With Latest DRose Injury, Bulls' Window Closing

News broke about an hour ago that Derrick Rose has suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee. The injury occurred in the third quarter of last night's game against the red hot Portland Trail Blazers. Following Rose's exit, the Bulls suffered a collapse which resulted in a 98-95 loss. But throughout the fourth quarter, the game itself hardly seemed to matter. At least a part of everyone's attention was focused on what was going on in the visitor's locker room.

The news of Rose's latest injury is past the point of disappointing; it's downright sad. This is a guy who has given everything he has to his teammates, to coach Tom Thibodeau, to the Bulls organization, and even to the city of Chicago. Rose provided a spark for a ball club that was in shambles following the break-up of one of the best teams to ever play. After Jordan and Co. were gone, the Bulls were a laughing stock. It took several years to rebuild but after the Bulls drafted Joakim Noah in 2007 and Derrick Rose in 2008, the future looked bright. That's not to say that the Bulls are going to go into yet another rebuilding phase right this second, but it's becoming more and more of a sure thing in the near future.

Rose left on crutches last night: a worrisome sight

Now let's get this straight, a torn meniscus is not a career-ending injury. Russell Westbrook has made it back and looks the same as he did last season. However, Rose now has two bad knees and is now sitting out while his fellow teammates Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng look to be playing their last season in red, white, and black. Throw in the fact that Joakim Noah's health is always a concern and the fact that Kirk Hinrich's career is near it's end and the once-dominant Bulls team just doesn't seem to be the same.

Yet DRose's injury is not to blame for what is to come in the season whether it be good or bad. The Bulls failed to put together a good, solid bench and don't look like a team that could take on the Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers in a seven game series. Could they beat those two teams during the regular season? Absolutely. But when it comes to the playoffs and things are ramped up, you can't win with the seven-man rotation that the Bulls currently have. Teams like Miami and Indiana have great depth and veteran depth at that. The Bulls bench consists of rookies Tony Snell and Erik Murphy, an aging Nazr Mohammed, along with a still-inexperienced Marquis Teague who, now that Rose is out, may be able to gain experience through boosted playing time. However, this team, though a top three team in the East, continually shows flashes of dysfunction.

With all of this in mind, I'm a positive kid. What we have seen from the Bulls so far this year, though inconsistent, is not hard to live with. While they could improve on both sides of the ball, I do believe that guys like Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer are playing as good of basketball as they ever have in a Bulls uniform. It's obviously early in the season and there is still PLENTY of basketball yet to be played. But there is no hiding the fact that the years of contention that this Bulls team can play are dwindling simply due to age and free agency. They aren't done yet by any means, but I'm afraid this little run may come to a close quicker than Bulls fans would like.

Side note: For those that have taken to social media and laughed at Derrick Rose and made jokes about his injury, I feel incredibly sorry for you. That shows a lack of not only maturity but character as well. I don't care who it is or what team they play for, you don't laugh about an injury. Period. I don't like the Miami Heat or the Indiana Pacers but I can guarantee you that if LeBron James or Paul George went down with a serious injury I would be just as concerned for them as I am currently for Rose. What those of you that are making light of DRose's injury fail to understand is that there comes a time when your favorite team doesn't matter. Like him or not, Derrick Rose is good for the NBA. He handles himself with class and provides excitement and competition for the league the same way LeBron and George do. Don't just be a fan of your team, be a fan of the game. So before you start cracking jokes about "The Return" or saying that Rose is going to sit out till 2015, I suggest you look in the mirror because you're as inhumane as anyone if you're going to root for somebody to get hurt.

Road is Difficult for Bulls as Rose Returns

Jimmy Butler and Rose appear to be the future for Chicago

The Return is finally upon us ladies and gentlemen. Derrick Rose will make his return to the court this Saturday in Indianapolis when the Bulls take on the Pacers in their first preseason game. The last time we saw Rose on the court he was lying on the hardwood grabbing his knee in the 2012 playoffs. Saying it was a hold-your-breath moment is an understatement and last year's will he or won't he play saga is well-chronicled. However, in 2013-14 it is all business for D.Rose and the Bulls.

The expectations are high for a healthy Bulls team this season. "Healthy" and "Bulls" are two words that aren't normally said in the same sentence due to the frequent injuries to star players. But Rose, Noah, Boozer and Deng are all healthy as Chicago starts the preseason and the time is now for this group.

The Eastern Conference is no walk in the park with Miami sitting atop the league, but the problems are greater than that. Indiana looks like a serious contender after pushing the Heat seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals last season and they also have a healthy Danny Granger to go along with Roy Hibbert and Paul George. Brooklyn's roster is a lot older with the acquisitions of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry, but they figure to be a contender as well. Add in the Knicks and the Bulls and the East is a beast.

For Chicago, this is a huge year. The Bulls were close in 2011, but found out how difficult it will be to dethrone the Heat. In 2012 they fell in the first round after Rose's injury and last year they put up a valiant fight while bruised and battered, but were ousted by Miami in the semi-finals. Is this a championship team?

That's the question as the year begins and it needs to be answered by year's end. There are decisions that lie on the horizon for the Bulls and they involve some of their biggest stars. Luol Deng will become a free agent at the end of the season and Carlos Boozer's future is up in the air. If Chicago fails to make, at minimum, the conference finals then it would seem that the team should go in a different direction.

