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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls' 104-64 destruction of the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night was such a laugher that Bulls' head coach Tom Thibodeau, who rarely ever sits down during a game, actually planted himself on the bench. Midway through the third quarter. The difference on Sunday night, as it will be throughout the course of the season for Thibodeau's bunch, is that the Bulls once again proved that they are among the deepest teams in the league.

Rip Hamilton was a late scratch because of a groin injury. No problem. Ronnie Brewer inserted himself in the lineup and dropped 17 points on the Grizzlies, thanks in part to a much improved 3-point shot.

C.J. Watson hurts his elbow early in the fourth quarter. No problem. John Lucas III comes out of nowhere to score eight points in 10 minutes. The Bulls' bench depth was a reoccurring theme throughout last season and one of the biggest reasons the team led the league with 62 regular-season victories. It's also one of the reasons why the Bulls are so confident they can have the same kind of success this year.

"I think we're the deepest team in the NBA," Bulls center Joakim Noah bluntly said after the game. "I think Omer [Asik] has been playing great for us. Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, all these guys I feel could be starters. I feel like it definitely takes our team to a whole 'nother level when you bring in the second unit and they're very good."

That is the key for the Bulls. They don't just have extra bodies who fill space on the bench throughout the year. They have several players who could easily be starters for other teams throughout the league. It's a luxury that other NBA teams would love to have.

"I think that we're pretty deep with the guys that we have," Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said. "I think that everybody on our team knows their role. I'll just say that. Where when they come in, they know their job. They work hard. Everybody on our team works hard from the starters to the bench players to the coaches. Right now, it's just paying off for us."

It continues to pay off in a big way almost every night. When the Bulls need a spark, all Tom Thibodeau has to do is turn his head around and send in one of the reserves. In a condensed, lockout-shortened season like the one the Bulls are going through right now, it's the difference between good teams and great ones. The Bulls feel like they have in the latter category.

"You need everybody," Thibodeau said. "As it worked out, our bench has played very effectively in short minutes. Tonight, Ronnie Brewer stepped in and he has played well since the preseason."

In many ways, Brewer represents the riches the Bulls have from the reserve unit. He could have sulked when the Bulls signed Hamilton before the season, but he seems to be motivated by the move. The veteran continues to spend hours working on his three point shot and that work is paying off. Brewer is playing as well now than at any point last season.

"We know what guys can do," he said. "You don't want to look at other teams and downplay what they got, and what they can contribute, but I seriously think from the starting five and then the Bench Mob that we bring in we might be one of the deepest teams. You saw tonight. John Lucas, [Brian Scalabrine], Jimmy Butler, they came in and didn't miss a beat. They defended, they rebounded and knocked down shots."

As we learned last year, when Brian Scalabrine's name can be seen in a box score, that's a pretty good indication that the bench has done its job.

CHICAGO -- Let's take a quick look at how Chicago Bulls rolled to an easy 104-64 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night at the United Center.

How it happened: The Bulls were dominant from the opening tip. They didn't seem to miss a beat, despite the fact that Rip Hamilton sat out the game because of a strained groin. Carlos Boozer had 17 points and 11 rebounds while Derrick Rose chipped in 16. The game was over by halftime and gave the Bulls' starters a chance to get some much needed rest. This was by far the best defensive effort the Bulls have given all year.

What it means: The Bulls proved two things on Sunday night. First, they are probably the deepest team in the league. Even without Hamilton (and C.J. Watson, who injured his left elbow early in the fourth quarter), they crushed the Grizzlies. Every healthy player provided something -- even Brian Scalabrine, who had an assist, much to the fans' delight. Secondly, when the Bulls play the type of lockdown defense they played on Sunday night, they can beat almost any team in the league. Granted, the Grizzlies weren't at full strength, especially after Memphis forward Zach Randolph left in the first half with a right knee contusion, but the Bulls played the kind of defense they played last year. That fact will make Tom Thibodeau very happy.

Stats of the night: The Grizzlies shot 27 percent from the field in the first half. 30 percent for the game. The Bulls had 48 points in the paint compared to just 26 for the Grizzlies.

What's next: The Bulls face off against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. They'll be looking for their fourth win in a row.

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- After sitting out practice on Thursday with nagging injuries, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and C.J. Watson will play for the Chicago Bulls on Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Let's take a quick look at how the Chicago Bulls pushed past the Memphis Grizzlies 96-84 on Monday afternoon at FedEx Forum.

