Top 25 Athletes Who Transferred in College of All-Time

It happens more than you would think. Athletes are either unhappy with where they start their college career and decide to look for a new fit, or they move up in the rankings from a junior college to a bigger school that is looking for an experienced athlete. Although these athletes aren't always recognized as having transferred before, they can become an important piece to their team. The following list of the Top 25 College Transfer Athletes of All-Time is based more on the athletes' college performance rather than what they did professionally. This was not the easiest list to research or put together, so please leave some feedback about what you think about the list. So here they are, starting from number 25 and working down all the way to number 1.

25. Qyntel Woods, NBA Forward
After attending Carver High School in Memphis, Tennessee, and having one season each at Moberly Area Community College and Northeast Mississippi Community College, Woods was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 21st pick of the 2002 NBA Draft. Coming out of college, Woods was known to pro scouts as a player with exceptional potential (sometimes compared to Tracy McGrady), but with a history of off-court problems. He played four seasons in the NBA for Portland, Miami Heat, and New York Knicks, averaging 4.1 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. I have him on the list because he played at two different junior colleges and was selected into the NBA without ever attending a Division I school.



24. Chris Brown, NFL Running Back
Brown attended Fort Scott, Kansas Junior College as a freshman and impressed then-Northwestern University head coach Gary Barnett enough to be offered a scholarship there as a running back. But soon Barnett left Northwestern for the University of Colorado, and incoming Northwestern coaches felt Brown was best suited as a receiver. He then transferred to Colorado, where Barnett provided him an opportunity to become one of the school's all-time leading rushers. Brown holds some other school records as well, including the most touchdowns in a game when he ran in six against Nebraska in 2001 during his sophomore season. Brown had a successful year in 2002 also, as he had a shot at being a Heisman Trophy candidate, but his hopes were derailed when a late-season injury caused him to miss 2 and a half games. To most Colorado fans' dismay, Brown elected to skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. Brown was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 3rd round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He has 2,757 yards and 16 touchdowns in his career.

23. Mitch Berger, NFL Punter
Berger attended Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas and won honorable mention All-American honors as a sophomore. He finished his college career by transferring to Colorado. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft. Berger won his first Super Bowl with the Steelers this year at Super Bowl XLIII , he had 3 punts for a 46.3 of average and 1 inside the 20 yard-line at the game. In his 13-year career he has averaged 43.0 yards per punt with 31.7 percent of them downed inside the 20-yard line.

22. Duce Staley, NFL Running Back
After attending Itawamba Community College in Mississippi, Staley was ranked 13th in the nation in rushing with 1,116 rushing yards as a senior at South Carolina. In his South Carolina years, he attempted 345 rushes for 1,582 yards (4.58 per average). He also caught 59 passes for 489 yards and two touchdowns. He was drafted in the 3rd round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997, and also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who he won a Super Bowl XL with. He has 5,785 yards and 24 touchdowns in his career.

21. Keith Smart, NBA Player and Coach
Smart is best remembered for hitting the game-winning shot in the 1987 NCAA championship game, giving the Indiana Hoosiers a 74–73 victory over the Syracuse Orangemen. He transferred to Indiana from Garden City Community College in Kansas where he was a two year standout and Jayhawk Conference Player of the Year. Despite having a very short NBA playing career, he has made a living coaching on the NBA sidelines.
Smart is currently in his sixth season as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, his ninth season as an NBA assistant coach. Overall, Smart owns 21 years of professional basketball experience as either a player or coach.



20. Dominic Rhodes, NFL Running Back
After attending Abilene Cooper High School, Rhodes was recruited by many major college programs including Texas Tech University and Texas Christian University. He signed instead with Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. Rhodes played two years at Tyler Junior College, where he earned All-America honors and twice was named an all-conference selection. Rhodes then attended Midwestern State University where he was a standout running back. There he was the subject of perceived racism, which is why he refuses to acknowledge his college during telecasts. We signed un-drafted with the Indianapolis Colts in 2001, and has also played with the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills. He helped win Super Bowl XLI with the Colts. He has 3,114 yards and 26 touchdowns in eight years.

19. Rudi Johnson, NFL Running Back
Johnson attended Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas for two years. As a sophomore, he averaged 7.3 yards per carry. He led Butler to two national Junior college championships one in the Dairy Bowl against Ricks College and the following year against Dixie State College in the Rotary Bowl. At Auburn University, Johnson finished his career with 324 rushing attempts for 1567 yards (4.84 yards per rush average). His 324 rushing attempts was a school single season record and his 1,567 rushing yards were the second-most in the school's history. He had ten games where he rushed for 100 yards or more. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2004. His career stats are 5,742 yards with 48 touchdowns.



18. Daron Oshay "Mookie" Blaylock, NBA Guard
A push-and-pass point guard, he was rated among the better defensive stoppers in the game. The former Garland High School, Midland College, and University of Oklahoma star is most highly regarded for his quick hands and a ball hawking defensive style that produced more than 200 steals in a season four times and two NBA All-Defensive first-team selections. He was also a capable outside shooter, a fine passer who generally ranked among the league's assist leaders, and a durable instigator of the fast break. In 1988, he (along with Stacey King) led the Sooners to the NCAA title game, where they were defeated by the Kansas Jayhawks, who were led by Danny Manning and coached by Larry Brown.
Blaylock was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the 12th overall pick of the 1989 NBA Draft and settled quickly into Nets' rotation. He was traded to the Atlanta Hawks prior to the 1992–93 season, where he flourished under newly-signed coach Lenny Wilkens. He was traded to the Golden State Warriors in a trade that brought the 1999 10th overall draft pick Jason Terry to Atlanta, and finished off his career playing as a reserve for the Warriors. He finished his 13-year career averaging 13.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.



17. Jeff Feagles, NFL Punter
Following a single season at Scottsdale Community College, Feagles played college football at the University of Miami. He won a national championship with their 1987 team. Feagles was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame at its 40th Annual Banquet on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at Miami's Jungle Island. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1988. Feagles is known for utilizing the "coffin corner" punt. He earned Pro Bowl selections in 1995 and 2008 and won a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

16. Marcus Pollard, NFL Tight End
Pollard played basketball as a power forward – two years starting at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas before transferring to Bradley University where he also started for two years Bradley did not have a football program at the time he metriculated there. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He developed in one of the better pass-catching tight ends while with the Colts. His best season was in 2001 when he totaled 47 receptions and 8 TDs including one for 86 yards. After being phased out of the Colts offense due to the emergence of Dallas Clark, Pollard would join the Detroit Lions for two seasons. Pollard has also been a member of the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons. He has 349 receptions, 4,280 yards, and 40 touchdowns in his career. Not bad for a guy who didn't play college football.

15. Keith Traylor, NFL Defensive Tackle
Traylor began his collegiate career at Coffeyville Junior College in Coffeyville, Kansas where he played two seasons (1987-88), before transferring and playing two seasons at the University of Central Oklahoma. He was a linebacker all four years and amassed 146 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries at Central Oklahoma. He was a first-team All-Lone Star Conference selection as a senior when he posted 79 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. On October 18, 2006, Traylor was named one of the top 75 players and coaches in the history of the Lone Star Conference to commemorate the conference's 75th anniversary. He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He has played for seven different teams, and has been a part of three Super Bowl winning teams. He has 215 tackles, 20 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 interceptions in his career. *Tackle data was not available before 2001.



