| 30 January 2010
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Tonight was one of those rare games where you look at it as a game we should have lost and a game we should have won. It ended up being the latter. Why should the Bulls have lost this game? Sloppy turnovers and missed shots in the clutch, not to mention silly mistakes by All-Stars on the Hornets (David West, we salute you). Why the Bulls should have won this game? Chris Paul was gimpy in overtime. That should automatically be a W. And actually, let me make it clear. The only reason the Bulls won this game was exactly because of that. If Chris Paul was not hurt, Bulls are leaving this road trip with a 4-3 record.
I would've happily taken 4-3. I'm ecstatic to take 5-2. 5-2? First of all, that's hilarious. We lose to the Warriors and Clippers to start the road trip, but beat Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, OKC, and New Orleans in that order. All playoff contenders. On the road. What? Do not let the significance of this feat be lost on you. It parallels the significance of Derrick Rose being named the first All-Star on the Bulls in 12 years, and surely the two accomplishments correlate. In fact, does any team win 5 successive games in a row on the road? If someone knows the answer to this question, I will shoutout you out in my next post. Anybody out there, what is the longest successive road winning streak of the season? I would be shocked if it's not the Bulls. Which is hilarious simply because prior to this road trip, the Bulls were one of the worst road teams in the NBA. This league is fickle.
Next on the agenda: Aaron Gray. You sir, are a scoundrel. Did anyone else see the buffoon snitching to Tim Floyd on the sideline during the Hornets' last timeout in regulation about what the Bulls' inbounds play was going to be? Gotta love old Bulls rejects, both players and coaches, scheming on the opposing sidelines with hate in their eyes. Haters. Let it be known...Aaron Gray is a snitch. Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about snitches.
And can someone explain to me who the Hornets' head coach is? It's listed as Jeff Bower, who happens to look like a Monopoly-Man/walrus hybrid. But then why is Tim Floyd the one drawing up the play on the clipboard in the Hornets' final timeout of regulation as Jeff sits back and watches like a mute? Even Vinny doesn't allow that kind of undermining from Bickerstaff and he didn't last year either from Del Harris. On top of that, toward the end of overtime, Floyd is standing near half-court screaming toward the Hornets on the other end of the court while Bower is standing about 10 feet away from the Hornets' tunnel. Timmeh always was an SOB.
In terms of the game, I only started watching after half-time. For Bulls games, that's usually all that matters, although I do hate missing the first half. Luol Deng absolutely tore it up this game. I don't know what "Floyd/Bower?" were thinking matching Luol Deng up with a 6'4" Marcus Thornton for the entire 3rd quarter. Deng ripped him a new one. Supposedly Thornton got his in the first half, but I didn't really see it, so in my mind, it never happened. Plus he did absolutely nothing after halftime. Deng finished with 26 points on 10-21 from the field. I like. He also had 7 rebounds and was 5-7 from the line. But the two missed free throws came late in the 4th quarter on a crucial trip to the line with about 4 minutes left. Deng choked. I was furious. Luckily, Luol had the biggest shot of the game with 1 second left after he rebounded a Derrick Rose blocked shot (Derrick was actually hacked) for an easy put back leading to overtime. In actuality, everyone can thank David West for that sequence, considering he overthrew Chris Paul Jay Cutler style on an inbounds play that would have iced the game for the Hornets and most certainly would have led to a Paul layup. Hinrich got the ball as Paul tried to save it, he passed it up to Derrick who got hacked inside, and Luol recovered and took care of business. On top of that, Paul got hurt on the play as he tried to save it. Ladies and gentleman, David West.
Derrick Rose had a pretty good game. He seemed to me like he had a bit of a hangover from being named to the All-Star team. He never really got his offense going. One thing that really bothered me is pretty much the entire game, every time he got double teamed, he gave up his dribble. Derrick really has to learn how to fight through a double-team and not just pass it off to Joakim Noah or Brad Miller in no man's land at the free-throw line. I understand they look open, Derrick, but what are they going to do with the ball at the top of the key? Nothing. Derrick's handle is too good to simply succumb to a double-team near the half-court line. I hope and pray that Vinny works with Derrick on this at practice. Derrick finished with 18 points on 7-19 shooting, with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. He also had 4 turnovers, with one silly one in particular where he passed the ball to himself. Can't really tell you what Derrick was thinking on that play, which was fairly late in the game and seemed pretty costly at the time. One of the dumber things I've seen Derrick do. Derrick did hit some clutch free-throws late in the game though. The problem is, he's not getting to the line nearly as much as he should be. It's not really his fault either. You'd think the refs would start giving Derrick some calls at this point...I mean the man is an All-Star. He got hacked from behind late in the game right before the Luol Deng lay-in that led to overtime...no call. He also got hacked hard by Peja Stojakavic on the Bulls last possession and there was no call and instead it was a turnover. Lucky for the Bulls, Darren Collison decided to dribble it out for the loss...but that was a horrible no-call. COME ON refs.
