Bulls 2012

[dana]

I can't wait for Christmas.......(to watch Da Bulls).

I hope Rip works out and don't butt heads w/Thibs.

D Rose is such a refreshing superstar and I'm thankful he is a Bull.

[pdga#7648]

Nothing better than watching the MVP drive the lane and score the game winner over Gasol! 

[Dan Michler]

Somebody may want to notify Boozer that the lockout is over.  Any way we can go back in time and not make that signing?  I think it was a knee-jerk reaction to not getting LeBron or DWade that summer.  That $15M/year needed to be used to add a bigtime star player alongside Derrick.  Boozer is a role player.  I'm not trying to pile on him, but its very clear he's not a star in this league.  I wish Reinsdorf would give the go-ahead to amnesty his contract and allow the front office a do-over.  I can't blame him for not wanting to eat $40M+ though.

Tough stretch to start the new season out west.  Hopefully the Bulls come home with at least a 2-2 record.

[Dan Michler]

What a show by Derrick tonight!

[pdga#7648]

Hamilton is looking pretty impressive himself. Not D Rose #'s but far from a bum like Taylor said!
but yea, 29 pts, 16 dishes, even the Clippers fans were chanting MVP the last 2 minutes.

[Dan Michler]

I hate to say this, but Rose has GOT to stop shooting 3's.  Last year he made 33% of them, which was okay.  This year he's making less than 28%, but he's still jacking up 5 per game.  He's dropped his shot attempts from 20 to 15 per game this year, but is still shooting the same number of 3's.  That means he's not being as aggressive, which is bad for the Bulls.

Rose isn't the only one not shooting the ball well.  Deng is also struggling badly with the worst FG% since his rookie year at 43.7%  And how about Noah?  His career shooting% is 51, this year he's at 38!  Last year he averaged a 12 and 10.  This year 7 and 8.  Thibs has been cutting Noah's minutes lately.

We don't have 3 star players like Miami.  The only way we can counter that is with depth.  With Rose, Noah, and Deng playing like they have so far, we don't stand much of a chance against the Heat at full strength.  Stll plenty of time for everybody to get going though, only 10 games in.  Our first test against Miami is Jan.29th.

[Dan Michler]

Enjoyed flipping between the Bulls game and the Brandon Paul show last night.  Heat got DWade back but picked up their 2nd loss last night.  I'm loving this compacted schedule.

[Dan Michler]

Heat 2nd straight loss.  LeBron 9 of 17 from the FT line?  Nice!

Bulls looked horrendous last night without D.Rose.  Luckily we were playing the absolutely atrocious 1-win Wizards who shot 31%.  No clue how D.Rose can go down and Boozer plays only 26 min with 4 pts.  It should've been heavy doses of him in the post or working the pick-and-roll with Lucas to carry the scoring load.  Deng 5 of 21 shooting, he looks totally lost out there for the last 5 games.  Tiny little John Lucas jacked up 28 shots.  I have no clue what is going on, but a win is a win I guess.  Thibs needs to come up with a different gameplan with Rose out because that was embarrassing.

[pdga#7648]

is Rose hurt or just a day off? no notes on my fantasy roster. hopefully just a day off, I already have Z. Randolph, J. Kidd, M. Beasley, and Rip Hamilton nursing injuries. I can call it a season i Rose goes down 

[Dan Michler]

He jammed his toe when he was knocked down during Tuesdays game in Minnesota.  He went to the locker room with his shoe off and then returned later and proceeded to play as well as he's played all year.  I guess it felt worse when he woke up the next day and they are calling it turf toe.  He said he's had the injury before but has always been able to play through it without a problem.  He was in a walking boot yesterday.

The Bulls have games Friday/Saturday, then Monday/Tuesday, followed by 2 days off.  I would not be surprised to see him back Friday night, but I also would not be surprised if he's out the next 4 games.  I don't think it'll be anything long-term, although these things have a tendency to linger if you don't rest them.

[Dan Michler]

Nice win in Boston.  Didn't look like that toe was really hampering Derrick at all.