Much of the team's successes or failures will fall on Rose. The Bulls sorely missed his playmaking ability last season and he will surely free up open looks for others with his hard drives to the basket. All reports from camp are that his jump shot has drastically improved and his peers say he looks better than ever. That's all fine and good, but can he live up to the MVP-form of 2011? Fair or not, the bar is set that high, if not higher, for Chicago's brightest star.

Championship windows aren't open very long and the Bulls haven't exactly been handed the best situation. When this team was built no one could have predicted all the injuries or that the Heat would put together a superpower. However, this group is still capable of a deep postseason run and fans are hoping and expecting one this season.

For a team that will rely heavily on it's superstar, The Return is a big step in the right direction.

What Needs to be Done with the Chicago Bulls?

In professional sports a team's championship window doesn't stay open very long. For the Chicago Bulls that window has never been open all that wide with the juggernaut that is the Miami Heat staring them down year after year in the Eastern Conference. Injuries depleted the Bulls last season, but still they gave an admirable performance in the playoffs, losing to the Heat in the semi-finals. That's all fine and good and yes, Derrick Rose will make his much-anticipated return this season. However, that's not good enough. This Bulls team is not a championship team with the roster they have in place now. There is work to be done and here are a few things.

1. Add a scorer to the backcourt to team up with Rose
This is a problem that has plagued the Bulls since Ben Gordon departed for Detroit years ago. They have not been able to find a scoring two guard and it has left Derrick Rose to fend for himself in the backcourt on multiple occasions. The 2011 Eastern Conference Finals is a perfect example. Once the Heat decided to focus their efforts on shutting down Rose, the Bulls offense was completely shot. It's also not ideal for the point guard to shoulder the scoring load as he is already using enough energy to get the ball across halfcourt and create for teammates.

One rumor that has come up before tonight's draft is the possibility of sending Luol Deng to Washington for the third pick in the draft. Personally I'm in favor of this move. I love Deng and the energy he brings to the defensive end, but the truth of the matter is that he is getting older and the injuries have started to become a concern. Couple that with the fact that Jimmy Butler seems poised for a breakout season and Chicago has Nikola Mirotic's rights overseas and it seems like a good move.

With that third pick the Bulls need to draft a player like Ben McLemore. McLemore is a proven scorer with a silky stroke from deep. He excelled in his one season at Kansas and is exactly the kind of off-the-ball scorer the Bulls are searching for. He moves without the ball to find open shots, but can also create for himself. This will relieve much of the pressure off of Rose and will combat some of the team's offensive woes.

2. Depth in the frontcourt
Joakim Noah is an All-Star, but he can't be counted on for 40-45 minutes per game. It's not smart to do that to him especially with some of the foot troubles he has had. If the Bulls want to keep him long term and have him healthy then they need to decrease his minutes. Taj Gibson is a solid piece off the bench and he is someone Chicago should keep. However, Nazr Mohammed didn't bring much to the table and Carlos Boozer is always a rollercoaster ride.

Boozer is a bad contract who plays bad defense. If Chicago could find a way to trade him for some young talent in the post that would be ideal. The Kevin Love deal seems all but dead, however, if the team keeps the 20th pick there should be a player they can draft and develop. Keeping Boozer one more year is not all bad though because he presents a good offensive weapon. Still, the Bulls must add depth to the post.

3. Add shooters
Good shooters are essential to success in the NBA. The Bulls flourished two years ago with Rose's constant penetration and kickouts to shooters like Kyle Korver, but last season they struggled to shoot the ball from deep. Teams like Miami and San Antonio win ball games with great shooters set up around the perimeter. When stars like LeBron James or Tony Parker penetrate they attract the defense and that opens up kickouts to those shooters.

Chicago needs to add shooters to their roster and they also must hope that Kirk Hinrich is more consistent with his outside shot. Rose has reportedly improved his outside shot, but other than that there is not viable option to shoot the ball from three. This has to be a focal point tonight and throughout the offseason.

There is no telling what will happen in the next few years around the league. There are so many big name stars coming up on free agency that the future is quite the mystery. Still, the Bulls can't count on the roster they have to get the job done. There are obvious improvements that need to be made and tonight could be the start of it all. Chicago has drafted well in recent years despite having late picks (Butler, Omer Asik) and they must draft well again tonight. There championship window depends on what they do in tonight's draft whether that be trades or picks. 

Chicago Bulls Winning With Team Basketball

Watson and Deng celebrate after Watson's three in the 4th

At 46-15 the Chicago Bulls own the best record in the NBA for the second consecutive year and have run away with the Central Division yet again. The Bulls have their star in Derrick Rose, but what has made them so special this year and what has separated them from other top competition such as Miami is the fact that they play some of the best team basketball in the league. Coach Tom Thibodeau is more than willing to use his bench, which has taken on the nickname "The Benchmob" and a different guy steps up big for Chicago every single game. While Rose is the centerpiece to the team, they do not rely on him too heavily like other teams do with their stars. Chicago is 17-7 without Rose in the lineup and have beaten the Miami Heat twice without him. In March Rose sat out with an injury and last Thursday Rose played, but had the worst game of his career. He was non-factor, scoring only two points in a Bulls victory at the United Center.
In the game versus the Heat in March the Bulls played one of their better games of the season, winning 106-102 in a high-intensity game with a playoff feel. Third string point guard John Lucas III stepped up that night, scoring 24 points and continually bringing the United Center crowd to its feet. In the first half Lucas drained three threes in a row and in the second half found himself being guarded by LeBron James. Lucas calmly dribbled out toward halfcourt and took James one-on-one, burying a fadeaway jumper in his face and sending Bulls fans everywhere into pandemonium. Not only were the Bulls without Rose, but Carlos Boozer only scored two points. However, six different Bulls scored in double figures and the entire Chicago bench finished the game +6 or higher. No Rose, no problem.

