The energy in the United Center was lagging and at every chance the Bulls squandered at building some positive momentum, it seemed more and more likely they’d continue their usual pattern of following up an exhilarating win with a puzzling loss.
But enter Aaron Brooks and Joakim Noah, members of the Bulls’ bench, who brought the requisite energy and turned the tables in what could’ve or should’ve been another disappointing Bulls effort, resulting in their 98-94 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
It seemed to happen in a flash, the man who was buried on the bench for a few games after recovering from a hamstring injury on the west coast and the forgotten man in Fred Hoiberg’s new ball-movement scheme, relegated to being a reserve after being a proud starter for so long.