What's it Like to Recover from an Injury?

There are a lot of aspects of sports that I adore but none more than the human aspect of the game. As I wrote not long ago, it's easy to get detached  from athletes and forget that they aren't any different from any of us. In fact, now that I'm in my mid-20's, I fall right in-line with the age of pro athletes across most sports.

Lately, it has been irritating hearing the endless hate for injured Chicago athletes like Derrick Rose and Jay Cutler. We see these athletes simply as a means to championships, but we forget about the psychological aspects of injuries, surgeries, and recoveries that impact these very real human beings. I completely underestimated the psychological impact of recovering from a severe injury...until I had to go through it myself.

I've contemplated whether or not I would share this. I'm not inherently a private person, and if you ask me a question, I'll answer you. But I'm not one to volunteer a bunch of information in a public forum. However, the lack of uniqueness of my experience was so striking, that I think it makes sense to share my story for those who can relate and for those, who, like me, never thought about something like this happening. From talking to others who have experienced similarly debilitating injuries, it doesn't matter if you're me or Derrick Rose, the journey is torture.

A Quick Background

In March of 2012, I was playing basketball in the lovely suburb of Downers Grove when I came viciously crashing down on someone's foot, rolling my ankle. I'd like to share with you a first-hand, amateur account of being injured, going through a major surgery, and a recovery.

The Injury

Believe it or not, the injury isn't the worst part, at least for me. When I came down on my ankle, I had a feeling that it was broken. However, the physical pain was so overwhelming that I didn't really think too much. I drove home (about 45 minutes away) and limped up to my apartment. The pain was excruciating, so I broke my cardinal rule of rolled ankles and made my girlfriend take me to the hospital.

I received an x-ray that revealed no break, so the doctors gave me a pair of crutches and sent me on my way. I went back a few weeks later to have it re-examined at one of the top hospitals in the country. The doctor didn't want to do a follow-up x-ray, and he insisted that I was fine. When I told him that I was still in a tremendous amount of pain, he told me of course it hurts, but I need to suck it up. Having just read Nassim Taleb's Antifragile, I took his advice to heart and assumed I was being soft.

Boy was I wrong.

Pain lingered for the next year. I couldn't run very well, and I literally couldn't jump off of my right foot. As a friend at the gym said to me, "you look like Bo Jackson after he blew out his knee." I struggled to move my feet defensively, and I couldn't get into great shape because I couldn't run. Now, anyone who has played sports with me knows I'm not a great athlete. My game in every sport has always been predicated on hustle and outworking people. So you can imagine how much I sucked now.

While struggling mightily during a Chicago Sport & Social season, I decided to have my ankle re-examined, though perhaps a bit too late. I saw a wonderful orthopedic by the name of Ari Kaz (he'll be my injury doctor from now on) who could see from my inability to move my foot at all that this injury was worse than a sprained ankle. Dr. Kaz immediately spotted a hole in my bone on the x-ray that the previous doctor had missed.  He ordered up an MRI, and voila, I was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans. Basically, my cartilage was gone, all of my major ankle ligaments were torn, and my tendons from my ankle had slipped down into my foot.

I had two options: run around with a limp forever or have it fixed.

The Surgery

I'm not great at sports, but I do love to play them, so naturally I elected to have surgery. Plus, I was getting fat, and I could hardly walk down the block. Heck, by the time I went under the knife, I struggled to walk at all. 

Surgery, if you haven't had it, is scary as hell. Some nurse shaved my leg, a doctor with a heavy Eastern European accent came to administer drugs to me and tell me how much it was going to hurt. I was then wheeled into surgery, and the last thing I remember is Dr. Kaz looking for a saw. Again, thank God for the drugs. Any sane person would be pretty angry about going to sleep with some guy waiting to slice you up.

I woke up in a crazy amount of pain to the European doctor trying to shove a 6 inch needle in my quad and hamstring--at least it wasn't my ass. I was maybe 60% conscious, but I'm pretty confident he was yelling at someone. I couldn't really talk since my lungs were destroyed from the nitrous gas, but I can tell you that my leg felt like someone had just cut it open with a saw. And I really wanted to know this guy's take on Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci machine, but it didn't seem appropriate. Luckily, that huge needle contained a nerve blocker, so that terrible pain was replaced by numbness.

Heck, on the journey home I thought I was going to be fine in no time. I just wanted a Diet Coke.

The Waiting Game

This is the hardest part of the process, and the one that made me go crazy. For the first two weeks following surgery, I was excused from work and spent my days laid out on painkillers, anti-itch medication, and plenty of books and TV. Two weeks off for someone who hasn't had time of from work in years can seem like an eternity. I had nothing to do but to think and evaluate my life. It was during this stage that I come to a realization that working was really hurting my ability to have fun. I was working for a small financial research company, and I worked long hours with highly variable pay. I had a flexible work schedule since I worked mostly from home, but the amount of time I spent dedicated to working was outrageous, and because I had helped build the company, I cared about it quite a bit.


The pay and hours weren't what I hated. It was the lack of autonomy, management's unethical practices, and a lack of faith in the President that really shook me. For the first time in a few years I slowed down enough to realize that my direction in life was wrong. Crap. I determined then that I would search for new opportunities, but that since I was immobile for another 2 months, I'd grind out work until I could move.

Even that plan proved to be shortsighted. When you're physically incapable of doing anything, you have an abundance of time to think about everything. It became clear to me that the company was losing its largest client and there was undoubtedly some shady activity going on to prevent me from receiving my piece of the pie. In truth, my boss had always been strange and condescending, but with financial rewards on the horizon, I chose to ignore it. Now, after I had been struck by the fragility of life (thanks to my ankle and a timely second stroke from my dad), I realized it was time for me to move on. So I quit.

So here I am, "retired", I can't move, and now I have to find a way to pay the bills. Derrick Rose probably isn't worrying about money right now - I would guess that after taxes Rose is still netting $20 million easily. Thankfully I worked too much so I didn't have time to spend money anyways.

Still, the hardest part of this whole process is isolation and a lack of physical activity. For someone accustomed to daily exercise, inactivity is literally hell. Plus, without the ability to really leave the house much, you become socially isolated. Since I worked at home the lion's share of social activity was driven by going out with friends and going to the gym. That's it. Thankfully several of my friends visited during my recovery, but people have lives, jobs, and other things to do, particularly during the hours of 9 to 5 every day.

In any event, it translates to a lot of solitude and loneliness.

This is the part that kills you. Even the most introverted people need to socialize, and when you're cut off from the world, you don't feel human. You don't expend any energy so you're not tired, and you can't sleep. Instead of 16 hours, your days stretch to 18, 20, 22 hours. I hope Rose has a good crew of people around him because it is far too easy to feel isolated from society, and in his case, his teammates.

Being physically limited sucks, but it is far more difficult mentally than physically. If I'm questioning whether or not I'll ever be the same, mediocre basketball player again, then I can't imagine what is going through Rose's head. Or any athlete faced with a serious injury. I found it impossible to prevent self-doubt from creeping into areas that aren't even impacted by a bum ankle.

