Wizards Again Show How to Handle Bulls

January 15, 2015 @ admin → No Comments

Derrick Rose had a good game Wednesday night. The Washington Wizards had a better one. So despite Rose’s game-high 32 points, the Bulls lost 105-99 at the United Center.

Video below of model Jordan Van Der Vyver.

* If it’s any consolation to Bulls fans (and the guess here is that it might be to some), Rose’s point total was a season high. And he was 6-of-9 from three-point range. And he had a career-high 17 first-quarter points. And he made a shot from half-court to end the first quarter. And … yeah, maybe not a lot of consolation there. Especially when the Wizards have beaten the Bulls twice in the last week.

* Bulls guard Jimmy Butler went 3-for-10 from the field in scoring 13 points. Meaning once more his march toward the basketball hall of fame and/or a max contract next season took a step or so backward. Butler’s recent performances are curious, although his ability to play defense will keep Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau from becoming totally furious. Something says Butler can play at a star level but not all the time. Not sure if that’s a reflection of his ability or of the inability to function at a star level when Rose is dominating the offense.

* Speaking of scoring, the Bulls were 13-of-27 from three-point range on a night when they were 34-of-79 overall shooting. Meaning they were 48.1 percent on their three-point tries and 40 percent (21-of-52) on two-pointers. Leading to the logical conclusion that the next time the Bulls play Washington, they should take only three-point attempts (and, yes, I did take a logic class on college and passed somehow).

* Bulls center Joakim Noah injured his right ankle in the closing seconds of the first half and did not play after that. He left the United Center in a walking cast. Meaning he is likely to be out of the team’s playing cast for a while. Not exactly the way the Bulls might have wanted him to take some time off.

* Yes, the Bulls have lost four of their last five games. Once again demonstrating how much the absence of forward Mike Dunleavy (sidelined by injury the last seven contests) hurts the team. Or something like that. Actually it’s more like the absence of defense at times that really has hurt the Bulls.

* As has been noted, the key to the Bulls’ season will be their health when the playoffs come around. Which is what makes the regular season mostly a tuneup for all that. Even so, it’s difficult to watch a team fail to be as cohesive or as good as it should be. Then again, it could be worse. You could be a Cleveland Cavaliers fan.

* If it’s Thursday (which seems likely in that yesterday was Wednesday — provided that you are reading this on Jan. 15, 2015, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time for another edition of “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. Despite what was printed in this space Wednesday, the guest for Thursday’s show is former college football coach Jackie Sherrill. The interview also will be available on podcast later in the day Thursday (and presumably forever, if not longer) at the Talkzone.com web site. If things go according to plan (which they occasionally do around here and elsewhere), the interview with Charley Winner will be on the Jan. 22 program.

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Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the enlightened efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):