Running with the Bulls: Chicago Quick and Not Much Else

I know it's still preseason; I know November is not even here yet. Even still, I've already got Chicago Bulls angst.

Yeah, they played the Timberwolves last night and for the first quarter or so, they ran like the Phoenix Suns and played great uptempo West Coast basketball, then that cold front that just crossed Chicago must have caused a draft on the floor of the United Center, for then the Bulls went back to their old, sloppy selves.

They blew a 17-point lead and eventually lost the game, 96-86, and are now 0-3 in preseason play. Granted, the Wolves have great young talent, but the Bulls showed they can run fast and have a nice, efficient offense when they want to, but, like a switch, shut it off sometimes, as well.

I love the play of Drew Gooden; he is a well-rounded player who owns both sides of the floor, but he's the only one to have that ability and desire. This team just need to be able to shoot and also get that great defense back that they had a few years ago. With new coach Vinny Del Negro now, I'd be fine with a running and gunning team, just as long as they keep it up.

I love the guys they have brought on for the preseason: Darius Washington (he brings that U of Memphis guard experience like Derrick Rose), Elton Brown (I've been watching him tear up the D-League the last few years), Roger Powell (he was a great player of U of Illinois) and Michael Ruffin (a great role player who contributed a lot when he was a Bull before)—these guys can support a quick offense; unfortunately, none of them played last night. It was the usual suspects who were in last year's offense.

And it's not that this team is horrible; it's just that they aren't very good at any one thing. Having Larry Hughes on the floor for lots of minutes doesn't do much for anyone, and having Kirk Hinrich play the 2-guard isn't anything to write home about, either. Why Derrick Rose came off the bench is questionable, too, though I know his uncle died and he missed Monday's practice, so maybe that's why.

Regardless, this team is just frustrating. You know it has talent and can be very good at times; it's just that, most of the time, it isn't. Well, it's preseason, hopefully these guys figure it out—soon.