Nov
4
Milwaukee Bucks 78, Chicago Bulls 72
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
While getting off to a surprising and disappointing 0-3 start to the 2007-2008 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls have been a step slow on defense and had nowhere to go on offense. Simply put, the Bulls have looked awful on both ends, playing with little energy, urgency or desire as an entire team.
Last night’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks was indicative of a team struggling to find itself and develop any consistency. With the exception of a nine-minute period in the second quarter in which the Bulls’ second string held the Bucks scoreless, Chicago had defensive breakdowns throughout the second half, especially Ben Gordon, who is being run hard off screens and thus drained on the offensive end.
Beginning in New Jersey on Wednesday night, the Bulls have been unable to defend the screen and roll and contain teams from turning the corner, getting into the middle and breaking down the defense. With that said, Chicago seemed to be playing with a more concentrated defensive effort, at times, on Saturday night; yet too many mental lapses occurred.
It was as if Chicago was letting its struggles on the offensive end carry over to defense, at least in the second half. The Bulls seemed so disconcerted on offense that when they actually did score while trying to comeback in the fourth quarter, they forgot about getting back. At least two times in the fourth quarter, Milwaukee simply pushed the ball up court on one or two dribbles and fed a pass to a wide open Buck in the lane for a retaliatory score.
While people may complain about the foul shooting discrepancy that the Bulls have experienced thus far this season, the fact is that other teams are getting into the lane with much ease against Chicago. It also doesn’t help that Chicago hasn’t gotten back on defense after rushing shots on offense and that the Bulls have been unable to clear the defensive boards. Even rookie Yi Jianlian, who is not yet physical enough for the NBA, was getting offensive rebounds last night.
The Bulls – especially Kirk Hinrich, Ben Wallace and Andres Nocioni – are way too concerned with arguing to the officials about foul calls than with locking down on defense.
Offensively, the Bulls have been offensive, with the ball moving around the three point line too much without anything getting accomplished. The Bulls are too in love in with the jump shot and have been off from the field, especially Luol Deng and Hinrich.
Too many times, the Bulls offense operates 30 feet away from the basket and stagnates. Beginning with Hinrich, Chicago needs to get into the lane, break down teams and then set up the jump shot. Chris Duhon did a nice job of creating offense by attacking in the second quarter last night, but no one else on Chicago has played with this type of attitude.
All in all, the Bulls should not be panicking. However, they need to be concerned and concentrating on getting back to the basics. Stop worrying about contract extensions, Kobe rumors, the officials and whatever else may be on their minds. Just because the Bulls were a vogue pick to compete for the Eastern Conference Finals, doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen.
In simple terms, the Bulls do not have superstars who can pull the team out of the muck when struggling. Chicago needs to get back to being hungry and outworking other teams, which was not the case against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Bucks in the last two games.
For a guy who makes $15 million season, Ben Wallace needs to set the tone for this still-young team. Jumping for a rebound and acting interested on the court would help. Wallace is looking more and more like a pre-maddona “superstar” on the court, more concerned with yelling at the refs than with giving an honest effort. For a guy who’s had to work so hard to make it in the league, Wallace seems content on resting on his laurels. It is a fair question to ask whether Wallace has that hunger any more! While it’s only three games and Wallace is getting up there in age, he still should be playing with more passion.
In his fifth year, Hinrich needs to up his game rather than looking like he’s peaked. Hinrich is terribly inconsistent in running the offense. It’s been said time and time again here about Hinrich needing to forget about settling for the jumper and rather taking the ball to the rim. Hinrich is a good finisher who can cause the defense to collapse on him and ease the pressure on this team’s jump shooters. Defensively, Hinrich gives great effort but is too worried about fighting with the officials. Defend and keep your mouth shut. Let your Head Coach Scott Skiles chew out the refs. Hinrich’s reputation as a whiner is getting tiresome.
Both in their fourth years and seeking contract extensions, Deng and Gordon need to be much more consistent. This is the year that these guys were supposed to prove that they were worthy of max extensions. Deng has really struggled the last two games and seems to have lost his confidence. As for Gordon, he has been one of the few guys who has looked to create things for the stagnant offense. Yet Gordon tends to get out of control at times, leading to turnovers. But at least Gordon is playing with urgency, unlike Hinrich and Wallace.
Also in his fourth year, Nocioni is another guy who’s too concerned with the officials. Nocioni has fallen way too in love with the three. He is a much more dangerous and efficient threat when he drives to the basket, and thus opens up his jumper. He has had way too many mental lapses on the court thus far this season. While Nocioni has always been a guy who plays on the edge, he needs to control his emotions and get back to the attacking, pit bull style that endeared him to the city.
Chicago should be happy thus far with the efforts of two players, Tyrus Thomas and Joe Smith, who has been a stabilizing force off the bench and outworked all other nine players when on the court. While still raw, Thomas has played with great energy. However, Thomas is still way too out of control and should not be touching the ball outside the three point line. Get him down low and let him focus on getting offensive rebounds and put backs. He’s too dangerous at this point to have the ball in his hands. Chicago may be better served with Smith starting and letting Thomas come off the bench.
All in all, Chicago has come back from rough starts in previous years to have solid seasons. The Bulls started 0-9 in 2004-2005 before becoming the fourth seed in the East that year. The Bulls were 3-9 last year and were a fourth seed. With that said, the East is way too strong for Chicago to fall in such a deep hole. Being a fourth seed will not do it this year. Chicago needs home-court advantage for the first two rounds or will be in grave danger of being done after Round Two like last season.
It’s time for the Bulls to look in the mirror, find their soul and start playing with passion and intensity, beginning with the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night at the United Center.
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Milwaukee Bucks 78, Chicago Bulls 72
Good defense by the Milwaukee Bucks drama boys, if only we could patch up the difference, this will be a Milwaukee good season. They are running, switching in defense, rebounding see those efforts. We don’t have yet the Bucks team down.
I which I could see some Bucks games live. I was looking for tickets all the good seats on ticketmaster were taken I had to check broker. And man you don’t want to do that especially for the Milwaukee Bucks. Thanks god there sites like Ticketwood which work as comparators here is the site
Bucks Tickets
http://www.ticketwood.com/nba/Milwaukee-Bucks-Tickets.php.
I like slam dunks that take me to the hoop my favorite play is the ally-hoop,
I like the pic n roll,i like the given goal its basketball yo, yo lets go!
Go Bucks Go!!!