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Carlos Boozer News & Rumors

Rose isn't Bulls' only injury woe
January 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"While the concern inside the Bulls' locker room Saturday related to Derrick Rose's injured left big toe, the frontcourt took a significant hit as well. Both center Joakim Noah and forward Taj Gibson sat out Saturday night's 95-89 victory over the Bobcats with ankle injuries suffered Friday night in Cleveland. Gibson said his was a high ankle sprain as a result of stepping on Antawn Jamison's foot. "It's sore,'' Gibson said. "It's real sore. Just have to take a slow. (I'm) lucky nothing was broken, nothing torn. That's the bright side.'' Noah appeared ready to go and coach Tom Thibodeau said he was fine. Then he was a late scratch with Omer Asik starting."
Bulls' Carlos Boozer, C.J. Watson too hot for Suns
January 18
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Bulls can overcome the loss of Derrick Rose a lot more easily when Carlos Boozer and C.J. Watson shoot like they did against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night. But even after Boozer scored 31 points on 14-for-21 shooting and Watson added 23 on 8-for-12 shooting in a 118-97 victory at the United Center, the Bulls know their fate hinges more on the healing powers of their irrepressible MVP than the hot-and-cold shooting touch of any member of his supporting cast. Rose missed his second consecutive game and third in the last five with a sprained big toe on his left foot that appears to need rest in a season that won't provide much. The Bulls (13-3) played their 16th game in the first 24"
Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer join the late show
January 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"After sitting out the fourth quarters of the last two games, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah made key contributions late to help the Bulls hold off the Boston Celtics on Friday. Noah had four points, three rebounds and two blocked shots in the fourth quarter to finish with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, while Boozer contributed two rebounds in the fourth and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. ''I love the way Jo was active tonight blocking shots and going after the ball,'' coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''Then his offense came around. When he plays like that, it's good for us.'' Before the game, Thibodeau said he's not considering changing his starting lineup despite Taj Gibson"
Bulls expect Noah, Boozer to come around
January 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"The inconsistent play — and playing time — of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer has underscored one of Tom Thibodeau's biggest consistencies. Unlike former Bulls coach Scott Skiles, who once famously answered "Jump" when asked how Eddy Curry could rebound better, Thibodeau refuses to bury players publicly. It's why Thibodeau keeps supporting Noah and Boozer with his public comments, even while sitting them for the entire fourth quarter in consecutive games."
Noah and Boozer conspicuous by absence — again
January 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"For the second straight night, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah sat for the entire fourth quarter. "It's nothing personal," Noah said. "I understand Omer (Asik) and Taj (Gibson) are playing great. I have to find a way to affect winning. … It's tough, but we're winning. I have to play bigger, play better defense, rebound better." Boozer and Noah combined for eight points and 10 rebounds in just fewer than 45 minutes. "That's just Thibs' decision," Boozer said of coach Tom Thibodeau. "You just ride with it and keep going. As long as we keep winning, everybody is happy.""
Pistons sputter in fourth quarter, fall to Carlos Boozer and Bulls
January 10
Detroit News
 
"NBA MVP Derrick Rose was priority No. 1 for the Pistons on Monday night. Perhaps they should've paid more attention to priority No. 2, Carlos Boozer, who paced the Bulls to a 92-68 win at the United Center. It was the Pistons' fourth straight loss. Greg Monroe led the Pistons with 14 points, 10 rebounds and six assists (career high). The Bulls played without former Piston Richard Hamilton, but by the looks of things, they didn't need him. The Pistons had no answer for Boozer, and everyone they threw at the power forward got the same result: jumpers to the face. Boozer got whatever he wanted and did it in relatively easy fashion."
Bulls bounce back big-time behind Carlos Boozer
January 10
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"When Carlos Boozer finally started rolling to the basket, the Bulls led by 21 in the fourth quarter. He drew a foul with four minutes left. He looked over at the bench, got a nod from coach Tom Thibodeau and, on the next possession, did the same thing with the same result. Why not keep doing what works until someone stops it? The Bulls won their 13th straight against the Pistons on Monday night at the United Center in large part because Detroit had no answer for Boozer, who scored a game-high 23 points and had eight rebounds in a 92-68 victory. Their ability to rebound from Saturday night's humiliating loss in Atlanta was largely due to Boozer being as hot as he has been all season."
