form.  Is he ever going to be an average player if and when he comes back?

We may never see another story in Chicago sports as tragic as Rose's.  Gale Sayers is certainly up there, but he still became an NFL legend in his shortened career.  Rose doesn't even have that luxury because his body betrayed him before he could cement that legacy.  This shouldn't happen so often to a player of his caliber, but the script written for him was apparently rejected by someone upstairs.

This is not the time for finger-pointing, but rather, a time for wondering why this had to happen again.  It's difficult to comprehend anything right now because this just came completely out of nowhere and we don't know what's going to happen.  All of that will be answered as we learn more and this story continues to develop.  Right now, our brains are trying to wrap around this sudden shift in the season.

Nobody should wish what Rose has gone through these last three years on anybody, even their own worst enemy.  It's a punch in the gut to everybody close to him and those who have followed his career.  That's why we really can't find the proper words to analyze this.  We're too angry, upset and speechless for that at the moment.

Give Them a Rest, Thibs

I'm willing to overlook several ugly aspects of the Bulls' 87-71 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.  The 36 percent from the field I can live with.  I'll forget the 18 turnovers.  I can even look past Derrick Rose's 1-for-13 shooting, although there may be plenty of time to analyze him if he continues to struggle.

What bothers me more is Tom Thibodeau didn't go to the end of his bench in this blowout until there was 1:36 to go.  Even right before that, many players still on the floor were starters.  The final box score revealed five players (Rose, Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah, Nikola Mirotic and Tony Snell) as having played between 31 and 38 minutes.  Add Pau Gasol's 29 minutes and that's an average of 32.5 minutes among six key players.

Maybe Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson being out with illnesses had something to do with it, but that's still no excuse to ride your other horses so hard when your opponent is ready for everything except playing basketball.  The key guys should have been brought in at least four minutes earlier.  Sure, nothing bad happened to anybody, but have you forgotten what happened to Rose in the 2012 playoffs under similar circumstances?

Although I'm on record as defending Thibodeau for riding his guys hard, I'm not so sure it's a good idea anymore.  With or without Rose, we've seen the Bulls get burned in the playoffs for being exhausted after grinding it out in the regular season.  Other teams have gotten further after pacing themselves over the 82-game schedule.  But Thibodeau's understanding of the new NBA apparently only goes so far.

Then you have questions has to just how many people are under his command.  Gibson just came out and said he's been playing with a torn ligament in his hand for the last month, but Thibodeau said to keep quiet about it.  That could be a good thing if you believe in the NHL's injury system or a bad thing if you need to know what's going on all the time.  Either way, it questions just how much is enough under Thibodeau.

If this truly is the one chance these Bulls have to win a championship, Thibodeau needs to make an overdue adjustment to get to the finish line.  Gar Forman and John Paxson have gotten on their coach for not resting guys enough near the end of blowouts, which may be a key factor in the discord allegedly existing between the sides.  Fans need to do the same.  If it's a 20-point game with five minutes left, we want to see the Bairstows, Moores, McDermotts and Mohammeds out there.

It's also critical to work this system in if a team, like the Bucks in the last game, is clearly unable to keep up with you.  If you know they can't be competitive on a certain night, don't waste your stars' energy on them.  Let the bench face an opposing starting lineup (if the other coach allows it).  Give them experience.

The crowd shouldn't have to chant for certain players to enter the game so late in the fourth quarter.  Sooner or later, those are going to turn into jeers at Thibodeau for using his best players so recklessly.  On a team not known for being healthy, you can't afford to risk yet another blow to the roster.  If Thibodeau doesn't recognize this, someone better get in his face about it, maybe Jerry Reinsdorf.

Thibodeau will get a shot at redemption Wednesday when the Bulls are visited by the Charlotte Hornets.  If the Bucks aren't that great of a playoff team, the Hornets shouldn't even be sniffing the postseason right now.  Yet here they are in the thick of a bad East.  So here's another chance to get the starters in, see if they can demolish a poor opponent and sit them much sooner if it gets to that point.

Midseason Standing a Precursor?

Forget the craziness that has been this year's NBA Trade Deadline and let's take a look at the Bulls.  No, they didn't make any deals, so that makes this midseason analysis a bit easier.  Plus, my phone will blow up with just the NBA Gametime app and not Twitter or the Bulls app.

It's easy to get frustrated at the Bulls for not playing better than their 34-20 record.  Sure, they hold a slim lead in the Central and the third playoff seed, but there have been times when they don't look like a championship team.  The sentiment everywhere is this is their one real chance to make the NBA Finals, so why haven't they been dominant?

The short answer involves the rash of injuries which have kept the normal starting five from playing together most of the year.  There's also the observation of not as much intensive play compared to past seasons, especially against inferior teams like Orlando, Utah and the Lakers.  And of course, that leads to questions about why the defense has regressed while the offense is finally playing up to NBA standards.  We all wish these issues would just go away.

