Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Bulls Bounce Back in Cleveland, Win 95-85

 Chicago  No Responses »
Dec 062012
 

After a tough loss to Indiana on Tuesday night, the Chicago Bulls bounced back in a big way with a double-digit victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Marco Belinelli filled in for Richard Hamilton once again and had his best game yet as a member of the Bulls. His 23 points led the team in scoring.

Luol Deng was second in scoring with 22 points. He also grabbed seven rebounds.

The Bulls were in control for a majority of the game, leading the Cavs by 16 after the first quarter. Cleveland was able to cut the lead down to six late in the third quarter, but the Bulls held them off and held a nine-point lead going into the final quarter.

Both teams struggled in the final period, shooting under 40 percent.

Luol Deng’s strong fourth quarter (11 points on 4-for-4 shooting) was enough to hold off any chance of a comeback by Cleveland.

Game Positives

This was another strong defensive performance by Chicago, who allowed 85 points on just 37 percent shooting.  Joakim Noah (13 points, 15 rebounds) and Carlos Boozer (10 points, 12 rebounds) both contributed with double-doubles.

Kirk Hinrich also had an efficient game, shooting over 50 percent and tallying eight assists.

The offense was efficient as a whole, shooting 47 percent from the floor and were once again strong on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 45-41.

Game Criticisms

The Bulls’ 15 turnovers is probably the biggest criticism I have in this game.

There’s also the fourth-quarter struggles that the Bulls seem to have this season. Chicago shot 35 percent in the fourth quarter and were 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. They also had five turnovers in that period.

This was a big win for Chicago, as they have just one day of rest before starting another set of back-to-back games on Friday night with the Detroit Pistons, followed by the New York Knicks on Saturday night.

The Bulls’ seesaw season continues as they are once again above .500 with a 9-8 record.

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

Go to Source

How Derrick Rose’s Early Return Would Impact the Chicago Bulls’ Long-Term Plans

 Chicago  No Responses »
Dec 042012
 

Derrick Rose is apparently running and ahead of schedule after undergoing knee surgery last May.

Real shocker.

Rose would probably rehab his knee 25 hours a day if it were possible.

An early return to the lineup would mean a few things for Chicago.

For one, they might have the second coming of the Terminator in their backcourt. And two, they believe that they can win immediately once Rose is inserted into the lineup.

If they didn’t, you’d think the Bulls would shut him down in order to avoid any setbacks and get him back fully healthy for next year.

Chicago is currently 8-7, with losses to New Orleans, Milwaukee, Boston and Oklahoma City all at home. While they can stay competitive, it would be fair to conclude that without a healthy Derrick Rose, this team isn’t a contender.

If Rose does come back, it wouldn’t be for a few more months. Add some time to that in order for him to build confidence in his knee and get into game-shape, and we’re talking an end of the season impact if everything goes great.

Is the likelihood of reward worth the potential risk? I guess that depends on if you think Rose can get back to 100 percent by this year’s playoffs.

If Chicago is comfortable with their star returning early, than they must be committed to this roster and a win-now attitude.

They could play it safe, rule out Rose, let him take the full recommended year for a torn ACL and play for pride and draft picks. This essentially guarantees a healthy Rose for the start of next year, and potentially gives the team a chance at filling the shooting guard hole without spending a dime.

The Bulls are financially committed to Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah over the next few years, and there are some pretty good shooting guard prospects out there in Shabazz Muhammad, Ben McLemore, Archie Goodwin and Jamaal Franklin.

They could also use a pick to package with Luol Deng’s contract on draft night, which expires after the 2014 season.

But if Chicago is looking to get back Rose as soon as humanly possible, than you can bet Tom Thibodeau has no interest in the draft. And he probably has no reason to. The Bulls were the top seed in the East last year entering the playoffs, and reached the Eastern Conference Finals the year before.

When fully healthy, this is a team than can compete for a championship.

But it does make you think.

If Rose comes back this year, we’ll all be holding our breathe every time he hits the floor. And Rose hits the floor a lot.

It sounds like a stressful risk for such a long shot, that long shot being a title run. And nobody likes stress. It leads to acne and insomnia.

Then again, bringing back Derrick Rose right before the playoffs is a pretty tempting option, especially when you consider how good they were a year ago.

It’s weighing risk versus reward, now versus later.

I prefer now, but only when nothing goes wrong.

