The Chicago Bulls were blown out by the Portland Trail Blazers 122-98 at the Rose Garden last night.

The Blazers built up a formidable 15 point lead at halftime, but the Bulls closed the lead down to 4, making it a 77-73 game with 3:53 remaining in the game. From there on out the Bulls would be outscored 45-25 en route to an embarassing blowout loss.

The Bulls really lost this game up front. The Blazers big front court was too much for the Bulls. Greg Oden especially gave the Bulls problems. Oden finished with 24 points on 7-8 shooting, grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots.

The highlight of the game for the Bulls was two posterizations of Greg Oden. First by Joakim Noah, and then by Derrick Rose. However, those plays just highlight the defense that Oden was playing last night. He was out there challenging shots, and that should be applauded, as his defense was huge last night.

LaMarcus Aldridge also had a big game, putting up 24 points and 13 rebounds.

The Blazers front court was simply too big for the Bulls’. This led the Bulls to get killed at both big spots. This brings up a question of whether Joakim Noah will be big enough to play the center spot longterm. I think that Noah has done a good job at center so far this year, but I think he would be better if he was allowed to play power forward, as he would then no longer be at a size disadvantage every game.

Luol Deng led the Bulls in scoring with 25 points on 9-14 shooting. This was probably Deng’s best game of the season. What stood out to most was that Deng went 2-2 from three point land in the game. If Deng actually can hit the threes, than he needs to start taking them in volume. It will raise his scoring efficiency, and it will improve the Bulls offense, by spreading out the defense.

John Salmons also had a good game, finishing with 22 points on 8-15 shooting. Salmons was very effective shooting the midrange jumper.

Derrick Rose finished with 14 points on 7-14 shooting.

For the Blazers, Brandon Roy put in 18 points, Andre Miller 16, and Rudy Fernandez 13.

Jannero Pargo gave the Bulls a bit of an offensive spark off the bench, scoring 15 points in 13 minutes.

With the loss, the Bulls fall to 6-7 on the season.

Closing Comments

This is the Bulls’ third double digit loss in a row, but is there any reason to be concerned? All three losses were against good Western Conference opponents on the road. In addition to this, the Blazers have been a matchup nightmare for the Bulls over the past year or so, mainly because of the size and length of the Blazer front court. Last year, when the Bulls played the Blazers on the road, they suffered their worst loss in franchise history, losing by 42 points. When they met again at the United Center, the Bulls lost by 14 points. In reality, this was a game the Bulls were probably going to lose. It’s not time to worry yet. However, if the Bulls continue their losing into Milwaukee and against Detroit, then it will be time to worry.

The NBA sent out a press release today announcing the participants in the 2009 Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam. Here is the press release that the NBA sent out.

NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2009 – Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, the reigning T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, lead a list of 18 players selected for the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam to be held on Friday, Feb. 13 in Phoenix during NBA All-Star 2009.

The participants in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot. For the first time in the game’s history, two current NBA players, All-Star starters Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat – veterans of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and part of T-Mobile’s “All-Star Faves” – will serve on the coaching staffs, Howard for the Sophomores and Wade for the Rookies. The head coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistants from the 2009 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.

Forward Jeff Green, Durant’s teammate in Oklahoma City, joins him on the Sophomore team, which also includes Atlanta Hawks forward/center Al Horford, Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton, Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young, New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey and a pair of teammates from the Houston Rockets – guard Aaron Brooks and forward Luis Scola.

Joining Rose on the Rookie team are two sets of teammates – guard O.J. Mayo and center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies and center Greg Oden and guard Rudy Fernandez from the Portland Trail Blazers. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Heat forward Michael Beasley and New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez round out the Rookie team.

The T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam will be televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and also will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio, while NBA.com will make live audio available to fans in multiple languages. Fans tuning in to TNT will also get a special treat, as NBA All-Star starter LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a participant in the 2004 and 2005 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, will join Kevin Harlan, Kenny Smith and Craig Sager as part of TNT’s broadcast as an analyst.

As title partner of the Rookie Challenge and overall NBA Rookie Program, T-Mobile has teamed up with the NBA and NBA Cares to create the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Phoenix students to experience NBA All-Star 2009. By successfully completing fitness, nutrition, and community service requirements, more than 3,500 “T-Mobile Stick Together All-Stars,” ages 11-15, from participating school districts in Phoenix will watch the game from the best seats in the house at US Airways Arena.

