Gibson, new-look Bulls obliterate 76ers 122-90
This week brought the Bulls more time off for Joakim Noah, two trade-deadline deals and a schedule featuring four games in five nights.
None of it slowed them down.
The Bulls stretched their winning streak to four games by dismantling the Philadelphia 76ers 122-90 on Saturday at the United Center.
It helped that every opponent this week was at least 12 game below .500. Still, the Bulls (29-26) are moving up in the standings and showing a remarkable team concept.
On Saturday, the Bulls were credited with 26 assists, compared to a franchise record-low 3 turnovers. Newcomers Hakim Warrick (15 points, 9 rebounds) and Flip Murray (12 points) look like they've been around since the championship era, and Noah even made a surprise seven-minute appearance after missing the previous seven games with a sore foot.
"It's a very unselfish team, easy to play with and fun to play with," Warrick said. "It's a great group of guys. It really felt like we've been together since preseason just the way the ball's been moving."
This one was pretty much over when the Bulls unleashed a 21-0 run late in the second quarter. There were plenty of sideshows, though, to keep the fans entertained.
Noah botched a breakaway dunk, actor Vince Vaughn sat at center court with a Derrick Rose jersey folded in his lap and Kirk Hinrich became the Bulls' all-time leader in 3-point baskets. He passed Ben Gordon and now has 773 for his career.
"Really, I think it's just a tribute to me being here so long (seven years)," Hinrich said. "I don't feel like I shoot a lot of threes. I just try to take them when they're available."
Speaking of seven years, that might be how long it takes Noah to live down his missed dunk, which happened with no defenders within 40 feet. The ball bounced about 50 feet into the air after striking the back rim.
"I was just excited and I guess I tried to put too much on it," Noah said. "I wish I would have just laid it up. I think it's going to follow me around for a little bit, but it's OK."
Rookie Taj Gibson piled up 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Bulls. Hinrich and Rose scored 17 points each, while Brad Miller finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Maybe everyone should take a cue from Bulls general manager Gar Forman and start calling coach Vinny Del Negro, "The Blender." Apparently, he's a genius at incorporating new players into the lineup. It worked last year with Miller and John Salmons, and now it's Warrick and Murray.
"If you play unselfish and play the right way, the game's a lot more fun," Del Negro said.
Before the deadline, Rose said he liked the team the Bulls already had. He's starting to like the new one even better.
"It tells you something about them," Rose said of Warrick and Murray. "They're just ballplayers. You can tell they can fit in anywhere, especially this system where they get open doing what they're supposed to do. I guess that it helps being in the league a couple years."
Mike McGraw's game tracker Bulls 122, Sixers 90Easy does it: This could have been a dangerous game with the Bulls playing for the fourth time in five nights. But the home team's depth conquered all fatigue and seven players scored in double figures, led by Taj Gibson with 20 points, which matched his season-high.The long run: The Bulls trailed 38-35 with 5:19 left in the second quarter, then went on a 21-0 run. Yes, 3 unanswered touchdowns. The highlight was an actual fastbreak lay-in by veteran center Brad Miller.Host of newcomers: Center Joakim Noah made a surprise seven-minute appreance. Hakim Warrick (15 points) and Flip Murray (12 points) made themselves at home. The only thing missing was some Joe Alexander garbage time minutes, but he was inactive.False354512Allen Iverson shoots off-balance after being fouled by Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich.Associated PressFalse