Fast forward to last Thursday night when the Bulls defeated the Heat yet again 96-86 in an overtime thriller. Rose played 25 minutes, shot 1-13 from the field and scored just two points. This time it was C.J. Watson's turn to be big. Down three with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Watson drilled a step back three in Dwyane Wade's face to send the game to overtime. Watson finished with 16 points and nine assists for the game while four other Bulls finished with double figures. The two games against the Heat have come to define this Bulls team. Is Rose the best player on the floor for Chicago when he plays? Certainly, but the Bulls have a team and there is a confidence that no matter what five are on the floor they will get the job done.

And despite Rose's performance, this post is not meant to criticize the superstar or question his worth to the team. He is still having an incredible year stat wise with 22.5 points, 7.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game, but what is perhaps the most impressive thing about Rose is the way he handled himself last Thursday. In a time he would usually find himself taking the big shot, Rose sat on the bench and watched as his teammates battled the Heat in the fourth quarter and, when it came time for the last second shot, he watched as Watson sank the three.

"I'm fine, man," Rose said of coach Tom Thibodeau's decision to sit him down the stretch. "Anything to win. Where he felt that lineup was going to win the game, it won the game, and I can't complain about anything."

The fact that a superstar, much less an MVP, would say that after being benched against the second best team in the conference is remarkable. It speaks to Rose's character that he sees the bigger picture and didn't whine or complain when things didn't go his way. It's no wonder why the Bulls operate the way they do when their superstar carries himself that way. As the locker room leader that attitude will only influence his teammates in a positive manner.

Chicago's suffocating D is second best in the NBA

Much of the credit must also go to Thibodeau. He has the best bench in the NBA and he is willing to go to those players in any situation. Many times Omer Asik and Taj Gibson will be on the floor in the fourth quarter instead of starters Boozer and Joakim Noah. Other coaches do not use their bench to their full advantage and pay the price. For example, the Heat have used James Jones in just 45 games this season, but he is a more than capable player. Granted, some of those DNP's have been due to injury but Jones is one of the best three point shooters in the league and he is the perfect complement to Wade and James because he stretches the floor. Yet he sees only 11.4 minutes a game in the 45 games he has played in.

Thibodeau also has found a way to make his team play hard every night and be committed to team defense. The Bulls rank first in rebounding and second in points allowed at just 88.9. It's a common sight to see Chicago players diving on the floor for loose balls and sliding over in help side defense, a lost art in the NBA. The Bulls commitment to defense has covered up for their lack of another go-to perimeter scorer and could carry them deep into the playoffs again.

Winning the East will be tough because the Bulls will have to get through the Heat and teams like the Celtics and Pacers are formidable threats. However, a healthy Rose, Rip Hamilton and Luol Deng will work wonders for Chicago as the three have rarely been on the floor at the same time due to injuries. The passion and energy that the Bulls play with is an intangible quality that cannot be measured, yet means so much to their success. With one of the best frontlines in the game, a stingy defense and the best bench in the league the Chicago Bulls are poised to make run for title number seven.

Chicago Doesn't Need Howard's Drama

As I sit here and watch the Bench Mob take over the Miami Heat in the Madhouse on Madison, I can’t help but discard the thought that the Bulls need Dwight Howard. Let’s clear this up right now, though. I said they don’t NEED D12, not that they couldn’t USE him. There’s a difference. With that being said, I hope the Bulls don’t try to deal for the league’s best big man.

First off, one of the many reasons the Bulls should not try to sign Dwight Howard is because of who they would have to give up. Lots of combinations have floated around and nearly all of them have included either Joakim Noah or Carlos Boozer. You can’t afford to give up Joakim. I don’t care that people STILL think he’s a poor draft pick. You try and find me a big man who plays harder, is more dedicated, and brings more energy to a game than Joakim Noah and I’ll stop writing blogs. He’ll never have the stats that Dwight does, but I promise you that he will work harder and give more to the team than Dwight ever could.

That brings us to Carlos Boozer. He has, undoubtedly, underperformed. And yes I realize that you can’t keep waiting for him to string together six or seven solid games. But the fact of the matter is, he’s a team guy, he’ll do what’s necessary to win, and be happy doing it. To be blunt, Dwight Howard is selfish and egotistical. He said he doesn’t want to go to Chicago because he doesn’t want to play second banana to Derrick Rose. Are you kidding me? You have the chance to play with a team that’s now a perennial contender and the reigning MVP and you’re not going to take it because you want the team to be yours??? Give me a break. That ticks me off more than anything. And then, to go along with that, there are rumors that Dwight Howard doesn’t want to be in the same city as Rose because they both have huge Adidas contracts. Why does it ALWAYS have to be about the money? When will the love finally trump a contract? Carlos Boozer won’t care about his money, he won’t care about having to deal with Rose’s worldwide fame, and he’ll do what needs to be done. Is he inconsistent? Absolutely. But the bottom line is, the Bulls are 35-9 and Boozer hasn’t done too much damage. Keep him.

