March 6, 2009 vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Tonight is a big night for the Bulls, who trail Milwaukee by half a game for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. A win tonight would be huge, as they’ve been trailing this 8 seed for a while, but have always been close. The Bulls again will match up against their former coach Scott Skiles, as the Bucks come to Chicago. The Bulls are coming off a strong game against the Warriors, when they came out sluggish, dug themselves a 20-6 hole, then outscored the Warriors by 46 to win 110-88. Chicago will again be without Luol Deng. Oh yeah, look out for another Ben Gordon vs. Charlie Villanueva shootout.

1

10:42 – Noah with a nice move down low for two. 4-2 Mil.

9:09 – Tyrus with a strong drive to the hoop, gets fouled and hits the layup. Completes the 3-pt play. 6-5 Mil.

6:38 – Bulls miss 2 jumpers in a possession. They’re not shooting well so far, and have come out sluggish, once again. Bucks lead 14-9.

5:36 – Rose sprints down the lane for a layup over several defenders. 16-11.

5:10 – Rose with another drive for another layup.

3:33 – Gordon hits a 3.

3:00 – Hinrich hits a jumper and is fouled. Completes the 3-pt play. Bulls within 3, 22-19.

0:29 – Salmons gets bumped and is able to finish the layup. Does not hit the FT, Bulls down 26-25.

After 1, Milwaukee leads 26-25. The Bulls started out slow, but started to pick it up towards the end of the quarter, hitting some shots and forcing some TOs. Hopefully they’ll be able to pull ahead in next quarter.

2

10:45 – Salmons gets another layup-and one. This time he hits the FT and the game is tied at 28. First tie of the game.

10:23 – Salmons gets fouled on the fast break and knocks down 2 FTs. He’s scored the last 5 points, and the Bulls take a 30-28 lead.

9:35 – Miller finds a cutting Rose for the layup and-1. The ball barely gets over the rim but Rose gets the roll. Bulls 33-30.

8:02 – Gordon hits a leaner with some contact, but no foul.

7:23 – Gordon hits a 3 from the corner. He could be heating up…

6:58 – BG hits another 3, on the run with Hinrich who feeds him the ball. He’s got 14. 41-32.

6:29 – BG gets a late whistle, as he’s knocked down taking a 3. Surely he won’t hit all 3 FTs, given how he’s been shooting them this season (I don’t think he’s made 3 straight all year). He knocks down the first 2 and misses the 3rd.

5:43 – Rose blows by Elson for the layup, and gets fouled. Another chance for a 3-pt play for the Bulls, who have converted on several so far tonight. Rose hits the FT. 46-37.

5:23 – Rose finds Hinrich on the break for a 3.

4:59 – Rose flies through the lane for yet another layup. He has been a blur on the court all night.

4:13 – Bulls out running, Tyrus finds Noah down low for the dunk. 54-41.

3:45 – Rose finds BG for another 3. Bulls have really broken it open this quarter. 57-41.

2:26 – Bulls with some very good ball movement, Rose finds Hinrich for a 3 from the corner. Hinrich is 4/4 from the floor for 11 points.

Halftime: 63-52 Bulls. Salmons had a 3 roll around the rim a couple times and out at the buzzer. Bulls were on the wrong end of a few questionable calls at the end of the quarter, but overall you have to be very happy with their performance so far. A huge 38 point 2nd quarter, and once again, they turned an early deficit into a double-digit lead. Hopefully they’ll be able to hold up in the 2nd half.

3

10:10 – Milwaukee cuts the lead to 7, 65-58. Bulls a little cold to star the 2nd half.

9:24 – Rose with a weird looking fake, it looked like he picked up his dribble, but somehow keeps it going and blows by everyone for the layup.

8:34 – Tyrus gets a block, which gets the Bulls out running, and BG hits a runner off the glass. 69-60.

7:58 – Rose really has an extra gear – he starts off slow and then blows by the defense for the layup. He gets fouled, and completes yet another 3-pt play.

7:17 – Rose with a nice fake, which opens up a lane and he gets another layup. He’s got 19.

6:42 – Another nice jumper by BG. He’s got 25.

6:07 – Rose is just blowing by Bucks defenders at will. This time, he doesn’t get the layup and will go to the line for just a 2 point play, which he completes.

3:53 – Brad Miller knocks down a jumper to make it 83-72.

2:30 – Salmons gets an accidental steal, pulling his hands up to avoid a foul, and knocking the ball away with his elbow. He picks it up and gets a layup, 85-75.

After 3: Bucks get within 5, 85-80. Hopefully the Bulls won’t give this one away. They’ve been in control for most of the game. They need a strong 4th, specifically from Derrick Rose. He needs to take over this game. He’s done it before, and he’s proven that the Bucks can’t stop him. Let’s see what he can do…

4

11:08 – Rose spins on the baseline and flips up a shot. 87-82 Bulls.

10:22 – Gordon hits a leaner with some contact. The ball bounces around every part of the rim before falling through the net.

10:15 – Luke Ridnour gets tangled up with Brad Miller and leaves the game with an arm injury. Neil Funk points out that when Ridnour was in the game, the Bucks came back and closed the gap. But when “this group” (Bell, Bogans) was in, the Bulls pulled away. Hopefully he knows what he’s talking about. It’s 89-84 right now. The Bucks have been as close as 3 (85-82).

9:19 – Miller puts up a nifty runner in the lane and hits. He looked like a 7-foot, white, Ben Gordon on that one. 93-84. Bulls are pulling away already.

8:12 – Brad Miller with a nice pass to Salmons for the layup. It’s like they’ve been playing together for a few years…

7:02 – textbook high screen-and-roll, Rose dishes it to Miller who hits the jumper. That’s where Miller gives the Bulls something they haven’t had in a while, as Noah would probably be fined for taking a shot like that.

5:50 – BG with a pretty shot, and the foul. He gets his legs knocked out from under him, but the ball swishes through the net. Strangely, after this happens, the TV cameras show 3 different guys in 3 different parts of the arena, and each of them looks like they easily tip the scales at 300 pounds. What was that about? Oh yeah, BG completes the 3-pt play. Sound familiar? He’s got 30.

3:57 – BG and Salmons out on a 2-on-1, and surprisingly BG gives it up to Salmons for the layup. 106-93.

3:20 – Rose makes another nice move to open up the lane, and drives for another layup. He’s got 25.

1:46 – Another Miller-to-Salmons layup, another and-1. Salmons has a quiet 21, mostly off of 3-pt plays. 116-100.

Final: 117-102, and the Bulls overtake Milwaukee for the 8th seed.

Box score notes: Ben Gordon finished with 34 and 7A to go along with 4 steals. Rose had 27 and 6A. They shot a combined 20/37 from the floor. Salmons finished with 21 (7/13 FG), and Noah had 13 rebounds, finishing in double figures for the 3rd time in the last 4 games. Brad Miller had 12 and 9R off the bench.
Bucks: Richard Jefferson had 27 points, Charlie V had 19 and 12R. Ramon Sessions had 20 and 11A, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had 21 and 11R, plus 5 steals.

Jumpers: Not a good night, Tyrus 0/3, rose 0/4, but Rose’s game tonight was all about driving to the hole. He was very successful, both finishing and getting to the line (for a change).