Bulls News

Bulls' Tyrus Thomas breaks left forearm
"Back on Sept. 25, Tyrus Thomas wore a smile as wide as the lane and carried buoyancy in his voice that anybody attending the first day of Bulls training camp could hear. "I think this is going to be a great season for me and the team," Thomas said then. That still could be true, but Thomas' star-crossed season hit a substantial bump Friday. The fourth-year forward fractured the radius in his left forearm while performing pull-ups in the weightlifting portion of practice. X-rays confirmed the fracture and team physicians will perform surgery on Thomas Saturday at Rush University Medical Center. The Bulls said Thomas will miss four to six weeks, which would represent 13 to 20 games. "It's ..."
Thomas out with fracture
"Tyrus Thomas' week from hell took a dramatic turn for the worse on Friday when the enigmatic Bulls power forward suffered a fractured radius of the left forearm during a weightlifting session at the Berto Center. Thomas, who was sent home two days earlier in the week because of the flu, was scheduled to undergo surgery today and is expected to be sidelined from four to six weeks. ''We are disappointed to lose Tyrus,'' general manager Gar Forman said. ''This will be an opportunity for Taj [Gibson] and James [Johnson] to get valuable experience.'' Power forward is one of the deeper positions on the team. Besides the two rookies, Brad Miller, Joakim Noah and even small forward Luol Deng can ..."
Bulls' Thomas out 4-6 weeks with fracture
"The Bulls announced today that Tyrus Thomas will undergo surgery Saturday to repair a fractured radius in his left forearm. Thomas suffered the injury today while doing pull-ups during a weightlifting session and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Rookie Taj Gibson will start his third straight game for Thomas on Saturday against the Bobcats. "Tyrus tweaked his arm, and he's pretty sore," coach Vinny Del Negro said after practice and before X-rays revealed the fracture. "It's unfortunate." Thomas has endured a rough week in which he didn't play in the fourth quarter of a close loss last Sunday in Miami, took exception to Del Negro's criticism during Monday's practice and then battled a nasty ..."
Final non-call was correct
"Please file the memory of the ending of the Cavs' 86-85 loss to the Bulls for later reference. Most specifically when people complain about LeBron James passing too often with a chance to take the last shot. Also, please put it in the opposing view file when it is suggested that Mr. James gets all calls. This goes next to the games are rigged, David Stern tells the officials to protect stars, etc., etc. Sometimes it is better to pass and sometimes the officials make the correct call regardless of the player involved. After watching the replay, it seems pretty clear that Joakim Noah went straight up and did foul LeBron under the rules. The photo above seems to back this up, LeBron is ..."
'D' Bulls top LeBron
"Would you believe the Bulls won for a second straight game because of their -- ahem -- defense? Believe it. Despite going scoreless in the last 1:44 and shooting only 40.9 percent, the Bulls squeezed out an 86-85 victory Thursday over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena because they successfully defended a LeBron James drive in the final seconds. That's right. With Luol Deng and Joakim Noah providing the resistance, the Bulls thwarted a James drive for a potential game-winner and forced a turnover with .2 seconds left. The Bulls (3-2) had stops on their last three defensive possessions against the Cavaliers (3-3) -- and this comes two days after they had stops on their last two ..."
Bulls notes
"Before the game Thursday night against the Cavaliers, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro was unsure whether he'd play Tyrus Thomas, who arrived at the team hotel less than four hours before tipoff. ''I want to see how he warms up before the game,'' Del Negro said. ''I talked to him. I know he's been very, very sick, as sick as he's ever been, he said. I want to see how he feels warming up, and we'll go from there. I don't think he's feeling great. I appreciate the effort of getting here. Let's see how he feels, and if he can give us a few minutes, that'll be great.'' Rookie Taj Gibson started at power forward, and Thomas entered the game with 2:50 left in the first quarter. Thomas said he was ..."
