EVER TIED YOUR SHOE LACES IN A LIVE GAME?

The entire Bulls team lose their focus, and the game by about 20+ pts, as Jarrett Jack casually does what no NBA player has done before: tie his shoelaces with the shot clock running down.

ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY'S QUESTIONS

The Beast of the East remains to be the defending champions. KG and Ray Allen had a bad game but Paul Pierce took over with 27pts and Lebron missed a layup and 2 free throws in the last minute to seal the Cav's fate. Celtics win by 5pts.

The premier big man of the future? Neither Bynum nor Oden, if we go by this game. Bynum logged 8 points and three rebounds, Oden had 5 rebounds, blocked a shot and missed his four free throw attempts before getting injured. Yes, again.

Bulls versus Skiles. Winner, Bulls. Derrick Rose had 11 points and 9 assists, Deng had 21 pts, Gordon had 18, Hinrich had 15pts, Tyrus Thomas had 15 pts and 10 rebounds. Bulls win by 13pts, Skiles loses 100 strands of hair.  

NBA OPENING DAY!

Tomorrow we start another season of the NBA. Here are three key things you can expect to see tomorrow.

1) WHO IS REALLY THE BEAST IN THE EAST? Cleveland goes to Boston in a bid to kick start their championship campaign. The Cavs need to go back to the Finals to have any hopes of keeping LBJ. If they don't, expect the King to start listing down which players he wants to play with in NJ. For Boston, it's all about hunger. Many have said age and the satisfaction of finally winning a ring have dulled the edge of the Celtics' desire. Now, their mission is to prove they can do it again.

2) WHO IS THE BIG MAN OF THE FUTURE? Dwight Howard and Chris bosh reign supreme today. In 3 or four more years, either Greg Oden or Andrew Bynum will be the Hulk of the NBA. That road starts tomorrow, as post surgery Bynum takes on post surgery Oden. Oh yeah, they might also break their brittle knees (again!) in the next two  or three years which would make LaMarcus Aldrige and Marc Gasol the big men of the future.

3) BULLISH OR BUCK-ISH? Maybe we should call the game the Bulls versus Skiles. Bucks coach Scott Skiles brought the Bulls back to playoff respectability after years of futility. He also drafted, recruited and traded for 90% of the current Bulls lineup. But last year's team imploded, set off by the selfishness of key players (yes, I'm talking about Deng, Gordon and Ben Wallace). Now, Skiles is back, trying to resurrect a Bucks team that has offensive firepower but has more holes that a cheese grater. The Bulls players are trying to prove that last year was Skiles' fault and not theirs. Motivation on both sides to one up the other is at an all time high.

PROPS TO: Andres Nocioni. Goes up to Skiles and assistant coach Jim Boylan and gives them a hug. Plasters Richard Jefferson for knocking super rookie Derrick Rose out of the game.

BOOS TO: Deng, Gordon. Deng and Gordon are out with toe injuries. Toe injuries, fer Gawd's sake! Gordon's toe injury has kept him sidelined for more than 2 weeks now. Cut it off, Ben, and start shooting. That way, we can trade you by January.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!

I guess bullying does work.

The Chicago Bulls have come to terms with forward Luol Deng on a 6year, 71Million contract that could balloon to 80Million if Deng reaches career milestones.

This came as Deng's 2 week deadline reaches its final few days.

Now, it's Gordon's turn and reports indicate that he thinks he is as valuable to the Bulls as Deng evidently is.

We'll see if he can bully the Bulls into luxury tax territory.

DRAFT OVER, NOW LET'S TRADE!

The last couple of days leading up to the draft, hoop lines were burning up with the possiblities of a Bulls-Heat trade of picks.

Well, the draft id done and there's no deal. Doesn't mean there won't be one though.

So here's my two cents on how to make a deal between the Bulls and Heat happen.

TRADE HUGHES AND DENG FOR MARION AND DORELL WRIGHT/MARK BLOUNT!

If that happens, Bulls starters will be Rose, Hinrich, Marion, Gooden and Noah. Their reserves will be Gordon, Sefolosha, Nocioni, Thomas, Wright/Blount and Gray.

For the Heat, they get a starting lineup of Hughes, Wade, Deng, Haslem/Beasley, Mourning.
Reserves will be Williams, R Davis, M Bank, Daequan Cook, E Barron (former PBA import) and Wright/Blount, (whoever isnt dealt to Bulls)

Now didn't that make sense for everyone?

THE NEW BULL IN TOWN IS VINNY DEL NEGRO!

Today, Vinny Del Negro became the 17th head coach in Chicago Bulls history.

Last season, Vinny was the Assistant General Manager of the Phoenix Suns, working for a former Bulls guard, Steve Kerr. He also spent 3 years as a color analyst for the Suns, for ESPN and for the Spurs.

Del negro was selected in the second round by the Kings and played 12 seasons in the NBA, for teams like San Antonio, Milwaukee, Golden State and the Suns.

In 771 regular season games, he averaged 9.1 ppg, 3.2 apg and 2.3 rpg in 24.9 mpg and was a member of seven playoff teams appearing in 54 playoff contests and averaged 8.8 ppg, 2.8 apg and 2.2 rpg in 25.3 mpg.

He also spent two seasons in Italy (1990-92), where he played for Benetton Treviso of the Italian A1 League and starred with former Bull Toni Kukoc and earned playoff MVP honors during the club’s title run.

VINNY? SERIOUSLY? VINNY DEL NEGRO?

Vinny del Negro? That wily old Spurs guard who wasn't fast, wasn't quick, wasn't built like his namesake Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson and certainly didn't play like him?

The one who spent 11 years in the NBA with around 5 or 6 teams?

The one who was not physically gifted but had a high basketball IQ, who took care of the ball and is respected and loved by everyone?

Okay, so he is all that.

But how does that make him the perfect fit for the suddenly childish Bulls?

I'm gonna go to a corner and cry now.