5/18/12 Two disappointing playoff exits in a row for the Chicago Bulls fails to demonstrate the true potential of the team, and thus the Chicago Bulls will look to return in the 2012-2013 NBA season with a vengeance. Costly injuries in this year's postseason to Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, arguably the two most important players on the team, were clearly too much for the Bulls to overcome in their first round series against the Sixers. The Bulls hope that Rose will be fully recovered and back to 100% next season as they look to compete once again and make the Finals run that has so eluded them the last two years.

5/10/12: In Game 3 vs. the Philadelphia 76ers, Joakim Noah suffered an ankle injury and 76ers fans rejoiced. To add insult to injury, literally, the Chicago Bulls squandered a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter due to terrible shooting and the 76ers took a 2 -1 series lead. Carlos Boozer played solidly in Game 4 without his frontcourt mate, but poor team defense and excessive fouls led to a third victory for the 76ers. Noting the Chicago Bulls needed a spark on offense without both Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah on the floor for Game 5, Luol Deng scored 24 points and the Chicago Bulls rallied at home with an aggressive style of play highlighted by the scrum between Taj Gibson and Elton Brand. That aggression and the hope of Joakim Noah's return for Game 6 gives Chicago Bulls fans belief that their team's post-season is not over yet!

5/11/12 The loss of star point guard Derrick Rose and forward Joakim Noah proved to be too much to overcome for the Chicago Bulls, as they lost 79-78 to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 to end their season. With a lead late in the 4th quarter, two key missed free throws by Omer Asik doomed the Bulls and led to the two game-winning free throws from the Sixers' Andre Iguodala. The Bulls now own the distinction of the being only the 5th No. 1 seed in NBA history to lose in the first round of the playoffs.

Were the season-long injuries a foreshadowing of the season-ending injury Derrick Rose suffered at the end of Game 1 vs. the Philadelphia 76ers? That is a question Bulls fans would rather ignore. Surely it was devastating to lose the reigning NBA MVP, but the playoffs must go on. The Bulls actually faired well during the regular season without Derrick Rose, posting an 18

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