WBEZ | basketball

Beleaguered Bulls battle both the flu and the Nets

Fri, 03 May 2013 06:00:00 -0500

There were no vaccines strong enough to stop the Bulls from dropping Game 6 against the Brooklyn Nets 95-92. The Bulls didn’t get defeated by only the Nets, they were wiped out by the flu bug too. Luol Deng was sent home sick, while Taj Gibson and Nate Robinson (seen vomiting during the game) suffered on the court. And with Kirk Hinrich continuing to be sidelined with his calf bruise, it was a much-depleted Bulls team. Derrick Rose continues to watch the game on the bench in street clothes.

The Bulls were in the game and had opportunities to either tie or go ahead at various times late in the contest despite their setbacks.

The Nets flexed their offensive abilities and shot 57 percent and had a 60-54 lead going into the halftime. It looked like Brooklyn was having the type of game they enjoy playing.

What has been typical of this Bulls team, especially this Tom Thibodeau-coached club is that they don’t give up. They fought and clawed and did everything they could possibly do in the second half to make it the kind of game the Bulls prefer—a defensive struggle.

You would think without Deng and Hinrich the Bulls chances were impossible. Jimmy Butler played every minute of this game, scoring seventeen points with six assists and seven boards, and worked hard on defense too. Marco Belinelli played almost the same amount of time and played both ends of the court too. Filling in for Deng, Belinelli had a game high 22 points and seven assists. Joakim Noah also played huge minutes and was very active around the paint grabbing 15 rebounds, 9 of them on the offensive glass. The Bulls center also had 14 points in the losing effort. Nate Robinson was still able to pour in 18 points despite being ill. Boozer had another double-double, 14 points and 13 rebounds before he fouled out.

This was an opportunity to close out this best of seven game series, which has to be dissapointing for the team. They had a three games to one lead and now it is tied up with a final game seven on the road at the Barclays Center.

The big three for Brooklyn were able to establish their offense in the first half and struggled later when the Bulls tried to control the game with their defense and whatever energy they could muster. Deron Williams finished with 17 points and 11 assists, but he only had three points in the second half without Hinrich defending him.

Both Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson contributed with 17 points apiece and both had a similar scenario as Williams’ the majority of their scoring came in the first half. However, the Nets got two clutch free throws from Andray Blatche in the final nineteen seconds. Up until then, the Nets were having great difficulty at the line. The Bulls had one last attempt to knot up the game, but Marco Belinelli missed a three and Noah had a turnover and then could not control the tip of a jump ball when final horn sounded at the United Center. This could have been the final home game of this very difficult season.

Now they have to go to Brooklyn for this first round series finale and they will need every bit of energy and health to try to gut out a win in New York. The big question, which Bulls players will be able to return to play on Saturday, Luol Deng or Kirk Hinrich? If only Derrick Rose could suit up...

And IF (it is a very big if) the Bulls can pull out a win, they would travel to Miami to play the Heat on Monday. With the team and this season anything is possible.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

Chicago Bulls ready to cut down Nets

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:18:00 -0500

There’s no time to catch your breath after the thrilling triple overtime 142-134 win by the Chicago Bulls this weekend. The Bulls are in Brooklyn Monday night trying to close out the series. They now lead the Nets three games to one in this best of seven series.

It will not be easy. Then again, the Bulls have never had it easy this season.

The Bulls showed that despite injuries and not having their biggest star they have one intangible: heart.

Coming back from a 14 point deficit (with the crazy shooting of back-up point guard Nate Robinson) elevated the battered team.

Playoffs are not just X’s and O’s. The raw emotion from an overtime win may be a catalyst Monday.

But the Bulls still have to overcome injuries, and on Saturday, minutes mounted up on already aching players.

Joakim Noah, with his sore foot, went way over his allotted time. He played 40 minutes even though the team’s medical staff recommended a limit of 25.

Luol Deng was hobbled after Saturday’s victory too. He has been active on defense and come up with a big shot here and there. There is little doubt that Deng will do everything he can to be on the court.

The biggest concern is for Kirk Hinrich. He suffered a deep thigh bruise and may not get to play. Hinrich played a team high of 59 minutes in the last game. His steady hand running the offense and gritty perimeter defense is a big reason the Bulls have an advantage in this series. If he is unable to start, that job will go to Nate Robinson.

