Archive for March, 2014
Posted on Mar 31
It’s about two minutes left in a tough game, the score tied. It’s called different things in different places. Pat Riley called it ‘Winnin’ Time. The Celtics knew it as a Larry Legend Moment.
For these Bulls, who defeated the Boston Celtics Sunday 107-102, it’s just another D.J. Save.
“He’s meant a little bit,” Joakim Noah deadpanned in a vibrant …
Posted on Mar 29
Surprisingly, Bulls players were not huddled around the radio late Friday night after the dispiriting 91-74 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Joakim Noah, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, sat for a long time in his locker stall staring ahead. Jimmy Butler quietly picked at his cell phone. Taj Gibson dressed quickly, pulled on a bright …
Posted on Mar 28
Playing without LaMarcus Aldridge, who had missed seven consecutive games with a low back contusion, the Portland Trail Blazers were starting to struggle.
Though still fifth in the Western Conference standings, Portland had gone 3-8 in its last 11 games and was only a few games from falling outside of the playoff picture.
On Thursday, however, Aldridge returned to record …
Posted on Mar 27
There’s been a buzz lately around the Bulls and the NBA that Taj Gibson should be a strong candidate to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
And, indeed, he deserves to be among the leaders, if not the winner.
TNT broadcaster Steve Kerr suggested it during a Bulls national broadcast last month. And Gibson admitted earlier this …
Posted on Mar 26
The Chicago Bulls are on the verge of clinching a spot in the 2014 NBA Playoffs.
And while that moment could happen in the next day or two, don’t expect a great deal of celebration from the Bulls, who see it as another step in a long process.
Though as Taj Gibson admitted, it would be fun to go crazy …
Posted on Mar 25
Kirk Hinrich suffers in silence. But you knew he was suffering.
“I felt like I had a good rhythm on my shot,” Hinrich way saying late Monday night after his third quarter shooting and scoring that was crucial in the Bulls’ 89-77 win over the Indiana Pacers. “I wanted to come out in the second half and be aggressive. Coming …
Posted on Mar 25
The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are supposed to be in the Eastern Conference finals this season. Everyone knows it, right? It’s all we’ve heard all season about that weak Eastern Conference; get the regular season over with so one of them will have home court advantage for that seventh game.
Well, the Bulls with Monday’s dominant 89-77 victory over …
Posted on Mar 24
Tom Thibodeau is a coach who wants his team playing its best as the postseason approaches.
That’s certainly been the case with Bulls guard Jimmy Butler, who has averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.29 steals in 41.9 minutes in his last 14 games.
And while Butler has come around offensively, it’s his efforts on the other end …
Posted on Mar 23
The Bulls Saturday defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 91-81 in a significant kind of game. And, no, not because of the 76ers’ 24th consecutive loss, the second longest losing streak in NBA history.
It was yet another game that a Bulls’ team with nascent playoff aspirations was once again outplayed physically, on the boards, for loose balls and generally outhustled.
Moving …
Posted on Mar 22
The Bulls made a Chicago type statement Friday in their 91-79 loss to the Indiana Pacers. It was a Cubs-like paraphrase to, “Wait until next time.”
For the Bulls, next time comes Monday at the United Center. Though the Bulls will have to be a lot better if they hope to even the season series because the only reason they …