Rose, four other Bulls on NBA All-Star ballot
January 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Derrick Rose heads a list of five Chicago Bulls selected to be on the ballot for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. Joining Rose on the 120-player ballot, which was unveiled Tuesday at a special event in Orlando, Fla. -- site of the Feb. 26 game -- are Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Richard Hamilton."
Boozer professes no worries about offense
December 29
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Boozer didn't attempt a second-half shot in Monday night's loss to the Warriors. For the second time in three games — dating back to the Eastern Conference finals — he watched the fourth quarter from the bench. But ask Boozer if he's troubled over his 10.5 points per game average thus far and you will hear a telling response. "I'm not concerned at all," Boozer said following Wednesday's practice at the Warriors' practice facility. "My biggest concern is defense. They had way too many blow-bys. Offensive, that will take care of itself.""
Carlos Boozer takes step forward
December 21
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Forward Carlos Boozer was scoring inside and outside, grabbing rebounds and passing to teammates for easy baskets. It was the kind of performance that can make fans begin to forget about his often-ineffective play last postseason. Boozer earned a measure of redemption after a mediocre exhibition opener by scoring a team-high 24 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists in the Bulls' 93-85 victory Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers at the United Center."
Thibodeau encouraged with Boozer
December 18
Chicago Tribune
 
"Since the first day of training camp, Derrick Rose has talked about the need to play inside-out, to get Carlos Boozer going. True to form, the Bulls looked to Boozer early and often in Friday's exhibition opener. Boozer, however, missed his first five shots and battled foul trouble before rallying to finish with seven points and six rebounds in almost 25 minutes. "I liked how he and Ronnie (Brewer) played off each other," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "His floor game was very good. He had some bunnies he normally makes that he didn't.""
Boozer's stock jumps
December 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"When No. 1 speaks, people listen. "Booz, you see how he's looking," Derrick Rose said of Carlos Boozer. "He lost a lot of weight. He has been running great in practice, going hard. "We have to play inside more. And our game is also at the top of the key, high pick-and-rolls, but we run away from them sometimes toward the end. The way he has been working out and working on his game, we have confidence in him." Rose's comment almost got lost in the myriad angles and story lines that emanated from Sunday's Media Day festivities. Its gist got revived again Tuesday when the subject of Boozer's weight loss and conditioning flared anew because of how strong he has looked in practice. Translated,"
Bulls' Carlos Boozer driven by criticism
December 8
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It's not easy for athletes to avoid labels in this town. Once an impression has been made, good or bad, it can be as difficult to shed as a childhood nickname. While Derrick Rose became "MVP" last season, Carlos Boozer's brand was less flattering. If the Bulls forward can't shake it this year, he might never. "At the end of the day, some people take criticism the wrong way," Boozer said after a workout Wednesday at the Berto Center. "I take it as motivation. Criticism motivates you. That's how I've been my entire career. I'm very motivated, to say the least.""
Boozer says playoff loss just growing pains
December 8
Chicago Tribune
 
"A clean-cut and noticeably slimmed down Carlos Boozer smiled Wednesday when asked if he had lost weight. "Just a little bit," he said at Berto Center. Regardless, the veteran forward remains hungry to succeed. Reiterating comments he made in last week's Tribune, Boozer vowed to play better individually and help the Bulls supplant the Heat as Eastern Conference champions."
Boozer aims to quiet 'the haters'
November 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"The turf toe has healed. The chip on Carlos Boozer's shoulder has not. And that should be considered a good thing for the Bulls. Boozer, maligned throughout the Bulls' run to last season's Eastern Conference finals as he battled a sore right big toe, has heard the criticism. And in a phone conversation from his offseason home in Miami on Tuesday morning, the former All-Star forward basically said bring it on."
