Bernstein: Bulls' Struggles Unprecedented, For Them
If these games against the Pacers seem closer than they should be, that's because they are.
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If these games against the Pacers seem closer than they should be, that's because they are.
For the second straight game, the Chicago Bulls struggled with the eight seed Indiana Pacers.
The Chicago Bulls' 104-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday wasn't the team's prettiest win of the season. It took 39 points from Derrick Rose and another 18 from Luol Deng to get past the eighth seeded Pacers.
During game one of the Bulls first round matchup against the Pacers on Saturday, I was a little uneasy with the way things were playing out in Chicago's 104-99 win.
Defense was a priority for Tom Thibodeau's Chicago Bulls all season. And after the team's performance in game one against the Indiana Pacers, it's pretty safe to say that the coach wasn't happy with what he saw.
It was not exactly the formula they drew up beforehand but a win is a win as the Bulls defeated the Pacers 104-99. The Bulls did not have their first lead until 48 seconds remained when Kyle Korver hit a three point field goal. Korver definitely had his shooting eye as he was 4/4 from behind the arc.
Derrick Rose had 36 points and 10 assists, and the Chicago Bulls took another step toward the top seed in the Eastern Conference with their 15th win in 17 games, hanging on to beat the short-handed Toronto Raptors 113-106 on Saturday night.
Role players are as important to any championship contender as the starters are, and for the Chicago Bulls, there is little drop off when the bench players enter the game.
With the memory of last season's blowing of a 35 point lead and subsequent loss to Sacramento, there was no way the Bulls were going to repeat that dubious effort.
Derrick Rose and Kyle Korver scored 18 points apiece as the Chicago Bulls routed the Sacramento Kings 132-92 on Monday night.
The Chicago Bulls are looking unstoppable after winning their eighth straight Thursday. They finished 11 points ahead as they tore through the Nets.
The Chicago Bulls are just a half-game behind the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and that's pretty impressive considering the injuries the team has had to deal with.
Earlier this week, Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said that he thought the team could win four NBA championships in the next several years. While that may prove to be true, saying it is easier than doing it.
Carlos Boozer limped off the court after a flagrant foul minutes before the game ended, but the Chicago Bulls held the Bobcats back for another victory.
The defensive effort wasn't there. The defensive rotations weren't there. This is not the way the Bulls wanted to start the second half of the season.
The Bulls winning ways continued on Tuesday with a victory over the Bobcats. Chicago is now just two games back of the Heat and Celtics for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Not much was working for Derrick Rose in the Bulls' 106-94 win over the Bobcats Tuesday night. He was double teamed, trapped and turned-over all night long.
Derrick Rose led all scorers with 29 points in the Chicago Bulls' 91-86 win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night. And it was a win that the Bulls definitely needed.
Derrick Rose scored 29 points and former Jazz players Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer made key plays in Utah, the game also marked the return of Carlos Boozer to Salt Lake City.
Carlos Boozer, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver were all big parts of the Utah Jazz last season and they're now playing big roles for the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago Bulls' guard Kyle Korver is shooting 41.2 percent from three-point range this season. While that's better than three of those competing in the three-point shootout at the All-Star game, Korver won't be there.
In his 9th season in the NBA Carlos Boozer is playing for his third team. On Wednesday night he'll travel with the Chicago Bulls to play the Utah Jazz, the team the signed him as a free agent in 2004 and the team he left in 2010.
Great defensive teams win championships, and that's across the board for all sports. So it's a good sign that the Chicago Bulls have been so good on the defensive end this season. But there's still work left to be done.
Carlos Boozer's double-double wasn't enough for the Chicago Bulls. They fell to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
The Chicago Bulls gave the Dallas Mavericks their fifth straight road loss Thursday night. The Mavericks had a one point lead after the first quarter and led by four after the third, but the Bulls didn't get discouraged.
