Ask any Bulls fan what the biggest problem has been with the team over the last two years and you’ll nearly get a unanimous answer: Carlos Boozer, signed in the summer of 2010 as a consolation prize after the team failed in their bid to sign one of three biggest names in free agency (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh) that year.
Boozer didn’t do much to endear himself to the fan base with his albatross of a contract coupled with inconsistent play and a continual disappearing act in the postseason. But lately, Booz has been the best player on the Bulls not named Derrick Rose, and the 10-year veteran has been a key reason Chicago now sits in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Boozer has had a double-double in nine of the Bulls' last 10 games (Chicago has gone 7-3 as a result), including his dominating 36-point (a season high and highest scoring game in a Bulls uniform), 12-rebound performance on Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors.
"He's carrying us right now, especially early," remarked Luol Deng to the Chicago Tribune on Boozer’s play after the Toronto victory. "We're going to keep looking for him. That's one of his best games."
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Boozer scored 17 points in the first quarter against the Raptors and by halftime he’d already racked up 25 points and grabbed six rebounds. Of course, Boozer’s big night was overshadowed by Deng’s game-winning shot in overtime, but his play can’t be overlooked.
It’s unclear what’s gotten into Boozer of late, but fans certainly won’t complain about it.
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