Then again, it wouldn't be the regular season if we didn't have all this second guessing.  Remember, the first month was dominated by talk of Derrick Rose sitting out games with minor injuries and nobody trusting him in the playoffs.  Now, he's played the Bulls' last 16 games, so that issue has at least temporarily been pushed aside.  Storylines come and go often between late October and mid-April.

While Rose is playing consistently and getting more minutes, he's still not quite back to what he was before the first knee injury.  By the same token, he's closer than ever before.  As long as he focuses on being aggressive, making smart passes and not settling for shots he isn't used to taking, he can still be as dangerous as any player in the NBA.  That's why the Bulls' success this year largely depends on what he can offer, especially in the playoffs.

For all the Rose talk, there has been equal, if not greater interest in Jimmy Butler, who just played in his first All-Star Game.  His offense has drastically improved to the tune of 20.4 points per game, forcing opponents to plan for him.  It could be argued that this new planning caused him to taper off a bit late in the first half, but if this is the regular Butler going forward, he'll need to show up consistently.  It would also help if he incorporated more of the player who has locked down on opponents and caused them trouble, which defined him before this season.

Pau Gasol, another All-Star this year, is already in the discussion of the Bulls' best free-agent acquisition ever.  After being shackled in Mike D'Antoni's offensive philosophy in Los Angeles, he's found the fountain of youth in Chicago.  There were talks early on about him being an MVP candidate, but he's still good for a double-double nightly.  Despite defensive issues like Carlos Boozer before him, he isn't being paid an insane deal to underachieve and most importantly, you want him on the floor late in close games.

Mike Dunleavy had never missed a game as a Bull before injuries sidelined him for over a month.  It was during that stretch when the Bulls had their worst run of the season and momentarily allowed Cleveland to take over first in the Central.  But he's back in the starting lineup and if he's the key in allowing his other, more talented teammates to play well, look out for this team in the second half.  Although he doesn't make the highlight reels often, he knows how to play basketball and anyone with a high IQ for the sport belongs on a good team.

Speaking of injuries, Joakim Noah has really labored after offseason knee surgery.  Although last year's Defensive Player of the Year is slightly above his career rebounding average (9.7 vs. 9.4),  he's below in most other categories.  We were warned this might happen after he made remarks early on that his sore knee would be an issue all year.  As the emotional leader on this team, he'll need to stay hyped through the pain or the Bulls won't be motivated enough to go at the right speed.

The bench continues to have a solid contributor in Taj Gibson, who knows how to score inside and right now, makes a better rebounding tandem with Gasol than Noah does.  Aaron Brooks has played every game and offensively, has excelled at point guard in Tom Thibodeau's system as so many others did in the role prior to his arrival.  Also playing in every game is Nikola Mirotic, a Rookie of the Year candidate whose abilities on both ends have proven the time was right for him to come over from Spain.  With a little more seasoning in the NBA, he could develop into a constant for the Bulls over the next several years.

A recent debate has emerged over whether Kirk Hinrich or Tony Snell should be a regular part of the rotation.  Hinrich has shown flashes of former glory, but his skills are only diminishing more as he gets older.  Snell has underachieved for the most part and yet, he's taken advantage of increased minutes in Hinrich's absence to show signs of being a good, young player.  I would take youth in this case just to keep Thibodeau from riding an old mule.

The end of the bench ranges from average to practically non-existent.  E'Twaun Moore is often called upon to fill in for regular rotation guys when they're sidelined and he does a good job.  Doug McDermott has yet to reclaim a spot in the rotation since returning from the injury he suffered in December, but he needs minutes to get that chance.  Cameron Bairstow has contributed about what you'd expect from a second-round rookie on a good team and Nazr Mohammed is starting to rival Jack Haley on the 1995-96 Bulls except for slightly more playing time.

With a group this good, you'd think it would mend any animosity between Thibodeau and the front office.  But nobody in the league seems to think so, making this a possible agenda for Thibodeau to save his job.  If the Bulls can at least get to the conference finals, all the powers that be might be able to stay.  However, an early playoff exit could mean a major shakeup, so everyone needs to fight for themselves as well as the city.

If the playoffs started today, the Bulls would face Milwaukee in a 3-6 series while Washington and Cleveland would play each other in a 4-5.  It would certainly be ideal for the Bulls if one of those teams had to knock the other out as neither has proven to be a good matchup for them.  What's more, they wouldn't have to face either until the conference finals, so I would be just fine if the current 3, 4 and 5 seeds remained where they are.  As for the rest of the East, Toronto is not being looked upon as a legitimate 2 seed while Atlanta is the conference's darling, but that's for another day.

