Carmelo To Chicago Bulls: Free Agency 2014 Revolves Around Melo Alone

If you're wondering what the hold up is in hearing where all the pieces are going to fall this summer in NBA free agency, you have only one man to talk to.

Carmelo Anthony.

You have heard all the reports about Chris Bosh being the pivotal man holding up a union between Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James in Miami. I have news for you. If Carmelo wanted to join Lebron James in Miami, Chris Bosh would be taking that max contract from Houston before the door hit him on the ass on his way out of Pat Riley's office.

Melo is loath to leave his Knicks in order to join Lebron on the Heat, the same way Lebron screwed his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers in order to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in 2010.

However, if Melo was only interested in getting a max contract and staying with the Knicks, that offer has already been made.

So why hasn't he taken it yet.

Because Melo wants it all. And when it comes to getting it all, that translates to getting the money, playing in the biggest market, and winning the NBA Championships.

And that opportunity only exists in Chicago.

The Chicago Bulls had the first presentation on the first day of free agency, and Melo and the Chicago Bulls delegation spoke for 9 hours. 9 HOURS.

Melo knows the Chicago Bulls are the best fit for him, and he can imagine, just as all of BullsNation has imagined, what his role would be with the team. That wouldn't take 9 hours to explain to Melo.

9 hours is the kind of time it takes to discuss the nuts and bolts of how Carmelo Anthony can persuade Phil Jackson to make a sign and trade deal that sends Carmelo Anthony to the Chicago Bulls, the ideal situation for Melo to compete for championships for the next 5 years.

And since Phil Jackson might not want Carlos Boozer's expiring contract, maybe another team could use the productive but overpaid power forward whose contract comes off the books after next season.

A suggested trade centering around Boozer going to the Lakers, Pau Gasol getting S&T to the Knicks, and Melo getting a near max deal in a S&T to go to the Chicago Bulls seems to be the most likely framework for a deal that would finally allow the rest of NBA Free Agency to proceed.

Melo can and will stick to his guns since the Knicks stands to lose Melo for nothing if the Lakers and Bulls get together to do the deal sending Carmelo To Chicago without New York.

BullsNation has been torn between quiet confidence and quiet disappointment but acceptance, despite seeing their team only get stronger as they await Melo's decision.

2008 First Round draft pick Nikola Mirotic has already announced buying out of his contract with Real Madrid, as well as, his plans to play in the NBA next season. Chicago currently holds his exclusive rights and is the only NBA team that can sign him.

Destiny seems to be putting together a new basketball dynasty in Chicago.

Post a comment below if you Bull-ieve! Thanks, BullsNation!

Carmelo To Chicago: Rumors Have Bulls Acquiring Melo In S&T From Knicks

It looks like the Chicago Bulls will add their first bonafide scoring champion to the team this off-season since you know who.

As reported by David Schuster (@Schumouse on twitter):

"Major Update: The New York Knicks Phil Jackson are ready to sign and trade Carmelo Anthony according to sources out of New York. Chicago Bulls are the frontrunner as a trade partner for the New York Knicks for Carmelo Anthony. Stay Tuned."

Carmelo Anthony has a deadline to opt-in to the final season of his existing contract with the New York Knicks tomorrow. Opting out will make the 7-time NBA All-Star officially available on the open market.

The Chicago Bulls appear to be focusing in on their main free agent target, Carmelo Anthony.

Several media outlets have already reported that Melo, even after meeting with Knicks management and new Knicks head coach Derek Fisher, is still leaning towards opting out of the final year of his contract.

With reports out of New York that Phil Jackson is making moves towards working out a sign and trade indicates that Melo is indeed in win-now mode and has indicated to the team that he will opt-out of the final season, and $23.3M, of his current deal.

Between Carmelo's two preferred landing spots, Chicago has the more attractive assets to get the deal done, and most reports indicate that Chicago is Melo most likely landing spot.

With the opt-in deadline and the NBA Draft later this week, we will certainly get a clearer picture of the sign and trade deal very soon as Chicago will need to shed cap space in the form of its draft picks and New York will want Chicago's two first round picks as part of the Melo deal.

What remains to be seen is who the Chicago Bulls will have to sacrifice as a price for acquiring Melo, however a sign and trade with the Knicks was going to be the best case scenario for both the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks.

The Knicks would be able to get some value for Anthony rather than let the potential free agent walk away for nothing.

