However, it now seems like Oden is starting to figure it all out. On Monday night against the Chicago Bulls, the Portland Trail Blazers starting center had a dominant outing. In only 27 minutes, Oden poured in 24 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots, while hitting 7-of-8 shots from the field and 10-of-12 from the free throw line.

Though he’s playing his best basketball of his NBA career this season, there are two areas where he is still struggling: turnovers and fouls. In slightly more than 24 minutes, he’s averaging four fouls and nearly two turnovers. To truly become an elite player, he’ll have to lower both of those numbers.

The Blazers, who beat the Bulls by a final score of 122-98, are currently a very good team. If Oden lives up to the hype and becomes a dominant player? The Blazers could be a great team.

Greg Oden - Portland Trail Blazers (Image: Zuma Press)

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Greg Oden Living Up to the Hype?

Gasol, who was out due to injury, didn’t skip a beat. He hit 9-of-15 field goal attempts and all six of his free throws. Kobe Bryant chipped in 21 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Ron Artest had 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Bulls were never really in the game. They trailed by six after one, by 11 after 2 and by 17 heading into the fourth and final stanza. Derrick Rose led the way with 20 points and six assists in 38 minutes.

The Lakers are now 9-3 on the season. With Gasol back in action and the rest of their team healthy, don’t be surprised if L.A. goes on an extended winning streak to move into the top spot in the Western Conference.

Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant were together again (Image: Zuma Press)

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Pau Gasol Returns, Lakers Win

Rose believes that he could be back on the practice court by Friday.

Said Rose: “I have fluid around my ankle and around my tendons. They’re just waiting for the fluid to get loose, so it can relieve some pressure on my ankle.”

Last season as a rookie, Rose averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. He shot 47.5% from the field and 78.8% at the line. Rose played in 81 of the team’s 82 regular season games.

Heading into the 2009-10 season, Rose is expected to take on an even larger role. In fact, he has a chance to make a push for the All-Star team this year if he builds on his play from his rookie campaign.

Derrick Rose - Chicago Bulls (Image: Zuma Press)

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Derrick Rose Injury Update – Ankle

Gibson, who was selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of USC, said after the game that he just wants to help out this season.

“If I have to go out and get a couple rebounds, take a charge, I’m willing to do anything to help the team win,” commented Gibson. “That’s my whole mind-frame right now.”

Derrick Rose (17), John Salmons (15), Luold Deng (15) and Derrick Byars (12) were also in double figures for Chicago. Danny Granger’s 27 points led the way for the Pacers.

The Bulls play again on Tuesday against the Utah Jazz, while the Packers are next in action Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.

Taj Gibson - Chicago Bulls (Image: Zuma Press)

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Taj Gibson Impressive In Bulls Debut

The 32-year-old was signed by the Mavericks to add perimeter marksmanship to the club. Last year, he shot 42.1% from three-point land in his 36 games with the New York Knicks. In 18 games he played with the Chicago Bulls, he shot 44.2% from beyond the three-point arc.

If Thomas misses a lot of training camp, he may find it difficult to carve out a niche in Dallas. At the forward positions, Thomas has to compete with a number of talented players including Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Drew Gooden and James Singleton.

Thomas has also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks and Phildadelphia 76ers in his dozen seasons in the NBA.

Tim Thomas - Dallas Mavericks (Image: Zuma Press)

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Tim Thomas to Undergo Knee Surgery

Derrick Rose is currently at the center of NCAA investigation into his academic eligibilty at Memphis.

According to the Chicago-Sun Times, his high school grades were even altered to help him stay academically eligible.

The investigation has once again brought attention to the NBA’s age regulation rule, in which players have to be at least 19 years old in order to play professional basketball.

Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports, asks: “Why the heck did he have to take [the SAT test]  in the first place?”

He makes a good point. Rose could have avoided this scandal altogether if he had simply been able to jump directly to the NBA from high school instead.

As Wetzel argues effectively:

“No one cared when Danica Patrick went pro as a race car driver at 16. No one tried to prevent Shawn Johnson from winning an Olympic gold at the same age or Miley Cyrus from making millions singing and acting with her dad even younger than that. And no one ever required them to recognize analogies before doing so. So why do we make Derrick Rose?”

Why, indeed.

Image: Zuma

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Derrick Rose’s Reputation At Risk

In front of his home fans, Ray Allen was once again great. He led the way with 23 points and also had seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot. In Game 6, Allen poured in 51 points. Helping him out in Game 7 in the scoring department were Paul Pierce (20 points), Eddie House (16 points), Glen Davis (15 points) and Kendrick Perkins (14 points).

