Familiarity still an issue for the Bulls
How many times have the Bulls watched opposing teams sell out defensively to stop Derrick Rose from getting to the rim late in games?
Probably 100 or more.
They've had trouble finding answers for the last two NBA seasons, so it's no surprise they had problems on Wednesday in Oklahoma City, with seven new players in uniform and a revamped coaching staff.
On the bright side, the Bulls hung close against a tough opponent for 45 minutes before the Thunder erupted with a 13-4 run to earn a 106-95 victory in the season opener.
“They're just keeping people on me,” Rose said after the game. “The guard is following me, the big man is staying with me until I pass the ball, almost like a double-team. We're going to fix that.”
For the Bulls, this game was essentially an extension of what happened in preseason. The four returning regulars looked solid, while the newcomers struggled to get comfortable.
The Bulls took Thursday off and will be hoping another preseason trend trouncing inferior opponents at the United Center holds true for Saturday's home opener against Detroit.
Rose was amazing in the first half, piling up 20 points and 4 assists while playing just 16 minutes due to foul trouble. The Bulls kept the ball moving on offense and were shooting 50 percent from the field at the end of three quarters.
“He's really good,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said of Rose. “He's about as quick as you will see a guard in this league from basket to basket.”
Starting big men Joakim Noah (18 points, 19 rebounds) and Taj Gibson (16 points, 11 boards) played very well in Oklahoma. Luol Deng finished with 13 points, 4 turnovers and just 2 rebounds, but spent more time guarding Thunder star Kevin Durant than anyone else. Durant scored 30 points, although he didn't shoot well (9 for 24).
The Bulls didn't shoot well, either, in the fourth quarter (25 percent) as Oklahoma City cranked up the defensive pressure and the Bulls struggled for an offensive option other than Rose.
Coach Tom Thibodeau turned to Brian Scalabrine for a while in the second half, hoping he could help spark some offense. When Thibodeau turned to sharpshooter Kyle Korver late in the game, Rose and Korver didn't seem to be on the same page.
“That just comes with playing,” Rose said. “The play calls, the timing has to be right, make sure everybody was in the right spot, everybody cutting hard.”
Newcomer Ronnie Brewer had a rough night, going 0-for-6 from the field. Backup point guard C.J. Watson knocked down some shots, but mostly by going one-on-one. Starting two guard Keith Bogans finished with 3 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block in 36 minutes of action.
“I thought the first three quarters we did a good job of attacking their switching,” Thibodeau said. “Then, in the fourth quarter, I thought we held onto (the ball) and we were standing too much. First three quarters, when there was a switch, we kept moving. Once we started to hold onto the ball it became harder for us to score.”
When all is said and done this season, Oklahoma City might turn out to be one of the Bulls' toughest road games. They'll have to take advantage of six of their next seven at home while Carlos Boozer recovers from a broken hand and the players get better acquainted.