Going off of how selfish Dwight Howard can be, brings us to the locker room atmosphere. It’s always a behind-the-scenes aspect of the NBA, but there’s no doubt it’s key. Even great teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder have struggled with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Team chemistry is everything in the NBA because coaches have to find a balance for all the egos. Tom Thibedeau has done exactly that. The Bulls have no egos, the role players understand their jobs and the scorers like Luol Deng and Derrick Rose understand theirs. The Bulls have the best team chemistry in the league and adding a self-centered guy like Dwight Howard could be cancerous.

Again, I’m not saying that Dwight Howard wouldn’t help. Obviously he would be a HUGE part of the Bulls lineup and he would provide a second scorer that the Bulls so desperately need. However, it’s not always about talent because, as the saying goes, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Leave Dwight to rot in his own pity in Orlando and keep the Bulls the way they are. Give them one more year to mature and just watch and see what happens. Chicago doesn’t need Dwight Howard, Dwight Howard needs Chicago.

NBA Eastern Conference Preview

There was a period of time when the Eastern Conference was an afterthought in the NBA and perhaps that period isn't over quite yet. Since the Chicago Bulls dynasty ended the East has only won three of the 13 Finals and has lost the last three. However, the conference keeps getting stronger and 2011-12 will be the second year Miami's Big 3 are together, Derrick Rose and the Bulls have playoff experience and the Knicks are hoping Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire can stay healthy the entire year. Questions are all around in the East though, as many are wondering if this is the last year we will see Deron Williams in a Nets uniform and everyone wants to know where Dwight Howard will be playing by the time the season ends. Los Angeles? New Jersey? Chicago? Dallas? The possibilities seem endless but for now it appears he will don a Magic jersey this season. Here is a quick look around the East with teams and players to watch along with predicted order of finish:



Rip Hamilton and Derrick Rose



Predicted Order of Finish

1. Miami Heat  

2. Chicago Bulls

3. Boston Celtics

4. Orlando Magic

5. New York Knicks

6. Atlanta Hawks

7. Indiana Pacers

8. Milwaukee Bucks
9. Philadelphia 76ers
10. Charlotte Bobcats
11. Washington Wizards
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Detroit Pistons
14. Cleveland Cavaliers
15. New Jersey Nets

Teams to Watch


The Big 3 in South Beach



Miami Heat: Everyone knows of the Big 3 and last year they certainly needed time to adjust to each other. Their slow start along with their inability to defeat Chicago prevented them from finishing first in the regular season. However, Miami looked unbeatable in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls yet couldn't figure out how to win against Dallas in the Finals. LeBron's fourth quarter woes have been talked about over and over, but some of the blame rests on Dwyane Wade's shoulders. Going into Year Two of this experiment, Miami has to figure out whose team this is. Who gets the ball in late game situations? In the Finals Wade and James passed the ball back and forth like a hot potato, neither of them taking the big shot. Once that problem is solved, watch out. Chris Bosh should be more comfortable in his role this season and the Heat also added a defensive stopper/3-point threat in Shane Battier. He and a healthy Mike Miller will stretch opposing defenses.

Chicago Bulls: Last year's 62-20 record may have been a surprise to some, especially when we look at how much Derrick Rose had to do for the team to succeed. This year the Bulls could be even better due to the signing of Richard Hamilton. Although Rip is older, he is still a knockdown shooter who moves well without the ball. He will attract a defender on every play, sometimes two. That will give Rose more freedom with another scorer on the floor. So, while Rose's scoring may dip, expect his assists to be on the rise. Ronnie Brewer is another Bull whose production should increase. Brewer's mid-range jumper looked solid in two preseason games and coaches have lauded his play in the shortened training camp. Essential to Chicago's success will be a healthy Carlos Boozer. The big-name signing from a year ago will have to give the Bulls more over the course of the season.



Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony



New York Knicks: The Knickerbockers are an interesting team from the standpoint that they have two superstars but not a great supporting cast. The signing of Tyson Chandler was huge because he will run the floor and play defense, but doesn't need to score to be happy. Amare Stoudemire will handle most of the post scoring and Carmelo Anthony will complete a frontline that is one of the better ones in the league. If Stoudemire and Melo stay healthy then the Knicks can make some noise, but as we saw in the playoffs last season, when one goes down the Knicks are going no where. The backcourt is a question mark for New York. The signings of Baron Davis and Mike Bibby would have been great if this was 2002 but it's 2011 and those two are old and their stars don't shine as bright anymore.

Indiana Pacers: This is my number one team to keep an eye on. The young Pacers finished 8th in the East last season and were highly-competitive with the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. They had a great offseason, signing David West and trading for George Hill and they have a big lineup with West, Danny Granger, Paul George, Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert. For the Pacers to become successful they need Granger to become their go-to-guy. He has to become and all-around player and be the star this team needs. Indiana has the point guards in Darren Collison and Hill to get him the ball. Inside, the Pacers depth is key and this young team may be ready to reestablish itself as a perennail playoff team like they were in the 1990's.