You get sick of eating healthy because even eating healthy results in you getting softer. I'd love nothing more than to have eaten stuff like Harold's fried chicken daily, but for the most part, I kept to a diet and only got a little fatter. Rose even admitted that this was a struggle with the ACL, and it only gets more difficult as the process goes on. Delicious food offers the same chemical reaction that can be found in drugs and exercise. When those two are absent, it is tempting to reach for the donuts.

I haven't even mentioned the most obvious part yet: boredom. I lost count of how many books I read, how many movies I watched, and how many games of Madden I played. There just is not much to do. Unlike Rose, I have to worry about money, so I've found ways of generating income online, but with his finances secure, Rose has even more free time than I do. Avoiding boredom isn't easy, and all it leads to is more anxiety and thoughts about the future. The Dixie Chicks said times heals everything, but I've found that too much free time, like any other excess in life, is toxic. The daily mental toll helped me realize why my grandpa didn't retire until he couldn't walk any more and why many people can't deal with retirement at all.

Though I bottomed may times throughout this process, perhaps the funniest moment came when I went through my floor. You can't really use your hands when you're on crutches, and my apartment is too small to use a scooter to get to the kitchen. So I hopped on my healthy leg to get food. Sure, sometimes I spilled a little bit but never much. Then one day, I was carrying some chilli into my living room, hopping along, when I went right through a floor board. I smashed down and spilled the chilli everywhere. It was one of those moments where I couldn't help but laugh it off while at the same time I realized how pathetic I was.

#TheReturn

I'm finally in this stage. I when I say finally, I can't stress how long my the waiting period was. Sure, I was able to walk around on crutches, but during Chicago during the winter, crutches can only take you so far.


My actual rehab program starts next week, but I've begun walking without crutches--and not quickly. I currently move around at less than 2 miles per hour to avoid changing my gait, and several steps cause pain. Not pain the sense that my ankle was shredded like before, bur rather pain in the sense that my heel hasn't touched the ground in several months. My biggest issue, and an issue that I'm sure is prevalent with several hardworking professional athletes, is pushing it. The way I've always overcome my lack of athletic ability is through effort. The more, the better. However, I've reached the point now where the more might mean a more serious injury or something that impairs my recovery.

Even though I feel only marginally better physically now than I did a few weeks ago, the mental difference is monumental. I feel capable, autonomous, and much more optimistic. You wouldn't believe how much you value a walk to 7/11 until you can't walk to 7/11. While the weather is dastardly, it is hard to care when you can finally engage in the most basic of human activities: walking.

I am only a few days into this stage, and the only conclusion I've reached is that it is better than playing the waiting game. It still sucks, and the road to recovery is going to take another couple months. But at least there's an end game in sight. Still, every day is a struggle in its own right to remain positive, and more importantly, keep my eyes on the end goal of returning to physical activity.

If it's hard for a desk dweller, what's it like for people who need their bodies?

As much as I hate ruining my body every day, I am a desk dweller, so I could (theoretically) get by without being great at walking. It would be terrible for my psychological well-being, but at least my livelihood wouldn't be at risk. Pro athletes and physical laborers suffer from my hell PLUS the stress of maybe not making a recovery and joining the ranks of the chronically unemployed. 

The Derrick Roses of the world may be financially secure, but that pales in comparison to the suffering borne from the loss of identity. Since he could walk, Rose has been a basketball player. His whole legacy and life's work is invested in what he does on the court. It defines who he is as a person. His entire life's work is now in jeopardy. At least a bad ankle won't make or break my stock picking ability, even if my CSSL legacy is on the line. For basketball players, fireman, and tow truck drivers, the suffering and insecurity must be crippling. Perhaps it's time to think twice before attacking Derrick Rose.

tl;dr

Having a serious injury sucks, but mainly because of the mental toll. The physical pain comes and goes, but unlimited free time turns you into a crazy person. Don't hurt yourself.

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All I Want for Christmas is D.Rose

The last few days in Bulls basketball have been relatively solid. After a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bulls bounced back with a big win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, highlighted by a double double from D.J. Augustin and fantastic shooting from Tony Snell. I love Jimmy Butler as much as the next guy, but Snell has easily outplayed him this season, and I think Tom Thibodeau may experiment with moving Butler to the bench for a while.

We can talk about fundamental performance, Luol Deng's contract, and the draft all year--but today is two days before Christmas, so I wanted to touch on the importance of empathy.

I linked to Dan Bernstein's article about Derrick Rose last week, not because I agreed with everything, but because it is definitely an important story within the realm of sports fandom. Major market sports fans are notoriously terrible. I say that as someone who has been around Chicago his whole life. Let's admit it: Chicago sports fans can be miserable. Philly, New York, LA, Boston -- you name a large market, and it probably has a lot of miserable fans. I'm not precisely sure about why this happens, but it probably has a bit to do with living in a city where you can get everything you want with little effort, cynicism, and "unbiased" sports columnists and radio hosts who spew negativity at every turn.

We don't all suck. There are folks in Chicago who are like Packers fans and support players no matter what. The boldest of us believe the Bulls are championship contenders (OK, I'm not quite that bold), while others remain fixated on the offseason, draft, free agency, and insane trades. Most of my professional life, I've worked extensively with forecasting. It's great to have an eye on the future, but I think many times, sports fans think too much about the future and not enough about the beautiful games we all love and enjoy.

To quote a Chicagoland hero:

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

I write about the future too, and I understand how interesting it can be. The future is full of hope, optimism, possibility, agony, suffering, and incompetence. It is a dramatic place to be and writing and talking about the future can be as fun as writing a movie. Plus, from experience, people don't remember your predictions well enough, so if you were wrong, you can just never mention it, but if you were right, you become an "expert."

As great as the future is, I think I've had enough of the future. I can reflect easily on when the future didn't mean a lot to me. During my senior year of high school, I did not play on our team, but two of my best friends did. I went to damn near every game, and I loved watching them play. Our team had a great season, but my friends' playing time was not what it should have been, and I would give up that success to have seen my friends getting significant playing time. 

Still, I watched every game intently, and I loved it. Some players grew on you when you noticed that little things they did on the court, others continually disappointed you, but at the end of the day, they won ball games. It was about watching a team grow and mature more than caring about "will XYZ sophmore be the guy who takes them to the state finals."

Basketball isn't a boring game about stats and playing time, it's a dynamic journey between teammates and coaches that rarely ends in championships, but often ends with fantastic life experiences. Almost all of my favorite childhood memories are sports-related, but it might not be the time I hit a homerun, but rather hanging out with a bunch of guys all the time.

This is why I feel so bad for Derrick Rose. He's not old--25--in fact, he's the same age as I am. Our high school team was a game away from playing him, and as a diehard high school basketball fan (from 03-07), I've known about Rose for a long time.  More than any NBA basketball player ever, he's a person to me. Michael Jordan was one of my childhood heroes, and I still consider myself inspired by his drive to compete. Rose is not someone I idolize. Heck, he doesn't even live that far from me, and I know people in his social circles. He's a guy that's amazing at basketball and makes a lot of money, not my hero.