Sources: NBA stars plan exhibition tour
October 19
ESPN.com
 
"While NBA commissioner David Stern and players' union executive Billy Hunter meet with a federal mediator in hopes of saving the NBA season, the league's top players are finalizing plans for a two-week exhibition tour during what would have been the first two weeks of the regular season, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. While the final details are still being worked out, more than a dozen of the league's best players are working to join forces on what would be a two-week, six-game, four-continent blockbuster tour, sources said. In a trip that could resemble Team USA's takeover of the world stage at the 2008 Beijing Games, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick"
Rodman: Rose can't win by himself
August 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Dennis Rodman returned to the United Center on May 18 to present the honorary game ball before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, he lauded Tom Thibodeau, Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose and predicted a Bulls series victory over the Heat. Thursday at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Rodman changed his tune, saving his strongest criticism for Carlos Boozer. "Derrick can't win by himself," Rodman said. "That series was a bad situation with Tom Thibodeau. He should've done something about Rose and the other guys. Boozer should've stepped up big time. Noah should've stepped up a lot. "Derrick Rose is like Michael Jordan when he first came in the league. He's shooting the ball 25"
Carlos Boozer could play overseas
August 11
ESPN.com
 
"Add Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer to the list of NBA players looking to play overseas in light of the current NBA lockout. Boozer told ESPN The Magazine on Wednesday that he will pursue signing with a foreign team if the season doesn't start on time. "I think as players we have to look at this lockout as an unfortunate challenge, but one that can create other unique and positive opportunities," he said. "When I was part of Team USA that won Olympic Gold in Beijing, that experience changed my life in incredible ways."
Forman defends Boozer
June 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday, Carlos Boozer tweeted his early-morning workout plans. "Go Time!!!!" Boozer's missive read, in part. Six hours later, Boozer's offseason received another boost. General manager Gar Forman strongly defended the preferred punching bag for Bulls fans frustrated by his inconsistent postseason. "Carlos had a very good year for us," Forman said. "Even from a statistical standpoint, he was 18 points, 10 boards and shot over 50 percent. He was a key component to the success we had." Boozer actually averaged 17.5 points and 9.6 rebounds while shooting 51 percent in 59 regular-season games. Those averages dropped to 12.6 points and 43.3 percent shooting in 16 playoff"
Two words sum up Bulls' disappointment—Carlos Boozer
May 28
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Mark Potash
"Early in the first quarter in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Thursday night, the Bulls countered a double-team against Derrick Rose to near perfection. Rose skipped a pass on the perimeter to Luol Deng, who fired the ball into the corner to Keith Bogans, who passed into the lane to Joakim Noah, who quickly dished to Carlos Boozer underneath the basket. All five players touched the ball in a span of about five seconds, with Boozer getting it underneath the hoop. The ball was ''poppin.'' The Bulls had the defense moving. Tom Thibodeau couldn't have drawn it up any better. Dr. Naismith couldn't have drawn it up any better. But instead of going right at Joel Anthony, drawing a foul,"
Out for defense, Boozer cheered on teammates
May 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"For those fans who directed their ire at Carlos Boozer's defensive effort, the Bulls' shocking end to an otherwise stellar season brought maximum response from Boozer in at least one category — disappointment over not playing. "One hundred percent," Boozer said, when asked if it was hard to sit out the fourth quarter of Thursday's closeout loss. "I wanted to be out there to help my team get a chance to win. But everybody on the bench, we cheered the team on that was out there. We're a team. This is the Bulls versus the Heat, not one or two guys sitting out in the fourth quarter for whatever reason. "We support each other. That's how we are. You saw me and Jo (Joakim Noah) and everyone else"
Boozer's huge night not enough
May 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"A big game for Carlos Boozer. A bigger game for Chris Bosh. In a frustrating postseason of injuries and tough matchups, it seems like Boozer just can't win. The Bulls forward overcame a difficult first quarter — when he was 0-for-5 from the field and failed to score — to total 26 points and grab 17 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, in the Bulls' 96-85 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday night at American Airlines Arena. ''I just played off my teammates,'' Boozer said. ''Let them do their thing and try to find the open areas and be aggressive when I got it.'' Boozer hit 8 of 11 shots in the second and third quarters but was 0-for-3 in the fourth — though he did hit five free throws — as"
A bright spot: Boozer rebounds
