Pippen Ain't Easy
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Saturday Night’s Win Just Proves the Bulls Should Play on National TV Every Night

By Michael Whitlow

Jan 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) and Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) react to a call during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Bulls won 96-83. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) and Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) react to a call during the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Bulls won 96-83. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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If the Chicago Bulls played on national television every game, there’s a great chance they wouldn’t lose ever again.

There’s a common trend when it comes the Chicago Bulls.

Whenever you think the Bulls should lose a game throughout the regular season (at least since 2010), it’s a game they’re probably going to win.

Saturday night was no exception.

The Bulls got 25 points from Pau Gasol on a crisp 11-for-16 shooting night and 17 points from Nikola Mirotic off the bench in a 96-83 victory in Tyronn Lue‘s coaching debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Nothing about Saturday night made sense, as usual of a nationally-televised game that involves the Bulls. The Cavs shot just 37.2 percent from the field, missed 20 of their 24 attempts from three-point range and 13 of 22 free throws.

The East’s best team does that at home against a Bulls team that had lost six of their eight games and was coming off a loss just 24 hours prior in Boston?

Regardless if it’s believable or not, the Bulls needed a win in the worst way in Cleveland. After Saturday, the Bulls have just one more home game (Miami on Jan. 25) in their next eight games.

A few notes from Saturday’s win include:

  • Taj Gibson‘s value was on display against the Cavs – The best player on the floor in Saturday’s game wasn’t Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler or LeBron James. Taj Gibson was fantastic in just under 30 minutes of action, scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds with a couple of blocks.

On top of praise from one of the NBA community’s best columnists, Gibson’s defensive numbers from Synergy this season are further proof that Gibson is truly one of the key pieces for the Bulls.

  • It was an ugly 5-for-21 shooting exhibition, but Derrick Rose was doing what he needs to be doing – Saturday was another poor shooting performance from Derrick Rose, but the shots he was missing weren’t because of bad shot selection. Believe it or not, Rose actually played fairly well against the Cavs, despite missing 16 of his 21 shot attempts.
Chicago Bulls PG Derrick Rose's shot chart vs. CLE
Chicago Bulls PG Derrick Rose's shot chart vs. CLE /

Yeah, missing 10 of 12 shots around the basket isn’t a good look at all (many of those rimmed in and out all night long), but 20 of his 21 shots came inside the arc.

That’s a good thing.

Plus, Rose had a highlight to be talked about when he was one-on-one with James for a possession.

  • Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic continue their streaky ways – Per Bulls stat man Jeff Mangurten, Nikola Mirotic had scored 17 points in the last four games combined. He scored 17 points on nine shot attempts against the Cavs alone.
    • Gasol led all Bulls scorers with 25 points after an 18-point, 11-rebound, five-turnover showing against Boston on Friday night. That’s back-to-back doubles for Gasol, who had one of—if not—his worst game of the season in the ugly 31-point loss to Golden State this past Wednesday.

Next: David Blatt's Termination Opens Up Small Opportunity for Bulls

A couple random notes to close:

  • The Bulls in a nutshell.
  • Yeah, this isn’t going to help the Doug McDermott trade look better.
  • The Cavs make less sense than the Bulls do after firing David Blatt.

It’s Jan. 24 and the Cavs aren’t in shape to play on a nightly basis.

Sure.

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