Should Eric Gordon say "my bad?"
Just as the L.A. Clippers were about to put the dagger in the Chicago Bulls Wednesday night, holding on to a four-point lead, they gave it back in rare form.
On a simple curl, Ben Gordon came around at the top of the key and launched a three with less than 30 seconds left in the game. Rookie Eric Gordon, who was screened on the play, reached over and hit Ben on the arm.
Four-point play. Overtime. Bulls win 115-109.
An amazing sequence that has macro effects on both teams. The Clips were coming off a three-game win streak, and were about to pull away with a road victory they didn't deserve.
The Bulls were on their way to another bad loss that would have had them losing four of their last five and on their way to some respectable competition with the Boston Celtics.
I hear they play pretty good defense.
It's easy to say that the Bulls pulled this one out, but L.A. gave this one away and maybe it was a token from the basketball gods, considering how the team was robbed of a game on a phantom call against the Charlotte Bobcats Tuesday night.
So they taketh; so they giveth.
Derrick Rose had another subpar game but ended up with decent stats, racking up 16 points and seven assists but only shooting five of 17 from the field. His shot looks flat, which might be the result of another 42-minute game.
Mind you he's about finished with the college season at this point when comparing minutes, and considering he's asked to do more than your average 20-year-old, he could be a little tired.
The stoic guard looked frustrated at times on Wednesday, as he did on Tuesday. Part of the reason is that defenses are trapping or closing on him when he drives, forcing him to alter shots or back out.
And it's nice to see Andres Nocioni regain his form after nearly three weeks of bad basketball, draining three big shots near the end of regulation and did a decent job of holding off Zach Randolph.
Randolph, nevertheless, ended up with 30 points and Marcus Camby put on a Rodman-like clinic with 27 rebounds.
This, mind you, was a player that was sold for a case of Ice House and a half pack of cigarettes to the Clippers from the Denver Nuggets to save cap space.
I mean who needs a 6'11 experienced forward/center who will average a double-double, with about four blocks and two steals a game? He was also a former defensive player of the year on one of the worst defensive teams in the league.
He's smart, a great teammate, capable on offense as seen on an alley-oop play from Baron Davis and always motivated.
Nah...there's no team that can make use of a guy like Camby.
Davis, by the way, looked like the vintage former Division II backup who was trying to get back in shape while in his mid 30s in a park district league. Sluggish. Lazy. Fat. Choosey. Bitchy.
He's lucky Rose was having another off night.
And that leads us to Vinny DelNegro who needs to realize that what was working a month ago, is not working now. Teams adjust and guys go flat.
Drew Gooden, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Nocioni all played their part tonight, but the Bulls simply need to do more on defense and create easier offense. They were missing some of that early as Tyrus Thomas exited the game early with an injury.
We'll know more about it in the interim, but who would ever believe that I'd be writing how Thomas has become an important player on the Bulls?
I still don't believe that I just typed that. Must be the hangover.
But it's important that he never know about it. He's a better player when has something to prove. And so is the rest of the team.
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