Tyrus Thomas makes trip to Cleveland
"Tyrus Thomas settled into his first-class seat, orange juice in tow, and smiled weakly as his flight sat on an O'Hare runway. "Just want to be there," Thomas said, meaning Cleveland. Hours after receiving clearance from a team physician, Thomas, who had missed two days with the flu, arrived in time to play 12 minutes off the bench in the victory over the Cavaliers. He contributed six points and one block. "My wind felt fine," Thomas said. "I just wanted to help." Thomas said the illness made him feel "like death" and that he experienced a high fever, chills and nausea so that he "couldn't eat." Thomas said he felt "close enough" to 100 percent to play. "I appreciated his effort getting ..."
Chicago Bulls clip Cleveland Cavaliers 86-85
"For much of his 27 minutes, 23 seconds Thursday night, Joakim Noah banged against the once-immovable force known as Shaquille O'Neal. That, despite O'Neal's aging status, can tire even the springiest of chickens. "He's heavy, man," Noah said. Nevertheless, Noah found enough energy for the most ferocious of fist pumps after he and Luol Deng combined to defend LeBron James' final drive, preserving a gritty 86-85 victory over the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans arena. James' miss with 0.2 seconds left didn't just give the Bulls a different result from their last winnable road opportunity, Sunday in Miami. It dropped the Cavaliers' shooting percentage to .407. Don't look now, but the Bulls, who ..."
Ailing Thomas sent home again
"Tyrus Thomas showed up at the Berto Center before practice Wednesday, but was still sick and was sent home for a second straight day. He didn't accompany the team when it departed for Cleveland on Wednesday afternoon. Although it seems highly unlikely, there's a remote chance he could travel on his own today and join the team in time for the game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. ''He's at home,'' coach Vinny Del Negro said after practice. ''He'll see the doctor (Wednesday) and (today) and then we'll re-evaluate and see if he can fly to Cleveland. ''But he's pretty sick still. He's got the flu, sore throat, the whole thing.'' Besides allowing him to get rest, Thomas was sent home both days so ..."
Thomas ill again, likely to miss Cavaliers game
"Tyrus Thomas showed up at the Berto Center before practice Wednesday but was still sick and was sent home for a second straight day. He didn't accompany the team when it departed for Cleveland on Wednesday afternoon. Although it seems highly unlikely, there's a remote chance he could travel on his own today and join the team in time for the game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. ''He's at home,'' coach Vinny Del Negro said after practice. ''He'll see the doctor [Wednesday] and [today], and then we'll re-evaluate and see if he can fly to Cleveland. ''But he's pretty sick still. He's got the flu, sore throat, the whole thing.''"
Healthy start, happy Deng
"After fighting for an offensive rebound, scoring inside and drawing a foul against a bigger player in the fourth quarter of the Bulls' dramatic comeback victory Tuesday night, Luol Deng took a couple of steps and let out a scream that would have registered high marks on the noise meters shown on the United Center scoreboard. It was an unusual display of emotion for the normally stoic Deng -- and a clear sign he's enjoying being back on the court after missing the final 2½ months and the playoffs last season with a stress fracture of the lower right leg. ''I'm just happy I'm healthy. I'm happy to be out there playing,'' Deng said. ''It's the longest I sat out not playing, and I just missed ..."
Bulls' Taj Gibson not surprised by peace-maker Tim Floyd
"Bulls rookie Taj Gibson has not seen the Tim Floyd video but said he's "definitely going to check it out." To refresh: A video surfaced last night that shows Floyd and former USC coach Henry Bibby breaking up a fight involving at least six women, hair pulling and near chair throwing at a Southern California casino cafeteria. Gibson, who played three seasons for Floyd at USC, said it doesn't surprise him that his former coach would act as a peace-maker."
