I gotta hand it to the Bulls. They've played pretty damn well considering the rash of "injuries" they've sustained during this first half of the season. I put injuries in quotations because lets be real, it was just one elaborate plan to save themselves from Thibodeau.
All of last season and the early part of this abbreviated Bulls season there was a lot of talk about whether or not Thibs was playing his starters too long. Thibodeau probably has his reasons. I bet he's worried about keeping his boys sharp and in good form. I like to think he's like a football coach from the SEC that's out to embarrass the other team (Having DRose playing in the 4th quarter against a team like the Bobcats is like going for two in the fourth quarter... when you're up 60).
The Bulls brought in Rip Hamilton to bring the Bulls some veteran leadership. They were confident that his championship experience would prove valuable once May rolls around. And you know what? They're right. In fact, his NBA experience is already paying huge dividends. Rip's sage wisdom has saved DRose and Luol's legs a few weeks of just insane overuse. See, Rip went "down" with a groin injury early in the season. He's no fool. He was there for the first week of the season. He saw how crazy Thibs was and was just like, "Damn. I ain't made for this." And so he sat. Because Rip knows. Take a few games off... or a month. I mean, who wants to bust their ass playing teams like the Raptors?
And when Luol started talking non-sense about coming back immediately from his "wrist" injury, Rip was there to tell the big fella to take his sweet time. Lu was just given a golden ticket by the basketball gods. Take a few games off, relax. These games just aren't that important. Lu listened. He took some time. Then it was Derrick's turn.
Sure, Derrick Rose seemed to be hurting during that Hornets game. But when he's jogging, he ALWAYS looks like he's just absolutely dying out there. He just waddles back and forth and looks like the out of shape guy that's down at the Rec playing with all the youngsters (that would be me). Derrick spent a lot of time working on his endurance. He even claimed that by the Miami series he was exhausted from the long season. Derrick didn't mention the other lesson he learned. He learned that you got to milk an injury or two. Not when your team needs you and especially not during the playoffs. But when you're playing the the cellar dwellers of the NBA it's okay to make like your Phil Jackson and sit in an over-sized chair on the sidelines.
Rip Hamilton has already missed two thirds of the season but his addition has already paid huge dividends. His sage wisdom (has anyone ever referred to Rip Hamilton and used the words "sage wisdom" before... doubt it) has kept the Bulls starters from getting burnt out by Thibodeau and his craziness. And as a result both Luol and Derrick will be better rested than ever before to make a run after the NBA championship this season.
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I think your right, and I think if it is possible, even many Bulls fans are underestimating how good this team is (HEALTHY), with all the trade this trade that talk...I know it's a big IF, but if everyone who matters the most is healthy (and this includes role players like Asik and Watson), then all it comes down to is execution in the playoffs. Simple as that, if they play the way they are supposed to play, they should be able to handle anyone. I know Miami will be tough as hell to take down, but really, a healthy Bulls team that executes the game plan should win a series against Queen James and friends...People so easily forget how close the Bulls were and with Rip there, it is obvious how big of a difference it makes this year...