After the loss to the Kings I remember closing the game out and just staring at my screen thinking this was exactly what we needed. This is the catalyst, I saw it in Thib's comments about intensity, we have a bare knuckle hard nosed coach and it rubs off on our players. Thibs is going to go ballistic on the team after that pitiful performance, but more importantly he is teaching the team to never accept mediocrity. They are used to being known as hard workers that always show up to play against anyone. And against the inferior Kings they were made to look like fools. Now they feel ashamed. After Thibs re-ignites that fire the Bulls with Derrick will finish this season out exceptionally well, and Derrick is coming back against the Nuggets.
Ashur Baroutta
What a shame the Bulls this year. Yesterday, 121 for Sacramento and only 79 for Bulls. What happened, what's going on with the most popular team of basketball in Brazil? Please, I need an answer and some hope.
Floria Becker
You've seen the Kobe play. What do you think? Dirty? Kobe didn't land on Jones foot but Jones did go all into Kobe's landing spot. It was dirty. Jones always reminded me of James Posey.
Mike Sutera
I have to take issue with your claim that the NBA age restriction is not a Constitutional issue. The NBA runs a monopoly, which are typically forbidden because they restrain trade. Sports leagues, however, have been allowed to operate as monopolies because their primary workers, the players, collectively bargain. In the case of the age restriction rule, however, the “workers” who are impacted by the rule are not yet permitted in the union and cannot collectively bargain. So, what you have is a monopoly forbidding otherwise able adult workers from even being considered for work. Remember, no one is arguing that an 18 year-old automatically be given work as an NBA player; however, the NBA’s rule prevents its 30 member businesses from even considering hiring an able adult athlete, merely because of his age. You say that the NBA is a private business that should be able to negotiate what’s best for their business, but you’re ignoring the fact that if 30 teams feel as though hiring an 18 year-old like Kobe Bryant or Kevin Garnett is bad for business, they can choose not to hire them. But for a monopoly like the NBA to forbid all 30 of its member teams from even considering hiring an able adult worker, merely on the basis of age, is a clear restraint of trade and an absolute Constitutional violation, and this rule would likely get tossed out if anyone dared to challenge it.
Christopher Prince
Excluding Rose, I'm just curious about who would win a Bulls 1-on-1 tourney? I'm tempted to pick Nate, but he'd have a hard time stopping anybody given his size. I actually think Jimmy might have a good shot. Do players ever go 1-on-1 in practice?
Mike Zylstra
Looks like the rookie is not getting much love these days. Less than 4 minutes against the Lakers? Is he playing that bad? If Robinson is just here for one year I would start Teague. Mind you this is only because Hinrich and Hamilton are out again. Nate works so much better for The Bulls coming off the bench. Why not start Marquis Teague a few games and build The Rookie? Belinelli can handle the ball and co-run point.
Lawrence Joy
If this Kings/Bulls performance isn't an S.O.S. signal to D-Rose I don't know what is. Enough is enough, the guy tore his acl, he didn't have micro fracture surgery. There's no reason he should be out over a year. I'm sitting here watching Shumpert play for the Knicks and Rubio has a triple double last night. The time is now for Rose.
Billy Habibi
I'm about 95.5% sure you are going to completely dismiss this premise because you see first-hand how hard the kid works and how passionate he is about basketball, but are you at all concerned about the mental toughness of Derrick Rose? More specifically his ability to lead and deal with adversity. Because I am. I know he is still young and leadership and mental toughness are attributes that can be acquired over time, but I feel like injuries and the questions that surround them aren't going to completely go away for him moving forward.
James Knebel
In deference to Rose, Shumpert and Rubio are not the Franchise. Rose has the Bulls franchise on his shoulders. I say come back next year at 100%. Even if Rose comes back, there is no way we win with the team we have.
Omar DeJesus
Been a Bulls fan for many years and supported them all the way, even with the Curry/Chandler mess. I agreed that they should risk it and go for it all vs. settling for mediocre. I have always had hope and believed in their plan for the future, except now. I find myself frustrated and lost as to what the future holds for the Bulls. What hope for a true championship caliber team is there? I love Rose, but his contract is actually going to make it really tough to surround him with anyone else to actually beat the Heat with. What realistic options do you see for the Bulls in the next couple years that would actually make them better? Is there a player that can actually be had that would really help? Don't get me wrong, I still love the Bulls and the current players, but they are not a championship team this year or next year without someone else to help.
