Feb 24, 2009 vs. Orlando Magic

First off, I apologize for not writing after the Pacers game. I almost watched the game, but saw the final score before watching it on DVR, and it didn’t seem like something I wanted to see. It didn’t look like I missed much, other than that it was a close game until the 4th quarter, when the Pacers closed it out. Rose had a bad shooting night; there just didn’t seem like much to write about. The Pacers didn't even have their best player - Danny Granger.

Tonight the Orlando Magic are in town, and I can assure you that Dwight Howard will have a monster night. Not that he hasn’t been having monster nights every game lately. But the Bulls can’t stop people down low, and I certainly wouldn’t expect otherwise tonight. Also, the Magic picked up Rafer Alson at the trade deadline to fill in for Jameer Nelson, who’s out for the season. The Magic needed something to help keep their hopes for a good playoff run alive, and Alston seems like a good fit.

1

11:20 – Rose jumper

10:51 – Joakim drives again, gets the layup, and-1. That's the 2nd time in 3 games that he's done that move.

10:29 - Tyrus hits a jumper

10:06 – Rose jumper

9:35 – Deng jumper

8:58 – Deng with a layup. Tyrus stole pass, hit a cutting Deng

8:17 – Deng hits a running hook in the lane.

8:02 – Gordon with a long 2.

TO Orlando. Howard is basically having his way with us inside, as expected. However, the Bulls are shooting very well to start, hitting their jumpers, for a 16-10 lead. Shooting 8/10 from the floor.

7:24 – BG another jumper.

4:53 – Tyrus hits a jumper

4:28 – quick pass ahead to Deng for the layup.

4:02 – Tyrus rejects a Rafer Alson layup.

3:43 – BG another jumper.

3:03 – Brad Miller takes a long jumper. Ugly, not even close. It's funny - I thought Brad would be the best offensive big man the team has had in a while, and yet it's Noah who suddently develops this move where he drives to the hoop and scores on a layup.

2:37 – Yet another BG jumper.

Howard has gone cold. Dunno if Miller and Joakim have been playing good D, or if he’s just not knocking down his shots. Rashard Lewis is keeping the Magic in it with his 3s.

2:14 – BG another jumper.

1:44 – Brad Miller hits 2 FTs to make it 30-23.

After 1: Bulls, 30-27.

2

11:46 – Hinrich jumper makes is 32-27.

9:40 – Tim Thomas hits a 3. It's a good thing I've always referred to Tyrus Thomas as Tyrus, now that there are two T. Thomas's on the team.

8:40 – Lob inside to an open Rose, who misses the wide open reverse layup. Rose not shooting too well after knocking down his first 2 shots.

8:29 – Tim Thomas hits a jumper. He’s playing pretty efficient in his minutes. If he has the shot, he buries it. If not, he passes it right away.

7:43 – Rose hits a jumper.

7:11 – Salmons hits a jumper. Is anyone NOT hitting a jumper for this team so far? 41-35 Bulls.

6:29 – Hinrich hits a jumper.

6:02 – Rose another jumper.

6:43 – Tim Thomas another 3, from the corner. 48-39.

4:35 – Deng hits a pullup jumper. 52-42.

JJ Redick has been getting a decent amount of playing time lately, doing the only thing he can do – hit 3s. I despise Duke, and I despise Redick. If Luol Deng didn’t play for the Bulls, I’d hate him too.

3:30 – Tim Thomas finds Brad Miller for the bucket and the foul.

2:39 – Bulls 24/40 so far tonight (60%).

2:13 – Nice alley-oop from BG to Tyrus. BG Looked like he was shooting, but it was clearly a pass, and a nice one.

1:52 – Brad Miller cuts into the passing lane, and takes an eternity to rumble down for the dunk. Defense probably should have caught him. 59-47.

Halftime: 63-54 Bulls. High-scoring 1st half, as they’re shooting lights out. Hopefully they can keep it up.

3

11:47 – Tyrus hits a jumper. He’s 4/4.

11:03 – Nice find by Deng to Noah for the dunk.

10:32 – Noah makes it 69-56 with 2 FTs.

8:38 – Rose takes it all the way and scoops in the layup.

7:36 – Rose hits a jumper. 73-64.

7:06 – Rose with another jumper. He’s now the Bulls’ leading scorer, as BG has quieted down a bit.

5:45 – BG hits a jumper.

4:35 – Rose with a nice reverse layup. Pretty move.

4:01 – Salmons in on the jumper party; hits a 2.

3:16 – Rose another jumper. He’s shooting very well tonight.

2:04 – 2 quick 3s by Orlando bring them within 3, 83-80.

1:24 – Bulls getting sloppy, and Magic on 8-0 run.

0:39 – Nice stutter-step by Rose, who drives in for 2.

0:9 – Rose hits yet another jumper. He’s got 22.

End 3rd: 87-82 Bulls. Team is shooting 59%.

4

11:33 – Hinrich a nice fallaway jumper. He’s 3/3.

10:35 – Gordon hits a jumper.

10:15 – Tim Thomas hits a 3.

9:45 – Salmons drives, scores, and gets the foul. 97-89.

9:24 – Gordon another jumper. Can’t remember a miss by him tonight.

8:12 – Salmons rebounds his own miss, find Miller for the layup. Hot Dogs!

7:15 – Hinrich deflects the inbounds pass right into the Magic player standing OB. Nice play; Bulls get the ball back.

Howard has been short on almost all of his shots since the first couple minutes of the game. Bulls must be playing some tough D down low.

6:02 – Salmons hits 2 FTs, 109-94 Bulls. They have been in complete control all game.

5:12 – Joakim stuffs it home, good find by Salmons.

4:37 – Tim Thomas hits another 3. 114-96.

3:41 – BG throws one up and in.

59.8 – Tyrus takes it in for the score and-1.

Final: 120-102.



Box score notes: Bulls have 7 players in double figures, led by Rose with 22. Team shot 57%.
Dwight Howard finishes with 26 and 12R, shooting 10/18, although it didn’t seem like he played that well. Magic also had 7 in double figures.

Jumpers: Rose 8/14(!), Deng 2/6, Tyrus 3/6.