I would imagine John Paxson will try to make personnel changes so there is more of a fresh start next fall.
If you want out, wouldn't you follow Wallace's example and try to force a trade? Or maybe the culture is so fucked up it doesn't matter who's coach.
Yeah, well I think Rose made a rookie mistake, offered up some unvarnished truth, and had to reel it back in quick.
Heh. I didn't read it that way. Seems more like he was talking about Noah and Thomas, even Gordon and Hughes, not executing the plays and the coaches' game plans. Oddly, it sounds more like things Cartwright used to say. Like "we execute stuff in practice just fine, but when we get out on the court it's like the players forgot all that"
Got this little nugget in email this morning. I know it's Vecsey, but since it largely agrees with what I've been saying I'll treat it like gospel like everybody else does around here. BG is playing himself out of town. With another mediocre to bad performance last night he is losing money by the game. This fine seems like an attempt to light a fire under BG. And if that's what's it's come down to things are bad for BG. He has shown very little if any leadership while Kirk and Deng and Gooden have been out. It's probably not a coincidence that he's never been voted captain. And if you're going to be asking for big money, you should at least be considered for those kind of things. Since Kirk came back and VDN has had an alternative to pull BG when he's been messing up, BG has looked more and more mediocre. He's been repeatedly exposed on defense and he really needs to get focused and start playing at a higher level if he doesn't want to end up as an MLE player somewhere because that is clearly where he is headed, especially given the timing of things with 2010 and a shrinking cap around the corner.
Glad you and Vecsey see eye to eye. Hinrich's been playing well, the Bulls have been playing Gordon less, Deng's been playing like the Deng of old, and we're 2-5 our last 7 games since Kirk's been back. Woot!
My vision doesn't have BG starting and creating such a porous backcourt that the team goes down double digits every game. My vision is a decent defensive backcourt that holds it own and then BG comes in and bombs the opponent into submission.
According your theory, any time Gordon's in the backcourt is porous and the team would go down double digits. According to my theory, if Gordon can bomb the opponent into submission, may as well have him out there 100% of the time doing it.
Well, there you go, you don't get my theory obviously. BG can handle second team guys better, and more importantly, second team guys have a much harder time exploiting BG. That's probably why when he was coming off of the bench his numbers are a lot better, like at the beginning of this season. But if he is going to play the way he is now whether he comes in off of the bench or not, then it doesn't really matter whether he starts or not. 5-14 is never going to get it done.
Ben Gordon had an alright scoring efficiency last night, because he got to the line. Something Rose and Kirk really haven't shown much ability to do. He had 9 points in the fourth, while missing only one shot. Then he gets pulled for that with 3 1/2 minutes left, and the Bulls only score 2 points for the remainder of the game. The problem has never been Gordon. The problem is that we failed to get that true number one option that allows Gordon to become a #2 option. Derrick Rose looked like that guy early in the season, but looks nothing close to that now. Rose really shouldn't be starting in the NBA right now given his piss poor play. Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng, with their play of late, are fine role players next to Gordon, but we never got that front court star to make this all work, so Gordon is left being drenched with double teams. The double teams, pressure, and focus that other teams give to Gordon are ridiculous. He is probably the most double teamed/focused on player in the league. Because he is better than Lebron and Kobe? No. Because he doesn't have the teammates that will make you pay for doubling them. Lebron has Mo Williams, Kobe has Pau and Bynum. If he passes to them, they miss the shot. Oftentimes, they will leave him there getting trapped, while not moving into a position to get the ball from him. If Rose ever develops into that #1 option, Gordon is deadly again. And that's not to say that Gordon isn't deadly right now. 20 PPG on 57 TS% is pretty deadly given the defensive attention Gordon gets. What do people think would happen if Gordon just walked in free agency, and we have Kirk Hinrich at the shooting guard spot? What if the other team started doubling Kirk, what would he average? 5 points a game? What about Derrick Rose? He already sees a little bit of double teaming, he would get murdered if he had hard double teams everytime. Ben Gordon, just by being on the court, makes the other players better, because he loosens up the defensive attention on them immensely. Without Gordon out there, this team would be ugly....really ugly.
