Chicago Bulls Thread

[Andrew]

Specialist says Rose has back spasms

Which is to say, no structural damage. Sounds like his chances of playing in the next couple of games are still a bit iffy but the news could've been much worse.

[RedPhazon8]

Yeah, he's fine for sitting out against the Kings on Tues, but I'd like to see him try for the Boston game.

[Andrew]

Not to move too far away from the current Bulls squad and season, but this suggestion came up for me on YouTube and I enjoyed it, so I thought I'd share it.

phpBB [video]

To tie it into the present somewhat, even though this team seems a couple of pieces away from being a frontrunner for the championship, how great is it that good times seem like they're here and again and that they're back amongst the league's elite? Sure, there's concerns, question marks and ways they can get better, but there's cause for optimism with this team.

[Andrew]

Good to see them bounce right back with a win once again. That also nets Thibbs the coaching gig at the All-Star Game.

[George7]

Yeah, solid win without Rose, but I just can't see them holding on without him much longer. Regardless of how good the team is,and how good C.J. plays, not having your best player is going to affect you. And Bulls also need to find sone rythm as well...

Oh,and what the hell is going on with Rip????

[Andrew]

A lingering groin injury and most recently, personal issues. A death in the family, I believe.

[RedPhazon8]

Hopefully Thibs doesn't take the All-Star game seriously and has some fun coaching. I don't want him to follow Lebron and his "we have to win these games" attitude.

[air gordon]

Yeah, solid win without Rose, but I just can't see them holding on without him much longer. Regardless of how good the team is,and how good C.J. plays, not having your best player is going to affect you. And Bulls also need to find sone rythm as well...

lol step off the ledge already

last year you asked how would the bulls fare if Rose got hurt. now you're seeing it: the bulls are 6-2 without Rose. thanks for jinxing it. have you any concerns about Lebron James health?

They've been fortunate to have played some bad teams during this stretch but who cares. Look on the bright side- Korver (should have been part of the 3pt contest), Brewer, Watson have been reliable as spot starters. and it looks like Noah is back in a groove

As long as they keep piling up the wins while Rose and RIP get healthy, it's all good

Hopefully Thibs doesn't take the All-Star game seriously and has some fun coaching. I don't want him to follow Lebron and his "we have to win these games" attitude.

i hope he does and plays james, wade, bosh, and howard a ton

[shadowgrin]

not having your best player is going to affect you.

Knicks didn't seem to have that problem.

[George7]

Yeah, solid win without Rose, but I just can't see them holding on without him much longer. Regardless of how good the team is,and how good C.J. plays, not having your best player is going to affect you. And Bulls also need to find sone rythm as well...

lol step off the ledge already

last year you asked how would the bulls fare if Rose got hurt. now you're seeing it: the bulls are 6-2 without Rose. thanks for jinxing it. have you any concerns about Lebron James health?

They've been fortunate to have played some bad teams during this stretch but who cares. Look on the bright side- Korver (should have been part of the 3pt contest), Brewer, Watson have been reliable as spot starters. and it looks like Noah is back in a groove

As long as they keep piling up the wins while Rose and RIP get healthy, it's all good

Yeah for sure I'm really happy with how the team plays,and especially I'm happy that Korver plays big,Watson plays big,Brewer plays big,Noah has gone back to his old standards,even Boozer is playing good and the team is rolling. But for how long Bulls can keep up with 1,5 PG's (Lucas is the 0.5 )? And of course to me as well it is a big plus that the team has a character and is strong ,despite losing 2 of the best scorers in the team.

I don't have concerns about the Bulls ability to keep up without Rose,I'm glad they play well. But whichever way you see this,it's still a 20-10 production that the team is missing.I would rather have Rose and C.J.(Which is slowly but surely starting to emerge as one of my favourites in the squad) produce around 35 points and 15 assists as a PG duo rather than have C.J. and Lucas/White with most of the produce based solely on C.J.
Shorthanded it might work,but a long term absence will prove the cost.

That was what I tried to tell with my concerns,not the inability of the Bulls' squad without Rose...

