Bulls 13-2 in Last 15 After Launching Rockets

January 6, 2015 @ admin → No Comments

Random thoughts (or as close as we come to such things around here) while wondering whether a Chicago Bulls home victory vs. a good Western Conference team (Houston on Monday) means they are about to lose to a bad one (Utah on Wednesday):

Video below of Playboy’s January Playmate Brittny Ward. Credit: Josh Ryan

* Speaking of the Bulls’ 114-105 victory vs. the Rockets, Pau Gasol continued his impressive season with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Jimmy Butler added 22 and Derrick Rose 19 points and nine assists. Nikola Mirotic had 17 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Rose (6-of-17 from the field) did go 6-of-6 from the foul line, as he appeared to make more of an effort to drive to the basket (as some observers had suggested — not that one needed to be a rocket scientist or basketball coach to make that observation).

* Speaking of Mirotic, he won the NBA rookie of the month honors for December. If the Bulls’ recent success continues (victories in 13 of their last 15 games), Mirotic would seem a likely candidate for rookie of the year. And he also ought to receive an assist if Tom Thibodeau garners sufficient support to be coach of the year.

* The Bulls (25-10) have won 13 of their last 15. Not that anyone should expect that pace to continue, but the Bulls — with all the important players healthy — just might make a run deep into the postseason. Think the NBA would like to see a Golden State-Chicago NBA Finals? Check back in June to see if that happens.

* Is it too early to suggest the Bulls trade away their 2015 draft picks because Doug McDermott is likely to be a non-factor this season (because of injury, lack of performance, the emergence of Mirotic, etc.) and might be better than anyone they would be picking in the 215 draft?

* Meanwhile, in the Bears’ wonderful world of finding a general manager and coach, the most interesting news — for some of us — is former Bears coach Marc Trestman reportedly has interviewed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about their opening for an offensive coordinator. He would be reunited with quarterback Josh McCown, who enjoyed success under Trestman with the 2013 Bears. And, yes, Trestman would be joining the staff of former Bears coach Lovie Smith. It’s unclear whether having two former Bears coaches on the same staff is a good idea. But, hey, if you’re Tampa Bay and you recently completed a 2-14 season (tied with Tennessee for worst in the NFL in 2014), why not give it a try?

* Today is the day that the Baseball Hall of Fame announces its inductees for 2015. Be prepared for all the outrage over who didn’t make it to Cooperstown. And statistics to back up the outrage. Even if some of us don’t understand some of these 21st century stats.

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