14. Al Harris, NFL Corner Back
Harris spent two seasons (1993-94) at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas where he was a member of the 1994 national championship team. He then transferred to Texas A&M University-Kingsville where he was a two-year starter and letterman (1995-96). Harris was a first-team All-Lone Star Conference pick in 1996. Harris was drafted in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft with the 169th pick overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He currently plays for the Green Bay Packers and is known throughout the league for his physical, bump-and-run coverage style. He is a two-time pro bowl, with an All-Pro selection in 2007.

13. Pat Williams, NFL Defensive Tackle
Williams attended Navarro College, where he was a two-time JUCO All-American in 1992 and 1993. He initially transferred to Texas A&M University in 1994, but failed the math portion of a junior-college exit exam and was ruled ineligible for the 1994 season. He transferred again to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where he graduated in 1995, before returning to Texas A&M. Williams earned 2nd-team All-SWAC as a junior in 1995 in only 6 starts. He also started 8 games and appeared in 11 as a senior. He signed un-drafted with the Buffalo Bills in 1997, and is currently on the Minnesota Vikings. He is a three-time Pro Bowler, with an All-Pro selection in 2007. He has 591 tackles and 18.5 sacks in his career.

12. Jeremy Shockey, NFL Tight End
Shockey attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before transferring to the University of Miami, where he was part of the school's long tradition of star tight ends along with teammate Kellen Winslow II. As a Hurricane, Shockey first rose to national attention as a sophomore in Miami's 2000 game versus rival Florida State, catching what proved to be the game-winning touchdown pass with :46 remaining in the fourth quarter as # 7 Miami defeated the then-top ranked Seminoles, 27–24. The Hurricanes went 11–1 and Shockey received first team All-Big East honors from the league's coaches, The Sporting News, and College Football News. In 2001, Shockey was an integral member of the national championship Miami team. Shockey led the team with 45 receptions and had 604 yards receiving and eight touchdowns (including bowl statistics). He was one of three finalists for the Mackey Award, and was named a first team All-American by CNNSI, and a second team All-American by the Associated Press, CBS Sportsline, and ABC Sports. Having reached the status of national champion and All-American, Shockey declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft following the 2001 season. He was drafted 14th overall 2002 by the New York Giants, won Rookie of the Year award, was an All-Pro selection in 2002, has played in four Pro Bowls, and was a part of the Super Bowl XLII Champion Giants. He currently plays for the New Orleans Saints and has 421 receptions, 4,711 yards, and 27 touchdowns in his career.



11. Brandon Jacobs, NFL Running Back
Jacobs enrolled at Coffeyville Community College in 2001 and rushed for 927 yards and thirteen touchdowns on 130 carries (7.1 avg) in ten regular season games, adding 422 yards and four scores in playoff action en route to being named to the All-Jayhawk Conference team. In 2002, he led the conference in rushing with 1638 yards and 17 touchdowns on 243 carries (6.7 avg), adding another 258 yards and three scores on 24 carries in the playoffs.
Jacobs enrolled at Auburn University for the 2003 season. He was part of a shuttling system at halfback, sharing time with Ronnie Brown and Carnell Williams. He finished the year ranked second on the team with 72 carries for 446 yards (6.2 avg) and three touchdowns. Facing the prospect of being moved to linebacker the following year or stuck behind Brown and Williams on the depth chart, Jacobs chose to transfer out of Auburn. Jacobs decided to transfer to Southern Illinois University prior to the 2004 season. Even though he still had to split time with Terry Jackson and Arkee Whitlock, he totaled 992 yards with sixteen touchdowns on 150 carries (6.6 avg), adding 83 yards on eight receptions (10.4 avg) and 140 yards on six kickoff returns (23.3 avg). In his three collegiate stops, Brandon performed in 42 games. He gained a total of 4003 yards with 52 touchdowns on 595 carries (6.7 avg), caught twelve passes for 136 yards (11.3 avg) and returned six kickoffs for 140 yards (23.3 avg). Jacobs was eventually chosen in the 4th round (110th pick overall) of the draft by the Giants and won Super Bowl XLII with them. He has 2,620 yards and 35 touchdowns in four seasons.

10. Jamaal Tinsley, NBA Guard
Despite never playing basketball in high school, Tinsley, a high school dropout, managed to earn his GED and took his talents to Mount San Jacinto College (MSJC), where he played for the Eagles under Coach John Chambers. During the two seasons he played at MSJC, Tinsley was the two-time Foothill Conference MVP (1998 & 1999) and the Eagles' career leader in assists and steals. In two seasons, Tinsley led Iowa State, coached by Larry Eustachy, to two Big 12 Conference Championships. In his first season at Iowa State, Tinsley helped to guide the Cyclones to the Elite Eight of the 2000 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
In 2001, Tinsley received Second Team All-American and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year honors. That season ended in disappointment for Tinsley, as Iowa State, the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament's West region, was upset by No. 15-seeded Hampton in the tournament's first round. He is a part of the only college team in history to beat Kansas four times in a row. He was selected 27th overall by Vancouver Grizzlies in 2001, and has averaged 11.9 points and 8.4 assists per game in a seven-year career for the Indian Pacers.



9. Troy Brown, NFL Wide Receiver
Brown attended Lee-McRae College in North Carolina before transferring to Marshall University. Brown was a standout wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner for Marshall University, leading the Division I-AA in both kickoff and punt return average in 1991, a year in which he and quarterback Todd Donnan tied a record by combining for a 99-yard pass play against Virginia Military Institute. The following year, Marshall claimed its first national championship with Brown as its primary wide receiver and returner. In the championship game, Brown sealed the win by intercepting a hail mary Youngstown State pass in the final seconds of the game.
His career kickoff return average (29.69 yards per return) still stands as an NCAA record, as do his four kickoff returns for touchdowns. He scored a touchdown every eight times he touched the football. In 2006, Brown was given the Distinguished Alumni award by his alma mater. Brown played his entire 15-year career with the New England Patriots. He earned three Super Bowl rings with the team and retired as the franchise leader in career receptions. He is considered one of the all-time greats in franchise history, due to his performance on the field, and his loyalty to the organization throughout his career. He had 557 receptions, 6,366 yards, and 31 touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2001.



8. Aaron Glenn, NFL Corner Back
Glenn attended Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, where as a sophomore, he won All-Conference and All-America honors, after posting two interceptions, 60 tackles, and 15 pass deflections. Glenn then played college football at Texas A&M University. As a junior he was the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year, an All-Southwest Conference pick, and an All-American pick. As a senior, he was an All-Southwest Conference pick, and an All-American pick. He was drafted by the New York Jets with the 12th overall pick in 1994, and has also played for the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New Orleans Saints. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and has 41 career interceptions.



