| 13 January 2012
Always a scary image, isn't it?
Well, it's nice to sweep a back-to-back-to-back. I say that like we get a lot of those. But nonetheless, it's important, considering the health issues the Bulls are facing right now. And yes, it was against the collective drec of the league, but all three games were won without Rip Hamilton, and the third was won without Derrick Rose. So the Bulls are hanging in there.
Wilbon wrote a great article about how the key to this season is for the Bulls to keep pace, or outpace, the Heat. I couldn't agree more. He made several comparisons, including the Celtics and Lakers intently eyeing eachother's daily performances back in the day. I think the more appropriate comparison is the Pistons-Bulls rivalry of the late 80's and early 90's. Although that rivalry was a little different as the Pistons were back-to-back world champions, and the Heat really haven't won anything. So it's not like the Bulls are trying to knock them off their pedestal. Although, I guess they are the Eastern Conference Champions. But they really haven't proven much yet.
Nonetheless, the Bulls, as Wilbon points out, should be paying very close attention each daily detail that leaks out of South Beach, as I'm sure the Heat are keeping a close eye on the hourly updates on Derrick Rose's toe, although they would never admit it.
Although the Bulls are 10-2 and hold the best record in the league...yes, even better than the Heat, who sit at 8-3...the naysayers have come out of the woodwork. This is how you can tell a team has reached elite status. This is also how you can tell a team has some lofty expectations. When fans and media stop focusing on the fact that your team holds the best record in the league and is playing at an elite level, and instead, are fixated on nagging injuries and nitpicking the sub-par play of specific players, you know you are definitely contending for a championship. Of course, at this point, fans should absolutely be nitpicking and fixated on injuries, as having these issues in the post-season will almost surely prevent the Bulls from toppling the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, assuming they make it that far.
So exactly what are fans fixating on? The following:
-Derrick Rose's big toe. Is it turf toe? Is it not turf toe? Is Derrick not clipping his nails often enough? These are all questions on the minds of most Bulls fans nowadays. The bottom line is, turf toe is very bad. It can be an injury that nags you all season long and could potentially require surgery to properly heal. Thibs has made it clear that Derrick DOES NOT have turf toe, and it is simply a strained big toe. However, Friedell pointed out in his chat wrap from earlier today that Thibs has a history of downplaying significant injuries and will protect his players at all cost. Nonetheless, it looks like Derrick is itching to play tonight against the Celtics. I'd like to believe that Derrick wouldn't put himself in jeopardy of being injured long-term for what ultimately amounts to a meaningless regular season game. Assuming Derrick's judgment is sound, we can probably assume that it's not really turf toe and he's actually okay after two days of rest. It is, after all, possible, that a player can have a minor injury rather than a catastrophic inury every time he gets hurt. Then again, Derrick just wants to wee-un, and his personality often causes himself to put the team before himself for the sake of winning. Using that logic, we just can't even really guess how serious this injury is. Only Derrick knows.
-Joakim Noah's subpar play. No one can explain what's going on. Not one national writer, not one local writer, not one coach, not one player. People are reaching for answers. Some people have said that Joakim might be out of shape. Anyone who's watched him play so far knows this not to be true. Reports are that he came into the season in the best shape of his life. The problem is, he's being outworked down low, both on defense and on the boards. And this is by players who he was much better than last year. Greg Monroe owned him. Javale McGee owned him. Kevin Love? He can't even be on the same court as Kevin Love right now. His shooting percentage is down significantly and he's averaging 4 less rebounds per game than he was averaging at this time last year. It might just be a slump, but its worrisome when we have yet to see the good Joakim at all this season. Part of it is much improved play by big-men throughout the league, thereby significantly increasing who Joakim is competing against on a nightly basis. Then again, he was owning people on the glass most nights only a year ago. Rebounding prowess should never regress. Ask Dennis Rodman or Kevin Love. Love is 6'10 yet he gets about 12 boards a night no matter what. Rebounding is a skill, and it's a skill Joakim used to have. And that's an understatement. Where did it go? No one can answer that question. As a result, he, along with Boozer who I'll get to in a minute, have been sitting out fourth quarters in favor of Omer Asik and Taj Gibson. So far, it seems to be working just fine, but believe me when I say the Bulls will need Joakim playing at the same level from last year come playoff time.
