Nov. 14--The Bulls improved to a conference-best 7-2 and 5-0 on the road with their victory in Toronto. Here are three observations:
Will this be a repeat of the 2011-12 season for Derrick Rose?
The only people hoping it's not more than Rose and the Bulls are beat writers, who are so far down the food chain but nevertheless tired of writing about Rose's health. Especially because when he plays basketball, he still does so often at a breathtaking level physically. But already this season Rose has dealt with two sprained ankles and Thursday's cramping in his left hamstring. This recalls the lockout season. That's when Rose, as the league's reigning most valuable player, missed 27 games with a wide variety of ailments. And then, of course, his left ACL snapped in the first playoff game in April 2012, changing his career trajectory forever.
Rose downplayed this latest injury, but it's no wonder he's thinking about his long-term given all he has endured. Even if he expressed so in clumsy fashion.
"This just comes with the process in missing two years," Rose said.
Jimmy Butler bet on himself and early returns are cha-ching.
Butler turned down a multi-year salary averaging $11 million and will be a restricted free agent next summer. He already has said he plans to return to the Bulls. But keep up this play, and the Bulls will be matching a large offer sheet. Butler stuffed the box score with 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists and suffocated Raptors All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan into 3-for-17 shooting. That's big-time stuff.
"He's always been a pretty efficient scorer and the ability to draw fouls," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Last year, he didn't shoot the 3-pointer as well. What I like is he's taking the right shots."
Pau Gasol is playing lights out.
How's that for analysis? But Gasol's play---at both ends---has been so efficient that it is best addressed simply. Gasol is averaging 19.3 points and 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks and shooting 51.1 percent. What's Catalan for "wow"?
"You can't say enough about him, just the way he sets the tone," Thibodeau said. "He plays both sides of the ball, plays unselfishly. He sets great screens, passes the ball, gets deep post position. When the second defender comes, he hits the open man. Defensively, he communicates well, protects the rim, rebounds in traffic. He has been huge for us."
