Mar 18, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after being fouled against the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

In light of a lackluster 2012-2013 Chicago Bulls season; Center Joakim Noah is in serious consideration to win the coveted defensive player of the year award. Noah has played 5.5 seasons in a Bulls uniform, and my what a glorious year this has been for him. Jo is averaging a career high of 12.0 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 2.3 BLKPG, and 1.3 steals.

Noah ranks second in defensive win shares with 4.1 and he has the leagues fifth best defensive rating of 97. (A defensive rating is an estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions.) Jo is just the second center to record a triple double with blocks and a triple double with assists in one season. The first center to ever do so was the Legendary Hakeem Olajuwon back in 1989.

Ever since Coach Tom Thibodeau’s arrival back in 2010, the Bulls have been one of, if not the best defensive team in the association. This year Thibs’ Bulls rank third in defensive points per game and they have place fourth overall in defensive rating.

We have entered a new generation of centers. Rather than focusing on just strength and power to maintain such a restricted area; it’s all about using your body. It’s length, speed and agility, and quickness to spread the floor and cover the front court; making sure the ball stays out of the paint and going back to basics; always defend the rim. And to think the league wants to eliminate the center position off the All-Star ballot?

Noah is competing against a list of superb defenders for this award. Such as: Tim Duncan; 9.6 RPG, 94 defensive rating, 2.7 BLKPG, 0.8 STLPG. Marc Gasol; 7.8 RPG, 98 defensive rating, 1.7  BLKPG, 1 STLPG. Roy Hibbert; 8.1 RPG, 95 defensive rating, 2.6 BLKPG 0.5 STLPG.

Other players in consideration are; Larry Sanders of the Milwaukee Bucks, OKC’s Serge Ibaka, Atlanta Hawks’ Josh Smith, and of course the Lakers’ Dwight Howard who has won it three of the last four years. Unfortunately the reigning DPOY champ Tyson Chandler is not as threatening  as he was last year. Sadly injuries are plaguing the New-York Knicks this season.

Clearly Noah’s numbers prove that he is very deserving of this award. In fact if it wasn’t for the first time All-Star’s mega year, Chicago would be considered a lottery team and not a 6th-7th seed playoff team.

No Bull has won the DPOY award since Michael Jordan in 1988, that’s a 25 year long drought that someone in the Thiboudeau Era should end. All eyes are on you Noah.

Feb 11, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The Spurs won 103-89. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Anyway, here are three things the Bulls can learn from their loss.

1. Rebounding is important, but that’s hardly the only important thing.

Again, the Bulls finished +23 on the glass last night. They had 17 offensive rebounds, while the Spurs had just 2. According to Bulls Radio’s stat man Jeff Mangurten, that’s the largest rebounding advantage in a loss for the Bulls since March of 2000, when they outrebounded the Orlando Magic by 25.

The Bulls’ calling card is rebounding, which is fine, but just owning the boards isn’t always enough. When you give up 52 percent shooting and turn the ball over 19 times, you better be on fire from the field. Which brings me to…

2. Turnovers are bad. Just in general.

19 turnovers isn’t good. You can’t play a good team and just hand them an extra 19 possessions. This has been an issue all year, and it doesn’t figure to change any time soon. When Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli are your primary ball handlers, there’s only so much that can be done about turnovers. The idea is to limit turnovers, rather than eliminate them completely. If the Bulls can stay closer to 12 turnovers rather than 19, they’ll be much better off.

3. The Spurs are really, really good.

Even without Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Gregg Popovich’s squad is solid. Kawhi Leonard put up 26 points last night because someone had to do it. The Spurs do this all the freaking time. Remember when the NBA fined them for sending four of their best players home before playing the Miami Heat back in November? They were in that game until the final minute and almost won. When their stars are out, the role players step up.

Here’s the point: The Bulls did not play well as a whole last night. Having said that, their two main problems from last night can be fixed, at least to some extent, and losing to the Spurs in virtually any context isn’t anything to be overly ashamed of. The Bulls have the day off today and play the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, so let’s hope they figure some things out by then. But if not, they’ll have the all-star break to recover. This isn’t the end of the world.