I must admit, when the Chicago Bulls took Joakim Noah with the 9th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft I was not happy with the pick.  I thought he was an over-hyped annoyance, who flailed around the court always whining or yelling.  In his first two seasons he showed some progress, but I was still not a Noah fan.  Noah sure has turned my thoughts on him around, as he has improved so much since last season.  He still plays with a lot of passion, but its a more controlled passion as Noah has obviously matured (both physically and mentally) and his professional approach to his game is really paying off.  He has nearly doubled his scoring, rebounding, and assist averages this year compared to last, averaging 11.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks.  His 12.4 rebounding average is the 2nd highest in the league, trailing only the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (13.0 rpg).  Noah has been a huge asset for the Bulls this season with his monster rebounding numbers and strong defensive presence, along with an improving offensive game.  Don’t be surprised if you see Joakim Noah playing in Dallas for the All-Star game.