Robinson can light up the scoreboard, but doesn't match Hinrich on defense. This void would give the Nets' Deron Williams more opportunities.

There is one more advantage the Bulls have over Brooklyn: coach Tom Thibodeau.

The Bulls coach has this team well prepared and they trust him. Somehow you don’t get that feeling with the Net’s P.J. Carlesimo. The interim Brooklyn coach doesn't look in sync with his team. They have had clear advantages and still find themselves one game away from elimination.

Thibodeau made the choice to keep ineffective veteran Richard Hamilton on the bench Saturday. We’ll see if that changes with the Hinrich injury.

If Marquis Teague sees playing time, Williams and Nets back-up C.J. Watson will eat the Bulls rookie alive. Thibodeau might have to use Jimmy Butler to defend Williams.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks and a spicy ex-Sox player in Chicago

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Two Brooklyn natives on the Bulls team look forward to opening the postseason with the Nets on Saturday night.

Taj Gibson said he will be all business going home and is still trying to get used to the brace on his ailing knee. At Friday’s practice, Noah admitted a reoccurrence of his foot injury and said he will not start and is likely unable to play. Now the work load at center will fall on Nazr Mohammed.

Coach Tom Thibodeau will almost have a full roster when this banged up crew opens the playoffs. Although the door hasn't been closed, Derrick Rose is still not expected to play.

With or without Rose, the Bulls have reasonable expectations to beat the Nets. They won three of the four regular season meetings. Noah and Gibson will be important to handle Nets center Brook Lopez.

The regular season and all the Bulls injuries allowed second year player Jimmy Butler to show his abilities. He has taken advantage of the opportunities and has given the Bulls a great option on the court. Butler is expected to continue as the team’s starting two-guard. The Bulls offense (which can be dreadful) will likely run through Carlos Boozer. He needs to get touches early and often to get his game going.

Bears meet and greet new coach

The Bears new head man Marc Trestman just finished three days of voluntary workouts. It was fast paced, with over 200 plays/concepts practiced. It was interesting watching Devin Hester only doing special team work, after yesterday’s practice he seemed to be fine with his concentrated role.

In six days, the NFL draft will begin and after a few days the Bears GM Phil Emery will collect some new players to add to the mix. This summer training camp will be extremely competitive for several starting jobs. Trestman would like the jobs locked when they break camp. Somehow I get the feeling there will be large, curious crowds this summer down in Bourbonnais.

Last night the new Bears coach found out he will make his NFL coaching debut September 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field. The Bears will have four prime time games and they end the regular season at home on December 29 against Green Bay. It has been nine years since the Bears have had such a transformation as a team. Every move they make and every game they play will be highly scrutinized.

Double feature for Blackhawks

Blackhawks fans have a double treat this weekend: Friday they host Nashville and Saturday face Phoenix at the United Center. With home ice advantage for the postseason in their back pocket, the Blackhawks can use these final games to tune-up for the playoffs.

What a pleasant dilemma for coach Joel Quenneville in net: Corey Crawford or Ray Emery? Both have been terrific this season and both are deserving of their starts, but the playoffs are usually where a coach goes with just one. Who would question what Coach Q has done this season? He has changed lines and mixed younger players with the veterans. There is a very strong belief that this team is on a course to hoist the Stanley Cup in June.

That’s right, June. Thanks to the lock out the hockey finale will be this summer in the middle of baseball season. Maybe not a bad idea after all.

Sox and Cubs

It has been a rough few weeks for baseball with rough weather and small crowds. But leave it to former White Sox player A.J. Pierzynski to make things lively. He returned to Chicago at Wrigley Field to face the Cubs this week.

Before the series opener, the Texas Ranger catcher sat down with the media and immediately noticed a change on a building on Sheffield: the Latin sign that says “Eamus Catuli” is back.

“It was my favorite sign. I am glad they put it back,” he said with his Dennis the Menace look.

He loved reminding the media crowd that it’s been 104 years since the Cubs won a World Series. The Cubs-Sox series won’t be the same without him.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

The journey of NBA nomad Malcolm Thomas

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:00:00 -0500

NBA fans know the pecking order of players. First you have your stars, mixed with the starters and then the bench players. There is one other type of player: the nomads. These are the players that bounce around from team to team, level to level, trying to make a NBA roster.

