Chicago Bulls "12 Days of Christmas" Video

 The Chicago Bulls get in the holiday spirit with a video for their version of "The 12 Days of Christmas". The lyrics are changed to have a basketball theme. Joakim Noah gets the most camera time while wearing Santa's coat and Scottie Pippen makes a cameo representing the old school Bulls.

 The best lyric is delivered by Kurt Thomas who receives "seven back massages". As the second oldest player in the NBA, he probably could use a massage every day of the week.

 Happy holidays NBA fans.

Joakim Noah to Have Thumb Surgery

 Joakim Noah scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 110-93 Bulls blowout over the Raptors on Wednesday night. He entered the game knowing he was on his way to the disabled list due to a torn ligament in his right thumb. He'll have surgery Thursday morning and will be sidelined until after the All-Star break in late February or early March.

 "It's sucks," Noah said. It's not what I want but I have to get back to playing at a high level."

 Noah originally injured his thumb Nov. 27 against Sacramento. The injury was aggravated after a hard hit against the Rockets on Dec. 4. He played with tape for the next few games and used a brace against the Raptors. He's also been playing with sprained right index and middle fingers, but those injuries won't require surgery.

 "It's hurting," Noah said. "I have to take anti-inflammatories every time I play. I can't practice. I have to get right and get back to this team."

 Noah's teammates have ben impressed by his toughness while battling through injuries.

 "He hasn't said a word about it all year," Kyle Korver said. "We've all seen the wrap on his hand. You look at it and it's swollen. You ask how it is and he just says it's fine."

 "We knew (about the upcoming surgery) a few days ago but he wanted to play tonight and he did a great job," Carlos Boozer said. "He's a warrior. I say we take our hats off to him for playing through the pain he's had for the last two or three weeks. We wish him a speedy recovery to get back because we're going to need him down the stretch."

 "I'm gonna miss playing with the guys," Noah said. "It's frustrating because I feel like we have a chance to be really, really good, and I've never been in a situation where we're winning like this. But I know in the long run this is what needs to be done."

 Noah is currently fifth in the NBA in rebounds with 11.7 per game. He's tied for sixth in double-doubles with 14. He may have been on course for his first All-Star game. He's the Bulls' glue guy and energy leader and is a big part of why they are currently third in the Eastern Conference.

 Noah bounced back well from plantar fasciitis last spring. He's to another strong recovery as the Bulls build toward the playoffs after the All-Star break.

Derrick Rose Posterizes NY Knicks - Video

 Derrick Rose punished the NY Knicks for playing matador defense with a dramatic, emphatic jam. I bet even Michael Jordan's statue outside the United Center came alive off this one. Arguably the most devastating Chicago Bulls dunk since 1998 when M.J. left the building.
 Rose eviscerated Toney Douglas before posterizing Danilo Gallinari.
 Somewhere Slim Chin is lubed up and shrieking, "Daaayum that's freaky nice. Fast don't lie."
      

Joakim Noah On Ron Artest & Phil Jackson

 This past off-season, Joakim Noah read Sacred Hoops, Phil Jackson's inspiring book about Zen and basketball. Then he watched video of last season's game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics. Noah focused his attention on Ron Artest, a fellow native New York wild child. 

 "You have to look at his face in that game, his demeanor," said Noah. "There were a couple of times early on when he went to the basket and clearly got fouled and it wasn't called. He didn't even look at the ref. This is Ron Artest, and he didn't look at the ref. He was so caught up in the game and so focused on winning. I believe Phil Jackson took that man to the next level that night. And then after the game, Ron Artest became Ron Artest again."

 For more on Noah, check out this fantastic piece by Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated.

    

Jason Terry Monster Jam On Keith Bogans

 Start your weekend off right with this Jason Terry monster jam. The Dallas Mavericks' guard gets a steal & drives right down the lane for the year's first posterization on Keith Bogans of the Chicago Bulls.

    

Rodman Review - The Bulls' X-Factor

 Dennis Rodman was the intangible force propelling the Chicago Bulls to historic greatness from 1995-98. No Dennis Rodman, no 72 win season in Chicago and possibly no three-peat repeat for Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

 Rodman solidified his place among great rebounders in NBA history during his run with the Bulls. He averaged 14.9, 16.1 and 15 rpg in his three seasons with Chicago, leading the league each year from '96-'98. The only player to average 15 boards in a season since is Ben Wallace in 2003. No one has reached 16 rpg since Rodman.