The hardest thing for me as a Bulls fan isn't the loss of championship title contention (I watched the Baby Bulls religiously), but rather a human being suffering a terrible setback on his life journey. You can say he might make $30 million this year, but I don't think that matters. He's from Englewood, and assuming he manages it even somewhat responsibly, he's set for life. Money doesn't matter for him at this point. It's about realizing his goals in life, which I'm sure include championships, the Hall of Fame, and a terrific legacy. All three of these look to be in jeopardy. If it hurts me not to see him grow and achieve his goals on the court, I can only imagine the pain he feels on a daily basis.

Instead of worrying about the Bulls lack of championship potential this season, I'm going to enjoy Tony Snell finding his way in the NBA, achieving a lifelong dream as he's thrust into action. I'm going to watch a savvy veteran like Mike Dunleavy bust his ass coming around screens and working every day to become a better defender. I'm going to enjoy the 2013-14 Bulls like I have every other Bulls team: by watching them and enjoying good people try to accomplish goals.

So next time you think about ripping on Luol Deng for not being better than LeBron James, or you think about "tanking," consider what it would mean if people were rooting for you to fail at your job so you could be fired to find another replacement. Next time you want to call Derrick Rose soft or "unmotivated," think about what would happen if you had your dream job or you owned your own company, only to have it taken away by a freak accident.

"The journey is the reward."

All I want for Christmas is a healthy D.Rose.

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Thursday's Top NBA Reads

I'll cover the devastating loss to the Rockets later today, but for now, I have some awesome NBA stories you need to read.

LeBron Flips Out on Mario Chalmers



It's always nice to see LeBron James show some emotion, particularly when it's at the expense of Mario Chalmers' feelings.

Dan Bernstein on Derrick Rose

This is really the first time I've ever seen a Chicago journalist viciously attack Derrick Rose. There are some great points brought up about Reggie Rose and BJ Armstrong. By no means am I saying I agree with everything Bernstein wrote, but it's a fascinating perspective on Chicago's hometown hero.

Life Beyond the Arc

Grantland's Zach Lowe analyzes the role of the three pointer, and it's future in the NBA. I try to avoid too much basketball sabermetrician magic in my blog, but it is pretty much undeniable that the corner three is the NBA's free lunch. I'm not a believer in sabermetrics for basketball as much as I am for baseball, but the efficiency of the corner three and ideas to get players the ball in their respective hotspots are incredible revelations that Bulls' management has thus far ignored.

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Positives from the Bulls Loss to the Magic

It's been a very tough few days. Not only did it take the Bulls a last second shot to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, but now the Bulls have dropped consecutive games to the lowly Raptors and the mediocre Magic.

Even worse, Taj Gibson is back to earth, no longer looking like an all-star power forward. Jimmy Butler capped off his return by shooting 1-11 last night. Marquis Teague looks like his time with the Bulls is dwindling, and Carlos Boozer scored just 6 points on 3-10 shooting. Tony Snell, who had shown some promise, played just 5 minutes, shooting just one time.

So what the heck went right?

D.J. Augustin

D.J.  Augustin is the Bulls backup point guard of the future. For now, he'll log 37 minutes per night and make the Bulls wish they never waived Mike James. Augustin isn't a great shooter by any means, but he can at least occasionally hit open jumpshots, and he is a fantastic passer. He almost always makes the right pass, and he's shown the ability to make things happen off the dribble. He's quickly becoming a valuable member of the rotation, and while he doesn't quite score as easily as Nate Robinson, he's the best playmaker this side of Derrick Rose.

Mike Dunleavy 

Mike Dunleavy has emerged as a very valuable scorer. He's no stranger to being featured; in fact, he spent much of his early career as a featured scorer for the Golden State Warriors.  Dunleavy isn't he best three point specialist ever, but he does a great job of getting open off screens, and he definitely has the range to create ideal spacing on the floor.

Dunleavy's now scored in the double digits for 6 straight games, and he's shown that he doesn't mind being the man on offense. Believe it or not, that's a huge problem for the Bulls, and it's borderline embarrassing to see Dunleavy and Luol Deng have to shoulder the burden as the ONLY confident offensive weapons.

With the team struggling, it appears Derrick Rose is unhappy. Allegedly, Rose thinks the Bulls are going to start tanking and embark on a massive rebuilding effort. We all know Rose "just wants to win." But, what we don't know, is why Rose would complain so much about the release of Mike James. In reality, that's the only change this team has made. Deng, Boozer, Noah, and Butler all remain under contract, though a Deng contract extension is a matter of the salary cap. Management recently met with Nikola Mirotic and seem excited to get the ball rolling with him.

Rose might be more upset that the Bulls are tanking (unintentionally) and may be poised to acquire another star. It is overwhelmingly clear that Rose doesn't care about recruiting any friends or stars to this team. He wants to win a championship "on his own."

He might feel threatened by the arrival of another elite NBA player, perhaps even feeling expendable. We all know that's not the case. Rose is the face of the Bulls and Chicago sports. While I think he makes a 100% recovery, it's just smart business to diversify into less risky assets. If I'm Michael Reinsdorf, I want a team that's competitive without Rose and a team that can crush the Heat with him.

I understand why Rose may be upset, but he shouldn't be. His job is safer than Jay Cutler's.

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What Should the Bulls do without Derrick Rose?

My initial reaction to Derrick Rose's injury was rash, but certain in its message: blowup the team. However, after further reflection, I think the Bulls have several possible directions to go in the off-season or regular season. Let's take a look at a few possible scenarios.

Rebuild on the Fly

Realistically, the Bulls do not have to break-up the team, even if that is an attractive option. The Bulls have approximately $64.5 million in salary obligations for the 2014-2015 season. Early projections suggest the cap will be about $62.1 million, putting the Bulls slightly over the cap.

With Taj Gibson playing well recently, I think the cries to amnesty Carlos Boozer will finally be met. Let's not forget that this is a real cash expense of $16.8 million, though it will lower the Bulls' cap figure to $47.7 million, freeing up around $14.1 million. In other words, the Bulls will have enough money for good player, but not a superstar.

Pau Gasol

If the Bulls do indeed amnesty Boozer, I think Pau Gasol could be an interesting fit on a two-year deal in the neighborhood of $20 million. The Lakers are armed with tons of cap room, but I am not sure Gasol wants to return to a team that doesn't enjoy using one of the best post scorers in the league.

This idea is far from flawless, as Gasol is going to be 34 years old and his numbers have dropped as he has been plagued by a bad system and injuries. The other problem with this idea is Taj Gibson. His large contract is simply too much for the minutes he plays. I'm a firm believer that most of a team's cap space should be allocated to finishers: those players you want on the court in crunch time. Yes, Gibson often plays down the stretch, but that forces the uber expensive Boozer to ride the pine. I want as much of my cap as possible on the court in the last few minutes, and that simply isn't possible under this arrangement.