7. Corey Dillon, NFL Running Back
Dillon played Junior College ball at Dixie State College of Utah in St. George, Utah, in 1995, and was chosen as Offensive Back of the Year by College Sports magazine after rushing 279 times for 1,899 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 1994, he rushed for 1165 yards and 16 TDs at Garden City Community College in Kansas. At the University of Washington, Dillon set the team all-time single-season records for rushing yards (1,555 yards) and touchdowns scored (22) in 1996. In the first quarter against San Jose State University, Dillon rushed for 222 yards and caught an 83 yard touchdown pass, setting NCAA records for both rushing yards and all-purpose yards (305) in one quarter. Dillon did not re-enter the game as the Washington Huskies were comfortably ahead 36-0 by the end of the first quarter. He is retired from his football career, having played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, and was a part of the Super Bowl XXXIX Champion Patriots. He ranks 17th all-time with 11,241 yards, and 16th all-time with 82 touchdowns.



6. Steve Francis, NBA Guard
Francis attended the San Jacinto College of Texas in 1997, and the Allegany College of Maryland in 1998. Francis became the first player to take two unbeaten teams into the National Junior College Tournament. He then played at the University of Maryland where he finished the season averaging 17 points, 4.5 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. He was a consensus second-team All-American and was named a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year Awards. Although he stated he was "99% sure" he would return to Maryland for his senior season, he opted to enter the NBA draft. Francis was drafted with the second overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and was the co-winner of the 1999-2000 Schick Rookie of the Year Award. He is a three-time All-star, and has played for the Rockets, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks, averaging 18.1 points, 6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.



5. Yolanda Griffith, WNBA Forward
Griffith's post-high school basketball career began at Palm Beach Community College (Fla.) where she led the Panthers to back-to-back Region 8 Championships in 1990 and '91. Griffith was recently voted to the NJCAA Women's Basketball All-Century team. After Palm Beach, she led the nation in NCAA Division II during the 1992-93 season averaging 28.2 points per game at Florida Atlantic University. She was named Kodak and WBCA Division II Player of the Year and Kodak First-Team All-American. While at Florida Atlantic, she established school records for points (621) and rebounds (352). The Sacramento Monarchs selected Griffith as the 2nd overall draft pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft. She is a seven-time WNBA All-Star, and won the WNBA's MVP and Defensive Player awards in 1999. In 2005, the Monarchs won their first WNBA title over the Connecticut Sun, three games to one in a Best-of-five playoff series. Griffith was named series MVP. During her 10-year WNBA career, the former first round pick out has averaged 13.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.



4. Walter Jones, NFL Offensive Lineman
Jones was a 1994 NJCAA First-Team All-American at Holmes Community College in Goodman, Miss. He was also named Mississippi Junior College Player of the Year after the '94 season by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. After his two year stint at Holmes, Jones transferred to Florida State and, after red-shirting his first year, helped lead the Seminoles to back-to-back Sugar Bowl appearances in 1996 & '97. He earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors at Florida State. After Florida State, he was the sixth-overall selection in the 1997 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a six-time All-Pro. He is highly regarded as one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL. In fact, Dan Pompei of The Sporting News named Jones the No. 1 player in the NFL in 2006.
"Walter Jones may not be the most exciting player in the NFL -- he's an offensive tackle, for cryin' out loud -- but he is the most efficient. Instead of making big plays, he prevents them. Over and over and over, with the consistency of a fine timepiece. The Seahawks' left tackle makes domination so routine, he barely is noticed. But we are not taking Jones for granted. On our list of the 101 best players in the NFL, he's No. 1." 

- Dan Pompei, The Sporting News (9/7/2006)



3. Tyson Gay, American Track and Field Sprinter
Before making international headlines, Gay helped lead Barton County Community College (Kan.) to back-to-back NJCAA Track and Field Championships in 2002 and 2003. He won the 100-meter title in 2002 and then placed third in the event at the national meet in 2003. He also placed second in the 200 meters in 2003. After his successful career at Barton, Gay won the 2004 100-meter NCAA Division I title for Arkansas. His primary events are the 100 meters and 200 meters. His personal bests establish him as third fastest athlete in the history of the 100 and 200 meter races, with times of 9.77 (the American record) and 19.62 seconds respectively. Gay has won numerous medals in major international competitions, highlighted by his gold medal sweep of the 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 meters relay at the 2007 Osaka World Championships. This made Gay the 200 meter World Championships record holder and only the second sprinter to win all three events at the same World Championships, after Maurice Greene. At the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Oregon, he clocked in a time of 9.77 secconds in the quaterfinals of the 100 meter dash. That time set a new American record in the event and was also the third-fastest time ever in the event. In the 100 meter final the following day, he finished first in a wind-aided 9.68 seconds (+4.1 m/s), which is the fastest ever 100 meter time under any conditions - better than the official 9.69 mark set by Jamaica's Usain Bolt in the 100 meter final at the Olympics in Beijing. However, Gay failed to qualify for the Olympic finals as he was suffering from a nagging hamstring injury.



2. Larry Johnson, NBA Forward
Johnson began his collegiate career at Odessa College in 1988-89 and eventually transferred to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) men's program to play under head coach Jerry Tarkanian and his Runnin' Rebels. Alongside future NBA players Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony, Johnson faced legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and his Duke University Blue Devils comprised of Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, and Alaa Abdelnaby in the 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. UNLV would go on to dominate the contest by a score of 103-73, with Johnson contributing 22 points and 11 rebounds. He won the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John Wooden Award in 1991. He was the first overall draft pick in 1991 by the Charlotte Hornets and also played for the New York Knicks. He was a two-time All-star, had one All-NBA Team selection in 1993, and won the 1992 Rookie of the Year award. He averaged 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game, and scored over 10,000 career points.



And Finally, the number 1 college transfer athlete is....

1. Mike Rozier, NFL Running Back
Rozier gets the top spot in the rankings because he won the Heisman Trophy in 1983. I don't think there is any other player who transferred schools and ended up winning the Heisman. His 1983 season at Nebraska was one of the greatest of all time as he rushed for 2,148 yards on 275 carries and scored a then school-record 29 touchdowns. Rozier averaged 179 yards per game, while rushing for over 100 yards in 11 straight games, including a career-best 285 yards against Kansas. His 2,148 yards as senior is the fifth-highest total in NCAA history, and he was the second rusher in NCAA history to surpass 2,000 yards in a season. Rozier was a 1980 NJCAA and JC Gridwire All-American after leading Coffeyville Community College (Kan.) to a 9-0 record while rushing for 1,316 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Red Ravens. He averaged 7.4 yards a carry that season and in 1999 was inducted into the Coffeyville Red Raven Hall of Fame. He was drafted by Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL in 1984, and played for the Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. He was a two-time pro bowler, and was inducted to the college football hall of fame in 2006. In 8 seasons in the NFL, Rozier rushed for 4,462 yards and 30 touchdowns.



So there is the list I have compiled. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think or if I left anyone out that deserves to be on this list.

The fat lady finally sang.

After pushing the defending NBA champions to a do or die, winner-take-all, seventh game in their first round playoff series, the overachieving Bulls met their demise with a 109-99 loss — ending a season filled with more ups and downs than Hunter S. Thompson's emotional state.

