Nick Friedell

  (11:01 AM)

Greetings from New York City, everybody ... Let's get this chat rolling.

Andrew (Oak Park)

Nick, What can we realistically expect from Lu the rest of the year? The tendon isnt going to heal on its own, so isnt he ultimately heading for some sort of surgery that could put the playoffs and London Olympics at risk?

Nick Friedell

  (11:04 AM)

Lu has said over and over again that he's going to be fine. That he's feeling better. But until he gets out on the floor, nobody is quite sure what's going to happen. The problem with the surgery is that by the time he gets it done, recovers, and then goes through rehab -- there is a chance he may be out for close to four months.If that's the case, he might be done for the year. He doesn't have to have surgery ... but if the pain is too much, he will have to at some point.

Josh (Chicago)

I knew Rip was a great scorer (almost a taller, 2pt shooting version of Allen) but I had no idea he was this great of passer and playmaker. From what I have seen so far, it seems like Rip could be the perfect complement to Drose. I hope the Bulls can get healthy because I am getting really excited. Thoughts?

Nick Friedell

  (11:06 AM)

I don't think the Bulls realized he was this good of a passer, either. The issue for Rip is that until he gets right and starts playing a lot more there will be plenty of concerns about his injuries. He can be a difference maker for the Bulls, but only if he can stay on the floor.

Adam (Chicago)

Nick..pounding away on Boozer's defense is old and pointless. But what about his offense? Wasn't he brought here to set up on the block and score in the post a little more? When he does that, he's blocked. Otherwise it's that 20-foot fade-away.

Nick Friedell

  (11:08 AM)

Yes, he was. That's the biggest issue with Boozer these days aside from the defense. He isn't the low post presence the Bulls thought they were getting. Everything is a fadeaway jumper.

ChicagoJoeSKI (the Chi!)

Nick mr. blazer man....Bulls showed great poise and resistance last night against the Knicks...But why doesn't Thibs yank Boozer when more teams are posting runs...I know he hits a couple shots here and there, but Taj is just more way more sound defensively and can hit the same shots and grab Offensive rebounds when others are shooting.

Nick Friedell

  (11:10 AM)

Thibs likes keeping Boozer in there for that jumper, but as the season progresses we are going to see a lot more of Taj Gibson late in games. You can bank on that.

Chris (Chicago)

Nick, Do you ever see Thibs ripping into Boozer during timeouts? It seems like when Boozer misses an assignment, and Thibs immediately calls timeout, he kind of just ignores Boozer and doesn't rip into him like he does with other players (i.e. Kyle Korver)

Nick Friedell

  (11:12 AM)

Thibs gets angry at Carlos, but I don't think you see him ripping Boozer the same way he does Korver (and others) because he doesn't want to lose Boozer mentally. He knows that if he continues to rip on Boozer, he may lose him completely.

Brian (Deerfield)

Hi Nick, my emotions can't take the Dwight Howard trade talk any longer. Could you help put my mind at ease by dispelling the rumors? Or, more accurately, could you let me know the actual likelihood of something that monumental taking place for the Bulls? Thanks.

Nick Friedell

  (11:15 AM)

I'll bet I have gotten over 100 questions about Howard already today. No, I still don't think he's coming to the Bulls. There are many different reasons ... but the main one right now is because any deal for Howard would have to include Noah, Deng and several other pieces in order for Orlando to even think about pulling the trigger. Why would the Magic trade for a guy, in Deng, who has a torn ligament in his wrist? Moreover, I've seen what Howard has said over the last couple weeks and I just don't believe him. I think he either wants to play in LA or NYC for the Nets.

Steve (Lakeview)

I know the Boozer thing is getting beaten into the the ground, but do you think there is a chance that the Bulls would use the amnesty clause on him after this season? He is a perfect candidate for it.

Nick Friedell

  (11:16 AM)

No, not this early. Down the line? Yes. But not after this season.

Alejandro (Boston, MA)

What's wrong with Omer? I can't remember the last time he had a good game.

Nick Friedell

  (11:20 AM)

People have wondered if Omer is OK physically, although Thibs has made no mention of that. Something is up, though. Asik has not been playing well and still doesn't appear to be in great shape. He has gotten into foul trouble and struggled to find any kind of offense. It will become a more glaring injury if Noah goes down at any point this year.

Tommy (Markham)

It seems Kyle has stepped up his game since he has gotten more minutes. Do you think he has earned more time when Deng comes back? If so will Deng go right back to playing 40 minutes a game and he takes some of Brewers minutes?

Nick Friedell

  (11:22 AM)

Kyle has definitely earned a few more minutes. Thibs says the biggest difference is that Kyle has improved defensively. Even when Deng comes back, I'd look for Kyle to get some more run. Especially since Ronnie Brewer has struggled a little over the past week.

