The Chicago Bulls could do no wrong Sunday in their season debut at the United Center, crushing the Memphis Grizzlies in a lopsided, 104-64 affair to open the New Year with a bang and send a simple message to visitors: This is our house, baby.

While there are plenty of positives from which to choose, the story of the night was the Bulls’ suffocating defense. It was, in a word, brutal: The Grizzlies managed just 12 first quarter points, and shortly before the end of the third quarter, were shooting 23 percent from the field with twice as many turnovers (12) as assists (6). Yikes.

On the other end of the floor, the Bulls were led by Carlos Boozer and Ronnie Brewer.

Boozer played like a man possessed: He double-doubled before halftime and finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds in just 24 minutes of action. He showed some of the explosiveness he’s recently lacked, and even made some decent defensive plays. He’s now averaging 15.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per 36, which is close to what the Bulls want, need and expect from their $70 million man.

Brewer, however, gets player of the game accolades. Starting for the sidelined Rip Hamilton (sore groin), Ronnie had 17 points (the most he’s ever had with the Bulls) with seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Brewer was, well, vintage Brewer: Always around the ball making something good happen.

Overall, the Bulls’ offense was good but never great, which may sound strange for a 40-point win. They overcame a slow start shooting by sharing the ball (24 assists), using the fast break (33 points) and dominating the paint (+20). The Bulls have now averaged 108.7 ppg the past three games, and are averaging 101 ppg on the season, good for sixth best in the league (bet you didn’t expect that).

Not only did the Bulls get the win, they got it while getting a chance to rest their starters. Only two starters – Luol Deng and Brewer – played more than 30 minutes, as the Bench Mob closed out the game.

A win is a win, who cares if the Grizzlies were missing a couple of players, but this was a win at home, and a rather convincing one at that. The Bulls were a league-best 36-5 at home last season, and absolutely must win home games during this short NBA season.

Winning your home opener by 40 is a good way to get started.

Notes: The Bulls are 4-0 in home openers during the Derrick Rose era….. The +/-’s from last night’s game were utterly ridiculous. Brewer was +48, no other starter was less than +35….. Brewer is 4-for-4 on three’s this year; he made just six all of last season on 22 percent shooting….. Deng has held Rudy Gay, a career 18 ppg scorer, to 14 points on 3-of-22 shooting the last two times he played against the Bulls….. The win moved the Bulls to 4-1 for the franchise’s best start since 1996-97, when…well, you know….. The Bulls last played on New Year’s Day in 2005; Eddy Curry had 22 points in a 105-90 win over the Orlando Magic….. The Miami Heat may be 5-0, but the teams they’ve so far played are a combined 4-10.

Sources: Boozer leads Bulls past Grizzlies 104-64, Associated Press/Yahoo! Sports; Memphis Grizzlies at Chicago Bulls recap & box score, ESPN.com; Bulls win 40-point laugher in home opener, Chicago Tribune;

Other Articles By This Contributor:

Chalk One Up for Chicago Bulls Coach Tom Thibodeau (December 31)

Bulls, Heat Will Meet in Eastern Conference Finals: Fan Forecast (December 23)

Top 10 Moments of Chicago Bulls’ 2010-11 Season (December 22)

YCN featured sports contributor Steve Merritt is – for better or worse – a lifelong Chicago Bulls, Bears and Cubs fan. He’s followed the Bulls since 1969, when he tuned in after bedtime on a cheap dime store radio tucked under his pillow.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)—Derrick Rose had 29 points and 16 assists, and the
Chicago Bulls pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Clippers
114-101 Friday night.

Luol Deng and Joakim Noah added 19 points apiece and Richard Hamilton had 16
for the Bulls against their former coach, Vinny Del Negro.

Blake Griffin had 34 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who kept it
close most of the way coming off a 25-point loss at San Antonio. Caron Butler
added 16 points and Chris Paul had 15 points and 14 assists in his matchup
against Rose, the NBA’s MVP last season.

The Clippers, who outshot the Bulls and outscored them in the paint, got
within three early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by rookie Trey
Thompkins.

Then the Bulls took over.

Ronnie Brewer hit a 3-pointer and made two free throws before Rose made two
free throws, then Deng hit a 3-pointer from in front of the Clippers’ bench to
give Chicago its largest lead of the game, 97-84.

Griffin singlehandedly fueled the Clippers’ offense with eight straight
points that included a ferocious dunk in which he walked away with his fists
clenched and his teeth gritted. Still, it left his team trailing by eight points
with less than five minutes to play.

The Bulls effectively used 3-pointers to keep the Clippers at bay in the
fourth, when they hit four, including two by Rose.

Chicago moved out to a seven-point lead in the third quarter, when the
Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan picked up his fourth foul. He finished with 10 points.

Mo Williams and Butler hit consecutive 3-pointers as part of a 13-6 run that
helped the Clippers tie the game at 77. But the Bulls answered with six straight
points while the Clippers missed their final five shots to lead 83-77 going into
the fourth. Deng had 10 points in the quarter.

The Bulls closed on a 10-2 run, including four straight by Noah, to lead
57-52 at halftime. The first two quarters were mostly back and forth, with the
Clippers leading by eight in the first 12 minutes.

Griffin and Paul took to the court before tipoff to thank the fans for their
support, with Griffin saying, “We’re going to try to make this a season you
won’t forget.”

Los Angeles opened with a bang, making its first six shots, with Paul
feeding Griffin for a two-handed dunk on the Clippers’ first basket. Jordan had
the crowd roaring with his one-handed dunk off a ball tossed toward the basket
by Butler.