The loss was undoubtedly very disappointing for all players and fans, but there a a LOT of good that came out of the last half of the season. It appears the team has finally found an identity — something they have been looking for since His Airness left the Windy City. They have a franchise player to build around in Derrick Rose and they also have the right mix of role players that can lead them to success.

The Bulls will probably be without Ben Gordon next season — his contract is now up — unless they decide to pay him more money than they can really afford if they want to keep a solid team together. But even without Gordon, the team is still very solid. Kirk Hinrich came into his own during that playoff series, John Salmons is a consistent scoring threat that can get the team well over 20 points on any given night, Luol Deng will be back from injury, Joakim Noah looks like he has finally figured out what it takes to contribute in the NBA.

Though the 2008-09 season has ended for them, Bulls fans have a lot to look forward to in upcoming years. The loooong seasons filled with inconsistent play and finishing with below .500 records are over. This team is going to become a force in the Eastern Conference, especially when they grab another elite player in the 2010 dream off-season of free-agent superstars. There is a long wait until the team will take the court again, but until then, Bulls fans can rest assured they will be able to watch a title contender for many years to come.

Photo: AP Photo/Elise Amendola

How awesome has this series been?

Photo: espn.com

The Bulls beat Boston 128-127 last night to tie the series at 3-3 and force a final game 7 — the winner advances to play Orlando in round 2. Besides game 3 — when Boston beat the Bulls by 21 points, this has been the most exciting and entertaining series I have ever watched in my life.

Will this series be remembered for years to come? Maybe not, especially if the Bulls lose in game 7. People will always remember the championships and Michael Jordan, and they probably are more memorable. But as far as entertainment value goes, this current series takes the cake. When the Bulls were winning championships, everyone knew they were going to win. It was awesome, but not near as entertaining as a series in which four out of the six games have gone into overtime. FOUR OUT OF SIX GAMES HAVE GONE INTO OVERTIME!

No matter what happens in game 7, win or lose, it has been great to watch. Will it be extremely disappointing if they lose and the season ends? No doubt about it. But who thought they would even be in this situation in the first place? A few months ago it wasn't crazy to think they might not even make the playoffs. The team has made incredible strides in the past month, and even if they can't pull off a win Saturday night, the experience they are getting is fantastic.

Keys to winning: 1) STOP TURNING THE BALL OVER, 2) Derrick Rose has to stop being timid at the end of games. I feel like he plays with great confidence for most of the game and then in the final minutes he becomes a no-factor, 3) Shut down Ray Allen, 4) Don't quit on defense. The Bulls have seen double-digit leads disappear in the blink of an eye on a few occasions this series. If you can get that lead, buckle down on defense and extend it.

If the Bulls can do all of those things, there is no doubt they can come out of Boston with a win. Actually doing it will be the hard part. I can't wait to see what game 7 will bring to us tomorrow night.

There can't be another overtime can there? How bout 3 of em..

The Bulls forced a game 7 in one of the best series I've ever watched in my life. I could probably watch this highlight reel a million times.

Gordon could be out for Game 5

The status of Bulls guard Ben Gordon, who was the hero of game 4, will be a game time decision as to whether or not he will play in tonight's crucial game 5 in Boston.

Gordon has a strained left hamstring and told the Chicago tribune it did not feel very good after the team's shoot-around today. If Gordon is out for the game, it will be very hard for the Bulls to pull off a victory. Gordon leads all scorers in the series with 24.8 points per game. Gordon helped the Bulls win game 4 when he hit a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first overtime to force a second. He also had 42 points for the Bulls in their game 2 loss.

Photo: AP Photo - Charles Rex Arbogast

Bulls re-tie series in 2OT instant classic

For those who missed the Bulls' 121-118 victory over the Celtics in game 4 to tie the series 2-2, you missed one of the best basketball games of season. The game was filled with drama, back-and-forth scoring, and insane shots from both teams when it mattered most. Here is a nice little video for those who either missed it, or just want to re-live the action:

Was there ever any doubt? Rose Rookie of the Year.

It was announced Wednesday, Derrick Rose is the 2009 Rookie of the Year. Although he didn't lead all rookies in scoring — O.J. Mayo did with 18.5 points while Rose averaged 16.8 — he had by far the most solid rookie campaign of any player.

Rose won easily, receiving 111 of 120 possible first place votes from sports writers and broadcasters. Mayo finished second in the voting with Brook Lopez coming in third.

To any Bulls fan, this news is no shock. Rose has been the spark plug of a team that has surprised many with making a playoff run, and actually taking game one from the Boston Celtics — a game in which Rose tied the record for points in a playoff debut with 36. The future of the Bulls looks awfully bright with him as the leader.

Photo: M. Spencer Green / Associated Press

Bulls come out tied 1-1 after two games in the Garden

Alright so last night's loss was pretty disappointing. The Bulls had a chance to go up 2 games to nothing on the defending champs and really take a stranglehold on the series. Instead, Ray Allen finally woke up and hit 6 of 10 three pointers — including a game winning trey with only 2 seconds left on the clock. But coming out of Boston with one victory is not bad. I don't think many people thought the Bulls had a prayer to even compete in this series. They have proven that game 1 was not a fluke by nearly taking them out in game 2 as well.

Now the Celtics have to come to the United Center where they will not have the crowd (or the referees for that matter) on their side. I feel like the Bulls have a lot of momentum going into game 3, even though they just loss. I think they have messed with the minds of the Celtics players by playing them so tough the last two games. Long story shirt, the Celtics better bring their A-game to the UC if they want to come out of there with any victories at all.

What can the Bulls improve on the rest of the series? Well, let's start with the main reason why they lost game 2: Giving up offensive rebounds and second-chance points. The Celtics had 21 offensive rebounds and it seemed like every time they were able to scoop up an offensive board, their next shot attempt went through the hoop. The amount of second-chance opportunities the Bulls gave Boston in game 2 was sickening. The Celtics had 32 second-chance points!! It just never seemed to stop. If the Bulls could have boxed out and taken away just half of those Boston offensive rebounds, they probably would have won the game.

They also need to work on being more patient on offense. It has worked for them so far because of Rose and Gordon, but sooner or later the quick shots without letting any offense develop is going to come back to bite them. Del Negro just needs to make them understand they need to take some time off the clock every once in a while, especially towards the end of the game when the score is close. Don't take the first available, off-balance shot when only 10 seconds has ticked off of the shot clock.

Other than rebounding and patience, the team has played pretty well. As long as they can keep scoring the way they have been, they will have a chance to win every game. They just have got to stay mentally focused and stay hungry. I don't think staying hungry will be much of an issue for the team, but if they lapse mentally, it could be very detrimental for them.

Photo: Elsa/Getty Images

Round 1: Bulls vs. Celtics

So here we are. After 82 games, the Bulls pulled off making it to the playoffs with the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Their reward? The defending champion Boston Celtics.

After struggling for much of the season and appearing to have no chance at making the playoffs, the Bulls got hot at the end of the season after some mid-season trades that brought in John Salmons, Brad Miller, and Tim Thomas. The added depth to the low post and the added scoring from Salmons proved to be the missing ingredient the Bulls needed as they won 12 out of their final 16 games to finish the season at an even 41-41 record.