As a new element to the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, fans had the unique opportunity to design the official jerseys worn by the Rookie and Sophomore teams. Thousands of fans registered for the NBA LIVE Jersey Creator Contest hosted by EA SPORTS for the chance to win a trip for two to Phoenix, AZ for NBA All-Star 2009. The winning jersey is being produced by adidas, the official uniform and apparel provider for the NBA, and will be worn by all participating Rookie and Sophomore players, marking the first time that a fan designed jersey has ever been worn during an NBA game or event. In past years, Rookies and Sophomores wore their regular team jerseys during the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. The winning design was created by 18-year-old Tim Ahmed from East Meadow, Long Island. Ahmed attended East Meadow High School and is currently a first-year student at Baruch College in Manhattan.

In last year’s T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson earned Most Valuable Player honors, making 11 three-pointers en route to a game-high 33 points, as the Sophomores cruised to a 136-109 victory. Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay added 22 points and Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar tallied 17 points and 11 assists. Durant, then of the Seattle SuperSonics, led the Rookies with 23 points.

The contest began its current format pitting the Rookies against the Sophomores in 2000 and the Sophomores hold a 7-2 advantage over the first-year players. The game will be played in two 20-minute halves. Individual foul totals will be kept, but a player cannot foul out. A team will be in the penalty situation after 10 team fouls or after the second foul in the final two minutes of each half. In the event of a tie game, there will be a two-minute overtime to determine the winner. The clock will stop after each successful field goal in the last minute of each half.

T-Mobile will provide basketball fans with the opportunity to have their vote count toward selecting the MVP of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam by voting on NBA.com or via SMS on mobile phones during the second half of the game.

The NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio beginning at 8 p.m. EST. The game will also be telecast in over 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages and broadcast on NBA.com.

NBA All-Star brings together the top NBA players and performers for a week of competition, community service and world-class entertainment. Among the many other exciting All-Star events are Sprite Slam Dunk, Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, PlayStation® Skills Challenge, Haier Shooting Stars and NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.

Building upon its already strong appeal to the nation’s youth and as Official Partner of the NBA, T-Mobile is showcasing the NBA’s youngest players — the Rookies — through the T-Mobile Rookie Program. Highlights include the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, an All-Star competition between NBA rookies and second-year players, and rookie awards presentations including the T-Mobile Rookie of the Month and T-Mobile Rookie of the Year. To learn more about T-Mobile’s partnership with the NBA, visit www.t-mobile.com/nba.

Below are the rosters for the 2009 T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam:

ROOKIE TEAM ROSTER
Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. School/Country
Michael Beasley Miami F 6-9 245 Kansas St.
Rudy Fernandez Portland G-F 6-6 185 Spain
Marc Gasol Memphis C 7-1 265 Spain
Eric Gordon L.A. Clippers G 6-3 222 Indiana
Brook Lopez New Jersey C 7-0 260 Stanford
O.J. Mayo Memphis G 6-4 210 USC
Greg Oden Portland C 7-0 285 Ohio State
Derrick Rose Chicago G 6-3 190 Memphis
Russell Westbrook Oklahoma City G 6-3 187 UCLA

Head Coach – TBD
Assistant Coach – Dwyane Wade

SOPHOMORE TEAM ROSTER
Player Team Pos. Ht. Wt. School/Country
Aaron Brooks Houston G 6-0 161 Oregon
Wilson Chandler New York F 6-8 220 DePaul
Kevin Durant Oklahoma City G-F 6-9 215 Texas
Jeff Green Oklahoma City F 6-9 235 Georgetown
Al Horford Atlanta F-C 6-10 245 Florida
Luis Scola Houston F-C 6-9 245 Argentina
Al Thornton L.A. Clippers F 6-8 220 Florida State
Rodney Stuckey Detroit G 6-5 205 Eastern Washington
Thaddeus Young Philadelphia F 6-8 220 Georgia Tech

Head Coach – TBD
Assistant Coach – Dwight Howard

PREVIOUS T-MOBILE ROOKIE CHALLENGE RESULTS

1994 - Phenoms 74, Sensations 68
1995 - White 83, Green 79 (OT)
1996 - East 94, West 92
1997 - East 96, West 91
1998 - East 85, West 80
2000 - Rookies 92, Sophomores 81 (OT)
2001 - Sophomores 121, Rookies 113
2002 - Rookies 103, Sophomores 97
2003 - Sophomores 132, Rookies 112
2004 - Sophomores 142, Rookies 118
2005 - Sophomores 133, Rookies 106
2006 - Sophomores 106, Rookies 96
2007 – Sophomores 155, Rookies 114
2008 – Sophomores 136, Rookies 109

Source: Bulls.com

The Chicago Bulls fell to the Portland Trail Blazers 109 to 95 for their second loss to the Blazers this season.

