Bulls Win 90-79
Bulls Win 90-79
Box Score
Note- Noah did not play for the Bulls due to injury.
Game Recap/Thoughts
1st half
- Game is a battle between division leaders.
- Boston is the best passing team in the NBA- EVERYONE on the team can pass, including big men.
- Boston is a half- court team, Bulls like to run, but also can play half-court basketball.
- Boston did a great job on the boards early in the game. Bulls
started getting a lot of second chance points at end of 1st quarter.
Ended the quarter on a 10-0 run.
- Turnovers hurt the Bulls the entire game, especially in the
first half. Ended game with 21 TO’s. A lot of the TO’s were unforced.
Bulls looked sloppy most of the game.
- There is a night and day difference when Rondo comes out and
N. Robinson comes in the game for Boston. Boston needs a better back up
PG. Robinson is TO prone, shoots bad shots, and can’t defend very well.
He is out of control on offense and reaches in too much on D.
2nd half
- Boston is a veteran team and they play like a veteran team.
They are smart/poised/ and under control as a team. When the Bulls would
go on a run, the Celtics would not panic. A lot of this can be
attributed to Rondo.
- Coach Rivers should have given more minutes to L. Harangody in the 3rd quarter. Glenn Davis did not have one of his best games.
- The Bulls crowd started shouting “MVP” when D. Rose was at the FT line in the 3rd quarter.
- The Bulls did a poor job of defending Davis on the perimeter.
They went for his shot fake multiple times, even though Davis had missed
the 15’ jumper all night, allowing Davis to get to the rim and draw the
foul.
- Big win for the Bulls ending a 2 game losing streak to 2 non-playoff teams.
- Bulls got the win because they knocked down open perimeter
shots off great ball movement in the 4th and they protected the paint.
- Celtics lost because of the inability to guard the P/R with
Shaq in the game and they turned the ball over on crucial possessions at
end of game.
Scouting Reports
Bulls
Derrick Rose (38 min, 10-19 FG, 15-19 FT, 5 reb, 4 TO’s, 36 TP)
Strengths- Strong/athletic/Explosive PG. Slashes to the rim hard and
finishes strong. Protects ball well when attacking the basket. Showed an
improved jump shot- has ability to shoot pull up off screen and roll
situations. Good FT shooter and gets to the line a lot b/c he attacks
the rim. Has an unusual 1 handed floater/pull up shot that he along
baseline. He shoots it when he is off balance, but he hits it with
surprising effenciency. Well conditioned player- played almost the
entire game, but never seemed to slow down or lose speed or momentum.
Weaknesses- TO prone- jumps in the air to make passes most of the
time. Forces the issue at times- shoots bad shots- plays out of control
at times. Needs to continue to work on 3 pointer and show that he can
hit it consistently.
Overview- One of Rose’s best games of the season. Rose has improved
every year and continues to establish himself as an elite PG in the NBA.
Celtics
Ray Allen (39 min, 7-13 FG, 3-5 3pt, 4 reb, 19 TP)
Strengths- Knock down shooter- who can hit the set 3, the set
midrange, and has the ability to come off screens and shoot- very quick
release. Underrated passer despite his 0 assists. Is a good defender
especially against another shooter- shut down Kyle Korver this game.
Weaknesses- Needs to do a better job of finishing with contact at the
rim. Has a tough time of creating his own shot against a good defender.
Overview- Allen shows game in and game out why he is the leader of 3
pointers made amongst active players. Defenders respect his shot so
much, that Allen is able to get to the rim in a couple of dribbles
because the defense plays so tight on him. Does not get the credit he
deserves of being a solid overall basketball player who really knows the
game, because of legendary shooting ability.
Rajon Rondo (37 min, 6-14 FG, 5 reb, 8 assist, 5 st, 13 TP)
Strengths- Changes speeds very well. Showed a nice touch on up and
under lay ups and had a nice left hand finish over the defense. Great
passer- if someone is even remotely open, they will get the ball.
Poised, under control, a great leader. He seems to never be rushed or in
a hurry. A true PG- he does a great job of directing traffic and
directing the offense- making sure that guys are in the right spots to
run the play. A true quarterback on the court. Does not rush his jump
shot- good form- he knocked down a few 17’. Very quick hands on defense.
Smart player and defender.
Weaknesses- Some times over penetrates and gets his lay up blocked.
Needs to do a better job of getting over/ fighting around screens and
overall P/R defense. Needs to continue to extend range of jump shot. Did
knock down a couple of jumpers, but needs to make it consistent so the
defense will respect it.
Overview- May be the best pure PG in the NBA this side of a healthy
Steve Nash. Is like another coach on the floor. Directs the offense and
is not afraid to tell fellow future Hall of Famer teammates where to go
and what to do. People have been saying for years that if Rondo could
develop a decent jump shot, he would be an all-star level PG. Well I am
saying he is already an elite PG with out a shot, once he improves his
midrange- he will undoubtedly be the best PG in the league.
Luke Harangody (13 min, 0-1 FG, 2 reb, 0 TP)
Strengths- He didn’t necessarily fill up the box score but this was a
solid showing for the rookie out of Notre Dame. Strong and physical
player. Very good rebounder who boxes out well. Is not very athletic but
makes up for it with toughness. Is a good defender, who hedges screens
well to stop the ball handler from turning the corner and then gets back
to his man quickly. Hustle player who gives 110% on every play. Has a
low release on his jumper and shoots it from the side of his head, but
he showed this summer that he can shoot and has 3 pt range. Moves his
feet well for his size.
Weaknesses- Needs to be more of a threat on offense. Had a rookie
mistake at the end of the 3rd quarter- passed the ball when the shot
clock was at 1, when he should of shot.
Overview- Very smart player. I thought he deserved more minutes this
game. Was coming off his first double-double the night before in a win
over Toronto. Even the Celtics like him, Coach Rivers minutes for the
rookie have been erratic. Minutes are soon going to be hard to come by
when Perkins and Garnett come back from injury. I believe Harangody will
become a good player in this league. Reminds me of other players who
are not the greatest athletes, but have found ways to be effective in
the NBA because of heart, hustle, rebounding, defense, and strength.
Such players include ex-Celtic Leon Powe, current Celtic Glenn Davis
(who eats a lot of his minutes) Dejuan Blair, and Paul Millsap.
