This video and the accompanying post say pretty much all you need to hear about how I feel regarding the terrible treatment Rose gets from officials.  Take a look at the video and then click this link ShamSports.com‘s must-read post on the topic.

As you can see from the picture, the Bulls and Cavs game was a physical battle.  The Bulls managed to pull it out 86-85 after a very poor final possession by Cleveland, but not before Hinrich lost a good amount of blood.  More importantly to note, I think we are learning the character of this Bulls squad.  Although their shooting woes continued last night, they once again kept the game close to the end and were able to overcome the Cavs.  You can sense the energy on this team.  I’ll admit the talent level is lacking, and Rose is clearly hobbled somewhat by his heel (although he did post a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists last night), but they have shown a lot to get excited about.

So what is the identity of this team?  It appears to be a team that is essentially 9 deep and will find any way to stay in a game that it can.  While the shooting hasn’t been there, the team defense has evolved greatly since last season.  Everyone seems to be communicating better, and although there are still major lapses, even Brad Miller looked like he was trying on the defensive end against Shaq.  Last night?  The Bulls were actually outrebounded, but by protecting the ball better than I have seen them in years (only 5 turnovers the whole game, it has to be a record in this millennium for the Bulls) they were able to secure the victory.

So what to expect from the Bulls this season?  I know the haters out there point to the poor shooting and lineup full of question marks and say “this year is gonna suck”.  But I beg to differ.  I think this team is very exciting and plays with heart.  If Derrick Rose can get healthy, we could see 40+ wins, another playoff appearance and maybe even a shot to advance to the next round if they can somehow snag the 5th or 6th seed.

You notice how I didn’t mention Vinny in all this?  It’s hard to tell where he fits in to this team’s identity.  He seems to have them playing better defense, but at the same time the shooting woes cannot be completely blamed on a team-wide shooting slump.  If anything, Vinny Del Crapo’s “everybody freeze and watch each other force up bad shots” offense is more likely the cause of their shooting struggles.

I’m not saying the Cavs should hit the panic button, but after the 0-2 start, it might be time to give Shaq a new nickname.  What do you think of  “The Big Shaqckle”?

Whether you love or hate LeBron James and/or the Cleveland Cavaliers, at some point you have to start feeling sorry for Cleveland fans.  I mean there are many cities with long traditions of losing professional sports franchises, but Cleveland really is the worst.  Here in Chicago, the Cubs and White Sox went about 100 years without winning a championship, but at least they fielded decent teams once or twice a decade.  Cleveland had some good baseball teams in the 1990s but other than that have not won a major sports championship since the Browns in 1964.

What must that do to a fan base’s psyche?  As a Cubs fan, I know the heartache of terrible management, coaching and players, but at least in recent years there have been signs that competent management exists in the organization (see: MacPhail, McDonough, Hendry).  Where I always feel like the Cubbies will “get it done next year”, Cleveland fans lost that optimism years ago.

With the Cavs this year, things were different though.  This isn’t the same old “have no shot at a title” Cleveland team.  This is a team led by the best player in basketball that absolutely torched the entire league all season.  Historically, Cleveland is not like the Red Sox in how they were so close so many times but just couldn’t get over the hump.  Besides the Indians of 1997, Cleveland has just been shitty year in and year out.  Playoff droughts and losing seasons are par for the course.  Even though this was different, it seems the reaction from the city had a familiar tone to it.  A story on TrueHoop yesterday summarizes Cavs fans emotions very well:

But all over the Web, more than anything, Cavalier fans seem to be as supportive as every of their team. They’re not accusing anyone of anything. Instead they are grabbing their plates, and lining up for yet another trip to the buffet of disappointment.

28 NBA teams have already been eliminated. But in this one, more than any other, such an event can feel like destiny fulfilled.

And so the heartbreak carries on, and Cleveland fans are so disillusioned with their respective sports franchises that they can’t even appreciate that they still have at least one more shot at an NBA title, after which LeBron may or may not leave as a free agent.  Pride and faith in my Chicago teams, through thick and thin, has always brought tons of joy to my life.  I just hope Cleveland fans can find that joy someday, and the faith…well I probably wouldn’t have that either if I were them, but maybe an NBA Championship in 2010 could turn that around.

If you’ve watched TV the last couple of weeks, you’ve seen this Heineken commercial at least once (or at least the one in a language you understand).  The first 100 times I saw it, it was hilarious.  Well, the Cavs have a version of their own and it’s pretty great.

My favorite part is when Delonte West is sniffing the shoe.  You know those new shoes smell good.