Beating the Heat: December 2013 Edition

In case you missed it, cancelled your cable subscription, stopped looking at social media sites, or completely avoided anyone remotely interested in Chicago sports today, the Bulls dismantled the Miami Heat last night, winning 107-87. LeBron James scored just 21 points, and the Heat were never really close to matching the Bulls' intensity or effort.

Just a quick reminder: don't get carried away. This doesn't mean the Heat suck, or that the Heat won't ever compete again, or that LeBron sucks. Great teams lose all the time. It's a strange phenomenon, sure, but the Heat CAN lose to a battered Bulls team and still be a top contender for the NBA title.

Ok, one more thing: The Wall Street Journal and ESPN picked-up on LeBron not wearing his new shoes yesterday. A month late my friends.

Now that I've got that out of the way, let's relish in last night's beautiful victory. Hustle and energy were the two key factors for the Bulls last night. As is always the case when these two teams compete, the Bulls made the Heat earn every bucket. And with Dwyane Wade absent from the lineup, getting open shots was no easy task for Miami. The Bulls hilariously outrebounded the Heat 49-27.

Taj Gibson the MVP

I speak with my closest Bulls confidant about this all the time: where the heck did Taj come from? After a few years as a middling offensive player, Gibson clearly put in some work in the offseason to become an unstoppable post force. He bullied the Heat last night for 19 points on 8-12 shooting. Carlos Boozer did score 27 points and grab 9 boards, but it is certainly time to question if the Bulls are starting the right guy at power forward. Taj's superior defensive game makes him a better canidate for 32 minutes + per game, but I doubt that happens this year. Still, Taj has made Boozer completely expendable.

My one concern about Taj? The Bulls don't run nearly enough plays for him. When he's putting up prolific scoring efforts, the Bulls often do not go to him in the fourth quarter. With Derrick Rose out of the lineup, I see no reason why the Bulls couldn't work the offense through Taj, who almost needs to be doubled every time at this point.

The Return... Of Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah admittedly lit up the box score against the Pelicans, but I didn't see the confidence from Noah that I saw last night. For the first time all season, Noah looked in command of his destiny offensively, while looking like the high energy defensive player that opposing fans love to hate. Noah also made an inspiring speech about rallying around Rose after the game.

If this Joakim Noah is here to stay, fans are in for a real treat this season (and 5th seed).

Let's not get carried away, it was one game, and the Heat were missing Dwyane Wade and Birdman. I don't think the Bulls can beat the Heat in a 7 game series right now, but they might be able to with Derrick Rose.

Unlike last year, players have taken on scoring roles. I think the main difference from this team compared to last year is the sense of identity. It certainly took a while, and the Bulls hit the skids after Rose left the lineup. However, this team knows that they all must contribute offensively, something I think was distinctly missing from last year's team.

Last year: late Nate takeover.

This year: Taj, Luol Deng, and even Kirk Hinrich all know that they MUST step up and assume scoring roles. Luol and Kirk may be more comfortable as secondary scoring options, but both have shown remarkable progress on the offensive end this season, particularly in terms of confidence and assertiveness. Veterans, just like younger players, can learn new things.

I was wrong about breaking up this team...I think.

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Game Preview: Bulls (7-9) Vs Heat (14-4)

Live from Chicago tonight at 8:30PM, the Bulls will take on the hated Miami Heat. The Heat may be without the Birdman (personal reasons/getting tatted up) and  Dwyane Wade, who will be icing his knees for the next 4 days and tending to the sale of his River West condo. Still, the Heat have the best player on earth in LeBron James as well as a rejuvenated Michael Beasley and future Hall of Famer Ray Allen.

As a quick side note: watch this video on Nikola Mirtoic.  You won't be disappointed.

It's quite popular for Chicagoans to hate on LeBron James or try to position him against Michael Jordan. LeBron is one of my favorite players, but more importantly, it doesn't matter that he's not as good as Michael Jordan. Jordan hates the Bulls organization, and his relative skill set has nothing to do with tonight's game.

What's relevant for tonight is that LeBron is SHOOTING 59.5% from the FIELD. He also happens to be connecting on 47.4% of three pointers, on his way to averaging 26 points per game. Wow. So, LeBron doesn't miss. We can only hope that he actually wears his new shoes, which will cause his feet to ache.

Luckily, Luol Deng is the best LeBron stopper in the league at this point. Without Dwyane Wade, expect the Bulls to clog the paint and force LeBron to become primarily a passer tonight. Unfortunately, we all know LeBron's an elite passer. Crap.

