Living It All in 2013

As I try to reflect on what 2013 meant to the Bulls, it's not so easy.  In the past 12 months, they've experienced some nifty highs, awful lows, plenty of drama and everything in between.  While there are some teams both far better and far worse off than what they're experiencing now, a bit of everything was what we got from the Bulls this year.

When it began, folks were still optimistic Derrick Rose would return from his ACL rehab in time to give the Bulls the boost they needed in the playoffs.  The Bulls were merely just biding their time so the former MVP could surprise everyone just like Adrian Peterson before him.  Surely, he could face Miami when the time came.

In the meantime, Luol Deng earned his second straight All-Star selection and Joakim Noah his first.  We were amazed at how Deng seemed so subtle in his contributions and yet, was so important to the team's makeup.  Noah was having the best season of his career and having fun while doing so.  Without him, there wouldn't be nearly as much energy for the Bulls on game nights.

Things looked even better when the Miami Heat came to the United Center and saw their 27-game winning streak, the second longest in NBA history, be put to rest.  The Bulls did it shorthanded too, which gave the home crowd enough reason to make the arena as loud as it could get during a regular-season contest.  That's how they clinched a playoff spot too.

Meanwhile, Rose never returned despite never ruling out the possibility of doing so.  The whole situation became a PR nightmare for both camps, splitting both the media and the fan base as to what he should do.  If anyone had just said the right thing, all the turmoil could have been avoided, but it didn't happen, so we were left to the stupidity spouting from the mouths of many.  For many, the notion of Rose being a humble, hometown kid was gone.

While this was going on, the Bulls took a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, capped off by a Game 4, triple-overtime win for the ages with Nate Robinson leading the way.  Then suddenly, Deng came down with a spinal tap and Kirk Hinrich had to sit with a calf injury, so the Nets unsurprisingly tied the series at 3.  All seemed lost heading into Game 7 at Brooklyn, but the stretched-out Bulls somehow shocked the world by earning their first-ever road victory in a winner-take-game.  There's no way it should have happened, but you can never count out a Tom Thibodeau-coached team.

That set up a second-round meeting with the Heat.  Still missing Deng and Hinrich, the Bulls would have been considered lucky to win one game in that series unless either of those players returned.  It began with LeBron James accepting the MVP award prior to Game 1.  Immediately following those festivities was the Bulls winning against the odds yet again.  They were in front of the defending champions 1-0 and now with the home-court advantage.

Just like in 2011 however, Miami stormed back to win the next four.  Among the lowlights for the Bulls were a team-playoff record for offensive futility in Game 2, frustrations boiling over, a few ejections and getting blown out of the United Center in Game 4 before much of the crowd even had a chance to sit down.  Their depth proved to be too short and you can never underestimate Miami's talent or will to win.  The result wasn't surprising, but it didn't make things any easier.

The offseason saw the key departures of Robinson and Marco Belinelli.  Only Mike Dunleavy was brought in via free agency and the Bulls used the draft to take Tony Snell and Erik Murphy.  Still, none of it compared to the prospect of having Rose for a full season.  Excitement around the Bulls going for a title was as high as it's been in the Thibodeau era.  This was a team that could challenge Miami's crown.

Unfortunately, we won't fairly know the answer to that now.  Rose was still getting back into his rhythm during the first few weeks, but early in the circus trip against Portland, he came up limping in his other knee.  We found out the next evening that it was a torn meniscus, which would result in surgery.  Though it was successful, everyone's worst fears were confirmed when Rose was ruled out for the season.  The championship dream was dead only a few days shy of Thanksgiving.

Immediately, many called for the Bulls to tank the season so they could have a shot at a big name in next year's draft class, thought to be the best since 2003.  Plus, with Deng's contract set to expire and Carlos Boozer likely to be amnestied, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.  However, the East is so godawful this year the Bulls might just back into the playoffs, especially if they don't trade any significant pieces.  Even that might not be enough as that would still leave a lot of talent on the roster.

If there's one part of the franchise really worth looking forward to, it's Jimmy Butler.  He was barely on my radar when I did my 2012 recap, but that has certainly changed.  He played his way into the starting lineup during last season and not only began every playoff game, but often played all 48 minutes.  He cemented his status as a swingman and has played well on both sides of the ball. 