Deng/Humph

The Bulls could also opt to amnesty Boozer, resign Luol Deng, and pursue a larger power forward with the mid-level exception/left over cap room. I really don't like this idea because the Bulls will have to rely on Taj Gibson playing heavy minutes and hope they can sign a backup in the ilk of Kris Humphries who can play as a small 5 or averaged sized 4.

Deng/Mirotic

The wild card option remains Nikola Mirotic. The dude is a stud, and he looks like the next Toni Kukoc, except better defensively. However, Mirotic won't be cheap because he's making a run for a second consecutive Euro League MVP trophy. Mirotic will probably want (and earn) at least $7 million per season, so the Bulls will be forced to amnesty Boozer and possibly trade Gibson to free-up some cap space.

To be completely honest, I think this is the ONLY way it makes sense to keep Deng. Deng is a fantastic NBA player, but the Bulls desperately need an offensive creator, and I think Mirotic can be that guy. This team would be scary good offensively with Rose in the fold, and the Bulls could play a fairly small, but deadly, offense that involves Rose/Butler/Deng/Mirotic/Noah. Miortic weighs basically nothing and will have a hard time defending powerful 4s in the mold of Zach Randolph, but this lineup could light up the scoreboard.

Full Rebuild

Let me get this off my chest first and foremost: the Bulls will not tank this season, and unless new commissioner Adam Silver enjoys rigging drafts like David Stern, the Bulls will not be able to acquire the first overall pick/Jabari Parker.

Strong Mid-1st Round Talent

That being said, the 2014 NBA draft class is insanely talented, and the Bulls will be served well if they can utilize 2 1st round picks (one from the Bobcats/Hornets). Even in the middle of the first round, the Bulls might be able to grab Arizona's Aaron Gordon, Kansas' Wayne Selden, Michigan's Glenn Robinson III, or Kentucky's Andrew Harrison. The talent will be there even if the Bulls can't sneak into the lottery.

Interestingly enough, this probably applies to the Bulls in the event of a full rebuild or just a quick retooling. I think the Bulls will have the chance to acquire some strong rotation players regardless of where they land in the draft. 

Deng or Boozer for Hardaway/Shumpert/Bargnani

If the Bulls want to fully rebuild, I think the team should acquire some "damaged" goods or make moves for players who may be underutilized in their current situations. I think this would be the perfect opportunity for the Bulls to trade Deng to a team like the New York Knicks who are desperate to compete for a title. Carmelo Anthony could move into the PF role, and the Bulls could give up Deng for Andrea Bargnani (ew), Tim Hardaway Jr., and Iman Shumpert. This would allow Jimmy Butler to move into his more natural role as a small forward, give the Bulls a creative offensive player in Hardaway and a strong defender in Shumpert. It's definitely a risky trade, but the Bulls get younger and deeper.

The Knicks might be hesitant to do it, but I can't imagine another team that would be bold enough to move some young assets for an established all-star in hopes of an NBA title. Deng can defend LeBron James much better than Anthony can, and when Tyson Chandler returns, the Knicks could be a great defensive team. The Knicks could also be interested in taking on Boozer for the same players.

Deng for Waiters/Clark/Gee/1st Rounder

If the Cavs want to go all-in for LeBron James (assuming he opts out of his deal), then they will need some cap space. The Bulls get upside in Dion Waiters and a 1st round pick, a cheap bench player in Alonzo Gee, and a player who can have his contract terminated in Earl Clark. I think the Cavs may be suckered into a rental, particularly if owner Dan Gilbert thinks the Cavs have a legitimate shot at LeBron James. I'm not sure the Bulls would want to acquire such a significant amount of players and contractual obligations, but I think it is an interesting idea worthy of further investigation.

There are several trades and moves the Bulls can make, but they might simply stand pat. The only move I think fans can fully expect is the amnesty of Boozer in the offseason. In fact, the Bulls might be able to vault themselves into championship contenders with the largely the same core (Rose/Butler/Deng/Noah/Gibson) if they are able to sign Mirotic. While I'm not crazy about giving GarPax another shot at building a contender, Bulls fans should be excited about the various possibilities going forward. If the Bulls don't go into full-tank mode, I would love for them to acquire somebody--anybody--that can create shots off the dribble.

If I had to put money on it, I would say the Bulls' starting five next year will be:

Rose
Butler
Deng
Gibson
Noah

With Tony Snell, Nikola Mirotic, Marquis Teague, Mike Dunleavy, and league minimum veterans coming off the bench.

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Is Adidas to Blame for Derrick Rose's Injury?

It's funny how popular this topic has become, particularly in the shoe world. I'm a sneaker enthusiast myself, and while I lean overwhelmingly Nike, I buy every Derrick Rose signature model. I haven't picked-up the newest pair yet, but that's only because I can't walk thanks to injuries suffered on the basketball court while wearing the Rose 2.5.

Mmm, now that's healed

Shoes don't make you play basketball any better or any worse, for the most part. If you suck, you suck. If you're good, you're good. Some of the best basketball players I know love knowing about different shoes and care deeply about what they wear, while other dominant basketball players I know couldn't care less about what shoes they wear. However, I am a firm believe that your selection can impact your health.

Thanks adidas

Take the Rose 2.5 (shown above). The way the midsole is situated is relatively unstable, and the lightweight (cheap) materials don't provide great ankle lockdown. Rose was banged up all season when he wore these, and I went as far as to blame the shoes for some nagging injuries. I stand by that statement, but I do not believe the shoes had anything to do with his ACL.

Nor do I believe the Rose 4 has ANYTHING to do with his torn meniscus. The web's premier footwear reviewer Nightwing2303 noted that the shoes are fantastic and graded them well for support--the area where the 2.5 lacked.

From my experience, the only really impact shoes can have on a player from a pain standpoint are hotspots (areas where the shoe pinches your foot) and cushioning (some make your feet very bruised/painful). Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour like to boast about how their respective patented cushioning system is better for your knees or "disperses impact" evenly. I'm not sure I buy that, particularly in light of Chris McDougall's Born to Run that traces  injury not to overuse or to lack of cushion, but rather to the unnatural design of modern running shoes. You should read the book--I named it one of the best books last year--but to make a long story short, modern running shoes force runners to strike with their heels rather than their forefeet, causing injuries. He runs with a tribe of Tarahumara Indians that run hundreds of miles without real shoes or injuries. Maybe Nike could show us some evidence to the contrary, but I doubt it.

Players get injured all the time--Russ Westbrook torn his meniscus wearing Jordan shoes. Kobe tore his Achilles in Nikes, and Joakim Noah suffered approximately 4 million injuries wearing his French tennis shoes.  On top of that, LeBron James has seldom worn his new shoes this year--a Nike product!

You can rip on Adidas for making some of the ugliest shoes I've ever seen, but you can't blame it for Derrick Rose's injury any more than I can blame Adidas for my injury. I landed viciously on someone's foot and rolled off. I would have been injured badly in any shoe, though I admit some shoes would have done a better job than others of protecting my ankle. Rose's meniscus came on a freak play and bad pass from Joakim Noah. Terrible luck yes, the shoes? Not a chance.  Rose would have been injured in Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Li Ning, or New Balance.

