The Bulls were without Luol Deng last night but that is no excuse for how awful they played last night. The Bulls were outrebounded 63-37 in this game which really hurt but getting outscored 41-24 in the 4th quarter which really doomed them in the end. Derrick Rose led the way for the Bulls last night with 24 points and 3 assists. Brad Miller pitched in with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Taj Gibson finished up with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists but the forwards of the Bulls were badly outplayed by the same unit of the Hawks. The Bulls are now 31-29 on the season.

With Joakim Noah hurting the Bulls really need Brad Miller to step up. In his last 5 games the 33-year old Miller is averaging 22.6 minutes, 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on 35.5% shooting from the floor. Miller has now played in 59 games (22 starts) for the Bulls this season and he is averaging 22.6 minutes, 7.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. He is only shooting 41.5% from the floor and 29.5% from three point range as he is finally starting to play like a man his age and that is not good news for the Bulls.

Forward Taj Gibson has really been a solid player and he has a nice upside. Gibson played in 56 games (44 starts) for the Bulls so far this season and he is averaging 25.1 minutes, 8.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Gibson is a solid basketball player and he was a good choice by the Bulls last June. Fellow forward James Johnson has not played as much as Gibson has this season. Johnson has played in 44 games (0 starts) for the Bulls this season and he is averaging 9.3 minutes, 2.9 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Gibson & Johnson should have big roles in the future of the Bulls which looks bright.

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was having a breakout year, nearly making the All-Star game.  This season Noah is averaging 10.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 blocks, and is shooting 49% from the field.  Plantar fasciitis has nearly ruined Noah’s great season though, as he missed 7 straight games this month.  He recently returned from the injury, but it is not going away.  He is trying to contribute any way he can, and is getting limited minutes.  He played just 7 minutes last Friday against Philadelphia and 12 minutes on Sunday against Washington.  He did virtually nothing against the Sixers, but he gave the Bulls 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in just 12 minutes against the Wizards.  Noah is not the same player with this foot injury and I’m not sure the Bulls should be playing him.  I think they should shut him down a little longer and let his foot get as much rest as possible so he can try and get back to his old self before the playoffs.  It’s good to see Noah showing some toughness though, and he proved he can still contribute some in very limited minutes.  Hopefully Noah’s foot and conditioning can get better, but it doesn’t look likely since plantar fasciitis can linger for quite a while.

Hakim Warrick, Flip Murray and Acie Law are off to good starts with the Bulls. Warrick has played in 2 games off the bench for the Bulls and he is averaging 28.0 minutes, 12.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game. The Bulls might even think of giving Warrick more minutes going forward if he keeps playing like he is right now. Flip Murray has played in 2 games off the bench for the Bulls so far and he is averaging 23.5 minutes, 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. The Bulls like that Murray gives them instant offense off the bench. Acie Law has only played in 1 game for the Bulls so far in which he played 4 minutes, scored 3 points, grabbed 1 rebound and he dished out 1 assist. Law will have to earn whatever minutes he gets the rest of the year but he does have a decent upside.