The Celtics on the other hand, have been in the top 2 in the Eastern Conference all season long. They exploded out of the gate to start the season with a 27-2 record that saw a 19-game winning streak. It appeared the 2008 champions were going to be unstoppable, but after some injuries and inconsistent play from their stars, they finished 62-20 — good enough for the #2 seed in the East behind the Cavaliers. Yes, 60 wins is impressive, but after starting the season 27-2, the Celtics had higher expectations earlier in the season. This is not to take anything away from Boston, they are the still the champs until someone can take them down.

So how do the teams match up? Obviously asking any NBA fan who they would vote for to win the series, the easy answer would be the Celtics. But there are some factors that could give the Bulls a few advantages and give Boston a run for their money.

Before we even get into comparing line-ups, let's establish that most of Boston's roster consists of the same players they had in 2008 when they won the title. The Bulls have about four players on the team with any playoff experience at all, but nothing compared to veteran squad of Boston.

Lets start with the centers: Joakim Noah vs. Kendrick Perkins. Noah averages 6.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, slightly worse than Perkins' 8.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Perkins is also bigger at 6'10, 280 lbs. to Noah's 6'11 232 lb. frame. Perkins has six full seasons and an NBA championship under his belt, while Noah has two years and no playoff experience. Noah is no stranger to the post-season big stage as he helped lead the University of Florida to two consecutive NCAA Championships. Noah is also more athletic and probably a little better defender than Perkins. Despite Noah's college success and defensive skills, the edge has to go to Perkins.

Now for the guards: Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon vs. Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. The Bulls guards combine for 37.5 points, 9.7 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game. The Celtics guards average 30.3 points, 11.1 assists, and 8.8 rebounds per game. There is no question much of the Bulls scoring all season has come from Rose and Gordon. In fact, Gordon is the top scorer on either team averaging 20.7 points per game. The big issue for Rose and Gordon is their defense. Rose has shown flshes of good defense all season, but he struggles sometimes. Gordon might as well stand on the sideline while the team is on defense because he never learned how. Rondo and Allen obviously have the experience and fundamental advantage over the Bulls' guards, but when it comes to putting points on the board, the Bulls' guards get the edge. Not to say that Rondo and Allen are not capable of this either, but on any given night, Rose or Gordon can single-handedly take over a game, especially late in the game when it counts most. Because of that factor mixed with the lack of defense, I call a push for the Bulls guards vs. Celtics guards. It will literally be a game by game basis on who performs better, but if the Celtics can contain Rose, the Bulls will struggle.

For the forwards: The Bulls got the best news possible learning that Kevin Garnett will probably not play for the whole series. This factor could contribute huge for the Bulls to actually pull off the upset. The Bulls bring in Tyrus Thomas and John Salmons while the Celtics forward will be last year's NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce and Leon Powe. The Bulls forwards average 29.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while the Celtics forwards average 28.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Obviously with Garnett out of the picture it gives the Bulls a huge break. Not only is Garnett a great player, but he is the team's leader and brings an enormous amount of energy to the court every night he plays. With KG out, I give it another push at the forward position. Thomas and Salmons are a great duo, but Pierce can single-handedly win a game on any night.

Now for the benches: The Celtics bring in an experienced group off the bench, but they aren't very deep. Stephon Marbury, Eddie House, and Glen Davis will be the biggest contributors off the bench, but none of them are very scary. House can light it up from the three point line at any given time however. The Bulls have one of the deepest benches in the NBA — with Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller, and Tim Thomas. Both team's benches have a lot of NBA experience and even playoff experience. The benches could come in huge in some of the games because when one of the starters is not paying well, they need to come in and fill that slot. I think the Bulls have the better bench to do that.

So let's review:
Center: Celtics
Guards: Even
Forwards: Even
Bench: Bulls

The Bulls are going to have to play perfect basketball the entire series to be able to pull off an upset on the defending champs. If KG were able to play, I don't think the Bulls would stand a chance. However, KG cannot play and it really gives Chicago a big chance to take advantage of the situation. The last time the Bulls played Boston, they beat them 127-117. The Celtics were without KG at the time, proving the Bulls can actually beat them without the big man. The toughest thing for the young Bulls team will be staying mentally focused and putting forth 100% effort on every play of every game. If they can't stay focused, the veteran Celtics will eat them alive.

Photo: www.bballvideos.com

Potential playoff match ups...

With only two games remaining in the regular season, the Bulls have clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. What is yet to be decided is what seed they will receive and who they will be playing in the first round. As it stands right now, they have the #7 seed and would play the Boston Celtics in Round 1. However, the Bulls could very easily reach the #6 seed or drop to the #8.
Let's go over the scenarios that could decide the Bulls' first round opponent:
The Bulls are currently tied at a 40-40 record with the Philadelphia 76ers, who have the advantage on the Bulls if the season ends and they still have even records. The Sixers, however, play the Celtics and the Cavs — the two best teams in the East — in their final two games of the season. If the Bulls can win just one more game, the odds of getting the #6 seed are very realistic.
On the other hand, the Bulls are only one game ahead of the Detroit Pistons, who they play tonight, April 13th. If the Bulls lose, they will drop down to the #8 seed before the night is over.
So as you can see, the Bulls could end up in any of the bottom three slots entering the playoffs. Their potential opponents by seed would be Cleveland if they had the #8 seed, Boston if they end up #7, and Orlando if they can reach the #6 seed.

Best (meaning worst) hair in Chicago Bulls history

Fellow classmate Robert Lotzer gave me an idea to do this after he wrote about Chiacgo Cubs' Mike Fontenot's hair. It made me think about another Chicago athlete on the basketball court who may have the most ridiculous hair in all of professional sports right now. The Bulls own Joakim Noah.



Besides Noah, the Bulls have had a few other athletes grace our television sets with not only crazy hair styles, but facial hair as well. Who can forget Dennis Rodman and his seeminlgy insistance on having a different hair color every game? Ben Wallace brought back the old-school afro, and Drew Gooden used his facial hair to express his individuality.

Thomas or Aldridge?

In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Bulls picked LaMarcus Aldrdge, a 6-11 forward out of Texas, with the second overall pick. They eneded up trading Aldridge to the Portland Trailblazers for Tyrus Thomas, a 6-9 forward out of LSU, after they selected him with the fourth overall selection.
After Thomas had a few underwhelming seasons averaging 5.2 and 6.8 points per game, it looked like the Bulls had made a bad choice in not keeping Aldridge. Aldridge had an explosive sophomore campaign averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in the 07-8 season. He is averaging similar numbers this season, in fact even better at 18.4 points per game.
Thomas has recently come on very strong for the Bulls however. This may be due to the inside depth the Bulls now have with Brad Miller, Joakim Noah, and Tim Thomas. Tyrus may have struggled before simply because he had no other inside help. In the past few weeks, he has shown flashes of the dominant player he can be. The guy is a FREAK athlete with amazing God-given talent. His biggest issue is working on staying focused night in and night out. If he can mix the mental aspect of the game with his physicality, he can become a very scary player for opponents.
So the question is, Thomas or Aldridge? Right now, Aldridge still looks like the better overall pick, but will Thomas prove this wrong a few years down the road? I guess we'll have to wait and see. But until then, I know I'm comfortable saying I am very happy that Tyrus Thomas wears a Chicago uniform.