Due to injuries on the Bulls team, they have had to dig deep to fill the roster. Early this season, the Bulls picked up Daequan Cook. He stayed. Later it was Lou Amundsen, but he was replaced by Malcolm Thomas. The 24-year-old Thomas signed a ten-day contract March 19 that was extended for the remainder of the season.

Two years ago, Thomas was coming off a pretty good collegiate career with San Diego State University. The 6-foot-8-inch forward thought the success he had under coach Steve Fisher and his NBA workouts would give him a shot in the NBA. On draft night in 2011, Thomas gathered his friends and family to watch the two rounds of selections. Thomas did not hear his name and hung his head in disappointment. The most poignant aspect of the night came from his daughter Mikeala. The 3-year-old comforted him with a hug. At that moment, he decided to do anything to make a living playing professional ball.

Since going undrafted, he spent the last two years bouncing from the Developmental League, a short stint with San Antonio and overseas ball. It is a life of living out of suitcases, looking for opportunities to play a game you love and provide for a little girl that is miles away and communicates through Skype.

This year he has had quite the journey: he was on the Bulls summer league team, started the season with the LA D-Fenders of the Developmental League, went to Israel and played there for four months, then returned to the D-Fenders.

The Golden State Warriors brought him on board for a ten day contract. As that deal expired he was in New Orleans when the phone rang. It was the Bulls hoping to add him to the roster.

“I got nervous, I didn’t know what to expect,” Thomas said. “I knew I would work hard.”

This summer when he played for the Bulls, Thomas developed a rapport with Jimmy Butler. He said their bond has helped him adapt to playing for head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Thomas promises he will bring a lot of energy to his play and is very aware at what is important: defense. Tuesday he was pressed into action and played 26 minutes, scored six points, grabbed eight rebounds and had two assists. Those are respectable numbers for a player who has bounced around and has had very little time in the NBA.

At this point there is no clear path for Thomas’s future here or elsewhere in the NBA. He said he enjoyed his time in Israel and would love to return as a tourist. His goal is to stay with the Bulls. He will have to make every moment count on the court. Every game is a tryout when you are a basketball nomad.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame.

Hoops, hockey and new Bears

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 06:00:00 -0500

It was oh-so close for the only Illinois men’s team in the NCAA tourney last night. The #7 Fighting Illini was eliminated by #2 University of Miami 63-59 in their NCAA tournament game Sunday night. With a 55-54 Illinois lead with 1:24 left, Hurricane guard Shane Larkin, hit a three pointer that gave Miami the lead for good. Larkin, son of baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, originally committed to DePaul. Illini senior guard Brandon Paul finished his career with a team-high 18 points.

It was one and done for DePaul’s women in the NCAA tournament last night. The 10^th seed Lady Demons lost 73-56 to #7 Oklahoma State in Durham, North Carolina.

Every time you feel like writing the Bulls off, especially with all the injuries, they make a comeback. It almost has the feel of a boxer on its last legs, bloodied and tired but not going down. On Saturday, they took down the Eastern Conference #2 seed Indiana 87-84 at the United Center. It was the Bulls first win against the Pacers this year. Besides Derrick Rose and Richard Hamilton sitting out Joakim Noah was missing this weekend with his sore foot.

On Sunday, the Bulls beat the Wolves in Minnesota 104-97, Marco Bellini joined the injured group with a strained abdomen. Jimmy Butler got the start for Bellini against the Wolves

How the Bulls were able to come out ahead with all the injuries is a testament to their dogged efforts to try to stay relevant. Kirk Hinrich is back, with limited minutes, and Taj Gibson is also playing as he nurses his sore knee. It just seemed like the Bulls were going to go down for the count.

They’ll have to keep on fighting, especially this week. After a two-day rest, the NBA’s heavyweight champion Miami Heat will be in town. They have only won 26 straight games, and if Miami wins tonight in Orlando, the Bulls will be next up to try to stop that streak. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the challenger could knock them out, despite a depleted roster? What a circus it is going to be at the United Center. The only thing that would amp it up more is a Derrick Rose return. Expect those rumors to make the rounds.