Meanwhile, Chicago will most likely send the embattled Carlos Boozer to New York to match the bulk of Carmelo Anthony's incoming salary. This avoids amnestying Boozer, which would have cost the Bulls as inaccessible cap space.

The Chicago Bulls potential big 3 of Carmelo Anthony, DPOY Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose, could make the team the favorites in the Eastern Conference, depending on who the team manages to hang on to after the Melo trade goes down.

This week should also reveal what the Miami Heat might look like next season, too, as the contracts of the Miami Big 3 also has an option due.

It seems as if with the curtain falling on Miami's Big 3, that a new Big 3 will rise in the Eastern Conference to take its place.

How far will the Chicago Bulls go with their big 3 of Carmelo, Noah, and DRose? How big will their window to win championships be? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

@DRose, Bulls Prepare For Heat After Closing Out Perfect Preseason

CHICAGO, IL.  Chicago Bulls Basketball fans thought the day would never get here, but it is now only a day away.

Chicago Bulls Basketball fans have had October 29th circled on their calendars for months now; ever since the league chose to put Derrick Rose's Regular Season Return on a night when the Bulls would visit their singular rival, the Miami Heat, as they are set to receive their NBA Championship rings.

Rose has to be hungry to lead the Chicago Bulls to the NBA crown after looking on as the Bulls pushed Miami to six games in last season's second round playoff series.

It hardly qualifies as a coincidence. Rose had to sit on the sidelines as a scrappy, undermanned Bulls team took two games off of the outworked and outhustled Miami Heat. Talent would eventually prevail, but you had to know that Rose, the competitor that he is, wanted to be the one to tip the scales in the Bulls' favor.

Now, a fully healed, confident DRose dominated the NBA Preseason in every facet, and the Chicago Bulls emerged as the only undefeated team. 8 - 0 is not a bad record for #theReturn so far.

As Opening Night of the NBA and the next episode of Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat is played, consider how hungry DRose is to return and dominate the game of basketball. Also, consider how hungry the rest of the Bulls were essentially playing out an entire season waiting for DRose to heal before resuming their hunt for the NBA Championship after topping the NBA standings two seasons in a row. Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, Rookie Tony Snell were noted for their off-season workouts to prepare for their bigger roles this season.

DRose has already put the weight of the Bulls and the City of Chicago on his back by stating that his only goal for this season was to win an NBA Championship, and it all starts this Tuesday night in Miami. 

Fasten your seatbelts because "Quick Don't Lie".

Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat Series Preview: Chicago's Hometown Hero Faces The League of Supervillains

WOW! What an NBA season it has been so far, and even though some people celebrated as if it were all over already, there are still the Conference and World Championships to be decided.

Lebron celebrates his first NBA cham... wait, that was only the Second Round. But what's with the kneeling and the hugging? Oh, so that was THEIR "championship". DRose and the Bulls still want more.

In many ways, this NBA season "began" over a year ago on May 9th, a day commemorated in Cleveland now as Quitness Day. It was the day that Lebron James quit on his team and city against the Boston Celtics in the playoffs and began a summer of free-agency speculation that resulted in him joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat, rebranding himself as the NBA's ultimate supervillain.

Much has also happened over that time for the Chicago Bulls and their home-grown superstar, Derrick Rose. The franchise missed out on everyone's top free-agents (Wade, James, and Bosh), but signed free-agents Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and acquired still other players who have made solid contributions. The Bulls' signed former Celtics' assistant head coach, Tom Thibodeau, to lead the team as head coach. After a mediocre 9 - 8 record to start the season, the Bulls went on to win 53 of the other 65 games to finish with an NBA leading record of 62 - 20.

Rose led the Bulls to a regular season sweep of the Miami Heat, including dropping 27 points in a win that made players in the Heat locker room cry.

Derrick Rose also had a great 12 months. While his team worked with Coach Thibs to prepare for the season, Rose was the starting point guard for USA Basketball, winning a Gold Medal at the FIBA World Championships.

Once he got back, he began working on his game with an eye towards how far this team will go. He added a more effective jumpshot, as well as, a consistent three-point shot. With all the work he put in, he then asked the question, "Why? Why can't I be MVP?"

Well, that question was answered about a week ago. After the Chicago Bulls finished with the best record in the NBA this season (tying the best record for a rookie head coach), Tom Thibodeau was awarded as the Coach of the Year, and Derrick Rose, for his role in leading the team and carrying the team in the clutch and through injuries, was awarded the NBA's Most Valuable Player.

