Let's be honest: none of us expected the Bobcats to win this game. None of us expected the Bobcats to keep it close. But I don't think any of us expected the Bobcats to be beaten to such a degree.

Even without Derrick Rose and Rip Hamilton, the Chicago Bulls are the better team on paper. They're bigger, stronger, more experienced and better coached. Thibodeau is one of the better coaches that the NBA has to offer, and the Bulls proved that with an abusive performance against the Bobcats.

I'll give credit where credit is due: the Bobcats are a terrible team offensively, and the Bulls are an exceptional defensive team. I actually had a wager with a friend before the game. I bet five dollars that the Bobcats would score more than 65 points tonight. He said less, and I am now five dollars poorer.

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Biyombo is going to be in the next ESPN Body Issue? ..............................

Today's Tunes:

"There's No Home For You Here" - The White Stripes

Game Overview: The Bobcats are continuing to heal up, and it seems Corey Maggette will be first to return to the active roster. Yay? Anyhoooooo, the Bulls come to town after dismantling the lowly Hornets 90-67. Derrick Rose is a little touch-and-go with some back spasms, but he toughed it out for 22 minutes in New Orleans. As most of us know, Chicago's bread and butter is their stifling defense. Their offense revolves around Rose as playmaker. His range is catching up to his penetration ability, which is frightening. The Bulls frontcourt is also daunting with the much-maligned Carlos Boozer and defensive-minded rebounding machine Joakim Noah. Luol Deng holds down the perimeter defense.

Meanwhile, defense has not been the Bobcats' forte, giving up points seemingly at will in the paint. The offense is improving with the addition of Reggie Williams, who is showing us that he's more than just a talented gunner. Still, it's no powerhouse and the Bobcats will need extraordinary effort combined with the Bulls being complacent (yeah, like that'll happen with Thibodeau coaching) to possibly win.

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After reading Corey Maggette's transcendent flow, I was inspired. So I set out to write some (satirical) poetry from the eyes of a few Bobcats.

The Play Not Taken

Two paths diverged in a crowded paint,
And sorry I could not take them both
And be one center, long I pained
And looked at one as long as I could strain
To where it led to free throws;

Then took the other, nowhere as easy,
And having perhaps the dumber idea,
Because I can't hit water in the sea;
Many cried out in a desperate plea,
I ignored them, heaving midrange with glee.

And both that evening equally lay
On hardwood with no step dribbled.
Oh, I left the first for another game!
Yet knowing how I may not see the ball again,
I doubted I would escape without a quibble.

I shall be telling this without a sigh
For I must be the first player to break
The rim with a jump shot before I die--
I took the path more knuckleheaded,
And that has made all the difference.

- DeSagana Diop

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Well that game was ... interesting.

Paul Pierce made history by eclipsing Larry Bird's scoring total to rise to second in all-time scoring in Celtics history, but only after forcing three after three in the first half. And Derrick Brown was a force to be reckoned with, finishing a perfect 10-for-10 on the night.

To their credit, the Bobcats fought to stay in this one late, despite the Celtics glaringly outclassing the Bobcats talent. Early on, Charlotte and Boston exchanged the lead often, surprising me, and probably many others. Reggie Williams hit a few threes early and the Bobcats were moving the ball somewhat decently to find the open man after the initial garbage-quality minutes. But mostly it was just the Celtics shooting themselves in the foot that led to the Bobcats staying within reach. They had some sloppy turnovers and seemingly kept passing up good looks solely to try to get Paul Pierce the three-pointer that would get him past Larry Bird. The Bobcats didn't have many turnovers, but weak shot-selection served the same purpose anyway.

Things got out of hand in the second half as ball movement slowed to a stand-still more often than in the first half. Meanwhile, the Celtics offense was just consistently doing the opposite and began to really make the most of the Bobcats weakness in the paint. Not even Derrick Brown catching fire late could help the Bobcats make up ground and the Celtics ultimately cruised to a 10-point victory.

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