And I don't have any concerns about LeBron. I'm sure that on the crucial moments his value is (not) going to be shown

[Andrew]

They've been fortunate to have played some bad teams during this stretch but who cares. Look on the bright side- Korver (should have been part of the 3pt contest), Brewer, Watson have been reliable as spot starters. and it looks like Noah is back in a groove

Agreed. That's the next test, to keep winning against other elite teams. Fortunately their road-heavy schedule thus far means there's a lot of games at the United Center in the second half of the season. If Rose and Rip can heal up in the meantime while everyone else holds down the fort, they're in good shape to take on the other elite teams, finish the regular season strong and make some noise in the Playoffs. It still seems they're not quite at the level they need to be at to win it all, but if all goes well they've got to be in the mix, with at least another appearance in the ECF.

[RedPhazon8]

The Bulls don't have to take huge risks in the regular season, especially because the more condensed season. Shaq and Chuck had great points during the breaks for the game on who will get the furthest in the playoffs, the most healthy teams. If the Bulls plan smart and go into the playoffs 100% healthy, they can give any team a run for their money. The way they moved the ball in the Celtic's game was beautiful, if they can do that against tough teams they can be incredibly deadly.

[Andrew]

Good win over the Celtics yesterday. Still percentage points ahead of the Thunder for best record in the league.

Meanwhile, Noah's appearance on PTI:
http://www.nba.com/bulls/video/joakim-n ... s-pti.html

[air gordon]

George7- see what you did! That was an embarrassing loss to the Nets

I say sign Mike James for the rest of the season and cut Lucas III. The team is better off with a veteran for their 3rd pg. Lucas thought outscoring Rondo would make up for all the points he was giving up to him while James palyed defense.

[George7]

George7- see what you did! That was an embarrassing loss to the Nets

I say sign Mike James for the rest of the season and cut Lucas III. The team is better off with a veteran for their 3rd pg. Lucas thought outscoring Rondo would make up for all the points he was giving up to him while James palyed defense.

Well don't say that I didn't told ya!

I agree with the White instead of Lucas idea. The team seems more balanced with White, rather than Johnny, though we have to admit that JLIII's effort in those games was really good,even if he couldn't overcome his weaknessess...

Let's hope that the team is going to come back to its healthy look soon...

[RedPhazon8]

Bulls must not like playing in games that happen close to the afternoon... they haven't won any game that has happened early yet.

[Andrew]

I agree with the White instead of Lucas idea. The team seems more balanced with White, rather than Johnny, though we have to admit that JLIII's effort in those games was really good,even if he couldn't overcome his weaknessess...

That'd be James, not White.

Embarrassing loss, but it is just one game and it happens to all teams. Sam Smith's take:
http://blogs.bulls.com/2012/02/bulls-le ... s-to-nets/

[George7]

I agree with the White instead of Lucas idea. The team seems more balanced with White, rather than Johnny, though we have to admit that JLIII's effort in those games was really good,even if he couldn't overcome his weaknessess...

That'd be James, not White.

Embarrassing loss, but it is just one game and it happens to all teams. Sam Smith's take:
http://blogs.bulls.com/2012/02/bulls-le ... s-to-nets/

Yeah lol,had another thing in my mind it seems...

[atlwarrior]

Well those back spasms don't seem to be bothering Derrick Rose right now as the Bulls have a comfortable 18 pt lead over the Hawks going into halftime.

[George7]

Yeah Rose looking healthy at his return!!Great news! Love the effort from Jo as well!!

[RedPhazon8]

That was kind of scarey close to the end, but the Bulls closed the game well. Next up is the Bucks...

[Andrew]

Good to see Rose back and another immediate bounce back after a loss. Hopefully Rose's back holds up and he can stay healthy the rest of the way.

[CheddahCheese]

Over the last 40 years, only 2 teams have won the NBA title with their PG leading the team in scoring - those PG's were Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas - and they lead the team in scoring by like 1, 2 points.

2nd leading scorer in the Bulls averages 7 less points than Derrick Rose.

The Chicago Bulls won't make it to the NBA Finals.

[shadowgrin]

Of course they won't.

[CheddahCheese]