Bulls-Cavaliers Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Jan 19 2012 8:20PM

Chicago selected point guard Derrick Rose with the first pick of the 2008 draft, and he has developed into one of the league's most exciting players while transforming the Bulls into championship contenders.

Cleveland believes point guard Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 pick in last summer's draft, is destined for similar success.

While Friday night's meeting between the visiting Bulls and Cavaliers could showcase the reigning league MVP against the early favorite for Rookie of the Year, there's a chance Rose could miss his third straight game with a nagging toe injury.

Rose has been sidelined for three of Chicago's last five games because of the injury, suffered Jan. 10 at Minnesota. He was sorely missed in Monday's 102-86 loss to Memphis, which snapped a five-game winning streak, but the Bulls (13-3) didn't miss a beat without the two-time All-Star in Tuesday's 118-97 win over Phoenix.

Carlos Boozer scored 26 of his season-high 31 points in the first half and C.J. Watson, Rose's replacement, had 23 points and five assists. Chicago had six players reach double figures and finished with a season high in points while totaling 31 assists and just six turnovers.

"We're a very unselfish team," Boozer said. "We had a meeting earlier this season saying guys were too unselfish and passing up open shots. We know when we have 20-plus assists we're moving the ball well and most games we have that."

That's usually because Rose is the one directing the offense.

Rose, averaging team highs of 20.8 points and 8.7 assists, finally got some time to rest as Chicago had back-to-back days off for the first time after playing an NBA-high 16 games in the first 24 days of the compressed season. Rose didn't practice Thursday and is expected to be a game-time decision against the Cavaliers, whom the Bulls held to an average of 83.8 points while sweeping last season's four-game series.

If he does go, it would set up an intriguing matchup with Irving.

After a forgettable debut against Toronto, Irving is showing why he was the first pick of the draft. The 19-year-old is averaging 21.8 points on 54.8 percent shooting and 5.2 assists in his last six games and has helped Cleveland to a surprising 6-7 start after going 19-63 a year ago.

"I love what I see with Kyrie and the guy has All-Star potential written all over him," coach Byron Scott said. "Kyrie is getting better each day. He understands his role on this team and what he means to this team. He does understand that there are certain areas of his game he has to improve on. He's taking those areas very seriously."

Scott would like to see Irving improve his defense and cut down on his turnovers - two areas that could be exposed against the Bulls if the lightning-quick Rose can go.

Chicago's defense is also very active. It's allowing a league-low 85.8 points and has forced 20 turnovers in each of its last two games.

The Cavs, who are also coming off their first consecutive days off, had a season-worst 25 turnovers to 16 assists in Tuesday's 105-95 loss to Golden State. Irving gave the ball away six times for Cleveland, which appeared sluggish in its first home game following a cross-country seven-game road trip.

"We got to do a better job of taking care of the ball," Scott said. "If we do that then we obviously have an opportunity to win games."

Cavs guard Anthony Parker, who sat out Tuesday with back spasms, practiced Thursday and could start Friday.

Bulls coast without Rose, embarrass Cavs 114-75

By TOM WITHERS
Posted Jan 20 2012 11:04PM

CLEVELAND (AP) Derrick Rose watched. The Bulls waltzed.

Luol Deng scored 21 points, Carlos Boozer added 19 and 14 rebounds, and Chicago coasted without their superstar guard, embarrassing Cleveland 114-75 on Friday and handing the Cavaliers' their most lopsided home loss in team history.

Rose missed his third straight game with a strained left big toe, but the Bulls barely missed the NBA's reigning MVP. Cleveland lost by 35 at home in 1990 and 2001.

"We know we've got to step up without him out there," Boozer said. "Everybody did a great job. Our starters played great. Our bench played great. It was one of those nights where everything was clicking like clockwork."

Chicago, which has the league's best record at 14-3, built a 42-point lead in the fourth quarter when all the Bulls' starters were lounging in sweats and getting some needed rest with four games ahead in the next seven days.

The Bulls, who set a franchise record with 16 blocks, put their depth and talent on display - shock and awe.

"Deepest team I've ever played on, 100 percent," Boozer said. "Other than All-Star and Olympic teams, this is the deepest team. Most teams go to their bench and hold their own. We got to our bench and they can open the lead."