Adam (Chicago)

How surprised were you to see Thibs have Butler check Melo, on the road in a tight game, for the entire fourth quarter? A few weeks ago he couldn't get on the floor before the Mamba. Now he's going at the best scorer in the game and doing a great job.

Nick Friedell

  (11:26 AM)

I was very surprised, but Butler's teammates weren't. They knew the rookie could play, especially on the defensive end. Butler even admitted that the defense he played, and the fact Thibs left him in, gave him a huge boost of confidence.

Greg (Chicago)

Nick, I like our defense but there is something that our Big mean are missing. Its called 'Nastiness". I see Rose get pounded out there by other team; hard fouls, etc. but our big men aren't standing up for him. If Jordan took a hard foul, you'd see Rodman in his face moments after. Sometimes messages need to be sent for the sake of the game and health of Rose. I will take a T for some type of backbone down there.

Nick Friedell

  (11:26 AM)

And this is exactly why the Bulls miss Kurt Thomas.

Dave (Glendale Heights)

NY called timeout after Jimmy Butler's fast break layup and on TV you could see all of the Bulls, particulalry Rose and Deng go right to Butler to praise him and pump him up after that play. It was nice to see, but is that just another example of the Bulls unusual chemistry or do you see a lot of teams treat their rookies that way?

Nick Friedell

  (11:31 AM)

The Bulls' chemistry is one of the biggest advantages this team has compared to others. Almost everyone in that locker room actually likes each other -- a rarity in the NBA. The Bulls' draft strategy is based largely on how well they think a player will fit into the locker room.

Ben (Cedar Lake, IN)

Not to keep ripping Boozer, but does he have any trade value in the league?

Nick Friedell

  (11:33 AM)

Ummmm ... no.

Tom S. (Sacramento )

Any chance Rose participates in the dunk contest this year?

Nick Friedell

  (11:34 AM)

Derrick will never be in a dunk contest. He's told me before that he doesn't think he's creative enough to be in one. I told him he was wrong.

Rene (Chicago)

who causes the greater concern for the bulls the pacers or the 76ers?

Nick Friedell

  (11:37 AM)

The Pacers. I think the Bulls know that Indy has improved even more this year. That's not to take anything away from Philly because they have too. But I think the Bulls are expecting a battle against the Pacers in the playoffs again this year.

Mike (Belvidere, IL)

Heading north to catch the game tomorrow. Will I be seeing Rip and Deng?

Nick Friedell

  (11:38 AM)

Deng? Maybe. Rip? No.

Greg (Chicago)

Hi Nick, What is the likelyhood that the Bulls make a move for another scoring 2 guard. I've watched every game this year and it appears that RIP doesn't play very much. I understand its a condensed season and he seems to have injuries. But if we are going to rest him so much why not bring in a healthier scorer in the mean time?

Nick Friedell

  (11:41 AM)

The Bulls are willing to wait out Rip's injuries. They believe he is a great fit for this team and they are convinced they have enough depth (in Korver and Brewer) to get by for the time being.

Jay (Chicago)

The over / under for the Super Bowl is 59.5. Would Boozer and Howard questions be over or under that weekly in our Bulls chats?

Nick Friedell

  (11:44 AM)

Way, way over. Seriously, are there Bulls fans out there who actually like Boozer still? Every question I get begins with how fans tell me how bad he is.

WillHarp (U.C.)

Nick do you see the Bulls ending up with the best record in the East in spite of the rash of injries?

Nick Friedell

  (11:45 AM)

Yep -- I think the Bulls will grab the number one seed in the East again.

John (Rochelle, il.)

From your point of view, was Wade out of bounds on the LeBron free throw rebound late in the game? On TV they would only replay the point where he touched the ball stealing it from Rip, but they would not show where he seemed to touch it a second time and was standing out of bounds. Can you clear this up?

Nick Friedell

  (11:48 AM)

I actually thought he was out of bounds. The Bulls' players were sure he was out of bounds. But in the end, it didn't matter. As soon as the whistle blew, that play was dead.

Adam (Chicago)

There are Bulls fans that like Boozer. I'm one. He's still one of the five or ten best offensive fours in the game. So he gets paid a lot. Was he supposed to turn the money down?

Nick Friedell

  (11:51 AM)

So there you go -- there are still Boozer Boosters out there. And no, absolutely I don't think Carlos should have turned the money down. The problem for him is that the bullseye that comes with such a huge contract makes him an easy target for fans if he isn't playing up to a certain level.

Zac (Sterling, IL)

Nick, Love listening to you on Waddle and Silvy.. Do you think the Bulls will be trading for anyone before the deadline or going after K. Mart?

Nick Friedell

  (11:52 AM)

I think the Bulls will add another big man at some point. Whether it is KMart, Pryzbilla or somebody else -- time will tell. But I do think they will add at least one more guy.

Nick Friedell

  (11:53 AM)

All right, everybody. I am out of here. Got to catch my flight. Talk to you guys next week from Charlotte.