The Bulls Will Make Miami Earn EVERY POINT

I was at the Bulls-Heat game last season where the Bulls ruined Miami's huge winning streak. This is one of those things that doesn't show up on paper, but the Bulls play the Heat extremely well. I think Taj Gibson will absolutely abuse whoever Miami tries to throw at him in the post, and the Bulls might be able to pair him with Carlos Boozer against the undersized Heat front court.

The Bulls lack of energy on defense this year does scare me quite a bit, especially because the Bulls haven't closed out on three point shooters. And the Heat have a lot of capable three point shooters (Ray Allen, James Jones, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Beasley sort of). Still, expect the Heat to EARN every damn basket.

Miami is a defensive juggernaut itself, and the stalling Bulls offense could struggle mightily. I'm already scared about every minute Marquis Teague has to play with Mike James out due to injury. Look for the Heat to go on huge runs whenever Kirk Hinrich is out.

It should be a great game tonight. We know Miami is the superior team at this point, though I'm not sure that's the case with Derrick Rose healthy. Regardless, the Bulls will give the Heat everything they can handle on both ends of the ball. Taj and Boozer are the keys to tonight's game.

Without Wade, the Heat lose a scoring punch, but I think they pull out this game.

Final Score: Heat 98 Bulls 93

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Courtside Bulls Recap

It's not often that I sit courtside at basketball games. During middle school I always had a great view from the bench, and during high school I often sat behind the Stevenson bench--but courtside at an NBA game is something else. I'd like to say it matched my expectations, but as a 300 level dweller, it FAR exceeded anything I thought possible. If you do have the means, I highly recommend checking it out. I don't have the means, but I was fortunate enough to have received them.

I'm sure many have sat courtside before, but it really is an amazing experience. More than anything, it reminded me that at the end of the day, this is still the game I play all the time with my friends. Only these players are approximately 1,000,000x better. It's easy to say a guy sucks when you look at his numbers, but when you see them play that close, you realize just how insanely talented every single player in the league is. A few times I caught myself thinking about how badly Eric Gordon would cross me up if I had to guard him in a Chicago Sport and Social game.

Courtside experience aside, what an incredible game! Three overtimes between two completely evenly matched teams. I feel a little cheated that Anthony Davis couldn't play, but it was great seeing Jason Smith and his eye popping athleticism. I know the New Orleans Pelicans aren't seen as a great team, but the team has several offensive options who can score in a variety of ways.

I admit I had no idea how much a stretch four like Ryan Anderson impacts the game. The Bulls, who rely heavily on switching and other zone elements to pack the lane, did not close out on Anderson in time to affect his shots. He nailed 7 of 11 three pointers, finishing the game with 36 points.

The trio of Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, and Eric Gordon is strangely effective. The Pelicans struggle mightily with the three on the court at the same time, but as a Bulls fan, I envy having three solid playmakers on the same roster--something the Bulls haven't had the luxury of having since the days of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Toni Kukoc.

Although the last play was heartbreaking, the Bulls played a very solid game, but the Pelicans undoubtedly played equally as well. 

Taj Gibson: Superstar

Since Derrick Rose's gruesome injury, most news surrounding the Bulls has been negative. I'm guilty of it too, believing that it might be time to breakup this team. However, Taj Gibson has emerged not as an offensive threat, but as a dominant two-way player. Taj abused the Pelicans on both ends of the court, highlighted by Ryan Anderson's desperation tackles in the fourth quarter and beyond.

Gibson unleashed a stunning array of post moves that make his $8 million salary look like a bargain. It also makes the departure of Carlos Boozer, via in-season trade, or, more likely, an amnesty release, feasible. Taj is ready to become a full-time starter and a focal point of the Bulls offense.

Should he stay or should he go?

Luol Deng provides the Bulls with a difficult dilemma. Do the Bulls risk losing Deng, an elite defender with solid offensive skills in search of something better? 

I doubt the Bulls find something better right now, or even in the near-future. I hear fans talk every day about acquiring Jabari Parker in the draft, but let's face it, that is not happening. Parker will be a top 4 pick, and the Bulls are simply too good to get a lottery pick. Heck, even if the Bulls traded Deng, I'm not sure they miss the playoffs. 

The only problem with Deng is that he's too good to keep at a reasonable price. Yes, the Bulls have his Bird Rights, which allow them to pay the man pretty much whatever he wants. However, assuming Boozer is amnestied, the Bulls will have little left to sign Nikola Mirotic in the offseason. Mirotic looks like a Euro League MVP, and he will probably demand more than the Mid-Level Exception. If the Bulls sign Deng to a contract in excess of $10 million per year, bringing in Mirotic will be difficult, if not impossible. 