For the Bulls, who were an underdog in this series despite the fact that the Celtics have been playing without Kevin Garnett, were led once again by Ben Gordon. In 46 minutes, Gordon had 33 points and four assists. Rookie phenom Derrick Rose had 18 points, while Kirk Hinrich had 16 points off the bench.

The Bulls now go home, while the Celtics advance to play the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2009 NBA playoffs. The Magic advanced by beating the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.

Derrick Rose's Rookie Seasons was Stopped by the Celtics (Image: Newscom)

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Celtics Beat Bulls in Game 7 to Advance

Kevin Martin (Kings)- For three straight seasons the 6′7, 185lb Western Carolina alum has averaged better than 20ppg. For most of the past two seasons K-Mart has been the man in Sac-Town, but he’s become somewhat of a secret because the Kings’ dreadfulness as of late. Kevin’s shooting form is so unorthodox it almost makes Shawn Marion’s stroke look worthy of duplication. But what makes Kevin so lethal is his quick first step, his ability to get to the line frequently, and his myriad of creative shots he makes from mid range. There’s really no stopping him when he’s got his three point shot going, he’s a career 39% from deep.  I expect him to make at least one All-Star team before he’s done.

John Salmons (Bulls)- Was known primarily as an average bench player until the 07/08 season, when he  started 81 games for the Kings. This season he has split teams, first with the Kings, then (now) with the Bulls, averaging a healthy 18.3 ppg. He is usually known for solid defensive play, and for the most part that has continued, but recently people have seen what he can bring to the table offensively. For the Bulls Salmons has become the 3^rd option and has flourished in that role. For a title contender Salmons would be the ideal first or second guy off the bench, just imagine how dangerous the Bulls would be if Luol Deng was healthy.  Update- Salmons scored 35 points in a triple OT Bulls win on Thursday night. Luol who?

Salmons blew by Pierce and the Celtics a lot in Game 6 (Image:Newscom)

Luis Scola (Rockets)- In just two years in the league Luis has become a sturdy side kick next to Yao Ming. All the talk is directed towards T-Mac, or Ron Artest, Yao, even Shane Battier, and surprisingly enough newly inserted starting point guard Aaron Brooks too, but Scola is often times overlooked. Even Carl Landry gets more pub than Scola. 17.6ppg and 7.2reb/gm so far in the Portland series for Scola. His playoff ppg are up by almost five from his regular season totals.

Ramon Sessions (Bucks)- He’s only been in the league for two seasons, but has come a long way since being drafted #26 in the 2^nd round in 07. He only saw time in 17 games as a rookie, but was the Bucks starting point guard in season two, averaging a respectable 12.4 points and 5.7 assists in 79 games. Sessions just turned 23, I have to believe he’s a keeper in Milwaukee.

Randy Foye (Timberwolves)- Might have averaged the quietest 16 ppg in the league. I remember him as a killa thrilla at Villanova and he has translated his skill set to the big show in season three. He beats defenders by the dribble drive and also from beyond the arc and he’s got a perfect point guard build at 6′4, 210lbs. The Wolves are assembling some nice pieces around Al Jefferson, and Foye is definitely one of them to watch grow.

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NBA’s most overlooked

Both teams got production from a variety of different sources. John Salmons led the way for the Bulls with 35 points, six rebounds and four assists in 60 minutes. Derrick Rose chipped in with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Brad Miller and 23 points and ten rebounds off the bench.

For the Celtics, Ray Allen has 51 points in 59 minutes. He hit 18-of-32 shots from the field, 9-of-18 three-pointers and 6-of-7 free throws. Glen “Big Baby” Davis had 23 points and seven rebounds, while Paul Pierce had 22 points and nine rebounds.

With the win, the Bulls tied the series 3-3 and forced a Game 7 against the Celtics. Game 7 will take place in Boston on Saturday.

Of the six games so far in the series, four of the games have gone to overtime. The defending NBA champion Celtics are trying to survive a heated push by the young Bulls. Boston’s job is made more difficult since Kevin Garnett is likely out for the rest of the playoffs with a knee injury.

Rookie Derrick Rose is attempting to lead a Bulls upset (Image: Newscom)

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Bulls Defeat Celtics in Triple Overtime

In the season, Rose averaged 16.8 points and 6.3 assists in 37 minutes per game. He shot 47.5% from the field and 78.8% at the free throw line. He, also was able to stay healthy, playing in 81 of the team’s 82 games.

In the playoffs, Rose has been even better. In his first postseason game of his career, Rose scored 36 points and dished off 11 assists against the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Bulls were able to win that game by a final score of 105-103.

Currently, Rose is preparing for Game 3 of the first round series against the Celtics with the series tied 1-1.

OJ Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies finished second in the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year voting, followed by Brook Lopez, Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon.

Derrick Rose, 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year (Image: Newscom)

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Derrick Rose Wins NBA Rookie of the Year