Now, the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat, will meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago makes its first appearance in the Conference Finals since 1998, when Chicago went on to complete their second three-peat on the shoulders of Michael Jordan.

Despite being the number one seed and winning all three regular season meetings with the Miami Heat, the Bulls are the underdogs. It is perhaps a more comfortable place for this team that only really found a bandwagon after beating the Heat for a regular season sweep and making them cry in the locker room following the game.

Here is how we break down the match-ups in the 2011 NBA PLAYOFFS, EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS SERIES between THE CHICAGO BULLS vs. THE MIAMI HEAT

CHICAGO BULLS (62-20)	MIAMI HEAT (58-24)
STARTERS (Playoff Stats)	STARTERS (Playoff Stats)
PG     ROSE PPG:   28.8 (#1 in NBA) RPG:   4.5 APG:   8.2 (#3 in NBA) Derrick Rose received the NBA's Most Valuable Player award, and two days later, he dropped a career-high 44 points on the Atlanta Hawks. He is the leading scorer in the postseason, and he has averaged 29 ppg against the Heat this season. Advantage: Chicago	PG     BIBBY PPG:   3.4 RPG:   2.0 APG:   1.0 Miami has no one at Point Guard that can match up with Derrick Rose. Whether it is Bibby or Chalmers who will get most of the minutes, the Heat will need to give lots of help to stop Rose and hope that he can not find the open man.
SG     BOGANS PPG:   5.4 RPG:   1.4 APG:   0.7 The Bulls' shooting guard by committee was able to hold Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford below their season and postseason averages. If they can do the same against a player like Wade with any consistency, this would be a much shorter series.	SG     WADE PPG:   26.2 (#5 in NBA RPG:   7.6 APG:   5.0 Wade carried the Heat in the Boston series. However, his forays to the basket came without punishment against a Kendrick Perkins-free Celtics team. How well will the Chicago defense hold up to his attacks? Advantage: Miami
SF     DENG PPG:   16.7 RPG:   6.5 APG:   3.0 Deng may be the biggest x-factor in this series. He will be asked to defend Lebron James, as well as, be the second leading scorer. Deng has shown he can step up in the Bulls' regular season sweep of the Heat.	SF     JAMES PPG:   26.1 RPG:   9.4 APG:   4.9 Lebron James put in some buckets once Wade got him a 3-1 games lead in the Boston series, so he's still not a clutch player. However, he has no other flaws to his basketball game. Advantage: Miami
PF     BOOZER PPG:   11.8 RPG:   9.5 APG:   1.8 Boozer found his form in Game 6. Prior to that, Boozer struggled against the athletic Hawks, however he is a superior rebounder to Bosh. To the extent that he can out-muscle and bully Bosh throughout this series, the easier a time the Bulls will have writing their ticket to the NBA Finals. TIE	PF     BOSH PPG:   16.3 RPG:   9.6 APG:   1.1 Chris Bosh had some very big plays that helped to win pivotal games in the Boston series. However, he will be the Heat's only real frontline player. Can Bosh get it done when he is going against all the length and size that the Bulls can throw at him? TIE
C     NOAH PPG:   9.9 RPG:   10.4 APG:   2.1 Noah's impact can never been fully known from just the box score. So his statistics alway belie his greater impact for a Bulls' defense that feeds off of his energy. He is the #3 shotblocker in the playoffs, and he will be waiting for any soft shots at the basket. Advantage: Chicago	C     ILGAUSKAS PPG:   3.6 RPG:   3.6 APG:   0.3 The Heat have not been able to solidify the center position with any consistent contributor. They rotate four players but obtain more of their rebounding from Wade and Lebron staying in to rebound. This is an exploitable weakness for a Bulls' team with length and rebounding up front.
BENCH While Kyle Korver was providing clutch shooting in the first round, the Bulls' big men off the bench, Asik and Gibson, gave the team what they needed to close out Atlanta. Their domination of Miami's thin reserves may make all the difference in this close series. Advantage: Chicago	BENCH The Miami Heat were able to sign several big name players to bolster their bench, but none have really provided any consistent production. Mike Miller, Eddie House, and others have been disappointments.
OVERALL Advantage: Chicago	OVERALL
CHICAGO BULLS Team Stats:	MIAMI HEAT Team Stats:
Points Per Game:     98.6 (20th in NBA)	Points Per Game:     102.1 (8th in NBA)
Rebounds Per Game:     44.2 (2nd in NBA)	Rebounds Per Game:     42.1 (9th in NBA)
Assists Per Game:     22.3 (9th in NBA)	Assists Per Game:     20.0 (26th in NBA)
Points Allowed Per Game:     91.3 (2nd in NBA)	Points Allowed Per Game:     94.6 (6th in NBA)

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Give your predictions for the Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat Eastern Conference Finals Series:

Derrick Rose Accepts The NBA MVP Award, Leads Bulls to Victory In Game 2 Over Hawks

CHICAGO, IL. Before Game 2 of the Chicago Bulls second round series with the Atlanta Hawks, Derrick Rose received the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award in front of the hometown United Center crowd.

