Clipped!

It looked like it was time to finally get excited about the Chicago Bulls again after their record breaking road trip which included 5 straight road wins against winning teams (the first team in the NBA to accomplish that). But it all came crashing down last night as this was one of the worst displays of basketball that I've ever seen out of the Chicago Bulls. You can't pick out one player that had a good game. Luol Deng had an excellent first quarter but looked like a completely different player after. Derrick Rose started off the game shooting 2-12 before finishing the 3rd quarter strong. Kirk Hinrich is known for overdribbling but last night was the most I've ever seen him overdribble. Joakim Noah looked hurt out there only grabbing 6 rebounds and scoring 8 points. Brad Miller came off the bench to shoot 1-7 and only scored 3 points in 23 minutes. The Bulls combined for 19 turnovers which is completely unacceptable at home. This game almost felt like that disaster on December 8th against the New Jersey Nets where it felt like the Bulls were just getting dominated the whole game although they only lost that one by 2.

It's just one game but the Bulls still have plenty of glaring holes that they need to fix to ensure a playoff birth. As Derrick Rose goes, the Bulls go and last night proved this. Derrick had one of the worst games of his season last night and the Bulls suffered because of it. There are rumors that Ray Allen might be available in Boston. The Bulls need to get on the phone and offer up John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich in a deal for Allen. Not only does Allen fit with Derrick Rose like a glove and he has a big expiring contract but it will shed the Bulls of Hinrich's long-term contract and will get rid of the threat of John Salmons opting-in this off-season. If they can't grab Allen, I think the Bulls still need to find someone to take Hinrich off our hands. I know the Bulls have a nice record with Hinrich in the starting line-up and I know Hinrich is a nice player but he is not essential to our future and we need to find a way to get max cap space for a 2010 free agent. For as much praise as Kirk gets about his defense, he sure did get absolutely torched by Eric Gordon last night. It felt like Eric Gordon was not even guarded last night as he hit about 4 wide open three-pointers.

The Bulls have a quick turnaround tonight as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia. The Bulls did get some good news today as Allen Iverson will not play tonight because he is caring for his sick child. The thought of a back-to-back is not good for this Bulls team that has 3 banged-up big men in Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Brad Miller so I don't see the Bulls winning this one although they've proven to be a tough team to predict so far this season so who knows. This is why last night's game was so important because now it looks like the Bulls may go on a a losing streak with Philly tonight, at Atlanta on Friday, and home against the Heat on Saturday. The finish up the first half with a game in Indianapolis and a game at home against Orlando.

Prediction for tonight's game:

Bulls 93

76ers 101

I'll leave you with this. Taj Gibson crosses over Chris Kaman and then posterizises him. A little bit of a travel but still a nice play by the rookie: