Maybe a recap tonight, maybe not.

Next thread (won't be around for a prompt recap) at 9.

At least this one will be over early.

New thread at 7:30

Ryan Schwan is a smart dude, and a great blogger over at Hornets247.com. He put together some Venn Diagrams for the league's PGs, separated by advanced metrics (some more common than others) like TS%, AST%, Usage, etc.

Using the league average (for 10gm, 25mpg PGs) as a baseline for making certain categories, he charts together which point guards provide singular or multiple qualities. Even combines different categories based on the 'type' of PG you're looking for, though I'd say his 'master' list is a far-from-perfect combination of qualities.

But no matter how you slice these numbers, the glaring thing throughout is that Rose isn't even above average in...pretty much anything. He only shows up in one of the three diagrams and that was as a high-usage PG.

More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP

Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose stands on the sidelines against the New Jersey Nets trying to figure out how many days until he's a free agent. It's a long process. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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Bulls weren't embarrassed tonight, they're just continually embarrassing with this loss being another instance of it. Though of the 8 losses in 9 games, this certainly is the worst opponent.

And the Nets didn't disappoint in showing their ineptitude for long stretches of the game. But you could tell from the outset that the Nets smelled a win here, and they proved that they're just as good as the Bulls...or that the Bulls are just as bad as them.

I didn't see a team that quit on their coach, or played down to competition. This is who the current Bulls are, a team that's as good as the New Jersey Nets, having to put up a 31-point fourth quarter to lose by 2. I truly thought all 4th quarter that the Nets ran out of gas and the Bulls would narrowly get this one. And I was not rooting for them to lose as some kind of statement to show how bad they are. The fact that it was this close at the end, and they were down double-digits for a majority of the 3rd quarter, showed how comparable these current rosters are, win or lose.

(though the final possession was indeed a head-scratcher, with the Bulls having 14 seconds and John Salmons launching a 3 with a hand in his face with 7 left. I'm fine with not holding until the last shot in that situation, but the 'quick' shot has to be a better option than that, and Rose has to at least touch the ball. Also, Vinny ran out of timeouts, and he subbed out Taj (one of the team's best offensive re bounders) before Rose missed the final rebound, which I believe was on purpose? Anyway, credit Kiki Vandeweghe and his cool glasses for fouling Rose up three.)

A young duo of Harris-Lopez that's possibly better than Rose-Noah (Rose had a great second half when he realized a bit late that they needed him to score a lot, but Lopez dominated Noah). Middling wings in Lee and CDR that seemed interchangeable with Salmons-Deng at a fraction of the price. Crappy depth all-around.

Taj Gibson had a great night shooting the ball, but registered two defensive rebounds in over 35 minutes. He actually was benched in favor of Brad Miller to start tonight's game, a move I'm in favor of...but Miller looks one step over the hill and provided nothing tonight.

It's real bad right now. And while I don't see any changes overnight, when they get absolutely hammered in Atlanta tomorrow, the Org. may have no choice but to do something to salvage the season. A season they were not really interested in anyway, but they can't let it stay this bad.

Recap later.

Can't lose this, right?

John Jackson with the update:

The veteran guard's sprained left thumb hasn't healed enough to allow him to play and he's out Tuesday against the New Jersey Nets and Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks.

"Not until the end of the week or something like that," coach Vinny Del Negro said when asked about Hinrich's possible return. "But that's a day-to-day thing. Depending on how he feels, we'll make adjustments."

I haven't read any updates on Tyrus, but he's certainly out this week as well.

So, say Dr. Del Negro is optimistic and Hinrich's actually out the entire week. that means after the Nets on Tuesday, the Bulls could possibly be without Hinrich for @ATL, GSW, BOS. Then they have the Lakers to start next week, which they can't win even if everyone was healthy and slightly better.

