Starting shooting guard Richard Hamilton is back in action after missing some time due to injury.  Hamilton has played in 11 games (all starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 31.0 minutes, 14.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.  The big hole on the Bulls last year was at shooting guard and they have filled it well with Hamilton.  They need to hope that he can stay healthy, because he has a lot of playoff experience and he knows how to make plays in order to win big games.

The Chicago Bulls don’t run many plays offensively for their centers, but they still are getting decent production out of them.  They are getting outstanding rebounding and defensive numbers out of Joakim Noah and Omer Asik so far this year, which has the Bulls very happy with them.  26-year old Joakim Noah has played in 19 games (all starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 27.5 minutes, 7.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.  Omer Asik has played in 20 games (1 starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 17.7 minutes, 3.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.

26-year old small forward Luol Deng has a torn ligament in his left hand, which has caused him to miss the last couple of games.  He is vowing to return to action this coming up Sunday….and that would give a big boost to the Bulls….if he can withstand the pain.  Deng has played in 18 games (all starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 38.3 minutes, 15.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  26-year old Ronnie Brewer has taken over at small forward with Deng out of action.  In his two starts at small forward, Brewer is averaging 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, as he has been playing well.  Brewer has now played in 20 games (12 starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 25.0 minutes, 7.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  As good as Brewer has been playing lately, the Bulls can’t wait for Deng to return to action.

30-year old power forward Carlos Boozer is off to a really solid start this year for the Bulls.  He has played in 8 games (all starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 30.3 minutes, 14.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.3 steals per game so far this year.  Boozer is also shooting 51.5% from the floor as he has really worked on his jumper.  I look for Boozer to bring his scoring average up in the near future.  The Bulls need Boozer to stay healthy this year as he gives the Bulls a solid all-around player in the frontcourt.

26-year old small forward Luol Deng is off to a good start for the Bulls so far this year.  Deng has played in 3 games (all starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 40.0 minutes, 18.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.o blocked shot per game.  Deng is really filling up the stat sheet so far this year and he is the Bulls’ leading scorer as of right now.  He is a great team player and he fits right in as one of the main assets on the Bulls.

Backup SF/SG Kyle Korver has been electric against the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.  He has played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Bulls so far in this series and he is averaging 21.3 minutes, 9.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  Korver is shooting 56% from the floor in this series and he is 8 for 10 (80%) from three point range, as he has been amazing.  It amazes me that the Pacers aren’t getting in Korver’s face, and they will continue to pay for it.

The Chicago Bulls are outrebounding the Pacers by an average of 53-33 in the first two games of this series and that is because of how well the frontcourt is playing.  Luol Deng has been really duking it out with Danny Granger so far in this series.  He is averaging 40.0 minutes, 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.5 steals per game as he is holding his own.  Carlos Boozer has been very solid around the basket as he is averaging 34.0 minutes, 14.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in this series.  Joakim Noah is averaging 30.0 minutes, 7.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.5 blocked shots per game.  Derrick Rose is getting the headlines but the heartbeat of the Bulls is really the frontcourt and they need them to continue to work hard.

Point guard Derrick Rose has been unstoppable against the Pacers so far in this series.  He has played in 2 games (2 starts) for the Bulls so far in this series and he is averaging 39.0 minutes, 37.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per game.  It’s too bad that the MVP votes are already in, because Rose is really dominating right now as he has been the best player in the NBA Playoffs so far.

29-year old power forward Carlos Boozer is starting to step up for the Chicago Bulls.  In his last five games, Boozer is averaging 32.2 minutes, 18.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  He is also shooting 53.3% from the floor in those five games as he has been very efficient offensively.  Boozer has now played in 53 games (all starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 31.8 minutes, 17.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.   The Bulls need Boozer to be a solid second option on offense if they are going to win the NBA Championship which is what the goal is.

38-year old center/power forward Kurt Thomas has been placed back into the starting lineup lately for an injured Carlos Boozer and he’s stepping up once again.  In Thomas last two games, he is averaging 33.5 minutes, 2.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists. 1.5 steals and 2.0 blocked shots per game.  He has now played in 38 games (31 starts) for the Bulls so far this year and he is averaging 24.7 minutes, 4.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  Thomas is proving that he still has a lot left in the gas tank and that’s a good thing for the Bulls going forward.