No Bull: Wizards Run Past Chicago

As Chicago continues to wait anxiously on the return of star point guard Derrick Rose, the Bulls have managed to stay relevant, sitting in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. Maybe their greatest achievement of the season was breaking the Miami Heat's 27 game winning streak in front of a sold out United Center. Rose's long-anticipated comeback remains somewhat shrouded in mystery. Are the Bulls simply saving him for the post-season, or is there a chance that Chicago plans on saving him for a different season all-together, one in which the Bulls have a better supporting cast? These questions will be answered come back playoff time, but tonight the Bulls made their final trip of the season to the Verizon Center to take on the Washington Wizards, a team that sat just three games back of 9th place in the Eastern Conference, an amazing feat considering that they had started the season just 5-28.

In the last meeting between the two clubs on January 26th, Washington had defended its home court with a decisive 86-73 victory. Nene led the Wizards ins scoring on that night with 16 points.

The Bulls were not only missing Rose. Joakim Noah, Marco Belinelli, and Richard Hamilton all sat out with their respective ailments.

Without the presence of Noah, Washington was able to out-rebound Chicago 51-45. John Wall's 27 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds helped the Wizards to a 90-86 victory in front of a crowd of 17,319 that must have been made up of at least 50 percent Bulls fans. The game was tied at 86 with under a minute to play, but Emeka Okafor got the go-ahead bucket on a dunk that was set up by a beautiful feed from Nene with 45.7 seconds remaining.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal is defended by Bulls forward Luol Deng

Beal tries to put the ball through the legs of Deng

Bulls guard Nate Robinson looks for a foul call

Wizards forward Kevin Seraphin shoots over Bulls center Nazr Mohammed

Wizards forward Trevor Booker drives on Bulls forward Carlos Boozer

Bradley Beal is defended by Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich

Wizards guard John Wall is defended by Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich

Carlos Boozer boxes out Kevin Seraphin

Bulls guard Daequan Cook leaps for the rebound

Wizards center Emeka Okafor takes the ball to the basket

Hinrich was called for a technical foul late the game by referee Joey Crawford

Hinrich picked up one more technical, and was sent to an early shower

Bulls forward Luol Deng and Wizards forward Trevor Ariza chase after the loose ball

Wizards forward Nene and Bulls forward Jimmy Butler lunge for the loose ball

Nazr Mohammed and Carlos Boozer box out Emeka Okafor

Luol Deng gets up for the rebound

Deng pulls down the board

Wizards guard A.J. Price drives around Nate Robinson

A.J. Price lines up the baseline jumper

John Wall shoots over Jimmy Butler

John Wall drives around Jimmy Butler

John Wall drives on Jimmy Butler and Carlos Boozer

Wall flicks the ball up at the rim over the Chicago defenders

Wall falls backwards, as Butler tries to block the shot attempt

Nene takes it up against  Nazr Mohammed

Chicago was led by Carlos Boozer with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Nate Robinson added 17 points off the bench, despite going only 1-7 from downtown. Kirk Hinrich was ejected with 3:19 left in the game, picking up two technical fouls for arguing an offensive interference call against Nazr Mohammed.

The Wizards will take off for Toronto to take on the Raptors tomorrow night at the Air Canada Centre. 

The Art Of The Game

Here's a few reedited pictures from the first half of the season, showcasing the game's more artistic, even psychedelic side

Wizards rookie guard Bradley Beal

Wizards rookie guard Bradley Beal goes to the foul line late in a game against the Brooklyn Nets

Will he play? Bulls guard Derrick Rose was targeting a comeback this season from his torn ACL, but those plans may have changed.

No Rush: D. Rose stated that he would prefer to be 110% recovered from his injury before attempting a comeback this season.

Wizards forward Nene posts up Kings forward Chuck Hayes

Wizards guard John Wall drives to the basket past Sacramento Kings defenders

Wizards guard John Wall

Since Wall's return from a knee injury, the Wizards have gone 10-8, after starting the season 4-28.

John Wall drives past Kings forward Chuck Hayes

Chris Paul became the first Los Angeles Clipper to win the NBA all-star MVP since Randy Smith in 1978, when the team was still the Buffalo Braves.

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford has averaged 16.8 points coming off the bench this season, making him a candidate for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award.

Now a 14 year NBA veteran, Lamar Odom spent 7 seasons with the Lakers, before returning to the same team that drafted him in 1999, the Clippers.

Triple-Teamed: John Wall is surrounded by Clippers defenders

Trash Talk? Clippers forward Caron Butler, right, has a discussion with Wizards forward Trevor Ariza

Wizards guard Martell Webster is defended by Clippers forward Matt Barnes, as Wizards forward Nene looks on

After spending 5 seasons playing overseas, Knicks rookie forward, and University of Colorado grad. Chris Copeland is in his debut season in the NBA at the age of 28.

Amar'e Stoudemire has averaged 13.6 points in 20 games for the Knicks this season, since returning from a knee injury on New Year's day.

A native of Argentina, Knicks point guard Pablo Prigioni played 17 seasons overseas, before entering this season as a rookie in the NBA at the age of 35.

Nets center Brook Lopez only managed 3 points in 10 minutes in his first all-star appearance on Sunday night in Houston.

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams

The Nets are hoping that their nucleus of Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, and Brook Lopez will make them legitimate title contenders for the next few years.