That could mean a lot of losses. The mainstream reaction (both in print and on the radio throughout Monday) has been surprisingly agressive on VDN's job security. I guess I didn't have that reaction since I don't see him being any worse than usual, and in terms of results this Org. has set me up for a crummy year all offseason.

But if that reaction is actually tied to how the Org. feels (it's possible), and they lose to the Nets at home tomorrow night, would that really do it for VDN? I still don't think it's the best idea, since the typical bozos that become interim coaching hires (have you watched when Pete Myers takes over?) are just as over-their-head as VDN.

And I have zero confidence that they'd hire a real coach midseason, considering it took them 8 weeks in an offseason to hire Del Negro.

It's too bad, because if they did sell out a bit for some retread disciplinarian hire they likely could squeeze blood from this rock and get more wins. It's not like the Bulls are interested in developing guys anyway, and their rotation is so short as it is the (deemed) important young pieces like Rose and Noah will have to play no matter what. An uninspired but credible hire (like Byron Scott I suppose) plus a Tyrus trade for a veteran could get this team back to 'team on the rise' myth just in time for the offseason.

I still say the potential for disaster is too risky to axe VDN now. But if they lose to the Nets making it losses in 8 of 9 (and many of them blowouts)...isn't disaster already here?

(they won't lose to the Nets)

So, it wasn't just a circus trip, nor even being on the road that the catalyst for these Bulls blowouts. After being completely annihilated at home to the Raptors on Saturday night, it looks like it can happen against any team, and it's at the point where I'm having trouble remembering how the Bulls won the 7 they did.

But it's not a panic time yet. I don't think a coaching change is imminent, the Org. knows they're undermanned right now and are paying for the shoddy 'depth' they assembled in the offseason, and VDN really has few options. While they likely know by now he's not some coaching savant to be further groomed, though as long as VDN is fired before free agency begins it will have the same effect on the team's courting as if he's fired now. I still say there's a potential nightmare (yes, things can get worse) scenario if VDN is fired and the assistants are as bad (and uninterested with player development) as Jim friggin' Boylan was. Bernie Bickerstaff does have by far the most experience, though I still think the last thing he wants is the pressure of the big chair again, and he'd likely show it in his performance. I'd still say it's too much risking that result if they fire him now, but it does become less of an issue if more losses mount.

And I actually don't think they've quit on VDN as much as they're not as good as we hoped when fully healthy (Salmons and Miller being worse than expected, Rose not taking a leap forward), and terrible when injuries add up. Sure, there's the now-famous shoe defense, but I actually thought Luol was (alright, a bit lazily) using the opportunity to switch back defensive assignments after the Raps got an offensive rebound, though Pargo waved him off. It looked worse than it was. The issue isn't not playing hard when down, it's getting so far down in the first place. And I think it's mostly because they're untalented and poorly coached, though no more poorly than last year to where they've 'given up'.

Remember, it was actually all the way into late January last season when the Chairman came down from on high and sent notice to the team (and coaching staff in particular), so it's not like VDN hasn't started a season slowly before. The schedule will get easier like it always does, and the team will get more healthy. Or they will do another trade like last season, where they give up future assets for immediate help and further payroll flexibility. Last year it was John Salmons' arrival spelling the end for Gordon's future, and this year Tyrus could be the one out for any serviceable veteran to get the point differential somewhere under 25 each night.

The Bulls still could be seen as a 'team on the rise' if Noah keeps playing well (and being the true captain of the team) and Rose shows any improvement (have we seen it yet? at all?), and they sneak into the playoffs. I'm not sure LeBron James or Chris Bosh would see that end result and DQ the Bulls as a destination because their current teams blew out the Bulls in December. Though it won't be a mark in the 'pro' column of their free-agent checklist...and I can't help but think one of the biggest items in the 'con' list would be the current head coach.

And if VDN is given a reprieve just by being one of the top-8 in the East (and it may be true his 3rd year is fully guaranteed?), maybe making the playoffs wouldn't be worth it if his mere presence indicates the Bulls are not serious about competing for championships?