Today has been what one might call a "wonderful day." I woke up this morning to a phone call which resulted in my first post law school employment. Now, considering the slight employment issue that I've encountered, one might think that the aforementioned phone call would in and of itself guarantee a pretty great day, and it did, but little did I know that my day would only improve from there. Later in the evening, while actually searching the local comcast channel guide to find the listing for the opening Bulls game, I found out at 6:45 that I had an opportunity to attend said Bulls game, but no, it wasn't just an opportunity to attend the Bulls home opener, it was an opportunity to attend COURTSIDE, and no, not only COURTSIDE, but directly behind the Loveabulls. So, I did, and I couldn't be happier to have been there.
Which brings me to the game... the Bulls looked GREAT in the opener, and after watching this team (I realize it's only been one game), as opposed to last year's team, I'm pretty confident that the Bulls could end up being the surprise of the Eastern Conference, and here's why...
DERRICK ROSE
It's amazing how different a team can look when a true point guard runs the offense (and NO Chris Duhon does not qualify as a true point guard). Not only did Rose handle the ball well and dish through passing lanes that I didn't think existed, his first step is quick enough to draw a defender, which left others wide open throughout the course of the game. Oh, and he can finish in the paint. Kudos to Paxson and the Bulls brass for pulling the trigger on the young Chicagoan and passing on the headache that will be Michael Beasley.
It also didn't hurt that Rose set both Deng and Thomas up for some ridiculous alley-oops and open Bunny's. Can't help but be excited about an 11 point, 9 assist, 4 rebound, 3 steal NBA debut.
BEN GORDAN - 6TH MAN OF THE YEAR
As any Bulls fan the last few years knows, Ben Gordan has always played better when coming off the bench, and tonight was no exception. He's maybe 6'1" and couldn't guard Coach Vinny if his life depended on it, but when he faces the opposition's third or fourth guards on the depth chart, he makes them look silly. Now that Rose, Hughes (when healthy), and Hinrich will amass the majority of the starting minutes, it leaves Gordan to the 6th man roll that he will flourish in. Tonight he came off the bench for some instant offense and delivered with 18 points, including 3-6 shooting from beyond the arc, in about 26 minutes.
All in all, congrats to the Bulls on the big win tonight, it had to feel extra special winning with good D and a great opening night offense against the old general Scott Skiles. There will be more Bulls correspondence to come, but rest assured that even if the Bulls happen to struggle this year, this team will be exciting to watch, and we may be watching the emergence of the next great NBA point guard in #1 Derrick Rose, even if it's hard to swallow that he didn't get his undergraduate "education" as an Illini.
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