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The Bulls Fall to the Jazz

In case you didn't believe that the loss of Derrick Rose was going to ruin the season, the Bulls tried their best to refute that notion,  losing in overtime to the pathetic Utah Jazz 89-83. By no means did I think the Bulls would be good,  but losing to possibly the worst team in the NBA without Enes Kanter and with Derrick Favors limited to 26 minutes thanks to foul trouble is simply inexcusable.

The Bulls hit 1-13 three pointers to shoot a whopping 7.7%. That simply is inexcusable when the opposing team is trotting out Richard Jefferson, Alec Burks, John Lucas III, and Trey Burke as perimeter defenders. 

The Bulls looked fine defensively, forcing Gordon Hayward into terrible drives and even worse jump passes. Though he was occasionally bailed out by the officials, the Bulls did a great job containing Hayward, who I'm convinced has a much lower ceiling than many experts believe.

Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer Audition for the Rest of the League

While we know that Coach Tom Thibodeau  was forced to give both Marquis Teague and Tony Snell considerably playing time (we'll get to that in a second), I think it was clear that the Bulls wanted to feature Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng in order to make them more enticing acquisition targets. Deng and Boozer attempted 18 and 23 shots, respectively, and ended with solid games of 24/10 and 26/16. Deng managed to get 13 free throw attempts, and it goes without saying that he will be in high demand throughout the entire league. Because he isn't signed for next season, he may not yield an amazing return, but he will certainly be able to net at least a 1st rounder if he continues to score so efficiently. I still think the perfect fit for him is in Memphis.

As for Boozer, while he experienced his normal defensive lapses, he provided much-needed fire power, showing limitless confidence from everywhere on the floor. Boozer took some terrible shots, but hell, someone needs to shoot. I'm confident Washington would love to add him to the fold. The rumors of his untradeableness are greatly exaggerated, in my opinion, particularly because he only has the rest of this year and next year remaining on his contract. Washington has another year of Nene. The Bulls could also afford to eat Eric Gordon's bad contract, which would happen to fill the Bulls' void at shooting guard.

The Kids Can't Play

Tony Snell and Marquis Teague are not very good--yet. Snell showed some flashes with his beautiful, high-arcing three point shot that should develop into a fantastic weapon in the lower part of the Bulls rotation. Teague is scared to death of Thibs, and frankly, it's time to move him. He's quick and can occasionally get to the rim, but his coach despises him. He will never thrive on the Bulls.


Can We Please Stop the Derrick Rose Hate?

I understand why fans would be frustrated by seeing the Bulls' best player go down for yet another season. However, fans and radio talk show hosts alike need to calm down. It's too early to say that Rose "won't ever be the same player" especially since he's ONLY 25 YEARS OLD. He's not ancient, and he could easily have another decade left in his career. Yes, it hurts to see him miss some of his formative years, but it isn't the end of the world. There is NO REASON to want to trade him, nor is there any reason to believe he won't be a superstar when he returns. Maybe he should have gone to Germany like Kobe Bryant, but in any case, he's still a star point guard who is the heart and soul of the Bulls and Chicago. 

If you want to trade Rose or think it's time for him to retire, then you can also denounce your fandom. You think you're frustrated? How do you think Rose feels?

And if you look at his stats and say "he wasn't that great anyways," then you don't know a damn thing about basketball. The Bulls are a great team with him and a bottom of the barrel team without him. Need I say more?

Yes, the Bulls need another superstar, but not to replace Rose, but because you need multiple superstars to win an NBA title. Parker/Duncan, Wade/LeBron, Kobe/Gasol - the list goes on and on. Stars matter more in the NBA than any other sport, but luckily teams are dumb enough to let them go (I'm looking at you OKC). The Bulls will find one, fans simply must be patient. Or, Reinsdorf could fire GarPax and make the process go much quicker.  

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Game Preview: Bulls (6-6) Vs. Jazz (1-14)

This game is going to get ugly tonight, as the Chicago Bulls take on the Utah Jazz without Derrick Rose.

Without question, the Jazz are terrible. Last time I looked at the Jazz, we found out the Jazz are terrible. Even though Rose is out and Kirk Hinrich will start at point guard, the Bulls have a clear advantage. Trey Burke is back, but he's still an inexperienced rookie coming off of injury.

The main reason to watch tonight is to see the final days of this long-time core together. I have little doubt that the Bulls will do what must be done, and blow up the team.

The Jazz did somehow beat the New Orleans Pelicans last week, but we shouldn't anticipate a similar occurrence tonight.

Final Score: Bulls 95 Jazz 86

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Shut Him Down: Derrick Rose is Out for the Year

This was a traumatic weekend as a Bulls fan, and even worse for a Chicago sports fan. I couldn't bring myself to write until we had solid clarity on what's going to happen to the Bulls' fallen superstar, Derrick Rose.

The loss against the Portland Trailblazers: terrible.

The loss against the Los Angels Clippers: pathetic.

The loss of Derrick Rose: heartbreaking.

Rose is more than just your everyday player, and he should be to all Bulls fans. He's a poor kid from Englewood who had a meteoric rise from amazing high school talent to become the first overall pick for his hometown team. He came into the league just as the Miami Heat were on the cusp of creating the greatest NBA villain since the 90's New York Knicks, and the selfless, all-about-basketball Derrick Rose was the perfect foil to the "I'm taking my talents down to South Beach" LeBron James.

Instead of becoming our generation's Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the Rose/James rivalry has been more of a Kobe Bryant/Tracy McGrady. And it saddens me. Believe it or not, as great as a team Miami is, this Bulls team had a 2-year window where they could have taken them down. That time is over.

Derrick Rose's torn meniscus in his right knee should be fully repaired if it needs to be, and that means he will be out for the entire season. That means another lost year. But more importantly, it means it's time to break-up this beloved Bulls team.

It pains me to say this, because I really do love Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, and Carlos Boozer like family. I respect and cherish every bit of effort we have received from these wonderful players, and I'm incredibly grateful that I was able to experience the second greatest era in Chicago Bulls basketball. Unfortunately, the Bulls only have one real superstar, and with the status of his health a question mark in perpetuity going forward, it is time for the Bulls to be bold and acquire another.

#1: Trade Luol Deng

I love Deng, and he is a one of a kind person. I love his effort, and I've really loved watching him grow into a perennial all-star. He's a fantastic third star on a team that has three third stars. 

Now is the time to strike. Luol does literally everything well, and he never slacks off. However, the Bulls need to lose games to receive a better draft pick, and Deng's will to win would not work towards that goal.

Deng is an expiring contract, so moving him shouldn't be a problem, especially since it would give a team that might want to sign him in the off-season a leg up on the competition. Still, he somehow earns more than both Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.

Why this trade works: Memphis, run by a true sabermetrics guy, picks up 4 wins while dumping Tayshaun Prince's fairly terrible contract. The Bulls depart with Marquis Teague while picking up a wonderful chucker in Jerryd Bayless, who would love to put up 20+ shots a game running the show for the Bulls. Ed Davis can fill in for Boozer when we trade him (just wait a minute for that), and Memphis receives a player in Deng who is a perfect fit for their system

#2: Trade Carlos Boozer

Boozer is playing the best basketball of his Bulls career, so he's too good, and must be traded. Why not trade him for Nene's horrendous contract? The Wizards could use a versatile 4 like Boozer while the Bulls could start Nene until they amnesty him in the offseason.


