As much as I respect Derrick I am afraid about his come back. I understand that stars win championship[s], but Derrick lost 2 for us already when he started playing selfish individual basketball. [We] haven't seen partners trying to win championships alone. That's why I am afraid when he gets back we will see [the] same boring basketball when he keeps the ball 20 seconds and tries to penetrate alone. Bulls play great team basketball right now.
Ed Szycha
Given that you can't change the past, what are the positives that can come out of Derrick Rose's injury, for himself and the team? Looking at the Miami win, it seems like there is less hesitancy on the offense. Everyone is willing to take their shot instead of deferring to D-Rose. Boozer is attacking more, Kirk moves the ball around really well, Noah is getting more comfortable passing, facilitating and taking his mid range shot, and there was a lot of great interior passing in that game for easy lay ups. Obviously we'd want to have Derrick back... I'm just happy to see the team gelling and playing great team basketball as well. It they continue to play this way when Derrick returns, I'm pretty optimistic!
Dave Nguyen
I read that Iman Shumpert was cleared for full contact practice with the Knicks. Soon after I read that, there were rumors swirling that Derrick has been cleared for practice also. Since they suffered the same injury on the same day, could there be any truth to Derrick being back sometime next month?
Nicholas Hill
Which team do you think would be reluctant to make the trade of Deng and Rip (maybe restricted 1st round pick) for Gay and Allen? Conventional wisdom is Memphis saves money (their stated objective) and also doesn't lose much offense with more jump shooting oriented players in Rip and Deng to play off of Randolph and Gasol. Bulls receive a second-level star who is a shot creator and scorer in Gay as well as a defensive minded wing that has played in Thibs system. Of course this would probably lead to a salary dump of Gibson/Boozer this summer ala Kirk in 2010 but in a league built around scorers and shot makers its hard to only rely on defense no matter how sound. I should point out I love Deng but I'm a Bulls fan and would prefer championships.
Ahmad Rashid
What's up with Scott Skiles? I always thought he was a terrific coach, demanding excellence and preaching defense and teamwork. He also had one of my favorite lines when he was asked what Eddie Curry needed to do to improve his rebounding. "Jump." Is he too tough for today's players? It would seem Thibs is of the same mold but the Bulls seem to hold together. Is it the type of players Bulls management has brought in or is Thibs better at player relations? Do you think Skiles or coaches like him can lead a team to the Championship?
Allan Olson
With the addition of Daequan Cook can we expect that Rip is on his way out soon? I noticed that Omri Casspi wants to be traded. He has great range from behind the arc and the Bulls sure could use that.
Stan Ross
Every time Hinrich is out, we see why Nate should only play about 10-12 mpg. The defensive issue is a given but Kirk understands who has mismatches and gets them the ball. The Bulls were woeful in that department after the first quarter against Milwaukee. I saw Hinrich get hurt but didn't realize it was a big deal. Stitches? When he's out, the Bulls are in trouble. Time to get the point guard trade/signing machine in action.
O.J. Mayo has a player option on staying with Dallas a second year, right now Dallas is not doing so hot, so do you think the Bulls have a chance of getting him if he doesn't sign with Dallas a second year?
Samuel Diaz
Whatever happened to the Birdman? I mean he was bad, but there hasn't been a lot of attention on the result of his child pornography case.
Erik Fenton
Last year Jimmy Butler saw limited minutes as it was his rookie year. This year he is starting to come along a bit and there is a growing ceiling. Do you think the growth he’s shown this season thus far, lands him in the rookie/sophomore game?
Marcus Anderson
I know that Michael was known for his trash talking, but it seemed that he was mostly (if not always) able to back up his talk. And I'd guess that even still, Michael's competitors respected him because he was such a dominating/accomplished figure. Anyhow, was Michael ever the recipient of or otherwise involved in anything that resembled Carmelo allegedly screaming outside an opponent's locker room, or waiting outside a team's bus? And do you have any entertaining stories about Michael's trash talking that you'd care to share?
David Manzeske
If the Bulls finish with a top 4 seed in the east (which will not be a surprise to me), Do you that Thibodeau could end up being coach of the year?
Mehdi BenLazreg
I just finished reading your most recent mailbag and was impressed with one fan's comment on why Thibs should perhaps be replaced after recent letdowns against Atlanta, Houston, and Charlotte. The Bulls had the NBA's best record in his first 2 seasons, the latter was accomplished in spite of numerous injuries that kept our best player out for a large portion of the season. After the win in Miami the Bulls are 18-13, in position for a run at another division title and a potential ~2-4 playoff seed in the East. This has all been accomplished for one very obvious reason... defense. Nobody is more responsible for the Bulls' consistent defensive effort than their head coach. I cannot fathom another coach that could do better with this particular squad. To even entertain the notion seems laughable. I will grant that fact that Tom's style of coaching is probably not suited for all teams. But for this particular Bulls team, there is no better leader on the planet.
