Jim O’Donnell of the Chicago Sun-Times: “Chicago, meet your James Johnson. His pedigree is more sociologically exotic than street. He appears more mobile than menacing. It is his feet of fury rather than his fists that interest the Rose-rage Bulls and their re-energized fandom now. Johnson — the team’s top draft pick — met the local media for the first time Monday, joining fellow first-rounder Taj Gibson of USC and general manager Gar Forman at the United Center. Johnson is the dashing forward/martial-arts ace most recently of Wake Forest by way of a keenly competitive African-American/Samoan family that hangs its black belts and kick-sass trophies in Cheyenne, Wyo. If the projections of Forman and team master John Paxson prove correct, he may one day supercede the late Curt Gowdy as the most famous basketball star the rodeo-and-rails town has ever produced.”

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “Seemingly every time Taj Gibson boarded the elevator at the downtown Chicago hotel where the NBA staged its predraft camp in late May, James Johnson’s smile greeted him. Little did Gibson know the same smile would be flashing next to him from a United Center dais Monday morning, when the Bulls unveiled their new draft picks at a news conference. ‘He’s a funny guy, and I’ve already grown close to him,’ Gibson said. ‘I like the way he carries himself. I look forward to working with him.’ Work seemed the operative word as both Johnson and Gibson talked like benchwarmers rather than first-round picks poised to sign guaranteed two-year contracts. ‘I’m going to come in early, get situated, work on my game a lot more,’ Johnson said. ‘Hopefully, I’m blessed to get in the rotation. If not, I’m going to be a great practice player.’ Said Gibson: ‘It’s all about working to help win games. I’ve always been the type of player who can fill a need for a team.'”

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: NBA teams love to draft young players with sizable upside. But maturity also can be a helpful characteristic. Six-foot-10 Forward Taj Gibson, chosen by the Bulls with the 26th pick of the first round, fits the older-and-wiser label. Even after spending just three years at USC, Gibson is 24, which makes him 14 months older than new teammate Tyrus Thomas, who is headed into his fourth NBA season. One might suspect bad grades as a reason it took Gibson a few years to get through high school, but that wasn’t the case. Growing up in Brooklyn, Gibson attended a local school through eighth grade. When it came time for high school, his parents, Sharon and Wilbert, didn’t like the options and he was home-schooled for two years. ‘The gangs were real heavy,’ Gibson said. ‘I was supposed to go to a school that was real far from my home, in a bad area. My mom basically just saw my friends get in a lot of trouble, fighting, getting locked up. They basically told me, ‘We’re not sending you to that school.'”

Nick Hut of the Northwest Herald: “The Bulls welcomed James Johnson and Taj Gibson to town Monday with a news conference at the United Center. The event did not feel like the tip-off to a new era, as did last year’s introduction of Derrick Rose, but everyone seemed excited for what lies ahead. Neither rookie has to be a star for this year’s draft to be considered a success, but both will be expected to make quick contributions. ‘We were looking for guys who would be ready sooner rather than later,’ general manager Gar Forman said. ‘There’s still going to be an adjustment period.’ Johnson and Gibson, both forwards, probably will have the luxury of a longer adjustment period if the Bulls head into the season with their roster mostly intact. If the only change is, say, losing Ben Gordon to free agency, the Bulls would have a deep frontcourt. The two rookies could be spot players. If the Bulls decide to shake things up with a trade involving, hypothetically, Tyrus Thomas or Luol Deng, then Johnson and Gibson could be called on more rapidly.”

Andrew Seligman of the Associated Press: “James Johnson played point guard in high school and he’s aware that a legendary forward who helped the Chicago Bulls win six championships did the same thing. No one needed to tell him about Scottie Pippen. Taj Gibson doesn’t need a refresher, either. The Bulls’ two draft picks have a good grasp of team history. They could hardly contain their excitement Monday when they saw their images on the scoreboard above the court where Michael Jordan and Pippen used to play. Johnson is a 6-foot-9 forward from Wake Forest and the 16th pick in the draft. Gibson was taken with the 26th pick and the 6-foot-9 forward from Southern Cal got a few lessons from former Trojans coach Tim Floyd. He says the two talked about the Bulls a lot.”

The post Fresh ink: Johnson and Gibson appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Kurt Helin of NBC Los Angeles: “Remember back around the All Star break, when Bulls were an unmitigated disaster? Rose looked like a rookie — a promising rookie, but one who turned the ball over and was still learning to play in the clutch. The team gave away fourth quarter leads like Jim Cramer gives away bad stock advice — every night. Vinny Del Negro looked like an unprepared rookie coach and John Paxson was being nailed to the sports talk radio wall for brining in the bloated contract of Brad Miller and the ball-hogging John Salmons. Well look at the Bulls now. Rose matured, Del Negro has grown, the trade provided needed pieces and the Bulls are a team to avoid. They have won 8 of 10 and that includes going into Detroit on Monday night and knocking off the Pistons behind brilliant play from Derrick Rose and a game-winning shot from Ben Gordon. That win secures at least seventh place in the East, meaning the Bulls win the avoid-the-Cavaliers-in-the-first-round game that everyone has been playing. Chicago’s win is bad news for Orlando, the likely first round opponent for the Bulls. (All the Bulls have to do is beat Toronto at home in the final game of the season to secure that seeding.)”

