Looking Good

The up and down season for the Bulls is in the midst of an upturn lately. They have beaten Cleveland away, Washington @ home, and just lost away to Detroit today. With the trading deadline passed and the Bulls roster settled for the rest of the season, playing well against possible playoff opponents is very important. And winning games, especially with the question around the health of Andres Nocioni for the rest of the year, takes on added importance if the team is to get a high seed. On Friday I was able to attend the game against the Wizards, and the Bulls looked pretty good. It was a good match up in looking forward to the playoffs: Washington had the second seed in the Eastern conference @ game time.

I went with my girlfriend, nieces #1 and #2, and two of #2’s frenz. Although they all wanted the home team to win, it was fairly obvious that only #1 and I could name even one player on the team. What did that matter to them? Modern N.B.A. games are crammed with bingo games, the LovaBulls, and t-shirts launched like R.P.G.’s to the upper accesses of the stadium. Remember when you could go to a game in Chicago and just hear to organ @ the old Stadium or famous Nancy Faust teaming with Harry @ old Comisky? The lengthening of t.v. commercials and the destruction of the modern attention span means that we are stuck with these distractions during all pro games. So, along with the five ladies I was with, cheered along trying to win Bulls Bingo (I'm sure the fix is in-never won), rooted for #1 in the bottled water race, and gloried when the bulls finally hit 100 points: FREE BIG MACS !!! I must admit, it made the game for 2/3ds of my crew, but I do miss those non televised high school games where a 20 second time out actually is 20 seconds.

The game, you ask? So, the Bulls looked good against the #2 team in the conference?

They did. Not great, but they got it done. Throughout the game, the offense consistently moved the ball around and found the open man. However, the Bulls could not hit the net consistently through the first half. It was frustrating to watch the ball get to a wide open player only to see the shot miss time and time again. The notion that the Bulls needed to address their offense deficiencies was squarely in my mind throughout the first 24m.

Despite the shitty shooting, the Bulls were leading by five @ the half and seemed the better team. It was, as always, the defense that kept the Bulls on top of the game. The Wizards had some nice shooting in the first half, but they were also forced into several 24 second shot violations and had other hurried shots forced upon them. Ben Wallace typified the smothering defense of the Bulls. He was able to chop the ball out of a Wizards players hands for a steal and then later track down and break up a court-long pass cornerback style. He also had 12 boards.

With Nocioni possibly out for the year, the rest of the team will have to replace his energetic in-your-face effectiveness. Coach Scott Skiles has indicated that Malik Allen, and to a lesser extent Tyrus Thomas, will get expanded minutes. Ten Bulls played tonight. Another player seemingly destined to get more playing time (18m tonight), P.J. Brown, disappointed. Twice I noticed him slacking to loose balls that seemed within his reach. Both times he refused to put his body in between the ball and the opposing player. Anything but hustle, it seems. He played less in the second half.

The second half showed the Bulls shooting better and clamping down on D. The Bulls, @ one point leading by 14 points, survived several questionable referee calls (Chris Duhon was tossed in a scramble for the ball that totally looked 50/50) and a Washington run to close the third quarter that cut the Bulls lead to three points. However, that was it for Washington. The Bulls asserted themselves in the first three minutes of the fourth and kept the game in their grip for the remaining time.

Player of the game? Luol Deng continued with his outstanding play of late with a career high 32 points to go with 11 boards. Captain Kirk closed on a triple double (14p, 12a, 8r) and looked great running the offense. But the player who kept riling up the home crowd was Washington star Gilbert Arenas. He finished with 36 points and @ one point had 18 straight points for Washington.

So, which way are the Bulls going? Going up, going up? Maybe. The conference can be there for the taking. Miami just got Shaq back, but now Wade is hobbled and the team is @ .500. The Bulls had a good lead in Detroit yesterday, but couldn't make it stick. As I write, I can see the Bulls maybe making it to the second round this year-anything less I feel would be a disappointment. However, I'm guessing that the Bulls will have another year to grow and add another player in the off season. Bit by bit seems to be the word on this model of Chicago bulls.