SB Nation Chicago - Bulls 98, Wizards 79: Bogans Excels, Green-clad Bulls Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2011-03-15T22:51:18-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18161362011-03-15T22:51:18-05:002011-03-15T22:51:18-05:00Bulls 98, Wizards 79: Bogans Excels, Green-clad Bulls Win
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<p>Seriously, burn those green uniforms.</p>
<p>On a night when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> leapfrogged Boston to take a half game lead in the Eastern Conference, wearing green seemed like an homage to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Celtics</a>, not St. Patrick's Day. In tandem with their red warm-ups, <span>Derrick Rose</span>, <span>Luol Deng</span> and the rest of the Bulls came out of the tunnel looking more like the Chicago Santa Clauses than the team we've been watching all year.</p>
<p>Despite the basketball equivalent of Heinz's failed green ketchup experiment, the short-handed Bulls pulled away late from the depressing <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> to win their 7th in a row, and their 30th of the season at the United Center. Even though the Wizards played without 3/5 of their starting lineup, the Bulls only held a four-point advantage at halftime due to a red-hot first half from Wiz rookie <span>Jordan Crawford</span> and shaky 2nd quarter offense by Chicago.</p>
<p>As predicted in our preview, the Bulls got contributions up and down the roster with Noah and Boozer sitting, with seven players scoring 8 or more points. Much-maligned guard <span>Keith Bogans</span> had his best game of the year, scoring 17 points and going 5-10 from downtown.</p>
<p>Coach <span>Tom Thibodeau</span> has brought this team together, clearly defined players' roles, masterminded a suffocating defense and will likely be among the finalists in the Coach of the Year conversation. But playing Luol Deng 43 minutes in a game that wasn't even close in the 4th quarter will not go on the list of this year's highlights. Already 5th in the NBA in MPG, Deng took a hard fall with two minutes left in the contest, landing on his hip. And while he turned out to be okay (not great, as he grimaced for the rest of the game), it seemed reckless to have him on the floor so late against such on over-matched opponent.</p>
<p>Rose played within himself, meaning he had by his standards an average game (23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds) and distributed the ball well to his teammates. It seems crazy to think that such a box score has become mundane for followers of Rose, but being an MVP candidate carries with it lofty expectations. His best play of the night, however, was when he saved a ball while diving out of bounds with less than a minute left in garbage time, drawing appreciation from fans and teammates alike. He probably wouldn't want to hear it, but plays like that are what make him such a great leader at 22 years old.</p>
<p>For the Wizards, Javale McGee was equal parts impressive and depressing, putting up an amazing 12 blocks, the most in a single NBA game in nearly 10 years. However he also air-balled jumpshots, took plays off on defense and ultimately, got a technical for yelling/hanging on the rim after notching his first career triple-double while his team was down 20 points. The Wizards must be the unhappiest bunch of players in recent memory. Remember when <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pry6Cp0kSO0">John Wall did the Dougie dance at the beginning of the season</a> and was brimming with excitement? Neither does he.</p>
<p><b>Quick Hits</b></p>
<p>- Scalabrine got off the bench early to the delight of the crowd, but elected to run out the clock at the end of the game, disappointing fans to no end. Probably for the best, though, as a Scalabrine 3 to put the Bulls over 100 points and into free Big Mac territory would likely have blown the roof off the United Center</p>
<p>- Per @bullsblogger, Benny the Bull made sure to pants one of the Wizards players during pregame warm-ups. Still one of the best mascots in pro sports.</p>
<p>- After being fouled trying a tip-in with 1.1 seconds left in the first half, officials ruled <span>Kurt Thomas</span> was not in the act of shooting, much to the chagrin of announcers Neil Funk and Stacey King. So what happens? Kurt Thomas takes the inbounds pass and nails his first 3 pointer in 6 teams, 384 games and 7797 minutes.</p>
<p>- The Bulls start a quick two-game road trip Thursday night in New Jersey against the new-look <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-jersey-nets">Nets</a> and <span>Deron Williams</span>.</p>
<p><i>Follow Zachary Lee on Twitter @rightfieldsucks</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2011/3/15/2053392/bulls-98-wizards-79-bogans-excels-green-clad-bulls-winZachary Lee2011-03-15T18:15:03-05:002011-03-15T18:15:03-05:00Joakim Noah Out Against Wizards