If he's going to play significant minutes, he's going to be playing against 1st string guys. If he's going to bomb teams into submission, they're not going to just watch it happen without bringing in their best defender to try and stop hime whenever he's on the court. Last night's game is a great indication - we were tied at halftime, in it through much of Q3, yet lost by 20. So much for the getting down by double digits theory. Gordon left the game in Q3 with the Bulls down 9. He re-entered the game at start of Q4 and scored 9 points in the first 5 minutes as the Bulls cut the lead to 1 point. At that point, Hinrich came in for Rose and the Bulls fell behind again by 8 over the next 2 minutes. The Bulls called timeout and Gordon got one more shot the rest of the way before being removed from the game with 3:30 left, bulls down 8. Your decent defensive back court (Hinrich + Rose) allowed them to blow the game open. Down 8 with 3:30 left is hardly being blown out. Down 20 at the end of the game IS. Hinrich+Rose net -12 in that last 3:30. Rose+Gordon net +8. Hinrich+Gordon net -8.
3 of the last 5 games the bulls have fallen behind by double digits. Atl, SA and Cle. And it's about that rate for the rest of the season as well. And they came back in all of those games. Last nights game was the aberration. Go and look at the games at popcornmachine.net. And BG got them the lead against the second team. He was 3-11 coming into the fourth quarter and played against the second string in the fourth, when not coincidently, he hit a couple of shots finally and did a good job getting to the line. But he was 2-5 and didn't get to the line in the first quarter which isn't exactly setting the tone...
Bulls were down 13 midway through the first after a 15-0 run keyed by Bibby and JJ abusing Rose and BG. VDN pulled Rose on the hopes that BG might shoot them back into it. BG was still only 2-3 with 3 TO's in the entire quarter.
At the very least, you have to admit that playing Rose next to BG is not having a positive effect on Rose.
Looks to me like Josh Smith was the guy doing the abusing. The bulls were down 9 when Rose was yanked. Hinrich turned the ball over the first time he touched it. Bibby didn't score for the first 3 minutes, Johnson for the first 3:30. Johnson went 1-3 (1x 3pt) and 3-4 from the line in the whole quarter. Gordon had a rebound, an assist, and even blocked one of Smith's shots. He finished the quarter with 2-3 shooting, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and a blocked shot. <table class="tablehead" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#555555"><td colspan="4" class="stathead" align="center">1st Quarter Summary</td></tr><tr class="colhead" align="center"><td>TIME</td><td>ATLANTA</td><td>SCORE</td><td>CHICAGO</td></tr><tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">12:00</td><td colspan="3" align="center">Start of the 1st Quarter</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">12:00</td><td valign="top">Jumpball: Josh Smith vs. Joakim Noah (Zaza Pachulia gains possession)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">0-0</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:55</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith makes two point shot (Joe Johnson assists)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-0</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:34</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-0</td><td valign="top">Tyrus Thomas misses 16-foot jumper</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:32</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-0</td><td valign="top">Joakim Noah misses tip shot</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:32</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-0</td><td valign="top">Joakim Noah offensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:30</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-0</td><td valign="top">Joakim Noah offensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:26</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-2</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng makes 20-foot jumper (Ben Gordon assists)</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:03</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson misses 19-foot two point shot</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-2</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">11:02</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-2</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">10:57</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-4</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon makes driving layup</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">10:37</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon blocks Josh Smith's layup</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">10:37</td><td valign="top">Atlanta offensive rebound</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">10:33</td><td valign="top">Mike Bibby misses 21-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">10:32</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-4</td><td valign="top">Derrick Rose defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">10:29</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">2-4</td><td valign="top">Derrick Rose bad pass</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">10:11</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith makes driving layup</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">4-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">9:55</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">4-4</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon discontinue dribble</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">9:33</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith makes 22-foot jumper (Joe Johnson assists)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">6-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">9:17</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">6-4</td><td valign="top">Tyrus Thomas offensive foul (Zaza Pachulia draws the foul)</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">9:17</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">6-4</td><td valign="top">Tyrus Thomas turnover</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">9:07</td><td valign="top">Mike Bibby makes layup (Josh Smith assists)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">8-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">8:44</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">8-4</td><td valign="top">Zaza Pachulia blocks Luol Deng's layup</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">8:41</td><td valign="top">Maurice Evans defensive rebound</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">8-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">8:36</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Mike Bibby assists)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">11-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">8:33</td><td colspan="3" align="center">Chicago full timeout</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">8:15</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">11-4</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon bad pass (Mike Bibby steals)</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">8:11</td><td valign="top">Maurice Evans offensive foul (Tyrus Thomas draws the foul)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">11-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">8:11</td><td valign="top">Maurice Evans turnover</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">11-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:52</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">11-4</td><td valign="top">Derrick Rose misses 24-foot three point jumper</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:52</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith defensive rebound</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">11-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:41</td><td valign="top">Mike Bibby makes 24-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:28</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top">Tyrus Thomas misses 20-foot jumper</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:26</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith defensive rebound</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:20</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson misses 25-foot three pointer</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:20</td><td valign="top">Atlanta offensive rebound</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:20</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top">Joakim Noah loose ball foul (Zaza Pachulia draws the foul)</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:20</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top">Kirk Hinrich enters the game for Derrick Rose</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:20</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">13-4</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni enters the game for Tyrus Thomas</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:13</td><td valign="top">Mike Bibby makes 21-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">15-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">7:01</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">15-4</td><td valign="top">Kirk Hinrich turnover</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">6:43</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith misses 18-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">15-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">6:41</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">15-4</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">6:31</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">15-4</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng misses 18-foot jumper</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">6:31</td><td valign="top">Maurice Evans defensive rebound</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">15-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">6:22</td><td valign="top">Zaza Pachulia makes layup (Mike Bibby assists)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">6:11</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith personal foul (Luol Deng draws the foul)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-4</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">6:11</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-4</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray enters the game for Joakim Noah</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:58</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-6</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng makes driving layup (Kirk Hinrich assists)</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:48</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson lost ball (Luol Deng steals)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-6</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:41</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top">Kirk Hinrich makes 21-foot jumper (Ben Gordon assists)</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:16</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith misses layup</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:16</td><td valign="top">Zaza Pachulia misses tip shot</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:16</td><td valign="top">Zaza Pachulia offensive rebound</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:15</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:11</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon bad pass</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:11</td><td colspan="3" align="center">Atlanta full timeout</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">5:11</td><td valign="top">Ronald Murray enters the game for Maurice Evans</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">4:46</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson misses 25-foot three point jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">4:45</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">4:28</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-8</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng misses 8-foot two point shot</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">4:26</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-10</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray makes layup</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">4:26</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-10</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray offensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">4:05</td><td valign="top">Mike Bibby bad pass (Kirk Hinrich steals)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-10</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:58</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-10</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni misses 25-foot three point jumper</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:56</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-10</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon offensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:38</td><td valign="top">Josh Smith personal foul (Kirk Hinrich draws the foul)</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-10</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:38</td><td valign="top">Mario West enters the game for Josh Smith</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-10</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:31</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-12</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray makes layup (Kirk Hinrich assists)</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:15</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray blocks Ronald Murray's 7-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-12</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:14</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-12</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">3:10</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-14</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni makes layup</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:44</td><td valign="top">Ronald Murray misses 22-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-14</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:43</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-14</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:36</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-16</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon makes 18-foot two point shot (Luol Deng assists)</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:24</td><td valign="top">Zaza Pachulia misses jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-16</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:23</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-16</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:06</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-16</td><td valign="top">Ben Gordon misses 23-foot three point jumper</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:04</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-18</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng makes two point shot</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">2:04</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-18</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng offensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:47</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni blocks Zaza Pachulia's layup</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-18</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:46</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-18</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:31</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-18</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni misses 15-foot jumper</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:30</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-18</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng offensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:29</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-20</td><td valign="top">Luol Deng makes layup</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:13</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-20</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray shooting foul (Joe Johnson draws the foul)</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:13</td><td valign="top">Solomon Jones enters the game for Zaza Pachulia</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">17-20</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:13</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">18-20</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:13</td><td valign="top">Maurice Evans enters the game for Mike Bibby</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">18-20</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">1:13</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">19-20</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:59</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">19-20</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni bad pass (Joe Johnson steals)</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:57</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">19-20</td><td valign="top">Kirk Hinrich shooting foul (Joe Johnson draws the foul)</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:57</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">20-20</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:57</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">20-20</td><td valign="top">Thabo Sefolosha enters the game for Luol Deng</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:57</td><td valign="top">Joe Johnson misses free throw 2 of 2</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">20-20</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:56</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">20-20</td><td valign="top">Andres Nocioni defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:38</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">20-20</td><td valign="top">Kirk Hinrich bad pass</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:31</td><td valign="top">Ronald Murray makes 19-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">22-20</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:11</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">22-22</td><td valign="top">Kirk Hinrich makes 13-foot two point shot</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:00</td><td valign="top">Thabo Sefolosha blocks Joe Johnson's 20-foot jumper</td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">22-22</td><td valign="top"> </td></tr> <tr class="evenrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:00</td><td valign="top"> </td><td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" valign="top">22-22</td><td valign="top">Aaron Gray defensive rebound</td></tr> <tr class="oddrow"><td valign="top" width="50">0:00</td><td colspan="3" align="center">End of the 1st Quarter</td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td colspan="4" align="right"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