Bulls counting on Derrick Rose getting them in shooting rhythm
"Long after Bulls practice ended Wednesday, Derrick Rose stayed after to shoot jumpers and run sprints with player development director Randy Brown. Getting Rose back into top game condition could do wonders for a sputtering Bulls offense. But so, simply, would this: Make some shots. Somewhat lost in the postgame euphoria Tuesday night of an 18-point comeback victory over the Bucks and Luol Deng's monstrous 24-point, 20-rebound effort is that the Bulls again shot horribly at 39.2 percent. They have failed to crack 42 percent in four games, topping out at 41.7 percent in the victory over the Spurs, and they rank 27th at 40.9 percent overall. Their 3-point shooting -- or lack thereof -- ..."
Bulls find some late medicine
"It was a strange day all around for the Bulls, from the sudden flu that benched Tyrus Thomas to their stunningly bad start in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks to the remarkable finish that staved off an embarrassing loss. In the end, the Bulls managed an 83-81 comeback victory Tuesday night at the United Center led by one player (Luol Deng) who shifted over to Thomas' position during the rally and another (Jannero Pargo) who wasn't supposed to play because of a back injury. ''It was a fortunate win, to be honest,'' coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''We didn't play well at all in the first half, and in the second half, I don't think we played great, but we gutted it out and we found a way to ..."
Chicago Bulls rally to victory
"Sore back or not, Jannero Pargo hasn't lost his sunny disposition. He also, apparently, hasn't lost his shot-making ability. Asked about his pain before he injected life into a dismal Bulls effort, Pargo opted for a stand-up routine. "I feel real good," Pargo said, pausing for comedic timing, "until I start running." Think of how the Bucks feel. Pargo helped rally the Bulls from an 18-point deficit, then ceded to Derrick Rose and Luol Deng late in an improbable 83-81 victory over the Bucks on Tuesday night at the United Center. Shortly after entering for the first time midway through the third quarter for a slumping John Salmons, Pargo swished a 3-pointer that set off a 12-0 run. Later in ..."
Bulls gut out a win
"It was a strange day all around for the Bulls, from the sudden flu that benched Tyrus Thomas to their stunningly bad start in the game with the Milwaukee Bucks to the remarkable finish that staved off an embarrassing loss. In the end, the Bulls managed an 83-81 comeback victory Tuesday night at the United Center led by one player (Luol Deng) who shifted over to Thomas' position during the rally and another (Jannero Pargo) who wasn't supposed to play because of a back injury. 'It was a fortunate win, to be honest with you,'' coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''We didn't play well at all in the first half, and in the second half, I don't think we played great, but we gutted it out and we found a ..."
Hopes Deng-blasted
"A great start for the Milwaukee Bucks had them thinking about finally getting an elusive victory at the United Center. But forward Luol Deng and point guard Derrick Rose paced a second-half comeback as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Bucks, 83-81, on Tuesday night. The Bulls rallied from an 18-point third-quarter deficit but had to hold on in the final seconds, when the Bucks fizzled on their last possession. Backup forward Ersan Ilyasova was forced far beyond the three-point line and launched an airball with 3 seconds left, allowing the Bulls to beat the Bucks for the eighth consecutive time at the United Center. It was a tough one for the Bucks (1-2) to digest after they got another ..."
As far as Bulls' Rose goes, it's all about rhythm
"Derrick Rose wants his groove back, and the second-year Bulls point guard would like it back fast. Rose was the last player to leave the floor after practice Monday at the Berto Center in Deerfield. ''I just have to get in the rhythm,'' Rose said after practice. ''My ankle is fine, just stiff. It gets frustrating during the games. As you can see, I'm the last to leave (practice). Yeah, I'm in a hurry. I'm just trying to get my rhythm back. That's the big thing. ''I'm getting myself back in playing shape. Even though I didn't make many shots (Sunday at Miami), I was able to attack the basket, which is something I didn't do in the first two games. I thought I shot the ball well today in ..."
Rusty Rose trying to get groove back
"Bulls point guard Derrick Rose wants his groove back, and fast. Rose was the last player to leave the floor after practice Monday at the Berto Center in Deerfield. ''I just have to get in the rhythm,'' Rose said. ''My ankle is fine, just stiff. It gets frustrating during the games. As you can see, I'm the last to leave [practice]. Yeah, I'm in a hurry. I'm just trying to get my rhythm back. That's the big thing. ''I'm getting myself back in playing shape. Even though I didn't make many shots [Sunday in Miami], I was able to attack the basket, which is something I didn't do in the first two games. I thought I shot the ball well today in practice. The fluid on my ankle is gone. I have to ..."