May 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"In the morning, his ghastly Game 2 trailed off into the distance with an opportunity for a measure of redemption in Game 3 at hand. His kids dutifully attended church before taking in a baseball game and scampering about South Florida for the day. And Carlos Boozer beamed at his locker stall. "You wake up this morning, outside it's almost 90 (degrees) and it's not even 11 o'clock yet," Boozer said before the Bulls' shootaround. "Just feels great. A fountain of youth for everybody." This was fitting for a guy whose postseason act was getting old in some corners, and one of the few positives to extract from the Bulls' 96-85 swoon against the Heat was Boozer at last showing some consistent"
Bulls could use a boost from Boozer
May 22
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Boozer is either incredibly focused to rebound from a lackluster performance in Game 2, incredibly excited to see his kids that live in Miami, or both. "I got two minutes for you (reporters)," Boozer said following Saturday's brief practice at the Berto Center. Boozer eventually spoke for a few seconds longer on the Bulls' getaway day as the Eastern Conference finals shifted to Miami for Sunday's Game 3. Such engagement is a good sign. If the Bulls want to reclaim home-court advantage against a Heat team that hasn't lost at home in these playoffs, Boozer — or some secondary scorer — will have to produce more than the seven points on 3-for-10 shooting that marked his Game 2 box"
Boozer won over new teammates before he signed
May 15
Chicago Tribune
 
"Joakim Noah didn't sense the commitment. The Bulls center huddled with Chris Bosh inside Chicago's Trump International Hotel and Tower over the summer without any preconceived notions. He simply wanted the guy sitting across from him at Sixteen restaurant to show a fire and passion about joining the Bulls. Bosh didn't. "He was a nice guy and all,'' Noah said of his recruitment of Bosh during the free-agent frenzy. "But Bosh was more into, 'Well it depends on what this guy does, what that guy does.''' The next day, Noah met with Carlos Boozer at the Trump and came away with a totally different vibe. "Booz knew this was where he wanted to be,'' Noah said. "I liked that.'' As the Bulls and"
Bulls' Boozer finally has momentum
May 14
Chicago Tribune
 
"One day after Carlos Boozer's breakout game, Derrick Rose summarized Boozer's much-chronicled previous struggles in the bluntest fashion yet. "Boozer was just trying to force things," Rose said. "When you're not playing as well as you're supposed to, you overthink. He just had to get his groove. His confidence is high, back to where it needed to be. He was knocking down shots. Everything he was doing was quicker, more efficient. He was shooting without hesitating. That's the Booz we know. We need him." With 23 points and 10 rebounds Thursday night in the series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Hawks, Boozer posted his first 20-10 game since April 8. "We needed that from Carlos," Joakim"
Carlos Boozer finally shows up for the Bulls
May 13
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"This was the blueprint all along. It was supposed to be front and center throughout the opening-round series with a foul-first, ask-questions-later Indiana Pacers team. It was supposed to be on display again against an Atlanta Hawks squad that had a game more suited for Harlem's Rucker Park than prime time in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This blueprint called for Carlos Boozer providing the body blows for three quarters, and then Derrick Rose cutting off the head in the fourth — Option No. 2 handing the game off to option No. 1. No muss, no fuss, no problem. If only it was that simple. But there was a problem. A big one. All 6-9, 266 pounds of him. Boozer wasn't cooperating. He"
Bulls' Boozer delivers knockout blow
May 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"Scottie Pippen was one of Carlos Boozer's toughest critics as the Hall of Famer watched Boozer struggle through a first-round series against the Pacers. As the Bulls wrapped up a spot in the Eastern Conference finals Thursday thanks largely to Boozer's game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds, Pippen jumped back on the Boozer bandwagon. "He played well,'' Pippen said after the Bulls' 93-73 win over the Hawks. "That's what he's going to have to continue to do for this team to have success. "We're only as good as him and Derrick (Rose) make us.'' Boozer smoothly knocked down jump shots and worked the pick-and-roll to perfection with Rose as he hit on 10 of his 16 shots. "It was huge,'' Rose said"
The Boozer-Gibson dilemma; and Thibodeau's gutsy decision
May 12
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"In the wake of the Bulls' big Game 5 win, here are two important developments that ought to serve the Bulls well as they move forward. 1. The Carlos Boozer controversy is going to heat up, but it shouldn't. The Boozer bashers are going to clamor for Taj Gibson to be on the floor more. That's understandable after Taj played a monster fourth quarter, delivering 11 points and uncountable energy. But that doesn't mean Taj should play ahead of Boozer, who brings different things to the equation. Where Taj is more mobile, Boozer is a better post presence. He's also a veteran who's going to give you what he's got. Better to let Taj dart in than to put the weight of the world on him from the"
Boozer lauds Gibson for outstanding 4th
May 11
