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In 2007 both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined forces with Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics, and what seemed to be a simple move to make their team stronger, the Celtics dramatically changed the NBA.  The Boston Celtics had arguably created the best starting line-up in the NBA, since the 1998 Bulls (remember this includes Rondo and Perkins) and the way they did it was like never before.

Most teams before had one or two strong players, and one of these was generally because one was drafted into the mix, like that of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Lebron James in Cleveland, but now a team was able to create its own all-star team, and they made it look easy.  The Boston Celtics went on to win the NBA title that year, and while they didn’t create any sort of legendary dynasty, like the Bulls in the 1990’s, they helped change the way teams went about creating their rosters.

Today we see teams like the Heat with Dwayne wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh, a line-up that is 3/5 the way to an eastern Conference All-Star game, and one that if I mentioned seven years ago, people would of laughed.  As the 2012 NBA Draft nears we see more an more teams then ever before making moves and trades in hope to build their very own “super-team”, whether it be the Nets trying to lure Dwight Howard along side Deron Williams, or the Knicks trying to get Steve Nash to an already failed attempt as a super team.

There is suddenly this perspective that the only way to win an NBA Championship is to create their very own All-Star team, which I feel in a lot of ways kind of ruins the NBA, its now like the ideas of role players is a  distant memory from the past, and realistically there are only a select few teams with that kind of money to create these teams.  Its no longer about a players skill and a teams chemistry like the past, its about what great players you can hopefully throw together and hope for the best.  I don’t even know what the need for a coach is for teams like the Heat, because their isn’t much strategy in “give Lebron the ball”, and if he isn’t open, “give it to Wade”.

The 2011-2012 NBA playoffs are only in their second round. Yet injuries have already put a large asterisk on whoever will be named champion this year. What’s been surprising about the injuries is not necessarily that they’re happening, but who they’re happening to. Old teams like the Celtics and Spurs have stayed relatively healthy, while younger teams like the Bulls and Heat have lost key players.

This injury saga started before the playoffs when Dwight Howard attempted to give Stan Van Gundy a piggy back (just kidding) and herniated a disk in his back. He would elect to have surgery that would cause him to miss the rest of the season.

Then came Derrick Rose whose injury was reminiscent to that of Boobie Miles from the movie Friday Night Lights. In Game 1 of their series vs. the 76ers, the Bulls led by twelve with 1:20 to go. It’s not over until it’s over. But this game was over. Rose drove to the basket to attempt to extend the lead to fourteen and fell awkwardly on his knee tearing his ACL. The Bulls were the only team that could challenge the mighty Heat so the Eastern Conference had an asterisk on it from Game 1. As if that wasn’t enough, the Bulls would go on to lose Joakim Noah to an ankle injury and then become the 5th number one seed to lose in the first round.

Then came the Knicks slew of injuries which included Iman Shumpert doing his best Rose imitation by tearing his ACL and Amar’e Stoudemire showing he is in fact capable of crashing the glass. While the Knicks posed no real threat to the Heat, they at least could have momentarily slowed them down.

Finally, two days ago Chris Bosh went down with an abdominal strain that will sideline him indefinitely. Bosh has often been referred to as the half man in Miami’s “Two and a Half Men” but his absence was clearly noticed as the Pacers beat the Heat in Bosh’s first game out.

Many fans are glad to see something bad happen to the Heat, but at least they made things exciting. Just wait until we’re watching Indiana play San Antonio in the NBA Finals.

A day after making derogatory comments about the city of Cleveland, Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah did not address reporters following a morning shootaround in advance of Monday night’s Game 2 against the Cavaliers.

Noah told reporters on Sunday that he was not enjoying his time in Cleveland. When asked by a reporter whether the boos he endured during a 96-83 Game 1 loss on Saturday bothered him, he responded: “What? That Cleveland sucks?”

On Monday, a large horde of reporters waited for Noah off to the side of the Quicken Loans Arena court. After initially appearing to walk toward the group, Noah was escorted to the visitor’s tunnel by a Bulls spokesperson. It was believed that he had to tape a segment for the TNT telecast and would be back out in 10 minutes.

But soon after another Bulls spokesperson came out and said Noah would not be address the media. Several Cleveland media members expressed displeasure.

Click here to read the full article – By Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com

After six months and 81 games, this roller coaster of a season for the Bulls comes down to the regular- season finale tonight in Charlotte.

A win will send them to the playoffs for the second consecutive year and the fifth time in six years. A loss could send them into the offseason.

The Bulls set up the drama with an impressive finish in a 101-93 victory Tuesday over the Boston Celtics at the United Center.

Derrick Rose led the way with a career-high 39 points on 15-for-22 shooting, and Kirk Hinrich added a season-high 30 points on 11-for-20 shooting, including 4-for-7 from three-point range.

”Derrick just kept attacking, and Kirk hit some big shots down the stretch,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. ”[Hinrich] stepped up big for us, and our energy was fantastic. Everyone contributed.”

Click here to read the full article – By JOHN JACKSON of Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said an ESPN.com report that a decision to fire him already has been made is “totally not accurate.”

Citing sources with knowledge of the Bulls’ thinking, Chris Broussard of ESPN The Magazine reported on Sunday night that a decision has been made and the Bulls are just waiting to find Del Negro’s replacement.

The coach said he and Bulls management are on the same page, and Del Negro told reporters to ask vice president of basketball operations John Paxson or general manager Gar Forman about the situation. Forman declined to speak to reporters after practice Monday.

Phone messages left for Paxson and Forman were not returned on Sunday, but in text messages to ESPN The Magazine on Sunday night, Paxson neither confirmed nor denied the report.

“It’s just funny to me,” Del Negro said. “There’s really nothing to say. You have all these people that have rumors, and everyone has their sources. It’s just not accurate.


Click here to read the full article – By Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com

History has shown that it’s never too late for the Bulls to turn things around.

In 2004-05, they started 2-13 and recovered to win 47 games. Last year, they won 12 of their last 16 to finish with a .500 record.

So to call the coming week a critical stretch for the Bulls would be an overstatement. But it would help if they could end a run of four straight lopsided losses before the team’s chemistry and confidence suffer lasting harm.


Click here to read the full article – By Mike McGraw of Daily Herald

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Bigger challenges await them down the road, but the Bulls began their five-game Western trip with an impressive and mostly comfortable — save for a few minutes in the fourth quarter — 101-87 victory over the Sacramento Kings late Tuesday.


“That fourth quarter wasn’t real pretty, but fortunately we got some stops when we needed to and came out with the victory,” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. “A good start to a long trip.”

This was the first meeting of the teams since that big trade last February, so it was only fitting that guard John Salmons, the key to the deal from the Bulls’ perspective, busted out of his recent shooting funk to led the team with 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting.


Click here to read the full article – By of suburbanchicagonews.com

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