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “At Tuesday’s final regular-season practice, Kirk Hinrich walked around with a bloody gash on his left cheek, Thomas spent time arguing his flagrant foul and Ben Gordon winced when recalling getting hit in an area no man should experience. It was all residue from Monday’s road victory over the Pistons—one of the most physical games of the season. And the fact the Bulls not only won but shoved back bodes well for the playoff series against Boston or Orlando that’s coming. ‘It’s going to be physical,’ coach Vinny Del Negro said. ‘You have to get used to that. You’re not going to get calls. You have to go in there and get into bodies. Defensively, you have to get contact. And you have to fight through those things. You can’t let the frustration get you out of sync. We have a ways to go on that. But we battled and showed some progress.'”

John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times: “The Bulls gathered at the Berto Center early Tuesday to prepare for their season finale tonight against the Toronto Raptors at the United Center, a game that will go a long way — if not all the way — in determining their first-round playoff opponent. Still, the players couldn’t help looking back to their gritty 91-88 road victory Monday against the Detroit Pistons in arguably their biggest game of the season. By beating the Pistons, the Bulls assured themselves of avoiding the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round and will face either the Boston Celtics or Orlando Magic. They’d have no chance against LeBron James and the Cavaliers but might have a shot against the Celtics, if Kevin Garnett continues to be hobbled by a knee injury, or the Magic, which is 3-5 in April. ‘It was definitely a quality road win that we haven’t had in a long time,’ center Joakim Noah said. ‘I can’t remember the last quality road win we had.'”

Stu Courtney of the Chicago Sun-Times: “A win Wednesday at home vs lowly Toronto would give the Bulls (18-27 at their lowest point after an overtime loss Jan. 25 at Minnesota) a winning season (42-40) and a likely No. 6 seed, good for a trip to Disney World to play the ailing Magic. So are you buying in with this team? Gotta like the improving play of Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah, the court smarts of Brad Miller and the consistency of John Salmons. D-Rose gives the Bulls the closer they were lacking and Ben Gordon brings enough firepower to make them a potentially tough first-round ‘out.’ What’s your take on the franchise going forward? Has Vinny Del Negro redeemed himself for all his rookie coaching shortcomings? In assessing Vinny, only one thing matters: If Derrick Rose respects him and will continue to grow under him, then he’s the right guy. If not, then it doesn’t matter how well they do in the playoffs — start looking around for a new coach.”

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “Much of the playoff buzz surrounding the Bulls is whether they can lock up the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and get a somewhat favorable first-round matchup against Orlando. Favorable to everyone but Joakim Noah, that is. He’d have to spend a playoff series guarding Magic center Dwight Howard, a guaranteed first-team all-NBA honoree and likely defensive player of the year. ‘Dwight is an animal. He’s the best center in the league,’ Noah said following Tuesday’s short practice at the Berto Center. ‘It’s exciting, though. It’s exciting to go up against the best on the big stage. Dwight’s a lot to handle, but it’s going to be an exciting time.'”

More K.C. Johnson from the Chicago Tribune: “Remember during training camp when critics accused Ben Gordon of pouting over failed contract negotiations and milking a jammed big right toe? Gordon does. ‘That was a slap in the face,’ Gordon said. ‘Anybody who said that doesn’t know me. I was hurt.’ And now he’s not. In fact, Gordon is poised to be the only Bull to play all 82 games this season, the third time in five seasons the durable guard will accomplish that feat. He has missed just 12 career games. ‘I definitely take pride in that,’ Gordon said. ‘I think the way I train is a testament to how important this game is to me. I work very hard. I definitely don’t like to miss games. So I’m happy that after all that has happened, I’ve played in all the games again.'”

The post Fresh ink: April 5, 2009 appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-Times: “The Bulls returned home from an 0-2 road trip needing a refresher course at finishing school. Sunday at Toronto, the Raptors shot 55.6 percent in overtime and went to the free-throw line four times to none for the Bulls. The Raptors made all four and won 134-129. Tuesday at Indiana, the Pacers outscored the Bulls 11-2 in the final 3:36 to win 107-105. Indiana shot eight free throws to the Bulls’ two in the final five minutes. ‘We could have done a better job,’ said Kirk Hinrich, who missed the last two free throws at Indiana with three minutes left and the Bulls up 103-98. ‘[The referees] were letting it be real physical. I guess we had to be tough enough to still be effective offensively when they were letting them do that out there.’ … The pain of the Bulls’ numerous close losses will linger through the summer if they miss the playoffs. The Bulls (36-40) are 2-6 in overtime and have lost 10 games by five points or fewer. They lead Charlotte by 1½ games for the final playoff spot after the Bobcats lost in double overtime Wednesday night at Boston. ‘It’s disturbing,’ said Ben Gordon, who missed a 26-footer with 1.5 seconds left Tuesday. ‘We’ve been doing a poor job of closing games out all year. [It] was a game we definitely needed. It was a winnable game. It was definitely disappointing.'”