Derrick Rose received his NBA's Most Valuable Player Award, then showed the world what it means to be a leader and MVP.

In his acceptance, he was his usual humble and gracious self, focusing the credit for his accomplishments on the city of Chicago and the Bulls fans who supported the team. However, it was really the inner drive of a man who told the press before the season even started, "Why not me?"

Derrick Rose and his teammates started their efforts as soon as Tom Thibodeau was named the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls, and they have worked harder than any team the entire season. The rewards have simply followed.

On the final day of the NBA season, the Bulls secured the best record in the league, even after they had already secured the top spot in the Eastern Conference over Boston and Miami.

Then, Coach Tom Thibodeau, after amassing a record-tying 62 wins by a rookie head coach, was named Coach of the Year.

And tonight, Derrick Rose hoisted the Maurice Podoloff trophy for being the NBA's Most Valuable Player, after shouldering the load offensively for the winningest team in the NBA this season.

However, as the youngest NBA MVP in history, Rose is under even greater pressure now in the playoffs. Having lost to Atlanta in Game 1, Game 2 at the United Center was a must win in many respects, and having collected his trophy, DRose knew that winning the game would be a burden carried upon his shoulders.

And as he has all season, he was up to the challenge. The Bulls had not lost back to back home games during the season, and their streak continued with a 13 point victory in Game 2.

Rose, on a recently reinjured sprained left ankle, put up 25 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 blocks to lead the Bulls to the bounce-back victory in Game 2.

Joakim Noah looks to be back on track after ending the first round series against Indiana with a great effort. He came up with 7 offensive rebounds against the Hawks in Game 2 on his way to a 19 point, 14 rebound night where he consistantly outworked Atlanta's frontline. His energy and effort would go a long way towards propelling Chicago into the Eastern Conference Finals.

Here are the highlights of THE CHICAGO BULLS vs. ATLANTA HAWKS, 2011 NBA PLAYOFFS, GAME 2:



KEYS FOR CHICAGO BULLS vs. ATLANTA HAWKS, 2011 NBA PLAYOFFS, GAME 3:

Key #1	Rebounding Edge. In Chicago's Game 1 loss, Atlanta was able to match Chicago in rebounding. In Chicago's Game 2 win, Chicago outrebounded Atlanta, 58 to 39, and Joakim Noah really capitalized with 7 offensive boards and several put backs. If the Bulls can maintain the rebounding edge through good technique and effort, they will have an abundance of additional offensive possessions.
Key #2	Continue to Keep Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford in Check. In Chicago's Game 1 loss, Joe Johnson exploded for 34 points and Jamal Crawford had 22 points off the bench when both had great shooting nights. In Game 2, Chicago limited Johnson to 16 points and Crawford was held to 11 points on 2 of 10 shooting on their way to an easy 13 point win. Although good shooters like Johnson and Crawford may catch fire again, a concerted Bulls' effort to contest shots will swing the odds in the Bulls' favor.
Key #3	Establish an Inside Presence. Although Chicago has had an edge in Points in the Paint in both games, the Bulls must continue to work to establish their inside game. In Chicago's Game 2 win, Chicago seemed to work to establish Boozer inside, however with injuries continuing to hamper his lift, he had several shots blocked. Chicago should not go away from trying to establish their presence inside.

Stay tuned to see the Chicago Bulls wrestle back a win or two in Atlanta.

Rose and the Bulls Demolish Celtics To Take Commanding 4 Game Lead For #1 Seed In Eastern Conference

CHICAGO, IL. It was another important game on the calendar for the Bulls, and although there were other ways of still getting the #1 seed in the East, the Bulls knew that this was also an important game to make a statement to the entire league.

After a dominating performance in front of their home fans, the Chicago Bulls definitely made their statement: "We are for real."

The Chicago Bulls are the most dominant team in the league since the All-Star Break.