Dan Michler
I would like the management to not touch the roster for this season. I think they are getting more familiar with each other and I really think that the Bulls will make noise in the playoffs especially with rose in the line up. Does the management have other plans?
Ray Martinez
I feel like a lot of fans are very harsh on Rip but I think he has been very serviceable when healthy for the Bulls; he is by far the best scoring two guard option they have and I thought if him and Rose developed chemistry they could have been great back court. I understand it is highly unlikely for the Bulls to pick up his option next year, but is there any chance they still look to bring him back on a cheaper deal? I mean what can the market be for a 35 year old oft-hurt 2 guard, and for Rip where else can he go to start and compete for ring?
Dominick Ghilarducci
This might sound stupid but it does make sense, would the Bulls offer Rip to the Lakers for Jamison?
Shaun Chalmer
The Jazz need a PG, Bledsoe is way too talented to stay with the Clippers long term, assuming Paul resigns. The Clippers could make a run this year, so maybe they don't want to disrupt anything, though I don't hear many experts taking them seriously just quite yet. If they trade Bledsoe now they could maximize his trade value with his low current salary. L.A. is deep at virtually every position except center & are about to get Grant Hill back, so they are flexible to send some salary to match someone like Favors or Kanter, positions where the Jazz are actually deep. Add a Utah draft pick, a PG to help offset the loss at backup PG, & I could see a good fit.
Ryan Schlanser
Knowing that Howard and Gasol will be out for sometime, it looks like the Lakers will not make the playoffs. Do they start looking at who will be the first over all pick in the draft? I am not saying that the draft is rigged but I am sure the other GM's can not be happy to see the Lakers.
Jim Harlan
Is it just me or did anyone else notice that the Bulls played 13 guys vs. the Cavaliers? I thought you could only play 12?
Jose Pepe
Can we get Boozer in the All-Star game?
Gorav Raheja
Do you see any possibility/opportunity for Kobe Bryant to end/continue his career as a Chicago Bull?
Roger Lawrence
It seems like LeBron James is the favorite to win MVP every year and will probably win another MVP this year. While I agree he is the best player and probably deserves it, Jordan was clearly the best player every year but the league would normally switch it up so he did not win it every year. Malone? Barkley? Neither of them deserved the award over Jordan when they won it. Rose did win the award over James in 2011 but that was after the press conference/South Beach fiasco and voters did not want to award him that season. However, it appears the voters are back to handing the award to LeBron every year. So if LeBron continues to dominate will he keep winning MVPs or will the voters start to pick other players like they did with Jordan?
Dustin Gale
It never ceases to amaze me how willing and eager Bulls fans are to trade that Bobcats first round pick we own. It was just a year ago when it was suggested we trade the pick for the likes of Courtney Lee, Rudy Fernandez, or whatever soup-du-jour shooting guard might be available. I’d rather see that pick turn into nothing than trade it for some journeyman two-guard. Improving this team via trades or free agent acquisitions is a difficult proposition and while I’m not suggesting the Bobcat’s pick will definitely turn into gold, you have to at least hold it until you’re completely blown away. Furthermore, with how dysfunctional that Bobcats franchise operates the pick is only growing in value each year.
Michael Dlugos
If the Bulls had signed Bosh instead of Boozer, how many amnesty dump Bosh emails do you think you'd receive a week? Bosh is 6'11"" and has less instinctual rebounding ability than Eddy Curry or Brook Lopez combined.
Stephan Ztect
After watching the Bulls beat Miami, [I'm] starting to think that the Bulls could beat Miami in a playoff series once Derrick Rose returns. Even if Rose isn't near where he was when he got injured it would still be a plus for us. If Boozer can play somewhat like he did these last two games I feel like we could beat Miami and anyone else in the East. I still think the Bulls can make it to the East finals if nothing goes wrong and everyone remains healthy.
Peter Fish
While I can understand the Bulls concern with Derrick's injury, would it really be a good idea to shut him down for the playoffs as you said they might? With all of the athletes in different sports that have come back from this injury most of them usually just play once healthy enough. We all know once Rose comes back he will be fully healed and even the doctors kind of hinted at the fact that sitting out once healed does not provide any additional benefits. This years team could actually have a better chance at success than next years team.
Alvin Coleman
What do you think about the Bulls possibly rolling the dice on Greg Oden? He's interested in making a return to the NBA next year. He's only 24, and I don't recall him ever having any personality issues or off the court antics. The Bulls could definitely use him as a back up center over the aging Nazr Mohammed. Maybe he can finally have a healthy season? Or is he damaged goods, similar to Brandon Roy's bone-on-bone issue? I think it's worth the measure though.
Kevin Hero
I wonder if Thibs, who is walking the sideline every homegame, just in front of Stacey King and Neil Funk, is able to hear their commentary on the game or not? I don't know how loud things are in there.
Jerry Becker