Feb 28, 2009 vs. Houston Rockets

I apologize for not writing the last 2 games. Again. The Bulls have lost two straight (I didn’t watch either one), against NJ and in Washington, where President Obama, a lifelong Bulls fan, attended the game. Both games were essentially lost in the 4th quarter, although the Washington game might not have been close before then. The Bulls need a win tonight, and I’m not sure this is a game where they can get it done. But you never know - we beat the Magic pretty good. The Rockets are in town, where Yao Ming should give us trouble. I believe he had 28 the last time these teams met. Thankfully T-Mac isn’t playing; he usually gives us trouble as well. The team is now run by Aaron Brooks, after they traded Rafer Alson to Orlando at the trade deadline. Another guy to look out for is Ron Artest. He could go off tonight.

Johnny “Red” Kerr passed away this week, as well as former Bulls player Norm Van Lier. There is a special tribute on the scoreboard during pre-game intros. I’ll be sad when Jordan and Pippen go.

1

Noah’s still starting. Perhaps he will be the starter after all.

11:23 – Gordon drives and dishes to Noah for a dunk.

10:40 – Rose drives to the hoop and is fouled. I’m glad they called it, but he probably could have made the shot too. Oh well, one step at a time. Unfortunately, he misses both FTs.

10:04 – Gordon hits a foul line jumper and gets the foul. Completes the 3 point play.

9:40 – Deng takes it in all the way for a layup. Good aggressive move to the basket.

9:16 – Artest with a nice shot. He could also be the one who hurts us.

8:38 – Artest for 3. They left him WAY too wide open. He even gave them a chance to come out and they didn’t. 12-7 Hou.

Bulls are showing shots of Kerr and Van Lier for each commercial break.

7:48 – Tyrus misses a jumper but good hustle gets the loose ball back in the Bulls’ hands. Rose hits a jumper.

6:57 – Tyrus rejects Yao. Close to a goaltend, but the call went Chicago’s way.

6:53 – Salmons checks in for Deng. He led the team with 25 last night.

5:50 – Yao 2 straight hook shots inside.

5:40 – Noah gets the ball inside, and dishes to Rose for the dunk! A little role-reversal there!

4:35 – Brad Miller makes a jumper. If he can keep knocking that 15-18 footer down, Yao will have to come out and guard him.

4:00 – Nice help inside – Noah blocks Yao.

2:57 – Salmons hits a jumper after faking the defender away.

2:15 – Hinrich hits a 3 from the corner, brings the Bulls to 25-22.

0.6 – Salmons misses a jumper, but gets the rebound and puts one in just before the buzzer.

After 1: Hou, 31-26. Artest 12 points. Yao has about 8 or 10.

2

9:53 – Hinrich hits a jumper.

9:19 – Salmons knocks down another jumper.

8:47 – Miller takes it strong to the hoop, and knocks down Yao trying to take a charge. No call, and Miller gets the layup. Back within 3, 37-34.

7:36 – Bulls get a steal, Deng hits the jumper.

6:12 – Deng finds Tyrus for a foul-line jumper.

5:27 – Nice steal by Rose, throws it ahead to Salmons for the dunk. 41-40.

4:53 – Bulls got sloppy on a break, Houston ends up running for a basket. 43-40 on a 4-point swing.

4:39 – Tyrus knocks down another jumper, this time a little further than the foul line.

3:41 – Deng misses a runner in the lane, but gets the rebound, puts it in, and gets fouled. Misses the FT.

2:59 – Got a little crazy around the rim, but the Bulls eventually put it in after a few misses by Deng, Tyrus, and Rose.

2:34 – Great block on Yao by Tyrus, and good hustle to save the ball. Unfortunately he saves it to Houston, who gets an easy basket. Tyrus a little shaken up on the play. Also totally takes out a fan in a chair.

1:52 – Miller hits another jumper from the top of the key.

1:11 – Brad Miller gets T’d for arguing a non-foul call. Looked like he got hammered by Yao underneath. Teams are trading baskets, but the FT puts the Rockets up 4, 52-48.

0:40 - Nice look inside from Miller to Tyrus for the dunk.

