Bulled into submission
No doubt about it: the Bulls came to play. After dropping the first two of a seven-game road trip, they swept the next five, the last of them at the expense of the Thunder, who spent most of the fourth quarter supplying synonyms for “cold.” Down eight at the half, Oklahoma City made up six in the third quarter, but somehow managed to miss 14 consecutive shots (!) in the second half and lost it, 96-86.
Which is not to slight Chicago, which put up good numbers: 53 rebounds, versus 40 for OKC, and 45.6 percent shooting, versus 36.9. And the Bulls didn’t miss a free throw all night, although they took only eight. (The Thunder missed their first four before calming down.) Taj Gibson got 15 of those boards; Joakim Noah got 11 more en route to a double-double; Derrick Rose did a creditable impression of the Flash while scoring 26. The Bulls’ bench contributed 31 points, making it much easier on the starters.
Jeff Green was hotter than usual, nailing 24 points and nine rebounds; Kevin Durant was good for 28 and 11. But nobody else made double figures except Russell Westbrook, who dropped in 10. The Thunder did make seven of 19 treys, but they wouldn’t have tried so many if they’d gotten better looks from closer in, and the Bulls weren’t having any of that.
The Nuggets will be here Friday, weather permitting.
Update: The Nuggets flew in last night, beating the storm.
Jeff Brokaw »
28 January 2010 · 12:08 pm
How ’bout that Derrick Rose? He’s been unstoppable lately, and consistently scores in the 20s and has been in the 25-40 range a few times too.
Is there anybody in the NBA that can guard him? I’m not sure who that would be. He’s strong, quick, explosive, can finish inside, AND now he can shoot from the outside. Plus he is a team player who looks to pass first, as a good point guard should.
We could be watching the blooming of another … Michael Jordan-esque level of player.
It’s funny, too, now that the players are playing better, Vinny Del Negro is not a crappy coach any more! What a coincidence!
CGHill »
28 January 2010 · 2:13 pm
It didn’t seem to make any difference who got put on Rose, either. I suppose it counts as a moral victory, such as it is, that they held him to ten points in the first half.
Del African-American (only Harry Reid can call him “Del Negro”) can probably breathe a little easier now.