I waited to the last minute to write this hoping that this week would end on a good note. The Chicago Bulls did not let me down either. Since January 15, the Bulls are 3-3 with impressive wins over the Miami Heat, Detroit Piston, and after last night, the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls troubles have been well noted this season, but last night it seemed hopeless. Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Chris Duhon sat out the last night. Not only were he not able to play, but the Bulls found out that Luol Deng will not be able to play for a couple of weeks. How much worse could it get for the Chicago Bulls.
Not much. Last night without two of their leading scorers, the Bulls sent the Pacers home in a convincing fashion, due to Captain Kirk Hinrich 38 points and 10 assist. Hinrich, who has struggle this whole season, showed not signs of trouble as he shot 67 percent from the field. Help came in the form of rookie JoaKim Noah, who scored 14 points and an impressive 15 rebounds, and Andres Nocioni who had 24 points and 7 rebounds as well. The Bulls came together and played like the team that we saw last year go to the second round and push the Pistons to six games.
The crowd of 21,771 saw the Bulls shot better than usual from the field and three point range at 47.6 and 37.5 percent respectively. The Bulls had their way with the Pacers, who were trying to win their first consecutive game for the first time in a month. The Bulls showed a team unity and more effort than the have at other times of the season. If we can expect this type of play without Deng and Gordon .in, maybe we should trade them for Kobe, Never the less, what a win for Chicago, Hopefully we see more of this.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sunday, December 16, 2007
December 16, 2007
The Bulls looked good. After a impressive win over the Sonics, and a loss against the Indiana Pacers, the Bulls showed New York why they are one of the beast in east. Kirk Hinrich second career triple double was more than impressive. A player who has struggle showed why the Bulls have held on to him for so long. Hinrich's 15 points, 14 assist, and 12 rebounds and Luol Deng 29 points and 10 rebounds led to the Bulls to their their second win in 3 games(I know it their second of four, but second of three sound better).
The Bulls are a team looking for some consistency. If we could get Gordon, Hinrich and Deng to have great games together, we might have one of the best teams in the league. But that has not been the issue this season. Sometimes, none of the Bulls play well. Other time if Gordon is on, Deng or Hinrich is having a bad game and so forth. The Bulls core three have to improve their games to harmonize with each other and be consistent. No team in my opinion, can stick three guys with inside and outside games. The Bulls team is one of the most diverse teams in the league and until they play as a team, a playoff spot is just hopeful in a league where every team is better.
The Bulls are a team looking for some consistency. If we could get Gordon, Hinrich and Deng to have great games together, we might have one of the best teams in the league. But that has not been the issue this season. Sometimes, none of the Bulls play well. Other time if Gordon is on, Deng or Hinrich is having a bad game and so forth. The Bulls core three have to improve their games to harmonize with each other and be consistent. No team in my opinion, can stick three guys with inside and outside games. The Bulls team is one of the most diverse teams in the league and until they play as a team, a playoff spot is just hopeful in a league where every team is better.
December 13, 2007
Watching the Chicago Bulls take own the Boston Celtics was something to marvel at. The Bulls stayed competitive with the triple All Star team to the final minutes of the game. This caused to me to come to the conclusion, that so many others have spoken on: The Bulls need One All Star.
The Bulls have some of the best role players a team could asked for. Ben Gordon can makes shot but he is the sixth man. Luol Deng is perfect sidekick to any all star player who does not mind working. We have seen that Deng and Gordon working together is good enough to be competitive in the second round of the playoffs. Yet, they are lacking a man to put them over.
As I watched them play the Celtics, I kept seeing Jordan running to the table being checked in for Chris Duhon. Jordan leans other and puts his hand on his knee chewing his gum ferociously. Deng on the off line getting ready to put the ball in play. Jordan jets off from Allen and Deng throws him the ball. Pierce is defending Deng and Gordon is on the wing like Paxon. Jordan dribbles as Garnet and Pierce want to help but fear of leaving Gordon, Deng, Nocioni and Wallace open make the Celtics think differently. Jordan drives to the hole and ....... You can determine the rest.
Unfortunately that not what the Bulls have. They have guys who can hurt you at anytime, making defensive rotation easy once you know who has the hot hand. Yet how does a team defend a team who can score with one player who can dominate. I mean look at the Spurs. You put Bowen of Jordan, and watch Gordon and Deng destroy your team. What do you do.
I'm not saying pick up Kobe, but I am saying we need to find a consistent player who can put the team on his back, and unload them when its time too. The man who we know will be MVP at the finals. A man who shoulders we can depend on for 40,50, maybe 81 points a game. Hmmm, just imagine
The Bulls have some of the best role players a team could asked for. Ben Gordon can makes shot but he is the sixth man. Luol Deng is perfect sidekick to any all star player who does not mind working. We have seen that Deng and Gordon working together is good enough to be competitive in the second round of the playoffs. Yet, they are lacking a man to put them over.
As I watched them play the Celtics, I kept seeing Jordan running to the table being checked in for Chris Duhon. Jordan leans other and puts his hand on his knee chewing his gum ferociously. Deng on the off line getting ready to put the ball in play. Jordan jets off from Allen and Deng throws him the ball. Pierce is defending Deng and Gordon is on the wing like Paxon. Jordan dribbles as Garnet and Pierce want to help but fear of leaving Gordon, Deng, Nocioni and Wallace open make the Celtics think differently. Jordan drives to the hole and ....... You can determine the rest.
Unfortunately that not what the Bulls have. They have guys who can hurt you at anytime, making defensive rotation easy once you know who has the hot hand. Yet how does a team defend a team who can score with one player who can dominate. I mean look at the Spurs. You put Bowen of Jordan, and watch Gordon and Deng destroy your team. What do you do.
I'm not saying pick up Kobe, but I am saying we need to find a consistent player who can put the team on his back, and unload them when its time too. The man who we know will be MVP at the finals. A man who shoulders we can depend on for 40,50, maybe 81 points a game. Hmmm, just imagine
December 5, 2007
Tonight, the Chicago Bulls take own the Charlotte Bobcats. It is the "Battle of UConn" time again as the Chicago Bulls' Ben Gordon meet Bobcats' Emeka Okafor in what is sure to be an interesting game. The game will be interesting if not the game itself, but rather to see what Bulls team actually shows up to play.
The Bulls have been playing up and down for the this season, longer down than up too. I mean the Bulls started with a 2-10 record often looking tired, lost, and/or overwhelmed at times on the floor. After a lost to the Toronto Raptors, on November 25, the bulls put together their first 2 game win streak of the season. The first came with a win over the starless Atlanta Hawks, where Bulls' captain, Loul Deng scored 22 points along with Ben Gordon 21 points, to win 90-78. This game showed an improvement in energy and aggressiveness. Their next game put you in the mind of the Bulls team that beat Miami earlier this year in the first round of playoff. Gordon scored a solid 34 points to lead the bulls in convincing fashion over the Bobcats. It seem like everything was back on tracked.
Then Dallas came and gave a reality shock. The Bulls went down, despite their late rally attempt. The high spot of the Bulls game was Andres Nocioni. Yet, he is off the bench meaning that the starters lack any heat. Which Bulls team will show up.
It was cute when we were losers, but now that we are one of the best in the east, teams are going to bring it hard. The Bulls are not prepared for that. They need to realize they are not the underdogs but the favorites. They need to come out high intensity every game from start to finish and then overtime if needed. They need to be in sync from the jump ball, to the buzzer sounds. They need to be a team that plays ball all game and that what we see .......sometimes.
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