-Carlos Boozer's inconsistency. He had a monter night against Detroit. Probably the best game I've seen him play with the Bulls, even though he's actually had better numbers. But it was his most complete game. He had 23 points on 9-13 shooting, 8 rebounds, and he even had a blocked shot! Truth be told, his defense looked crisp, and so did his passing. He was automatic from 16 feet out. Unconscious. The very next night? 3-10 shooting, for 7 points, and 6 rebounds. And he sat out the fourth quarter. And rightfully so, he was playing like crap. People are blaming Booze's and Noah's troubles on the fact that they can't play together when they're both out there. I don't get that. I don't see what one has to do with the other or how they get in each other's way. Noah just needs to do his job, and Boozer just needs to do his job. I have yet to hear one analyst describe exactly what Boozer or Noah does to get in the other's way when they're both on the floor at the same time. I just think both players are playing at a level beneath their standards, and it's partially because of a snowball effect, where with each passing game, both guys lose confidence. One of these days, Thibs is gonna have to ride out a game with Noah and Boozer just to show them he still has the confidence to play them late in a game, and maybe one or two good performances in a fourth quarter will help both these guys break out of their slumps.
-John Lucas III has been a revelation. JL3 son. I heard about his legendary performance at the Rucker where he dropped 60 and outscored Durant. But oh my lord, this man is quick. He hasn't played an elite defense yet, but he appears to be able to get to the rim incredibly effectively, and he has a serious ability to stroke the basketball from any given spot. I hate to say it, but his offensive game looks significantly better than CJ's. There's no question that he's a defensive liability, and CJ is an infinitely better defender, but CJ can't get to the rim the way JL3 does, nor can he shoot it AS effectively. Sure CJ can go on some serious streaks, but only a player who is supremely confident in his offensive abilities puts up 28 shots in a game, as Lucas did on Wednesday. Never seen CJ do that, except for maybe in the Denver game from last year when Derrick was hurt. Although, I've never seen CJ even come close to replicating that. Lucas has been en fuego in each game he's played in thus far. I think the man has earned himself some minutes, and the Bulls can now relax a little, as they have some serious depth at point guard.
-Kyle Korver has finally located the hot sauce. He had 13 points on Tuesday night, and 14 points on Wednesday night and was instrumental in both victories. He seems to be playing with some serious swaggers and you can tell how much defenders just hate chasing after him back and forth on the offensive end as he runs around double picks. Imagine if he played this way in the playoffs last year, he could've been a legitimate 3rd option. Now imagine both him and Rip Hamilton doing this. Oh my lord, every other team is screwed if both these players play at the level they are capable of.
-The Bulls are being smart by being cautious with Rip Hamilton. As they continue to win without him, there is no reason to push him to come back before he's ready. Anyone who watches the NBA is aware that a groin injury can nag you all season. That would be disastrous. Rip has gotten some serious rest and that is just huge in terms of him healing properly. Unless the Bulls lose some head-scratchers, they should continue to sit him as long as it takes. And Ronnie Brewer continues to play well in his place, both offensively, and of course defensively, so we've yet to run into a problem at 2-guard.
-Omer Asik and Taj Gibson have started a legitimate controversy as to who should start at the 4 and 5. Omer has been playing significantly better than Joakim Noah. While Noah and Boozer combined for 8 points and 10 rebounds in a combined 45 minutes on Wednesday, Omer Asik had 8 points and 14 rebounds in 28 minutes alone. Omer is playing like a force, and might be the second best center in the Eastern Conference right now. The duo of Omer and Taj off the bench is formidable and definitely intimidating for every team the Bulls come up against, and I'm sure Thibs wants to keep it that way. But still, people are beginning to question whether or not having these two in to start would allow the Bulls to have better starts, which they've struggled at. There was a play the other night that probably made every Bulls fan watching just cringe. As an opposing player drove through the lane, I believe it was John Wall, Carlos Boozer had the opportunity to leave his man to slide over and take a charge. He had plenty of time to get to the spot and he would've been outside the circle. Instead, he chose to pretty much stay where he was at and attempt to block it from behind. It led to an and-1. It was a disgusting display. He sat the rest of the game in favor of Taj Gibson. Surely, Thibs will not want to rustle any feathers, as contracts are large and egos are fragile, so you can be sure that Boozer and Noah will remain starters. Plus, Omer and Gibson coming in is closers is only a plus. Nonetheless, if Noah and Boozer don't pick it up, you can be sure that people will be calling for their benching in favor of the formers all season long.
Tonight might actually be a good night for Joakim Noah to bounce back. The Bulls are in Boston, where the fans absolutely despise him, and he feeds off of that. He knows the pressure is on, and if there's ever been a game for him to come out and play at an elite level, it's tonight. Fingers crossed. Let's hope for that, and even moreso, for Derrick to not aggravate his big toe. It should be a good one.
