Is Boozer's solid stretch putting him in All-Star consideration?

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BOSTONThe guy has done this, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau insisted Wednesday night, in the bowels of Torontos Air Canada Centre, before injecting a dose of sarcasm into his response. There are tapes of what hes done.

Thibodeau was talking about Carlos Boozer, who scored 36 points, his highest point total in a Bulls uniform, to go along with 12 rebounds in the teams overtime road win. When a reporter briefly interrupted to indicate that Thibodeau meant Boozers current stretch was comparable to the much-maligned power forwards tenure in Utah, the coach rapidly replied, Hes done it for us, too.

That may be the case, but between various injuries, postseason struggles, the currently-sidelined Derrick Roses brilliance overshadowing all of his teammates, the widely-held perception that less offensively-gifted Bulls play with more passion on both ends of the floor and perhaps most significantly, his massive contract, Boozer has and will be an easy target.

But since the calendar year changed, Boozer has been recognized for his contributions. In the Bulls eight games in 2013, Boozer is averaging 24 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, something that stands out on a frequently scoring-deficient squad, as well as appearing more energized on the defensive end of the floor.

Just playing, man. Playing off my teammates, hooping, having fun, trying to win. Its that simple. Theres no new recipe to it, explained Boozer, who is loath to discuss his individual performance, even when hes played well and the Bulls win. I feel pretty confident.

I was just joking, he continued, when queried about his so-called New Years resolution, which he mentioned after the Bulls Jan. 2 win in Orlando, their first game of 2013. The biggest thing is the team is getting wins and how we finished the last two weeks of 2012, it wasnt our best basketball.

Weve still got a little room to improve. Were going to keep striving for perfection and keep getting better, Boozer, who scored 25 first-half points Wednesday, went on to say. It was a tough end of 2012 and I think, as a man, we all want to play much better in 2013 and get more wins, and so far, were doing pretty good in January.

While Boozer might downplay talk of his recent uptick, the rest of the Bulls are quick to credit him for being the teams catalyst as of late, as they are noticeably looking for him on the floor.

He can score a lot of different ways. I think right now, hes in a really good rhythm, Thibodeau said. His teammates are really searching him out.

Joakim Noah, who critics initially asserted wasnt a good match with Boozer, chemistry-wise, chimed in: 'Los is playing at a real, real high level right now. Weve just got to keep searching him out right now because hes been dominant for a while now. Hes playing with a lot of confidence and weve just got to keep giving him the ball.

Rip Hamilton, like Boozer, a former two-time All-Star, prior to arriving in Chicago, added: All day. I think the last month, hes been incredible. I think were doing a better job of getting him the ball where hes comfortable. Weve got a lot of new pieces, a lot of new players and Thibs is adjusting on the fly, trying to figure out what different guys roles are, so were learning each and every day. But hes been great the last month. Hes been playing extraordinary.

Fellow starting forward and Duke product Luol Deng observed: Boozers great. we need it. Hes just got to keep it up. Were going to keep looking for him or keep going to him. Hes playing well for us right now and when we get points in the paint like that, it makes the game a lot easier.

Boozers recent play is also drawing national attention. Thursday night, the starters for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game were announced on TNT and when the television analysts selected their reserve picks, Charles Barkley selected Boozer to his Eastern Conference team, over Noah, who was named to the teams of the other analysts: Kenny Smith, Shaquille ONeal and Chris Webber, who also selected Deng.

That was a very difficult decision for me, Barkley explained. Carlos Boozer has been balling lately. I couldnt get both of them, so I rewarded Boozer for having a terrific career.

If Boozer continues to play at his current level for the remainder of January and into early February, when the reserves will be selected, it may indeed pose a dilemma for the All-Star Game, as one would assume that the fourth-place Bulls will have at least one representative in Houston next month.

But with Boozer playing so welleven as Deng, the teams leading scorer, having a better campaign than he did last season, when he made his first All-Star Game, and Noah, a fan favorite, enjoying a career-best season thus farthe man that many Chicagoans love to hate could at least have an outside chance.

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