Playing With the Pacers

The Bulls played the second of a preseason back-to-back Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers while most of the city was watching the Cubs.  After being down 10 at the end of the first quarter, the Bulls outscored their guests 24-11 in the second and took over from there.  Never mind committing 14 turnovers to the Pacers' six.  The Bulls will take their 103-94 victory, despite it meaning zilch.

One night after the bigs did most of the Bulls' damage (in a loss), two of the point guards shined here.  Aaron Brooks led the team with 22 points off the bench, flashing what he supplied during the regular season last year, but not in the playoffs.  E'Twaun Moore chipped in with 13 and also grabbed seven rebounds.  If he can have more than a few of those games during the year, there will be scary depth backing up Derrick Rose.

Four of the five Bulls' starters scored in double figures, led by Nikola Mirotic's 15.  He tied with Brooks with a team-high four 3-pointers, reemphasizing how he's a lesser, yet effective version of Dirk Nowitzki.  A little more development in that long shot and we could see him in All-Star Weekend's premier shooting contest this February.  Pau Gasol, who sat out Monday, poured in 10 to go with eight rebounds.

Taj Gibson scored nine in a potential highlight for how effective the injured Bulls (Rose, Mike Dunleavy) can be when they come back.  Granted, Gibson is sandwiched between those other two guys in terms of talent, but if you add them with the healthy talent at the moment and Fred Hoiberg's new system, there could be more excitement and looseness on the West Side than all of last year.  Yes, the Bulls won 50 games and got to the second round of the playoffs, but the internal division between the front office and Tom Thibdeau as well as Rose and Jimmy Butler flaming out together down the stretch put a damper on everything.  I still have doubts about Hoiberg, but everybody seems to be at peace with each other for the most part.

The Bulls close out the exhibition schedule Friday against the winless Dallas Mavericks in Lincoln, Neb.  It wouldn't be shocking to see some of the better players sit it out, but we can't predict that just yet.  Some players have been sitting out games for rest or minor injuries though, so maybe this will be the last chance for some players to crack the final roster, provided they get the chance.  I'm looking at you, Jordan Crawford.