#3: Trade Taj Gibson

Taj Gibson has performed his own #TheReturn this season, but he must go for a player with less offensive talent. Drumroll...

Why this trade works: Houston receives a player who can come in and start at power forward right away, while ridding themselves of Omer Asik and his bad attitude. The deal provides Houston with reasonably priced power forward for the next four seasons. Asik comes back to Chicago where he will get playing time because...

#4: Trade Joakim Noah

It pains me to say this because I absolutely love Joakim, but with Asik back on the roster, he becomes expendable. Noah is quite injury prone, and he's the heart and soul of this Bulls team. What better way to crush a team's spirits than to trade its emotional leader. I really do not think the Bulls will part with Noah, but hey, it could happen.

Why this trade works: The Charlotte almost Hornets really want to compete, and Noah gives them a premier defensive center to pair with Al Jefferson. The Bulls receive a capable scorer, and, I assume, a decent draft pick. Ben Gordon can be resigned for a quickly rebuilt Bulls in the offseason for a reasonable deal, but in the meantime, he becomes an extremely good salary match.  

Our Starting 5:

PG: Bayless
SG: Gordon
SF: Butler
PF: Nene
C: Asik

That is a team that's poised to tank.

Good luck to Derrick Rose on his surgery. He will come back as great as ever, and I will reveal the next step in my plan later this week...

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Game Preview: Chicago Bulls (6-4) vs Portland Trail Blazers (10-2)

The Portland Trail Blazers are a bit of a sore spot for me. Yes, I have a massive, unabashed man crush on Ben Gordon, but my love of LaMarcus Aldridge is up there with anyone in the league. You might even recall that the Bulls once drafted LaMarcus Aldridge and traded him for *drum roll* TYRUS THOMAS.

The only positive from that trade was that Thomas was so horrible that the Bulls weren't any good, so David Stern fixed the draft happened to pull the lottery ball for the Bulls to win the first overall pick in the draft, and thus Derrick Rose.

Think of Aldridge as a really, really good Carlos Boozer: he can bang down low with a variety of post moves, and he can hit the 20 footer with ease. The entire NBA (including Aldridge) knows that he would be a perfect fit for the Bulls, and trade rumors persist. GarPax won't do a deal for him, nor would the Trail Blazers wan the older Boozer, so I doubt a trade ever gets done. He's the best thing in Portland this side of Portlandia.



Damian Lillard

On top of Aldridge, the Blazers have a wonderful point guard by the name of Damian Lillard. There is almost always an East Coast bias in national sports coverage, so the Lillard doesn't receive as much attention as he deserves, but he is a wonderful compliment to Aldridge in the Blazers' offense. Lillard is taking 7 3's per game (wow), but managing to connect on 39% of them. Lillard is also quite quick, and he can get to the rack on occasion in spite of his small stature.

Three Point Shooting

The Blazers are a team tailor-made to 21st century basketball sabermetrics. Three point shooting is incredibly valuable, so in addition to Lillard, the Blazers have Wesley Matthews and Nic Batum drilling three pointers at will. About 50% of both players' shot attempts are three pointers, and the Blazers have trigger happy Mo Williams coming off the bench to pour in even more points. The Blazers are second in the NBA in scoring at 110.7 PPG, and their offense could really thrive with Jimmy Butler sitting out and Lillard penetrating.

I'm really worried about this game. I thought the Bulls would show-up for last night's game (and they did-- for a half). This is another long trip from Denver to Portland, and I think it's safe to say the Bulls will not be adjusted for this late night affair.

For the first time this year, I am expecting the Bulls to lose, in spite of a valiant effort from Kirk Hinrich. The Blazers fire power, and the lack of Butler and

Final Score: Blazers 105 Bulls 92

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Game Recap: The Bulls fall to the Nuggets

There are things I hate doing in life, and then there is addressing the issue of a Bulls' loss. This marks the 7th consecutive time the Bulls have fallen to the Nuggets in Denver, though for 2 3/4 quarters this game looked like it was in hand.

What went wrong?

It wasn't rebounding. The Bulls out rebounded Denver 58-48 while grabbing a whopping 22 offensive boards. Unfortunately, these second chance opportunities didn't matter as the Bulls shot just 38.8% from the field. The Nuggets' defensive wasn't necessarily lockdown, but the Bulls simply aren't a great shooting team, and the Nuggets' limited the Bulls post game in the second half, making scoring nearly impossible.

Carlos Boozer got off to a great start in the first quarter, but he couldn't help himself from broadcasting his shot. Thus, he finished with just 15 points on 7/18 shooting.

Deng was horrible offensively. He also began the game with a corner snipe, but he missed nearly every shot thereafter, shooting 3/18 on the night for 6 points. If you didn't notice there's a trend developing here--the Bulls can't score.

How about Derrick Rose? The star point guard scored 17 points in the first half, and for the first time all season, he looked comfortable every time he took the ball to the rim. Rose only had 2 turnovers, one of which was inexplicably thrown up the court and easily intercepted by Kenneth Faried.

In the second half, Rose mostly settled for jumpers, and things got ugly quickly. It's easy to see that Rose's jumper looks NOTHING like should. For some reason, not only are his feet staggered, but he is clearly not shooting at the peak of his jump, making him push the ball towards the rim. It was my understanding that Rose spent his time off honing his jumper, but as of right now, it looks uglier than it did in high school. He seems able to take threes, but any other jumper is a huge concern. I expect teams will start to sag off until he proves he can shoot.

Nasty Nate

Nate Robinson ignited a crucial 7-0 rally by himself last night, and Bulls fans across the world collectively cursed GarPax for not keeping him. Even in his post-game interview with Rachel Nichols, Robinson sounded devastated about his departure. Robinson only shot 3/13 from the field, but it was enough to spark solid play from Darrell Arthur and 17 points from Jordan Hamilton.

It hurts to see Nate do what he did best for the Bulls for the Nuggets, but it pains me even more to know that the Bulls do not have a comparable presence off the bench. Yes, Tom Thibodeau coined the good Nate/bad Nate moniker, and we know he hates players who don't play great defense (Nate tries!). However, it is easy for me to see the value of a high volume, irrational confidence scorer who can come off the bench and spark the offense. And Nate did just that for the Nuggets: Wilson Chandler was scoreless, Randy Foye and Ty Lawson weren't scoring much either.

Nate came in off the bench, took a lot of shots and gave the Nuggets are comfortable lead that boosted the confidence of everyone around him. The Bulls could use a guy like that, but they simply do not have one at this juncture. My hope is a Ben Gordon reunion next season but that seems like a pipe dream at best.

The Nuggets game was difficult, but I'm more upset from seeing the value of Nate Robinson than anything else. Perhaps the Bulls will find an irrational confidence guy at some point, but it probably will not happen this season.  