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> Coach <span>Tom Thibodeau</span> informed the media that <span>Joakim Noah</span> will not play against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> with what is being called an illness. Per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Noah was sent home from the morning shootaround and was said to be a gametime decision. With <span>Carlos Boozer</span> still out with an ankle injury, the Bulls will look to their bench to pick up the slack. Expect heavy minutes for <span>Kurt Thomas</span>, <span>Taj Gibson</span> and <span>Omer Asik</span>.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/chicago-bulls/2011/3/15/2053024/joakim-noah-out-against-wizardsZachary Lee2011-03-15T12:22:02-05:002011-03-15T12:22:02-05:00Chicago Bulls Vs. Washington Wizards: There's No Place Like Home
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<p>With the hype and ceremony of honoring the 1991 championship team behind them, the <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bulls</a> can now focus on the remaining 17 games on the schedule as they steam towards the playoffs.</p>
<p>Other than the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Lakers</a>,<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/3/15/2050764/nba-power-rankings-bucks-nets"> there isn't a team in the league that is hotter than Chicago</a>, and even that is arguable. Winners of 13 of their last 15 games and in a virtual tie for first place in the Eastern conference, the Bulls face a <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Wizards</a> team that has won a single road game all year and may be without two starters. These two teams could not be more diametrically opposed at this point in the season. Per coach <span>Tom Thibodeau</span>'s relentless instruction, the Bulls continue to improve on their way to what will be a fascinating, and hopefully extended 2011 playoff season. For the Wizards, it is more a matter of finishing the games on the schedule so this season can be over. It happens every season, when contenders are so clearly separated from pretenders and people like me have to dig through media guides to find compelling angles to games that, barring miracles, can only go one way. </p>
<p>It has been strange, and perhaps it is just coincidence, that Chicago has had incredible fortune with other team's injuries of late. As was the case with the Chicago Bears' season, key opposing players seem to be out on a game-by-game basis. From the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucks</a> missing <span>Ersan Ilyasova</span> and <span>Chris Douglas-Roberts</span> to the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> missing <span>Josh Smith</span> to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets" class="sbn-auto-link">Hornets</a> missing <span>Chris Paul</span>, every night seems to have a bit of fortune. As much as it helps with regular season victories, it is equally important the Bulls play, and win, a few tough contests before the playoffs begin in earnest. Chicago goes for the 4-game season sweep of the Wizards tonight.</p>
<p><b>Wizards To Watch For</b></p>
<p>It is simply a tough time to be a card-carrying fan of the Wiz. Losers of 4 straight and 9 of their last 10, Washington will play shorthanded with Blatche and Lewis on the Bench. That means <span>Josh Howard</span> and <span>Trevor Booker</span> will start, stretching an already paper-thin roster. The Wizards do have young talent in the backcourt, as 2010 #1 overall pick <span>John Wall</span> continues to impress during what has been a difficult rookie season. Shooting guard <span>Nick Young</span> can really light it up at times, but he averages 12.2 shots for every assist he has made. Is it unprofessional to call a player a ball hog? Then I guess I'm unprofessional.</p>
<p><b>Bulls To Watch For</b></p>
<p>Really, watch for the whole team. This looks to be one of those games where Thibodeau can really spread minutes around, getting some quality rest for high usage players like <span>Luol Deng</span> and <span>Derrick Rose</span>. I would expect to see a box score with five or six players in double figures. That said, the Wizards do not defend, especially on the perimeter, so <span>Kyle Korver</span> and <span>C.J. Watson</span> will have plenty of open looks from beyond the arc. The Bulls will look to convert turnovers into fastbreak points early, get the United Center crowd involved, and then frustrate Washington with their halfcourt defense. Once again, <span>Carlos Boozer</span> will miss the contest with a sprained ankle.</p>
<p>The probable flogging begins at 7 p.m. CDT on Comcast SportsNet.</p>
<p><i>Follow Zachary Lee on Twitter @rightfieldsucks</i></p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2011/3/15/2331608/chicago-bulls-vs-washington-wizards-theres-no-place-like-homeZachary Lee