Chicago Bulls' Tyrus Thomas struggling to earn coach's trust
"As Bulls practice ended Monday, veteran Lindsey Hunter stepped up and directed some pointed advice toward Tyrus Thomas in front of all his teammates and coaches. It's the kind of behind-the-scenes leadership that occurs countless times throughout an NBA season. This instance stood out for two reasons. It came on the heels of Thomas, according to team sources, taking exception to coach Vinny Del Negro harping on him for failing to rotate defensively. And it followed Thomas again falling out of the fourth-quarter rotation. Thomas has played just 92 seconds in the fourth quarter through three games, sitting the entire final quarter against Boston -- because of the blowout loss -- and again ..."
Wade grand (times 10) vs. Bulls
"Although the regular season is merely three games old, don't be surprised if the blogs and message boards devoted to the Bulls are overloaded with criticism of coach Vinny Del Negro and some of his players following Sunday night's performance. With an assortment of missed shots, sloppy turnovers and questionable decisions - on and off the court - the Bulls turned a tight back-and-forth battle into a fairly comfortable 95-87 Miami Heat victory in American Airlines Arena. A noteworthy achievement saw Dwyane Wade, the former Richards High School star, reach a scoring milestone in the third quarter. He pushed his NBA career total to 10,005 points. But to say this game was winnable for the ..."
Shoulder gets the best of Daequan Cook
"Daequan Cook slept on his decision about whether to play through his strained right shoulder. That was his first mistake. "I sleep kind of wild," he said. So two days after attempting to play through the ailment and shooting 1 of 9 in Indiana, the third-year Miami Heat guard sat out Sunday's 95-87 victory over the Chicago Bulls. "When you sleep, you can't really control how you sleep," he said of waking up in pain consecutive mornings. "We've got a back-to-back coming up, so hopefully I'll look forward to playing in that." Cook was injured during a Thursday training session and said he probably made a mistake playing against the Pacers. "Yeah, somewhat," he said. Coach Erik Spoelstra said ..."
Can't close the deal
"Although the regular season is merely three games old, don't be surprised if the blogs and message boards devoted to the Bulls are overloaded with criticism of coach Vinny Del Negro and some of his players after Sunday's performance. With an assortment of missed shots, sloppy turnovers and questionable decisions -- on and off the court -- the Bulls turned a tight back-and-forth battle into a fairly comfortable 95-87 Miami Heat victory in American Airlines Arena. To say this game was winnable for the Bulls is to say that South Beach has decent nightlife. ''We just didn't do enough down the stretch to get this one, to win this one,'' guard Kirk Hinrich said. ''It's just tough. We wanted to ..."
Bulls notes
"Even though the regular season is less than a week old and the free-agent period is eight months away, Dwyane Wade was asked about the possibility of signing with his hometown Sunday night following the Miami Heat's 95-87 victory over the Bulls. ''That's a long way away,'' he said. "When we get there, we'll see. But right now, [I'm going to] just focus on my team, focus on getting better here in Miami. Free agency is so far away I can't even think about it." Someone jokingly asked if his struggles in the United Center might affect his decision. "I've had some bad games there, but I've had some good wins as well," Wade said. "I don't love the rims there, but I've had some good games there." ..."
Dwyane Wade to Bulls speculation never-ending
"Dwyane Wade thanked Heat fans in a brief pregame speech and later dissed the United Center rims, so he's staying in South Florida for sure, right? Such silly speculation will exist until July 1, when Wade will become an unrestricted free agent. "That's a long way away," Wade said. "When we get there, we'll see. Right now, I'm focused on my team and getting better here in Miami." Wade has faced media from New York and Chicago -- two teams with projected salary cap space next summer -- and, at least on Sunday, clearly is having fun with the situation. "I really don't love the rims there," Wade said of the United Center. "But I've had some good games there too." Wade said he's oblivious to ..."