Players to Watch
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls: Obviously all eyes will be on Rose after his magnificent MVP season last year. As stated above, Rose's scoring may not be as high this year, but hopefully that's because it doesn't need to be. The addition of Rip Hamilton and a healthy Carlos Boozer will mean DRose can be more of a point guard and facilitate for his teammates. Defenses will be aimed at stopping Rose, but so far not many have been successful.

Dwight Howard

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: The forgotten man of Miami's Big 3, Chris Bosh should have a great year in South Beach. Last year was an adjustment for him as he wasn't the featured player any more and he didn't know what his role was on the team. All of that is figured out now and Bosh can go back to being the 20 and 10 guy that he is. While LeBron and DWade steal all the spotlight, it's hard to deny that Bosh's performance is the key to a Miami title run.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic: With so many distractions how will Dwight Howard play this season? They can say they aren't going to talk about where he will end up playing, but the reality is that it will come up everyday. Fans of other teams will try to woo Howard to their team and the media will constantly be debating whether he will wind up in LA or stay in Orlando. This could have an effect on his play, as well as his team's.

Eastern Conference Rookies to Watch
Kyrie Irving, point guard, Cleveland Cavaliers (1st pick)
Tristan Thompson, power forward, Cleveland Cavaliers (4th pick)
Kemba Walker, point guard, Charlotte Bobcats (9th pick)

The East is very top heavy with the top four teams head and shoulders above the rest. However, many teams are trying to become contenders and in a shortened season like this, depth on the roster will help a lot. Expect the Bulls and the Heat to square off for the Eastern Conference title again and don't be surprised if the Boston Celtics go through a rough stretch due to age. Their championship window is closing and this may be one of the last years they have a legitimate shot with this group of players. Please comment with your opinions! Western Conference Preview coming soon!

Bulls Stay Under the Radar

Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose

It was two series clinchers at opposite ends of the celebration spectrum. The Miami Heat handled the Boston Celtics faster than many thought possible to move on to the Eastern Conference Finals, a place they had been penciled into long ago when the Big Three came together. Their counterpart is the NBA-best Chicago Bulls. With 62 wins Chicago led the NBA in wins and has sewed up home court advantage all the way through the playoffs. The Bulls took down the Atlanta Hawks in six games and now the much anticipated matchup against the Heat will start Sunday night. It's a superstar driven series with two MVPs, a Finals MVP, multiple all-stars and the Coach of the Year on the sideline.

If you were able to watch the end of the series finales for both teams then you saw the Heat looking like little kids who just got the perfect gift from Santa Claus and you saw the Bulls who looked like this was just another day on the job. Isn't it funny how the Bulls, a team that no one projected as the best team in the East, acted as if this is what they expected and the Heat, a team that was pegged as one of the best teams ever before they even stepped on the court, acted almost surprised they were going to the Conference Finals. LeBron James screamed and yelled, Dwyane Wade took a victory lap and after the final buzzer sounded the two embraced for probably 20 seconds too long. Doc Rivers and several Celtic players stood around waiting to shake James' hand but they didn't get the chance. LeBron was knelt down on the floor almost in tears...apparently not the first time a Heat player has cried this year.

In Atlanta a night later the Bulls disposed of the Hawks with relative ease but there was no yelling, screaming or tears of joy. Even though this is a franchise that is far removed from their proudest years, suffered through awful losing seasons and was rejected by almost every big free agent this summer, Derrick Rose and the Bulls acted as if they had done this before. They were just moving on to the next game. That's the difference between the Bulls and the Heat: the Bulls stay under the radar while every little thing the Heat say or do is magnified by a million. The Heat do everything big. It's not enough to go to Miami in free agency, you have to go on television for an hour segment to announce it. Of course once all three players were there it wasn't enough to just all meet up, no way, they had to throw a big party for all of Miami--before they had ever played a game. The Bulls signed Carlos Boozer and it was big news in Chicago but wasn't the stop-the-presses kind of news that the Heat generated. Rose is the MVP yet he is not the most hyped player in this series.

Even though the Bulls are the number one seed I think it would be considered an upset if they defeat the Heat because, like it or not, the Heat are very good. They have three great players and role players that can rebound and knock down the outside shot. The Bulls need Carlos Boozer to show up for every game and for Luol Deng to be able to make his own shot. Rose has looked like Superman but this is going to be his toughest test yet. One thing is for sure, the Bulls will not be intimidated because they already defeated the Heat multiple times and the Bulls are a team built on toughness. The Heat celebrated after defeating the Celtics and that may make this season a success for them. For the Bulls, there is work to be done.

Better Late Than Never: Bulls Take Lead Late to Clip Pacers in Game 1

It took 47 minutes and 12 seconds, but Kyle Korver's clutch three pointer with 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Chicago Bulls their first lead of the game against the pesky Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their first round matchup. Derrick Rose played like the MVP he will soon be, scoring 39 points, grabbing six boards and dishing out six assists while Luol Deng sparked the team and the United Center crowd on his way to a double-double. The Bulls' defense was not its normal stingy self but, when it mattered most, Chicago got the stops they needed and took Game 1, 104-99. The Pacers shot lights out from the field and finished the game 10-18 from behind the arc, good for 55%. Danny Granger and Tyler Hansbrough propelled a Pacers attack that caught many Chicago fans by surprise and Indiana had four players finish the game in double figures.

