NBA: Previewing the Chicago Bulls' Upcoming Western Conference Road Trip

Over the past couple of weeks, Derrick Rose has battled nagging injuries and two stomach ulcers that have made it difficult to play for the Chicago Bulls. Being the competitor that he is, however, Rose has not missed one game due to his ailments.

After posting a 5-1 record on a season-high six-game homestand, Rose and the Chicago Bulls are schedule to start a five-game Western Conference road trip that begins Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. (Assuming the weather in Chicago will allow them to leave). 

The Bulls have won five in a row and face a Clippers team that has won nine in a row at home. The Bulls will look to avenge a one-point loss to the Clippers in December at the United Center. Rose missed a potential game-tying free throw with less than one second remaining in that game. 

Although Rose has been in a little slump due to injuries and illness, he is still making MVP-type plays when the Bulls need it and is elevating the play of the rest of the team.

Being the leading MVP candidate right now, teams have focused their defense on stopping Rose and making other players beat them. During the five-game win streak, the Bulls have gotten strong performances from the supporting cast, as Rose struggled a bit with his shot.

In a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Kurt Thomas scored a season-high 22 points as the Bucks continued to double-team Rose off the pick-and-roll, leaving Thomas open for a number of jump shots that the big man nailed.

Against the Orlando Magic, Luol Deng led the way with 26 points and Carlos Boozer added a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds. The following night against the Indiana Pacers, Boozer added another double-double, with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Korver added 16 points off the bench for the Bulls as they improved to 11-0 against Central Division opponents.

The Bulls will need Boozer and Deng to continue to play well as they head out west for this trip. The Bulls will play some of the Western Conference's better players and will need both of those guys to step up if Rose is still feeling the effects of the ulcers.

Boozer will have the duty of guarding L.A.'s Blake Griffin. Although it will be difficult to fully stop Griffin, the Bulls need to make sure he does not get going early with ferocious dunks that will ignite the crowd.

I know—easier said than done.

The Clippers have been playing very good basketball over their last 21 games, going 14-7. In addition to slowing Griffin, the Bulls will also have to contain another big man, DeAndre Jordan. Jordan has been a beast lately as teams have been focusing on Griffin.

Against the Bucks on Monday night, Jordan threw down perhaps the biggest dunk of the year.

Yes, that includes every dunk from Griffin. 

After facing the Clippers, the Bulls will travel north to play the Golden State Warriors. No question this game should be entertaining, as the Warriors do not play much defense and do not have anyone who can battle with Carlos Boozer down low.

David Lee has been battling injuries all season, and even when healthy does not like to defend much on the block. 

The Bulls will have to stop the Warriors backcourt of Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis in order to come away with a victory. Fortunately for Chicago, Curry and Ellis play about as much defense between them as the Bulls and Warriors coaches.

Rose and his backcourt mate (whoever it might be) should be able to score pretty easily. If Rose can get to the rim and force fouls on Golden State's big men, it could be a long night for the Warriors.

The Bulls will continue to travel up the coast to play Portland next, and this game should be a test of how well the Bulls can play on the road.

On paper, the Bulls should beat the Blazers, but they have had trouble playing in Portland the last couple of years, and the Blazers are a good home team. LaMarcus Aldridge is having an All-Star type year, and Boozer or Thomas will have his hands full with Portland's big man.

Aldridge can stretch the defense with his ability to make 15-foot jump shots, and even three-point shots when called upon. Without Brandon Roy, the Blazers are hovering right around the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

The final two stops of this trip are Utah and New Orleans. Both are playoff teams, featuring two of the league's better point guards—Deron Williams of Utah and Chris Paul of New Orleans.

Williams, Paul and Rose are arguably the three best point guards in the NBA, and this will be the first opportunity of the year for Rose to compete with both.

It will be a good test for Rose to see how he matches up against the game's best.

Utah has been struggling lately, while New Orleans has been playing very well. The key to both of these games will be the play of the supporting casts. Whichever team can get contributions from secondary players will have the best chance of winning these games.

For the Bulls, this trip should measure how good they really can be. Their road record so far this season is 10-10, and they will have a very good chance of improving that record on this trip, as they are not playing any of the Western Conference's powerhouse teams. 

The competition will be good, but the Bulls should be favored to win.

The key for all five games will be getting off to good starts. When the Bulls start off well and play with a lead, they begin to clamp down defensively, and they are very tough to beat.