| 11 March 2010
If I've ever not looked forward to a Bulls game, tonight is that night. Bulls fans, we are about to witness an annihilation. While the official starters haven't been announced, I'm fairly certain we are sending out a lineup of Rose, Hinrich, James Johnson, Hakim Warrick, and Brad Miller. Can you imagine how quckly Dwight Howard is going to get Brad Miller into foul trouble? And you know who that leaves to guard him? Chris Richard. Dwight Howard is absolutely going to have a field day tonight. I'm talking 30 plus points, and roughly 25 rebounds. Who's going to rebound for the Bulls tonight? Brad Miller, a billion years old and all, is the only one at all capable of double digit boards. And if he gets in foul trouble, who's going to crash the glass? Chris Richard?
Did I mention Luol Deng is going to be out with a calf strain? So this leaves the entire scoring load on Derrick's shoulders, and the entire rebounding load on Brad Miller's shoulders. Even if both those guys have absolutely stellar games, it still won't be enough. There's absolutely no one to counter the production of the combination of Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis. Derrick Rose alone cannot counter their total contributions. Unless Flip Murray has his best game as a Bull thus far, the Bulls will score no more than 85 points, while I expect Orlando to score well over 100. Plus, I would not be surprised if Matt Barnes has himself a C.J. Miles stellar three-point shooting type of performance. Those type of players always seem to have career performances against the Bulls...it's absolutely unreal (See Devin Brown/Rodrigue Beaubois/C.J. Miles), and with the defense the Bulls are currently playing...why not?
You would think the Bulls would come out tonight and really try to play lock-down defense after the embarrassing defensive displays they've put on in the last week, especially the last two games. However, I just don't think they are capable of doing it. The talent just isn't there. Without Joakim Noah, there's no defensive leader and no one to get on his teammate's backs. You know what they say...defense is infectious. Well it looks like the Bulls have found the vaccine. It's called plantar fasciitis. And it has prevented Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah from being able to produce.
Bottom line, the Magic are just too long, too talented, and too strong. And they're at home. So the Bulls have the privilege of being embarrassed on national tv, since the game is on TNT tonight. This will make it 6 losses in a row and will place the Bulls a game and a half back of Toronto, Miami, and Charlotte. It's getting worse, and I don't see it getting better any time soon. Depressing...I know.