The Bulls problems were clear tonight, three of their perimeter players did not play appropriate defense. Derrick Rose lethargically chased Steve Blake around, leaving him open for threes. Luol Deng, like Rose, lethargically chased around Travis Outlaw, leaving him open for threes. And Andres Nocioni, while energetic on defense, ignores his defensive assignment, and goes and doubles someone elses man.

Steve Blake hit four threes in the game, and finished with 16 points and 10 assists. But Travis Outlaw was the real killer, coming off the bench for 33 points, making four three pointers.

Drew Gooden led the Bulls in scoring, putting in 22 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Gooden was completely overmatched by Greg Oden, who he was assigned to guard. Greg Oden burned the Bulls for the second time this season, finishing with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Too bad for Oden that he can’t play the league’s worst front court every game.

Derrick Rose had a good passing night, and that’s about it. Rose finished the game with 10 assists. Defensively, Rose was lazy, leaving Blake wide open for three many times throughout the game. Offensively, Rose finished with 13 points on 5-14 shooting. Rose had some nice drives to the basket, but he really struggled with his shooting.

One thing Rose is going to learn is that he has to practice hard to become the best. For almost the entirety of the pre-game shoot around, Rose was engaged in a lackadaisical one on one game with Drwe Gooden, in which Rose bricked almost all of his shots. Rose should take a hint from Gordon, and perform a serious pre-game shooting routine.

Ben Gordon had an alright game, finishing with 17 points and 3 assists. Gordon drove to the basket pretty well. Shooting wise, Gordon had a tough night, missing most of his shots in the fourth. Shooters have off nights, and this was an off night for Gordon. While Gordon had 4 turnovers, none of them were from mental lapses. One was from an offensive foul, one was a pass that bounced off Noah’s stone hands, one was a pass that Luol Deng should have caught, but sailed out of bounds because of Luol’s 2 inch vertical on his jump, and the other was a pass that Gordon just mishandeled. Still, Gordon needs to cut down on the handling turnovers.

Defensively, Ben Gordon did a pretty good job on Brandon Roy, and brought a lot of energy tonight. The new found defensive energy might be in response to Kirk Hinrich’s return, who Gordon will have to fend off to keep his starting spot.

Kirk Hinrich looked really good on the defensive end of the ball. He was playing great positional defense with a lot of energy. Hinrich looks to have returned to his All Defensive Team level of defense. Hinrich finished with 4 points and 3 assists in his return.

Luol Deng looked bad overall tonight, looking lethargic on defense, and shooting the ball poorly. Deng needs to bring more energy in the future. Tonight’s level of effort from Deng is unacceptable.

Thabo Sefolosha, who got the start at small forward, finished with 8 points and 8 rebounds. He looked good in his limited minutes, making some nice cuts to the basket.

Tyrus Thomas had an alright game. He didn’t really contribute much according to the box score, but his defense was pretty good. He played within himself, and didn’t try to take over on offense.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Fernandez both had 8 points for the Blazers.

With the return of Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng, Larry Hughes was ushered into a new bench role. Del Negro only allotted 7 minutes for Hughes tonight, and that number likely would have been less if Gordon didn’t get in early foul trouble.

Portland general manager, Kevin Pritchard, was in attendance tonight.

With the loss, the Bulls fall to 16-22 on the season.

The Chicago Bulls lost to the Portland Trail Blazers 116-74 yesterday at the Rose Garden.

The Bulls’ problem remains the same, their front court is horrible. Whenever the Bulls managed to get stops, which was seldom, the big men wouldn’t box out allowing Portland’s big men to get offensive rebounds giving Portland a second shot to score.

Joel Pryzbilla had 14 points, 9 rebounds, and three blocks. LaMarcus Aldridge had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Greg Oden had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks off the bench.

Ben Gordon had a bad game again, scoring 11 points and 3 assists, but he was the best player for the Bulls today. Gordon started to get a little hot during the 2nd quarter of the game. Ben Gordon currently has a 27 free throw streak going.

For the first time in his career, Derrick Rose failed to score in double figures. Derrick Rose finished the game with 6 points, 1 assist, and 3 turnovers. Rose had trouble dealing with shotblockers and got 3 of his shots blocked. Rose adjusted on one possession, hitting a fall away floater in the third quarter.

Brandon Roy scored 20 points for the Blazers.

There is not a whole lot that can be read from this game, except the obvious, that our front court is horrible and that we need to make a trade for a good big men.

These losses on the circus trip should not be taken entirely seriously as we’ve seen Bulls teams bounce back from bad circus trips in the past few years. Our model using all of the post-Jordan years predicted the Bulls only winning one game on the circus trip. The model using just the Gordon-Deng years predicted that we would win just two games on the circus trip. The Bulls might just have some mental block that is keeping them from playing good ball on the circus trip.

The Bulls next game is Friday against the Golden State Warriors.