Bulls finally get around to beating Pacers
By Kent McDill
With their 110-89 victory over the Indiana Pacers Saturday, the Bulls raised their record to 33-14, which just happens to be the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Bet you didn't see that coming back in October, did you?
I'm not sure what it means, but I know the Bulls trail only the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference with less than half a season remaining. Presumably, a higher seed will make for an easier first-round matchup although right now they are either Charlotte or Philadelphia, and they have lost to both of those teams this season (Charlotte twice).
But let's celebrate this high mark for a few days because it could slip away next week when the Bulls take off for a two-week trip west. They play at the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State, Portland, Utah and New Orleans, and might reasonably hope for a 2-3 trip with a 3-2 slate being very very good. The Bulls actually play 11 of their next 14 on the road. They have created their current record on the strength of two months of home cooking. Still, the Bulls showed in November they are not afraid to play on the road. They might survive this stretch, and when the schedule evens out at the end of February they are expecting Joakim Noah back from his hand injury.
Against the Pacers Saturday, it was a relatively boring game until Derrick Rose got serious. He hit a three-pointer to end the third quarter and give the Bulls a five-point lead, then he made the first two baskets of the fourth quarter to spread the lead and the Bulls were soon playing with a double-digit lead.
Carlos Boozer finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, his third double-double in four games since returning from his sprained ankle. Rose had 20 points and seven assists and Luol Deng had 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists in another hardly noticed terrific effort.
Now the bad news. Taj Gibson suffered a twisted ankle in the fourth quarter as he stepped on teammate Ronnie Brewer's foot and turned the foot. His status will be updated Monday. With James Johnson sent down to the developmental league, the Bulls may be turning to Brian Scalabrine for assistance inside. Not that that's a bad thing.
HERO: Derrick rose has "hero'' written all over him, don't you think?
By Kent McDill
With their 110-89 victory over the Indiana Pacers Saturday, the Bulls raised their record to 33-14, which just happens to be the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. Bet you didn't see that coming back in October, did you?
I'm not sure what it means, but I know the Bulls trail only the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference with less than half a season remaining. Presumably, a higher seed will make for an easier first-round matchup although right now they are either Charlotte or Philadelphia, and they have lost to both of those teams this season (Charlotte twice).
But let's celebrate this high mark for a few days because it could slip away next week when the Bulls take off for a two-week trip west. They play at the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State, Portland, Utah and New Orleans, and might reasonably hope for a 2-3 trip with a 3-2 slate being very very good. The Bulls actually play 11 of their next 14 on the road. They have created their current record on the strength of two months of home cooking. Still, the Bulls showed in November they are not afraid to play on the road. They might survive this stretch, and when the schedule evens out at the end of February they are expecting Joakim Noah back from his hand injury.
Against the Pacers Saturday, it was a relatively boring game until Derrick Rose got serious. He hit a three-pointer to end the third quarter and give the Bulls a five-point lead, then he made the first two baskets of the fourth quarter to spread the lead and the Bulls were soon playing with a double-digit lead.
Carlos Boozer finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, his third double-double in four games since returning from his sprained ankle. Rose had 20 points and seven assists and Luol Deng had 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists in another hardly noticed terrific effort.
Now the bad news. Taj Gibson suffered a twisted ankle in the fourth quarter as he stepped on teammate Ronnie Brewer's foot and turned the foot. His status will be updated Monday. With James Johnson sent down to the developmental league, the Bulls may be turning to Brian Scalabrine for assistance inside. Not that that's a bad thing.
HERO: Derrick rose has "hero'' written all over him, don't you think?
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