Photo: http://sportsmaven.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/tyrus-thomas-at-2007-nba-all-star-weekend-2-17-07.jpg

D-Rose a B-? I think not.

Any Chicago Bulls fan knows Derrick Rose. Despite being the first round pick in the 2008 NBA draft, he is about as humble as any other player in the league. He’s already a local hero, and is one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year. He averages 16.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game.

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson earlier this week, Rose graded his performance so far this season a B or B-. This is not only a complete under estimate, but I would be willing to say anyone who considers themselves a basketball fan would disagree with his assessment.

To compare Rose to the elite players in the league, and grade him with those standards, then maybe a B or B- would be accurate. But the reality is, a rookie in the NBA should not ¬— and cannot — be compared to NBA all-stars. Even LeBron James, arguably the league’s most dominant player, was left out of the all-star game his rookie season.

Perhaps Rose feels like his role on the team is to be an elite player and that is why he gave himself such a poor grade, but he has to realize filling that role takes time. There is no question he is already a team leader and will be an all-star for years to come, he just needs more time. Remember, he is a 20-year-old rookie.

If we grade Rose relative to other rookies in the league, it would be foolish to argue that he shouldn't be graded with an A or A-. The other candidates for Rookie of the Year this season, all of whom were top five draft picks, do not stack up to the Chicago native.

Rose said one of the reasons he graded himself like he did is because they didn’t have enough wins. But wait. Rose's stiffest competition for Rookie of the Year is O.J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies. Mayo has had a very solid season — averaging 18.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game — fairly even with Rose. But he has a downfall that can't be ignored: His team’s record is 19-54 this season. Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook is another ROY candidate. He is averaging 15.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game — also comparabale to Rose. But again, the Thunder are 21-53 this season.

Rose and the Bulls are 36-40 and have a spot in the playoffs if the season ended today.

The remaining top five draft picks — Michael Beasley and Kevin Love — have also had good seasons, but nothing compared to the other aforementioned rookies.

Rose's other reason for for his low grade — “I've committed too many turnovers.” The Bull's point guard is averaging 2.5 turnovers per game. Compared with some of the ‘elite’ point guards in the league, Rose looks impressive.

Steve Nash averages 3.5 turnovers per game, with Chris Paul at 3, and Deron Williams at 3.5. Granted all of those players average more assists per game than Rose, but as a rookie, his turnover numbers compare pretty well to some of the best point guards in the league.

Stats aside, D-Rose has been the spark-plug of one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season. Rose makes plays on a nightly basis that are as jaw-dropping as seeing the Cubs win a playoff game. He has shown he possesses extraordinary leadership skills and confidence, and he never backs away from any game-time scenario.

As far as being a rookie on a team with no other definitive stars, I give Rose an A for the season. It's going to be a few years before he is considered an elite player in the league, but Chicago fans need not worry — by the time the 20-year-old is done with his career, the Windy City will be smelling roses again in the month of June.

Photo: http://weblogs.cltv.com/news/opinion/mcclendon/derrick_rose.jpg

Bulls rolling in the East

The Bulls defeated the Detroit Pistons 99-91 making it 5 wins out their last 6 games. More impressively, they did it without the help of Derrick Rose, who sat out the game with a bruised wrist. They have a two-game lead for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference — the only loss out of the six games coming from the Western Conference's leading team, the Lakers.

Let's give it up to John Paxson for picking up John Salmons. Since joining the Bulls he has averaged 19.7 points per game, and 21.8 ppg in the month of March. Ben Gordon is the team's leading scorer, but I feel like the Bulls have finally found a "go-to" guy. I feel comfortable every time the guy has the ball in his hands. Let's not forget the additions of Brad Miller and Tim Thomas, who have both been making great contributions off the bench putting up double-digit scores in many games.

With only 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Bulls control their own playoff destiny — something I did not think I would be able to say a few moths ago. Only two of the ten teams remaining have a record of above .500 — Miami and Philadelphia. This obviously does not mean easy sailing for the Bulls, who seem to always play well against a really good team and then blow it the next night against one of the league's worst teams.

The most intriguing match-up left on the schedule, believe it or not, is against the Charlotte Bobcats on April 11th. Charlotte is currently two games behind the Bulls in the playoff race and they will face off on the Bulls' third-to-last game of the season. The Bulls play Miami tomorrow night at home.

Photo: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

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Hawkeyes looking to advance in Conference Tournament

Winning conference games is not something the Iowa men’s basketball team has been able to experience many times – now the fate of their season relies on it.

The 10th seeded Hawkeyes will play the 7th seed Michigan today in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament – the loser will see their season end.

Iowa and Michigan split the season series with both teams winning on their home court. Iowa beat Michigan 70-60 in a thrilling game that went into overtime on Feb. 22, but the Hawkeyes have not had much to be proud of this year -- finishing the regular season with a 15-16 overall record and 5-13 in conference.

Even though Iowa has struggled, there are still some fans that will be watching and hoping for the improbable feat of a conference championship.

“I’m meeting some of my friends at a bar to watch the game,” Iowa junior Sam Patterson said. “I think they can win today. They’ve beaten them once already and they’ll be hungry for redemption from last year’s loss.

Michigan defeated Iowa in the first round of last year’s conference tournament by a score of 55-47.

Some students have class during the game, but that isn’t stopping junior Sean Rochambeau, a season ticket holder, from staying updated on the game.

“I have class, but I will be checking the score constantly on my IPod Touch,” he said. “I saw them beat the Wolverines in overtime earlier this year, so I think they can pull off another win against them.”

There are some local students that are not so confident in their home team however.

"I don't see them winning. I don't think their heads are in the right place and they don't have much to play for," Iowa junior Ross Neuman said. "I'll probably watch the game because I don't have anything better to do, but I'll be flipping through the channels to watch other games as well."

With a win against Michigan, the Hawkeyes can at least take something good from a season that has not gone the direction they were hoping. Although winning the tournament is very unrealistic, winning just one game can give the team some momentum going into next season.

Tip-off for the game is 1:30 p.m.in Indianapolis.

Sean Rochambeau, Ross Neuman, Andrea Stroink, Sam Patterson

Bulls take over final playoff spot.....for now

The Bulls have finally grabbed the 8th playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night.

After what has seemed like a season that was going nowhere, the Bulls have actually made it so they control their own destiny for the playoffs. Can anyone believe they could make the playoffs with a 29-34 record? Sounds pretty cheap, but that's what you get with the Eastern Conference. And hey, if the Bulls can keep it up, they'll get to play Boston or Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs — that would be fun.

The Bulls have won 3 of their last 4 games and are really looking strong. New acquisition John Salmons put up 21 points for the Bulls in the Milwaukee win — something that he was brought in to do. This is great ews for the Bulls especially with the off and on nature of Luol Deng. If you ask me, I would rather have Salmons running the small forward position than Deng. John Paxson is suddenly not looking so dumb after all.