 The Worm received First Team All Defense honors in the Bulls' record setting 72 win season. He'd already been a two time Defensive Player of the Year with the Detroit Pistons as well as a First Team All Defensive player for the San Antonio Spurs. 

 In Chicago, Rodman made an artform of hustle plays. He hit the floor for loose balls more readily than Jordan, Pippen or any other player on the Bulls' roster. 

 Check out this hustle play where Rodman somersaults and crash lands NBC's Bob Costas, leaving the announcer on the floor in a heap. 

 Dennis Rodman became a master of mind games in Chicago. He played wearing nail polish with the brightest hair colors in professional basketball history, mens' or womens'. He toyed with lesser players like Benoit Benjamin by calling him "Ben Wa Balls."

 Rodman's best mind games were saved for the playoffs. He used his Drag Queen style of martial arts to unnerve Alonzo Mourning on the young center's way to being swept out of the playoffs. Here's a clip of Rodman laying on Mourning under the basket like a honeymooner in orgasmic bliss. Mourning's inner homophobe was activated and he wound up benched and repeatedly yelling "You're a sick motherfucker!" at an amused Dennis Rodman.

 In the '96 Finals against Seattle, Dennis Rodman easily dismantled the Sonics' goon Frank Brickowski into technical & flagrant fouls. Seattle's coach, George Karl, sent Brickowski in to try to get a tech or even ejection on Rodman. The Brick was no mental or physical match for the Worm. 

 Bulls' coach Phil Jackson was a free spirit, not unlike Dennis Rodman, during his playing days with the Knicks. He took LSD and had wild hair with a mountain man beard. He even called his first book "Maverick" which meant "an unorthodox or independent-minded person" before John McCain turned it into a cracker war cry of conservatism.

 Jackson enjoyed having Rodman on the Bulls and saw him as a valuable teammate on and off the court. 

 "Dennis has been a real blessing for us because he's like a heyoka," Jackson said. He continued by explaining that for the Lakota people, a heyoka "was a cross-dresser, a unique person, respected because he brougt a reality change when you saw him."

 At the same time, then Knicks GM Dave Checketts said, "When I saw pictures of (Rodman) with the makeup job, I just couldn't believe this is what it has come to. I guarantee you that as long as I'm running the New York Knicks, he will not be on this club."

 Phil Jackson has thirteen total NBA championship rings to Checketts' zero. Checketts might have done better to judge talent based on basketball skills rather than makeup.

 After their 1998 championship, the Bulls GM Jerry Krauss broke up the dynasty and Dennis never played a full NBA season again. His contribution to the greatness of the Bulls can only partially be measured by his impressive stats. His intangibles as a hustler, energizer & free spirit elevated the Bulls into being arguably the greatest team in NBA history.

 In case you think Dennis was only about defense, check out this display of shooting accuracy as Rodman rains threes down the stretch on the Milwaukee Bucks to the delight of the Chicago crowd. 

    

Michael Jordan Forgot About Rodman

 Michael Jordan said he wouldn't have tried to pull a LeBron and unite with Bird or Magic because he'd rather beat them than play with them. Yet when Michael was at his peak, Bird was a bad-back shell of his dominant self. Michael only beat Magic once in the Finals before the Laker great's first retirement. 

 The Bulls' greatest nemesis and contemporary challengers were the Bad Boys of the Detroit Pistons. Isiah Thomas, who Michael banished from the Dream Team. Bill Laimbeer, the king of dirty. And 2 time Defensive Player of the Year Dennis Rodman. 

 The Bulls struggled mightily to get past the Pistons in the playoffs during the '80s. The Pistons used physical and sometimes dirty tactics to knock the Bulls off balance and keep them out of rhythm. Dennis Rodman once launched Scottie Pippen into the stands giving him 6 stitches in his chin. When Chicago finally beat the Pistons, the Bad Boys left the court without congratulating them. No love. Isiah, Laimbeer & Rodman were all unliked undesirables to the Chicago Bulls.

 

 While the Bulls were winning their first 3 championships with Jordan, Pippen and Horace Grant, Dennis Rodman became the most dominant rebounder in basketball. He'd led the league in boards for 4 straight seasons, including 2 years with the Spurs while Jordan bailed on the Bulls and basketball to take his talents to the Birmingham Barons of baseball.

