| 22 January 2011
Some solid highlights of Derrick Rose's performance against the Mavs, even though he shot the ball pretty terribly. Impressive defensive efforts by both teams. Although on the Bulls part, I think the Mavs' defense was not as much of the problem in comparison to the Bulls' horrendous shooting. The other night, I mentioned that an NBA team should win any game that an opponent shoots 40% or less. Unless, of course, that team shoots less than 40% as well. That's exactly what happened tonight. The Bulls gave the Mavericks some of the medicine they got from the Bobcats a few nights back. The Bulls shot 37% from the field while the Mavs shot 36%. Yeah, you read that right. Pretty much as bad as it gets. Probably the worst shooting percentages that the NBA will see from any team all season long. And they happened on the same night, with the teams playing each other. Unbelievable. But it's like Derrick Rose says...a win is a win, regardless of how ugly that win may have been.
Yet, that's 2 nights straight where the Bulls have shot less than 40% from the field. That's incredible. And it's something that should concern Bulls fans. Which is why I remain concerned about tonight's game.
I'm heading to the United Center tonight to see the Bulls take on the lowly Cavs. I always worry about games like this due the Bulls' nature and constant tendency to play down to the level of competition. Plus with the team shooting as horrible as they have been, it's not a stretch for the Cavs to keep up with the Bulls scoring-wise. However, the return of Carlos Boozer should inject some much needed life into the Bulls offense, which has been in a mini-coma as of late. Derrick Rose taking less than 28 shots would be terrific. Watching him shoulder the entire offensive burden is just tiring. I mean, I know he's capable of it, but I just don't enjoy watching him feel forced to put up shot after shot because he just doesn't trust anyone else on the offensive end. And why should he? There isn't a single offensive threat on the court with him when Boozer isn't in the game. Luol Deng is still managing to dissappear for big stretches. Where was he in the Mavs game? And don't get me started with the Bobcats game...that's about as bad as I've seen him play all year. Some second option. Deng is in a rut, and Rose knows it. So it's no surprise to see Derrick put up 28 shots rather than pass it to Luol and watch him put up brick after brick of long twos. Lu has reverted back to his old crappy self recently, and let's hope he snaps out of it because the schedule is going to get tougher kind of soon. I don't think the guy can handle being relied upon too much, so it'll be a relief for him to have Boozer back. That's when I think he'll start playing better, so hopefully that'll happen tonight.
The Bulls should win tonight, but they should be aware of the trap-game nature of tonight's matchup. The Cavs are dreadful, and the Bulls tend to relax against doormat teams. Let's hope Thibs makes sure they're aware of that and makes sure they are consciously able to remedy that issue. Bottom line, we should win by double digits tonight, and if we don't, then the game should be considered a let-down. But like Derrick says, a win is a win.