Often, he's the player the Bulls look most to when they absolutely need him and most of the time, he'll deliver.  Whether the Bulls contend again next year or down the line, Butler will most certainly have to be a part of the core.  He has proven to be one of the big steals of the 2011 draft.

It's really hard to be a Bulls fan right now with all the uncertainty surround the team.  They look mentally exhausted from having to play out the rest of the season with the knowledge that they're no longer contenders.  It shows by the series of bad losses they've suffered recently.  No one can tell for sure if they'll trade anyone away, continue to go for it all or even see if Rose will return for a potential playoff run, which he won't rule out.

Despite this all, their unpredictability shows anything can happen with them, even a pleasant surprise.  Who are we to say something to change the franchise's fortunes for good won't happen in 2014?  It happened in 2008 when they received the top pick in the draft and selected Rose.  That worked out well, at least for awhile, right?

There's one more chapter of 2013 to write as the Bulls play the Toronto Raptors tonight, but the year's story has already been told.  We've felt every possible feeling as Bulls fans in the past 365 days and that's what following a team is all about.  Have a Happy New Year and may the hopes of good Chicago basketball be with you all.

Grizzlie Taming

Things sure look dark for the Bulls these days.  There have already been more blowout losses than any team would like.  Luol Deng remains injured and we just learned that Tom Thibodeau learned of his father's passing right after the Christmas win in Brooklyn.  The funeral was today, but it didn't stop him from flying to Memphis for tonight's game against the Grizzlies.

FedEx Forum has not been kind to the Bulls, who had won there just once since the 2005-06 season entering tonight.  But this game saw the Grizzlies playing catch-up late and falling short.  The Bulls will happily take this 95-91 victory.

The Bulls led by just two at the half, but came out strong in the third quarter, opening on a 20-4 run.  Memphis responded with a 24-8 run that extended into the fourth quarter.  An 18-point Bulls lead was cut down to two, but they seized control for good midway through the fourth when D.J. Augustin fired up a prayer behind the three-point line to beat the shot clock and hit it.  The Grizzlies didn't get any closer the rest of the game.

Jimmy Butler scored 14 of his 26 points in that glorious third quarter and finished the game knocking down 12 of his 14 free throws.  With Deng still out, the Bulls needed more offense from somewhere and they got it from the swingman battling through turf toe.  They also got production from Carlos Boozer, whose latest double-double was 21 and 10.  Augustin scored 10 off the bench and Joakim Noah grabbed 10 boards and tied Taj Gibson with a game-high four blocks.  The 10 blocks and 13 steals as a team were season highs for the Bulls.

The Bulls somehow kept their composure after the bad loss to Dallas this past weekend.  To go into a building unfriendly to them without Deng and find offense from their promising young gun in Butler and amnesty target in Boozer is pretty darn good.  Yes, the issues remain and fixing all of them won't be easy.  Games like this get the tanking crowd upset, but for those who just want to see a win, it's all good.

There's still one more game to be played before the calendar flips to 2014.  It will be at the United Center tomorrow against the Toronto Raptors.  I won't be able to recap that game, but I will sum up this maddening calendar year before I go to work.  2013 had its ups and downs, so it's worth taking a look at.  Until then, may your New Year's planning go smoothly.

Staying in Iowa

Yes, I know I'm a little late in talking about this, but better now than never.  Also, if you've heard me say similar things before, I advise you to stop reading now.  Otherwise, you know what this is about.

Marquis Teague was sent back to Iowa of the D-League not long after the Bulls' Christmas victory over the Nets.  This time, he'll actually suit up there as he wasn't summoned back the moment he landed.  His continued lack of production, the emergence of D.J. Augustin and Kirk Hinrich becoming healthy again made him expendable.  It was only a matter time before this happened again and we've finally come to it.

I know I've been harsh on Teague recently, but here, I'll go a little softer.  The Bulls knew they were drafting a young player who still needed work in 2012.  He still can't legally buy a drink in this country and his game remains a work in progress.  Unfortunately for him, that means he won't be getting minutes with this team anytime soon.  When Tony Snell is ahead in the rotation with a coach known for playing rookies very little, you know you have to take your game elsewhere for the time being.

