Man! The more things change, the more they stay the same. I remember collaborating with Ben Mehic, the Editor of the Wiz Of Awes a while back. We were doing interviews for our respective websites for the playoffs last April. As editors of our websites, we all have a little competitive drive when it come to our teams. When it came down to predictions, Ben chose the Washington Wizards in seven games. I chose the Chicago Bulls in seven games. The problem was that deep down in my soul, I knew the Bulls couldn’t score when it mattered. The Wizards beat the Bulls in five games.
It happened again in the preseason opener. In a sloppy game in which neither team did much other than provide plenty of tape for coaches to use in film session, the Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 85-81 in the United Center.
At least the Bulls broke 80 points this time.
For a total recap of this game, please check out Ashley Wijangco’s piece on Pippen Ain’t Easy. As always, its an interesting and informative read. Plus check out Paul Steeno’s (aka The King, I don’t recognize that dude in Cleveland!), piece on Aaron Brooks and what he could bring to the Chicago Bulls this year.
I can’t lie Pippen Peoples, this game went past going straight to DVD, but on to BET with the quality of play. Not just by the Bulls, but the Wizards too.
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Wizards guard Glen Rice Jr. (14) dribbles the ball against Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) during the second quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Glen Rice Jr. played well in this game and finished the Bulls off down the stretch, finishing with 18 points on 6-8 shooting off the bench. Washington decided to rest Nene for the night and Marcin Gortat took advantage of the extra touches to score 13 points and grab ten rebounds.
Outside of these two, the rest of the Wizards looked lazy and disinterested. John Wall scored eight points on 1-7 shooting. Bradley Beal scored a quiet 11 points on twelve shots. Beal was quiet mainly because Jimmy Butler kept telling him to shut up by throwing two shots back in his face. One went back three rows into the crowd. Otto Porter Jr. needs prayer because he really stinks. He’s going to need to start saving his money because in a couple of years, China will be calling.
After every Chicago Bulls game, I take a long look and try to learn at least three things to take forward. Here are my three things.
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) dribbles the ball against Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
1) Every Chicago Bulls fan had better pray that Derrick Rose stays healthy and gets his game back.
I got so tired of hearing that the Chicago Bulls had title aspirations IF Derrick Rose stays healthy. That is until this game. Now that I watched it, let me rephrase it so all Bulls fans can understand. The Chicago Bulls have aspirations to get out the first round IF Derrick Rose stays healthy. Whether you like the guy or not, you’d better find a way to support him because the Bulls have absolutely NO CHANCE without Derrick Rose.
The backup point guard situation is so dysfunctional and frustrating to me. Follow me on this one and you might see why I’m so skeptical with this bunch. Let’s start with your friend (not mine), Kirk Hinrich.
Kirk Hinrich scored well…let me put it this way. Close your eyes. What do you see? Nothing? That’s what Kirk Hinrich scored against the Wizards. Now before everyone calls the Hinrich Hater Police on me, understand that he missed all five of his shots and still couldn’t guard a cookie jar with a cannon. But here’s the caveat. He gets the Bulls into their offense efficiently. He has six assists.
Next up, Aaron Brooks.
Aaron Brooks scored six points on two shots from the land of three. Chicago Bulls fans could have played a drinking game on how many times Bulls announcers kept saying that Brooks was the next Nate Robinson or D.J.Augustin. Then I noticed something in the fourth quarter, Brooks was horrible running the point. The Bulls offense had nine turnovers in the last frame. The Bulls finished with 18 points in the fourth quarter. Does this look familiar to anyone?
Here’s why the Chicago Bulls pay Derrick Rose all that money. He can initiate the offense and get his own shot. His game is so dynamic, he makes life easier for his teammates. Jimmy Butler sure can use some help. 1-7 shooting is not a good thing when you are in contract negotiations. Just sayin.
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Wizards forward Paul Pierce (34) is knocked to the ground by Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half at the United Center. The Washington Wizards defeat the Chicago Bulls 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
2) Didn’t you just want to see Paul Pierce get his butt dragged just one time?
Do you see Paul Pierce laying on the floor in this picture? Man, if Joakim Noah had gotten to him in the first quarter after Pierce put a finger in his face, he would have been through the floor. This picture basically summed up the night for Paul Pierce. His game has fallen and it can’t get up.
Normally I don’t talk about other teams in three lessons learned. It’s usually Bulls related, but Paul Pierce looked so stupid, I’m going to make exception in this case. Didn’t Paul Pierce look like a dude who just got stood up at the prom against the Bulls? Just a shadow of himself and not wanted. At least that’s what he said to NBA.com…
"“Truthfully, I thought I was going to end up back in Brooklyn, with Kevin [Garnett]. I told Kevin, if you are not going to retire, then I probably will come back. But when Brooklyn didn’t give me an offer, it was like, I talked to him, and I kind of started looking at my options then,”"
Paul Pierce had two points and five fouls in 19 minutes against the Bulls. What is going to get lost in this putrid performance is that go for bad show he put on with Joakim Noah. Did anyone see the Chicago Bulls bench? Paul Pierce was referees and security away from being the lead story on the late news. I guess he thought he was still in Boston. Based on his performance, we all can see he is not.
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) dribbles the ball against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat (4) during the second half at the United Center. The Washington Wizards defeat the Chicago Bulls 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
3) The Chicago Bulls are still running that same offense from last year.
Pau Gasol is a world-class low post player. He proved that in the FIBA World Cup when he was killing everybody on the post. Why not use him there? The Bulls had 12 points in the paint. Hello? Am I missing something? Gasol had eight points in limited action. My problem is they were coming off jumpers. The Bulls have enough weapons, but they are useless if Thibodeau don’t put an offensive system together. All you had to see was the fourth quarter and notice that the Bulls have no offensive structure whatsoever.
Here’s what I learned. Now learn from this!
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) dribbles the ball against Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin (13) during the second half at the United Center. The Washington Wizards defeat the Chicago Bulls 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Nikola Mirotic can shoot the ball very well. But he had better learn how to talk on defense.
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin (13) fouls Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half at the United Center. The Washington Wizards defeat the Chicago Bulls 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Jimmy Butler was set up real good on that pick at midcourt. That was Mirotic’s fault. He looked lost at times on the court on the defensive end. The Bulls need him to get better because they need his jumper on the floor.
Next up for the Chicago Bulls is the Detroit Pistons. Keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy for all of the in-depth analysis throughout the preseason into the regular season.
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