Despite 11 Rose Turnovers, Bulls Win in OT

January 28, 2015 @ admin → No Comments

Midweek musings: Derrick Rose made a jumper on the Chicago Bulls’ final possession; Klay Thompson missed a relatively easy shot (for him) on the Golden State Warriors’ final possession. The result: Bulls 113, Warriors 111 in overtime Tuesday in Oakland, Calif. And so ends Golden State’s record home-winning streak at 19 games. Bizarre doesn’t begin to describe the game.

Video below of model Jayden Robinson.

* Rose finished with 30 points, 11 turnovers and one assist (on a Kirk Hinrich three-point basket that could have ended the game in regulation, if the Bulls had been able to stop the Warriors in the final seconds of regulation. Rose missed 20 — count ‘em, 20 — field-goal attempts. The rest of the starting lineup (which went 19-for-40). Meaning the four others missed one more shot combined than Rose did by himself. The Bulls had 21 turnovers. Meaning the rest of the team other than Rose combined for 10. Not exactly a stellar performance by Rose. Unless perhaps in the eyes of some adoring fans and/or Chicago media.

* Speaking of Rose, he is the first player in NBA history to have at least 30 points, 10 turnovers and one or fewer assists in a game. Mainly because players who have that many turnovers end up on the bench and don’t come close to scoring at least 30 points.

* As longtime sports scribe Jim O’Donnell pointed out on Twitter, Pau Gasol (18 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks) and Joakim Noah (18 points, 15 rebounds, six assists) were the keys for the Bulls.

* Rose did lead the Bulls in minutes played — 43 — his most since the 2012 postseason. To gain an idea of how he holds up to playing that much, tune in Thursday to see how he does against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

* Beating the Warriors is noteworthy. Whether it is meaningful is for greater minds than your humble correspondent’s to figure out. Golden State’s dynamic backcourt duo of Stephen Curry and Thompson had an off night, even if Thompson did score 30 and Curry 21. Curry was 9-of-23 from the field (2-of-9 three-pointers) and Thompson was 13-of-27 (4-OF-10 three-pointers). The Bulls were without Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy. The Warriors were without center Andrew Bogut. Something says both teams would like a rematch at full strength — in the NBA Finals.

* In killing time before the Bulls-Warriors game, I wandered the cable TV landscape and come across the MLB Network program “MLB Network Presents.” Its description? “The Offseason: Hope in Chicago and Miami ” — Bob Costas goes outside the white lines to explore some of the top stories in baseball history, including inspiring tales of comradery. Comradery? Huh? Maybe camaraderie? Spelling apparently no longer is requisite for a job with MLB Network? And to think, some of us went to college to come away with a degree so we could find employment.

* Speaking of MLB Network’s misspelling (a word often misspelled), if it’s any consolation to Cubs fans (and who knows whether it is or if Cubs fans even care), the word is misspelled for other episodes of the show. Yeah, didn’t think anyone would care, but who cares?

* Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch showed up at Super Bowl media day and didn’t have much to say. Which is he pretty much continued his schtick of responding to questions with the same answer. But he showed up, thereby avoiding a fine from the NFL. His mantra at the event: “I’m here so I won’t get fined.” If I were NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (and I would want to be only on payday), I’d fine him anyway. Because he wasn’t answering questions. And the purpose of media day is to ask questions and receive responses to the questions not merely move your lips and utter the same line again and again.

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