NOTES: The Bulls finished their season-opening road trip with a 3-1 mark.
… The Clippers fell to 5-8 in home openers at Staples Center. … Rose heard
chants of “MVP” when he was at the free throw line. … Paul has yet to beat
Rose in five career games. His previous four losses came when Paul played for
New Orleans. … Clippers PA announcer David Courtney introduced Williams as
Chauncey Billups during pregame intros. Billups was the first player introduced
and he sat out with a sore right groin. … Boxer Floyd Mayweather attended the
game.

Read More: Chris Paul (G – LAC), Mo Williams (G – LAC), Chauncey Billups (G – LAC), Richard Hamilton (G – CHI), Derrick Rose (G – CHI), Blake Griffin (F – LAC), Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Clippers, Dec 30, 2011 7:30 PM PST

In an exciting opening 24 minutes at Staples Center, the stars did not disappoint, as the Chicago Bulls took a 57-52 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers at halftime. Blake Griffin had 15 points and eight rebounds in the first half for the Clippers. Derrick Rose had a double-double in the opening half with 11 points and 10 assists, scoring all 11 of his points in the first quarter.

Chauncey Billups did not start Friday thanks to a right groin strain, but that didn’t stop the public address announcer from introducing Billups in the starting lineup…as Mo Williams walked onto the court. Williams scored eight points, grabbed two rebounds, and dished out three assists in the opening half.

Chris Paul scored seven points, had five assists and two steals in the first half for the Clippers, playing their first home game of the season. Los Angeles shot 56.4% (22 for 39) in the first half, including four of seven three-pointers.

Richard Hamilton scored 12 points to lead the Bulls, who shot 48.9% (22 for 45) in the first 24 minutes. Chicago led 29-28 after the first quarter.

For more Clippers news and information, be sure to read Clips Nation.

After a lackluster performance against Golden State, the Chicago Bulls pulled it together and beat the Sacramento Kings 108-98 on Thursday, Dec. 29.

The team showed a lot of depth; Rip Hamilton appeared more comfortable and they looked like they’re finding their groove in this very new season.

The Bulls got on the board with a jump shot by Carlos Boozer and the team took a 19-5 lead by the 5:36 mark. The Kings tightened the game but the Bulls maintained the lead. The first quarter ended with a Bulls 30-24 advantage.

Chicago would lead for the entire game.

In the second quarter, the Bulls got into foul trouble but stayed ahead. The bench mob entered and advanced the team’s lead to 15 points at 7:29. The Bulls entered halftime ahead, 60-53.

After halftime adjustments, Sacramento returned in the third quarter and made it a two-point game at 9:35. They had success at the foul line and kept on the Bulls. Rose stepped out but the team held onto its lead.

Entering the final quarter 85-75, the Bulls stayed consistent even as Rose again briefly left at the 7:46 mark due to foul problems. Joakim Noah soon followed with his own foul issues.

The Bulls had a 10-point lead and kept it that way thanks to good defensive play.

Once again the bench mob excelled with solid play by C.J. Watson. Pinch hitting for Rose because of fouls, Watson played for 16 minutes and added eight points, nine assists and five rebounds.

The Bulls shot 54 percent, helping them with the win. Grabbing an early lead and keeping it was also important to the game. They were 6 for 12 in three-pointers and had 18 turnovers.

Scoring…Rose led in scoring with 19 points and eight assists. It was a team effort with Boozer contributing 16 points and 15 rebounds. Hamilton had a good game, adding 16 points.

Ronnie Brewer and Luol Deng each scored 12 points.

Next up for the Bulls is their final game of a four-game road series. They play the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, Dec. 30.

As a lifelong Bulls fan and Chicago resident, it’s great to see the Bulls playing well again.

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The Sacramento Kings lost their second straight game to fall to 1-2 on the season. The Chicago Bulls defeated Sacramento at home by the score of 108-98. The two losses have been disappointing after the team started strong with an opening game victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The team has still played well and shown the potential that they have this season.

Sacramento was again led by shooting guard Marcus Thornton who led the team with 20 points. It’s become evident that if this team is going to win, Thornton is going to have to play well.

One of the biggest difficulties for Sacramento was the lack of depth on the frontcourt. Both starting big men, DeMarcus Cousins and Chuck Hayes, fouled out in the game. Cousins had his third double-double in three games but only made four out of 16 shots in the game. Fans have to enjoy seeing Cousins rebound better so far but will still have to live with the up and down play of the young center.

Jimmer Fredette had his best game on the young season. Fredette finished with 14 points and three assists in the game. He made five out of 10 shots on the game and made two three point baskets. It will be exciting to see just how good Jimmer will get this season. Watching the first three games has made it evident that Jimmer will only get better and will be a major contributor before the season is over.

Troubling for fans has been the start of Tyreke Evans so far. Evans finished with 19 points but had just two rebounds and two assists in the game. He also made just five out of 12 free throw attempts. Evans will need to play much better than he has to start the season if Sacramento is going to be successful this year. As the point guard, he is the key to the offense and needs to become more of a leader this season.

The best thing about the start to the season for Sacramento fans has been the excitement surrounding the team. Fans are excited that the team is improved and about the new players on the team. Both home games have sold out so far and this is a big improvement over the crowds the team played in front of last season. Hopefully the team will begin to play more consistent and more victories will come with it.

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and a lifelong fan of the Sacramento Kings. He started going to Kings games at age six and has attended hundreds of games since. Follow him on twitter @kyler11.

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