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

Go to Source

76ers vs. Bulls: Luol Deng, Joakim Noah Lead Bulls Past Sixers, 93-88

 Chicago  No Responses »
Dec 022012
 

Luol Deng (25 PTS, 7 REBS, 7 AST) led the way for the Chicago Bulls as they hosted the Philadelphia 76ers, winning 93-88. Joakim Noah posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Richard Hamilton was the Bulls’ second-leading scorer with 15 points.

The Bulls defense held the Sixers to just 44 percent shooting from the field and forced 11 turnovers. They also continued their strength on the boards, out-rebounding Philadelphia 50-37.

Some positives for Chicago: Their defense and rebounding remained strong in Saturday night’s contest. They came up with the plays they needed when they had to and ran their offense in a very efficient way in some stretches of the game. Deng had one of his better games of the season, shooting over 50 percent from the floor.

The bench also outscored Philadelphia’s bench, 23-13.

Some criticisms: Chicago shot only 47 percent from the floor and continued their poor free-throw shooting (13-of-21).

Kirk Hinrich and Carlos Boozer both struggled Saturday night. Even though Boozer posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards, he only shot 35 percent from the floor. Hinrich struggled to get his game going and also had some troubles getting the offense into its sets, having to put up rushed or contested shots on several possessions as the shot clock was winding down.

A solid win for the Bulls, but a lot of work remains to be done, especially on the offensive side. They’ve been fairly inconsistent throughout the season, but fortunately for them, have found ways to stay in games and come out on top.

The Bulls’ record improves to 8-7 as they get ready to host division rival Indiana Tuesday night.

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

Go to Source

The 10-man rotation, starring Tom Thibodeau playing Luol Deng 47 minutes in a 48-minute game (Ball Don’t Lie)

 Chicago  No Responses »
Nov 282012
 

A look around the league and the web that covers it. It’s also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren’t always listed in order of importance. That’s for you, dear reader, to figure out.
C : SB Nation Chicago . Ricky O’Donnell: ‘Tom Thibodeau’s minutes management is killing the Chicago Bulls.’
PF : Estately . Basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor’s mansion is for sale for $4.5 million.
SF : Celtics Hub . The Celtics are really struggling to defend the three-pointer.
SG : Posting and Toasting . Jason Kidd could be on the shelf for a little while longer.
PG : Red 94 . Chandler Parsons is kicking a little tail this year.

Go to Source

How Joakim Noah Is Saving the Chicago Bulls’ Season

 Chicago  No Responses »
Nov 232012
 

The Chicago Bulls are struggling, having lost four of their last five games and having fallen below .500 for the first time in two years. Things would be even worse, though, if it weren’t for the efforts of their center, Joakim Noah, who is saving them from a catastrophic season. 

Noah, long noted for his outstanding defense, has risen on the offensive side of the court as well, posting career highs in both points, nearing 15 a game, and assists, at four per game. 

During the Houston Rockets game on November 21, Noah proved just how valuable he really is when he took over the game for a stretch on both sides of court. 

The Rockets were on 10-1 run, the Bulls were missing everything and they were in danger of falling out of the game. Nate Anderson had just missed a three-point shot and the ball was on its way to the hands of the waiting Marcus Morris. 

Then Noah swept in and grabbed the ball, passing it off to Luol Deng, who fed Taj Gibson for the easy two. The tide started to change. 

On the other end of the court he took on Marcus Morris and forced him into a missed shot. When Omer Asik got the offensive board, he altered his shot too. 

Moments later, after a pair of Luol Deng free throws, Noah sank a jumper which brought the Bulls within one. The next two possessions down the court, Noah fed Gibson for two. Then he found Nate Robinson for another bucket. Then Robinson fed Noah for one. 

The Bulls were on a 12-1 run and Noah had a hand in all but two of the points. 

He was working on the other end too. He blocked an Omer Asik shot. He stole the ball from Jeremy Lin. He grabbed a defensive rebound. He was anchoring the defense that held the Rockets to only two makes on 14 attempts over the run. 

There are times when Noah seems to ascend to All-Star, even supernatural heights.

At such times the Bulls are a team that looks like it can play with anyone, even without Derrick Rose. What he does isn’t all visible in the box scores. His hockey assists and defensive stops aren’t recorded. 

