Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011
Posted 9:30 p.m.Updated 11:46 p.m.
By Aggrey Sam
CSNChicago.com
With their superstar still ailing, the Bulls didnt miss a beat Saturday night.
Although they again allowed an inferior opponent to stick around three quarter, a huge fourth-quarter push increased Chicagos current winning streak to five games, as they knocked off the visiting Indiana Pacers, 110-89.
It was a victory with equal parts unselfish offense, stout defense when it mattered and enough out of Bulls stars and supporting-cast members alike. In the grand scheme of things, casual observers may consider it just another win against subpar competitionespecially after beating fellow Eastern Conference contender Orlando the previous eveningbut to the game-by-game Bulls, it was much more significant.
WATCH: Ronnie Brewer posterizes a Pacer
When you look at your season, this game had just as much value as last nights game. The perception is last night was a big game, said Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau. Well, tonight is big. It counts just as much.
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A looming subplot entering the contest was the health of All-Star point guard Derrick Rose. Rose (20 points, seven assists), whos suffering from stomach ulcers, had a quiet first halfjust five points on 1-for-7 shootingbut exploded after the intermission, hitting his first four shot attempts (all jumpers off the dribble), then taking over the game for a stretch in the final stanza.
I took it easy in the first half and in the second half, I just tried to be aggressive, taking shots they were giving me and they were just falling, said Rose, who admitted he felt sore afterwards. Theres nothing to complain about. Everybodys feeling good, were winning and were just trying to keep this thing going.
We won. Thats the biggest thing. Theres nothing to say about it, continued Rose, who hasnt eaten a solid meal in days. Get these wins out of the way now, rest up and hopefully get better.
Although the Bulls start to the contest wasnt exactly crispthey didnt shoot the ball proficiently at the outset and allowed Pacers power forward Josh McRoberts (20 points, eight rebounds) to score seven of Indianas first nine pointssolid defense permitted them to take a slim lead over their divisional rivals.
However, Chicagos balanced offensive approach couldnt withstand the Pacers perimeter-oriented attack, as starting wings Danny Granger (17 points, six rebounds) and Mike Dunleavy (13 points) wreaked havoc from the outside.
In fact, the visitors went on to build a slight cushion, as point guard Darren Collisons (11 points, eight assists) playmaking and the ability to spread the Bulls defensethen attack by either bombing away from deep or efficiently slashing to the rimbut the lethargic home team made a late rally, fueled by Luol Dengs (19 points, eight assists, six rebounds) aggressive start to the contest, to cut the deficit to 27-25 at the conclusion of the opening period.
With Granger, Indianas leading scorer, paired with the Pacers second unit against his counterpart, Deng, and the Bulls reserves, both teams essentially canceled each other out at the start of the second quarter, with their respective small forwards carrying the offensive burdens.
That even nature of the close-knit affair took a turn toward the Bulls favor upon Carlos Boozers (24 points, 10 rebounds, four assists) reinsertion to the contest. Aside from his typical low-post scoring and rebounding contributions, Boozers passinghe got reserve sharpshooter Kyle Korver (16 points) going with a kick-out pass that led to a three-pointer; Korver scored on two more trips soon afterwards, including a rarely-seen drive on the baseline that was finished with a nifty reverse layupalso benefited his teammates.
When hes shooting like that, it opens so many screens for us, praised Thibodeau. He played such a terrific game. it looks like hes getting his legs under him again.
Indiana hung around, however, buoyed by the play of backup point guard A.J. Price (12 points), but after both squads filtered their regulars back into the contest, Chicago took command, rattling off eight uncontested points before Pacers head coach Jim OBrien attempted to put a halt to the onslaught with a timeout.
Whatever instructions were meted out appeared to have been followedthe Bulls ragged play certainly helped the visitors causeas Indiana battled back before the half and Chicagos lead evaporated to a 55-51 winning margin at the break.
After halftime, Rose began to assert himself as a scorer. Indiana countered by going to McRoberts, whose activity, athleticism and energetic play on the interior gave Chicago fits, prompting Thibodeau to put a temporary cease to the proceedings.