 When Jordan finally returned to the Bulls, they were sorely lacking paint presence due to Horace Grant's departure for Orlando. With MJ's approval, coach Phil Jackson and general manager Jerry Krauss arranged a trade for Rodman. The key was getting Pippen's approval since Scottie still wore a scar on his chin from Rodman's dirty work. Scottie went right along with the plan, trying to get another ring. 

 One of the main guys that Michael & Scottie had poured sweat and blood to beat was welcomed as a member of the Bulls. The Big 3 of the mid 90s. 

 Admittedly, the circumstances with LeBron, Wade & Bosh are different from Michael, Scottie and Dennis. Yet it still rings hollow to have past greats claiming that they'd never have done what today's players are doing when in some ways, they made or encouraged similar moves to unite with other dominant rivals in order to facilitate getting rings.

 Michael Jordan never won a ring without a dominant power forward. He never even won a playoff series without a strong paint beast like Charles Oakley, Grant or Rodman. MJ was most definitely one of the all-time greats, but he needed help as much as LeBron does. 

 LeBron's move to Miami is cheesy and calculated. But it's really just a player putting himself in a front office mentality to help make a better team. If Jordan wouldn't have had the hated Crumbs Krauss doing  front office dirty work to get the likes of former foe Rodman in Chicago, he may have been forced to do the same.

    

Cap City

From Mark Cuban to Pat Riley, Jay-Z to Donnie Walsh, NBA front office hustlers are ready to make deals with players who are looking to get made and paid. Armed with salary cap room and hype machines, teams are hours from unleashing furious sales pitches to sign a variety of all-stars. Championships won't be guaranteed, but ticket sales will.

Here's how the big front office players are stacked up on Free Agency Eve.

Once Dwyane Wade opts out of his contract, the Heat will have an astonishingly low payroll of less than $6 million for only 2 players, Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers. They have the most cap room, Pat Riley's influence, the lure of Wade already being a winner there, and the weather and vibe of Miami. They are possibly in the best position to capitalize on this summer of the stars. 

 

Jay Z and his Russian financier have gotten the Nets' payroll down to only $19.8 million. Rising stud Brook Lopez will only make $5 million over the next 2 years. Cap space is a plus but spending 2 years in Newark may be a challenge. 

The Knicks have also slashed their payroll with only the last year of Eddy Curry's hefty deal weighing them down. Yet owner Jimmy Dolan has created an atmosphere of losing that may destroy the lure of playing in the so-called Mecca of basketball Madison Sq. Garden.

The Chicago Bulls are stuck with 4 more years of Luol Deng for $50 million, but they have Derrick Rose cheap for the next 2 years and one more season with Noah making $3.1 million. They have cap space and a storied tradition behind them, but loyalty concerns surround the franchise.

The Clippers have cleared decent cap space but they're stuck paying Baron Davis $40 million over the next 3 years. Chris Kaman is a decent big man, but also expensive at $23 million over the next 2 years. Factor in their history of disasters and who wants to play on a jinxed team with the underachieving and overpaid?

And then there's the sadness of the Mavs and Cavs. Dirk Nowitzki is opting out of Dallas and even without his huge contract, they're still maxed out with Dampier, Terry, Butler, Kidd and making $47 million between them. Cuban doesn't mind the luxury tax, but his team won't be much better with or without Dirk next season.

The Cavs are similarly strapped with LeBron opting out, leaving Cleveland with Antawn Jamison, Mo Williams and Varejao for multiple years of $35+ million combined. If they re-sign James, how will they improve? If they lose him, the franchise and city are heading further into an abyss.

Even more teams will undoubtedly play a big part in the coming roster shuffles. Speculation will happen, signing will happen and again, amazing will happen. This time next year, who will be the studs and who will be the duds? We're 82 games from finding out.

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Joakim Jokes On Cleveland: The Sequel

Joakim Noah ain't scared of Cleveland. 

Rasheed, you can retire now. We have a new sound bite king.

Paxson Fights Del Negro Over Noah

Joakim Noah's return from plantar fasciitis has lifted the Bulls from the draft lottery to one win away from the playoffs. Even though LeBron's Cavs await in round 1, earning rights into the 2nd season should be cause for celebration in Chicago. Instead, there are reports of front office chaos and violence between vice president John Paxson and coach Vinny Del Negro.

