October 2010 Archives

* Chicago has won seven straight and 12 of their last 14 regular-season games against the Pistons.

* The Bulls were tied after three quarters in their season opener against Oklahoma City, only to be outscored 24-13 in the final quarter.

* Joakim Noah had 18 points and 19 boards in the season opener. It was his second career game with 18+ points and 18+ rebounds. The Bulls are just 5-6 all-time when Noah grabs 18 or more boards in a game.

* Derrick Rose is 6-1 and has averaged 20.1 ppg on 57.4 percent shooting against Detroit in his career.

Tuesday night you saw the national TV games of Opening Week consisted of the Heat at the Celtics and the Rockets at the Lakers.     The idea, of course, is to feature the league's premier players in the Opening games of the season.   And that's what you saw.   LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant and, yes, even Shaquille O'Neal.

Well, in Oklahoma City, you get to see two of the league's up and coming stars in Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant.   Derrick and Kevin played together on the USA's gold medal team in the World Championship this summer.

Kevin Durant was the NBA's scoring champion last season, the youngest player EVER to win the scoring title.   The Thunder made the play-offs last season and gave the Lakers a run, altho LA prevailed and went on the win the championship.   This season, expectations are high for the Thunder to build on that experience and become one of the better teams in the West.

Derrick Rose was an All-Star last year and with the players the Bulls brought in during the off-season, expectations are high for the Bulls to build on their play-off experience of the last 2 seasons and compete for a higher play-off berth this year.

Neil Funk

Hello to all of my "Peeps" out there, I hope you had a great Summer. Welcome to the first blog of the season.  Expectations for the Bulls are very high this season. Derrick Rose started for the U.S. World Championship team gaining more experience. Joakim Noah's confidence level has risen with the extension of his contract. The Bulls also have the trio of former Utah Jazz members; Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer. New head coach Tom Thibodeau could be looking at three all-stars on his roster with Rose, Noah and Boozer. Enjoy tonight's game on WGN with BullsEye starting at 6:30pm ct.

* The Bulls have won four in a row on the road against the Thunder including a 2-0 mark in Oklahoma City. The Thunder's last home win over Chicago was in November, 2005.

*Since the 1998-99 season, the Bulls and Thunder have combined for just one division title and two playoff series wins. The Oklahoma City franchise won their division and a postseason series in 2004-05. The Bulls won a series in the 2006-07 season.

* Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 46.2 points per game last season, second most in the NBA by teammates (Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, Den- 47.7)

* The Thunder were the most improved team in NBA last season in win percentage, points per game allowed, opponent field goal percentage and fast break points per game allowed.

* Joakim Noah was one of seven players last season to average 10 points and 11 rebounds per game (min- 50 games). Carlos Boozer is among the seven as well. Boozer is currently out of the lineup due to injury.

* The Thunder went 22-8 against the Eastern Conference last season, tied for the second best mark in the NBA. Only the Magic's 39-13 record was better.

* Russell Westbrook (6.6) and Derrick Rose (6.2) are first and second in the NBA in career assists per game by players 22 and younger.