Chicago Bulls lose 95-87 to Miami Heat
"As far as Derrick Rose is concerned, the Bulls didn't blow a winnable road game Sunday at American Airlines Arena because of 40.9 percent shooting, just 17 fourth-quarter points or even mental mistakes down the stretch. As far as Rose is concerned, the Bulls fell 95-87 to the Heat because he's not playing like, well, Rose. "I missed a lot of layups," he said. "Monday, if we're off (from practice) or whatever, I'm going to go back to my Memphis days and shoot a whole gang of layups. I have to get back into rhythm." Of course, it's shortsighted to pin this loss entirely on Rose, who went 4-for-15 in 35 minutes and is shooting 37 percent on this young season. And three games don't constitute ..."
Wade nets 10,000th career point
"The Miami Heat stepped up in competition Sunday. And it didn't back down. After cruising past New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers teams that resembled D-League outfits, the Heat aggressively contested a prime rival in a spirited 95-87 victory over the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I just saw bodies colliding," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It was like a gang fight the last three minutes of the game." In a matchup more of heart and hustle than speed and skill, the Heat turned to its grittiest competitor and power forward Udonis Haslem obliged by lifting it to only the third 3-0 start in the franchise's 22 seasons. "Udonis was incredible on both ends of the floor," Spoelstra ..."
Bulls latest to window shop Wade
"No, 2010 free agency is not a single event. It is a journey. Sunday, the tour returns to AmericanAirlines Arena, this time with the Chicago Bulls looking to size up the playing field. Last Wednesday, it was the New York Knicks who did their window shopping. Like the Knicks, the Bulls also should be in position to add a max-salary free agent next summer. And while Heat guard Dwyane Wade won't submit to a physical for his hometown team before Sunday's tipoff, Chicago is going as far as traveling General Manager Gar Foreman to many road games, with a focus on next summer's free agency. If the whole thing seems a bit awkward, well, it is. "Everybody," Knicks forward David Lee said during last ..."
Big bullies
"The 2007-08 Celtics were specialists in administering the coup de grace to opponents. If they had a team down at the half, that team died a slow death in the second half. Of the 57 games in which those Celtics held a halftime lead, they won 49 of them. When they were ahead going into the fourth quarter they were 57-7. The Celtics decimated the Bulls, 118-90, last night, digging a 15-point hole for Chicago by halftime. And the message Paul Pierce wanted to get across in the locker room during the break was simple: Throw dirt on them."
Game film vs. Celts gets thumbs down
"Instead of traveling to Miami immediately after the game Friday night -- as they often do -- the Bulls' itinerary called for them to stay over and practice before departing for Florida. After the 118-90 drubbing they suffered at the hands of the Boston Celtics, it's a good bet the players would have preferred to get out of town quickly. It's also a good bet that the last thing the players wanted to do was relive the experience by watching a replay of the game, but that's precisely how coach Vinny Del Negro began practice Saturday -- with a film session. Needless to say, no one's opinion of the performance was changed by watching it again. ''We were on our heels, we weren't physical enough ..."
John Salmons now has to guard Dwyane Wade
"As if laboring through one of the most pronounced shooting slumps to start any of his eight NBA seasons isn't tough enough, now the fun really begins for John Salmons. On Sunday, he gets to guard Dwyane Wade. "You just have to try to make it tough on him and contest his shots," Salmons said. "He has the ball in his hands so much. It's hard, but you try to make him feel uncomfortable." Yes, Kirk Hinrich will see plenty of minutes chasing Wade. And double-teams will be sporadic as well. But Salmons, who starred in college at Miami, knows what's coming. "Regardless of what has happened with my shooting, I have to play at both ends," Salmons said. Salmons said he planned to watch film on the ..."
Will Dwyane Wade provide a hint Sunday of what could be for Chicago Bulls?