As a side note, I loved watching Taj Gibson and Thibs show emotion, even if it resulted in technical fouls. I do not like to see the Bulls go down silently.

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Game Preview Chicago Bulls (6-3) Vs. Denver Nuggets (4-6)

And the Circus Trip begins! Tonight, your Chicago Bulls will take on the struggling Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Bulls are coming off a very lackluster home victory against the Bobcats that likely induced more incidental naps than any game in recent memory.

A quick side note: doesn't the idea of the Circus Trip feel antiquated? Boers and Bernstein briefly touched on the issue during their afternoon program on the Score, and I couldn't agree more. I've never been to a circus, nor do I know anyone who goes to circuses, though I did meet a bartender who runs a nonprofit focused on getting funding for small circuses. Go figure.

Regardless of whether you enjoy circuses, it will cause the Bulls to take a 6 game road trip. From the interviews I've heard and read, the players seem to like the road trip since they don't have any distractions (family) and get to hang out with each other. The Nuggets are certainly a great opponent to kick off a long road trip. 

New coach Brian Shaw, who replaced very solid long-time Nuggets head coach George Karl, is doing something you don't see often in the NBA: damn near every player is averaging at least 15 minutes per game. True, the number is slightly skewed by injuries to Javalle McGee (stress fracture in his left tibia) and the recently recovered Wilson Chandler, but it suggest that Denver doesn't have too many players worth playing outside of Ty Lawson.

Key Players

Ty Lawson 

Speaking of Lawson, the former UNC star is averaging 22 points, 9 assists, and 4 boards per game--all career highs as he becomes the focal point of the Denver offense. Lawson is quick, but takes too many three balls. Nevertheless, he will pose a problem when he penetrates the lane. The Bulls have to respect the willingness and ability of Wilson Chandler to launch threes, so the team may not be able to collapse on Lawson, assuming he beats Derrick Rose off the dribble at least a few times.

Wilson Chandler

Wilson Chandler in a sexy, oversized candy cane number

Meanwhile, Chandler's three point shooting has been terrific this year. He's knocking down 43.5% of his 6 attempts PER GAME. Confidence isn't an issue with Chandler, who can pretty much do everything well. Chandler may experience some modest mean reversion (he's a career 33.7% 3 point shooter), but I think his game is much better after he dominated the Chinese professional league 2 years ago.

Still, I'll keep beating a dead horse here: the Bulls have fantastic perimeter defenders. Even if Jimmy Butler doesn't play, Luol Deng can handle Chandler by himself.

Kenneth Faried

Kenneth Faried might be the unhappiest player in the NBA. He was a perfect fit for George Karl's uptempo offense, but he has floundered in Brian Shaw's system. He will undoubtedly be traded this season.  Faried can treat every game going forward as an audition for his future team. With Faried looking for a blockbuster extension and the Nuggets looking for a juicy bid, do not be surprised to see Faried showcased a little more than someone of his offensive skill set should be showcased.

Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah will no doubt try to contain Faried and JJ Hickson on the boards, but it will be difficult. Though neither is as tall as Noah, both Nuggets are intense rebounders who will outwork opposing teams on the offensive glass. If the Bulls offense doesn't come to play tonight, the second chance opportunities created by Faried and co. may be difficult to overcome.

Overall, Denver is a middle of the road offensive team with a poor defense. The Bulls need all the help they can get after an aggressive Bobcats team nearly forced an upset.

Obviously I would love to see some of Derrick Rose's aggressiveness from the fourth quarter of Monday night's game carryover to tonight, but that may be a bit too much to ask. Boozer should return to normal tonight, meaning the Bulls will have to rely less on the offensive prowess of bench players to pickup the slack. Mike Dunleavy will get lots of open looks, so he will have a shot at a breakout performance.

Bulls 100 Nuggets 91

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How to Make the Bulls Look Bad

The formula to make the Chicago Bulls look bad (or average) over the past three seasons appears to be the same: be a below average team. For whatever reason, the Bulls can destroy the Pacers one night, but then be perplexed at how to stop one of the worst teams in the league. Don't listen to Neil and Stacey: this wasn't a good Bobcats team by any measure. Sure, they played hard, but the Bulls simply played terribly.

You already know what the worst part of the game was: Ben Gordon's DNP - Coach's Decision. 

The Bulls held the Bobcats to 36.3% shooting, but the Bulls responded by shooting 36% from the field. Not surprisingly, the Bulls murdered the Bobcats on the boards, outrebounding them 54-44, with Carlos Boozer compensating for his poor shooting by grabbing 17 boards.

Derrick Rose looked like Ramon Sessions. Rose had no aggressiveness, little lift on his shot, and he genuinely looked disinterested in taking the ball  to the hole--until the last minute, where Derrick Rose looked like Derrick Rose.

I'm not that surprised that Rose is falling in love with his jumper, as is the case for any player following a hot performance. Last night, Rose shot just 4-13 from the field, hitting only 1-5 three pointers.

Throughout the season, we've seen Rose mostly take a baby steps forward, but I would say last night was his first step backward. Rose wasn't confident, and he did not show many flashes of an all-star. I don't think there's anything wrong with Rose physically, but mentally, that's another story.

For whatever reason, Rose, unlike EVERY OTHER NBA PLAYER, doesn't even play pickup games over the summer, and it certainly showed. Rose must relearn the game, and if he doesn't do it quickly, he won't be able to carry the Bulls on a given night like he has in the past.

Is Thibobdeau Wearing Down the Bulls?

My number one fear at this point of the season is that Tom Thibodeau has worn on this team. It happened to Scott Skiles, another fantastic head coach, and there is reason to believe the same fate could befall Coach Thibodeau.

The Bulls main problem last night was effort. Mike Dunleavy is completely unable to throw an entry pass to the post, and the Bulls had numerous lazy passes picked-off. The Bobcats reminded me of a hungry high school team playing as hard as humanly possible. As my high school basketball program used to say, "Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard."

Minutes are down slightly for starters pretty much across the board, but the damage may already be done from Thibs riding this team for years. I can't imagine the Bulls EVER playing down to the level of competition like this in the first few seasons of his tenure.

If I've learned anything from reading Phil Jackson's books, it has been that the journey of an NBA season involves games like this. Assuming the Bulls right the ship and put some effort into their next contest, then this won't be a concern. However, a damaging pattern could emerge, and in the event it does, I expect GarPax to use it as an opportunity to fire Thibs.

Altogether, last night's performance was poor, but it was still a win. The Circus Trip starts this week, and the path won't be easy, with tough opponents like the Warriors and Trailblazers ahead.

You're not scared of 'em, are ya DRose?



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Game Preview: Chicago Bulls (5-3) Vs. Charlotte Bobcats (5-5)

No need to do a double take, that is indeed a .500 Charlotte Bobcats (Hornets soon, but not soon enough) squad taking on your Chicago Bulls. I generally try to go to Bobcats games, prompting you to ask, wtf is wrong with Stormin Normin? Well, I love Ben Gordon, and I go give him a solo standing ovation amidst the swarm of boos. I can't make it this year, so I'll just have to do that in the comfort of my living room. And I'll dream of what could have been...