I really do want Teague to succeed, but like most Bulls fans, I still have no clue what he's capable of.  He rarely sees minutes in Chicago and when he does, he looks like he should have stayed at Kentucky longer.  Staying on the bench routinely does him no good.  Playing in Iowa means he'll get to showcase his talent every game, whatever it is.

Whatever future the Bulls are facing, Teague appears to be part of it.  They just need a good idea of how to showcase him to the point where he can help the team as much as possible.  It's hard to judge a flower when it hasn't sprouted yet, so it needs a little sun and water to grow.  Teague still has his petals closed, unlike his brother Jeff, who might become an All-Star with Atlanta this year.  I apologize for being critical of him lately and these latest developments will hopefully help in the long run.

With the Dallas Mavericks in town tonight, Teague's fate will have to wait for the time being.  Until then, we shall go a little easier on the child.  Anyone disagree?

On the Nice List

The Bulls visiting the Brooklyn Nets on Christmas was a good idea at first.  Two marquee teams who faced off in an epic seven-game playoff series last season would be able to settle a score that was still fresh in their minds.

Then, age and injuries started to hit both teams and they got off to below average starts.  Just to make things crueler, Derrick Rose and Brook Lopez saw their seasons come to abrupt endings.  We were left with a match-up seemingly no one wanted to open presents in front of.

As expected, neither team looked very good in the first half, justifying the low ratings this game is likely to get.  Then, after leading 41-38 at halftime, the Bulls outscored the Nets 36-20 in the third quarter, cruising to a 95-78 victory.  Best of all, they'll still have time to spend Christmas back in Chicago.  This victory will only energize whatever celebrations they had planned.

Six Bulls scored in double figures, led by Taj Gibson's 20 off the bench.  His game included a couple of highlight reel dunks.  I'll confess I haven't seen a whole lot of what many have said is an impressive season on his part, mainly due to watching fewer games this year.  Still, nice to know he's been a bright spot in a disappointing year so far.

Of the five starters, only Kirk Hinrich failed to reach double-digit points.  Jimmy Butler led that group with 15.  Meanwhile, D.J. Augustin contributed from the bench too, scoring 13 to continue a run that only impresses me more as the games progress.  For good measure, he led both teams in assists with five, so maybe, the Bulls have found their replacement for Nate Robinson.

I realize this has been a difficult season for the Bulls, but it's refreshing to see them come out on top so easily.  After getting everything handed to them against Houston last Christmas, everyone was expecting a similar outcome given recent events.  Instead, Santa reached into his bag for an easy win when they needed it most.  Whether this jump starts a sleeping giant remains to be seen, but for now, our holiday as Bulls fans is a little brighter.

We also learned to be grateful we're not the Nets, who are making these Bulls look like one of the more successful teams in the league.  Besides losing Lopez, they have a head coach mere months after retiring as a player (Jason Kidd), two-thirds of a broken-down three-headed monster from the 2008 Celtics (Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett), nobody who's started every game, and horrible contracts that are forcing them into a record $180 million luxury tax.  While the Bulls' future looks dire, everything that's happened in Brooklyn recently could set the Nets back for years.

The Bulls can enjoy this for a couple days before they return to the United Center Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks.  The big story will be whether they can extend their first winning streak since before Rose went down.  Until then, Merry Christmas to you and your family and thank you for your continued reading.  God bless us, everyone.

A Deng Shame

As that dreaded word "rebuilding" continues to stick around the Bulls these days, one of the ideas that's been hotly debated is what to do with Luol Deng and his expiring contract.  If anybody gives the Bulls a decent return on the veteran star, the future on the West Side will be hopeful.  Now, it doesn't appear that will come into fruition for the time being.

While it isn't clear just how much teams would offer for Deng, we now know the Bulls are not seeking to deal him.  In fact, they remain optimistic they'll be able to re-sign him during the offseason.  That's an interesting tidbit considering he wants to stay with the Bulls and the demands for both sides are not in the same ballpark.

I know it seems like holding onto Deng would be a way of sticking to the status quo that hasn't seen as much success as we'd like.  Even I would hate to see the Bulls getting nothing if he walks away in free agency.  Really though, if they couldn't do any better than what they have now, is it really worth getting upset over?