Before the Heat steamroll into the UC, the ice will the stage tonight and tomorrow for the Blackhawks. The defending champion LA Kings are in town for the Hawks after a three-day rest. Marion Hossa remains sidelined.

After yesterday’s practice, players savored the rest. Viktor Stalberg said it was nice to not think about hockey, and Nick Leddy is enjoying a visitor, his mom. Leddy is getting some home cooking with salmon as his favorite main course. There will be plenty of home cooking for the Hawks, since they play ten of their next fourteen at the United Center.

One week from today, we can add another to the sports menu...Baseball's Opening Day. Now if only the weather will cooperate.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

Loyola makes basketball history, part two

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:00:00 -0500

Faced with a governor trying to stop them from playing Loyola, the Mississippi State basketball team did the honorable thing—they snuck out of the state. When the two teams faced off, security was tight. The game went off without a hitch. Loyola came from behind to win, 61-51.

Loyola’s next game was more relaxed, with no off-court drama. They blew past Illinois, 79-64.

Next the Ramblers moved to Louisville for the Final Four. Their opening opponent was Duke, another all-white team from the South, ranked #2 in the nation. Again Loyola won easily, 94-75.

Now it was Saturday, March 23, 1963. Loyola was set to meet the Cincinnati Bearcats for the NCAA championship. It was a dream match-up—college basketball’s top offense versus college basketball’s toughest defense. And few people gave Loyola a chance.

Cincinnati had won the last two NCAA tournaments. They were trying to become the first college in history to post a three-peat. The current team had an aura of invincibility. Some bookies were listing the Bearcats as 25-to-1 favorites.

Loyola looked nervous in the first half, missing 13 of their first 14 shots. Harkness was totally shut out. Luckily for the Ramblers, Cincinnati was having problems, too. The half ended with Cincinnati on top, but only by 29-21.

Cincinnati came out hard in the second half, widening their lead to 45-30. However, three players were in foul trouble. With nearly 15 minutes left, the Cincinnati coach decided to play safe and put on a stall. In 1963 there was no shot-clock.

Loyola began to chip away at the lead. Harkness finally came to life, scored a basket, then stole the ball and followed up with another one. Before Cincinnati realized what was happening, Loyola had closed to within 3 points.

By now most of the 20,000 fans in the stands were cheering for underdog Loyola. With 12 seconds left, Loyola still trailed 54-52. Then Hunter grabbed a rebound, passed it to Miller, who passed it to Harkness—who put in a 12-footer. Regulation time ended with the score tied.

Overtime! The teams traded points back and forth. As the clock wound down with the score 58-58, now it was Loyola’s turn to stall, playing for the last shot. In the final seconds, Hunter shot and missed. But Rouse got the ball and made the basket, just beating the buzzer. Loyola-60, Cincinnati-58.

"The greatest comeback in basketball history," one writer called it. Loyola had become the first Illinois school to win an NCAA Division I basketball championship. A half-century later, it’s still the only one.

There is a local post-script. The Loyola-Cincinnati game had gone out live over the radio. But the TV broadcast back to Chicago was on tape-delay. So throughout the city, many crafty radio listeners used their knowledge of Loyola’s amazing comeback to clean up on bar-room bets.

This last story may be only an urban legend. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Loyola makes basketball history, part one

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 05:00:00 -0500

With the NCAA Basketball Tournament on the horizon, we look back fifty years at the remarkable--and historic--Loyola University basketball team of 1963.

The Ramblers were coached by George Ireland, then in his twelfth season at the post. Ireland’s teams played an aggressive, high-speed game that was labeled “organized confusion.” Loyola led the nation in scoring during the 1961-62 season, and was doing it again in 1962-63.

Jerry Harkness, an All-American forward, was team captain. The rest of the starting lineup included Vic Rouse at the other forward, Ron Miller at guard, John Egan at guard, and Les Hunter at center.

Egan was the only starter from Chicago. He was also the only starter who was white. That was notable in 1963.

Less than ten years had passed since the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Jim Crow wasn’t yet dead. Though some stellar African-American players had already emerged, there was an unwritten rule for college basketball teams then—you played only two blacks at home, and only one on the road.

Ireland delighted in ignoring the custom. He recruited the best players he could, and used them.

