[Look to this tweet, friends, look to this tweet. Or don't and just vent, that's cool too. Basketball! -ed.]

I have not yet looked through the vagaries, but just happy to know we have basketball to look forward to...

Looks like the Bulls will have to find someone else to replace the awesomeness that was Rasual Butler. (and I have to give up my JR Smith pipedream)

DRose finishes fourth in Most Improved Player voting behind Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge and Dorell Wright. Rose had 11 1st-place votes.

Doug Thonus does some actual reporting:

I was talking with a friend within the Bulls organization, someone who has no problem telling me like it is and not sugar coating it. He said the fans have no idea how much of a positive impact Bogans makes on the team. He's a great locker room guy, he's great at helping the attitude, and that he's a really important part of their chemistry.

Doug Thonus offers his perspective on the loss last night, and inexplicably thinks the Bulls can trade Bench for Iggy without including Taj or Korver...

Y! Sports has obtained list of All-Star reserves. Eastern Con: R. Allen, P. Pierce, R. Rondo, K. Garnett, C. Bosh, A. Horford, J. Johnson,

Western Conference All-Star reserves: T. Duncan, P. Gasol, R. Westbrook, B. Griffin, M. Ginobili, D. Nowitzki, and D. Williams.

Boozer & Noah would be candidates if not injured...so what about Luol?

Bulls guard doesn't shoot much, but his defense, toughness earns him playing time.

@WojYahooNBA Adrian Wojnarowski
Nets, Lakers, Rockets are in advanced talks on 3-way deal sending T. WIlliams to HOU, S. Vujacic and a future HOU 1st to NJ, sources tell Y!

Also sending Joe Smith to Lakers, saving them some mad cash!

I like a coach who thinks about the team's needs over those of individual players...but seriously, Bogans?

The BlazersEdge is still in denial regarding a jinx...perhaps they were Pritchslapped.

The BlazersEdge take on last night's game and other random oddities.

Can't go wrong with quotes like this: "Yes, it's true — the Blazer Circus has pitched its tent in Chicago, and that means it's time to pay a visit once again to The Angriest Place on Earth™®, SBN's own Blog-a-Bull. These misanthropes turn pathological rage into an art form. It's a pity that the foulness of their fury has to be bowdlerized here."

Per KC:There's still time, but don't be surprised if Keith Bogans supplants projected starter Brewer at shooting guard for the Oct. 27 opener in Oklahoma City.

"It's not only who is going to start, it's who fits better with what group. I don't know if Ronnie will be better with the starters or bench guys. I like the energy he brings. I like Keith's toughness. Ronnie is more of a slasher. Keith is more of a spot-up 3-point shooter. Their strengths are different, but they're both good players."

And this tidbit was very interesting.

Thibodeau said his regular-season rotation would be "eight or nine players."

He also poo-poos the McGrady idea...which I think Reinsdorf is very much behind...if you watched the TV show "The Club", Jerry specifically said he likes taking chances on formerly great players who have something to prove...

Instead, I see the takeaway as how teams can get themselves in trouble with the lengths of the contracts they offer as much as the yearly salary. To try to gain some insight into this phenomenon, I went through and looked up all the contracts of five years or longer that were signed in free agency (no extensions) and concluded at the end of last season.

A compelling case for the Bulls strategy of filling out the roster with shorter term contracts for role players...

"Also...the latest on the Shaq Front: Cleveland's offer is low-ball. So is the one from Chicago. So it looks like Atlanta is the spot for him" -Stephen A Smith Tweets.

For one, I am happy the offer is considered a low-ball and the Bulls will not be retaining the services of the Big (insert new nickname here).

This could also be called; the more things change, the more they stay the same.

"The fact that Gordon and Deng (and Skiles) came in and made the team winners while still being that young...maybe that's why I'm more hesitant to deal away youth nowadays."

Does anybody else have a favorite archived post to share?

Derek Fisher has decided to remain with the Lakers.

"I have decided to continue with Kobe, continue with our teammates and the fans of Los Angeles," Fisher said in a statement. "While this may not be the most lucrative contract I've been offered this offseason, it is the most valuable. I am confident I will continue to lead this team on and off the court. Let the hunt for six begin."

[From the FanShots. KC reporting that there is added urgency in direct response to the reports that he's a finalist for the Hornets job. No doubt Thibs stock keeps rising after every dominating Celtics performance. I'm still against risking with another first-timer -ed.]

So, um, interview the guy already...I mean, he is no Bill Laimbeer, but I can get on board with this candidate above the retreads on the market....

Not that he was on the Bulls radar, but one fewer vacancy to be filled.

"As a creative, point scoring guard, Gordon is potentially the missing link GB have been seeking to make the final step.

Blessed with talented big men like Andy Betts, Joel Freeland and Rob Archiebald, and dynamic small forwards such as Luol Deng and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, it is ringmaster like Gordon they have deserately missed. "

Someone should tell them they are not getting Derrick Rose...Of all things I have heard Ben Gordon called, a ringmaster is not one of them.

[From the FanShots. Heck, why not dream when it comes to LeBron, batty Sam Smith is. -ed.]

Rose has a family emergency, will play tomorrow night.

Lebron says its not in response to Noah...yeah right; he just randomly professes his love for Chicago just days after Noah says Cleveland sucks!