The First Half Of The Wizards' Season In Pictures

With the NBA on their annual all-star break, I thought it'd be fitting to take a look back at the first half of the 2012-13 season as seen from my perspective

Wizards guard Jordan Crawford dribbles around a screen from forward Nene in a game against the Brooklyn Nets

Wizards rookie guard Bradley Beal

Thunder guard DeAndre Liggins goes one-on-one with center Hasheem Thabeet during pregame warmups

Thunder guard DeAndre Liggins drives to the basket during pregame warmups, as teammate Eric Maynor looks on

Hawks rookie guard John Jenkins, right, practices with assistant coach Nick Van Exel

Magic guard Jameer Nelson drives around guard DeQuan Jones during pregame warmups

Magic guard E'twaun Moore looks disgruntled, as Wizards forward Jan Vesely goes to the foul line

Wizards guard A.J. Price stares down Magic guard Ish Smith

Now playing for his ninth professional basketball team, Timberwolves forward Chris Johnson was signed to two 10-day contracts before being signed for the remainder of the season by Minnesota.

Wizards guard Garrett Temple looks for a screen from forward Trevor Booker in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves

Wizards guard Garrett Temple is defended by Timberwolves forwards Derrick Williams, left, and Lou Amundson, right

Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich

Bulls forward Carlos Boozer

Bulls rookie guard Marquis Teague

As Derrick Rose continues to rehabilitate from a torn ACL, Kirk Hinrich has filled in nicely for Chicago at point guard.

The Bulls are hoping Derrick Rose can make an impact this season, upon returning from a torn ACL that has kept him sidelined since last April.

No Rush: Rose stated recently that he wouldn't mind missing the entire season if that's what it would take to fully rehabilitate.

Wizards guard John Wall has averaged 14.7 points and 7.3 assists in 18 games this season, since returning to the lineup on January 12th from a knee injury.

2009 three-point shootout champion Daequan Cook walks off the court after a Bulls' loss to the Wizards at the Verizon Center

Kings forward Francisco Garcia

Kings rookie forward, and D.C. native, Thomas Robinson

Kings guard Jimmer Fredette

Francisco Garcia, a native of Dominican Republic, competed represented his home country last summer at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Caracas, Venezuela

Wizards forward Nene posts up Kings forward Chuck Hayes

John Wall takes it hard to the basket past Sacramento defenders

Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas directs the Sacramento offense, while John Wall defends

Since Wall's return, the Wizards have won 10 of their last 18 games, after starting the season 5-28

Wall defends diminutive 5'9" Kings guard Isaiah Thomas

Nene backs down Kings forward Chuck Hayes

Wall directs the Wizards offense against Sacramento

John Wall drives on Chuck Hayes

Kings forward Francisco Garcia, center, shouts out commands to teammate Chuck Hayes, right. Thomas Robinson, left, listens intently.

Clippers forward Grant Hill is one of two players in the NBA still playing at the age of 40

Clippers guard Chris Paul will make his sixth NBA all-star appearance on Sunday night in Houston.

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford has averaged 16.8 points per game coming off the bench this season, making him a candidate for the NBA's Sixth Man of the year award.

Wizards guard Martell Webster, left, has a good laugh with teammate John Wall, right, coming out of a timeout

A 14 year NBA veteran, Lamar Odom spent 7 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, but has returned to the Los Angeles Clippers, the same team that originally drafted him in 1999.

John Wall defends Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe

Triple-teamed: John Wall is surrounded by three Clippers defenders

Wall is defended by Eric Bledsoe

Wall tries to dribble past Eric Bledsoe...

But is again met by multiple defenders

Nene, foreground, goes to the foul line. Clippers guard Jamal Crawford, background, yells out to a teammate.

Trash talk? Clippers forward, right, has a discussion with Wizards forward Trevor Ariza, left.

Knicks rookie forward, and University of Colorado grad, Chris Copeland spent five seasons overseas before beginning his NBA career at the age of 28.

Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire has averaged 13.6 points in 20 games this season, after returning from a knee injury on New Year's day.

The Knicks brought in guard Ronnie Brewer over the off-season for his prowess as perimeter defender.

Knicks guards Ronnie Brewer, right, and James White, left, converse before their February 6th game against the Wizards at the Verizon Center

A native of Argentina, Knicks rookie point guard Pablo Prigioni spent 17 seasons playing professional basketball overseas before making his first NBA appearance at the age of 35.

The Brooklyn Nets signed Reggie Evans over the off-season for his rebounding and defensive tenacity.

Nets center Brook Lopez will make his first NBA all-star appearance on Sunday night in Houston.

Nets point guard Deron Williams

Nets rookie guard, and Hoboken, NJ native, Tyshawn Taylor

Nets rookie forward Mirza Teletovic signs a jersey for a young admirer

The Nets are hoping that their nucleus of Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, and Brook Lopez will make them legitimate title contenders for the next few years.

Sophomore Slump? Nets swing man Marshon Brooks is averaging 7 points and 18 minutes less than last season in his second year in the NBA.

Marshon Brooks, right, is greeted by teammate Brook Lopez, left, as he walks off the court after a Nets loss to the Wizards at the Verizon Center

Nets forward Andray Blatche was all smiles, despite his team's loss to his former team, the Wizards, on February 8th at the Verizon Center.