The season's second half begins Friday when the Bulls travel to Auburn Hills and take on the Detroit Pistons.  That's one team that dealt like crazy at the deadline, adding Reggie Jackson and Enes Kanter among others.  In the East, that could be enough to earn them a low playoff seed.  But that means they're not that good, so the Bulls must remind them of such.

Rose-y Snell

There was only one NBA game Thursday and it happened to pit the Bulls against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  With TNT covering it and Marv Albert on the call, everyone was ready for Derrick Rose and LeBron James to butt heads.  The matchup was somewhat dampened by the absences of Kevin Love and Jimmy Butler, but all the fans at the United Center cared about in the end was a 113-98 victory.

Though never officially a blowout, the game hardly felt like it was that close.  The Bulls played with the energy and intensity that was lacking during most of January.  The offense was explosive and the defense cracked down most of the time.  There couldn't have been a better segue to the All-Star break.

Derrick Rose has had doubters all season and silenced them for one night with 30 points and seven assists.  The two turnovers he committed late in the fourth quarter were his first in the last two games.  The best part was he looked like the fearless explosive slasher that made him so special when he was widely considered one of the best players in the NBA.  He seemingly only plays like this in high-profile games, so if this is true, look out come playoff time.

Tony Snell continued his recent hot streak with 22 points, which included a 4-of-6 evening from behind the 3-point line.  Starting in place of Butler, his defense also in part forced James into eight turnovers, one off his season high.  Is it too much to ask Tom Thibodeau to give Kirk Hinrich's rotation spot to Snell?  Maybe he won't always be hot, but this late-season addition might be just what the Bulls need to push them over the top without giving anybody up.

Pau Gasol recorded his 14th consecutive double-double, this one to the tune of 18 and 10.  Joakim Noah, looking confident and perhaps taking advantage of no Love in the middle, pulled down his own double-double of 10 and 15 while adding seven dimes.  Taj Gibson scored 13 off the bench and his six rebounds served as a reminder that he'll stay consistent on both ends going forward.

Holding off the hot Cavaliers to keep first place in the Central at the break has to feel liberating.  It also lets everyone know the battle for playoff seeding is going to be a tight one.  Atlanta is on top for now followed by Toronto, but conventional wisdom seems to be the East will still run through these two teams.  When both are hopefully healthy come playoff time, everyone better fasten their seat belts.

Many felt the Bulls peaked during their 13-2 run earlier this season after a bad January.  But this past week has served as a reminder not to get too caught up in bad stretches when your team has a bunch of talent.  You can't expect to go 17-0 like Atlanta did in January, but you can play .700 ball the rest of the way and still be in a position most teams would envy.  Statement wins such as Thursday's will boost confidence and hopefully guide you to more wins.

After eight days off, the Bulls are back at it next Friday to take on the Detroit Pistons.  It's a fairly easy opponent, but one the Bulls must caution themselves against because of their tendency to relax against lesser teams.  Let's make that less of a problem going forward so your record can be as good as your roster.

Big Welcome Home

The Bulls' return to the United Center against the Sacramento Kings was filled with storylines.  Kings interim coach Tyrone Corbin will be replaced by George Karl after the All-Star break, Mike Dunleavy was back in the starting lineup and the Bulls had a two-game winning streak to bring into their homecoming.  All that mattered though was a convincing 104-86 victory.

Although the Kings kept the deficit reasonable throughout the first half and Jimmy Butler exited the second with a shoulder injury, the Bulls took control in the third quarter with a 27-15 edge.  Eventually, Tom Thibodeau emptied the bench.  Although names like McDermott, Moore and Mohammed only saw floor time for a minute, the win was all that mattered on this night.

 Pau Gasol had his latest double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds, which was to be expected.  Derrick Rose scored 23 and pleasantly dished out seven assists.  But Tony Snell's 24 off the bench on 9-of-11 shooting was what had everyone talking.  Oh, and he played 41 minutes.

Fans have been pretty hard on Snell this year and even I've admitted to forgetting he was still on the roster.  I would love to eat crow over nothing more than to see Snell become a impact player as we head to the second half of the season.  Butler barely made a mark until late in his second season, so maybe lightning is striking twice.  But it won't happen if Thibodeau doesn't play him more, so he should take this game as a warning of what he may miss out on if he continues to ride the second-year guard on the bench.

More importantly, the win showed how dominant the Bulls can be when they're at full strength.  They themselves had not seemed to be aware of this lately and the latest addition to this winning streak was the most impressive.  They didn't need an injury to a key opposing player, nor did they allow a comeback after building a big lead.  All that was required was a reminder that this team is talented enough to make a run at the Finals and this game was just that.