It's true this front office hasn't made the most desirable decisions in terms of holding onto top talent.  Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli and Kyle Korver come to mind.  However, keep in mind that they're not incompetent in their decisions.  Whenever they notice a discrepancy in one area, Gar Forman and John Paxson do their best to plug it up.  When Belinelli left, he was replaced with Mike Dunleavy.  Robinson came in for C.J. Watson and did more than we could have asked for.  They'll find a way to rectify this situation.

Of course, any attempts to get something for Deng will be easier said than done, especially with the upcoming draft class.  Teams actually want to be in the lottery.  Adding any kind of All-Star talent would hamper those efforts.  It would be best to deal to someone who is aiming to win a title now.  They wouldn't have to sign him to any long-term deal, but they might be squirmy about taking on the remainder of his contract, which isn't exactly pocket change.  There aren't many takers, so good luck to GarPax in finding a solution that will be cheap, productive and painless.

While they figure this out, the Bulls will play the Cleveland Cavaliers tomorrow at the United Center.  If it weren't for Kyrie Irving, I'd feel better about their chances.  This isn't a good time to be a fan obviously, but we just have to remain optimistic.  A nice early Christmas present would be a stop to the losing streak.  Will Santa hear our plea?

The Dum-Dums Are Out Again

When Derrick Rose went out for this season, my biggest fear that the Bulls' championship window would be closed was confirmed.  I should have known more that another fear would be realized, which is some people would take whatever swipes at Rose they could.  That was definitely realized thanks to a New York Daily News report that he's worried for his team's potential rebuilding plans.

This has caused a few personalities, notably Dan Bernstein of 670 The Score, to say much of the similar stuff that was blurted when Rose was rehabbing his torn ACL.  Among the accusations thrown his way includes his reputation as a humble kid from his hometown being nothing but a fake.  Others call him a coward for hiding behind B.J. Armstrong, his brother Reggie and others in his camp who have admittedly done a poor job in doing damage control whenever stories like this have leaked out.

Never mind that nothing in this report contained a direct quote from Rose.  If it merely implies that Rose is feeling these things, you'll hear every wild proposition possible, including dumping every prominent member of the organization to Rose going back to college to be a more intelligent human than what he's apparently been showing.

I'm not saying Rose is completely clean of this public relations disaster.  If you're going to just let these things happen, especially with the wrong people speaking for you, then you have your share of responsibility for others turning their backs on you.  Instead, people need to stop being so reliant on speculative reports and proposing moves that could only be fueled by gut reactions.

Only Rose can speak for himself.  If he keeps his mouth shut, the words of his family and his associates should be taken very gingerly.  They may or may not reflect how that actual person is feeling.  Sadly, that doesn't stop some from getting on their soapboxes and declaring they'll pay for Rose's ticket out of town or making some other dumb statement.

Pardon me for getting political here, but this is exactly the kind of thing that caused others to think poorly of Barack Obama before he disassociated himself from Rev. Jeremiah Wright during his 2008 presidential run.  The quick, easy solution would be for Rose to say his brother and others on his side don't speak for his personal feelings.  For all we know however, they could actually be encouraging him to tough out the rebuilding stage the Bulls are likely to take on, so everyone gets lumped in together instead.  It's sad, but this is who we are as a society.

I advise you all to choose your words wisely when talking about this issue.  It's a touchy one and ill-informed folks can quickly be swayed to one extreme or the other.  Good luck and may the sanity in sports be with you.

What's the Point?

Somebody explain to me how one of the Bulls' deepest positions at the beginning of the year has suddenly become a huge question mark.  Sure, the obvious answer is Derrick Rose's season ended, but who would have thought this team would struggle so much trying to fill in for the former MVP?  From additional injuries to struggling play to turnover at the position, there couldn't be a more jumbled mess there.

Since I last blogged on here (apologies for life getting in the way), Kirk Hinrich has been missing games with injury, Marquis Teague has continued to struggle and D.J. Augustin has been signed, causing the suddenly expendable Mike James to be waived.  All it's done is add to a series of problems for a team that currently sits only half a game out of the final playoff spot in the East.  That's a miracle for a team that's lost 11 of its last 14 games.