Anderson Varejao scored 14 points and rookie Kyrie Irving added 13 for the Cavs, who began a challenging stretch after a fairly easy schedule through the first 14 games. Eight of Cleveland's next nine opponents made the playoffs last season.

Afterward, Cavs coach Byron Scott didn't hold back when assessing his team's awful performance.

"Chicago was aggressive and physical and the more (shots) they hit, the more we took steps back," he said. "We didn't react to their physical play whatsoever - besides the whining. You can not let a good team like they are come in and play harder, be more physical, more aggressive and expect to win or even be in the game.

"We have a long way to go. Simple as that. We have a lot of work to do."

All of the Bulls chipped in to inflict historic damage on the Cavs.

C.J. Watson started for Rose and scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half, when the Bulls took an energetic Cleveland crowd looking for an upset and silenced it. Richard Hamilton scored 13 points and Joakim Noah had 10 rebounds.

With 8 minutes left, Chicago's starters were all kicking back on the bench and watching the reserves destroy Cleveland's backups. Kyle Korver scored 14 points in the final 12 minutes, and even seldom-used Brian Scalabrine added four points to the delight of some Bulls fans on hand.

Rose's injury has gotten better in recent days, but it's still not good enough to get him back on the floor.

"He doesn't feel he's ready to go yet," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "The doctors said it's a sprain. My understanding is the difference between the sprain and turf toe is the turf toe is underneath the toe. Derrick was face down when he got hit so it was on the top of the toe, which made it a sprain."

"It's day-to-day."

This was a good day to rest it.

The Bulls toyed with the Cavs, who were trying to get to .500 but got a firsthand look at how far they'll need to climb to catch up to the East's best team.

"Here's the thing about our team: We have more than enough to win with," Thibodeau said.

The Cavaliers prepared for the game as if Rose would play. His name was the first listed on the dry-erase board in Cleveland's locker room with the word "aggressive" scribbled next to it.

But when word came from down the hallway before tipoff that Rose would sit, Scott let out a sigh of relief.

"My prayers were answered," he cracked.

Not all of them.

Not only did the Bulls hardly miss their top player, for a long stretch of the first half, they hardly missed at all.

Chicago shot 59 percent from the floor in the first 24 minutes, opening a 19-point lead at the break. The Bulls pushed it to 30 late in the third quarter, sending Cleveland's fans for the exits.

Watson, who scored a season-high 23 on Tuesday night in a rout of Phoenix, had 11 points and five assists before Thibodeau took him out early in the second quarter. His replacement, John Lucas III, came in and heated up quickly, scoring nine points in 6 minutes as the Bulls flexed their muscles.

"We're happy we're playing good basketball without our most valuable player," Noah said. "We've just got to keep it up until he's healthy. There's no reason for him to be playing hurt right now because we know in the long run we'll need him to be 100 percent."

Notes: The Cavs' previous worst losses were 110-75 to New York on March 20, 2001, and 120-85 to Chicago on Dec. 1, 1990. ... Chicago has won seven straight over Cleveland. ... The Bulls play their next four at home, starting Saturday against Charlotte. However, there was no guarantee they would get to Chicago in time with snow pounding the Windy City and headed for Cleveland. Any delay won't sit well with Noah, who grumbled about Cleveland's lack of downtown activity when the Bulls faced the Cavs in the playoffs two years ago. ... Bulls G Taj Gibson sprained his ankle in the first half and did not return.

Notebook: Bulls 114, Cavaliers 75

By Brian Dulik, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday January 21, 2012 12:07AM

THE FACTS: Power forward Carlos Boozer collected 19 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and four assists as the Chicago Bulls destroyed the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-75 at Quicken Loans Arena. Small forward Luol Deng scored a game-best 21 points, and point guard C.J. Watson added 15 points and seven assists for the Bulls, who played without injured NBA MVP Derrick Rose. It was the largest home loss in Cavaliers history, covering 42 seasons and 1,670 regular season games.