The Pacers looked like an experienced playoff team for much of the game and it took it right at the number one seeded Bulls. Granger came out and said before the playoffs that he would rather face Chicago than Miami or Boston and that made headlines leading up to today's game. After a slow start, he turned it on and knocked down four threes while shooting 50% from the field. Hansbrough played phenomenal and consistently knocked down 15-foot jumpers over Carlos Boozer. Despite his hot shooting, Boozer refused to crawl up into Hansbrough's space and Psycho T hit ten shots, finishing with 22 points. For a moment it appeared Hansbrough was going to be lost for the game after he was unintentionally elbowed in the side of the head by the Bulls' Kurt Thomas while battling for a rebound. Hansbrough laid on the court for some time and then had to be helped into a chair in the tunnel because he could not keep his balance. However, he returned with 5:33 left in the game and scored seven more points.

Chicago struggled for much of the game and seemed very passive on defense. The United Center crowd was quiet because the Bulls were trailing but Luol Deng and Joakim Noah did their best to fire everybody up. After a hard foul from Hansbrough on Rose, Deng and Noah both got in Hansbrough's face and Deng was whistled for a technical foul for delivering a shove. The Pacers' Darren Collison missed the technical free throw and Rose sank his shots. Deng stood near halfcourt and urged the fans to get rowdy. Yet, the Pacers answered with another run and made it a ten point game again. The Bulls trailed by six with 2:31 remaining and Derrick Rose grabbed a defensive rebound, threaded the needle to Joakim Noah who slammed it home and sent the Madhouse on Madison into a frenzy. After Noah's dunk, Indiana scored only one point off of a Roy Hibbert free throw and the Bulls put the finishing touches on their remarkable comeback. Rose would score seven points after that dunk and assisted Korver's go-ahead three with 48 seconds left. It was truly a team effort down the stretch.

Every time Rose stepped to the free throw line there were deafening MVP chants that probably shook the building and he played like an MVP. While the rest of the Bulls stumbled out of the gates, Rose showed up to play and it was evident by his relentless drives to the hoop that were unstoppable for the Pacers defense. On one particular sequence, he blocked a layup on the defensive end and then dribbled into the lane, spun through three Pacers and made a layup while falling away. The only blemish on Rose's performance was his 0-9 shooting from behind the arc, something he will have to fix if the Bulls are to make a run deep into the playoffs. He finished the game 10-23 from the field and hit 19 free throws. His 39 points are a playoff career high for him and he showed why he is one of the best closers in the game of basketball.

Many will want to throw all the glory on Rose, and he is deserving of most of it, but the Bulls have to be happy with the contributions of Kyle Korver and and Kurt Thomas. Korver was brought in to do one thing: hit shots from deep. He did that, going 4-4 and hitting the biggest shot of the game. Thomas was steady off the bench while Boozer sat with foul trouble and played solid defense in his 24 minutes. Ronnie Brewer wasn't as effective, and that could be because of his sprained thumb, but if the Bulls bench plays well then there is a realistic chance for them to advance to the Finals. It may not have been the way the Bulls wanted to win Game 1 of the series but in the playoffs a win is a win and now Chicago holds a 1-0 lead with Game 2 Monday at 9:30 ET.

(Photos by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Well, it appeared the Boston Celtics threw in the white towel last night and gave the Big 4 the night off and the subs promptly lost in overtime to the lowly Washington Wizards. With that loss, and Miami's win over the Atlanta Hawks, the playoffs are now set in the Eastern Conference. Like I said yesterday, this year's playoffs are going to very hyped up and rightfully so. There are four or five contenders in the East and many questions that will be answered in the coming weeks. The Chicago Bulls have won 60 games to date and are the top seed while the Heat are second and Boston is third. Many would say one of those three teams will represent the East in the Finals but watch out for the Orlando Magic and maybe even the New York Knicks. I've broken down each first round matchup and predicted the winners starting with the Bulls vs. Pacers so let's take a look...

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 8. Indiana Pacers

Could this be the start of another Chicago Bulls dynasty? It very well could be with the defense the Bulls have under rookie head coach, Tom Thibodeau. There's also that fella named Derrick Rose who has become one of the game's best players and should receive the MVP honors this year. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are a great tandem in the post with Boozer providing the scoring and Noah grabbing boards and bringing energy. Luol Deng is not talked about much but he has had a great season and will be counted on this postseason to take the pressure off Rose. The Bulls bench has also been very effective this season and they will need to be ready in the first round because the Pacers are always putting fresh bodies out on the floor. As many as 12 players see good time game in-game out for Indiana but they need Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert to come up huge if they hope for a first round upset. Locking down Rose is impossible but slowing him up would be huge for this young Pacers bunch. Don't expect an upset but don't be surprised if the Pacers steal one from the Bulls in Indianapolis. Prediction: Bulls in 5

