Last night the Bulls lost to the 76ers 104-101, in yet another game that came down to the end. The Bulls are percentage points behind Milwaukee for the 8th seed, and this stretch of games isn’t going to do anything to help them. Pretty much the only thing they have going for them is that tonight is a home game. The Hornets will be without Peja Stojakovic, who has a sore back.
1
11:20 – In the first Bulls possession, Rose posts up Paul. This has really become a little strategy the last few games.
9:12 – Noah battles for an offensive rebound, and passes it back out to BG for a top-of-the-key jumper.
8:26 – Salmons hits a baseline jumper off the inbounds pass. I really like what he’s been giving the team since his arrival, and in particular while starting in place of an injured Deng.
7:53 – Rose chases down a long rebound and speeds all the way down court for the layup. 9-6 Bulls.
7:10 – Gordon finds Noah inside, who puts it up over Chandler for 2.
6:20 – Nice hustle by Tyrus to chase down a loose ball, but he can’t convert the basket inside. Typical Tyrus.
5:40 – Another jumper by Salmons. He’s got 6 points. 13-12 Bulls.
5:01 – Gordon with a jumper off the inbounds play.
4:22 – Rose hits a jumper from near the elbow. 17-14 Bulls.
3:40 – Something you may not ever see again – Joakim Noah hits a JUMP SHOT from the elbow, and it never even hit the rim. He looked to pass for several seconds, but they were giving him plenty of room so he took it. Probably unrealistic to hope he could develop that. But, he has been improving hi FT shooting, so why not a little jumper too?
3:00 – Salmons with a nice move, as he blows by David West for a layup. 21-16 Bulls. They are playing very well to start the game, which is something they haven’t done in a long time.
1:38 – Brad Miller fights to get an offensive rebound, and gets fouled on the put-back. Completes the 3-pt play.
1:12 – Gordon finds Miller for a foul-line jumper. 26-18 Bulls.
After 1, it’s 27-22 Bulls. Let’s carry that over into the next quarter, boys!
2
11:15 – Tim Thomas hits a 3. That’s all we need him to do. Make a couple shots, don’t try to do anything more.
9:36 – BG hits a deep 2. 33-24.
9:04 – BG for 3! 36-24.
8:34 – Rose finds Miller for a foul-line jumper.
7:45 – Miller hits another open jumper. Hornets keep closing in to double-team the guards, who are finding the open men for jumpers. 40-24.
6:19 – Salmons hits a 3. Bulls have outscored the Hornets 18-2 in the first half of this quarter. 45-24.
5:45 – Tim Thomas hits a 3. Bulls have doubled up the Hornets, 48-24. Bulls shooting 56% from the field so far.
4:34 – Another screen and roll with Miller, who hits another open jumper to end a 4-0 Hornets run. 50-28.
3:24 – 2 straight pretty plays by Chris Paul. He did that behind-the-back dribble again, where it looks like he’s gonna pass but keeps it instead. This time it seemed a little unnecessary. One of those plays that didn’t serve a purpose, and didn’t fool the defender, but everyone goes “Oooooooh!” anyway. 50-32.
23.9 – BG hits a 3 to end a 9-0 Hornets run. 53-37.
Halftime: 53-39 Bulls. Great first half. Hopefully they won’t let that late run by the Hornets spill over into the 2nd half.
3
11:36 – Salmons hits a 3 just in time to beat the shot clock. 56-39.
10:43 – Salmons hits another 3. 59-41.
10:10 – Great put-back by Noah off a missed jumper.
9:30 – Tyrus fights down low for a rebound, and this time is able to put it back in. Bulls back up 20, 63-43. Looks like they withstood the Hornets run.
8:28 – BG drives down the middle of the lane, hits the layup and gets fouled. Completes the 3-pt play. Chicago is running on all cylinders tonight. Not sure what’s wrong with they Hornets. Chris Paul is pretty much having his way, but the rest of the team isn’t giving him any support. None of them are playing D. They are making it way too easy for the Bulls. 66-45.
7:38 – Tyrus knocks down a jumper from the elbow.
7:01 – Nice ball movement, Tyrus gets a dunk down low. 70-49.
4:17 – Nice drive and hook by Tyrus to end a 6-0 Hornets run. He’s got 8, all in this quarter. 72-55.
3:42 – BG this a jumper to answer a Chris Paul jumper. I get slightly nervous every time the Hornets cut it to 15 or so, especially since Paul is scoring at will, but the Bulls seem to come right back each time. I just hope they don’t run out of those answers.
1:32 – Salmons hits another 3, this time with Posey right in his face. 77-57.
49.7 – BG hits a pullup jumper.
1.7 – Miller taps in a Gordon miss. Bulls match their biggest lead, 81-57.
After 3: 81-57 Bulls. It’s tough to feel comfortable in the 4th quarter as a Bulls fan, but this is about as comfortable as one can be.
4
11:26 – Salmons knocks down a 3 after a little around-the-horn. All 5 Bulls players touched the ball, as they worked it around the 3-pt line from one corner to the other.
10:43 – BG knocks down a 3. 87-57. Wow!
6:10 – Miller grabs an offensive rebound off a Gordon missed 3, dishes it back to BG for the lay-in. 93-66.
49.5 – Aaron Gray hits a fadeaway turnaround jumper. Everything went right for the Bulls tonight.
Final: 97-79. Bulls cooled off a bit in the 4th, but it did’t matter, as they had build up a 30-point lead. My only complaint is that they didn’t get the home crowd their free food! Oh well, they had the scrubs in the last couple minutes. Another win Bulls over a superior team. They can only ever do anything at home.
Box score notes: Quiet game for Rose, who has just 4 points on 2/9 shooting. He did have 7 assists though. BG had 27, Salmons 24. Chris Paul had 29-6-6 for the Hornets.
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