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Boozer normally gets mobbed by reporters after playoff games. The scene was different after Tuesday night's Game 5 95-83 victory over the Hawks, with boom mics extended across Boozer to Taj Gibson's neighboring locker. Boozer joined the party by asking Gibson his own question: "So how did you feel when (you hit) the shot at the top of the key and then you went like you were a plane on your way back (down court)?" "I wanted to do a flip," Gibson replied, "but I can't flip." Boozer then showered Gibson with praise, saying: "He was awesome, man. I told him after the game I was so proud of him. I had a tough game. He came in the fourth quarter, played great defense and hit big shots"
Carlos Boozer reveals toe ligaments are torn
May 8
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Boozer is tired of talking about his turf toe, but the pain isn't going to subside any time soon. Boozer revealed that ligaments on both sides of his right big toe were torn as a result of the injury suffered in Game 5 of the first-round series against the Pacers. "It's not broken," Boozer told the Tribune. "Thank God all the bones are good." There are three levels of turf toe: Grade I, which involves stretched ligaments; Grade II, which is a partially torn ligament; and Grade III, a complete tear of the ligaments and joint capsule, with a possible dislocation. Boozer wouldn't say exactly which grade his was, but he did his best to explain the pain. "The doctors said on the scale of"
Bulls' Carlos Boozer positive he should be playing
May 7
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Bulls forward Carlos Boozer dismissed fan and media grumbling that if he's hurt, he shouldn't play. ''I can't worry about that,'' Boozer said. ''I worry about the guys in the locker room. My teammates want me to play if I can play. My coaches want me to play if I can play. And I can play. I know I'm doing the right thing.'' Giving an update on the painful turf-toe injury to his right big toe, Boozer said, ''From a week ago, it's much better. I think better games are ahead. But it's not 100 percent. It's just painful.'' Does it get better day by day? ''It doesn't get worse,'' he said of an injury that often lingers. After scoring eight points on 4-for-12 shooting in Game 2 — a performance"
Time for Bulls' Carlos Boozer to sit, Taj Gibson to play
May 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Rick Morrissey
"The Bulls have a big problem. It's a 6-9, 266-pound problem. The solution is obvious to the naked eye and probably to the blindfolded eye. Carlos Boozer is bringing this team down. Either Boozer is injured worse than anybody knows, or he has lost whatever he had earlier in the season. If his turf toe is a bigger problem than he and the Bulls have been letting on, he shouldn't be playing. If he's not injured that badly, well, the Bulls have spent a lot of money for a guy who appears to be wearing weighted clown shoes. Either way, Taj Gibson should be getting a lot more playing time. That was obvious Wednesday night in the Bulls' 86-73 victory over the Hawks in Game 2 of their Eastern"
Bulls need to find better way to utilize Carlos Boozer
May 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Mark Potash
"The Bulls don't need to replace Carlos Boozer. They need to reinvent him. Though Boozer obviously is hampered by a turf toe injury, he still has value to the Bulls. But not as a low-post back-to-the-basket scorer. Josh Smith made that point pretty clear in Game 2 of the Bulls' Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night at the United Center. Until the Bulls realize this, they're still going to have a Carlos Boozer problem whether they want to acknowledge it or not. It's up to them to stop using him as if he were 100 percent. Let's face it, he can't do what he does best. Asked if his problem scoring inside was due more to the injury, the Hawks' defense or"
Some fans may grumble, but Boozer's role unlikely to change
May 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Herb Gould
"The controversy about whether forward Carlos Boozer should be given a diminished role in light of his diminished offense might be raging to outsiders. But there's no debate within the Bulls' camp. "He's nicked up,'' coach Tom Thibodeau said Thursday at the Berto Center. "He's giving us everything he has, and that's all we're asking him to do. The rebounding hasn't dropped off at all. He'll score. He's scored his whole career.'' After struggling on offense in front of a United Center crowd that turned on him Wednesday, the veteran admitted the turf-toe injury to his right big toe was hampering him. Taj Gibson, who started last season before yielding when Boozer was signed, said he's not"
Ailing Boozer should go to bench — in suit
May 6
Chicago Tribune
 columnist David Haugh
"Expecting Carlos Boozer suddenly to manhandle the Hawks inside beginning Friday night in Atlanta is like thinking, this time, the ant will crush the shoe. Be realistic. At this rate it might not end well for Boozer. Whether it's turf toe, a balky ankle, bad conditioning or all of the above, he stopped being a 20-point, 10-rebound machine in the second half of the season. He hasn't scored more than 20 points since April 8 against the Cavaliers, 11 games ago. He has put together back-to-back 20-point games only once since Jan. 12. He has scored in single digits as often the past eight games as he has in double figures — four times apiece. That's not Boozer being Boozer. That's Boozer being"
