This West coast trip is a bit different than the circus trip that the Bulls took earlier in the season. First, because we are missing our top Center in Joakim Noah and Second, because we are deeper into the season and been able to figure out who’s going to consistently play well. This has to be the first time where I have seen the Bulls look lax on defense and play uninspired. Giving up 101 and 109 points to the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers is not my idea of playing well on the road - especially having blown these two teams out earlier in the season

Game 1: vs. Golden State

Somehow the Warriors were able to smother Rose on defense, only allowing him 14 points, 10 assists, and 9 turnovers. Boozer picked up the lack of scoring with 21 points, and 10 rebounds but it wasn’t enough against the Warriors, who had Monta Ellis score 33 points and Stephan Curry who scored 23. Curry and Ellis sparked a run early in the 4th quarter that pretty much sealed the deal against the Bulls who were not able to consistently mount an attack against the Warriors…

Game 2: vs. Portland

This game further proves why we desperately need Noah back in the lineup as we had no answer for LaMarcus Aldridge, who had a monster game with 42 points - pounding the Bulls in the paint and was able to hit 15-17ft jumper. The Bulls were also not able to contain Andre Miller who scored 27 points with 11 assists. Yea, Derrick got money with 36 points of his own but the Bulls were not able to get much going on offense. And he also had a crazy slam in the fourth quarter. Another game where the Bulls looked sleep on defense. And with Luol getting in early foul trouble, the Bulls didn’t many other options for Blazers - who are a pretty decent team so I’m not suprised by the way they played.

After the game Nicolas Batum quoted saying that Rose can’t play defense because of how Miller was able to score against the Bulls. Who is this guy?

This short losing streak only proves that we need our big guy, Noah, back on the court…He’s been practicing with no pain and is probably scheduled to come back after the All-Star game.