If it's not one injury plaguing the Bulls, it's another.  Jimmy Butler returned from his long break, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah got healthy, but now, Hinrich is missing games due to a bad back.  The result, in conjunction with Rose being out, only further convinces you Gar Forman would have been better off shelling out the dough for Nate Robinson.  You see Teague baring little resemblance to an NBA player with no signs of improving.  Augustin has done better, dishing out eight assists in Monday's loss to the Magic.  Even so, what does that tell you when he's the one trying to save the offense from embarrassment?

Don't get me wrong:  I like what Augustin has done so far during his Bulls tenure.  I just have my doubts of whether he can morph into Robinson 2.0.  He only had scoring averages in double-digits for the Bobcats because he played so often for them.  Since leaving Charlotte, he's had trouble finding minutes, which I suspect is for good reason.  Maybe this blind squirrel will find another nut here, but I don't like how he's one of the players trying to keep the Bulls afloat.  If he and Mike Dunleavy are the best players on the roster now, that doesn't speak well to the rest of the team.

There needs to be some kind of regular production at the one.  If the position that runs the offense isn't getting much together, that has to be one of the bigger reasons the Bulls are struggling to break 80 on a nightly basis.  I know everyone invested heavily in Rose handling that department, but given past events, they shouldn't have counted out the possibility that he might miss yet another season.  There's no excuse for point guards not to be able to run plays in their sleep.  Plus, they should know how to create opportunities for others.

I suppose I should cut Augustin some slack since he's still settling into his new home.  Hinrich also gets a bit of leeway for his health issues.  Maybe Teague just doesn't have what it takes to succeed at the highest level right now.  A trip to the D-League would hopefully do him some good, although his youth and inexperience could mean he hasn't hit his stride yet.

Those are all good reasons for struggles, but there's no reason a roster with as much talent as it has should be struggling to keep their record above .500, with or without Rose.  Somebody needs to raise their hand and say "I'll get this anemic offense rolling again.  Just follow my lead."  Otherwise, the drama that's been building here will reach the point where every relevant part of the organization is overhauled, and not in the smoothest fashion.

Of course, as this is happening, some Bulls fans are snug in their beds while visions of Jabari and Bradley dance in their heads.  Wake up, people.  I don't how many times this needs to be said, but even if the Bulls uncharacteristically decide to tank this season, it's going to be difficult. 

The East is bad enough that they could just back in.  It's also tougher to throw games than to win.  To paraphrase a line from the short-lived Comedy Central series That's My Bush, the Bulls are such losers they can't even lose.  Maybe they can still land Doug McDermott in the draft though.  That's who NBADraft.net has them taking at 15th right now.

The Bulls' next two chances to right the ship come on back-to-back nights as they travel to Houston and Oklahoma City respectively on Wednesday and Thursday.  They might be able to handle the Rockets, but Chesapeake Energy Arena has been a living nightmare for the Bulls ever since the Thunder became a regular contender.  You can look up the gory details yourself for that.  Regardless, pray for the point position to find a rhythm.

Why yes, this is also post number 200 for me.  Just like in my 100th post, let's count down the most viewed of my previous 99 as of this writing.

5) Dunked Out By Hot Clippers  - Dec. 12, 2012 (34 views):  The Bulls lose to the Clippers in a game that featured many dunks from the team that features Lob City.

5) Rose No Distraction - Feb. 27, 2013 (34 views):  As Derrick Rose continues his ACL rehab, people start to get a little stupid among both the media and fan base, even his absence is not why the Bulls are struggling.

4)  Selfish Recovery - July 4, 2013 (36 views):  Rose mentions he had to be selfish during his rehab.

3) Buckled - Nov. 26, 2012 (37 views):  The Bulls blow a 27-point third-quarter lead against the Bucks and lose 93-92.

2) Who You Gonna Call? Streakbusters! - March 27, 2013 (47 views):  Despite having fewer healthy bodies available, the Bulls end Miami's 27-game winning streak.

1) Guess We're Doing This Again - Nov. 24, 2013 (51 views):  Rose suffers a torn meniscus that will require surgery, which could end his season (spoiler alert:  it did).

Thanks for reading and hope you continue to do so.