There were problems, of course.

“We would play games where guys from the other team were actually punching us on [the] court,” Hunter remembered.

When the Ramblers went on the road, they endured vicious taunting from opposing fans. In a few cities, the black players were banned from the “white” hotels.

During a game against Wyoming, Egan fouled out. Pablo Robertson replaced him. It was the first time a major college put an all-black team on the court.

Loyola won its first 21 games in a row, ranking #2 in the nation. Bowling Green finally snapped the streak with a decisive victory on its home court. The Ramblers bounced back and won three in a row before dropping their regular season finale to Wichita State.

That loss didn’t matter. With a 24-2 record and #5 ranking, Loyola was in the NCAA Tournament.

In the opening game the Ramblers overwhelmed Tennessee Tech, 111-42. The second round was scheduled for East Lansing, Michigan. Sixth-ranked Mississippi State was supposed to be Loyola’s opponent.

Gov. Ross Barnett of Mississippi didn’t like that. The year before he’d tried to keep African-American student James Meredith out of the University of Mississippi. Barnett had lost that battle—the federal government had sent in troops to put down riots, and Meredith had enrolled.

Now the Mississippi State team wanted to play that “black team” Loyola. The governor wouldn’t allow it. He went to a friendly local court and got an order prohibiting his team from competing in the NCAA Tournament.

To be continued tomorrow...

Will there be more Bulls finalists for the Hall of Fame?

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0600

Will there be more Chicago Bulls connections this weekend when the Naismith 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame finalists are revealed during All-Star weekend? The class of inductees will be announced during the NCAA Final Four weekend.

This year there are four on the list with Chicago ties. Do they deserve it? Let's take a closer look at each contender.

John "Red" Kerr

Younger Bulls fans think of the late John Kerr and his broadcasting days with the team. His passion for the team was infectious and endeared him to the local listeners on radio and television. His credentials on the court and the sidelines should give him a place in the Hall.

This Chicago native began his career at Tilden High School, then played at the University of Illinois. With the Illini, his team won the 1952 Big Ten Championship and made the NCAA Final Four. Kerr was named to the school's "All-Century Team" in 2004.

His NBA career began in 1954, he was the first selection (sixth overall) of the Syracuse Nationals. His team would win the NBA title that year. Kerr's NBA career took him to Philadelphia and Baltimore. In 1966, he was taken in the expansion draft to a new franchise: the Chicago Bulls. Instead of playing for his hometown team he would become its very first coach. Here is where John Kerr has a distinct NBA historical note: he is the only coach in the league to ever take a first year franchise (1966-67) to the playoffs. He was named "Coach of the Year" for the feat.

Jon Bach

Chicagoans remember him as an integral member of the Bulls coaching staff during championship seasons. There is much, much more to Bach's career. He has lived basketball his whole life and at the age of 88, still does as a Chicago resident.

The Brooklyn native played guard in college at Fordham and Brown. He had a short tenure in the NBA and would make his name as a coach at Fordham and Penn State. Bach was the Golden State head coach from 1983-1986. After that stint he would join Doug Collins' staff with the Bulls.

He instilled the “Doberman defense” with the team, making it one of the best in the NBA. He left the Bulls and continued as an assistant with Charlotte, Detroit and Washington. He returned to the Bulls and finished his NBA career here in 2006. However, Bach continues to be active and assists with local high schools. There is no question he belongs in the Hall.

Jerry Krause

This may be the most unpopular candidate on the ballot. But the Hall is for accomplishments for the sport, not off the court.

My thoughts about Krause center on his role as the Bulls General Manager of a team that won six championships. For full disclosure, we did not get along. Heck, he didn't get along was most people.

Players, coaches, staff and the media were always the enemy. To this day, when he comes to scout baseball games he bristles when you try to talk to him. However, Krause does deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame for the teams he built around the best player ever to lace up and play in the NBA: Michael Jordan.

He also figured out the one coach who could harness and co-exist with Jordan: Phil Jackson. The Bulls fired Doug Collins, a popular coach, and Jackson was given the job. He was able to unload players and collected draft picks that brought in the pieces to surround Jordan.