Ben Gordon has also come on very strong in the last few weeks. I don't understand why everyone thinks the Bulls will let him go at the end of the year. Money might be a factor I guess, but why would you get rid of your leading scorer? I know he doesn't play much defense, but man the guy can put points on the board.

Now how many people thought Vinny Del Negro should be gone at the end of the season a few weeks ago? There might be many that still think that, but if the Bulls ed up making the playoffs, it will be hard to have an argument that the guy can't coach. The Bulls do not have a superstar on their roster that they can rely on to lift them at all times like a Kobe, LeBron, or D-Wade. Yet, Del Negro has gotten them in prime position to make the playoffs. I gotta give it to the guy that he has not been the worst coach in the league this year like many thought.

Photo: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Bulls still trying to find groove, but come up with huge win

After the Bulls dismantled the Orlando Magic 120-102 it looked like Paxson had put together a team that could make a serious playoff run. Two games and two losses later, and they look like the team from a month ago all over again. So what Bulls team was going to show up against Houston on Saturday night? For most of the game it looked like the bad Bulls.

Just when it looked like the Bulls were destined for a third loss in a row, the Bulls outscored the Rockets 23-3 in final 6 minutes of the game to win 105-102. It was one of the most insane comebacks I have seen in a long time. They were down 17 points with 6 minutes left! I still can't believe they pulled out a win.

Once again, Derrick Rose carried the squad in the 4th, scoring 16 of his 22 points in the final period.

The Bulls remain 1 game back from the coveted 8th playoff spot. I don't know how many times this season it has looked like the Bulls season is going to be over, and then they get a huge win, and suddenly they are a few wins from having a playoff spot. I just don't know if they have it in them to make the push they need. They keep getting so close, and then they lose two or three games in a row — falling back into the hole they have dug themselves.

The Bulls have two very winnable games against Charlotte and Golden State before playing Milwaukee — the team who currently holds the 8th playoff spot in the East. If the Bulls can just figure out a way to win those two games before playing the Bucks, that game will have HUGE playoff implications.

Photo: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Red and Stormin' Norman, two Chicago greats die same day

Johnny "Red" Kerr, the former Chicago Bulls coach who spent more than three decades as a broadcaster for the team, died Thursday, Feb. 29th. He was 76.
I couldn't even count the amount of games that I watched that "Red" announced. I definitely will not forget what this voice sounded like any time soon.

His death comes after the Bulls unveiled a statue of Kerr at the United Center during an emotional ceremony earlier in February that included taped messages from President Barack Obama and commissioner David Stern and speeches from Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan. Thankfully "Red" was able to experience this well-deserved tribute to him before he passed away.

As if it couldn't get any worse for the Bulls family, Norm Van Lier was found dead in his apartment on the same day. Norm was a star guard for the Bulls in the 70's, but is known by many my age as an analyst on Comcast Sports Net. He was always cracking jokes and had an optimistic attitude during his analysis. I got to meet Norm once at a Northern Illinois University basketball game. He talked to my father and I for close to ten minutes about the most random stuff you could think of. I don't think we even talked about basketball with him.

I guess it just shows that even in death, Bulls stick together.

Photo: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

New squad gives playoff-worthy performance

The new-look Bulls brought their A-game to the United Center Tuesday night when they defeated Orlando 120-102 — the most points scored against the Magic this season.
After seeing 7 players on the roster put up double figures and do pretty much whatever they wanted on offense, the idea that the Bulls can make a playoff run is more than realistic.
The newcomers to the team, Brad Miller, John Salmons, and Tim Thomas all contributed immensely. Although none of them started, they came off the bench and put in great performances. Thomas had 17 points, Salmon had 11, and Miller had 9 with 7 rebounds. I like what Tim Thomas said about the team after the game.
"We have guys coming off the bench that know how to play," Thomas said. "That's very helpful. You've got guys in their second, third year that are out there with energy. When they get stuck, you bring in guys like myself, John and Brad, who understand how to get the job done. That's a huge thing."
This is nothing but good news to me. It shows that the new guys realize their role on the team, and are fulfilling what Paxson had in mind.
So far, this trade is looking like the best move of Paxson's career with the Bulls. If they can continue utilizing the depth they now have, especially in the front-court, they will be able to contend with any team on any night.
Thomas also had another quote that iterates my point: "We pretty much have all the pieces," Thomas said. "When teams go big, we can match them going big. When teams go small, of course, we can go small."
This tool is what championship teams are made out of. Now I'm not saying the Bulls are now championship contenders, but they are a lot closer. 4 weeks ago, when other teams would "go big" the Bulls had nothing that could stop it. Now they have depth at every position with players who know how to play the game.
Photo: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Story on SportsCenter about my home town DeKalb, IL.

Bulls Busy Before Trade Deadline

A day after the Bulls got Brad Miller and John Salmons from Sacramento for Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden, Paxson was not done with his trading activity.
The Bulls made a trade with the Knicks sending guard Larry Hughes to New york in exchange for big men Jerome James and Tim Thomas. They also got guard Anthony Roberson, who I don't expect to see much playing time. With James at 7'1 and Thomas at 6'10, the Bulls have taken their small team and made them into a very balanced squad. Unfortunately James is out for the season with an achilles injury, but Thomas will add great depth to the front-court for the Bulls, and should be good relief off the bench. As I said in my last post, I thought Hughes was gone and sure enough he was gone the next day. Sure, he was a good player and all, but he just wasn't a good fit for this team. I think he will do really well in New York.
The Bulls also made a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder sending Thabo Sefolosha to OKC for a 2009 first round draft pick. I think it was another great move by Paxson. Again, Sefolosha is a good player, but he just doesn't fit with the team they have in Chicago right now. And with the Thunder having the third worst record in the league at 13-41, it looks like the Bulls are primed for at least another top five draft pick in the next draft.
Look out NBA, this squad could be really dangerous in a year or two. (Not that Bulls fans haven't been saying that for the last five years.)

Brad Miller Returns...

The Bulls pulled off a 7-man, 3-team deal landing Brad Miller and John Salmons in Chicago for Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin, and Cedric Simmons. Don't know who those last two players are? Me neither.
I like this trade a lot. I know, I know, everyone wanted Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, or Vince Carter. Who doesn't want those guys? But you know what, that just wasn't realistic and those were dream expectations for any Bulls fan. The deal that Paxson pulled off is about as good as it's going to get — and it's pretty damn good.
I love Brad Miller. I liked him when he was with the Bulls, and was very pissed when the Bulls let him go and he became an all-star. No, he isn't an all-star caliber player anymore, but he his definitely a very solid post presence, which is what the Bulls have been lacking for God knows how long. He is a great compliment to Thomas and Noah, and I feel like he is going to make the whole team better. He is going to open up their offense and allow Derrick Rose to do much more at the point.
John Salmons. Does anyone realize that this guy is averaging 18 points per game and can play the forward or 2-guard position? Not to mention he is a good defender — another area the Bulls have been lacking in this season. I think he is a great addition to the team. Both Miller and Salmons give the Bulls a much better chance of making the playoffs.
So what about the players they lost? Is Nocioni a good player? Yes. Is Drew Gooden a good player? Yes. Are they both expendable? MOST DEFINITELY! If you consider who the Bulls got for who they gave up, the Bulls come out looking great from this deal. Yea, they might lose a little money because of it, but so what?
This deal does raise the question for what guard is the next to go however. Hinrich? Gordon? Hughes? I have a feeling one of those players will be gone before the trade deadline expires — most likely Hughes or Hinrich. I think if the Bulls commit to keeping Gordon, the back-court of Rose, Salmons, Deng, and Gordon coming off the bench is prettay, prettay good. And now with a solid front-court with Miller, Thomas, and Noah — The Chicago Bulls have just gotten A LOT better.
Thoughts anyone?
Photo: www.digiphotos.net/ sports.htm

D Rose wins Skills Challenge

Derrick Rose represented Chicago well on the Saturday night All-Star weekend festivities. Rose faced Devon Harris, Mo Williams, and Tony Parker in the Skills Competition and came out on top, defeating Harris in the final round. It definitely made me proud to be a Bulls fan, even for just a few minutes, and to see our number one draft pick actually becoming a solidified star for once is very comforting.

