Thibs looks how I feel. (Via AP)
The Bulls needed to come out of the gates running after the Pacers damn near beat them in Game 1, but once again they fell flat. Game 2 was not nearly the atrocious exercise in basic basketball skills that Game 1 was, but it was still way too close for comfort against a team that finished with 37 wins and didn’t have their #2 player for half the game.
Much like Game 1, the second match-up in this series was perpetuated by far too many cons and not enough pros. Let’s break it down.
Stupid Fouls
While the epitomy of this point was Boozer’s attempted tackle in the fourth quarter in the final minutes in Game 1, the Bulls had more than their fair share of fouls this game. Some of them were warranted, some weren’t. The officiating in the last two games was scandalously awful. A lot of technicals were tossed around, including a double-T on Boozer/Hansborough. Unless you’re ready to throw down like Deng in Game 1, you need to adhere to the Thibs form of play and shut up.
Turnovers
The number of god-awful passes in the first two games rivaled a match-up between two ‘B’ teams made of up grade schoolers. It isn’t even just a matter of turning over the ball; I understand that happens. The amount of turnovers as a result of sheer sloppy ball handling was an outright embarrassment: There was distinct facepalm-worthy passes in all but the second quarter (and I could come up with one in that quarter if I tried). First quarter was Noah trying to dish it to Boozer through two defenders. Third quarter was Deng passing to Rose while Rose was running the opposite way. Ronnie Brewer literally handing the ball off to a defender in the fourth. 21 turnovers is flat unacceptable for a 62-20 team.
Poor, Poor Shooting
Shoot like shit and you aren’t going to build a lead. The Bulls finished tonight shooting 38% (versus 48% in the regular season). Even with as many offensive boards as the Bulls are pulling in, they are not capitalizing on those second shot opportunities and that is represented by just how damn close these games have been.
Weak Bench
Derrick Rose is an MVP but we cannot rely on him to play Our Savior Jesus Christ every game. Yeah the MVP chants are great, the Stacey King one liners are hilarious and the epic plays will make for a great highlight reel but the Bulls would have been dead in the water against an eighth seed team if Rose was anything short of his stellar self.
I do have to give credit where credit is due, mainly Korver’s huge treys in each game and Gibson’s solid but not great defense.
Korver's Killaz
Breaking the D Rose Double Team
Pacers are hitting D Rose with a double team early in possessions and only in clutch situations; as a result they are finding some success in cutting him off. I really can’t remember any time during the regular season where the double team has been a problem but too often Derrick is being cut off from the rest of his team this series. Exhibit A:
What is happening here?!
Derrick Rose is pinned at the halfcourt line and all his teammates are south of the free throw line. He managed to break out of the trap but this is NOT a position you want to be in.
Joakim Noah
Mark my words, he is going to be a liability further down the road. If there is one point of derailment for this team (besides the general shittiness they’ve displayed this series) it is here. He played ten minutes less than Rose; he can’t keep disappearing for entire quarters at a time. His six offensive rebounds were phenomenal but only four points? It’s not even something that can be chalked up to his injuries. There really is no solution for this problem beyond Noah simply getting his swag back.
Other Random Thoughts
- How the hell did Korver rack up five fouls?
- As a recent victim of a ‘fucked up ankle’ (official diagnosis) I sympathize for Darren Collison and hope he gets better soon
- The officiating in the first two games has truly been something awful
- Bulls pulled down 57 rebounds in Game 2
- Luol Deng game 1 clutch with the technical + crowd rally, game 2 clutch by nailing 2 free throws with 17 seconds left
- If the Bulls get their act together and make a good playoff run, Derrick Rose is going to average 40 points per game
- Asik is just not playoff material
- Bulls are actually one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the league (beyond Rose’s 86% in the regular season) but when it comes to the clutch they never miss
