Are The Chicago Bulls Fugazi?
The Chicago Bulls entered the All-Star break near the top of the Eastern Conference with a 38-21 record despite the mounting injuries and teams no longer looking at the Bulls as that surprise team. Since the break the Bulls have had their struggles losing 9 of the last 13 games. Even more startling is the Bulls record against the NBA’s elite(MIA, PHI, MIL, PHX, GSW, MEM) – 0 for 16. Two of those losses were blowout games against the Suns & the defending champion Bucks. In these past 13 games, the Bulls have held their opponents under 100 points only twice. Their effort on defense has been lacking.
With 10 games left, the Bulls must focus on returning to the defensive intensity they had before Lonzo Ball & Alex Caruso went down with injuries. Lonzo Ball has yet to return, Zach LaVine has lingering knee issues and Patrick Williams & Caruso have returned but it seems as though the book is out on how to stop the Bulls. As good as DeMar Derozan & LaVine have been they now have to step their game up and put this team on their back. That’s what superstars do. They must use these 10 games to find out just what type of team they are.
NFL Free Agency Is Wild
Despite the NFL being in the offseason it continues to garner all the headlines in the world of sports and with good reason. This is shaping up to be quite the offseason with several big names signing with new teams. All-Pro LB Khalil Mack was traded from the Bears to the Chargers. LB Von Miller signed a 6 year/$120 million deal to join the Bills. QB Matt Ryan was traded from the Falcons to the Colts. WR Amari Cooper was traded to the Browns from the Cowboys. The Broncos got QB Russell Wilson from the Seahawks. The Rams lost WR Robert Woods but signed WR Allen Robinson from the Bears. QB Aaron Rodgers re-signed with the Packers to the tune of nearly $200 million but Rodgers’ #1 target Devante Adams went & signed with the Raiders. Oh yeah… Tom Brady came out of retirement after 6 weeks to come back to the Buccaneers. Another bomb dropped today when the Dolphins received WR Tyreke Hill from the Chiefs.
As for the Bears they haven’t exactly set the world on fire with free agency. In addition to losing Khalil Mack and Allen Robinson, the Bears also lost Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols and Jakeem Grant. New GM Ryan Poles thought he had his guy in Bengals DT Larry Ogunjobi but a failed physical derailed Poles’ plans. For Bears fans they need to understand Foles needs time to undo the mess left behind by former GM Ryan Pace. This has to be a year where expectations are lowered.
The Circus That is Winning Time
If you’re not watching HBO’s Winning Time then you’re missing on what’s possibly the best show on TV. Based on the best-selling book Showtime by Jeff Pearlman, this series chronicles the L.A. Lakers rise to power during the 1980’s. I am three episodes in and it seems this series gets wilder by the moment. It’s no wonder the Lakers organization and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson aren’t very excited about the series. Winning Time pulls back the curtain on the Lakers’ dynasty and the viewer who wasn’t knowledgable about this team are treated to sybaritic excess.
The performances by the actors have been phenomenal. Newcomer Quincy Isaiah shines as Magic Johnson and fully captures the essence of the famed point guard as does Solomon Hughes as Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabaar. John C. Reilly as Dr. Jerry Buss is incredible. If he doesn’t win the Emmy and Golden Globe this year then a true crime will be committed. As great as Reilly’s performance is the true scene stealers have been Jason Clarke as Jerry West and Adrien Brody as Pat Riley. I can’t wait to see this series unfold.
Final Thoughts
- Baseball is back and the White Sox will have another shot at trying to go for a World Series title. I’m just not sure if they will have the pitching to endure a full season + playoffs.
- WWE’s Super Bowl of wrestling is 10 days away and in my mind it’s going to be anything but stupendous. I will have my preview on WrestleMania next week. Tuesday Wrestling Tuesday host Jonathan Hood offered his views on the show:
- The Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament kicks off this weekend… and I have no clue on who’s going to win. I do know I’ll be pulling for my North Carolina Tarheels.
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