On draft day in 1987, he acquired Scottie Pippen in a deal and took Horace Grant in the first round (both starters). After several tries, he found the club’s starting point guard in a deal with San Antonio for John Paxson. His first top draft pick, Charles Oakley was swapped for New York’s veteran center Bill Cartwright.

Those pieces surrounded Jordan and brought titles to Chicago. There are other players he put on the roster: BJ Armstrong, Scott Williams (undrafted), Stacey King, Dennis Hopson, Craig Hodges and a host of others that would be part of history. (Those players only account for the first three Championships.)

When Michael returned to the Bulls, Krause made a bold move that would insure more titles. He traded Will Perdue to San Antonio for Dennis Rodman. Rodman was a player that Bulls players and fans despised when he was a Piston. It worked. He also added Ron Harper, Luc Longley, Bill Wennington and Steve Kerr.

What goes against Krause’s Hall of Fame candidacy is the perception that he ended the title run by breaking up the team. He also failed during the post-Jordan era. There is a huge anti-Krause sentiment fueled by Jordan.

Jerry Reinsdorf

The Bulls owner is on the ballot for the first time.

He purchased the team in 1985 and already had the Crown Jewel of the NBA in Jordan. He has been a model of consistency with his basketball franchise. They are now the third most valuable team in the league at an estimated $800 million.

Reinsdorf is second to LA Lakers owner Jerry Buss with his six Championships. (Buss has ten.) With Blackhawks ownership, Reinsdorf was able to have a new stadium built. Even during the years after MJ retired and the team was dismantlesd the Bulls continued to sell out. Fans may not think of Jerry Reinsdorf as Hall of Fame material but the league will strongly consider him. Maybe not this year, but eventually.

A missive to Derrick Rose about his team

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:00:00 -0600

Dear Derrick,

Tonight is game 41 of the Bulls schedule, exactly half way through the season. You are missed and everyone can't wait for your return (soon, right?). Despite many skeptics, you will be coming back to a team that has fared pretty well so far.

Here is why they are 24-16 and in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference:

- The front court has three players that are playing at All-Star capability. Last year's All-Star, Luol Deng, has been playing a ton of minutes (not surprising) and does all the little things: defending the top scorers, forcing turnovers and averaging 17 points a game. Deng injured his hamstring and has been out for two games. Joakim Noah has been the engine of this team, he should get a spot on the All-Star team (some bloggers are even promoting it). Noah is playing big time minutes. He has added offense to a game that has been good on defense. His passes and free throw shooting have improved. Both Noah and Carlos Boozer are the only two teammates in the NBA that are averaging double-digits in points and rebounds for the season. Boozer, in fact, leads the Eastern Conference with 23 double-double games. The surge for the former All-Star Boozer has been what the front office has been waiting for since he signed. He even took Eastern Conference "Player of the Week" honors just the other day.

-Your position at point guard has been a bit of a yo-yo, no one can replace you, and it is a matter of just filling the spot until your much anticipated return. The effort of Kirk Hinrich is there; unfortunately his body has been racked with injuries.When he does play, Hinrich contributes in defense and running the offense. He has been limited in scoring and that is where first year Bull Nate Robinson picks up some of the slack. Robinson is a loose cannon and can be a spark or an overloaded circuit. If the Bulls are down, Nate can help with some instant offense. But there are times when he plays out of control or doesn't get into the offense fast enough. Rookie Marquis Teague, 19, has a long way to go. There were some moments where he played well with his minutes. Lately, he has been lost on defense and teams have taken advantage of that weakness.

-Your running partner in the starting backcourt, Richard Hamilton, has had difficulty with injuries again. This time it's his foot, he has missed time with fasciitis. Hamilton remains an effective player with the "pick and roll" during the precious minutes on the court.

-Of course when you return Derrick, the bench has been revamped, except for Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler. Gibson inked a new contract and it seemed to affect his play. Now he seems to be back on track. Last season Taj and Omer Asik were such a great front court tandem off the bench. Asik is playing well as a starting center for Houston. New Bulls center Nazr Mohammed has not had an impact and has been used sparingly off the bench. Butler has developed more this season, last year he was hampered because of the NBA lock-out. This summer he was able to work out with the team, played in the summer league and had the benefit of a full training camp. Coach Thibodeau now trusts Butler with solid minutes off the bench, especially on defense. While Luol Deng nurses a sore hamstring, Butler has been the starting small forward and has been productive. He did an outstanding job on Kobe Bryant. His teammates called him the "Kobe Stopper" in the locker room. Marco Belinelli found it hard at first to fit the “Thibs” system (defense will get you on the court). He has improved. Daequan Cook recently joined the team after being released by Houston and no one seems to know exactly why Vladimir Radmanovic is even wearing a Bulls jersey.