[pdga#7648]

Looks like it may be now? 2 straight games he has missed! that sucks.
glad to see Boozer finally have a game like he is supposed to have. 31 pts. on 14-21 shooting. only 6 boards, but if he is going to score 31, he don't need to rebound.

[Dan Michler]

At least Deng doesn't have a fracture, but it sounds like his wrist will be an issue all year if he bypasses the surgery.  Derrick's toe will never be 100% this season either.  Noah, Taj, CJ, and Rip have all missed time already too.  I don't know how we're going to get through this season and be ready for the playoffs.  Schedule is about to get a lot tougher, should be interesting to see how this next month goes.

[Dan Michler]

Tough ending today, but immensely fun game to watch overall.  Loved the way we competed.  Bulls vs Heat is as good as it gets right now.  I pretty much don't sit down for the entire game when these 2 teams go at it.  What was with all the empty seats at that game?  Why any player would choose to play in front of Miami fans instead of the UC crowd is beyond me.

[dana]

Agreed on the sitting when watching Bulls/Heat.

Lebron grinds my gears.  That dude don't stop bitching to the refs!  He is such a damn whiner.

I'm so glad we have a great superstar in DRose to cheer for. 

PS What was up with that jumpball late in the 4th?

[Dan Michler]

PS What was up with that jumpball late in the 4th?

That was a strange play.  I'm not sure why they didn't go to the replay to try and get it right.

I believe the call was that the ball was never out of bounds, so the whistle was inadvertant when the ball was loose, hence the jump ball.  Bottom line, Taj has to pull that free throw rebound down with 2 hands and protect the ball.  There was no excuse for that. 

Overall I thought both teams played pretty well.  It came down to just a play or two deciding the game.  Considering we were in Miami without Deng, playing against a near-full-strength squad, you could certainly make the case that the Bulls should come away with some confidence despite the loss.  I'm sure that doesn't make Rose feel any better, but thats why I love having that guy on my team.

Wade sucked, but that seems to be the case whenever he plays the Bulls over the last 12 months.  LeBron was unstoppable, which also seems to always be the case against the Bulls.  We've got to double him quicker when he gets the ball anywhere near the paint.

[dana]

Taj has to pull that free throw rebound down with 2 hands and protect the ball.  There was no excuse for that. 

That was Boozer wasn't it?  He was wrapping it up and it just fell outa his hands!  Very strange.

Hated to see D miss those FTs, but loved seein Lebron miss his.

So glad I only have to watch the Heat when they play the Bulls.  I've got some serious Lebron hate.

[Dan Michler]

So glad I only have to watch the Heat when they play the Bulls.  I've got some serious Lebron hate.

I hate his personality as much as anybody.  I guess thats the outcome of his upbringing.  That being said, I do watch him play in amazement because he is the best basketball player on the planet, and one of the most freakishly gifted athletes that has ever existed.  I had to go to the UC to see him in person during his rookie year with the Cavs.  Just watching him in the lay-up line is entertaining.  'The next Jordan' was a topic of conversation for a long time.  I would say Kobe became a very close comparison to Jordan.  I think it will be longer before we see another player close to the mold of LeBron James, with his size, speed, athleticism, and high basketball IQ.  Its just a hell of a lot more fun to root for a guy like Derrick Rose.

[Sr.]

So glad I only have to watch the Heat when they play the Bulls.  I've got some serious Lebron hate.

I hate his personality as much as anybody.  I guess thats the outcome of his upbringing.  That being said, I do watch him play in amazement because he is the best basketball player on the planet, and one of the most freakishly gifted athletes that has ever existed.  I had to go to the UC to see him in person during his rookie year with the Cavs.  Just watching him in the lay-up line is entertaining.  'The next Jordan' was a topic of conversation for a long time.  I would say Kobe became a very close comparison to Jordan.  I think it will be longer before we see another player close to the mold of LeBron James, with his size, speed, athleticism, and high basketball IQ.  Its just a hell of a lot more fun to root for a guy like Derrick Rose.

Winning Championships is hard. Lebron can't sniff Jordans jock strap! Yet anyway.

[pdga#7648]

there is no Yet to it. He will never win like MJ.