QUOTABLE: "I hope tomorrow night (in Atlanta) we come out with a lot more heart and another part of the anatomy that I can't mention. If we don't, we're going to get the same result."
-- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott

THE STAT: Despite the absence of Rose with a sprained left toe, Chicago shot a season-high .554 from the field and dished out 27 assists -- both well above its averages. "I loved the way we moved the basketball to start the game," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "The rebounding was great and we had a lot of guys contribute tonight." Chicago's starting frontcourt of Boozer, Deng and center Joakim Noah combined to make 21-of-35 field goals (.600) and grab 32 boards.

TURNING POINT: After a Daniel Gibson 3-pointer gave the Cavaliers a 26-25 lead with 2:13 left in the opening quarter, the Bulls scored 13 straight points to seize command. Watson buried a 25-footer to end the first period and made two free throws to start the second, paving the way for his 13-point, five-assist first half. "C.J. is a terrific player and a high character guy," Thibodeau said. "He's the leader of our second unit, but he showed he can lead the first unit, as well."

QUOTABLE II: "Things just didn't go our way tonight, and there was definitely a lack of effort on our end. I take responsibility for that. (Chicago) is just a hell of a team, and we have to give them credit on both ends of the floor."
-- Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving

HOT: The Bulls reduced their NBA-leading defensive average to 85.1 points per game by holding Cleveland to a season-low 75. ... Chicago set a franchise record by blocking an NBA season-high 16 shots, nine of them in the fourth quarter. ... Bulls point guard John Lucas III had nine points in nine minutes off the bench, while backup small forward Kyle Korver rung up 14 points in 15 minutes. ... Chicago has won seven straight games over the Cavaliers. ... Cleveland center Anderson Varejao made 5-of-9 field goal attempts and scored a team-high 14 points.

NOT: Cavaliers power forward Antawn Jamison shot 1-of-10 from the field in 31 minutes, while backup center Tristan Thompson was 2-of-10 and had four of his tries blocked. ... Varejao threw two passes directly into the courtside seats in the first half. ... Cleveland was outscored 80-49 over the final three quarters. ... Cavaliers point guard Ramon Sessions recorded a minus-35 for the game, while Gibson was a minus-31. ... Cleveland has dropped two straight games. ... Power forward Taj Gibson and swingman Jimmy Butler were the only Bulls not to score.

QUOTABLE II: "Give Chicago credit, they just came out and forced their will from the opening tip. We definitely have to fight harder. We can't let it just keep going down, like it did tonight."
-- Gibson

GOOD MOVE: Watson and Lucas constantly pushed the ball up the floor, helping Chicago score 10 fast-break points in the first half and 18 in the game. The Bulls won the rebounding battle 54-38, allowing their point guards plenty of opportunities in transition. "John played extremely well, and you can't overlook what C.J. is doing for us," Thibodeau said. "Both of them gave us high energy and kept up the intensity. Even Mike James, when he came in at the end, played the same way."

BAD MOVE: Cavaliers backup point guard Ramon Sessions played his second straight poor game, but Scott gave him more court time than No. 1 overall draft pick Irving. During Sessions' 27 minutes of action, Cleveland was outscored by a whopping 35 points. Sessions finished with seven points on 3-of-12 shooting, while Irving scored 11 of his 13 points in the opening 5:04. Both players had three assists and two turnovers, but Irving was only a minus-9 in his 22 minutes.

NOTABLE: Gibson (sprained ankle) and Lucas (groin) both exited with injuries, but Thibodeau said their status is "day to day." ... Cleveland's previous largest home loss was 35 points, set on two occasions. The Bulls beat the Cavaliers 120-85 on Dec. 1, 1990 at The Coliseum, while the Knicks scored a 110-75 victory over Cleveland on March 20, 2001 at Gund Arena. ... Chicago's largest lead was 42 points. ... All 26 active players logged at least four minutes. ... Former Cavaliers point guard Terrell Brandon made a rare visit to Cleveland as part of the team's Black Heritage Celebration.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Saturday vs. Charlotte, Monday vs. New Jersey, Wednesday vs. Indiana. For the Cavaliers, Saturday @ Atlanta, Tuesday @ Miami, Wednesday vs. New York.

• Bulls: Rose
• Cavaliers: Eyenga, Thompson

• Bulls: --
• Cavaliers: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #12 Violet Palmer, #9 Derrick Stafford, #74 Curtis Blair
• Attendance: 17871
• Duration: 2:07