-L. Frank Baum, The Marvelous Land of Oz

There some situations bound by the laws of nature. That is to say, a New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox matchup will have a profound gradient of tension comparative to a minor league exhibition. That is to say, a Chicago Bulls/Indiana Pacers matchup will feel more struggle and sweat than a youth league pickup. -And just as a child staring directly into the sun would lead you to believe, tempting fate is one of humanity’s most prominent errors bound by those laws.

At a certain point when your team: is gauged higher in just about every statistical category listed, particularly on defense where they hold the top spot in ‘points allowed per game’ with 86.3; has arguably the best 23-year-old in the sport, who’s off to the best start to a season – in nearly everything – of his career; and has the best record in the NBA through 3 weeks, including trouncing the team you’re about to play by 17 points just ten days ago, it’s going to be expected of you to continue that torrential pace – and sometimes your knees just have to buckle.

Overwhelming the Pacers in all but two categories (fast break points, blocks) the Bulls (5-3) dealt Indiana their first loss of the early season (9-1), garnished with an efficient and improbable performance from Derrick Rose – who was returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Friday night matchup with Toronto.

It would be too easy to catalog analysis on the fact that every single Indiana starter played to a plus/minus of less than -10, so game grades it is!

                Chicago Bulls 110              |               Indiana Pacers 94

Carlos Boozer, PF

26 MIN | 6-11 FG | 1-2 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 4 PF | 13 PTS

While Carlos’s numbers didn’t dazzle to the tune of his season average (16.9 PPG/8.0 RPG), his ejection alongside Indiana’s Chris Copeland with 21 seconds left was arguably one of the worst calls this season and weakest technical foul since…well, the one that was called a quarter prior on Kirk.

Grade: B

Luol Deng, SF

32 Min | 8-14 FG | 6-7 FT | 7 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 3 TO | 3 PF | 23 PTS

Luol appears to be using the ‘one-night-on, one-night-off’ approach which is a tad disconcerning for contract enthusiasts but Deng did lead Chicago in scoring for the fourth time this year on a night that, thankfully, kept him inside the arc. Can’t complain there.

Grade: A-

Joakim Noah, C

32 MIN | 1-6 FG | 2-4 FT | 7 REB | 6 AST | 2 STL | 3 TO | 6 PF | 4 PTS

After a dazzling Friday night against Toronto, Joakim didn’t bring his best Saturday, a commonly growing occurrence against larger frontcourts – particularly Hibbert or as he’s being called this year ‘a fucking monster.’ Maybe he was tired, maybe he was simply dominated by Hibbert’s tangible improvement defensively this offseason (4.6BLKPG), but Noah will need to perform better when these matchups are actually tight late in the fourth.

Grade: C

Derrick Rose, PG

31 MIN | 7-16 FGM | 3 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 0 TO | 1 PF | 20 PTS

As Kelly Scaletta pointed out, this is the second straight game for Rose without a TO or FTA, a first in his career. That’s pretty incredible considering his living if often made driving to the basket, but Rose found himself a blanket and laid down around the arc Saturday. Derrick Rose played as he had throughout a majority of preseason – oftentimes around the perimeter, showcasing an improved three-point shot (6-11). His attack to the rim looked tentative, hence the 2 points coming inside of 23-feet, but critics of Rose’s tenacity towards the rim Saturday are also proponents of the ideology: if it ain’t broke, fix it immediately. Rose’s defense again appeared dynamic as he was able to keep George Hill in check most of the game and rotate cleanly to his assignment on the pick-n-roll.

Grade: A-

Jimmy Butler, SG

25 MIN | 2-3 FG | 5-6 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 1 PF | 10 PTS

Jimmy played arguably the most efficient of the Bulls starters, and even cracked the highlights with an amazing four-point play, and this block on Solomon Hill leading to a fastbreak basket from Deng:

 Grade: A

Taj Gibson, PF

27 MIN | 7-13 FG | 1-1 FT | 8 REB | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PF | 15 PTS

If he can average 15/8 a game, the Bulls will win the rebounding battle most nights (Bulls won battle 42-37) and that allows the offensive scheme a chance to compete regardless of whether or not the shooting is there (which has been spotty for the Bulls thus far, to say the least). Taj also played some great defensive minutes on David West late in the game, showing his improvement on both sides.