Frankly, I'm glad I'm not in GarPax's shoes right now. I'm not exactly sure whether or not Deng needs to stay, but I love him, and he's an extremely valuable member of this organization. 

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Bonus

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.

Game Recap: Bulls send the Raptors to Jurrasic Park

I'm not really sure if that title makes a lick of sense, but either way, the Chicago Bulls easily defeated the Toronto Raptors last night, 96-80. With Derrick Rose out with his injured hamstring, the Bulls received a great all-around performance from the starting lineup, as every starter notched double figures in scoring.

DeMar DeRozan exploded for 37 points, but the Raptors couldn't buy a bucket outside of him and Rudy Gay. The Bulls rotated extremely well defensively, interrupting all of the Raptors' outside attempts.

Taj Gibson Impressed

Taj Gibson continues to impress me this season. He was off last year, perhaps due to the pressure of a new contract, and some injuries. Whatever the reason, it looked like letting Omer Asik walk was a terrible decision, and I completely hated the decision at the time.

Flash forward to 2013, and Gibson looks like the player who impressed during his first three years in the league. While he hasn't added the 3-point shot he's talked about since his rookie season, Taj has looked explosive and done a fantastic job defensively, less a weak performance against David West. Last night Taj played just 21 minutes, but managed to chip in 6 points, 6 boards, and 2 blocks. Plus, Taj does a great job closing out and altering shots in the Bulls' rotation heavy defense.

Deng is so good

Though Rudy Gay was a little more efficient that I predicted, scoring 20 points on 7-15 shooting, Luol Deng did a masterful job grabbing rebounds and scoring an efficient 19 points. Deng never does anything flashy, and he still isn't a great ball handler, but the Bulls were +24 with him on the court. He doesn't necessarily fill up a stat sheet like you'd think an all-star would, but make no doubt about it, Deng is an elite small forward. He's going to get paid in the offseason.

Strong Three Point Shooting 

The Bulls were 7-16 from the three point line last night, and I was encouraged to see Jimmy Butler nail a pair of triples. Hinrich missed 5 threes, many of which were wide open, but overall, he did an admirable job filing in for Derrick Rose.

This is a short recap, but my beloved Blue Demons played today, and I've got to knock out a preview for tonight's huge matchup.

Let's go Bulls.

What's Going on with Derrick Rose?

The last time this Bulls blogger was able to write consistently, Derrick Rose won the MVP, and then faced a year riddled by injuries.

Flash forward to 2013: Rose is perfectly healthy, except for a sore neck, which has lead to some Kerry Walsh-inspired athletic tape.

After a dominant preseason, Rose has certainly stalled out during the first few games. To start the season, the former MVP has averaged 14.3 ppg on a disgusting 28.8% shooting. The second figure literally causes me to vomit.

Offensively, this phenomenon can best be described as rust. His shot is flat, he's having a hard time beating the first defender, and his famous ability to split double teams has been non-existent.



On the plus side, he definitely did not lose any jumping ability; in fact, Rose asserted that his vertical is 5 INCHES higher now at 43 inches. The athleticism is there, the confidence to split double teams and hit deep shots is not.

It may take a while, but he will be the Rose of old, and if his preseason jumper provides any insight into the future, it suggests he will be shooting at a higher percentage than ever. I expect a 45-47% shooting percentage to become the norm when he's healed, and if he can learn how to get LeBron/MJ calls, we could see that number move over 50%.

Once Rose is back, the offense will look brand new. 

Let's face it: the Bulls don't have another creator on the roster sans Rose. Jimmy has occasional flashes, but he's much better as a corner three point shooter who runs the court for easy buckets. Carlos can do some wonderful things in the post, and frankly, he looks better than he has at any point during his Bulls tenure.

But Dunleavy, Deng, Noah, Taj, Kirk and co. do not create opportunities for themselves. Unless the departed Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli were on the court last year, watching the Bulls play offense was an exercise in torture.

This year's offense looks familiar, but once Rose starts beating the first defender, defenses will collapse, corner three pointers will be open, and opposing defenses will have to choose between closing out on shooters and letting Rose drive, or stopping Rose and letting shooters go wild like they do in Miami. Here's a great story from SB Nation that explains why I love corner three's so much.

By no means is Mike Dunleavy quite the shooter that Ray Allen is (ok, he's the best shooter ever), but he will thrive when he gets open shots.

Patience is in order when it comes to this Bulls team. However, a championship is definitely not out of the question.