Bulls Win; Rose Health Remains Thorny Issue

November 6, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Thursday thoughts (well, something akin to such things) while wondering whether Derrick Rose is getting all the injuries out of the way at the beginning of his career:

Ellie Gonsalves. Because we felt like running her photo.

* Still hobbled by sprained ankles, Rose had 13 points and seven assists in 31 minutes Wednesday at Milwaukee in a 95-86 victory vs. the Bucks. “Even if I make it through the season healthy, my first playoff game is going to be like, ‘OK, is he going to be healthy?'” Rose said after the game. Rose seems to view those who question his ability to be healthy as critics. You can be a casual observer — and not a critic — to wonder the same thing.

* As much as Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau cherishes victories, you’d think — even with center Joakim Noah out of the lineup again because of illness — the Bulls might have prevailed with Rose sitting out the game. We probably will repeat this mantra a few more times before the season is over: It’s more important to have your team healthy and reasonably well-rested for the postseason than it is to have homecourt advantage for the playoffs.

* Speaking of the postseason, the presumed Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers lost 102-100 to the visiting Utah Jazz. The Cavs are 1-3. LeBron James had 31 points in the loss. Meaning the Cavs’ only victory this season came in the Bulls’ home opener. Guessing the Cavs will win another game or two or more — possibly even before the end of the month. Checking the schedule to see when they next play the Bulls in the regular season.

* An anagram for Bulls power forward Pau Gasol is “gala opus.” Not sure whether that describes his performance vs. the Bucks (he had 22 points and a game-high 14 rebounds), but he has provided the Bulls with some frontcourt offense and defense they have been lacking.

* An anagram for Bulls power forward Taj Gibson is “jobs giant.” Well, he does tend to come up big whether it’s coming off the bench or starting. He did the latter with Noah out. Gibson led all scorers with 23 points. One of the keys to whatever success the Bulls might have this season.

Gia Marie will be on “Sports & Torts” at noon Central on Nov. 6 on Talkzone.com.

* If it’s Thursday (and the odds seem overwhelming that it is because yesterday was Wednesday — provided that today is Nov. 6, 2014 or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” co-hosted by David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. The highly acclaimed interview program (well, it is held in such regard in the Spada and Harris households as well as reportedly elsewhere) features two guests on this week’s show: Playboy’s November Playmate Gia Marie and former NFL defensive back Everson Walls. The 60-minute show also will be available later Thursday (and presumably for much, much longer) at the Talkzone.com web site.

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