Grade: B+

Mike Dunleavy, SF

23 MIN | 4-5 FG | 4 REB | 2 AST | 1 TO | 2 PF | 10 PTS

Dunleavy hit both three-point attempts and played tactile offensively down the stretch for Chicago. It’s also worth noting that Dunleavy has played his best ball against Division opponents, averaging 10.3 per game on 58% shooting. While the Bulls have only played 3 Division games, 2 have come against Indiana – the top defense in the league and viable Miami-Heat-surrogate. While his consistency has a ways to go, particularly his defensive rotational work, it’s comforting knowing that Dunleavy is making plays against teams that actually play well together.

 Grade: B

Nazr Mohammed, C

11 MIN | 1-1 FG | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 1 PF | 2 PTS

This is what I want Nazr’s stat line to look like always: low minutes, few shot attempts, and 1 foul just so his newfound reputation isn’t blemished post-Lebron:

 Grade: B

Kirk Hinrich, SG

33 MIN | 4-10 FG | 4-4 FT | 4 REB | 8 AST | 1 BLK | 3 TO | 3 PF | 13 PTS

Some nights Kirk seems to be the bane of Chicago existence, sometimes he’s adequate – tonight was another adequate night. YAY FOR KIRK! While he was tortured defensively and had his share of ‘NO, KIRK!’ moments particularly shooting in the 3rd, Hinrich gave the Bulls valuable minutes off the bench and kept the offense running without Rose and was even flashed in perhaps a rare Thibodeua lineup model: Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Gibson, Noah.

Grade: B-

The Bulls next play Monday night against the Charlotte Bobcats (5-5) in the United Center where they will attempt to win their fifth straight since losing to Indiana earlier this month. Indiana didn’t like losing that game, Chicago relished winning it in dominant fashion, and Tony Snell…well, Tony Snell continued to do whatever Tony Snell does.

With the 2013 NBA preseason in the books for Chicago Bulls fans (8-0), it’s finally time to – yet again – revel in the moments just before the nautical dawn of the 2013-2014 regular season. The good news is we only have to sit close-fisted 96 more hours to see what many of us have been waiting upon for well over a year. The tantalizing notion of a championship in a city that has been swept under the rug by LeBron James governed teams for three of the last four seasons or the unlikely aptitude of a Thibodeau squad to remain in any way cohesive physically by season’s end.

While Mike Dunleavy, Tony Snell, and Erik Murphy are in no way transcending pieces, this team appears far more balanced and dangerous in the half-court than any since Thibodeau came on three years ago.

It’s almost humorous to consider the Bulls are looking to improve on what many believed to be a quasi-hollow 2012 season, a mixture of insatiable progress and unnerving torment. The desire for progression and respect from a battered yet dauntless coalition whose shear will-power kept a city afloat into the second round of the playoffs.

After reexamining their 2013-2014 regular season schedule, I have Chicago going 61-21. Still seeing the Heat coming out as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference at 63-19 and taking the season series against the Bulls, but a closer conference hierarchy in 2013 than we’ve seen in a while.

Most intriguing games:

10/29/13 – at Heat: This is it. Here’s to hoping Nazr Mohammed isn’t starting at center with Noah doing his best rendition of Greg Oden in the past week. Expect beaming smiles, shiny rings, and explosions the whole family can enjoy.

11/06/13 – at Pacers: Noah/Hibbert Rose/Hill Butler/George, I’m sold.

11/24/13 – at Clippers: What will this Chris Paul – Derrick Rose matchup yield? An overwhelming amount of advertisements both are stars in? Please no more, State Farm. I’m also slightly hoping Jordan or Griffin have a fast-break opportunity on Boozer just because.

12/11/13 – at Knicks: A shootout or a shutdown. Jr. Smith going off or Thibodeau going hoarse by halftime, which one is more plausible?

12/19/13 – at Thunder: With Westbrook back, the Thunder transition game will be in full-effect. Boozer could do the impossible and out-muscle an opponent for the first time since his Utah days. God only knows what Kendrick Perkins’ off-season consisted of.

01/29/13 – at Spurs: When searching for Rose’s highlights, you’ll find a multitude of them coming against a Tim Duncan matchup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZimlxGDbPi0

02/09/13 – at Lakers: With Kobe back and the all-time scoring ranks on his mind, this matchup is sure to produce something memorable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxHl9JYm-IM

03/03/13 – at Nets: Will Jason Terry make a fool of himself in front of a national audience? Will Noah blaze his pistols? All I know is this should end up being a game both of these teams desperately want.