The Chicago Bulls got a big win over the Orlando Magic tonight, behind a big game from Derrick Rose.
Rose came out aggressive tonight, attacking the Magic’s defense. In the third quarter, Rose came up big, scoring 16 points, which coincided with the Bulls building up a big lead in the game. In the fourth quarter, as the Magic began to creep back into the game, Rose was the one to hit the big shot to answer the previously 10 unanswered points scored by the Magic to bring it from a 90-75 game to a 90-85 game.
In all, Rose finished the game with 30 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, in what was one of his finest games of the season. When Rose attacks defenses as aggressively as he did tonight, he increases his scoring efficiency, as he creates higher percentage shots for himself, but he also opens up the game for his teammates. In driving with this type of aggressiveness, Rose forces other players on the opposing team to react, opening up shots for his teammates, and also, when he drives, he can bring help defenders with him, opening up easier offensive rebounds when he does miss a shot.
Another big part of the Bulls win was their ability to shutdown Dwight Howard. Howard finished the game with 9 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulls showed a real team effort in guarding Howard, collapsing on him with help defenders, and having some annoying hands flailing in there to frustrate Howard.
But the biggest factor in the Bulls’ ability to guard Howard was the Magic’s inability to hit their three point shots. The Magic shot 14-37 from three, which is still good for 56.8 TS% on those shots, which isn’t bad at all, but they hit a dry spell from the third quarter to late fourth quarter which really did them in, and kept them from utilizing Howard in the post, as the Bulls collapsed in on him.
John Salmons was big off the bench for the Bulls scoring 15 points on 5-9 shooting, and Kirk Hinrich was solid, scoring 11 points on 4-9 shooting. Both players have been shooting much better since they swapped roles.
Matt Barnes was key in keeping the Magic in the game, scoring 23 points, going 5-6 from three. But Barnes’ big game wasn’t enough for the Magic to win, as both Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis played terribly. Vince Carter finished with 8 points on 3-15 shooting and Rashard Lewis finished with 7 points on 2-9 shooting.
Taj Gibson stepped up for the Bulls, getting a double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, to go along with 3 blocks, all of which came late in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Anderson gave the Magic 12 points an 9 rebounds off the bench, and J.J. Redick added in 11 points, also off the bench.
Jameer Nelson had a double double with 10 points and 10 assists.
Both Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas were only given limited minutes, but both played pretty solidly. It appears that the only reason that those two didn’t get more playing time was because Taj Gibson was playing well, and Vinny favored Miller’s bigger body on Howard over Noah.
The Bulls are playing some very confident basketball right now, and could make a run up to the fifth seed by the end of the season if they keep up this kind of play.
With this win, their fourth in a row, the Bulls improve to 14-17 on the season, and have yet to lose since Tyrus Thomas returned from his broken arm.