Doc Rivers downplayed the meaning of the game before tip-off, acknowledging that it probably meant more to the Bulls than it did to his team, but that was clearly a ruse. Boston came into the game trailing Chicago in the race for the top seed by 3 games. A win would have cut the lead to only two games with 4 games left.

Boston seemed very interested in getting the win, coming out of the gate with energy for the opening two and a half minutes, causing the Bulls to take a 20 sec timeout early on.

However, by the end of the first quarter, the Bulls had seized control of the game for a 26 - 18 lead. Rose had 10 points for the Bulls in the opening quarter.

Boston kept close to Chicago until the 3rd quarter, when they were able to break through for a 49 - 48 lead on a Rondo lay-up. However, the Bulls defense clamped down on the Celtics and held them scoreless for the next 4:32, and over that time, the Bulls had rebuilt the lead back up to 9 points and never looked back. They went on to win by a final of 97 - 81.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since the trade that sent Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. Critics of the trade said that the Celtics had given away a great deal of rebounding and inside toughness. The stats on the night seem to support this with the Bulls outrebounding Boston 44 to 35 and the Bulls dominating inside scoring to the tune of 44 points to Boston's 22 inside points.

With the victory, the Chicago Bulls extended their lead on Boston and Miami for the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference to 4 games. Their magic number for locking up the top spot is 1 game, and they can seal the deal with a win tomorrow night against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Derrick Rose likewise made his own statement with another dominating performance against Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics: "When it's a big game, I dominate. I AM the NBA MVP."

DRose dominated the PG matchup going 30 pts, 8 ast, 5 reb vs Rondo 7 pts, 6 ast, 5 reb. 

Derrick Rose dominated another top point guard in the league, and his efficient 9 for 16 shooting on the way to 30 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, was the result of blowing by Rondo and attacking the basket.

In addition, Rose once again had another great game for the Bulls in another important game. When the spotlight shines, Rose has been the star that has been the brightest. Rose led the team with an incredibly efficient game, and the complete domination of the Boston Celtics showed on the faces of Garnett, Pierce, and Big Baby. Garnett admitted to the "ass-whoopin" they had just received.

To all the sports writers and basketball statistics gurus out there who can't seem to wrap their head around it, there is only one statistic that matters in the MVP race, and that is WINS.

The Bulls have the most WINS since the All-Star Break. They have the most WINS in a stacked Eastern Conference. And Rose is the only 2011 All-Star on his team.

And the fact that Miami has two "MVP candidates" and three 2011 All-Stars AND less wins than the Bulls means that each of their "MVPs" is less than half as important as Rose is to the Chicago Bulls.

And if you really think that Lebron James should win the MVP because he can stuff the stat box against the Cavs and the Timberwolves even though, when the chips are down, he can't lead his team to a WIN when the ball is in his hands, then I don't know what to tell you.

I just know that I wouldn't really need a player like that very much, and I think that the Chicago Bulls would agree with me.

Here are some highlights from BOSTON CELTICS at CHICAGO BULLS:

Rose Lets His Game Do The Talking Once Again, Has 36 Points, 10 Assists To Lead Bulls To 3 Game Lead Over Idle Heat

CHICAGO, IL. Rose remembers the last time his Bulls played the Toronto Raptors; the Raptors celebrated their win a little too much for Rose's taste, and he didn't like that.

Teams around the league are learning that you don't want to make Derrick Rose remember you or make him upset with you. You won't like the payback.

Derrick Rose got his revenge on the Raps as they visited the United Center tonight to the tune of 36 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks.

Here are some highlights that we can show you (BEWARE: Some of this footage contains broken ankles and other sick stuff we've come to expect from DRose!):


It was a complete all around game for the NBA MVP leader, who didn't have to do it alone tonight.

Despite missing Joakim Noah for another game, Carlos Boozer (18 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast), Luol Deng (17 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast), Taj Gibson (15 pts, 9 reb), and Kyle Korver (10 pts on 2 of 3 from 3-point range) all chipped into the Bulls' offensive barrage.

DRose challenged the Raptors with his strength and speed to post 36 points, 10 assists to add to his case for NBA MVP.

The Bulls dominated the first half of the game leading by as much as 13. However, the Raptors fought back in the 3rd quarter to erase the Bulls lead, knotting the game at 74 - 74, before the Bulls managed to regain the advantage and push the lead back up to double digits.

