For the second straight night, the opponents’ big men abused the Bulls. Injuries to the Bulls’ front court probably has something to do with this: Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson are dealing with plantar fasciitis, and Brad Miller is playing hurt too.

There was a lot of talk about injuries in the front court when the Bulls won five straight. So, in no way do I think it’s being used as an excuse for poor play. Still, these injuries aren’t just going to get better.

If plantar fasciitis in Noah and Gibson’s foot is the reason why Elton Brand was able to get any shot he liked against the Bulls, get used to power forwards and centers, who can shoot, doubling their season scoring averages. Doctors told Noah that he’d need six straight weeks of rest to recover, and Noah has shown no intentions of taking the time off.

Beat reporters following the team aren’t writing about Gibson’s grimacing and facial expressions as much as Noah’s, so I assume his version of the injury isn’t as bothersome, but based on last night, it may as well be.

Early in the game, Gibson was fronting Brand defensively; this allowed Brand to get a number of easy shots at the rim. Whether Gibson is hurt or not, that’s not the best way to defend Brand.

But when Gibson wasn’t fronting him, Brand’s fall-away jump shot was effective in the post, and this shot was barely even contested.

Overall, the Bulls’ interior defense is lacking. Blocks are situational: There are factors far greater than health when it comes to blocking a shot. But considering Brand, a smaller power forward who’s not the greatest athlete, took 22 shots last night, it isn’t a good thing that the Bulls finished the game with no blocked shots.

One more note:

• In the preview, I said I was hoping Vinny Del Negro would ignore setting screens for Derrick Rose, and just let Rose beat his defender. For most of the game, and a lot towards the end, this is what the Bulls did. Rose had no problem beating Jrue Holiday and Willie Green off the dribble, and he led the team with 30 points and 9 assists.