The AP reports: Mike Bibby scored 30 points and the Atlanta Hawks held on after nearly blowing two huge leads, beating the Chicago Bulls 106-103 to strengthen their hold on the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot. Ben Gordon, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the final period, had a chance to force overtime but his final shot rimmed out as the horn sounded… Joe Johnson scored 19 points for the Hawks, including a towering shot from the baseline over two defenders to make it 101-98 with 1:32 remaining… All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures, with Marvin Williams and Joe Smith both contributing double-doubles. Williams had 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Smith went for 12 and 10. Luol Deng scored 19 points to lead the Bulls, who got points from all 11 players who saw minutes but were beaten on the boards.
Category: Chicago Bulls Blog
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A midget lives in beard of Drew Gooden
I have determined why Drew Gooden has such wildly inconsistent games even moreso lately than ever. It’s because a midget has secretly moved into Gooden’s giant beard. Even Drew doesn’t know he’s there. And sometimes, before games, the midget takes a nap, forgets to sneak out before tipoff, and has to stay hidden in there during the game, weighing Gooden down and causing him to play badly. But when the midget sneaks out before the game, Gooden is lighter, more agile and puts up big stats.
Gooden was fairly inconsistent in the past, and I have no secret explanation for that.
Mar. 26: Sixers 121, Bulls 99
The AP reports: Andre Miller hit all the right targets and had a season-high 18 assists, Lou Williams scored 23 points and Philadelphia romped again, this time in a 121-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night… That fast-paced, push the ball for easy baskets style of play helped the Sixers outscore the Bulls 30-2 in fast-break points en route to their 19th victory in their last 24 games… Andre Iguodala scored 21 points and Thaddeus Young had 20… Thabo Sefolosha led the Bulls with 20 points, Kirk Hinrich had 18 and Andres Nocioni 16.
Mar. 25: Bulls 103, Hawks 94
The AP reports: Drew Gooden scored a season-high 31 points and matched a season best with 16 rebounds Tuesday night as the Chicago Bulls held on in the fourth quarter for a 103-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Bulls, one of several teams chasing the Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, led by 12 after three quarters before Atlanta rallied within two with just more than six minutes left. Ben Gordon’s 3-pointer with 1:27 to go gave the Bulls a 97-90 lead, and he added two free throws with 28 seconds left. Gordon finished with 16 points. Josh Childress scored 22, including eight in the final quarter, to lead Atlanta. Mike Bibby added 18.
Bulls fine Andres Nocioni
The Chicago Tribune (K.C. Johnson) reports: Andres Nocioni and Jim Boylan literally kissed and made up Monday, with the Bulls’ interim coach hamming it up for the TV cameras and kissing the forward he fined on the head as Nocioni addressed the media. The Bulls fined Nocioni an undisclosed amount on Monday for berating Boylan after he got pulled from a short stint in Saturday’s home loss to the Pacers.
Bulls send several players to and from D-League
The Chicago Bulls announced Saturday that the team has recalled rookie forward Demetris Nichols from the Iowa Energy of the D-League. The Bulls also announced they have placed Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons on assignment with the Energy.
Nichols (6-8, 216) has appeared in four games with the Bulls since the team claimed him on waivers on Dec. 7, 2007. He has also spent time this season in New York and Cleveland, having appeared in three games with the Cavaliers before his stint with Chicago. In 14 games with the Energy this season, Nichols has posted averages of 19.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.14 spg and 1.00 bpg in 37.6 mpg.
Brown (6-4, 211) has appeared in four games since the Bulls acquired him via trade with Cleveland on Feb. 21, and holds averages of 6.0 ppg and 1.0 rpg in 12.3 mpg in 19 appearances this season with Cleveland and Chicago.
Simmons (6-9, 235), also acquired by the Bulls in the Feb. 21 trade, has seen action in four games in Chicago. On the season, he has played in 11 games and averaged 0.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg in 7.1 mpg.
Bulls suspend Tyrus Thomas for missing practice
Chicago Bulls Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson has levied a two-game suspension on second-year forward Tyrus Thomas for an unexcused absence from practice today. Thomas will serve the suspension during Chicago’s next two games, sitting out versus Cleveland tomorrow night at the United Center and at Boston on Friday.
Thomas (6-9, 215) has appeared in 54 games, including 17 starts, and averaged 6.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 1.2 apg in 17.3 mpg. He has also shot .412 from the field and .729 from the free throw line.
Danny Granger suspended one game for striking Andres Nocioni
Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger has been suspended for one game without pay for striking the Chicago Bulls’ Andres Nocioni in the face, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 7:10 remaining in the fourth period of Indiana’s 113-107 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at Conseco Fieldhouse. Granger will serve the suspension tonight when the Pacers visit the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.D
Bulls assign Demetris Nichols to D-League
The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has assigned rookie forward Demetris Nichols to the Iowa Energy of the D-League.
Nichols (6-8, 216) has appeared in four games with the Bulls since the team claimed him on waivers on Dec. 7, 2007. He has also spent time this season in New York and Cleveland, having appeared in three games with the Cavaliers before his stint with Chicago.
Nichols was originally selected by Portland in the second round (53rd overall) of NBA Draft 2007 after a four-year standout career at Syracuse.
San Antonio wins Shooting Stars competition
Team San Antonio, with Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Becky Hammon, won the 2008 NBA All-Star Weekend Shooting Stars competition Saturday night. After the team got through the regular shots, Tim Duncan quickly hit the half-court shot.
The other team in the Shooting Stars second and final round was Team Chicago, with Chris Duhon, Candice Dupree and B.J. Armstrong. They did well with the regular shots and easily could have won, but took forever to hit the half-court shot, losing it for that reason.
Team Los Angeles wasn’t too hot. And Team Phoenix had potential, but Eddie Johnson struggled.