• What did you expect? The Nets were playing their third game of a back-to-back-to-back against the best team in the NBA on the road and were without second-leading scorer MarShon Brooks, who was scratched late due to a sore left Achilles. This one was over before it began. The Nets (5-13, 3-8 road) trailed 28-18 after the first quarter, and allowed the Bulls to shoot 62.5 percent in the first half -- including 14-for-19 in the second period. Chicago led by as many as 21 in the third.
• The Bulls (16-3, 8-0 home) are such a complete team. Even without Luol Deng (wrist injury), they didn’t miss a beat. Richard Hamilton (22 points on 10-for-16 shooting, nine assists and a plus-23 rating, did anyone care to guard him?) and Ronnie Brewer (11 points on 4-for-10 shooting) stepped up in his absence -- raining jumpers from the perimeter -- and reigning MVP Derrick Rose played like one in his return from a toe injury that kept him out the last four games. Rose is even more unstoppable now that he’s gained confidence in his 3-point jumper. He stepped into his first triple and drained it from the top of the key. Rose had 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds. The Bulls shot a sizzling 57.3 percent overall, outrebounded the Nets 43-32, had 33 assists and committed just 10 turnovers.
• What was worse: The up-and-under by Brian Scalabrine in the second quarter, or the fact that the Nets were at one point playing a frontcourt of Larry Owens, Shelden Williams and Johan Petro?
• Deron Williams rose (pun totally intended) to the occasion on Monday night, scoring 16 points on an efficient 7-for-14 shooting while dishing out 10 assists. He disappeared in the fourth quarter, though, perhaps because he was dead tired. In all, he played 106 minutes over the last three nights.
• Jordan Farmar continues to play his best basketball as a Net. On Monday night, he scored a team-high 22 points in 32 minutes. Maybe he doesn’t need the triangle offense to be successful after all -- especially when he’s attacking the rim like he has of late.
• The Nets are 17-for-69 from 3-point range in the last three nights.
• Kris Humphries and Mehmet Okur combined for just 14 points and seven rebounds on Monday night.
• Shawne Williams and Rip -- who entered the 15,000-point club in this one -- were hit with double-technicals in the fourth.
• Prior the Nets’ loss, teams playing in the third game of a back-to-back-to-back were 9-4.
• GM Billy King turned 46 on Monday night.