Boozer's lack of production makes it clear Gibson's time is here
May 5
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Rick Morrissey
"The Bulls have a big problem. It's a 6-9, 266-pound problem. The solution is obvious to the naked eye and probably to the blindfolded eye. Carlos Boozer is bringing this team down. Either Boozer is injured worse than anybody knows, or he has lost whatever he had earlier in the season. If his turf toe is a bigger problem than he and the Bulls have been letting on, he shouldn't be playing. If he's not injured that badly, well, the Bulls have spent a lot of money for a guy who appears to be wearing weighted clown shoes. Either way, Taj Gibson should be getting a lot more playing time. That was obvious Wednesday night in the Bulls' 86-73 victory over the Hawks in Game 2 of their Eastern"
Boozer still struggling with turf toe
May 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Boozer shot 33 percent from the field in Game 2. One reason why: He's not playing at anywhere close to 100 percent. Asked about his injured right big toe after the 86-73 victory Wednesday night, Boozer replied: "It's still sore. Still hurting." How much is it affecting his lift? "A lot," Boozer replied. "A lot." Boozer did manage to grab 11 rebounds but scored just eight points on 4-for-12 shooting. After Josh Smith swatted a third-quarter offering, the Bulls' power forward responded by yapping at him. Coach Tom Thibodeau pulled Boozer from the game but sounded sympathetic afterward. "Carlos is giving us everything he has," Thibodeau said. "He's nicked up. His rebounding has been"
Now Chicago is growing weary of Boozer's injury-plagued ways
May 3
The Deseret News
 columnist Brad Rock
"Remember mistrusting Carlos Boozer? The feeling of suspicion each time he took one of his extended injury breaks? I certainly remember the columns I wrote on him. But now I have company. The Chicago media has him figured out, too. "I was sorry to hear about Carlos Boozer's injury," Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune wrote this week. "Because I was hoping he had been benched for stinking it up again." Rosenbloom went on to joke that Boozer earns approximately $80 million per basket. "I was hoping that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau had grown as sick of Boozer's act as I had," he wrote. Wait until they've watched the act for six years. The story came after Game 5 of the Indiana-Chicago"
Boozer plays through pain of turf toe
May 3
Chicago Tribune
 
"The boos coming from the United Center fans midway through the third quarter Monday night weren't directed toward the visiting Hawks. They actually were intended for Carlos Boozer. "I didn't hear that," Boozer said. "Really I didn't. I just play. I was just trying to get a win." The Bulls forward, nursing a turf toe injury, was trying to shake off the injury as well as a poor performance in the first round against the Pacers. "My toe was painful the whole time," Boozer said, "but I was able to deal with it as the game went along." Subconsciously or not, Boozer appeared to elevate his game after the jeering. He scored three straight baskets in the third quarter and finished with 14 points"
Barring setback, Bulls' Boozer set to play in Game 1
May 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Boozer participated in portions of Monday's morning shootaround and said he planned to play in Game 1 of the Chicago Bulls' Eastern Conference semifinal against the Atlanta Hawks at the United Center. Boozer has been sidelined since suffering turf toe on his right big toe in Game 5 of the Pacers series. Boozer said he would warm up Monday and, barring a setback, start against the Hawks."I'm doing good," Boozer said. "The toe is feeling a lot better. I got a lot of treatment over the last few days. As long as it feels good tonight, I'll be out there. I plan on playing. "A lot of football players get it. I talk to some of my football guys. It's very painful just to step on it. But"
Bulls optimistic Boozer will play Monday
May 2
Chicago Tribune
 
"Carlos Boozer skipped his third straight practice with turf toe Sunday, though Bulls teammates and coaches still expressed optimism he would play in Monday's Game 1 against the Hawks. "He'll be ready," Joakim Noah said. Boozer, who declined to comment until after Monday morning's shootaround, did some individual shooting on the side and participated in some of the walk-through portions of practice. But he hasn't scrimmaged or taken contact since suffering the injury to his right big toe in Tuesday's closeout victory over the Pacers. "He said his foot is feeling a lot better," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He did some shooting and stationary bike. As long as he keeps getting better, that's the"
Rose sure Boozer will play in Game 1
May 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Carlos Boozer did not practice Saturday, but Derrick Rose is bullish on Boozer's return to the lineup as well as Boozer's return to productive form after a subpar series against Indiana. ''For sure, he's going to play,'' Rose said, adding that Boozer remains unshaken. ''He's Booz when he comes in. He's talking, shooting the ball, doing his routine. Nothing's changed. ''He's going to be good. He's been looking at film, seeing how aggressive he was in some games. That's all we're telling him to do, be aggressive and just play his game. He's been in this league long enough to be able to get himself out of a little slump.''"