While Noah was out with aching feet in March, the Bulls lost 10 straight games, including two losses to the  Grizzlies. Since his return, they've gone 9-4. 

Noah leads the Bulls in FG%, rebounds & blocks while shooting 75% FT. During the 10 game losing streak without him, Chicago gave up 132 points to Utah, 122 to Dallas,  and let all but 1 opponent score over 100 points. In the 13 games since Noah's return, only 4 opponents have reached 100 in games Chicago lost. 

Paxson allegedly first scolded Del Negro in February for giving Noah too many minutes when his foot pain was an increasing concern. After playing 27 minutes in a Feb. 26 win over the Blazers, Noah missed the next 10 games.

Noah returned to the lineup on March 20 and brought their losing streak to an end, playing 9 minutes in a 98-84 win over the 76ers. Over the next 5 games, he never played more than 17 minutes and the Bulls went 4-1.

On March 30, Noah played 27 minutes in a 111-105 loss to the Suns. Afterward, Paxson reportedly grabbed Del Negro's tie, jabbed him twice in the chest and challenged him to a fight for giving Noah too many minutes. Del Negro opted out of retaliation and assistant coaches stepped up to calm Paxson down.

Last week in a crucial double OT loss to the Nets, Del Negro opted to keep Noah on the bench instead of risking another assault by Paxson. Meanwhile, Paxson was trying to send word to Del Negro to put Noah back in the game. Del Negro didn't get the word and the Bulls lost to the worst team in the NBA. Chaos and disarray from the top down.

 Noah has put the Bulls on his back (and feet) and appears to be leading them into the 2nd season, despite the disarray and mismanagement between his coach & GM. They will likely see a first round exit at the hands of the Cavs. Chicago hasn't been this volatile since Phil Jackson played mind games with Jerry Krauss in the '90s. The next 2 weeks could be Del Negro's last run with the Bulls.

    

Noah's Moment

This is Joakim Noah's time to take over the Chicago Bulls and lead them into the playoffs. They are currently tied with the Toronto Raptors for the last seed in the Eastern Conference. Both  teams have 3 games left.

Noah said, "I'm a live-in-the-moment guy. Like my coach from college, the great Billy Donovan told me, 'Live in the moment.'"

Last night, the moment stretched into double overtime and the Bulls lost to the league worst New Jersey Nets for the 2nd time this season. They allowed 6'6" rookie Terrence Williams to get a triple double with 27 points, 13 boards & 10 assists. Overtime triple doubles aren't as noteworthy, but the Bulls have no business allowing a rookie on a lousy team to put up big numbers. 

In a must win game for the Bulls, Nets center Brook Lopez tied the game on a rebound dunk with 0.1 seconds left. The Bulls blew a 7 point lead with 1:09 left in the first overtime. The Nets outscored Chicago 15-4 in the 2nd OT on their way to a 127-116 win.

Sunday night, the Bulls face the Raptors in Toronto. It's likely that the winner of that game will go on to claim the 8th seed. The Bulls last 2 games after Sunday are against the Celtics and Bobcats. The Celtics have been sliding, most recently losing to the Wizards at home. The Bobcats may choose to rest players if they have no advantage to be gained by winning. Both games are winnable for the Bulls, but could be tough challenges.

The Raptors play the Pistons & the Knicks in their final 2 games and will be without all-star Chris Bosh due to a broken nose. Hedo Turkoglu is struggling while playing with a protective face mask and the Raptors may have lost Antoine Wright due to a sprained ankle Friday night. Detroit and New York could be very dangerous for the Raptors. Both teams are playing with nothing to lose and the Raptors are struggling to find healthy players to compete.

In the Bulls last win against the Cavaliers on Thursday night, Noah posted 17 points and game highs in rebounds (15) and blocks (4). If he can play at that high level, the Bulls should edge the struggling Raptors and claim the 8th seed. When he dominates, the Bulls win.

 Noah won 2 championships under his beloved college coach at Florida. More than any other player in Chicago, Noah knows how to close out important wins in crunch time. This is his time to step up & take over this young squad. They have been playing better basketball since his return from plantar fasciitis. He's their emotional leader. His moment to raise his game is now.

It's likely this Raptors team will be dismantled in the offseason. The Bulls may be doing Toronto a favor by starting the process early.