WASHINGTON D.C. — The Wizard won easily without the help of their new acquisition’s, but they may need the aid of actual magic to overcome the Bulls tonight, rather than just former players. The Bulls are sizzling hot off a 45 point win over the 76ers last night in Chicago and that power may easily transfer over to the game at Verizon Center tonight in D.C.
The Wizard’s Rashard Lewis is expected to make is Wizard debut, but he’s no stranger to the Bulls. Lewis scored 13 points in 24 minutes when the Magic blew out the Bulls in Chicago at the beginning of the month. There is not only the motivation to win anyways for the Bulls, it’s also a chance for the Bulls to extract some sort of revenge for the embarrassment that occurred December 1st.
For the Bulls, Taj Gibson is making his return after missing last night due to a concussion he suffered in a one point loss to the Clippers. Gibson won’t get the start but is expected to get minutes. “He’s been cleared and we’ll see how it goes once he’s out there,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. Gibson may be feeling better, but he’ll need to make a better impression on Bulls fans in order for them to jump out of their chairs at the news he is available to play. “I feel way better,” Gibson said. “I’m just going to go out there and try and see what’s up.” Gibson was the starter in place of the injured Joakim Noah before suffering the concussion.
In the mean time, Kurt Thomas is the man the Bulls are leaning on for relief at center. Thomas wasn’t lights out last night, but he wasn’t dreadful either. He was very middle of the road which is all the Bulls need to get by at the moment. Thomas is in his 15th NBA season and seems to be the safer play at the moment as opposed the much younger Gibson. Although Gibson may be the future at the second unit guy in Chicago, Thomas will cause far less stress headaches across the greater Chicago area. Besides, Gibson won’t be needed as much against the Wizards as he will be against the Knicks, which is the game he should play in next and nothing before then.
In the midsts of all the questions at center, Derrick Rose is busy trying to establish a friendship with the President of the United States. Yes, the Bulls are that cool. President Obama has been a lifelong Bulls fans and isn’t afraid to hide, just as Rose isn’t afraid to hide his buddy crush on ol’ number 44. Obama even went as far as inviting the entire Bulls team to the White House shortly after moving into office in 2009, a feat no sports team who hasn’t won a championship has accomplished. “Chicago people stick up for Chicago people,” said Rose. D-Rose and Joakim Noah were even invited back in August to participate in Obama’s birthday celebration. “I haven’t talked to him since , but I know that if I really want to get in contact with him I can,” Rose said. “It would be great to have a decent relationship with the President. Especially somebody that’s from here, and he’s a good guy.” No word on whether or not the President will attend tonight’s game in Washington. Even if he’s not, Rose has the added motivation of impressing a special the way no other player in the NBA can or has, the President. That’s just how cool the Bulls are.