Win #50 132-92 Bulls 61% Kings 43% Bulls 38-34 rebounding edge Bulls had 8 men in double figures. No one scored 20!
There's a whole lot of good and very little bad to discuss but the one thing I took away is how perfect Boozer is for the Bulls. There were better power forwards available this off season in Amare' and Bosh. But if you could use a time machine I think it's pretty easy to make the argument that the Bulls should have gone out and immediately signed Boozer, like apparently Thibodeau wanted, instead of courting Bosh. Boozer adds like sixteen different high quality dimensions to the offense just by being on the court. He doesn't even have to hit shots, and is just as effective in a slump in getting other people quality looks. He's a threat from the outside which gives Rose all kinds of room to navigate in the lane and allows for Noah to go one-on-one for rebounds. I also can't think of a better passing big, sans Duncan. Amare's had an unbelievable season, and he's more dominant on offense and defense. But it terms of finding the right match for the right team, the Bulls won the lottery.
A hot tub time machine my dear thunder ? Hmmmm Pau Gasol, Brad Miller, Kevin Love , David Lee , Greg Monroe, Lamar Odom , Andrew Bogut and even guys like Darko Milicic and Spencer Hawes have genuine passing skills - most of whom I would consider have superior or at least equal passing skills to Boozer
I think Boozer's passing is very good in the sense that he always seems to make the right play. Guys like Brad Miller can complete more difficult passes but Boozer is like a metronome in the way he hits the right guy at the right time, even if he never makes a pass that is especially difficult.....similar to Duncan.
Just to reiterate. It's hard to imagine playing more of a complete game than the Bulls did last night. Just wow. But Thibs wasn't totally happy! You get 'em, Thibs. Keep their egos in check. Keep their eyes on the prize.
I don't blame Thibodeau. The starters really didn't play very good perimeter defense. I'm pleased with the win and it was great fun to watch, but the Kings are sadly undermanned.
Thanks for saying what I meant to say better than I did. I was trying to get at that Boozer has a unique skill set that makes him more valuable to the Bulls, even when playing poorly, than other "better" power forwards, even when they are playing well. I think they're a couple of different reasons for this: -- C.B. usually works relatively quick which is good because Rose and Deng often work more slowly. -- C.B. has good hands and passing ability, so the Bulls can use him as a second distribution point in their offense. -- C.B. is a willing passer and makes good unselfish decisions. -- C.B. hits his jump shot with regularity so that teams have to guard him inside of twenty feet. When you combine the lot, you have a player that is able to draw an opposing big out of the lane, which gives Noah (on the boards), and Rose and Deng (when slashing) more room to work. C. Booz balances are offense in a way that few players can.
