In the summer of 2010, the Chicago Bulls were shafted. Internet reports were spreading that LeBron James, hometown son Dwayne Wade, and even Chris Bosh were interested in coming to Chicago with the hope of multiple championships. I remember being at my college SOAR day during that time, reading the news in some computer lab, and wanting to raise the chair I was sitting in over my head in victory. It turns out that my reaction was premature. After saying to myself every second that the rumors of those three joining up were not true and the fact that Stephen A Smith could not possibly get something right, LeBron James joined the Miami Heat along with Wade and Bosh. After carving out $20 million in cap space, the Bulls were left to fill that space with what felt like a 5th place trophy: Carlos Boozer.
Since signing that 5 year, $80 million deal, he has lived in the shadow of the potential of the Big 3. Boozer lacked the will to try on defense, often becoming a turnstile to many opponents on the block who would either shot over him or simply blazed right past him. In the 2010-11 playoffs, he played the worst series I can remember from a Chicago Bull. Boozer essentially disappeared when the time mattered most. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the man who was supposed to be the 2nd banana averaged only 14.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG while shooting a putrid 41% from the field. The combination of his lack of production in the clutch and poor effort on defense made him easily the most unlikable Bulls player. And I wasn’t alone.
Other than smokin' Jay Cutler, there hasn’t been a more frustrating relationship with a Chicago athlete in my lifetime. Message boards have been at it for months calling for management to amnesty him and with good reason. He’s been practically below average ever since he’s come to the Midwest. The stats might not say he is but anybody who has watched a Bulls game the last two years can tell. It’s impossible to fool the fans when it comes to effort. They tend to notice when forwards continually blow past you without even trying to stop him. Carlos Boozer became the scorn of the Bulls fans as we saw a bleak season coming as Derrick Rose rehabbed his fragile knee and Omer Asik headed west to Houston. Darkness was coming and there’s no way out of it. AND we have to watch Boozer play matador defense for another season?, we said to ourselves. It was going to be a long year.
Then something funny happened. The team came out and played hard. And tried and competed. Even though the defense hasn’t been as ironclad as the last couple of years, they are still top-5 and on top of the division. Luol Deng, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of NBA players, has kept the Bulls afloat for what feels like the 10th year in a row. Joakim Noah has cranked up the energy another notch is having a bonafide All-Star season. The reshaped Bench Mob has come up in the clutch of late, with sixth man Marco Belinelli making not one but two (!) game winning shots in the last week. But do you know who has come up as the team’s leading screamer and reliable 2nd banana? Carlos Boozer!
The Booz has picked it up this season and looks like he gives a crap out there. He has been finding easy ways to score around the basket and has been more aggressive than ever at the free throw line; attempting 147 foul shots compared to the 137 he shot ALL OF LAST YEAR. Boozer has especially picked it up since the calendar turned over to 2013, averaging a robust 21.5 PPG and 11 RPG in January and even picking up Player of the Week honors. In my biased opinion, he should be an All-Star. Boozer has become the complimentary player Chicago thought he was supposed to be. All he had to do was try hard. Don’t get me wrong, Boozer is still a subpar defender but he is at least trying now. Rooting for him has never been easier. I just hope that all the effort is starting to finally show are rewarded with an All-Star selection.
Since signing that 5 year, $80 million deal, he has lived in the shadow of the potential of the Big 3. Boozer lacked the will to try on defense, often becoming a turnstile to many opponents on the block who would either shot over him or simply blazed right past him. In the 2010-11 playoffs, he played the worst series I can remember from a Chicago Bull. Boozer essentially disappeared when the time mattered most. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the man who was supposed to be the 2nd banana averaged only 14.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG while shooting a putrid 41% from the field. The combination of his lack of production in the clutch and poor effort on defense made him easily the most unlikable Bulls player. And I wasn’t alone.
Other than smokin' Jay Cutler, there hasn’t been a more frustrating relationship with a Chicago athlete in my lifetime. Message boards have been at it for months calling for management to amnesty him and with good reason. He’s been practically below average ever since he’s come to the Midwest. The stats might not say he is but anybody who has watched a Bulls game the last two years can tell. It’s impossible to fool the fans when it comes to effort. They tend to notice when forwards continually blow past you without even trying to stop him. Carlos Boozer became the scorn of the Bulls fans as we saw a bleak season coming as Derrick Rose rehabbed his fragile knee and Omer Asik headed west to Houston. Darkness was coming and there’s no way out of it. AND we have to watch Boozer play matador defense for another season?, we said to ourselves. It was going to be a long year.
Then something funny happened. The team came out and played hard. And tried and competed. Even though the defense hasn’t been as ironclad as the last couple of years, they are still top-5 and on top of the division. Luol Deng, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of NBA players, has kept the Bulls afloat for what feels like the 10th year in a row. Joakim Noah has cranked up the energy another notch is having a bonafide All-Star season. The reshaped Bench Mob has come up in the clutch of late, with sixth man Marco Belinelli making not one but two (!) game winning shots in the last week. But do you know who has come up as the team’s leading screamer and reliable 2nd banana? Carlos Boozer!
The Booz has picked it up this season and looks like he gives a crap out there. He has been finding easy ways to score around the basket and has been more aggressive than ever at the free throw line; attempting 147 foul shots compared to the 137 he shot ALL OF LAST YEAR. Boozer has especially picked it up since the calendar turned over to 2013, averaging a robust 21.5 PPG and 11 RPG in January and even picking up Player of the Week honors. In my biased opinion, he should be an All-Star. Boozer has become the complimentary player Chicago thought he was supposed to be. All he had to do was try hard. Don’t get me wrong, Boozer is still a subpar defender but he is at least trying now. Rooting for him has never been easier. I just hope that all the effort is starting to finally show are rewarded with an All-Star selection.