Chicago Bulls: Carlos Boozer Was Doomed from the Start

The blame game.

Its what we do after every loss. One person becomes the singular blame for the failure of the group. For the city of Chicago, Carlos Boozer became their favorite whipping boy.

Boozer never had a chance.

In the "Summer of LeBron" Carlos Boozer was the consolation prize of Christmas. Boozer became the underwear and socks while LeBron, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were the Playstations and X-box 360s. Boozer was brought into Chicago to be something he was not, a No. 2 option on a championship-level team.

Boozer didn't do himself any favors, already having the reputation of a "handle with care" player, starting the season out on the disabled list with a broken hand after tripping over a bag in his house. The strong play of the Bulls and Taj Gibson already had Boozer behind the eight ball when he returned.

Maybe the best chance Boozer had at succeeding in Chicago came when Joakim Noah went down with an injury shorty after Boozer returned. The Bulls and Boozer played extremely well and Boozer showed he could be a dependable player.  

But as the season moved on fans began to see things they didn't like. The constant yelling and screaming, the rubbing of the ball at every dead play and most importantly the non "Chicago" way Boozer played basketball. 

You see, Carlos Boozer doesn't and never will play basketball the way Chicago fans like it to be played. Unlike in other cities, where talent is the bottom line, Chicago fans love to see an apparent toughness and grit in their players. Its the reason why Jay Cutler is unfairly criticized and Carlos Boozer has become public enemy No. 1. 

The unfolding of boos that Boozer heard in the playoffs were just a formality. 

The combination of when Boozer was signed, the injury he suffered in the preseason and the way in which he has always played basketball, would never allow for him to be loved in the city of Chicago.

Fans of the Bulls may cheer him when he scores and applaud him when the Bulls win, but Chicago fans will never truly accept Carlos Boozer.