After a 4-2 start, the Chicago Bulls have lost two straight and heads back to the United Center Saturday to face Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand and the Philadelphia 76'ers. This game carries added importance, as this will be the final home game for the Bulls, before they hit the infamous circus trip.
Point guard Derrick Rose struggled against Raptors guard Jose Calderon on Wednesday, looking a step slower on both ends, especially during a stretch where Calderon beat him for three lay-ups in under five minutes. Tonight, Rose will face Louis Williams, a player who has also struggled against quicker players.
Bulls center Joakim Noah will face Samuel Dalembert. The Philadelphia center who has been publically shopped for almost two years. The 76'ers have contacted every single NBA team, but have been turned down. With Noah's new intensity and energy, he's expected to outplay Dalembert comfortably.
Rookie forward Taj Gibson, who had a career-high 18 points in Toronto, has started for the injured Tyrus Thomas, and averaged 10.0 points and 5.2 rebounds in his five starting assingments. Tonight, he'll face not just Elton Brand, but second-year forward Marresse Speights. The Florida product averages close to 14 points and seven rebounds in just over a half of playing time a game.
The Bulls will need yet another strong defensive performance from Luol Deng (18 points and eight rebounds against the Raptors) as he's facing swingman Andre Iguodala. Deng has done well against some of the best forwards in the league, including LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Gerald Wallace and Hedo Turkoglu.
Chicago guard/forward John Salmons has been off to a weak start for the season. The 29-year old shoots just 30.6% from the field and as well as 26.2% from behind the arc. The timing of the shooting slump is unfortunate, as guard Kirk Hinrich also has had some trouble hitting his shots. The seven-year pro is connecting on just 34.6% of his attempts, which includes a horrid 22.2% accuracy from three-point territory.
Overall, the Bulls backcourt of Rose, Hinrich, Salmons and Jannero Pargo has combined for 121-of-330 field goals on the season, which adds up to a shooting percentage of just 36.6%
Filed under: Game Threads
Tags: Andre Iguodala, chicago bulls, derrick rose, Elton Brand, Joakim Noah, john salmons, kirk hinrich, Luol Deng, Philadelphia 76ers, Taj Gibson
For some reason, while watching the debacle that was the Bears game on Thursday, I found my self yelling at the TV about how poorly Derrick Rose has been playing. Apparently my anger at Cutler trickled over. So, I took a step back and decided to re-evaluate things.
I've decide I'm being a bit rough on Rose. So here's my new optimistic prediction come all-star break I see no reason why he won't be averaging 19 pt. and 8/9 assists.
Where did I get these thoughts from? Well, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt that he still effected by his ankle. It may not be hurting, but I'm sure it's lessening his confidence and any time he feels a twinge he's probably being cautious. The reason I came to this decision is because something similar happened to me recently. I do quite a bit of Rock-Climbing and injured my wrist. As you can imaging the wrist is pretty important for climbing rocks. Well, my wrist is perfectly fine now, but any time I'm attempting a hard move it's in the back of my mind and if I feel a twinge I'm cautious. Obviously I'm not a world class athlete like Rose and my injury wasn't as serious so I if I'm experiencing such feelings it's only natural that he is. So hopefully with time he gets past this and he attacks the hoop with abandon.
Besides this injury his numbers are likely very hurt by his team mates. I was perusing some of the Bulls numbers and as we all know the shooting percentages for Hinrich, Salmons, and Miller are way off their career's. So, I'm thinking at some point they will regress to their averages and as a result young Rose's assist numbers will go up. I see no reason why he wouldn't get 2-3 more assists per game if 3 of the major players he's passing to start playing more like themselves. As well if they start playing better more lanes will open up and he should be able to get to the rim.
I am also hoping at some point he realizes he has to be more aggressive because he really needs to score for this team to succeed. Plus, the he really is shooting well with that jumper so if he can combine some drives and hopefully then some fouls a 4-5 pt increase seems reasonable.
So, my point I suppose it that I've decided to be a bit more optimistic and think things will improve for Dr. Rose.
Oh definitely Doug, I wasn't necessarily trying to say numbers are the ultimate goal, but I think they will be more a result. If he is more assertive and those players shoot better x and y will just happen themselves. He's at 14 and 6 with pretty average play, so it just follows that 19 and 9 would seem reasonable with a bit better play. It also seems to me that if Salmons, Hinrich, and Miller are hitting more shots it will open the lanes for Rose to make plays for Noah, Taj, and Tyrus (eventually). I suppose it follows that if everyone is playing well, than everything is easier for everyone, so I suppose it's circular logic. It's also possible those players aren't playing well because Rose doesn't really make players around him better, which we hope isn't the case. While I want to be realistic, I want to give Rose the benefit of the doubt, because when I've seen those flashes they are pretty special and I'm hoping they become a regular thing. Like I've mentioned before I share many of the worries you do, but I'm trying to be a bit sunny on this lovely Chicago morning.
I wish I lived in chicago....I have alot of family out there, and it has by far the nicest people of any big city I've been too.....Love the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox....and their deep dish pizza, I've been out there about 10 times in my life :)
Didn't Philly get dump-trucked by the Jazz last night, without Deron Williams? If the Bulls don't win this game tonight, going away, then they need to be ashamed of themselves. There is NO EXCUSE for the Bulls not to win this game by a big margin.
Go Bulls!!!
I know that because AI signed to the MLE he can't be traded, but hypothetically, AI and Stephen Hunter for John Salmons. Clears up cap space with salmons no longer able to opt in and gives us the possibility to break into the top 4 in the east (or top 4 of the lottery), got to at least think about it right?
Andre scores 30 points on his hometown team.
Neil just dropped on dime on us: You know Stacy Philly shot selection has been really poor the last 4 possessions. Their taking all these 20 footers. The thing wrong with that is no one told Neil that 3 point line isn't 20 feet away, but 23 feet 9 inches
Two points.
The Bulls need 6 or 7 players to score in double-figures in order to win. I don't think that type of style will win them a championship.
Also, there is a new PG in town or in the Central Division. That would be Brandon Jennings. Did anybody see the game he is having tonight. Right now, late in the fourth he has 41 points...WOW!!!