-There are a few puzzling problems for this Bulls team. There have been some bad losses: Charlotte, Phoenix and twice to Milwaukee at home. Yet on the road it has been a different story: beating Miami, New York and Boston.

-Tom Thibodeau is coaching his butt off and was rewarded with a four year contract extension. His philosophy of hard work and a tenacious defense is still his trademark. Some of the new players are slowly but surely buying into this system.

-There is no doubt that your coach and your teammates can’t wait to see you back on the floor. Thibodeau has indicated that you have started practicing with some contact. That could mean only one thing, Derrick: you are nearing a time to play for real. Your work outs before games on the court have been dialed up. The intensity is starting to appear on your face. The fans are stacked up near the court as you and the Bulls coaching staff work on your shooting. When you do comeback, your minutes will be limited. There will be an adjustment period to get used to the front court that has been carrying the load. Everyone has been patient, but now they can’t wait for the Rose to bloom.

Sincerely,

A more than a casual observer

P.S. It was nice seeing you greet your teammates at the locker room door after the win against the Lakers on Monday. The way you ran down the hallway to celebrate was pretty impressive.

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame

Playing hoops with the President

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:00:00 -0600

It was not an ordinary pick-up game. There was a star bigger than any player former Bulls guard Randy Brown had met with on the court. Bigger than his former teammate Michael Jordan. Another former teammate, Scottie Pippen, was there. But the spotlight was on the President.

It was a day Brown will remember for the rest of his life. Brown knew President Barack Obama and had played basketball with him before. However, this day was different. It was Election Day.

Brown played 12 years in the NBA and from 1995-2000 he was a member of the Chicago Bulls. He was part of three NBA titles with the Bulls. He became aquainted with Obama while playing here when Obama was a Illinois state senator. They played pick-up games at the East Bank Club during those days. The President had the same modus operandi for Election Day in 2008, but the former Bull was in California and not part of the action that day.

When Brown and I talked about the 2012 Election Day game, he still seemed astonished by the magnitude of the moment. The President’s close friend and confidante Marty Nesbitt, initiated the contact through another former NBA player and it was all supposed to be done under secrecy.

“They didn’t want the crowds around the gym," Brown said. "We were told to keep it a secret. I tried my best.”

He did have to spill to a few people, mainly his bosses. Brown works for the Bulls as an assistant to General Manager Gar Forman. He told Forman and Bull's President John Paxson so he could get permission to leave the office. There was one more person he couldn’t keep the secret from, his wife Tamara. They did manage to keep it from their children. After the fact, when they found out that their dad had participated in this game with the President, Brown was “cool” again to his children.

As to the actual action, Brown wasn’t figuring it was going to be much of a contest, just a little “hoop” play.

It was four-twelve minute quarters, with three referees and fouls and free throws.

“It was like a real game,” Brown said.

There were at least 20 participants, including staff members, Reggie Love, John Rogers, former Bull Jeff Sanders and Arne Duncan. Nesbitt was the coach for the team that included Brown and Pippen. The President’s team was coached by his brother-in-law and Oregon State coach Craig Robinson.

Father time may be catching up to this group, but Brown said it was competitive and the President can still shoot. Maybe the two-and-a-half hour game was an omen. The President’s team pulled out the win.

“He was calm, laid back and casual,” Brown said about Obama. “He just wanted to go out and have fun.”

Randy Brown wasn’t a star in the NBA; he was a role player from the West side of Chicago.

When I asked him what this pick-up game meant to him in regards to his basketball career, Brown hoped his former Bulls teammates won’t mind his sentiments.

“My first NBA Championship in my hometown was a dream come true," Brown said. "I got to play with the President of the United States of America. It is right up there.”

Follow Cheryl on Twitter @CRayeStout and Facebook Cheryl Raye Stout #AtTheGame.