0:31 – Artest hits a 3 to put the Rockets up 55-50.

12.8 – Miller hits a 3.

10.8 – Tyrus gets a steal and dunk on the inbounds play. Just like that, 5 straight and its 55-55.

Battier hits a 3 from the corner with 0.7. Houston 58-55 at the half. Houston is shooting 52%, Chicago 50%.

3

Luol Deng has a bone contusion on his tibia, and will not return. He’s so freaking delicate. Tim Thomas has also already come out of the game with an injury.

9:56 – Tyrus gets a nice reverse layup. 63-59.

7:44 – Tyrus with a HUGE dunk, 2 handed over Yao and Battier. Gets fouled, misses FT. 68-61, Houston is pulling away a bit.

6:52 – Tyrus hits a jumper.

3:00 – Rose back down Aaron Brooks for a 2 in the paint. 79-66 though, as Rockets continue to pull away.

2:12 – Bulls get a steal, Rose pushes it ahead to Hinrich for the layup.

1:15 – Good D by Salmons causes a miss by the Rockets on a break. He hits a 3 on the other end.

Brad Miller gets called for 2 shooting fouls in the last 4 seconds. Rockets lead 88-71 after 3. Even with Yao sitting, the Bulls can’t come back. They shot 29% for the quarter, and were outscored 30-16.

4

11:12 – Rose to Salmons to Noah for a dunk.

10:19 – Rose gets fouled down low and hits the shot. Gets the FT, 88-76.

9:45 – Tyrus hits a jumper. He’s got 19.

9:25 – Noah draws an offensive foul by Yao.

9:18 – Rose with a floater in the lane. 91-80. Let’s see if he can take over in the 4th, like he did a few times early in the season. This is already his highest scoring quarter of the game.

8:55 – Good hustle by BG, goes head-over-heels to save a ball.

7:27 – Artest with a big dunk. Just when the Bulls started to make a run, the Rockets come back and pull away again.

5:52 – Artest hits another shot. Bulls need to get some stops to have a chance. As it is, Houston keeps pulling away. 99-82.

5:37 – nice feed Miller to Gordon for a lefty hook off the glass.

5:13 – Bulls running off a defensive stop, BG hits a pull-up 3. 99-87.

4:27 – Rose hits a 2 after Bulls get 2 ORebs. Back within 10!

3:57 – Bulls force 24-second violation! They’re actually getting some stops!

3:50 – Rose hits a turnaround one-handed jumper in the lane. 99-91.

3:19 – Rose hits another runner in the lane. 99-93.

2:51 – Miller draws an offensive foul. 2 straight TOs for Houston - Artest kicked the ball OB last possession.

2:40 – Gordon misses a shot, gets the OReb (maybe gets away with an over-the-back), gets fouled. Makes both FTs, 99-95. Back within 4!

2:18 – Artest nails another 3 to stop the bleeding.

2:03 – Noah finds Rose cutting to the basket, gets the basket, and-1! 102-98.

1:41 – Another steal, Gordon gets the layup. 102-100.

1:09 – BG hits a jumper. We’re tied at 102! Bulls have erased a 17 point deficit in just under 5 minutes, going on a 20-3 run.

32.1 – Rose hits a one-handed fallaway in the paint, and the Bulls take the 104-102 lead! He has 16 in the 4th quarter alone!

11.1 – Bulls dodge 2 bullets (2 Artest 3’s), grab the loose ball, Houston has to foul. Salmons misses the 2nd to keep Houston with a 3 of sending it into OT.

Bulls knock the inbounds pass away, Houston picks it up, Artest can’t get a good look, Bulls win! Rose takes over in the 4th, Bulls end the game on a 23-3 run.

Final 105-102.



Box score notes: Bulls have 6 in double figures, led by Rose with 22, 8R, 7A, 3S. Tyrus and Noah combine for 29, 24R, 4B. Ron Artest leads Houston with 32, Yao Ming has 17 and 7R, 3B, Scola has 16 and 12R. Bulls outscored Rockes 34-14 in the 4th quarter.

Jumpers: Rose had a tough night, going 1/5. He made up for it at the end with a bunch of layups/runners. Deng 1/2, Tyrus 3/6.