The Raptors kept fighting getting to within 4 points in the 4th quarter before finally succumbing. Jerryd Bayless and DeMar Derozan each had 26 points to lead the Raptors.

The play of the night had to be the recovery by Rose to get back on defense after the turnover and him rising up and blocking James Johnson's shot at the very top of its path. It was an unkind "Welcome Back to Chicago" for James Johnson, a former Chicago Bull, who was traded this season to the Toronto Raptors just before the trade deadline for Miami's 2011 1st Round Draft Pick.

Other than the blocked shot by DRose, Johnson had a respectable game, finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists in his return to the United Center after being traded.

The victory was the Chicago Bulls' 56th win of the season, helping Tom Thibodeau surpass Phil Jackson's record for being Chicago's winningest first-year coach, possibly the first of many records and accolades to be garnered by Derrick Rose, Thibodeau, and the Chicago Bulls this season.

The win also pushes the Bulls lead for first place in the Eastern Conference to 3 full games over Miami and 3.5 games over Boston. With only six games remaining in the Chicago Bulls 2010-11 regular season, the doubters, the Boston Celtics, and the Miami Heat are all running out of the same thing... time.

DRose Helps Bulls Hang On Against Old Foes In Detroit, Extend Lead To 3 Games Over Boston In Eastern Conference

DETROIT, MI. Although the Pistons-Bulls rivalry has not been much of a rivalry for a while, the Pistons had to know that Derrick Rose and the Bulls really wanted to win this game, and so, they were no going to give it up without a fight.

Here are the Highlights:


Behind 30 points from Rip Hamilton, the Pistons certainly made a game of it in the final minutes and challenged the Bulls to battle for another win in order to keep their spot at the top of the East.

After getting a scorching start from Derrick Rose, who went for 13 points on 4 for 5 shooting in the opening quarter, the Bulls lead by double digits and cruised for most of the game. But in the 4th, the Pistons were able to claw their way into the contest, and two Rip Hamilton free-throws helped the Pistons close the Bulls lead to 93 - 89, with 1:29 left in the game.

After trading baskets, Rose, on a brilliant pass, set up Ronnie Brewer for a lay up and a 6 point Bulls' lead with 0:34 that sealed the win for Chicago.

Rose finished the game with 27 points, 3 rebounds , 7 assists, and 4 steals. Carlos Boozer came up big in support of the NBA MVP leader with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals on a night when Joakim Noah missed another start to heal from injury.

DRose came to the rescue once again with 27 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals in the Chicago Bulls win.

On a night when the Detroit Pistons honored Dennis Rodman by retiring his number 10 jersey, it was the team that "The Worm" most recently helped to win the NBA Championship that was having an incredible evening.

The Chicago Bulls, with the victory at the Palace at Auburn Hills, combined with a Boston Celtics loss to the Atlanta Hawks, now lead the East by 2.5 games over the new 2nd place, Miami Heat, and by 3 full games over Boston.

With 7 games left, the Chicago Bulls version 2010-11 have 55 wins and counting, and they control their own destiny. If they win the next four games against Toronto, Phoenix, Boston, and Cleveland, they will secure home court in the Eastern Conference.

Rose Silences The Naysayers and Closes Out 95 - 87 Win Over Bucks At United Center North With 30 Points and Career-High 17 Assists

Milwaukee, WI. To all those out there who think that the MVP race is still open for discussion, you have your answer.

Every time the doubters, many of whom also happen to work for Miami newspapers and media outlets, crawl out of the woodwork, Derrick Rose has an answer for them. He lets his game do the talking, and tonight, it was a confident roar.

DRose led a 12 - 0 run to close out the Bucks by attacking the basket relentlessly.

Even playing an away game in the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI, Derrick Rose was still serenaded by the "MVP" chants that seem to follow him everywhere he goes nowadays. Affectionately called United Center North by all the Chicago Bulls fans making the trek up the Lake Michigan coastline to see their beloved Bulls, the Bradley Center roared with partisan support for the visiting team, especially when DRose had the ball in his hands.

The support came in really handy as the Bulls went into the 4th quarter with a 5 point deficit. However, the Bulls have grown accustomed to the situation in putting together 20 wins in their last 23 games, especially lately.

In their upward climb to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, the Bulls have found their groove, and now, they have a routine. The way the 1990's Chicago Bulls teams used to look to Michael Jordan in the 4th quarter to carry the scoring load, that heavylifter is now NBA MVP leader, Derrick Rose.

