If the Bulls were smart they would have Rose come back the game before the All-Star break then you get six days off before the next game and better to ease back in.
Kent Watson
Someone is looking down on us and felt bad for D-Rose's injury and made up for it by creating a situation where Butler can feel comfortable. If his play continues to improve, I'd hate to be any other contending team in the East; even Miami should be very concerned. I expect Rose to at least shoot better than last year and the Bulls now have potential defensive stoppers at almost every position. They also have the luxury of having scorers that if they are not hitting their shots, they can be easily replaced. I'm referring to Rip, Marco and Nate. I can't wait to see a 7 game series with Miami. Butler will frustrate Wade more than any other defender has. I just hope everyone is healthy come playoff time.
Dave Berkebile
After Rose returns and gets more playing time, do you think Thibs will try Rose and Robinson in the backcourt at times? Robinson absolutely torched the Bucks on the fast-break and imagine the possibilities of having two players who can run, easily get their own shot and create plays.
Vinay Nagaraj
How long before Nate Robinson gets some serious consideration for 6th man of the year? This guy has single handedly swung so many games for the Bulls this season and other than Rose, I think he's the only player on this team that can get his own shot whenever he wants (albeit sometimes it may not be the best shot). I really think he needs to be in the discussion for that 6th man award.
Billy Habibi
Marco Bellinelli played very well in December but kind of fell off his game in January. Why do you think? Do you think he'll get more minutes and play a little better when playoffs come around?
Ricky Torres
Why aren't the Bulls interested in Greg Oden?
Colby Williamson
Which coaches are the top contenders for Coach of the Year?
Thiago Silva
Is there a possibility the Bulls sign Nate for another year or so after this season? And do you see Belinelli being offered a new contract after the season?
Axel Svanfeldt
Isn’t the elephant in the room that if Butler continues to emerge like this Deng becomes expendable? Not because we wouldn’t love to keep Deng, but if you have a guy who makes a couple million a year who can play his role close to as well as him (I'm not saying Butler can yet, but if he keeps this up, you’d have to acknowledge he can fill in serviceably if Deng departs). I can see Deng's big expiring contract and value as a player becoming a big trade chip next year,or just letting Deng walk when his deal is complete after next season. I love Luol, but I still feel the Bulls need another wing scorer to play with Rose who can create shots. Maybe this is how you eventually free up the money for that?
Michael Koltun
Luol has become really good but I don't think the Bulls can win a title with Luol as their second best player. Assuming I'm right how do you get that second best player, keep Luol & what position does that player play? My fear is that if you resign Luol you can't upgrade due to salary cap yet the Bulls will win 50 games a year but no chance at a title. If you get rid of Luol then you need a second & third best player. It seems the way this team is built, its destiny is a nice 50+- win team almost every year and that's all.
Gerald Gitzke
Just wondering, are you starting to get "Let's trade Deng because we have Butler" emails yet?
Gorav Raheja
Please explain to my know-it-all older brother that Kyle Korver dreams about being the player Marco Belinelli is. I really liked Korver as he benefitted often from Derrick Rose penetrations and kick outs. Of course he’s a good and much needed three point shooter in this league. However, that’s where it ends. Marco brings so many more dimensions with his ability to drive, shoot and pass. Can you expound on this and get this knuckle head to understand that Marco is a better player and fit for the Bulls? He even calls Belinelli, “Bumnelli”.
Marcus Anderson
With Deng, Noah and Tyson Chandler making the All-Star game, is David Stern happy that Thibs isn’t coaching the team? Mix in LeBron James and Thibs could have the lockdown defense he’s always dreamed about. He’d be the only coach that would be pacing the sidelines and shouting out defensive assignments during an All-Star game. Thibs’ head would crack if any team he coached gave up 150 points; as happens in most of these exhibitions.
Chris DeMay
If the Bulls could acquire any player that might be acquired by the trade deadline and make a solid impact to help push the Bulls and Derrick Rose into the playoffs and make them a legitimate contender whom might that player be and who do you think the Bulls would have to give up if anyone in return?
Forrest Wagner
What do you think it would take to get Deandre Jordan out Los Angeles? I can't imagine what Thibs could do with him at center
Joseph Higgins
It seems as though Kirk Hinrich is picking up two fouls rather quickly of late. Is Kirk doing something different than earlier in the year? Or, are refs enforcing the tighter hand check rules more vigorously?
