Odd pairing yields impressive results for Bulls
The Bulls opened the fourth quarter Saturday with a lineup they haven’t used before — Rose and fellow point guard John Lucas III on the floor together.
Basically, it was the usual Luol Deng-plus-Bench Mob lineup, only with Rose instead of Deng. It also moved reliable shooter Lucas to the two guard, to help combat Toronto’s zone defense.
It worked well. The Bulls opened the fourth quarter with an 8-2 run that helped break open the game. Lucas scored 8 fourth-quarter points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
“It was great where he could push the ball, I could play off the ball,” Rose said. “It’s kind of weird. You’ve got to get used to it if coach ever goes back to it, but it was great.”
Lucas claimed it was a lineup he and Rose have been dreaming about but never expected to happen.
“It’s something we talked about, just on the plane joking around,” Lucas said. “It’s something we didn’t think was going to come today.
“I came in ready. I’m always into the game. Every possession I’m into the game. I never drift off. I wasn’t expecting to go back in. But it just shows the stuff we do in practice, knowing every position.”
Not ready to rumble:When Taj Gibson hit the deck after a hard foul by Toronto#146;s Jamaal Magloire in the fourth quarter, the 5-foot-11 John Lucas III rushed up to Magloire and the two had a brief exchange.After the contest, Lucas promised he had no violent intentions.#147;Nothing was going to happen,#148; Lucas said. #147;No punches were going to be thrown. Trust me. Look at me. That#146;s a quick fight over with.#147;That#146;s my guy, so I was just like, #145;Come on, Cat, was that necessary to grab him while he#146;s trying to shoot?#146; I#146;m competitive and I ride for my teammates. I thought it was uncalled for.#148;No end to sit in:Richard Hamilton (groin) and C.J. Watson (left elbow sprain) missed their ninth games due to injuries Saturday.Both are said to be close to returning, but it#146;s not clear when either player will return. Coach Tom Thibodeau has said he#146;d like to see those players get a chance to practice before taking the court in a game.Using that guideline, both players are out for the next two games, because the Bulls won#146;t practice again until Thursday.#147;Let me qualify that #8212; I will consider a shootaround a practice,#148; Thibodeau said before Saturday#146;s contest.Then Monday probably won#146;t work because it#146;s a noon start in Memphis for Martin Luther King Day, so no shootaround.Bull horns:Toronto#146;s top scorer, 7-foot Andrea Bargnani, missed his second game with a calf strain. Guard Jerryd Bayless sat out with an ankle injury. ... The Raptors made just 1 of 7 free throws, a record low for a Bulls opponent.