Although many players from many teams have tried to be what Jordan was to the 1990's Bulls, few players have been successful. But despite being the only focal point of opposing defenses, Rose neither complains about the pressure nor does he fail to deliver when his team needs him the most.

DRose has the Bulls on top in the Eastern Conference and believing they can win any game.

In recent games, Rose has excelled as the clutch player that the Chicago Bulls will need if they are to make some real noise in the playoffs after this amazing 2010-11 regular season campaign.

On this night, when his team needed him to dominate, Rose put up 10 points and 4 assists in the final quarter of the game, accounting for 18 of the Bulls' 26 fourth quarter points, and almost single-handedly outscored the Bucks in the period, who could only manage 13 points against the stingy Chicago defense. Derrick Rose finished with 30 points and a career-best 17 assists.

It was just another statement game, dedicated to the doubters.

Despite giving the MVP to Lebron James the last two years because he was able to make his teammates better and "lead" his teammates to the best record, now that definition is not good enough.

Now it is also about statistics. Rarely has the top statistical player been given the NBA MVP Award, for there are already individual awards for leading the league in a statistical category. Which stats are the most important and why? Scoring? Assists? Well, the one statistic that does seem to exemplify a player's value to their team is some combination of usage and wins, essentially his relative contribution to the team's wins... short of that, none of the statistics that is oft quoted by these ignorant Miami sports writers is relevent.

And dumbest of all, some would say its about being the best player in the league. Well, why do we wait for any games to be played at all then? Lebron James is pretty much the concensus most gifted player, but what has that gotten him in 7 seasons as a pro? Literally, zero (rings).

What the naysayers fail to comprehend or acknowledge is the Valuable part of Most Valuable Player.

Israel Gutierrez of the Miami Herald thinks someone other than DRose should be MVP.

Historically, the major factor in being named the NBA MVP was winning. Many people want to change the rules to make it a statistical award, but the fact is that the best player on the team who has the best record in the league has won the vast majority of regular season MVP awards.

When the teams with the best record didn't have a clear cut most outstanding player (i.e. Boston's Big 3 in the 2007-8 NBA season), the award went to one of the next best teams, and their best player and leader (Kobe Bryant, that year).

This "system" gave the award to Lebron James for two seasons in a row, but it will not allow him to get it for a third because of the quality of players he plays with. To have two players who can be called "Most Valuable" on the same team makes neither one "Most Valuable". It is an impossibility in a team game.

Fortunately, public sentiment has been way ahead of both the curve and the so-called "experts", in realizing what ESPN and other biased media outlets fail to comprehend. You don't need a calculator or a complicated formula or algorithm to understand the Value that Derrick Rose has to the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls have had top defenses before in the recent past, but could not find a consistent source of clutch scoring for it to matter. In Derrick Rose, they now have a multifaceted playmaker who can take the ball to the basket at will or find teammates if the opposing defense keys on him.

His play makes his teammates better. His proven clutch play gives his teammates confidence. His work ethic makes his teammates want to get in the gym. And his new-found swagger has his teammates believing they can catch the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the league. That's leadership. That's what being the NBA MVP is about.

Rose and the Bulls Extend Win Streak to 8, While Ending Deron Williams and Nets' Streak at 5 Games; Retake 1st Place in East

NEWARK, NJ. Before Chicago's coming out party against the Miami Heat earlier this month and then taking over first place in the Eastern Conference with their win over the Washington Wizards two nights ago, it looked to be the type of game against an underrated New Jersey Nets team that the Bulls might experience a letdown.

And after dominating for 3 quarters, the Chicago Bulls looked like they just might let the game get away as the Nets stormed back in the 4th quarter in front of their home crowd. But this is not the Chicago Bulls of last year or even earlier this season.

This is the Chicago Bulls team that Jordan touted as "Title Ready" and worthy of comparisons to the 1991 NBA Championship Chicago Bulls team that he led.

So when the Nets tied the game up at 69 - 69 with 4:35 remaining, the Bulls. as a team, put their game in another gear to finish off on a 15 - 4 run to win 84 - 73 and retake sole possession of 1st place in the Eastern Conference.

DRose made another MVP statement by holding Deron Williams to 1 of 12 shooting and only 5 points.

Derrick Rose did not have a great offensive game in the win, but did his work on the defensive end, shutting down new Nets star point guard, Deron Williams. Rose managed 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and had two big blocks on the night. With the great defense by Rose, DWill finished with only 5 points, on 1 of 12 shooting, along with 11 assists.

