See Red? See Derrick. See Derrick Sit

April 23, 2013 @ admin → No Comments

Random thoughts while wondering whether Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will wear red (civilian attire) for Game 3 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday (April 25):

* So if the Bulls, who evened their best-of-seven series Monday, win their home game, they will advance to the second round. Meaning the challenge for Rose will be to come up with outfits other than the ones he wore for the first round. Of course, he wouldn’t have that problem if he was in uniform.

* The Bulls’ 90-82 Game 2 victory at Brooklyn featured three Bulls in double figures: Luol Deng (15 points, 10 rebounds), Carlos Boozer (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Joakim Noah (11 points, 10 rebounds). Boozer’s and Deng’s double-doubles each came in 42 minutes on the court and Noah’s in only 25. Maybe the foot injury limiting Noah’s playing time will work to the Bulls’ benefit — assuming he is fit enough to give the Nets fits.

* Expecting Brooklyn’s Deron Williams to go 1-for-9 from the field and Joe Johnson 6-for-18 in Game 3 as they did in Game 2 might be unrealistic. Probably because the Bulls should do a better job of cutting down on Johnson’s attempts.

* Bulls shooting guard Richard “Rip” Hamilton should be well-rested for Game 3 after sitting out Game 2. Wondering whether we have seen the last of him in this series.

Let this photo of some Brooklyn Nets dancers serve as consolation to Nets fans.

* So the Cubs lost to the Reds 5-4 in Cincinnati in 13 innings as Michael Bowden gave up three runs in the 13th. It’s not so much the Cubs are finding new ways to lose as it is they are finding new players to do it. The Cubs have recorded three saves this season and five blown saves (all by different pitchers) with the latest coming Monday in the person of James Russell. Others Cubs with blown saves: Bowden, Shawn Camp, Kyuji Fujikawa and Carlos Marmol.

* Speaking of Marmol, he pitched two scoreless innings of relief and Kevin Gregg one. That very well could be the only time this season that you will see that in the same game — win or lose.

* Speaking of blown saves, White Sox left-hander Matt Thornton had his first of the season in a 3-2 loss to the visiting Cleveland Indians — thanks in part to his own throwing error on an attempted pickoff. And speaking of pickoffs, there’s Blake Tekotte, who entered the game in the seventh inning as a pinch runner for catcher Hector Gimenez and was picked off second base with two runners on and no one out. This would be the 2013 Sox’ definition of a team effort.

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Richie Havens died Monday. He was 72. Not a sports figure. But one of the joys of having your own web site is being able to run pretty much anything you want. Havens was an incredibly talented singer/musician whose work resonated especially with those familiar with the 1969 music gathering Woodstock. May he rest in peace knowing his music will live on.