Bulls Go to 6-0 on Road; Cubs Don’t Land Martin

November 18, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Random thoughts (as close as we come to thinking around here) while wondering how many starters the Chicago Bulls need to have sitting out for the Los Angeles Clippers to beat them in L.A.:

A photo of Kindly Myers for your perusal and/or to warm up the day.

* For Bulls fans east of the Rockies (as in mountains, not the Colorado baseball team), staying up late to watch their team was worth it. And for the Bulls fans at the Staples Center (from the sound of it, there were many), it must have been nice to witness the Bulls’ 105-89 victory. Even if Derrick Rose (hamstring) and Pau Gasol (calf strain) were in street clothes for the contest.

* For the record, the Bulls’ road record is 6-0. That’s the only undefeated road record in the NBA.

* It’s unclear whether the Bulls’ decision not to sign Jimmy Butler to a contract extension or whether it’s a sign of his maturity as a player that has him performing at an all-star level. Butler had 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds against the Clippers. And, yes, it’s too early to know whether his performance will remain at such heights for the entire season. But so far, each game enhances Butler’s chances for a lucrative contract after this season — whether from the Bulls or another team.

* Speaking of Bulls scoring 20 or more points against the Clippers, Taj Gibson had 20 as a starter in place of Gasol. More impressive than his points was the number of turnovers by Gibson: 0.

* Speaking of impressive Bulls performances, rookie Nikola Mirotic had 12 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. And zero turnovers.

* The Chicago Cubs lost out in trying to acquire free-agent catcher Russell Martin. If indeed the Cubs actually were among his legitimate suitors. Russell agreed to a five-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The duration of the contract might have been longer than the Cubs — or any other team — were willing to go for a 31-year-old. And the $82 million (that’s $16.4 million per season, if the ElliottHarris.com calculator is functioning properly) certainly would seem to be a deal-breaker.

* Meanwhile in a deal involving the Cubs’ National League Central rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals traded pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins to the Atlanta Braves for Gold Glove right fielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden. A friendly reminder to Cubs fans that it’s not how early in the offseason that a team makes a move that counts. It’s performance that matters. And if nothing else, Cubs fans are accustomed to waiting.

* Speaking of performance, based on Heyward’s past performance, the Cardinals — who won the NL Central in 2014 — have improved. The Cubs — who finished last in the NL Central in 2014 — have not. Unless, of course, all their bright prospects have done so in the offseason (no easy accomplishment). Which is not to say the Cubs won’t improve in the offseason. And on the bright (?) side, they couldn’t get much worse.

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