"If the Bulls were smart Sunday, they wouldn't just beat the Heat in their first game of the Dwyane Wade Recruitment Tour. They would clear out occasionally and let Derrick Rose work his wondrous, driving magic. They would encourage Joakim Noah to run the floor, power home a dunk and let loose one of his patented primal screams. They would share the ball selflessly on offense, get in the Heat's faces on defense (well, OK, maybe provide Wade a driving lane now and then) and basically do all the things Wade's team did when he led it to the 2006 NBA championship. You know, just to plant the seed that things are attractive enough for the former Richards High star to come home. Most of all, in a ..."
Big bullies
"The 2007-08 Celtics were specialists in administering the coup de grace to opponents. If they had a team down at the half, that team died a slow death in the second half. Of the 57 games in which those Celtics held a halftime lead, they won 49 of them. When they were ahead going into the fourth quarter they were 57-7. The Celtics decimated the Bulls, 118-90, last night, digging a 15-point hole for Chicago by halftime. And the message Paul Pierce wanted to get across in the locker room during the break was simple: Throw dirt on them. "That's what we're stressing right now,'' Pierce said. "When you've got a team on its back, when we're up 15 points in the half, we didn't want to give them ..."
From rousing to routed
"It would have been unrealistic to expect Friday night's matchup between the Bulls and Boston Celtics to duplicate the excitement of last season's epic first-round playoff series. But no one -- especially the Bulls coming off a rousing win the previous night -- expected an epic blowout instead. Unlike the playoff series that produced seven overtime periods, this one was decided early as the Bulls never got untracked and the Celtics cruised to a 118-90 victory in the TD Garden. ''It's early in the season, and hopefully we can learn from this,'' point guard Derrick Rose said. ''When things aren't going that well, we can't put our heads down,'' center Joakim Noah said. ''We have to keep ..."
Chicago Bulls lose in blowout
"A mere four-quarter game felt so pedestrian Friday night at TD Garden. But the only overtime needed is the extra work the Bulls must put in to hang with the Eastern Conference powerhouse Celtics, at full strength now that Kevin Garnett has returned from injury. Garnett missed last spring's epic first-round playoff series that included four overtime games and seven overtime sessions, but he's back and his 3-0 Celtics ran away and hid from the Bulls in a 118-90 blowout. Paul Pierce scored 20 of his 22 points in the third quarter -- making all seven shots -- and Ray Allen added 20 points in 24 minutes for the Celtics, who shot a blistering 58.1 percent. Rajon Rondo added 16 assists, and Eddie ..."
Celtics vs. Bulls: Next in a series
"It wasn't as though Kendrick Perkins asked for the game tape. He didn't go looking for the boxed set. He didn't search for highlights on YouTube. He wasn't trying to relive the magic. His television set just happened to be on, and the Celtics' seven-game saga with the Bulls in the opening round of last year's playoffs was an instant classic. "I had no choice but to watch it,'' he said."
Bulls not just anOTher team
"It's difficult for Kendrick Perkins to think back to last season's seven-game triumph against Chicago in the playoffs. If he does, the Celtics center then must relive what followed in the second round against Orlando. And that's when the memory of elimination re-emerges. "The only thing that stuck with me (from the playoffs) was Game 6 and Game 7 of the Orlando series," Perkins said. "I felt we should have won Game 6, and Game 7 we just gave up. Those are the only two games I think of from the playoffs." Like it or not, though, the Bulls return to the Garden tonight for the first time since May 2, when they were eliminated in Game 7. As even Perkins will admit, the series' longevity was ..."
Bulls kick it off, get a nice return
"Like most coaches, Vinny Del Negro wanted a little more time to prepare before beginning to play for real, but the NBA doesn't have a flex schedule, so -- ready or not -- the Bulls had to battle the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. ''The guys have worked hard,'' Del Negro said before the game. ''I'm pleased with their effort, and now it's a matter of taking what we've done in practice and start off this difficult early schedule.'' That's precisely what the Bulls did as they shrugged off a slow start and controlled the second half en route to a 92-85 victory over the Spurs, who are considered one of the elite teams in the league. ''I thought we played harder than them,'' forward Luol ..."