As far as the rest of the Saturday night All-Star stuff, I thought it was overall an entertaining night. Obviously the main event of the night is always the dunk contest, which although wasn't as good as some in the past, it surpassed my expectations. Every year it gets more difficult for guys to come up with new dunks to do. For a little while, the competition became boring in my opinion, but Dwight Howard and Nate Robinson have managed to make it somewhat exciting again in the past few years. Who doesn't like to see 2 freaks of nature on both sides of the spectrum battling for the dunk contest title?
I agreed that Robinson should have won. Robinson's final dunk of jumping over Dwight was quite the site to see. Howard's final free-throw-line dunk was weak and out-dated as well. But who else is excited to see LeBron James in next year's contest? For those who missed it, James preliminarily threw his name into the list for next year's dunk contest. I have a feeling it will be one to remember.

Paxson, stay or go?

As many have heard, there are rumors swirling around that John Paxson is going to step down as the Bulls GM. I'm having a lot of trouble deciding whether or not that would be good for the Bulls. I think the biggest question is if he were to stay, would the Bulls continue with their underachieving or will he be able to right the ship and get things turned around?
I'm leaning toward thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea if he were to step down. Like I said, the biggest question in my book is what are the pros and cons of him staying or leaving. I'm having trouble figuring out many pros if he were to stay. The possible cons if he were to stay would be the continuance of the inability to pull the trigger on trades that would help the team. I don't even want to get started at all of the missed opportunities the Bulls have had with trades. He also hasn't picked or signed anyone yet that has proven to be a go-to scorer or a leader of the team. Maybe Derrick Rose can fall into that role, but besides him, Paxson has signed a lot of middle-of-the road "stars."
If he were to step down, I don't really see many cons. Honestly, I don't know if it can get much worse than it is right now. So what's the worst that could happen if he were to step down? Someone would come in and actually put together a squad that can compete for a championship instead of competing for the last spot in the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. That doesn't sound too bad to me.
I like John Paxson a lot. He is just making it very difficult to embrace him as the GM for the Bulls because really, he hasn't done much to show that he has done a good job. Yea, he chose Derrick Rose as the first overall pick. A) I would have done that if I were the Bulls GM too, and B) Paxson was the luckiest guy on the planet when the Bulls got the first overall draft pick.
I know there are a lot of arguments about this and many different view points. Feel free to leave some thoughts if you feel so inclined.

Welcome to the Derrick Rose show...

Derrick Rose putting on a show in the United Center before even becoming a pro. How is it even fair for a highschooler to be this good? I love how #23 (the guy he dunks on) looks up at D Rose at the 28 second mark. His face says it all.

Bulls drop heartbreaker, Lakers looking unstoppable

Going into their last game of the long 7 game road trip, the Bulls were poised to continue their solid play that had already earned them a winning record for the road trip. For the most part, their solid play continued, but the result was a very tough loss to Dallas 115-114 in overtime.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, they ran into one of the elite players in the league on a night where he couldn't be stopped. Dirk Nowitzki dominated all game with 44 points, 14 of them coming in the overtime period. Sometimes, even when your team plays well, there are players on the opposition who can literally take a game over by themselves. Although Dirk is a little past his primes, he can still fill that role for Dallas on any given night.
A bright spot for the Bulls was Tyrus Thomas continuing his good play with 23 points and 12 rebounds. They have been looking for solid play from a big man all year, and Thomas has been stepping up as of late. He even hit two three pointers in a row at the end of the game to pull the Bulls within 113-111 and the final score of 115-114.
The Bulls remain in playoff contention only 2 games out of the final playoff spot with conference foes Detroit and Miami coming to the United Center this week.
As for the rest of the NBA world, the LA Lakers are stating their case to be the favorite going into the post-season. They have a league best record of 41-9 and are currently riding a 6 game winning streak. More impressive is their last two victories came on the road against the other two teams vying for the league's best record — Boston and Cleveland.
The Lakers trailed almost the entire game against Boston, but were able to pull off a stunning victory in overtime to silence the racuas crowd in the Garden. Three nights later, they trailed the Cavs by 10 at halftime before dominating the 2nd half and winning 101-91.
The Lakers are quickly becoming the team to beat in the NBA, and have been winning without Andrew Bynum again. Luckily for the Lakers, this time they will have Bynum in the post-season, and that is just scary.
Photo: (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Bulls continue winning on the road

The Bulls solidified their first winning record on a road trip of 5 or more games since 1998 beating a New Orleans Hornets team that had to play without Chris Paul for the first full game this season. They are now 4-2 with one game remaining on the road trip against Dallas on Saturday night.
The Bulls dominated the entire game against New Orleans after losing a tough game to the Houston Rockets 107-100 the night before. The Hornets were also without big man and former Bull, Tyson Chandler.
The absence of two of their best players showed as the Bulls did pretty much anything they wanted to on offense all game. D Rose had a team high 21, but more impressive was the team's post play with Joakim Noah putting up 16 points and and Tyrus Thomas putting up 15 and 10 rebounds. Obviously Tyson Chandler not being in the lineup helped, but seeing two post players putting up numbers like that is very nice to see.
The Bulls ran the transition offense with precision all game, and had numerous ally-oops. It actually looks like they are learning to play and gel with one another. About five games ago, it looked like their season was over and they were never going to figure out how to play like a team.
Since watching this road trip, I have seen great improvements in the flow of their offense and even more surprisingly on the defensive end. I thought going into the road trip if they couldn't come out with a winning record, they may as well throw away the season. Thankfully they have done just that and are only 1 game out of the final playoff spot in the conference.
Any fan that has watched the team play the past 6 games should feel confident that the team's play is only going to get better. They have also been playing well without one of their best players, Drew Gooden. Hopefully when he comes back from his groin injury, he will only help continue with helping them progress.
If the team can beat Dallas on Saturday night, I feel like they will start solidifying themselves as a dangerous team. Their record may not show it right now, but they are one of the hottest teams in the league and seem to be putting it all together at the perfect time of the season. The Bulls defeated Dallas the only time they played them this season on Nov. 13th by a score of 98-91 at the United Center.
Photo: (AP Photo/Brian Lawdermilk)