FACT #1: The Chicago Bulls are DEEP.
The Chicago Bulls hung in against the Cleveland Cavaliers the entire night despite missing starting shooting guard and Lebron-stopper, Jimmy Butler.You might have noticed that Lebron looked unrushed, and in fact, wide open, on most of his jumpshots, and he finished with 18 points on 6-11 shooting. That was the Jimmy Butler effect.
But despite not having Jimmy Butler available for the game, Chicago had solid contributions from several bench players who helped chipped in quality minutes in Butler's stead.
Everyone with the exception of DRose appeared to struggle with their shot, possibly due to the game being their third in 5 nights. However, as the conditioning of the entire team improves during the course of the NBA season, it will be increasingly clear that the Chicago Bulls' depth will allow them to make it to the post-season as one of the more rested teams overall.
Among NBA teams, the Chicago Bulls boast at least 10-11 players of quality depth. Even with Jimmy Butler out, the Chicago Bulls still played 10 players, and every bench player played at least 18 minutes and scored at least 5 points as the Bulls bench outscored Cleveland's 40-20.
That is better than most teams in the NBA, and where that could be most important is against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Cleveland's Big 3 may have contributed to their team getting the win on the night, but with Lebron, Love, and Irving putting in 32 minutes, 35 minutes, and 38 and a half minutes in the contest, it will be noteworthy if the heavy minutes end up costing the Cavaliers the same way that the Miami Heat's Big 3 finally succumb to the deeper and better-rested San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
FACT #2: Derrick Rose is definitely and officially back.
How else do you account for the easy, breezy way DRose was able to tally 30 points in just over 24 minutes on the court (aside from Kyrie Irving's matador defense)?Rose was able to blow by his defender, get into the lane, and finish at the basket at will.
If you didn't have a chance to catch the game, here are the highlights of Derrick Rose:
And while the box score also indicates that Kyrie Irving finished with 28 point (amassed in an eye-popping 38 and a half minutes no less), the majority of his points came while Derrick Rose was on the bench resting.
In addition to being back physically, it is clear that Derrick Rose is back psychologically and emotionally.
The time with Team USA was not only useful time to compete with and against many of the best basketball players in the world, but it was also a time to put the chip back on his shoulder.
Rose has had to answer the questions from the doubters all summer long, and had to endure watching Kyrie Irving get the starting spot for Team USA, as well as, win the MVP of the FIBA World Cup tournament.
In the way DRose takes the ball right at Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, Rose is reestablishing himself as the best point guard in the NBA. And the way he had both of them turned around and crossed up, he looked like the youngest-NBA-MVP-in-history DRose.
This is going to be an amazing season for DRose and the Chicago Bulls.
What are your thoughts about the Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers preseason game? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
