reflections
January 9th, 2008 About that final quarter…

The quarter opened well with Aaron Gray getting a bucket to up the lead to 13. One would think against a poor defensive team who was 1-13 on the road that a 13 point lead in the 4th quarter was safe. One would think that after Joe Smith scores with 9:11 left that the Bulls would score more than 6 points for the rest of the game. One would think that with Ben Gordon on the floor that the Bulls would get one point in the final four minutes. Yet, the Bulls found a way to lose it. The 2007-08 Bulls really are amazing in that respect. Last year, no deficit was too big. This year, no lead is safe. Then again, with Deng hurt and Nocioni slowed with the flu, the Bulls were going with Tyrus Thomas, Joe Smith, and Ben Wallace as their front court down the stretch. As much as I am a fan of Joe Smith, I cannot think of one other team who has trotted out a worse offensive frontcourt in crunch time. Throw in the fact that they let the Knicks get three shots on the game deciding possession, I am at a loss of words as to why anyone would think that the Bulls put their best lineup possible down the stretch. If they can’t score, rebound, or stop the Knicks big men, then what good are they?

I am also wondering why Viktor Khryapa continues to get suited up when the team doesn’t have enough confidence to put him in the game when both Luol Deng and Andres Nocioni are out? Is he really that bad? If so, then why is he still on the roster? He’s in the final year of his contract, they can cut him without it hurting them long term. Having him suited up when they have no intention to ever play him one meaningful minute is hurting this team.

Also, Thabo Sefolosha had his best game in the past month on Saturday against Sacramento. He played three minutes tonight. A night where they needed someone to step in on the wing they couldn’t find a way to play him more than three minutes. I’m not the world’s biggest Thabo fan, but they sure do love yanking him around.

Finally, I want to write this before I read the papers windering why Aaron Gray doesn’t get more minutes… he had three fouls and two turnovers in ten minutes. He did a nice job of picking up the garbage tonight and got 12 points in ten minutes, which is nice. For a back up center, that is a solid outing. It doesn’t change the fact that he is almost an anti-presence defensively in the middle. He couldn’t guard Curry on the block at all. If they played him 20 minutes, he would have fouled out. He also isn’t this great post presence that the Bulls have been missing. For all the love the Bulls announcers throw Gray’s way, he is still a downgrade as a post threat from Sweets. The more they play Gray, the farther they go from being a playoff team and closer to being a part of the Michael Beasley sweepstakes.

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