Bulls may miss the playoffs, but they beat the Cavaliers 4 times

The Chicago Bulls may not make the playoffs, they may not finish .500, and they certainly haven’t met any of their preseason expectations. But they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, the defending champions, all four times this season. In a very roundabout way, that makes them the new best team in the league. I’m almost certain that last statement is correct, although allow me to investigate the NBA bylaws before we set it in stone.

Here is how it went down.

LeBron James got mad after this loss, dropping this incendiary quote after the game.

“We got to get out of the honeymoon stage. You got to play the game, the right way. We’ve got to battle every night like we ain’t won nothing. Last year is last year. After ring night is over with, now it’s a new season and everybody is gunning for us every night and we have to understand that. The honeymoon stage is over. It’s time to play some real ball and be physical, especially in the trenches. Giving up 78 points (in the paint) is ridiculous. We’ve got to man up. Everybody.”

Taj Gibson (later traded to the Thunder) and Dwyane Wade (now out for the season) both went off in this game, and when you add Jimmy Butler, they all combined for 73 points. Rajon Rondo dropped a triple-double in the starting lineup, with 15 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds.

Michael Carter-Williams is now Chicago’s starting point guard. Rondo receives a DNP-CD. Gibson goes off again. Through two games, he has shot 19-of-23 against Cleveland. Whew.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were both out, and LeBron James nearly didn’t play after coming down with a cold. This loss is somewhat understandable.

Gibson has been traded and will not get a chance to continue his torrid shooting. Rondo comes off the bench, but he actually plays in this game — and is a plus-15 with 15 points! The Bulls knock down 15 three-pointers. Jimmy Butler only scores 18 points on 19 shots, but he records a triple-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

LeBron James does not play with illness.

Rondo is back in the starting lineup, joined by Paul Zipser. (!?!?!) Nikola Mirotic picks up the ‘Bull Who Torches Cleveland With Incredible Efficiency’ mantle with 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting and 10 rebounds. The Big Three play for Cleveland, but Irving and Love combine for only 10-of-30 shooting.

The Cavaliers are 47-27 now. The Bulls are 36-39. And somehow, the #TNTBulls survive yet again.