Blame Vinny
The Bulls lost 118-115 last night in another hard-fought battle. There were a lot of good things that can be taken from the split in Boston. Derrick Rose came of age on national television in Game 1. Joakim Noah played with all kinds of heart that Bulls fans have been hoping to see since the day he was drafted. Ben Gordon has a hot hand and we are going to need his shooting. The Bulls stole a road game and played very well in the loss (in general). In fact, the Game 2 loss proves above all else that Game 1 was not a fluke and the Bulls are in this series.
All those things are wonderful. And yet the Bulls could be going back to Chicago up 2-0. The reason they aren’t? Vinny Del Negro. There are a number of things he dicked up in last night’s game (and Saturday’s). For starters, Brad Miller cannot guard ANYONE. He got burned by Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, and even Leon Powe. He rotates slowly and doesn’t get back in transition. Don’t get me wrong, I like what Miller brings to the table offensively. But in a game where Tyrus Thomas has 6 blocks, why is he on the bench for the final 10 minutes? He was actually stopping people, while Miller looked like swiss cheese out there.
Let’s talk about timeouts. They are pretty much the one thing an NBA coach has to manage effectively. And yet there the Bulls were with the ball, 2 seconds remaining, and no timeout to advance it and maybe get a decent look at the basket. Oops.
And another thing. You know that play Vinny calls? Yeah that one play that he calls every single time? You know the one. It goes like this: Derrick Rose brings up the ball. Miller sets a high screen, but doesn’t really set a good one. Then he tries to slip the screen and Rose hits him with the ball. Then Miller turns the ball over. I think it’s time to dream up something new with your clean-looking whiteboard Vinny.
I’m trying to figure out a way to blame the Bulls inability to rebound on VDN (they were outrebounded 21-8 on the offensive glass). I want to say that if Tyrus had been left in the game, he would have gotten more rebounds. The problem is he was standing at the perimeter the whole game calling for the ball and looking for his jump shot. Moron. So the rebounding thing may not have been Vinny’s fault, but pretty much everything else was.
All in all this was a good stretch in Boston for the Bulls and they should be able to win at home. Vinny just needs to stop abandoning either Noah or Thomas for huge stretches in the 4th quarter and the Bulls have a real chance of winning this series. Game 3 is in Chicago on Thursday night.
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Time April 21, 2009 at 10:26 am
[...] Blame Vinny for Bulls Game 2 Loss — (Not Qualified to Comment) [...]
Comment from Kevin Tapani Fan Club
Time April 21, 2009 at 10:46 am
Two reactions….the first is to the guy who is upset by all the love Derrick Rose is getting after his filthy performance on Saturday. This comment had to have been made out of jealousy. You can’t hold a guy who has been in the league for a few years and who is surrounded by Hall-of-Famers to the same standards as a rookie on a team with a bunch of young idiots, a coach that doesn’t know what he is doing half of the time, and a few guys who are trying to overachieve past their role-player natural abilities. Yes, Rondo also had an unreal game. But Rose is getting all of the attention because of his relatively disadvantaged position compared to Rondo. You can’t discount the experience of a few years in the pros and playing with K-G, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen…you just can’t.
My second reaction has to do with the criticism of Vinny for playing Miller so much. I’m on the fence because I was so furious with how poorly he played in Game 1, but at the same time I am scared to have Noah and Thomas on the court at the same time. I just don’t know what to expect. I think at times it could work, but I still think they are too young and immature to coexist for long stretches without doing something really stupid. I’m more confident with a fumbling Brad Miller and one of them.
Comment from JFKFC
Time April 21, 2009 at 12:10 pm
As much as I think VDH is overmatched as a coach, even against Doc “Tard” Rivers, he had to keep Thomas on the bench in the last 10 minutes, otherwise he risked Tyrus stealing the ball from his teammates and hoisting 20 footers every possession. He is beyond moronic in his shot selection and needs to start playing closer to the rim, 140 pounds or not.
Comment from benny the bull
Time April 21, 2009 at 12:23 pm
1. D Rose is as good as the hype and that doesn’t take anything away from Rondo, who is emerging as a top tier point guard in the league.
2. That last few minutes of the game were unbelievable. BG scored every time he touched the ball those last few possessions. Yes, Vinny made some mistakes but what can you do about Jesus stepping up like that?
Comment from Player to be named later
Time April 21, 2009 at 4:39 pm
@ Hate Living in Chicago
…Kirk? That you?
Comment from Zoner
Time April 22, 2009 at 10:35 am
“Let’s talk about timeouts. They are pretty much the one thing an NBA coach has to manage effectively. And yet there the Bulls were with the ball, 2 seconds remaining, and no timeout to advance it and maybe get a decent look at the basket. Oops.”
C’mon. You think Gordon even gets a look there? The Bulls lost because they were pounded on the boards and in the paint. Vinny needs to manage TOs better, but many of the ones he used were to stop runs.
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Time May 14, 2009 at 7:23 am
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Comment from Hating Living in Chicago
Time April 21, 2009 at 10:14 am
I’m so sick of everyone blowing up Derrick Rose’s performance. He was outplayed by Rajon Rondo. Period. Big deal Rose is a rookie. He was the #1 pick in the draft. he is supposed to play like that. Rondo however was the 21st overall pick who just dropped a triple double on everyones golden child. Rose getting 2 early fouls was no fluke and I expect it to happen again this series.