The Cleveland Cavaliers come to town Thursday for one last game before the All-Star break.  This nationally televised tilt will hopefully be closer than the blowout the Bulls suffered in Ohio on MLK Day.  These Bulls have yet to defeat the rebuilt Cavs, so a win would boost confidence in everybody that the East runs through them.  People have talked about it, but can the Bulls walk that walk?

Returning with Relief

The Bulls have needed wins in the worst way recently.  They got just those this past weekend against New Orleans and Orlando.  After Anthony Davis left with a shoulder injury, the Bulls proceeded to blow the Pelicans out of their own building.  Then, they nearly choked away a win over the Magic and would have for sure had Tobias Harris not blown a last-second putback attempt.

Miraculously, the Bulls finished their Frozen on Ice trip at 3-3 and are somehow one seed higher in the East (3rd) than they were when they left.  I don't like to say I can predict basketball because if I did, I would be working in Vegas.  Had I been a betting man, I might have lost money on how this road trip finished.

Recently, we've seen glimpses of Jimmy Butler's newfound stardom, Pau Gasol's consistent double-doubles, Derrick Rose's scoring and playmaking as well as what Tony Snell can do when given a chance.  We've even gotten to see Doug McDermott play coming off his recent injury.  Granted, it was at the end of a blowout, but hopefully, Tom Thibodeau will have more confidence in the rookie going forward.  It's tiring to see these nine-man rotations, so any change in strategy is welcome.

In any event, the Bulls need to understand that all these things are needed consistently if they want to win the championship this year.  And in today's NBA, it starts with finding the right balance between playing hard and playing smart.  More importantly, you can't take any big lead for granted because just about every team can come back.  So it's really a matter of bringing your game and not letting up.

I said recently that the Bulls needed to get to the All-Star break in the worst way, but maybe they just needed a couple of wins to get going.  Sacramento comes to the United Center on Tuesday and Cleveland arrives Thursday.  You have a team with coaching issues followed by the hottest club in the Central.

Based on the Bulls we've seen this year, it's easy to say they'll take it easy against the Kings and make a futile hard effort against the Cavaliers, who have won the first two meetings of the season.  They need to get back to looking at every opponent in the same fashion because winning when they should and losing when they shouldn't is frustrating to watch.  If they're not looking at it from the fan's perspective, they better start doing it now.  We're tired of getting our hopes up against sub-.500 teams only to be let down.

As we come ever closer to the second half of the season, let this be a time for the Bulls to examine where they are and how far they still have to go.  National writers and analysts still think this team is the one to beat in the East, so now is the time to back that up.  If you're not doing it for the media, do it for your fan base and yourselves.  The worst thing that can happen is for a talented team to come up short and look back on what might have been.

Since I made my last post, I've lost my dear grandfather whom I referred as Pa Shunk.  Though he wasn't the biggest Bulls fan, he knew how I excited I was to watch them when they were winning championships.  He and my grandmother have always done their best to support me in this part of my life and it's a shame he won't be around to witness the rest of what could be a special Bulls season.  Any thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

Frank Foys:  1931-2015

All Butler's Fault?

With the Bulls losing to the Houston Rockets Wednesday, they've dropped into a tie for first in the Central with Cleveland.  The NBA's tiebreaker system ranks the Cavs ahead in the playoff seedings.  That happens when one team is hot and the other is not.

Much of the Bulls' struggles have been pointed to a defense that has been uncharacteristically lacking, but is Jimmy Butler the main reason for it?  Before the Houston loss, the All-Star said he believed he was.  At least he felt it started with him.

"I'm supposed to be this prime-time defender and I don't think I've been holding up my end of the bargain lately," said Butler.  "So I think whenever I start kicking it up three, four notches on defense and not worry about offense as much, I think it'll all turn around.''

A member of the All-Defensive Second Team last season, the concerns about Butler's defensive drop are not unwarranted.  But do we really want to place the blame squarely on the team's top scorer?  Looking at just one player for a collective defensive seems a little extreme.

If you're going to blame anything, you should look to a player's absence, not presence.  Mike Dunleavy has been out for a month.  Even with Butler not playing up to defensive speed, it's still better than him not playing at all.  We don't know how much worse the Bulls would be without Butler, but he's still out there.

More importantly, everyone on the team just needs to stop talking and start walking again.  There's been way too much talk about lack of effort, poor communication and insistence of no animosity within the organization.  All of these issues would just be background noise if the last month hadn't seen so much inconsistency on the court.  But if the team is failing, people are going to look for reasons and start shouting at the powers that be to fix it.

The Frozen on Ice trip concludes this weekend with trips to New Orleans and Orlando.  That's hardly a breather considering the Bulls' poor play among lesser teams.  The Pelicans aren't even really a break as they just happen to be 26-23 and fifth in the Southwest.  The All-Star break just needs to get here and fast.