4. Orlando Magic vs. 5. Atlanta Hawks

If big, bad Dwight Howard can keep himself from getting suspended because of technical fouls then the Magic should win this series for the second year in a row. However, the Hawks did win three out of four in the regular season so maybe there is some substance to that. Atlanta has five players who average double figures with Joe Johnson leading the way at 18.5 per game. What the Hawks need is for Al Horford to play great and Zaza Pachulia to be the irritant he is and get inside Howard's head. Jameer Nelson is always steady at point guard and Atlanta's Jeff Teague is faced with the task of stopping him. Teague has started a handful of games since Mike Bibby's departure and the playoffs could be a something of a coming out party for him. Kirk Hinrich has playoff experience with the Bulls and is reliable. This series is hard to predict but I'm going to guess that Dwight Howard can go seven games without being a cry baby and take the Magic to the second round. Prediction: Magic in 7

3. Boston Celtics vs. 6. New York Knicks

This so called "rivalry" has supposedly heated up this year but until now that was a lie. Now that the two teams are meeting in the playoffs things probably will heat up and we should be treated to a great series. If the Celtics hadn't made the idiotic move of trading Kendrick Perkins then I would say Boston would win easy but that's not the case anymore. If you're looking for an upset special this could be it. The Knicks can score in bunches and the Celtics seem very vulnerable right now. They haven't been the same team since the trade and they seem to have lost their edge. By no means am I saying the Knicks are a great team, but they are capable of winning this series. Carmelo Anthony is the best closer in the game right now and that means better than Kobe for all you Laker fans. He and Amare came to New York for a reason and, while they are a few years away from the ultimate destination, they can take the first step this season. For the Celtics it's championship or bust. Prediction: Knicks in 7

2. Miami Heat vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers

We all remember that little pow-wow the Heat had at the beginning of the season when LeBron made the claim that they would win something like 11 NBA championships together. It seemed silly then and it seems silly now. Miami won't win more than four championships and they won't win this season. That said, they won't have a problem in the first round against the 76ers. With LeBron and Dwyane Wade, the Heat have two of the best finishers in the game and that's what a team needs to advance in the playoffs. Message to Erik Spoelstra: give Wade the ball for the last shot if it's needed!!! LeBron has been awful and lost his chance!! Okay, back on topic, Chris Bosh needs to play like an All-Star in the postseason for the Heat to advance far. For the Sixers, they are a young team with a veteran coach and they have a nice story this year but they don't have a chance to beat the Heat. Kudos to Doug Collins and staff but Miami will be moving on easily in this series. Prediction: Heat in 4

If those predictions hold true I would then pick the Bulls and the Heat to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and the Bulls would win to advance to the Finals. With a potential lockout looming, make sure to watch as much playoff basketball as possible because who knows when we will see it again. The East has made a comeback and now has several solid teams and is filled with superstars. That's a change from the past and these playoffs are where the conference can really showcase that. Four of the top candidates for MVP will be playing in the East and should all advance to the second round. Stay tuned in the coming days for the Western Conference preview once that bracket is set.

Jersey Gets Their Superstar

More trade news from the NBA and I'm not a fan of this move at all. Deron Williams, star point guard of the Utah Jazz, was sent to the New Jersey Nets and, in return, the Jazz received point guard, Devin Harris and a promising rookie in Derrick Favors. Williams is clearly one of the best point guards in the NBA today (see past post on NBA point guards) and many teams have coveted his services. The Nets pulled off the move less than 24 hours after Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks and it almost seems that the Nets wanted a superstar on their roster so badly that they didn't think through this deal very hard before executing it.

It's no secret that New Jersey wanted LeBron James in the summer and that they desperately tried to make a trade with Denver to land Carmelo. Now they have Williams, but the problem is that they gave away two young players that had loads of potential. Harris and Favors along with center, Brook Lopez, made up a pretty good, young core that could have led the Nets back to the glory days of the early 2000s. Without a doubt, Williams is an improvement from Harris but he really has no one to pass to. He and Lopez could have the same success that Williams had with Carlos Boozer in Utah but there is no supporting cast. At first glance it appears that the Nets have a pretty solid roster of young talent but it really isn't. At 17-40 they are 4th in the Atlantic Division and have no shot at the playoffs this season. After Williams and Lopez the Nets have an overrated, overpaid and injured player in Troy Murphy. Sasha Vujacic has a decent jumpshot but other than that all he has going for him is Maria Sharapova. Damion James's best basketball days were in Austin, Texas as a Longhorn and Travis Outlaw got a hefty contract in the offseason and has produced very little. Williams is stuck with a bunch of players that will not win.

On top of all that, Williams is a free agent at the end of this season and I would be surprised if he stays in New Jersey. Unless they can pull together some pieces and convince him that they have a shot at being a contender he will most likely leave for a better team. I have thought that he may want to go to Los Angeles to play with Kobe. Yes, Phil Jackson is leaving and there certainly will be some changes to the Lakers but Williams could run the point and have Kobe, Gasol and Odom to pass to. Derek Fisher is on the way out and LA will need somebody to run the Lake Show. It's definitley a place where he can win a championship or two and cement his legacy as an elite point guard. A friend of mine also brought up the idea of Dallas. Jason Kidd, like Fisher, is almost done and the mavs will need a point guard. Williams is from Dallas and could play in his hometown with Dirk Nowitzki and work for Mark Cuban. What player doesn't want to play for Cuban? Point is, there are going to be many destinations more popular than New Jersey at the end of the season. The Nets could only have him for half of a season and then he will be gone, but Utah has Harris and Favors for a long time.