Jim Costas
I said it and now it seems reasonable. If the man (Butler) works on fixing his shot he's going to be an All-Star.
Ashur Baroutta
Now that Kobe has learned to play well with others by averaging 14 assists per game over the last two games, is this comparable to the Doug Collins era when MJ reluctantly played PG and averaged a triple double? My money says being a facilitator will wear thin with Kobe after a few more games.
Tony Reed
The league just released a statement that the officials made some crucial errors regarding some calls made in Portland and Denver the other day. What’s the purpose of those statements? If I've lost a game under unfair circumstances why would I wan't to hear about it in the aftermath if it isn't going to change the results anyhow? To me that feels like a "rub-it-in-the-face-act".
Axel Svanfeldt
I’m sure you’re already receiving e-piles of e-mails talking about the Bulls’ new savior, Jimmy Butler. While I am not so sure I agree with that, I do believe he should be the starting 2 guard for the ‘Derrick Years’. When evaluating Jimmy’s current success and future trajectory, I think we too often forget to factor positional relativity. Yes, he’s not a great shooter, and he’s an average ball-handler at best. But he is a strong, intuitive defender, great rebounder for his size, can get to the rim and finish, and is improving daily in nearly every facet of the game. In this city, we still have a belief that the prototypical 2-guard is 6’6, 200 lb, hits every big shot, can dunk from the foul line, and calls his general manager ‘Crumbs’. But look at the 2’s around the league today. There is Kobe, Wade, and Harden. I just called those teams and – spoiler alert – they’re not trading them. Who follows them? Ray Allen? Monta Ellis? OJ Mayo? Kevin Martin? Very quickly we enter a group of guys that have serious defects in their game whether it be age, size, or character issues. And while their names might have greater badge value, after seeing what Jimmy can do given major PT, if matched up individually against any of these guys – does Jimmy get beat? Maybe, maybe not. But the fact that it’s even a question dictates that the guy currently on your team holds more value to you than any of the players you’re comparing him against. And after that, who else is there? Ben Gordon? JJ Reddick? Pickings get slim. There are a host of young 2’s that might end up being great – Brad Beal, Terrence Ross, Klay Thompson (really more of a 3 anyway) – but these guys have proven very little to this point, most less than Jimmy. Given the current talent level of 2 guards across the league, a very easy case can be made that Jimmy Butler is already a top 10 player for that position. And all of the above is not even factoring in salary, which obviously, makes Jimmy a huge value play.
Dan Frystak
Do the Bulls pull the ��Rip’ cord on Hamilton continuing to start this season?
Carlos Marquez
I had completely forgotten about Deng's wrist injury. Looking back it's amazing how much concern that wrist caused Bulls fans and management last spring and over the summer. Obviously I have no clue whether Deng is gutting it out or if the injury is not bothering him much, as he promised it wouldn't over the summer. He's having a great year and I think it's amazing how little we fans have had to worry or hear about the wrist.
Cameron Watkins
With Mirotic doing so well overseas, it got me thinking. Why don't more teams draft young foreign players not NBA ready and stash them overseas until their ready or use their rights in other deals? It would make sense to me to acquire as many 2nd round picks as possible to stockpile assets. Are there rules in place keeping teams from doing this?
Randall Homberg
What were the Raptors thinking when they traded for Rudy Gay? Other than entering luxury tax, that trade doesn't make any sense. Now they've got redundant players in Gay, DeRozan and Ross who play the same. All of them need the ball to be effective. To make it worse they got Lowry at point, rather than Calderon. Now, Amir and Jonas will have to get those rebounds to touch the ball. Like the Bobcats, Raptors pieces doesn't fit well. The head scratcher there is, unlike the Bobcats, Toronto just killed their flexibility. Now, they'll have to trade Gay or DeRozan to make room for Ross and A. Anderson, with the latter playing great for them. Pistons getting Calderon was great. Now they have someone who can feed Monroe and Drummond. Memphis did achieve their goal of cutting down expenses. They provide flexibility to themselves, without sacrificing their chance to compete. They also manage to get pieces to build around Conley and Gasol.
Peter Jimenez
You always talked about NBA players as "the best athletes in the world". It always make me wonder, are the NBA players better athletes than NFL players, for example? I'm a pro soccer player here in Brazil, and I belive the best athlete in soccer today is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is very quick and strong for a soccer player, but I don't see him a better athlete than D-Rose. How about Megatron?
Fernando Schmude