Nikola Mirotic signed a deal worth $17 million over three years. And the Chicago Bulls paid more than $3 million for his buyout. So how has the stretch four fit into the system of Coach Tom Thibodeau? Mirotic and company face the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day at the UC. So the nation gets a chance to scope him out.

Merry Christmas Chicago Bulls and Nikola Mirotic fans! You’ll notice the United Center Christmas tree picture below.

ESPN NBA analyst and Basketball Hall of Famer Hubie Brown discussed key NBA on Christmas Day storylines on a media conference call. I asked Brown:

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It’s criminal that The Newsroom ends this Sunday night. The HBO serial just got started in 2012. Seeing NBC pull the plug on “Friday Night Lights” was enough to drive one to tears, but at least you could take some solace in the fact that FNL went out on top. As sad and unjustified as it’s demise was, as least they gave you a chance to work through the five stages of grief. The Newsroom, on the other hand, is being put to bed while it’s still on an upward trajectory.

As for the Chicago Bulls..it’s becoming clear that their championship window will be closing sooner rather than later. They could reach the NBA Finals this year if Rose stays healthy. But beyond 2015, it’s obvious that the clock is ticking on this franchise as well.

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The worst thing you could say about Derrick Rose right now is the old, shopworn cliche “just shut up and play” (or something along those lines). The backlash against him right now is to mainstream sports what the backlash against Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks was to mainstream music in 2006. See the documentary “Shut up and sing.”

It’s the same basic, abhorrent concept. Those ripping Rose right now for speaking his mind are just re-hashing the old platitude of “hey, just perform for us, don’t think.”

“Go up on stage on do your thing, but don’t have any personality at all or dare be a free-thinker.”

This reprehensible idea is anything but new, and it’s just as offensive now as it has been the millions of other occasions that it’s been espoused.

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The over-analysis and meta-analysis of Derrick Rose is lame. Totally lame dude.

Just like Eric Cartman would say. Just like Joakim Noah did say. Every time Rose gets a little bit dinged, everybody freaks out. Every time Rose falls, people act like it’s the end of the world. Every time Rose says the wrong thing and/or reminds us that he’s very bad at talking, the masses flip out.

Joakim Noah is right. RELAX!

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The Chicago Bulls beat the Orlando Magic last night, despite no Joakim Noah and no Derrick Rose. Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 21, as the Bulls moved to 3-1 on the very young season. They’ll head up I-94 to take on their little brother the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Here’s the injury report.

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NBA season tips off Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. ET for the Chicago Bulls and the returning Derrick Rose when they visit the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony, “the one that got away.” As the season is about to commence, ESPN had their lead team of commentators, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy, on conference call to preview the upcoming season with the media.

The very first question was about Derrick Rose. The second was on the Bulls chances in the East. So let’s get this party started.

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It looks like the Chicago Bulls will go with five guards and seven forwards this season. Given the health history of Derrick Rose, it’s mandatory to have two guys on the roster who can run the point behind him. So with Rose, Jimmy Butler, Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks as locks, the final guard slot goes to E’Twaun Moore (as we’ve chronicled before). Especially now that Kim English and Ben Hansbrough have been waived.

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