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “He’s a leading candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year. Everyone from LeBron James to Chris Paul has praised his play. Everyone from Doc Rivers to Phil Jackson has lauded his demeanor. So, Derrick Rose, how would you grade your rookie season? ‘I’d probably go with a B or B-minus,’ Rose says — without a smile. ‘We haven’t won enough and I’ve committed too many turnovers.’ Ah, yes, those pesky 2.5 turnovers per game. Those are what stand out to Rose beyond his 16.6 points, 6.2 assists and 47 percent shooting. Rose’s humility has been well documented, leading to some hilarious understatements. Perhaps one favorite was Rose’s recent answer when asked if he thinks he should win Rookie of the Year: ‘Only if we make the playoffs because I’ve just played OK.'”

Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune: “When the Bulls take a timeout, first-year head coach Vinny Del Negro is not reticent when it comes to deferring to the opinions of assistants Bernie Bickerstaff and Del Harris. After all, Bickerstaff, 65, and Harris, 71, have won coaching accolades during their NBA careers. ‘They’ve been great,’ Del Negro said. ‘Being a young coach in this league, you want to have as much experience around you as you can. They’ve helped me tremendously in a lot of ways. But my whole staff: Bob Ociepka, Mike Wilhelm, Pete Myers … everyone involved really has been a positive influence for me.'”

Kathy Bergen of the Chicago Tribune: “The images that Chicago will serve up to international Olympics officials in the coming week are changing by the hour, with an appearance by Michael Jordan and yet another community protest among the recent additions. Long-expected to play a role in Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics, basketball legend Jordan finally brings his megawatt smile to a promotional video unveiled at a news conference Wednesday at Douglas Park, an Olympic venue site on the West Side. ‘The Olympic spirit — it’s alive in Chicago,’ His Airness says in the video. ‘We’re ready.’ The former Chicago Bulls star, who played for the U.S. team that won gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, will not make a personal appearance during the International Olympic Committee evaluation commission’s visit, which begins Thursday. But he will be more engaged as the bid enters its final months, said Chicago 2016 Chairman Patrick Ryan.”

The post Fresh ink: April 2, 2009 appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-Times: “A week ago, simply eking into the playoff picture was a worthy goal. But with the 99-91 victory Tuesday over the Detroit Pistons in a nationally televised game, the Bulls are only one game behind seventh-place Detroit and four games behind sixth-place Philadelphia. Kirk Hinrich led the Bulls as he slid seamlessly into his old role as the starting point guard, replacing the injured Derrick Rose, who was out with a badly bruised right wrist. ‘We have a system, and Kirk knows it as well as anybody,’ Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ”We did not run as many pick-and-rolls, but when we did, Kirk was aggressive.’ Hinrich had team highs in points (24) and assists (eight) while directing Del Negro’s 17th different starting five of the season. ‘I’ve been playing pretty well of late in somewhat limited minutes,’ Hinrich said. ‘I just want to go out there and keep that same mentality, coming in and playing hard, doing what I can to help the team.'”

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “With Derrick Rose sitting on the bench in his uniform and sweats Tuesday night, many in the crowd of 20,502 might not have known injury forced the rookie guard to miss his first game of the season. But if the left-handed high-fives weren’t enough of a giveaway, surely the brace protecting his severely bruised right wrist was. Playoff races don’t allow much time for pain or sympathy, and the Bulls knew they had an able substitute in their 99-91 victory over the Pistons anyway. Kirk Hinrich — remember him? — stepped in and stepped up with 24 points, eight assists and three steals as the Bulls placed all five starters in double figures to close to within one game of the Pistons for seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The teams meet again in Detroit on April 13. ‘In no way is Kirk a backup point guard,’ John Salmons said.”

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press: “The game was 43-43 at halftime, but the Bulls dominated in the second half behind Hinrich and Ben Gordon, who seemingly scored at will. Gordon finished with 19 points, and Tyrus Thomas had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Joakim Noah had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and John Salmons scored 16 points. Gordon’s and Hinrich’s effectiveness was particularly damaging since they outscored the starting backcourt of the Pistons, Rodney Stuckey and Arron Afflalo, 43-16. ‘That second half they pretty much shot out on us,’ said Detroit backup point guard Will Bynum, who finished with 20 points and nine assists. ‘A couple of bad plays, a couple of bad turnovers put us behind the eight ball.'”

