Nov
2
Philadelphia 76ers 96, Chicago Bulls 85
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
What is it with these recent Chicago Bulls teams getting off to such slow starts under Head Coach Scott Skiles? The Bulls were outworked, outhustled, outrebounded, outeverythinged tonight during a very discouraging 96-85 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, a less-talented team that played with more determination and heart than Chicago. It was that simple.
Like the New Jersey game on Wednesday night, Chicago (0-2) came out sleepwalking once again. The offense failed to, as John Wooden once said, be quick but not hurry.
Chicago’s lack of assertiveness on offense was matched by a lack of interest on defense as the 76ers, especially point guard Andre Miller and small forward Andre Iguodala, got to the lane all night long and pushed the issue on the fast break. Sixers big men Samuel Dalembert, Reggie Evans and rookie Jason Smith killed Ben Wallace and the Bulls on the boards as Philadelphia (1-1) extended possessions all night long.
The Sixers consequently led by eight to ten points from the end of the first quarter throughout the rest of the game.
When did Chicago, a squad full of hustlers that is not as talented as other teams in the league, think that it could turn it on and off whenever they want? The Bulls made some frantic runs in the fourth quarter, cutting the game to 82-20 on an Andres Nocioni three-pointer. However, like the New Jersey game in which Chicago rallied only to stagnate, the same thing happened tonight. Philly closed the game on a 14-5 run as the Bulls couldn’t contain the dribble drive or control the boards, and were thus deservedly booed off the court.
Chicago has now lost eight of its last 10 home openers. What should have been an easy win turned out to be a pathetic loss. No offense to Philadelphia, which outplayed the Bulls, but Chicago would have one with a more focused effort.
Player of the Game: This award should go to the whole Philadelphia team, from Dalembert and Evans controlling the boards to Miller setting the tone and embarrassing Hinrich throughout the first quarter to Iguodala nearly notching a triple-double (22 points, 10 rebounds, six assists). Iguodala gets the nod for shutting down Luol Deng on defense all night. Despite a few flashes in the fourth quarter, Deng was awful tonight as Iguodala got into this body on defense and wore out the Bulls small forward on offense.
Grading the Bulls
Kirk Hinrich F : Hinrich’s play is becoming very disturbing. When this kid was a rookie, he attacked the rim. Now he dribbles the ball 30 feet away from the basket and does not get Chicago into his offense. He’s becoming more and more like the bad parts of Chauncey Billups. As a point guard, Hinrich needs to get the offense moving. He failed to do so and only started to play with urgency until the fourth quarter. Don’t be fooled by Hinrich’s final line of eight assists. He did nothing tonight.
While Hinrich sent a tone of malaise for the Bulls offense, Miller set an aggressive one for the Sixers, killing Hinrich from the first quarter on. Hinrich could not contain Miller from getting into the lane, and the former Utah Utes’ guard deftly used his body to create separation and score. All in all, Hinrich played like a dog tonight.
Ben Gordon B- : Tyrus Thomas and Gordon kept Chicago in the game through three quarters. Gordon finished with 25 points on 9-of-18 shots and was a rock in the first half. However, he did nothing again in the fourth quarter. He lost his rhythm and began turning the ball over while trying to rush things. But at least Gordon was urgent and looking to do something.. Like the New Jersey game, Chicago wouldn’t have been in it tonight without Gordon. While Gordon turns the ball over a lot, how is this guy deemed so expendable while Hinrich is considered an untouchable?
Luol Deng F : As bad of a game as Deng as played in a long time. Deng never got involved on offense in the first quarter as Chicago questionably tried to run plays for Thomas on the first couple of possessions. Deng was embarrassed on both ends by Iguodala. Deng had one of those nights when he couldn’t do anything right, missing chippies and gimmies at the basket. He tried to propel the Bulls in the fourth quarter but just didn’t have it, as his 10 point and four rebound performance showed.
Tyrus Thomas A- : While still out of control and a liability on the court late in the game with his propensity to rush things, Thomas played an outstanding game tonight. After being timid and looking to draw contact down low against New Jersey, Thomas let his athleticism take over in the first half as he worked the offensive boards and relied on his amazing jumping ability to slam the ball through the hoop. Thomas had 12 points and 10 rebounds at the half, and showed his mid-range jumper tonight, hitting three such shots.
Thomas was the only Bull who played with energy on both ends of the court throughout. However, he is still so raw that his energy does not always translate into productivity. With that said, take away Thomas’ 21 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks and the Bulls would have been done way earlier tonight. If Thomas plays with this passion and energy and is able to harness his wild ways and become more consistent on the court this year, he can be a real difference-maker, that is if his fellow starters in the frontcourt and point guard teammate show up.
Ben Wallace F : “Big” Ben had four rebounds in 24 minutes and didn’t even start to attack the glass until the start of the fourth quarter. Wallace got dominated on the glass by Dalembert and Evans, and has looked very old thus far this season. Where’s the passion at from Wallace? It’s still early but Ben Wallace earned his big contract by playing hard all the time. Unfortunately, Wallace doesn’t do that all the time anymore.
Chris Duhon D : Typical Chris Duhon tonight. He was brilliant on Wednesday night and erratic tonight. This guy plays too high and then too low. He’s not the answer at the backup point guard position. Chicago desperately needs a veteran guard who can steady the ship off the bench.
Andres Nocioni C- : Yet another uneven Nocioni game. Nocioni is a great shooter but he settles too much for his outside shot. When he attacks the rim, he is tough to stop. Nocioni did this at times tonight but then fell in love with the three. He has not played a heady game since the Heat playoff series.
Scott Skiles C+ : Skiles looked at a loss for answers for his team’s lackadaisical attitude and could be heard at one point in the fourth screaming at Hinrich to get the offense going. Only complaint with Skiles lies in his benching of Thabo Sefalosha tonight. Sefalosha made some bone-headed mistakes in New Jersey, but maybe he could have sparked the Bulls with his typical defensive intensity early?
Overall: While not a must-win tomorrow night in Milwaukee, Chicago better play as if it is. Chicago’s schedule features teams like Detroit, Toronto and the Raptors in the next couple of weeks and falling into a deep hole in the next couple of games would be ominous. The East is much stronger, and the Bulls would be foolish to think that something like a 3-9 start last year will suffice in 2007-2008.
It’s still early in the season, and the Bulls are notoriously slow starters. With that said, this team did not look good in the preseason on defense and has been atrocious thus far at this so-called “staple.” Chicago’s going to have to grind out a victory tomorrow night.
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Philadelphia 76ers 96, Chicago Bulls 85
Good defense by the Philadelphia 76ers drama boys, if only we could patch up the difference, this will be a Philadelphia good season. They are running, switching in defense, rebounding see those efforts. We don’t have yet the 76ers team down.
I which I could see some 76ers 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 Philadelphia 76ers. Thanks god there sites like Ticketwood which work as comparators here is the site
76ers Tickets
http://www.ticketwood.com/nba/Philadelphia-76ers-Tickets/index.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 76ers Go!!!