Chicago Bulls eager for rematch with Boston Celtics
"The last time the Bulls saw Rajon Rondo, the speedy Celtics guard was smacking Brad Miller upside the head and engaging in a wrestling match with Kirk Hinrich. Ah, those nutty NBA schedule gods, who send the Bulls on Friday night onto the same famed parquet floor where last season's white-hot, seven-game, first-round playoff series unfolded. "That's a day on the calendar I've been waiting for for a long time," Bulls center Joakim Noah said. "KG ( Kevin Garnett) is back, a crazy atmosphere in Boston. And, obviously, they're playing very well." The intensity of the rematch extends beyond Rondo, although he cornered the market on extracurricular activity. "That incident won't change how I ..."
Derrick Rose looked like himself, Chicago Bulls looked like winners
"There was a black curtain covering the marker board inside the Bulls' locker room Thursday night. This was something new, and if the idea was to keep reporters from seeing top secret strategy, it could mean only one thing: The team had hired Bears coach Lovie Smith as a consultant. What were the Bulls hiding going into their regular season opener against the Spurs? The shocking true story behind Derrick Rose's wobbly ankle? Something that would help Joakim Noah stop perennial All-Star Tim Duncan? A reminder to Tyrus Thomas, under penalty of death, not to shoot from outside of 15 feet? Photos of Lindsey Hunter as a teenager from the 1950s? What most everybody came for Thursday was to see ..."
Chicago Bulls win opener 92-85
"Season openers are all about possibility. Before the first jump ball is tossed, the mind can dream. Joakim Noah can be bulked up and stuffing the box score with a double-double. An active Tyrus Thomas can hit jumpers consistently. A healthy Luol Deng can run the floor and drain midrange jumpers. Derrick Rose's ankle can heal so he can deal. And the best part about the 44th opener in Bulls franchise history Thursday night at the United Center is that, for at least one night, those dreams turned to reality. Hustling after offensive rebounds and sharing the ball, the Bulls dropped a 92-85 surprise on the Western Conference powerhouse Spurs, jazzing the sellout crowd of 21,412. Deng's 17 ..."
Duncan not enough against Bulls
"As he walked towards the bench in the minutes before tipoff for the Spurs' game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center, coach Gregg Popovich made a promise: Win or lose, he was going to enjoy some bratwurst and sausage before heading back to San Antonio. When he emerged from his team's locker room after the Spurs absorbed a 92-85 loss, he wiped at the corners of his mouth. "I had to throw one down quick," he said. "It was pretty good. I had the Italian sausage. I'll have the bratwurst when I go back in." Just as conventional wisdom allows that everyone is better off not watching how sausage gets made, Popovich didn't really feel like overanalyzing a performance that was the polar ..."
Here's a starting 5 for Bulls
"Usually there's somewhat of a consensus among the newspapers, magazines and Web sites that produce NBA previews. The projected conference standings are remarkably similar, and a team's ranking generally doesn't vary more than two or three spots. That's not the case with the Bulls. Depending on the preview, they're ranked anywhere from fourth to 10th in the Eastern Conference. For many of the so-called experts, the Bulls are a tough team to figure out. They lost shooting guard Ben Gordon -- their leading scorer the last four seasons -- via free agency but still have an impressive young roster. Do they lose points for losing Gordon, or do they gain points because some of their young players ..."
Bye, Byars: Team can't afford luxury
"So much for Derrick Byars making the Bulls' opening-night roster. Byars, a first-year guard from Vanderbilt, was waived on Wednesday, a little more than 24 hours before tonight's game against the Spurs at the United Center. The Bulls have 13 players on the roster but will go into the season with only 11 healthy bodies because of injuries to Aaron Gray (stress fracture) and Jerome James (Achilles tendon). If not for the luxury tax, Byars was likely to stick around at least for the first couple of months of the season. But with the Bulls close to the tax threshold, the feeling in the organization was they couldn't afford to keep the 6-7 guard around for insurance and practice -- even though ..."