Joakim Noah had an excellent second half. I don't know what he looked like in the first half, nor do I care. What I do know is he had some huge big boy rebounds late in the game, as well as a sick stuff on Okafor right after Tyrus served his own stuff. He also had a crucial tip-in in the 4th quarter with about one minute left after one of Derrick's jumpers rimmed out. But in overtime, Joakim was a beast. He had big rebound after big rebound after big rebound. Specifically, a tremendous offensive rebound with 27 seconds left after a Brad Miller missed 3-pointer. Joakim finished with 13 points, 18 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Joakim had a tough assignment guarding David West, who really put the Hornets on his back late, especially after Paul got injured. West finished with 29 points and 14 rebounds...huge game. Joakim's defense definitely needs improvement, but there's only so much he can do against a good post player like West. Joakim played well tonight...no major complaints. Although, he and Derrick were part of the most ridiculous looking sequence of basketball ever after Derrick passed the ball to himself and got called for a travel and then Joakim proceeded to get the rebound on the other and toss the ball as hard as he could out of bounds. Some ridiculous timing to make some of the weirdest turnovers in the world. Alas, all is well.
Taj Gibson had a very solid game with 8 points and 8 rebounds. He continues to show good fundamentals in the post, and in a few years, he is going to be a very effective post player and double-double guy. He grows on me every game...so please...no Taj hatin'. Supposedly Tyrus played well in the first half. In the second half he played like garbage, minus of course the ridiculous block he had on Okafor. Okafor will surely have nightmares about that sequence tonight. Other than that, Tyrus took a ridiculous 17 foot jumpshot as the momentum was swinging in favor of the Hornets early in the 4th quarter, so Vinny pulled him and he never was heard from again. Why, Tyrus, why? Least docile player in NBA history.
Kirk and Salmons continue to be attached at the hip. As one goes, the other goes. I don't understand how they both play to the same level of quality each night. This is bad, because one should be making up for the other off the bench. But no, if one plays well, the other plays well...and if one plays horrible, the other plays horrible. Tonight, they each played like garbage, although they combined for a total of 3 three-pointers, which I guess I'll take. Although it's kind of pathetic that I am satisfied with 3 three-pointers on the game from the Bulls' backcourt. Devin Brown, are you out there?
And what can I say about Brad Miller? He's simply and suddenly...the freakin' man. Another 14 points tonight, with what ended up being the winning jumpshot late in overtime. Derrick Rose broke down the defense, and kicked it out to the big fella for the J. Down the well it went. And he continues to drain the three. B-rad is making his presence felt...and defending centers simply don't know how to guard him. Do they come out and guard the shot? Or do they stay back because they fear his ridiculously slow but amazingly effective first step? It's becoming truly funny to watch.
But another true team effort, with everyone contributing to the victory. Five in a row is just ridiculous. The Bulls have to be considered the hottest team in the league right now. I mean no one wins 5 successive road games in this league anymore? Nobody but the Bulls, apparently. They are now 23-22, a game over .500. Last year at this time, they were 19-27. They were over .500 twice last season: Nov. 1st and Apr. 13th, the second to last game of the season. They finished .500 last year. A month ago, who would have thought they'd be that far ahead of their pace from last year without their leading scorer in Ben Gordon? And man, have the press shut the hell up about how big of a disappointment the Bulls have been this year or what? Although I know John Hollinger is still hatin' on the D-Rose and the Bulls...HATER. For proof of that, check out this ridiculous article where he calls Derrick Rose's play this season not in the same league as Josh Smith's play, so Smith was snubbed. Smith is averaging 15 points and 8 boards and Rose is averaging 20 points and 6 assists. Are you kidding me, Hollinger? That's not in the same league? But I digress. Bulls are en fuego right night and I expect them to start getting a ton of love around the league a la power rankings, etc. Dare we make it 6 in a row in a revenge game against the Clip-show at home on Tuesday? I think we might. I think we oughta. Beep beep drive home safely.