Omer Asik was the Bulls player of the night, putting in 11 points and pulling down 16 boards and had 2 blocks in just 25 minutes, once again rewarding the Bulls for their choice to hold on to the Turkish big man rather than trading him in a package for a shooting guard at the trade deadline.

Asik is an asset that will come in handy against the likes of Orlando, Boston, San Antonio, or Los Angeles as the Bulls look forward to making a deep playoff run this post-season.

Derrick Rose Scores 34 Points To Carry The Bulls At Home Against The Atlanta Hawks

CHICAGO, IL. Through halftime, it looked like it would be another nail-biter against an Atlanta Hawks team that had won the last meeting between these two team in Atlanta, but a 24 - 10 third quarter changed the complexion of the game behind 18 points from the Chicago Bulls' NBA MVP leader Derrick Rose.

Here are some game highlights:


In recent days, following the what is being called "The Crying Game", Chicago's comeback win against the Miami Heat on March 6th after which there were accounts of Heat players crying over the loss, the Bulls have gone from dark horse contender to virtual front-runner.

Derrick Rose and the Bulls, in their usual humble tone, haven't bought into the new hype. Their manner is still one of taking care of business, and with games against the Miami Heat in the rear view mirror (the Bulls swept the regular season series), the Bulls' new order of business is chasing down the Boston Celtics for the best record and home court advantage in the East.

Tonight's game against the Atlanta Hawks were another test. Against their talent and playoff experience, Derrick Rose, after getting off to a slow start, was "assertive" in the third quarter to the tune of 18 points.

DRose was unstoppable in the 3rd quarter, putting up 18 points in the period on fearless drives to the basket

Combined with a great defensive team effort, the Bulls held the Hawks to 10 points in the quarter and built a 12 point lead going into the fourth quarter. They cruised to an easy 94 - 76 victory.

In the fourth quarter garbage time, you can really see the team comradery that the Chicago Bulls have developed between their players. The starters on the bench stood and cheered the efforts of the bench players that rarely see NBA game minutes.

They celebrated three point baskets from Brian Scalabrine and free agent signing, Rasual Butler, who was making his debut in a Bulls uniform, to the delight of the United Center home crowd, which included Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, two key contibuters to the 1991-93 Chicago Bulls NBA Championship teams who will be honored on Saturday.

Combined with a Boston loss to the Philadelphia 76ers tonight, the Chicago Bulls are now only a half game behind Boston for home court in the Eastern Conference.

Statement Game: DRose Is MVP, After Dropping Career High 42 Points In Win Over NBA Leading San Antonio Spurs

CHICAGO, IL. How many Bull-ievers were there outside of the Chicago-area after Derrick Rose stated that he wanted to be the NBA MVP at the beginning of this season? Not really sure, but I am certain that that number has increased as the NBA season reached the All Star Break.

In fact, after the Bulls final game before the All Star Break, the "secret" is out.

After Derrick Rose hung a career high 42 points along with 5 rebounds and 8 assists on the best team in the NBA heading into All-Star Weekend, the San Antonio Spurs, Rose now has a lot of Bull-ievers.

DRose was unstoppable, even for the NBA leading San Antonio Spurs.

Derrick Rose has the Bulls arriving at the All-Star break with the third best record (38 - 16) in the Eastern Conference, only 2.5 games back of both Boston and Miami.

DRose has managed to position the team despite having his team at full strength for much of the season; a broken hand kept free-agent acquisition Carlos Boozer out to begin the season, and shortly after Boozer's return, Joakim Noah was put on IR to surgically treat a ligament in his hand.

It will be scary to see what Rose and the Bulls can do at full strength.
Whereas Miami is sending their 3 stars and Boston is sending 4 stars to the All-Star Game, Rose was selected as an All-Star starter, but will not be joined by any of his teammates this year.

Rose's selection as a starter was an obvious one. Going into All-Star Weekend, Rose has averaged 24.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, all new career highs.

Rose has had to be "The Man" on this team every night for the Bulls to keep pace with Boston and Miami, and for that, he is the NBA's Most Valuable Player.

However, it is still amazing to see what Derrick Rose does when faced with a challenge like the San Antonio Spurs. The greater the challenge, it seems that the greater the will and effort that Rose brings to the contest. And the results speak for themselves.

Hang on for the stretch run!
Following All-Star Weekend, the Bulls will have one tune up game against the Toronto Raptors before they are tested, when the Miami Heat pay a visit to the United Center on 2/24/2011.