Time Again to Be Concerned About Bulls

January 30, 2015 @ admin → No Comments

Jimmy Butler celebrated being named an Eastern Conference reserve for the NBA all-star game by scoring 35 points to tie a career high. OK, that’s not quite right. Yes, he did have 35 points. But maybe “celebrate” is not the accurate verb. Because the Chicago Bulls lost Thursday night (early Friday in more easterly time zones). Not merely lost. Lost in double overtime 123-118. To the lowly Lakers in Los Angeles. Remember the Bulls’ victory vs. Golden State — the NBA’s best team — on Tuesday night? Well, forget it.

Erin Heatherton is a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie.

* Speaking of forgetting things, how about Derrick Rose’s performance? The former NBA Most Valuable Player — before missing a couple of consecutive seasons because of surgeries — was 7-for-26 from the field, including 1-of-7 three-point attempts. He had five of the Bulls’ 11 turnovers in playing 42 minutes. Rose maintains he has confidence in his shooting ability. So we can surmise one of two possibilities: He either is fully invested in keeping a positive mindset or he is delusional. OK, it might be both.

* Speaking of Rose, even though it might hurt his feelings, someone should remind him that he seldom has resembled an all-star player — much less an MVP — this season. There is a fine line between being confident and being egotistical. It’s not totally clear that that line — OK, so it’s not so fine — has been blurred. But someone in authority ought to be able to see what’s going on, shouldn’t they?

* Speaking of Rose, despite his continued shooting difficulties, he did have a chance to win the game. He had the ball in the closing seconds of the first overtime with the score tied. Meaning unless he committed another turnover that led to Lakers points, there was no way the Bulls would lose. At least in the first overtime. Rose opted to take a 20-foot jumper rather than drive to the basket. And, yes, he missed, but you probably already figured that out because there was a second overtime. It’s not quite clear what it says to take a fallback jumper rather than drive to the basket. But it makes some folks wonder whether Rose has confidence to beat his man off the dribble. Let the record show that Rose was perfect from the foul line. On all two of his attempts. No drive? No thrive.

* Speaking of Rose’s shooting, he did hit his only three-pointer to open the first overtime. Next Bulls possession, he missed a three-pointer. The problem seems to be he makes just enough baskets to make him think he can make all — or at least most — of his attempts. Someone yet again needs to remind him that his strength is — or used to be — taking the ball to the basket.

* And you don’t think coach Tom Thibodeau wanted to win, do you? All the Bulls starters logged more than 40 minutes — with the exception of Nikola Mirotic who had 12 minutes on the court. Butler, who had a game-high 49 minutes, appeared to injure a leg (ankle perhaps?) late in the contest. Oh, well, at least Mirotic should be well-rested for Friday night’s game at Phoenix.

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