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “Kirk Hinrich hadn’t played more than 36 minutes in any game this season. But with rookie Derrick Rose sidelined by a wrist injury, Hinrich returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 7. He responded by producing a team-high 24 points and 8 assists in nearly 46 minutes of action as the Bulls improved their playoff position by handling the short-handed Detroit Pistons 99-91 on Tuesday night. ‘It kind of sends your body into shock when you’re not used to playing that many minutes,’ Hinrich said in the locker room. Hinrich’s reward for the extended effort? Getting booed by some of the United Center fans during his postgame interview, which aired on the videoboard. His offense was missing a free throw with 17.9 seconds left that would have given the fans free Big Macs. He apologized on camera and wasn’t fazed by the negative reaction. ‘I have thicker skin than that,’ Hinrich said with a laugh. ‘Anytime you can get your fans involved like that, it’s extra incentive.'”

More K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “Even Derrick Rose, who missed his first game of the season Tuesday night, seemed surprised by how badly his bruised right wrist deteriorated overnight Monday. Rose suffered the injury while missing a dunk over Washington’s Oleksiy Pecherov just before halftime, then played 20 minutes 22 seconds in the second half. ‘Trust me, I can take pain,’ Rose said. ‘But it really hurts. I can barely turn a doorknob. [Athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi] told me to sit two or three days and let it heal.’ That places Thursday’s home game against Miami in jeopardy as well, although X-rays were negative. ‘It’s tough,’ Rose said. ‘We’re looking to get further in the playoffs and have to worry about teams sneaking up from behind us.'”

Chris Colston of USA Today: “If the season ended today, the Chicago Bulls would make the postseason after a one-year hiatus. One of the busiest teams at the trading deadline, the Bulls turned over 40% of their roster — and hold the eighth and final playoff spot over the Charlotte Bobcats in the East. The moves by Bulls general manager John Paxson seem to be working. Chicago is 10-8 since Paxson sent four players to the Sacramento Kings for swingman John Salmons and center Brad Miller on Feb. 18. The Bulls have won five of their last six, including Tuesday’s 99-91 win vs. the Detroit Pistons. ‘We’re definitely making progress,’ says Salmons, who entered Tuesday with averages of 22.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 11 games as a Bulls starter. ‘We’re getting better every game.'”

From Reuters: “The National Basketball Association will stage pre-season games in Europe this October for a fourth straight year, including a game between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz at London’s O2 Arena. The Bulls’ London-born Ben Gordon and Britain’s basketball team captain Luol Deng will play together in their home country for the first time on October 6. An NBA spokesman said tickets for the NBA’s Europe Live 2009 game in London have gone on sale and more European games will be announced shortly.”

The post Fresh ink: March 25, 2009 appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-Times: “Derrick Rose saved his best for last Tuesday. The Bulls rookie star guard was without a field goal through three quarters. But Rose turned it on in the fourth to help lead the Bulls to a 127-121 win, which extended the Bulls home streak to seven games. Rose, who scored nine of his 11 points and had six of his eight assists in the fourth, had plenty of help. John Salmons scored a team-high 38 points and Brad Miller notched a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. ‘At home, we play with a different type of confidence, a different type of energy,’ Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ‘Hopefully, as we mature as a team, we’ll understand what it takes to win on the road more consistently. We haven’t done that and that’s why we’re in the situation we’re in; trying to fight for that eighth spot. If we had taken care of business more on the road, like we could have, we’d have a [playoff] space secured.'”

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “The Bulls are battling for a playoff spot. The defending NBA champion Celtics are chasing greatness. The drama that unfolded at the United Center Tuesday night belied the disparity between those goals. When the Bulls’ 127-121 victory ended, their seventh straight home triumph pushed them one-half game ahead of the Bucks for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. And a victory over the defending NBA champions certainly can boost confidence down the stretch. ‘It definitely can,’ John Salmons said, when asked if such gut-check victories can have carry-over effects. ‘At home, we’ve had games like this where we beat teams people didn’t think we could beat. We just have to keep it going on the road.’ On one of those rare nights where everybody contributed, Salmons’ effort stood out. His career-high-tying 38 points included a reverse slam with 2 minutes 28 seconds left that gave the Bulls the lead for good in a nip-and-tuck fourth quarter that featured seven lead changes and five ties.”

Nick Hut of the Northwest Herald: “In a playoff-type atmosphere, the Bulls looked right at home. They certainly looked worthy of at least qualifying for the postseason, matching and ultimately surpassing the defending NBA champions Tuesday night at the United Center. The 127-121 victory against the Boston Celtics featured a starring performance from forward John Salmons. A trade-deadline acquisition, and one of the NBA’s most improved players this season, Salmons was every bit the equal of Celtics forward Paul Pierce. Salmons scored 38 points, tying a career-high, to Pierce’s 37. ‘That’s what you sometimes see in the playoffs, two guys going toe to toe and neither one backing down,’ Bulls center Brad Miller said. ‘Everyone knows Paul Pierce is a great player, and John was right there with him tonight.’ The game certainly did not feature playoff-caliber defense, which might have been expected with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett missing his 12th consecutive game. Garnett (knee) is among the league’s best defenders. But it featured plenty of intensity, with the Bulls rallying from a 13-point deficit in the third quarter and setting the stage for a back-and-forth final period. In the end, the Bulls (31-37) won at home for the seventh consecutive game and moved a half-game ahead of Milwaukee for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.”

