I’ll start this article saying that there is definitely a man in Chicago that is thrilled right now. Who is that man?
Jimmy Butler’s agent Happy Walters.
The irony in this man’s name. He should be happy because his client is badly needed in the Chicago Bulls lineup. Jimmy Butler sits out with a thumb injury and the Bulls lose two straight games. What’s even more evident is that the Bulls gave up 107 points to the Cleveland Cavaliers and 113 points to the Minnesota Timberwolves, a lottery bound team that is in transition. Look Pippen Peoples, you can get mad. Call me a Knicks fan that is hating on the Bulls, or my personal favorite…it’s the preseason. Well we get to see if these comments come up on Wednesday when these games actually count.
But first things first, the Chicago Bulls finished up the preseason the same way it started…on a two game losing streak. The Bulls basically gift wrapped a game they should have won 113-112. For the total recap of the game check out Ashley Wijangco’s piece on the Pippen Ain’t Easy website. It is a informative and entertaining read.
This game made me glad there was the DVR invention. To be honest, when the Bulls were up by 13 points, I actually stopped watching to write an article. Lo and behold by the time I finish I found out that the Bulls had lost. I went back to watch the fourth quarter and watched why the Bulls are not ready for the regular season. Let’s get to it.
Oct 24, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scottrade Center. The Timberwolves won 113-112. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
1) Derrick Rose is ready to go for the regular season…now what?
Let’s put Rose’s knees on the back burner. He’s healthy, he’s ready to go and boy does he have his confidence back. Check out what he said according to Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com…
"“Moving up man,” Rose said. “Moving in the right direction. I felt good. Just trying to stay positive even when I do things wrong, just try to learn from it, try to learn from my mistakes and just try to make myself a better basketball player by using my IQ of the game.“I feel like I’m in a good place. Just missing two years, coming back, being able to play again against all of these great players and really go up against them. I don’t know if they would be able to do the same if they were in my shoes, but the situation happened with me and all I can do is try and be motivated by it and just try and move in the right direction every day. Stay positive.”"
This just in to Pippen Ain’t Easy, it’s working quite well. Derrick Rose followed up a strong performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a game high 27 points. He also knocked down 3-of-7 attempts from three point land. Okay Derrick Rose is good.
As for the rest of the bunch…eh.
Derrick Rose is not the magic pill to cure the Chicago Bulls inability to consistently score throughout a basketball game. If anyone saw the Cleveland game on NBATV, the fact that Cavaliers announcer Austin Carr noticed that the Bulls offense would become stagnant if Rose kept scoring at high rates.
Umm…yeah.
This is the third game off the top of my head that I can remember the Bulls offense getting on the bus in the fourth quarter. Remember these games?
Oct 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) shoots the ball against Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin (13) and forward Damion James (7) during the second half at the United Center. The Washington Wizards defeat the Chicago Bulls 85-81. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Wizards game.
There was no continuity in the last frame of this game. The only thing that covered up how ugly it was Nikola Mirotic getting hot for 15 points in the fourth quarter. Couple that with the sloppy play of the Wizards, no one really noticed.
Oct 7, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings (7) moves the ball defended by Chicago Bulls guard Aaron Brooks (0) at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Pistons game.
The same thing happened. the Bulls could not get into their offense. The only thing that bailed them out was Aaron Brooks exploding late and Tony Snell hitting pressure free throws to send the game to overtime.
Oct 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) reacts after he shot a last second three-point basket to beat the Atlanta Hawks 85-84 during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver/Atlanta games.
I’ll just say this. In the Denver game Jimmy Butler got a contract for about $12 million. Then the Atlanta game probably netted him a max deal. Nuff said. Butler bailed the Bulls out.
Here’s the point. The Chicago Bulls are going to have to have a consistent second scorer for this team to be effective. The Chicago Bulls went nearly eight minutes without scoring in the fourth quarter. Pippen Ain’t Easy has been all over the Bulls with the same statements about their scoring.
They do not score enough…end of story.
The defense argument will get old after a while. No defensive team is going to win games going through six, seven minute droughts. This isn’t trash talking, this is basketball.
Oct 24, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) dribbles the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves forward Thaddeus Young (33) defends during the first quarter at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s a question for the Pippen Peoples. What’s your over/under for the time it takes for Pau Gasol to check out from dealing with Tom Thibodeau?
It’s still early, but the preseason was not a good look for Pau Gasol. He ended the preseason on the bench in the fourth quarter after committing seven turnovers. Pippen Ain’t Easy has been critical of how Pau Gasol has been used in the offense during the preseason. Trust me, it is affecting Gasol’s game.
Sep 29, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau during media day at the Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
If Tom Thibodeau keeps talking like this in the media, it’ll affect Gasol as well.
Per Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com…
"“Probably over-passing right now,” Thibodeau said. “Rather have that problem and get him to look to score more than a guy who’s not unselfish. It wasn’t all on Pau. We have to play with an edge. We have to play defense. There’s no getting around that. You have to be in great shape. There’s no getting around that. You have to play with a lot more toughness. I know that.”"
It’s one thing to throw the man out in the ocean with no boat, but before the season starts? Pau Gasol went through the same thing in Los Angeles with Mike D’Antoni. First, the offense did not work for Gasol and then rumors started floating around about his dedication. Why do you think the man left?
Over the last few weeks, there have been reports about Gasol finishing games, his role in the offense and if he can actually play with Joakim Noah. If this keeps up, questions about Gasol starting will come up. Taj Gibson is rolling right along these days. Like it or not, Bulls fans your team signed a sensitive power forward. If you think this stuff isn’t bothering him, I can sell you that Jordan statue outside the United Center for cheap.
I really hope Tom Thibodeau don’t start that “if you don’t play defense to my standards, I’ll sit you in crunch time” mess he did with Carlos Boozer. Against Minnesota, the Bulls was colder than Lake Minnetonka when Apollonia jumped in back in the day in the movie Purple Rain. Oh that’s right, that wasn’t Lake Minnetonka. Like that wasn’t a credible Chicago Bulls offense in the fourth quarter against the Timberwolves.
Thibodeau sat and watched a Sahara desert effort on offense while Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic and Aaron Brooks got dusty on the bench. Adjustments? I think not.
Well Pippen Peoples, it’s on you. What do you think the Bulls should do to stop the scoring droughts in the fourth quarter? Leave your opinions in the comments sections and let your voices be heard. Keep it locked to Pippen Ain’t Easy for all the information and analysis leading into the regular season. Pippen Ain’t Easy is your best source for Chicago Bulls news, previews and reviews.
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