It was like an electronic gift on Christmas morning without batteries. What's the use?
The Chicago Bulls got two gifts at the end of Thursday nationally televised match-up against the Miami Heat. First, Daequan Cook fouls Ben Gordon on a three-point attempt to tie up the game.
Then, with just six seconds left, Miami's Dwyane Wade fumbles an inbound play near the hoop and Kirk Hinrich recovers, calling timeout with just 4.6 seconds left.
Perfect scenario to get a last shot, enough to run a play...perfect for Derrick Rose to drive and pitch.
Instead, Rose sits. Huh?
Thabo Sefolosha gets the call on the inbound. Huh?
And lobs into Wade's arms and he then calls timeout with almost no time ran off the clock. In the next sequence, Wade is used as a decoy and Shawn Marion blazes to the hoop and dunks with a second left.
Game, set, vacation.
Ladies and gentleman, your 2009 Chicago Bulls! If Vinny DelNegro wants to coach in the NBA, he'd better understand matchups. You don't call a last play and put in one offensive threat who stands at 6 feet 1 inch, and can't dribble, and no one else that can create their own shot.
Rose is still the best at drawing contact and the way Miami was defending, it shouldn't have been a problem to get deep into the lane. Things that make you go...what?
Sefolosha's inbound play was among the biggest blunders I've ever seen at the pro level. Hinrich was open at the top of the key, and would have been a safe option. Hell, throwing the ball toward the rim would have been smarter.
And for anyone that thinks Thomas has arrived, just look at the six turnovers he put together mostly on stupid dribbling and holding the ball. Michael Beasley scored 21 off the bench, mostly around the rim, which again, tells us that defense is not Thomas or Noah's forte.
Luol Deng is back to his old self: Bad.
By this time next week, we'll know whether or not this team will have a new identity. Hopefully it will, and hopefully Rose will still be a part of the offense.
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