Powering forward?
"The end of the regular season and the surprising playoff series against the Celtics turned the Bulls into an NBA enigma. Are they the underachieving bunch that often turned in indifferent efforts on both ends of the floor last season or the hard-charging group that pushed the defending NBA champs to the brink? Are they a team ready to take the all-important next step or did they disguise a mostly disappointing 2008-09 season with a sizzling playoff run? The team's performance in its first-round playoff series against the Celtics made people forget about a season-ending debacle against the Raptors. You remember. The Bulls had won 14 of their last 15 at home but sleepwalked through their ..."
New Chicago Bulls GM plans to travel more with team
"Bulls general manager Gar Forman has two messages for his players as their season tips off Thursday night at the United Center against the Spurs: Play better defense, and be accountable for your actions on and off the court. "We have to improve defensively as a team if we are going to advance," he said. "And accountability is something that has been stressed." Forman, who took over as the team's GM in May when John Paxson relinquished the title, says he plans to keep a close eye on the entire operation. In fact, he intends to travel with the team on most, if not all of the trips. "The reasons are two-fold. First of all, I want to be around the team, I want to be around the players and I ..."
Derrick Rose faces big challenge right away
"If it seems like there have been 27 days of Derrick Rose ankle updates, it's because that's true. Thursday, Rose finally will take the court for the first time since injuring the posterior tibialis tendon in his right ankle Oct. 2 in Indiana. "I can't wait," Rose said. "I'm about 80 percent. Hopefully by the end of the month, I should be back to my regular self. My explosiveness isn't all the way there." Tony Parker's is. Rose knows what that means for his defensive assignment against the Spurs. "His game is running, and I'm going to have to chase him around," Rose said. "He's a very quick and smart player." Coach Vinny Del Negro said Rose's minutes would be determined by how his ankle ..."
Can Chicago Bulls build on playoff performance
"Close to six months ago, the Bulls trudged off the Celtics' famed parquet floor, losers in a Game 7 that closed one of the most epic playoff series in NBA history. Since that May 2 game, the Bulls have lost Ben Gordon to free agency, drafted forwards James Johnson and Taj Gibson and promised to build on the promise they showed during that series. Their chance begins Thursday night at the United Center, when the Bulls begin the 44th season in franchise history against the Spurs. One night later, the Bulls travel to, ahem, Boston. This time, Kevin Garnett won't be injured. "He'll be pretty excited," Joakim Noah said, smiling. "But we will be too." In a nod to that seven-game series, which ..."
Can Chicago Bulls show progress without Ben Gordon?
"When last we saw the Bulls in a game that mattered to more than just the Taj Gibson Fan Club, they teased us with possibility. That Bulls team made the Celtics look older than the set shot by taking them to seven games in a classic playoff series that included an NBA-record seven overtimes. That Bulls team ultimately lost Game 7 by 10 points but won respect harder to quantify. That Bulls team talked on the flight home from Boston that night in May about wanting more and taking the next step. That Bulls team isn't this Bulls team. This team never replaced Ben Gordon, that team's leading scorer. You may remember Gordon, Chicago's most unappreciated athlete over the past decade. Over the ..."
Rose's goal: 'I just want to be the best at my position'
"If not for the ankle injury that hampered Derrick Rose for much of the preseason, the main topic surrounding the Bulls as they approach the season opener Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs would be how much better the second-year point guard will be this season. Granted, Rose was fabulous as a rookie, averaging 16.8 points and 6.3 assists as a starter from Day 1 at the toughest position for a newcomer. He was a near-unanimous choice for the NBA's rookie of the year award and produced a stunning playoff debut by busting out for 36 points in the Bulls' Game 1 upset of the Boston Celtics. While confidence was never an issue for Rose last season, there was something noticeably different ..."