Grizzlies-Bulls Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Dec 31 2011 6:03PM

Derrick Rose's aggressive play has helped the Chicago Bulls to their best start since their most recent championship season. He might not have much trouble keeping that energy going in the next game.

The reigning league MVP should receive an enthusiastic reception as the Bulls take on the Memphis Grizzlies in their home opener Sunday night.

Rose got off to an uneven start to this lockout-shortened campaign as he scored 22 points in a thrilling win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, then struggled during a loss at Golden State the next evening with 13 points on 4-of-17 shooting.

The point guard bounced back to hit 53.6 percent of his shots in the final two games of a season-opening road trip and had his best performance of the season while spoiling the new-look Los Angeles Clippers' home opener Friday.

Rose had 29 points, 16 assists - one shy of tying his career high - and eight rebounds during a 114-101 victory. The effort help the Bulls finish off their trip with back-to-back victories and improve to 3-1 for the first time since 1997-98.

"The last two games he's been very, very aggressive and our team has played with a lot of force offensively," coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Rose will try to continue those efforts while helping his team win a fourth consecutive home opener and post a third straight victory over the Grizzlies (1-2), which would mark the longest streak in the series since the Bulls claimed the first seven meetings. Chicago swept Memphis last season for the first time since 2004-05.

"We have a lot of confidence, but we still need to go out there and play hard. It's not going to be easy game. They're a hard-working team," Rose said.

Rose recorded his only career triple-double during a 96-84 win in Memphis on Jan. 17, and scored a team-best 24 points during a 99-96 win at the United Center on March 25.

Luol Deng was also instrumental in those victories, averaging 25.5 points on 61.3 percent shooting. He enters this contest scoring 18.5 points per game, just off his career best-average of 18.8 from 2006-07.

Deng and the Bulls will face a Grizzlies team coming off its first win of the season, a 113-93 rout of Houston on Friday. Zach Randolph led the way with 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting but impressed coach Lionel Hollins just as much with his defense.

"That's what I'm trying to focus on, just better D, helping my guys out and being in the right position," Randolph said. "Defense wins games. I know I can score with the best of them, and rebound with the best of them. (Working) on defense there's going to be a trickle-down effect."

Marc Gasol added 20 points for Memphis, which had averaged 88.5 points over its first two games. The Grizzlies had six players in double figures, including Chicago native Jeremy Pargo. The rookie, brother of former Bulls guard Jannero Pargo, had 14 points while starting in place of Mike Conley, who is dealing with a sprained ankle.

Memphis might need Pargo's help to end its losing streak to Chicago. The Grizzlies averaged 90.0 points over the two matchups in 2010-11, their second-lowest mark against any opponent last season ahead of only the 86.0 per game against Orlando.

Boozer leads Bulls past Grizzlies 104-64

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Posted Jan 02 2012 12:51AM

CHICAGO (AP) Carlos Boozer isn't interested in winning over his critics. He's interested in something else.

"To win," he said.

The Chicago Bulls figure to do plenty of that, particularly if he keeps playing like this.

Boozer scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Bulls coasted in their home opener, pounding the Memphis Grizzlies 104-64 on Sunday night.

Derrick Rose finished with 16 points even though shots weren't falling for him in the early going. Ronnie Brewer scored 17 with Richard Hamilton a late scratch because of a groin injury.

The game was so lopsided that fans started calling for backup Brian Scalabrine in the third quarter, with the outcome clearly in hand. It was, easily, the most dominant performance of the young season for a team with soaring expectations.

With their eyes on a championship, Bulls took three of four out West, beating Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the opener and capping the trip with a victory over the Clippers. This time, they dismantled the Grizzlies.

"It's a major step back," Memphis' Rudy Gay said. "This is the NBA. The game definitely shouldn't have gotten out of hand like that. We're all professional athletes. We need to come up with a better showing than that."

Boozer led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds as Chicago built a 54-28 halftime lead, scoring down low and hitting mid-range jumpers as if they were breakaway layups. He had 11 points during a 13-3 second-quarter run that bumped Chicago's lead to 48-27. Not a bad home debut for a guy who heard his share of boos there last season, particularly down the stretch.

"I'm not even worried about it, honestly," said Boozer, who missed the first month a year ago because of a broken right hand after signing with Chicago and was limited by a turf toe injury in the postseason. "I don't know which story you guys are trying to write, but I'm going to tell you this - we're just worried about getting better every day."

At 4-1, the Bulls are off to their best start since the 1996-97 team won its first 12, and they won this one easily even though Luol Deng (11 points) had a quiet night and the ball wasn't falling for Rose early on.

He missed his first five shots and was 4 of 10, but he was aggressive from the start and helped set up his teammates. That's why coach Tom Thibodeau his statistics didn't really reflect his performance.

"He gives you whatever the team needs," Thibodeau said. "He got us off to a really good start - defense, pushing the ball up the floor. When you push the ball like that, it gets everyone moving."