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “So even though the Celtics still had four of five starters on the floor, they were down to two big men and one of them, Mikki Moore, fouled out less than a minute into the fourth quarter. Boston was forced to play with Paul Pierce, center Kendrick Perkins and three guards. The Bulls used this to their advantage very well in the fourth quarter, spreading the floor so Derrick Rose could get to the basket. Then with Perkins committing to help on Rose, Brad Miller cleaned up the garbage. Miller’s veteran savvy paid off in this game. On two straight possessions of a closely contested fourth quarter, Perkins blocked shots, only to have Miller read the play perfectly, catch the ball out of the air and lay it in. Miller also made a nice steal by predicting that Rajon Rondo would float a pass to Perkins. Miller simply backed up and made the interception. I also liked how coach Vinny Del Negro turned to Tyrus Thomas for defensive help late in the game. Even though it didn’t really work, throwing Thomas against Pierce for a couple of possessions may have been an effective change of pace.”

Mark J. Spears of the Boston Globe: “Pierce scored a team-high 37 points while Rondo, despite being hurt, added 26 points, a game-high 10 assists, and 5 rebounds. But the Bulls, wearing green for St. Patrick’s Day, got 38 points from John Salmons (tying his career high), shot 53 percent from the field, and scored 58 points in the paint. The Celtics fell to 9-6 without Kevin Garnett this season and are now 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland for first place in the Eastern Conference. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was proud of the fight his beaten-up team showed. ‘We look like a team with not enough players,’ Rivers said. ‘That happens. I was really happy with our guys.’ The Celtics were already without Garnett (knee), Glen Davis (ankle), Brian Scalabrine (concussion), and Tony Allen (finger surgery). Eddie House returned to action despite a left ankle injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to Milwaukee and scored 13 points in 28 minutes. But things got worse when Powe was lost in the first quarter to a sprained right knee. Powe, who banged knees with Chicago’s Ben Gordon, will be evaluated in Boston today but doesn’t expect to play tonight.”

Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald: “In the end, not even St. Patrick could save the team that wears a shamrock on its uniform all year long. The Celtics and Bulls engaged in a basketball party that certainly didn’t lack for gusto, but there wasn’t enough green gas in the Boston tank. Chicago scored on eight straight possessions down the stretch to take a 127-121 victory and hand the ever-shrinking Celts their fourth loss in five games. By game’s end, the Celtics looked much like the revelers staggering out of the many fine establishments all over town. Leon Powe was out with a bruised right knee, and when Mikki Moore fouled out with 11:10 to go in the game, that left 6-foot-6 rookie Bill Walker as the power forward and, at times, Paul Pierce as your center.”

The post Fresh ink: March 18, 2009 appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “After playing the 58-minute game with just seven players — thanks to injuries to Luol Deng (right-shin contusion) and Tim Thomas (left-knee sprain), while Kirk Hinrich (bruised right knee) was not 100 percent — the Bulls canceled Tuesday’s practice. They face a tough bounce-back game Wednesday night against Orlando. ‘That was probably the toughest loss,’ said Bulls guard Ben Gordon, who scored a season-high 43 points. ‘We were both fighting hard. That is how the game was going to end — whoever made the last, best play was going to win the game.’ The loss dropped the Bulls to 5-10 in games decided in overtime or by 4 points or fewer. The Bulls (29-35) also dropped back into a tie with Milwaukee for the eighth playoff spot in the East. With rookie point guard Derrick Rose at the controls, the Bulls have visited both extremes during late-game pressure situations. For every gut-wrenching road loss this season, the Bulls have had their share of spectacular late-game comebacks, mostly at home.”

Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune: “It sounds like such a dainty injury: small stress fracture of the right tibia. Small, as in not big. Stress fracture. Not even a real broken bone. Tibia—what is that, a genus of flowers? The implication in some of what you read and hear about Luol Deng’s injury is that it’s not much of an injury. And if it’s not much of an injury, then it doesn’t take a GPS device and a full tank of gas to reach the conclusion that he’s being a baby. … There’s a lesson we can’t seem to learn in our little corner of the world: Never question the severity of someone’s injury. You have no idea what an athlete is experiencing. You have no idea how much pain he’s trying to overcome. And there’s always the chance the diagnosis isn’t complete.”

Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times: “It’s a delicious prospect, especially after a night like last night, when Dwyane Wade elevated his team to a pulsating double-overtime victory over his hometown five with an epic performance that will forever be burned in the memories of all who witnessed it. Next year, Wade will be a free agent. Thanks in part to their deadline deals, the Bulls have available cap space. Wade grew up in Robbins dreaming of being Michael Jordan. Here’s his chance. If he signed with the Bulls it could be 1991 all over again. Imagine it. Derrick Rose and Wade, two local boys, the modern day Jordan and Pippen, leading the Bulls back to glory. It not only seems plausible but logical until you realize it almost never happens. Sadly for the Bulls, superstar free-agents rarely leave their teams. Rules have been established to discourage it. As much as we want it to happen it rarely does, as much as we like to think it’s not all about the money it almost always is.”

Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune: “The rookie Bulls coach explicitly called for the dribbling-challenged John Salmons to set up a game-winning shot. Actually, it did turn into a game-winner. Salmons got double-teamed, lost the ball to Dwyane Wade, and helplessly watched as the Heat star swished a three-pointer at the buzzer. Ballgame. It was a great game to watch. Very entertaining. Nothing said the Bulls couldn’t beat the Heat. Nothing except the Bulls’ embarrassing end-of-game decisions. Twice, the Bulls tried to run a game-deciding play. Once, they had almost 12 seconds to do it and missed several chances at the rim. Next, with almost four seconds to go at the end, Salmons had the ball. Salmons is not a point guard. Salmons loooked it. Looked it, lost the ball, lost the game. Nice play. The Bulls’ rookie coach designed the play where the team’s best ballhandler doesn’t handle the ball because he liked a matchup featuring the team’s third-best option when you’re 47 feet away. Ben Gordon was as hot as D-Wade, Derrick Rose is your best ballhandler, and neither of them gets a touch when the ball has to get to the hoop or get to the open man. Oh, wait, Wade was open. Right after he stole the ball from Salmons.”

John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times: “I’m fine with Bulls veterans making rookie Derrick Rose bring doughnuts to practice. That’s part of paying your dues. But the rookie hazing shouldn’t extend to the referees. Rose took 25 shots Monday and made only nine, so you might surmise that he had an off shooting night. Well, maybe not. A few of the misses came on drives to the basket in which he drew contact and nothing was called. Rose had four free-throw attempts in 55 minutes. ‘There are a lot of things that are happening to Derrick Rose, where in a year or so, he’ll get the calls,’ Bulls assistant Bernie Bickerstaff said Tuesday during a radio interview. ‘That’s just life in the National Basketball Association. The guys who paid their dues, there is a preferential treatment, There’s no doubt about that. It’s always been that way.’ That doesn’t make it right. Forget about Rose. It’s not fair to the Bulls, who are battling for a playoff spot, that their best player can drive to the basket, draw contact and nothing gets called.”

The post Fresh ink: March 11, 2009 appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star: “T.J. Ford darted between two Chicago Bulls players, scooped up the loose ball with two hands and beat everybody down the court with only one thing on his mind in the final minute Sunday. The Indiana Pacers point guard sized things up and threw down a one-handed dunk. He turned toward the Bulls bench and let out a roar that could have been mistaken for coming from a 6-10 behemoth as opposed to a wispy 6-foot point guard. Aggressiveness. Determination. Fight. That’s what Pacers coach Jim O’Brien wanted, and that’s what he got in his team’s 98-91 victory over the Bulls in a matinee game at Conseco Fieldhouse. ‘You can talk about a number of plays down the stretch that we made,’ Pacers guard Jarrett Jack said. ‘I thought we just outhustled them.'”

John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times: “The new-look Bulls reverted to old habits Sunday, crumbling down the stretch in a 98-91 loss to the short-handed Indiana Pacers. The game resembled the Bulls’ struggles in January more than their two solid performances last week in victories against the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets after the All-Star break. ‘At times our guys played hard,’ coach Vinny Del Negro said. ‘I didn’t think we had a sense of urgency like we needed to in this game.’ That’s odd for a team that doesn’t have much margin for error if it hopes to get into the playoffs. With the Pacers (24-34) missing All-Star Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy, the Bulls (25-31) wasted an opportunity to maintain their momentum and gain ground. ‘We didn’t get enough stops,” said Ben Gordon, who led the Bulls with a game-high 28 points. ”We did some decent things out there, but we didn’t make the necessary plays when the game was on the line.'”

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “Maybe the Bulls should go back to dressing only eight players. The sense of urgency and desperation that had defined back-to-back victories since the All-Star break vanished Sunday in a flat performance at Conseco Fieldhouse, where the Pacers won 98-91. And that’s not to pin this loss on new Bulls Brad Miller, John Salmons and Tim Thomas, who played effectively after just one walk-through and spearheaded a third-quarter run that erased all but one of a 14-point deficit. Instead, the Bulls didn’t push the tempo enough, surrendered 17 offensive rebounds and failed to control Troy Murphy’s hustle and T.J. Ford’s penetration to lose to a team missing its top two scorers in Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy. Murphy led Indiana with a season-high 27 points and 14 rebounds, and Ford had 19 points and five assists.”

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “With 3:04 left in the contest and the Bulls struggling to pull ahead in a close game against Indiana, coach Vinny Del Negro decided to pull Bulls veterans Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah in favor of NBA veterans Brad Miller and John Salmons, who happened to be playing their first game for the Bulls. While Noah methodically marched to the sideline, Thomas sprinted over with a smile on his face and slapped hands with everyone on the bench before sitting down. Thomas was trying to keep a good attitude about the changes that will be in store as the Bulls figure out how to incorporate three new players acquired just before the trade deadline. Tim Thomas also made his debut Sunday and played well in 8 minutes of action. At the one-minute mark, Tyrus Thomas was back on the floor after Indiana guard T.J. Ford hit a bank shot over Miller and Kirk Hinrich that most likely would never have met the backboard if Thomas was the one jumping over to help.”