The remainder of the period was evenly playedthe insertion of Taj Gibson (four points, seven rebounds) improved the Bulls defensive effortand after a Rose three-pointer just before the third-quarter buzzer, Chicago entered the final frame with a 77-72 lead.
Rose came out like gangbusters in the fourth quarter, wowing the United Center crowd with two early scores before giving way to backup point guard C.J. Watson for a breather.
It just shows you the type of competitor he is. Hes our leader, hes our MVP this year. Hes been doing it all for us, night in and night out. We expected him to be out there tonight, veteran Kurt Thomas told CSNChicago.com. I wasnt concerned at all. I felt he was going to do what he needed to do to get his mind right and get his body right before the game.
Added Rose: I like pressure. If anything, it makes me play harder and makes me perform better.
Additionally, Dengs strong all-around play persisted, as he mixed inside and outside scoring, a solid effort on the boards, nice playmaking from the wing and tough defense on Granger, all aiding Chicago in putting Indiana in a double-digit hole.
A downer for the Bulls came when Gibson, after stepping on teammate Ronnie Brewers (eight points, five rebounds) foot, appeared rolled his right ankle. Gibson writhed in pain on the court before being helped uphe seemingly couldnt put weight on the injured ankle and needed assistance to walk off the floorand headed directly to the locker room early in the period.
WATCH: Gibson discusses ankle injury
I just remember Granger cutting down the lane, I went to help and I dont know if it was just me or if I tripped over somebodys foot. My foot just came injust twisted inthe same injury from before, earlier this season. I just went down, recounted Gibson, who told reporters an X-ray on his ankle came up negative and was diagnosed as a sprain.
I thought it was pretty serious because it was the same exact spotsame exact place I turned it a couple months backand the pain was way worse than what happened last time I did turn my ankle. I was a little scared and at first, I couldnt put pressure on it. I was nervous.
Korver returned to the contest and added to the home teams momentum by draining two jumpers and while the Bulls werent efficient, they played stifling defense against the Pacers.
However, it was Brewers powerful, two-handed flush over McRobertsplus the foulthat blew the game open even wider and resulted in the unraveling of the Pacers.
WATCH: Brewer describes dunk
Deng dropped it off to me, McRoberts jumped and I got the and-one. It was a good play, it was good that the crowd got into it and I was happy I made the free throw, said Brewer, who was exuberant after the spectacular dunk. I think I over-celebrated, but I think I was in the heat of the moment.
McRoberts was assessed a technical foul following the ensuing free throw for shoving Boozer while jostling for the rebound. Then, OBrien received his second technical of the contest and was ejected.
After defeating the Pacers, Bulls players gave credit to head coach Tom Thibodeau for making sure they focus on the task at hand; meanwhile, Thibodeau admitted he doesn't even know what the Bulls record currently is. (AP)
Chicago went to Boozer to seal the deal, but the gap was large enough that Thibodeau elect to use reserve forward Brian Scalabrine, a fan favorite whose appearance brought delight to the fans.
In addition to their prize of Big Macs for the Bulls reaching triple digits, the crowd also received another treat: Chicago maintaining their dominance at home.
With the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls will head into a five-game West Coast road trip next week, starting with a reunion with former coach Vinny Del Negro Wednesday in Los Angeles. Similar to Saturday night, the plan is for the team to not look past any opponent.
Our confidence is high. Any game we go into, we expect to win. Most of the time, were not worried about opponents; were just worried about what to do. Its all about us and thats a winning attitude, Deng told CSNChicago.com. Coachs challenge is getting us fired up and our challengethe captains and as a teamis to be ready for the game. Coach has been doing a good job preparing us, making sure every theres a reason and we havent really relaxed yet. Thats how you win and thats how were winning.
Added Thomas: All were focusing on is the Clippers. Thats our next game, thats our next opponentI know you hear it all the time, but thats been our mentality all year.
Aggrey Sam is CSNChicago.com's Bulls Insider. Follow him @CSNBullsInsider on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bulls information and his take on the team, the NBA and much more.