Nothing reveals how much Noah has mattered to the Bulls, though, as do his on/off and rating numbers. When Noah is on the court, the Bulls score 95.4 points per 48 minutes compared to just 84.9 while he sits. 

They shoot 45.2 percent from the field compared to a meager 39.0 percent when he’s on the the bench. 

While they have slightly more rebounds, as you’d expect from their leading rebounder, they also average 6.4 more assists per 48 minutes, an improvement of over 33 percent. 

None of this compares to his impact on defense, though. While he’s on the court the Bulls relinquish a mere 95.2 points per 100 possessions. While he’s on the bench that balloons up to 110.3. Per 48 minutes, the Bulls are 20 points better with Noah on the court. 

The Bulls’ season might not seem to be saved, as they sit a game below .500 with the so-called “Circus Trip” drawing to a close, but it has been. Without the much-improved efforts of Noah, things would be even worse. If he can keep them hovering in the .500 neighborhood, the Bulls can still make a move when Rose returns. 

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

Go to Source

Why Chicago Bulls’ Luol Deng Is the NBA’s Most Underrated Second Option

 Chicago  No Responses »
Nov 132012
 

Chicago Bulls‘ wing Luol Deng will never even approach the credit that he deserves. Deng’s steady hand (career 16.0 points per game) has left Chicagoans only craving for more.

Consistency is a desirable characteristic in NBA front offices and locker rooms, but it’s not always enough for the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately fanbases of today. Fans hoping for superstardom from the seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft (by Phoenix, traded to Chicago on draft night) may have hoped to see more production by this stage in his career.

With a tantalizing package of size (6’8″, 220-lbs.), skill and versatility, Deng has appeared on the verge of stardom for the better part of his nine NBA seasons. But it’s these elevated expectations that have caused too many to miss out on the impressive portfolio that he has already amassed.

When Derrick Rose suffered a debilitating knee injury in Chicago’s opening game of their first round playoff series with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012, a cloud of despair blew across the Windy City. (At least, that’s how Adidas remembers it happening.)

But inside the Bulls’ locker room there was an unwavering calm.

Sure, they missed their MVP leader and recognized that a player of his skill level is irreplaceable. But writing off the 2012-13 season because of Rose’s lengthy rehab process could not have been farther from their minds.

For, as coach Tom Thibodeau told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, “This is not a new thing for us.” After all, Rose missed 27 of the team’s 66 games in 2011-12. And even with their point guard missing nearly half the year, Thibodeau‘s squad scratched and clawed their way to a 50-16 record—tied with San Antonio for the NBA’s best mark.

How was Chicago able to not only withstand Rose’s various absences, but actually thrive without their fearless leader?

You guessed it. Old, reliable Luol Deng.

Deng embraced the role of go-to scorer in a way that Chicago fans had been yearning to see. He finished the season trailing only Rose in scoring (15.3 points), finding his points from three-point land (79 made), down to the post and everywhere in between.

The 2012-13 season has seen a further embrace of that role from Deng, who leads the team with a career-best 18.9 points per game.

The career marks he’s matched or set in minutes (40.4), rebounds (7.4) and assists (2.9) could signal his emergence to some, but in reality it’s simply more of that same consistent production basketball fans are used to seeing…just with an increased opportunity.

Considering the fact that Deng often draws the toughest defensive matchup, you start to wonder whether or not Deng has already reached that star plateau.

Any hopes of competing for the conference’s top spot may be lost by the time that Rose returns from his torn ACL and MCL, but make no mistake that Deng will keep the club in the thick of the playoff hunt.

It’s easy to lose sight of Deng when he’s playing alongside a player as skilled as Rose. But after the 2012-13 season is all said and done, fans will have no excuse to keep underselling the criminally underrated Deng.

Read more Chicago Bulls news on BleacherReport.com

Go to Source

Deng leads Bulls run to beat Magic (Reuters)

 Chicago  No Responses »
Nov 072012
 

(Reuters) – The Chicago Bulls dominated the start of the fourth quarter to beat the Orlando Magic 99-93 on Tuesday in a matchup of two teams trying to adjust to playing without last season’s All Stars. Luol Deng scored eight of his team-high 23 in the fourth quarter where reserve Nate Robinson also provided a spark to quickly erase a three-point deficit and take the game by the horns. “I think we wanted it more,” Robinson told reporters after scoring seven of his 11 points in the final period. “Coach said to do whatever it takes to get the win. …

Go to Source

 Older Entries