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Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-Times: “Forward Tyrus Thomas, whose name has been a staple in any Stoudemire trade rumors, instructed the media to ask the ”people upstairs” about whether he was headed to Phoenix. ‘I can’t talk about something I can’t control,’ Thomas said. General manager John Paxson wasn’t around to clarify trade talks or his future with the team, so it was left to coach Vinny Del Negro to address both subjects. Del Negro said he was amused by reports Paxson has decided to give up GM duties, likely at the end of the season. ‘What’s funny to me is you go to All-Star weekend and you hear all these rumors and people talking about the Bulls,’ Del Negro said. ‘I had just met with Jerry [Reinsdorf] two days before I go. It was interesting because Jerry never brought that stuff up to me. Nor [did] Pax. It’s just part of the business and being a Chicago Bull. It’s one of the most successful franchises. It comes with the territory.””

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “The Bulls could be welcoming a big man with starting playoff experience Wednesday in Milwaukee. His name will be Drew Gooden, rather than Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh. Gooden practiced Tuesday after missing the previous 11 games with abdominal and groin pain, and coach Vinny Del Negro said he would make a game-time decision in the critical matchup with a Bucks team that currently holds a playoff berth the Bulls covet.”

From the Associated Press: “Rumors also swirled Tuesday about the Bulls possibly trading for Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh in a three-team deal with Phoenix. ‘I would love to play with him,’ rookie point guard Derrick Rose said of the 6-foot-10 Bosh, an Olympian and All-Star who averages 22.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. ‘He’s that low-post presence that we need,’ said Ben Gordon. ‘He can score, rebound and defense. He’d be a huge help.’ … Del Negro said he would not be surprised if the Bulls don’t pick up anyone before Thursday’s trade deadline. ‘With the economy the way it is, and the salary cap and the luxury tax, it’s tough to make a trade,’ he said. ‘No one wants to take in salary. It’s tough doing deals even in a good economy.'”

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “There was no sign of Paxson, just as there has been no actual evidence that he’s planning to resign anytime soon. Bulls consultant Jim Paxson, John’s older brother, watched practice, but that was hardly newsworthy. No trades were announced. If anything, the chances of the Bulls pulling off a significant deal before Thursday’s trade deadline appeared to be fading. This turned out to be nothing more than a routine practice day for the Bulls. They’ll resume play following the all-star break with a pivotal game tonight in Milwaukee against former coach Scott Skiles. The Bulls trail the Bucks by 21/2 games for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after Milwaukee beat Detroit on the road Tuesday night.”

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic: “It appears the Suns have made their big move — changing head coaches. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said as much Monday in telling the media and his team that he ‘would like to keep what we have.’ But forward Amaré Stoudemire is ‘still not sure’ despite his contention that he wants to remain with the Suns. ‘I hope so,’ said Stoudemire, whose family sat near Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver courtside seat Tuesday night. ‘I feel comfortable right now. Calls are still coming in for sure. I don’t think it’s going to stop until the deadline is over. Teams are still inquiring about me, still want me. It’s all about what the Phoenix Suns want to do.'”

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Melissa Isaacson of the Chicago Tribune: “Given two chances in the final 6.5 seconds to defeat the Bulls on Thursday night at the United Center, the Miami Heat knew precisely what it was doing the second time around. Watching what the Bulls did not do defensively on Miami’s previous inbounds play, the Heat was smarter when it got the ball again with 3.5 seconds left. This time when Shawn Marion inbounded the ball, he not only made sure to get it to Dwyane Wade, but Marion cut straight to the basket for a return pass and scored on a ridiculously easy game-winning slam when Tyrus Thomas moved up to cover Wade and left Marion open. Looking for three quarters like they already had left for the All-Star break, the Bulls’ 95-93 loss was still another lesson of the old too-little, too-late variety.”

Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-Times: “The Bulls had trouble taking care of the ball throughout this 95-93, last-second loss to the Miami Heat. The last of the Bulls’ 19 turnovers came with 3.5 seconds left and the game tied. Dwyane Wade stole Thabo Sefolosha’s inbound pass intended for Ben Gordon, who led all scorers with 34 points. Wade called time as he was falling out of bounds in front of the Heat bench. … Derrick Rose wasn’t open because he wasn’t in the game at the time.”

Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald: “No way Derrick Rose shouldn’t be on the court when the Bulls took possession with 4.7 seconds left. That’s plenty of time to set up a drive to the basket. The Bulls made their comeback with three guards on the floor – Rose, Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich – to go with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Thabo Sefolosha and Luol Deng came in for Gordon and Rose during the late defensive possessions, so Vinny Del Negro decided to leave Sefolosha in to throw the inbounds pass. After watching the replay, Hinrich was basically unguarded near midcourt, so Thabo had a better option than trying to lob it over Wade to get to Gordon in the corner. If Rose catches a pass from Hinrich at midcourt with 4.7 seconds on the clock, plenty of things could happen.”