Enough about a guy who probably won't play. The Bobcats aren't as terrible as usual thus far this season. But this team simply isn't very good, though they may win 25-30 games this year. In years past, the Michael Jordan storyline used to be fun, but it doesn't really matter much at this point. Jordan has moved on, and the best thing he can do is hope his team's name change boosts merchandise sales...next season.

The Bobcats Don't Have Any Scoring

It really pains me to see Ben Gordon sitting on the bench this year because the Bobcats don't have any scoring or any shooting. Al Jefferson was a big free agent signing, a typical baffling signing by a GM looking to improve overnight that causes him to get in a bidding war with himself for a player no one else really wants at that price. Jefferson is only 28, though it seems like he's been in the league forever, so he will have a shot to chase a title if things don't work out in Charlotte, as he's only signed for 3 seasons.

Naturally, Jefferson's shooting percentage and scoring are in the gutter so far this season, as Jefferson is shooting just 40% from the field and averaging only 15 points per contest. Jefferson is a well-known black hole, though he did torch the Bulls last season for 32 points.

I don't expect him to get it started tonight against the Bulls, and Jefferson's black hole tendencies tend to disrupt offensive movement and other players' interest in the game. No one wants to play with a guy like this, even in the NBA.

Kemba Walker is essentially a thinner BG who can pass, but his numbers are down across the board this season, as he is shooting a hideous 34% from the field and not distributing like he did last season. The Bobcats offensive was actually a little more run 'n gun last year with Walker, Ramon Sessions, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Gerald Henderson getting out on the break.

This season, Basketball Reference rates the Bobcats as the slowest offensive in the league (thank you Al Jefferson). The Bulls may not always have the best half-court offensive, but the team's half-court defense is unmatched. The Bobcats are playing right into the Bulls' strength.

The Bulls will DOMINATE on the Boards

Al Jefferson may be averaging nearly 9 rebounds per game, but the rest of the Bobcats team just doesn't rebound at all. Sometimes starting center Bismack Biyombo (I always read that name in Marv Albert's voice) is a good rebounder, but he might be the worst offensive player in the NBA.

Therefore, the Bobcats will rely on Josh McRoberts (4.6 RPG) and MKG (5.9 RPG) to pickup the slack. Noah and/or Boozer might go off for 20 rebounds tonight. The Bulls will punish this team with several second chance opportunities.

The Bulls are the far superior team, and I don't have any question that the team will win easily tonight. I'd like to see a huge game out of Carlos Boozer, and it might be the perfect time to let Jimmy Butler rebuild his confidence. Gerald Henderson and MKG are decent defenders, but both will have their hands full trying to help their big men in the post.

The Final Score: Bulls 102 Bobcats 75

And I think that's a generous 75 points.  I do not expect a letdown game after the big win versus the Pacers, but rather a continuation of beautiful Bulls basketball.

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The Bulls End the Pacers' Undefeated Season

What a beautiful win for the Bulls! The Bulls played their best basketball of the season, dominating the Indiana Pacers in every facet of the game. The 110-94 final score really doesn't explain what a blowout this game was truly was.

Defensive Dominance

You didn't have to watch the game very closely to see how defensively dominant the Bulls were, particularly during the first three quarters of the game. Kirk Hinrich, Derrick Rose, Luol Deng -- you name a player, and he played fantastic defense last night. I was particularly impressed to see Rose lockdown George Hill and Deng hold Paul George to 12 points on 3-14 shooting from the floor.

The Bulls looked like a team that was pissed off after losing to the Pacers earlier this year, and I did not see any of the sloppy rotations or lack of hustle that has been evident for most of the season.  Pacers not named Chris Copeland connected on just 1-12 threes during the the game. The Pacers' bench contributed little outside of some garbage time buckets.

D. Rose Goes Deep

A rare drive last night

Derrick Rose electrified the United Center last night, burying 6-11 three pointers en route to 20 points. Rose laughed any time the Pacers played the drive, and if not for a moving screen by Taj Gibson, Rose would have hit 7-12 attempts. He clearly has his legs back, and he finally got fantastic arc on his shots.

Though Rose's three point shooting was amazing, I'm worried he may be afraid to drive the lane. Rose only attempted 5 FGs, and he looked extremely scared to drive the ball into the lane. Rose is a dynamic offensive weapon, and though I would love if he becomes a 42% three point shooter, I do not want to see him abandon driving. Other offensive players (I'm look at you Dunleavy) can't create their own shots, thus the Rose drive 'n kick is essential to long-term success.

Bench Mob

The Bulls' core bench players played orgasmically. I haven't seen Hinrich so tenacious on both sides of the ball since his first run with the Bulls, and I'm unbelievably impressed with how confident he looked on offense.

Taj Gibson was similarly fantastic, extending plays with 4 offensive boards and chipping in for 15 points. Mike Dunleavy nailed both of his three point attempts and poured in 10 points in just 22 minutes. If the top 8 of the rotation can play like this for the rest of the season, then Bulls fans are in for a splendid regular season performance.

This was undoubtedly the most impressive game of the season. The Bulls played like hungry champions, and I haven't seen the team look this since the 2011-12 season. For real. I'm feeling extremely pumped.

Chicago Bulls (4-3) Vs Indiana Pacers (9-0)

The Indiana Pacers are dismantling the NBA and making a mockery out of the rest of the league. Paul George's troops are thus far undefeated, and I've yet to see a team really threaten them. Admittedly, it's only been 9 games, but Paul George looks like the frontrunner for this year's MVP. The team plays an ugly offensive game, but so do the Bulls.

I really really do not buy the Indiana Pacers as an NBA champion, but with George and Roy Hibbert making the leap, it may be time for me to capitulate.

The Bulls played well last night against the Raptors, but the Pacers blew out the Milwaukee Bucks, 104-77.

Quick Stat Lines:

Paul George: 24.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.6 SPG, 48.7% FG%

Roy Hibbert: 11.4 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 4.8 BLOCKS PER GAME

Hibbert is the best rim protector in the game, and the Bulls are going to have a very difficult scoring inside. As hard as Joakim Noah tries, he is simply not a real threat offensively, particularly against a strong defender like Hibbert. I assume Hibbert will matchup with Boozer most of the time, so hopefully Boozer lingers outside of the paint to open up the lane for Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose (if he plays).

Key Matchup: Derrick Rose Vs George Hill

George Hill and GF

The Bulls did a masterful job containing Paul George last time these two teams played. Thus, I'm not concerned about stopping him. Rather, I want Derrick Rose to abuse point guard George Hill.

CJ Watson started the last time, and Rose owned him every time he asserted himself. However, those moments were few and far between. Hill can't guard Rose--well, no one can guard Derrick Rose--so if he plays and is healthy, he NEEDS to exploit this matchup for the Bulls to win. Boozer will be largely contained, so Rose needs to drive to score and create open shots for his teammates.

My Prediction... Do I break my addiction and go against the Bulls?




No, I can't do that, even against the Pacers.

Final Score: Bulls 92 Pacers 89