The Dabullz.com Bulls Player of the Year for the 2008-2009 season is starting shooting guard, Ben Gordon.
There was initial uncertainty around Gordon coming into the year, as he missed the entire pre-season. He started the season coming off the bench, but he quickly earned a starting spot.
Gordon avoided his usual early season slump, averaging 21 .2 points on 45.6% from the field in November. His November included a 35 point outburst as he led the Bulls to victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
In December, Gordon was great again, averaging 21.6 points, and shot a titilating 49.6% from three.
In a December 18th game against the Los Angeles Clippers, with the Bulls down by four, with 20.5 seconds left in the game Ben Gordon elevated for a three point shot, drained it, was fouled by Eric Gordon, and sank the free throw for the four point play. The game went into overtime and the Bulls won.
In a road loss against the Atlanta Hawks on December 27th, 2008, Ben Gordon sank six three point shots to shatter Scottie Pippen’s record of 664 three point shots made as a Bull.
In these first two months, all the Bulls really consisted of were Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon, as Kirk Hinrich went down with an early season injury and Luol Deng, Tyrus thomas, Joakim Noah, and Drew Gooden combined to make the worst front court in basketball.
Gordon struggled in January, only averaging 17.9 points per a game.
In February, Gordon got back on track, averaging 22.7 points per game.
On February 10th, which was Johnny Red Kerr night, the Bulls found themselves down big against the Pistons. The Bulls rallied a comeback and tied the game at 102. Rose found Gordon open in the corner for three with 16.7 second sleft in the game. Rodney Stuckey promptly fouled Gordon, knocking him out of bounds. As Gordon laid on the ground his shot went in. Gordon made the free throw for his second four point play of the season, and his first game winner of the season.
Following the Brad Miller and John Salmons trade, with the Bulls shorthanded, Gordon broke out for 37 points to lead the Bulls to a victory over the Denver Nuggets, the second seed in the Eastern Conference. A few nights before, Gordon dropped 34 on the Heat, but the Bulls fell 95-93 on a Shawn Marion dunk, after Thabo Sefolosha missed a wide open Ben Gordon in the corner for the game winner, throwing the ball right to Dwyane Wade.
Gordon had a good March, scoring 20.6 point a game.
Ben Gordon found himself matched up against Dwyane Wade, for what would be the best game of the NBA season. This of course was only preparation for the classic postseason series that would be to come. Ben Gordon and Dwyane Wade found themselves in a scoring duel. Gordon made three point shot after three point shot to rally the Bulls, who were down double digits, giving the Bulls a 104 to 101 lead. Dwyane Wade would then tie the game at 104 on a clutch three pointer. The Bulls gave the final shot of regulation to Rose, who missed the potential game winner.
In the overtime period, John Salmons would carry the Bulls scoring load. The team’s tied 117-117 and went on to a second overtime. The Bulls and Heat found themselves tied at 127, and the Bulls had the ball to close out the game. The Bulls called an isolation play for John Salmons, who was stripped by Wade, who dribbled the ball down court and shot in a floating three to give the Heat the victory.
Gordon finished off the season strong scoring 23.3 point a game in April. For one of the weeks in April, Ben Gordon was named the Eastern Conference player of the week.
In an April 13th game against the Detroit Piston, with the loser having to play Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs, Ben Gordon broke down the Pistons defense to find a layup. It was his second game winner of the season and his second against the Pistons.
Ben Gordon broke Nick Van Exel’s record for most three pointers made in the first five years of a career, extending the record to 770 three point shots.
In the playoffs, Gordon was phenomenal, averaging 24.2 points per a game.
In game one, Gordon scored 20 points, including 12 points to help the Bulls get a victory against the Celtics in the opening game of the playoffs.
In game two, Gordon and Ray Allen found themselves in a shooters duel. Ben Gordon scored 42 points, but unfortunately Ray Allen got the last shot, sinking the game winner.
In the second quarter of game four, Ben Gordon would tear his hamstring. An injury he would fight through for the rest of the series.
In game four, with the Bulls down three in the first overtime period and the series on the line, Gordon hit a fallaway three pointer over Paul Pierce to tie the game and save the series, as the Bulls went on to win the game.
In game five, Gordon scored 26 points, and hit the potential game winner over Stephon Marbury, but the Bulls couldn’t hold for the stop on the other end.
Gordon scored 33 points in Game 7, coming out into the game on fire.
This is why Ben Gordon is the 2008-2009 Dabullz.com Player of the Year. There was no other Bulls that was consistently good as Gordon throughout the season and there was no other Bull who was as good as Gordon when Gordon was at his best.