Jonathan Ramirez
I didn't like Reggie Rose interview, although I can understand his position. But I didn't like ESPN's news saying that Derrick has been cleared and now the NY Post writing that Derrick Rose missed a practice because the Bulls are putting pressure on him to come back although he was at the dentist. What is the point? Do people need to create problems from nothing?
Jeff Bridges
I was looking at the standings and was surprised to see that the Bulls are only 3 games ahead of the Bucks for the 8th and last playoff spot. And for a second I thought it might be possible for the Bulls to tank and miss the playoffs, until I saw that Toronto was yet another 8 1/2 games out. So unfortunately there's no chance they'll miss the playoffs and therefore a very decent chance that a worst case scenario will occur; that is, Rose plays in only a few games during the regular season and, not having tested himself fully, enters the playoffs where the intensity level escalates, and injures himself yet again, and we have to go through all of this again next year. It would have been much better had the Bulls missed the playoffs. Though management's attempt at saving some money this year really backfired with Belinelli, Hinrich & Robinson being better than Brewer, Korver & Watson will ever be. If it were up to me at this point, even if he could get himself back on the court before the end of the regular season, he'd be on the bench wearing a sports jacket until next year.
Stuart Gilbert
Seems as though Rose is gonna be a no show this season, which is ok with me. My problem lies with playing in USA Basketball. What if he were to injure himself in taking on this extra curricular activity away from the Bulls. If he is going to be reinjured I prefer he do it with the Bulls.
Ron Dub
During the Bulls/Lakers game, Jeff Van Gundy went on a rant and criticized the Bulls organization for being too concerned about the money and not committed to win the championship, meaning letting go key players like Asik, Korver and Watson. He stated that the Bulls make plenty of money and it's a shame to be even thinking about about the luxury tax. For the NBA owner, is it ultimately about the the money or the championship?
Josh Ramsden
Can you tell me what happened to announcers who concentrate on the game that's being played? To an old timer like myself it's frustrating not hearing who committed a foul or even who has come in to play because the announcers feel their humor and/or opinions are more important than the game. I will admit our local announcers are nowhere near as bad about this compared to the national. At times, it seems they are insulted when the game interrupts their dispensing their wit and wisdom.
Roy Lobenhofer
Everyone knows the Bulls have some kind of plan to amnesty Carlos Boozer after next season and try to pick up someone in free agency. I've seen the list, except for maybe Rudy Gay I honestly don't think any of those players will either come to Chicago or would really make a difference. Do you think the Bulls should jump the gun and go after someone this summer, maybe an Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap?
Tom Boba
It took me a while to figure it out, but I got it. The Bulls need a plan to get another star, but the new CBA makes that difficult. And it’s not as though star-caliber guys are just out there for the picking. They need a guy that’s young, talented, and could theoretically be moved. It’s DeMarcus Cousins. That’s the guy they need to target. I know this isn’t the first time it’s been mentioned, and there are a host of reasons you would not want him on your team. But sometimes you have to take a chance on talent, and more than most teams, the Bulls have an environment that he could thrive in. Cousins is a poor defender? Well, look at Booz – he may not be good, but he at least gets in guys’ ways now. Thibs gets effort from him. Cousins is a knucklehead? Well, look at Noah – he was banned by his own teammates in the past. Thibs has turned him into a serious professional and the top DPOY candidate out there. With the team of pros the Bulls have, and the no-nonsense coach and staff in place, Cousins could find the structure he needs to go from a top 5 talent to a top 5 pro. I think you go to the Kings and make them an offer that’s impossible to turn down: Kings send: D Cousins, J Fredette, C Hayes, J Salmons Bulls send: L Deng, T Gibson, M Teague, Charlotte pick, Bulls 1st rounder 2013
Dan Frystak
Will you please ask Thibs whether he believed the plane had more than enough to fly after the engine blew out?
Daniel Hodgman