Nick Hut of the Northwest Herald: “The Bulls were pretty sure that they would not regret making Derrick Rose the top pick in last year’s draft instead of Michael Beasley. The choice has paid off, with Rose figuring prominently into the conversation for the Rookie of the Year award while Beasley has been solid but not spectacular for the Miami Heat. Thursday night, with Beasley and the Heat in town to face the Bulls, the gap was not as clear. Rose scored 18 points to go with six assists, and Beasley made 9 of 10 shots off the bench to finish with 21 points and seven rebounds. ‘He was very good for them tonight,’ Rose said. ‘Him, [Dwyane] Wade and [Shawn] Marion were all very good, and those are the guys that can really carry that team.'”

Mike North and Dan Jiggetts of the Chicago Sun-Times: “Why do the Suns want to move a six-year guy who can score and rebound? Well, he has had two serious leg injuries that required surgery. And his aloofness in the locker room and lack of leadership have been questioned. Stoudemire is so good, yet the Suns want to trade him. Something isn’t right. Stoudemire has played in the league six years, but his legs say 12.”

More Brian Hanley from the Chicago Sun-Times: “Speaking of Hughes, it seems like time to send him home. He has been inactive for five games as the Bulls try to trade him. On Tuesday, he arrived in the locker room 20 minutes after players are supposed to report for a game. On Wednesday, he left while coach Vinny Del Negro called a practice-ending huddle on the Berto Center court. On Thursday, Hughes spent the game not on the bench but in a United Center lounge.”

Thomas Francis of the Broward Palm Beach New Times: “Storylines galore: The last game of the season’s first half, matching up not just the two guys that the Bulls had to choose from with the first pick in the 2008 Draft but a rematch of the two point guards who collided in last year’s NCAA title game — Derrick Rose and Mario Chalmers, who’s been looking like a second round steal and who gives Rose fits as a defender. Also, both teams are battling off court to acquire Suns star forward Amare Stoudemire. But the real storyline: ‘Luvabulls’ dancer Shanon Lersch against Heat dancer (and Boca native) Ashley Allen, both of whom were picked to be in this month’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Before we go to the game coverage, a promise: The cheerleader from the winning team will do a video victory dance for Juice readers.”

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K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “When Tyrus Thomas played here last season, he purchased approximately 100 tickets and sent them to his mother for distribution. But he still had to deal with the inherent stress of who got what. Not this season. ‘I’m not doing that again,’ the Baton Rouge, La., native said, shaking his head. ‘It’s all business this time.’ His teammates acted the same way Wednesday night, dominating for three quarters and then hanging on to beat a Hornets team without Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler and Morris Peterson 107-93 at New Orleans Arena.

Jack Johnson of the Chicago Sun-Times: “Because their three-game winning streak had been snapped Tuesday by the Houston Rockets, the Bulls’ matchup Wednesday against the Chris Paul-less New Orleans Hornets could be considered a barometer of whether their recent renaissance was a mirage or a sign of things to come. For what it’s worth, the Bulls answered with a convincing 107-93 victory for their fourth win in five games. They grabbed a double-digit lead early and never looked back. ‘It was just a good, solid effort,’ Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ‘We made the plays when we needed to and kept a comfortable lead. It’s a good win for us. The guys are playing together, playing better.'”

Special to the Daily Herald: “After being pushed around by Houston’s 7-foot-6 center Yao Ming a day earlier, Bulls center Joakim Noah produced 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Thomas finished with 15 points, 10 boards and 3 blocks. ‘That’s how you win in this league, by controlling the paint and by rebounding,’ Del Negro said. ‘Tyrus and Jo are difference-makers. When they play the way they’re capable and we get them involved and everyone works together, we’re a different team.'”

John DeShazier of The Times-Picayune: “New Orleans played as if in a fog against the Bulls, like it was still mourning the loss of Paul. For the better part of three quarters, the Hornets looked as if they might not have minded being somewhere else. Former LSU standout Tyrus Thomas, an NBA washout in every imaginable way since being taken by the Trail Blazers with the No. 4 overall pick in 2006 and traded to Chicago, had 10 points, six rebounds and two steals in the first quarter, after which the Hornets trailed 31-20. And Thomas entered the game averaging 8.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.07 steals.”

Bradley Handwerger of WWL-TV.com: “[Byron] Scott had little reason to be pleased following the game. Few things his Hornets (28-17) did against the Bulls (22-28) could have made him happy. And even if Paul were on the floor, his presence likely wouldn’t have changed much. It wasn’t necessarily New Orleans’ offense that was the problem against the Bulls. Chicago shot better than 55 percent for the entire game while the Hornets barely it above 35 percent by the end. The Bulls finished with 40 points in the paint, 30 of which came in the game-sealing first half, highlighting how much New Orleans misses Tyson Chandler’s presence on the interior.”

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