How it happened: Derrick Rose went off for the first triple-double of his career, racking up 22 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Kyle Korver had another big game game hitting six three-pointers and finishing with 22 points. Luol Deng added 28 points of his own as the Bulls won their third game in a row. The big key for the Bulls was that their defense was strong for most of the day. The Grizzlies struggled to find their range, shooting just 38 percent from the field.

What it means: Rose wasn't sure how his team would fare without Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah on the floor, but he was confident they would figure it out. They did. He picked up his first triple-double, and the defense was on point most of the day. With Rose on the floor, the Bulls have the chance to win any game they play no matter who is playing.

Stat of the day: The Bulls were 11-for-23 from behind the arc. The Grizzlies were just 1-for-7.

What's next: The Bulls finish off a four-games-in-five-nights stretch Tuesday night when they host the Charlotte Bobcats. After so many games in a row, and without Noah and possibly Boozer again, it will be interesting to see how much gas Tom Thibodeau's team has left in the tank.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer will miss Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies because of a sprained ankle.

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The Chicago Bulls have entered a brand new world.

Without Joakim Noah, they are obviously a different team -- one that struggles in the post, struggles to grab rebounds and struggles to find energy on a consistent basis. They did all of those things on Thursday night as they gave away a 17-point lead and ended up giving away a very winnable game to the Memphis Grizzlies in a 105-96 loss.

It would be easy to look at the numbers and see how the Grizzlies were able to come back and win. They shot 53 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Bulls 46-31. The most glaring thing about Noah's absence, though, is not something you'd be able to pick up from a statistic.

That's because Noah, the team’s emotional leader, provides so much energy that feeds his teammates during the game. He's the guy who provides the spark for the Bulls when they are in need of one, as they were several times on Thursday night.

Without Noah in the lineup, the Bulls have to pull off the most difficult of basketball feats.

They have to figure out a way to win while the heart of their team sits on the bench in street clothes with a brace on his foot.

"It's the worst, man," Noah said of having to watch his teammates struggle without him. "I want to be out there and I want to play. At the same time if it's to play for five minutes and not be able to play the rest of the game, there's no [point]. It doesn't make sense. It's just tough right now, a tough loss. Obviously, of course I want to be out there. It's hard not to be. But I got to do what I got to do."

It's clear to anyone who has watched the Bulls this season, including the players, that Noah's presence is something that the team simply couldn't lose.

"That's a player you can't replace," Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said. "He's a good player. We're hoping that he comes back soon. We know his injury is going to keep him out for a while, but we can't use that as an excuse. We still got to go out there and play the game."

Even Rose admits that there really isn't another player who can replicate the passion that the big center provides.

"He's that type of guy,” Rose said. “When he comes in he's always talking, always doing effort plays to give us extra possessions out there. Right now we've just got to find a way without him out there."

Rookie forward Taj Gibson echoed Rose's sentiments. He admitted that he notices a difference in the team’s energy without Noah on the floor “especially in the fourth quarter when it's time to bring it home.

“We just need that kick and [Thursday] night you could just feel it,” Gibson said. “Sometimes you play the game so much you can sense something in the air, you've got a vibe when your team is just not pulling through right now. We got to pick it up. Guys can talk it, like ‘Come on, let's go. Let's go.’ But it takes action on the court. It was tough. We didn't pull through towards the end. And it's frustrating."

What has to be especially troubling for Vinny Del Negro & Co. is that Noah provided exactly the type of vocal presence that Gibson said was lacking on Thursday night.

"It's been frustrating," the Bulls coach admitted before the game. "But you can't let that sink in. You just got to keep battling and fighting. No excuses. There's no question. Talent, size. Having Jo out there, we're a different team. That's just the way it is. Every team's got to fight through it. Some have more injuries than others. You just got to keep on battling. Our guys are staying together. They've handled a lot of adversity this year. We got 22 games and we've just got to keep battling and fighting."

Without Noah, that’s going to be an excruciatingly painful hill to climb.

"I'm just trying to get ready as fast as I can," Noah said of his possible return. "[Thursday night] was definitely a tough loss. Games like this are games that we really need to win, especially at this time of year. But we can't get discouraged. We got a lot of tough games coming up so we just got to get ready. I'm just trying to do the things I can control and get back there as soon as I can -- hopefully sooner than later."

If Noah's return doesn't come soon for the Bulls, they won't have to worry about a later.

This season will be over and the possibility of a playoff berth will have slipped away.