Bosh Spice

The fact that the hashtag "#BoshSpice" was trending on Twitter was reason enough to write a nice little passion piece on how much of a fame-hungry moocher Heat forward Chris Bosh is. He has surpassed Derrick Fisher as the official "Coattail King". The fact that he shot the lowest field goal percentage by a pro (1-18) with at least 18 attempts since 1973 was pathetic. The fact that he should have won a SAG award for "Best Power Forward in a Post Defender Role" with his dramatic flop on Carlos Boozer was downright pitiful. But the fact that Chris Bosh, despite an awful performance, kept letting it fly like he was "heating up" in NBA Jam T.E and remained, without a doubt, the downright ugliest player on a floor that included an apparent seik (Carlos Boozer) and a Russian extra from a documentary on the Ottoman Empire (Zyrdunas Ilgauskas)is perhaps the most paltry of points. Although I would thoroughly enjoy devoting 3,000 words to demean every athletic and personal achievement that Chris Bosh has made in his entire life, including why on Earth the attached picture was ever taken, last night was about the Bulls.

When LeBron and Wade rushed out to an early lead while effortlessly throwing down highlight caliber dunks in transition, I'll admit, I thought the Bulls were going to struggle to keep the Heat under the 100 point benchmark, which usually spells trouble. But the Bulls depth was influential in keeping Chicago within striking distance and helped propel that massive 3rd quarter turnaround. The Bulls may have stood pat on the trade deadline, opting for a "hold the Mayo" approach in courting a new shooting guard, but Omer Asik was all over the window Thursday night. Double digit boards for the Big Turkey when people would have been satisfied just to see him put together an English sentence under his own power in September...no small potatoes.

Even though the Bulls' lead expanded and contracted more than Deena's waistline from the Jersey Shore, the Bulls held together like glue. With Bosh continuously laying bricks from all areas of the floor, the Bulls kept their bounce and used strong 3rd and 4th quarters from both Deng and Rose to help keep them in control of the game. Through every circus shot by Wade and LeBron that fell through the rim, through every worthless tidbit of Reggie Miller's analysis, the Bulls pressed on.

It's hard to describe in words what Derrick Rose does for the Bulls in the waning moments of the game, and last night was no exception. It is rare to see the poise of a cagey veteran wired into the floor game of such a young and talented megastar. He had the notion to can the deep two when the defense allotted him space, and he showed immeasurable trust in Luol by dishing him the rock in the corner with the game on the line. You'd think that by now D.Rose would have channeled his inner Stromile Swift and be understandably worried about some paternity suit or drug trafficking ring, but he has maintained his focus and stays a leg up (in my own objective opinion) in the MVP race.

And Lastly, yes, as most of you already know, Stacey King did tell me to "go to bed" last night via Twitter after I calmly told him to 'pump the breaks' following a series of utterly lame jokes. That's fine. When you lose, you lose. King Stacey-1, Chicago Sports Noise-0.

As for Pick of the Day, the Pulse Man suffered defeat at the hands of the Bulls' stifling 2nd half defense last night as they failed to cover the over. For tonight, the Pulse Man likes the new-look Knicks taking the Cavs by more than 7.5 in Cleveland. Giving them baron Davis is going to prove entirely worthless and Harangody can't save a city on his own. Cavs still suck.

Pick of the Day: Knicks (+7.5) @ Cavaliers- KNICKS

Record:(58-42-0)

Now I'm done. Rack me

Frost

Heat Check

For the first time in the young year of 2011, Chicago becomes 'witness' to the Holy Triumvirate. No, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit aren't making a guest appearance at Holy Name Cathedral on Saturday. Instead, LeBron, Wade and that 6'10'' left-handed extra-terrestrial roll into Chi-town still yielding the 2nd best record (30-11) in the Eastern Conference (behind Boston 29-9) despite losing two straight to the Clippers and the Nuggets. I repeat, losing to the Clippers and the Nuggets--a perpetual third-tier Western Conference bottomfeeder and a team plagued by more possible trade implications than the ever-strenuous relations between Cuba and United States. Sure, Lebron's ankle/hamstring/ego injury has sidelined him in both of these woeful losses, but this game is still one of the most anticipated regular season contests for the Bulls so far in this season's first half. Perhaps LeBron was trying to prove a point in his absence over the last week, revealing that the Heat are merely lukewarm (no pun intended) without the presence of the most explosive athlete in professional sports. Or, perhaps he's just a yellow belly (it's a tragedy nobody used this term after 1950) who can't grind through an injury for his team. By no means am I a "LeBron hater" and I promise you that I have never uttered the phrase "LeLoser", but I'll still take the latter in this case.

But this game has deeper value for the Bulls than simply one-upping LBJ as an artificial ego boost. It is a chance for the Bulls to show that they can beat both teams that they trail in the conference standings at the United Center. Last week, the Bulls proved they could outlast the Celtics behind a jubilant United Center crowd poised for a promotional Big Mac. On Saturday, they will once again have to rise to the occasion against the most top-heavy team in the history of the NBA (...and that officially marks the first time I've ever used the phrase 'top-heavy' negatively in my entire life, what a shame).

But as Derrick Rose's legend grows with each astonishing fast-break embarrassment of an opposing defender, the Bulls inch closer to becoming a legitimate contender for the Eastern Conference crown. Outside of the City of the Alamo in which the Spurs simply don't lose, and Gregg Popovich never changes facial expressions, the Bulls and Celtics are tied for the 2nd best home record in the NBA at 17-3. But, as well as they've played at home, the Bulls have lost to the Nets, Bobcats and Sixers on the road. If you didn't know any better, you would think that I was rehashing the road results of the miserable Cavaliers, who incredulously failed to score 60 points against the Lakers earlier this week. If the Bulls put one in the W column on Saturday night, even if LeBron is absent from class, it would be a statement win to the rest of the Eastern Conference. Almost a sort of "Bright Lights" (I truly am sorry for this link) welcoming to the spotlight for the new-look Bulls. Just remember the lyrics Rob Thomas so beautifully echoed through the speakers of your parents' Camry in 2004, "If the bright lights don't recede you, just turn yourself around and come on home", we know you can always win there.

As for Pick of the Day, the Pulse Man finds himself in the midst of a 2-bet plunge for the first time in 2011. In order to find a way out of his losing streak, he has put his faith in Aaron Rodgers and the Packers to dethrone the #1 seed in the NFC, or at least cover the 2.5 point spread. Often times, when everyone thinks something is going to happen, it never does (Seahawks surprising Saints last week). But in this case, I think Aaron Rodgers is going to have his "Yes, I have a mustache. Yes, I'm sleeping with Erin Andrews. And Yes, I'm the best damn quarterback in the NFC!" type of game. I don't like the Packers, but he's hard not to like. Go ahead Aaron, show Atlanta the effing belt! Packers/Bears NFC Championship would be incredible. Undoubtedly the stuff that ruins friendships. Da da da, duh da da da....GO PACK GO.

Pick of the Day: Packers (+2.5) @ Falcons- PACKERS

Record:(45-32-0)

Now I'm done. Rack me

Frost