Another thing that bugs me about this trade is Utah's timing. A few weeks ago williams and former Utah head coach, Jerry Sloan, reportedly got in an argument and when all was said and done, Sloan resigned. He was one of the NBA's best coaches and had been with the Jazz for 20 years. However, Williams got the best of him or the franchise picked their point guard over their coach and told Sloan to resign. What ever it was, Jerry Sloan is now at home. Williams is no longer in Utah either. Why didn't the Jazz tell Coach Sloan that if he waited just two more weeks Williams would be gone? That's no loyalty to a man who has been around for a long time. Jerry Sloan deserved better than that.

With this trade it is obvious that the power of the NBA has shifted to the East. For years the West has won all the championships and had most of the star players but with Carlos Boozer going to the Bulls, Amare and Carmelo to the Knicks and now Deron Williams to the Nets the East should be dominant. The Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Magic and maybe even the Knicks could take on the top teams in the West and beat them any night and I will say right now the champion will come out of the East this season. No one knows yet how long Deron Williams will be in New Jersey but, for now, the Nets have their superstar and they are hoping it means a few more "W's" in the win column.

Photo courtesy of financebehavior.co.uk

The Bulls are Back

He drove right with Bryan Russell guarding him, stepped back (maybe a push-off) and drained the game winning shot to beat the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. That was Michael Jordan's last shot as a Bull and it also signaled the end of the Chicago dynasty. After that sixth title Jordan retired from the game, Phil Jackson left for Los Angeles and Scottie Pippen signed with the Rockets. The following year the new-look Bulls drafted Elton Brand out of Duke and Ron Artest from St. John's. For years the Bulls suffered through losing seasons with terrible draft picks (i.e.- Marcus Fizer, Eddy Curry, Michael Ruffin, Jake Voskuhl) and frequent head coaching changes. It was a nightmare in Chicago.

In 2003 the Bulls hired Scott Skiles and, along with some smarter draft picks made strides. However, after awhile Skiles was fired and the next coach, Vinny Del Negro, met the same fate. In 2010-11 its obvious that former Number 1 pick Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah are a solid young core and new head coach Tom Thibodeau seems to be the right man for the job. The Bulls also had one of the best offseasons of teams not named the Miami Heat by signing Carlos Boozer, a low post scoring threat they have desperately needed. Sharpshooter Kyle Korver and slasher, Ronnie Brewer also signed in Chicago.

Superstars like Bosh, LeBron and Wade were available this summer and LeBron and Wade expressed interest in the Bulls. At the beginning of the summer I was hoping and wishing that one of them would come to Chicago to team up with Rose and Noah and I was disappointed when LeBron said he was taking his talents to South Beach and not the Windy City. However, as the season goes on it is more and more apparent that the Bulls don't need one of those superstar scorers. When the trade talks started heating up for Carmelo Anthony it has been said that Chicago is one of his preferred destinations yet you won't see Bulls fans throwing out the Welcome mat for him. These days Bulls fans are pretty content with their team. Rose has shouldered much of the scoring load, averaging 24.4 points per game but the offense is fluid and moves through everybody before a shot goes up. The Bulls do not have a player who stalls the offense such as a LeBron or Carmelo. Signing one of those players would hurt the chemistry Chicago has because once the ball gets in their hands the offense stops and it becomes a game of one-on-one. In the NBA teams need a guy who can go one-on-one at the end of the shot clock and the Bulls have their man in Rose but at the same time he understands to move the ball.

The signing of Carlos Boozer has given the Bulls a low post presence that they needed and, although they haven't been on the floor together that much, he has meshed with Joakim Noah nicely. Boozer has missed 18 games due to a broken wrist and an ankle sprain while Noah has been sitting out since the middle of December. Together the two average nearly 22 rebounds a game and complement each other well. Boozer rebounds and does the scoring while Noah is content with rebounding, bringing energy and being a defensive presence. Those two along with solid backups Kurt Thomas, who scored 20 points in a game this season for the first time since 2005, and Omer Asik make up a group of big men that can contend with Boston and Orlando in the East. Boozer's offense down low will be very valuable come playoff time when the team must play series and Rose can't do it all by himself.

And then there is Rose, the former Number 1 pick who graduated from Chicago's very own Simeon High. We are watching him improve every year and now in his third season D-Rose looks like a frontrunner for the MVP, an award that hasn't been in Chicago since 1998 when Jordan won his fifth. Derrick Rose is everything a superstar these days is not. He is humble and always looks at his accomplishments as a team. He deflects praise because he knows there is still work to done. As far as this Bulls team has come there is still a great journey ahead and Rose, despite being only 22, realizes that. He works hard on all areas of his game and it shows. For example, Rose shot 22% and 26% from 3-point land in his first two seasons. He averaged just 0.8 attempts from downtown last year but this year that number is up to 4.2 and he is hitting better than 37% of those.

A championship team needs a leader and Rose is that guy for the Bulls who are still a young team compared to perrenial greats such as the Lakers and Celtics. Boozer is a proven low post scorer and rebounder while Noah is the energy player who does everything in between. Chicago has a deep bench and good role players. At 33-14 the have one of the best records and Noah isn't even playing. The Bulls are back among the NBA's elite but now the question is: when will they win that 7th NBA title?