Playoff pressure no sweat for Boozer
May 1
Chicago Tribune
 
"As families gathered at Miami Children's Hospital, Carlos Boozer knew what it meant for so many. "Whatever kid was in that room," Boozer said, "didn't have many days left." Boozer's 15-month-old son, Carmani, was just a few doors away, suffering from sickle-cell anemia. It's an inherited disease, one that causes a lack of healthy red blood cells. Instead, the misshapen cells — crescent moons, as the Mayo Clinic describes them — can't carry oxygen to the body as they should because they can get stuck and block blood flow. Living with the disease, Carmani would feel shooting pains throughout his body, a toddler short of breath and at jeopardy of stroke. A stem cell transplant could take care"
Bulls' Carlos Boozer sits out practice with toe injury
April 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Bulls forward Carlos Boozer did not practice Thursday, but his turf toe injury is improving and coach Tom Thibodeau is hopeful he will play in Game 1 of the Bulls' Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night at the United Center. Boozer suffered the injury in the second quarter of Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night. When the Bulls returned to the practice floor at the Berto Center on Thursday, he received treatment for the injury, lifted weights and watched practice. Asked if he expected Boozer to play, Thibodeau said, ''It's hard to say, but I'm thinking he will be able to. ''He's getting quite a bit of treatment. He's getting rest. Doing"
Carlos Boozer in doubt, but Bulls feel ready to take on Hawks
April 30
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Carlos Boozer is day-to-day, but Derrick Rose is ready to go and Joakim Noah is close to his usual 110 percent. All in all, not the worst of scenarios for the Bulls two days ­before facing the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday at the United Center. With Rose assumed to be healthy after he scored 25 points on 8-for-17 shooting with six assists in the clinching victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, the injury focus turned to Boozer, who suffered a turf-toe injury in Game 5 against the Pacers. Boozer's status for Game 1 against the Hawks is in doubt. He was only able to watch practice at the Berto Center on Friday after doing some weightlifting and getting"
Bulls' Gibson confident Boozer will be ready
April 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"The uncertain availability of Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer could mean extended minutes for Taj Gibson, and perhaps a starting assignment in the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday against the Atanta Hawks. "Knowing Carlos, I think he's going to play," Gibson said after practice Friday at the Berto Center. Boozer is dealing with a turf toe injury after a subpar opening-round series against Indiana. "I know he's going to play hard and he's going to play well. That's one thing about our team. We've got a lot of guys that's not going to slack off," Gibson said. "However many minutes I get, I'm just going to go in and do my job, play with a lot of energy, play with a"
Bulls expect Boozer to play in Game 1
April 30
Chicago Tribune
 
"The wait for an opponent is over. The wait for their starting power forward is not. As the Bulls began preparations Friday for their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Hawks, which begins Monday at the United Center, Carlos Boozer skipped practice because of his painful turf toe condition. Boozer, who suffered the injury to his right big toe in Tuesday's close-out victory over the Pacers, underwent an MRI exam that confirmed the original diagnosis. Turf toe occurs when there is a vigorous upward bending of the big toe, stretching and damaging the ligaments. With two practices and one shootaround remaining until Game 1 against the Hawks, the Bulls likely will take a"
Bulls need Boozer to get act together
April 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"After Carlos Boozer's introductory news conference ended last July, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau stood in a Berto Center corner and feigned mock exasperation. "You had to bring that up, didn't you?" Thibodeau said. The subject was Boozer's ridiculously dominant 35-point, 14-rebound, five-assist performance in the Jazz's Game 7 road victory over a Jeff Van Gundy/Thibodeau-coached Rockets team May 5, 2007. Boozer's Jazz marched on to an eventual Western Conference finals berth. The Rockets went home. "One of his great strengths in Utah was his ability to sprint up the floor," Thibodeau said last July. "Often, he would seal guys before the defense could get set and he would have a paint catch."