Bulls Impress in Win; Bears Depress in General

December 13, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

The great thing about this job (or whatever you care to call what your humble correspondent does here) is the ability to cover multiple events without leaving the comfort of the corporate headquarters (and, yes, that sometimes means the sofa). And so it was Friday with the Chicago Bears holding an afternoon press conference (conferences actually) and the Bulls playing an evening game that started an hour earlier than usual because of television.

Video below of Playboy’s Ivy Ferguson. For those who care (even for those who do not).

* For those out there in cyberspace of short attention span (and aren’t we all or at least most of us?), a capsule summary: Bulls impress; Bears depress. You expected otherwise?

* The Bulls defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 115-106. Meaning fans at the United Center could depart with the knowledge they could receive a free Big Mac or something for the Bulls’ effort (although something says Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau might think there should be no prize when his team gives up 100 or more points).

* Derrick Rose had a season-high 31 points in 32 minutes on 14-of-24 shooting from the field (0-for-2 three-pointers). And that wasn’t even the best shooting by a Bulls guard. Aaron Brooks came off the bench and had 17 points in 17 minutes with 8-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-2 three-pointers.

* Speaking of the Bulls bench, Nikola Mirotic had 15 points (as many as the Blazers’ bench combined) in 19 minutes.

* Speaking of Rose, there are those who say his performance shows he is back to the MVP caliber player he once was before injuries. Can we wait until after the Bulls play Sunday at Miami and Monday at Atlanta before affirming that in concrete and/or magic marker?

* Joakim Noah sat out the game because of injury. Starting in place of Noah, Taj Gibson had 12 points and 10 rebounds in a game-high 45 minutes. Pau Gasol had 13 points and 10 rebounds in extending his streak of double-doubles to eight games in a row and 14 for the season.

* As impressive as Rose was, Portland’s Damian Lilliard had 35 points on 13-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-11 from three-point range. LaMarcus Aldridge, who had 21 first-quarter points, also finished with 35.

* Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is nine points from surpassing Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. Bryant scored 22 in a 112-110 victory Friday night at San Antonio. An informal poll at any Bulls home game (with the possible exception when they play the Lakers) will show folks inside the United Center — OK, and outside, too — will show 99 percent favor Jordan over Bryant. And, yes, that’s a number that the statistical-analysis department around here plucked from thin air (although there might have been some thick air involved as well). Something says the actual number could be greater than that.

Don Bersano of Bersano Photography came up with this. An apology might be in order — to the monkeys.

* As for the Bears, they trotted out coach Marc Trestman, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte in the wake of the news that Kromer had been an anonymous source to NFL Network for critical comments about Cutler. It was not exactly compelling TV viewing.

* Cutler received praise from some folks for conducting himself in a restrained manner. Seriously? What was he supposed to do? Jump up and down and hold his breath till he turned blue? When your quarterback’s best work is at press conferences and not on the field, that’s generally not a good sign.

* With Kromer having apologized, when is defensive coordinator Mel Tucker going to apologize to the offense, too?

* Did I miss Bears general manager Phil Emery’s press conference where he takes responsibility for any of their mess and dismisses someone(s)?

* It’s an unofficial stat, but the Bears seem to believe they’re among the NFL’s leaders in “good practices” by the offense. Defense, too, while you’re at it. It’s those pesky games that are the problem.

* If the media really want change, they should demand Kromer stays, Trestman stays and Cutler stays with the Bears. Otherwise there’s no chance of anyone departing. And while they’re at it, the media also should demand the Bears keep Emery and the McCaskey family never sell the team.

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