The only downer for Chicago was Hamilton getting scratched from the lineup and C.J. Watson leaving with a sprained left elbow injury in the fourth quarter after a scramble for a loose ball with Josh Selby near midcourt. He had his arm in a sling afterward and was scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

Hamilton, who tweaked his groin against the Clippers, is day to day.

Those injuries aside, it was a good night for the Bulls. They outrebounded the Grizzlies 55-40, outshot them 46.4 percent to 31 percent and outscored them 33-13 on the break.

It was simply a brutal night for Memphis, which got just five points from Gay. Zach Randolph bruised his right knee and scored only two points in 11 minutes.

Josh Davis and Sam Young were the only Grizzlies to score in double figures, with 10 points apiece. Jeremy Pargo, who grew up near Rose on Chicago's South Side, hit just 2 of 13 shots and finished with four points filling in for Mike Conley, who missed his second game with a sprained left ankle.

"It was embarrassing and humiliating," coach Lionel Hollins said.

Notes: Conley participated in the morning shootaround and did some pregame work. He said the ankle is improving, but he remains day to day. "I'm going to try to get some more rest for it and get it stronger with a couple of extra days of rehab before I get back on the court." ... Pargo, who is two years older than Rose, deflected questions about their matchup before the game, saying, "I'm excited to play with my teammates and do our best to get a win."

Notebook: Bulls 104, Grizzlies 64

By Kent McDill, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 1, 2012 11:31PM

THE FACTS: The Chicago Bulls had to wait until 2012 to have their home opener for the 2011-12 season but celebrated in high fashion Sunday by crushing the Memphis Grizzlies 104-64. Carlos Boozer had the biggest individual game among Bulls starters with 17 points and 11 rebounds in just 24 minutes. Last year's Most Valuable Player, Derrick Rose, only had to play 26 minutes on the way to 16 points and six assists. Chicago Bulls guard Ronnie Brewer started in place of Richard "Rip'' Hamilton, who was a very late scratch from the lineup because of a groin injury, and Brewer finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists. The Grizzlies, who were coming off an impressive home win against Houston Friday, were led by deep reserves Josh Davis and Sam Young with 10 points each.

QUOTABLE: "We knew it was opening night. We wanted to give fans something to cheer about."
-- Bulls guard Ronnie Brewer.

THE STAT: The Grizzlies starters combined for just 21 points on 8-for-41 shooting (19.5 percent). Rudy Gay was two for 12 from the field and Jeremy Pargo, starting in place of injured Mike Conley, was two for 13.

TURNING POINT: After the teams combined for 12-for-47 shooting in the first quarter, the Bulls outscored the Grizzlies 19-4 in the final seven minutes of the second quarter to open a 54-28 halftime edge. Boozer had 11 points in that stretch for the Bulls.

THE MOMENT: With the Bulls up by 38, 82-44, in the final seconds of the third quarter, Bulls backup center Omer Asik chased a ball out of bounds for a steal, scooped it out to guard C.J. Watson across the court, and Watson threw a one-touch pass to streaking Ronnie Brewer down the lane for a flying dunk that brought the previously comatose crowd to its feet.

INJURY UPDATE: Rip Hamilton reported a tweak in his groin before the game that caused Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau to substitute Ronnie Brewer in the starting lineup. Bulls guard C.J. Watson suffered a left elbow injury in the second half and was taken immediately to the locker room. Memphis guard Michael Conley did not play for the second straight game because of a high ankle sprain but is expected to play Tuesday against Sacramento. Forward Zach Randolph bruised his right knee and played only 11 minutes.

HOT: Ronnie Brewer, who entered the game with a streak of seven consecutive made shots, went eight for 10 for his 17 points.

NOT: With his 2-for-12 performance Sunday, Rudy Gay of Memphis is six for 23 in his last two games and 15 for 47 in his last three games.

ROOKIE WATCH: Playing in place of injured Mike Conley, rookie Jeremy Pargo played 27 minutes for Memphis. Although he only scored four points in 2-for-13 shooting, he had only two turnovers. He also only had one assist.

QUOTABLE II: "It was embarrassing, humiliating.''
-- Memphis coach Lionel Hollins.

INSIDE THE ARENA: The Bulls honored Maggie Daley, the wife of former Mayor Richard M. Daley, with a video tribute before the game. Maggie Daley died in November from breast cancer at the age of 68.

GOOD MOVE: With an eye toward the heavy concentration of games in this lockout-shortened season, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau got all of his regular starters out of the game before the end of the third quarter as the Bulls led by 40.

NOTABLE: The Bulls had 12 blocked shots, led by backup center Omer Asik, who had three blocks, eight points and eight rebounds in his 24 minutes of play.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Tuesday vs. Hawks, Wednesday at Pistons, Friday at Magic. For the Grizzlies, Tuesday vs. Kings, Wednesday at Timberwolves, Friday at Jazz.

• Grizzlies: Arthur, Haddadi
• Bulls: --

• Grizzlies: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #12 Violet Palmer, #44 Eli Roe
• Attendance: 22763
• Duration: 2:11