Get Smart? Would You Believe Bulls Lose to Mavs?

December 3, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Midweek musings: It’s easy to criticize a basketball player who — with his team leading by three points in the finals seconds of a game — fouls a three-point shooter. So naturally, we might has well do that. The defender (or offender, depending on how you want to characterize him) was the Chicago Bulls Kirk Hinrich, who should know — and defend — better. His foul allowed the visiting Dallas Mavericks to send Tuesday night’s game into overtime. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau’s postgame perspective: “That was my fault. We wanted to take the foul, and I was not clear enough about how and where.” Because Hinrich not fouling a Mav in the act of shooting is such a complex concept.

Taylor Swift blends right in with Victoria’s Secret models.

* Hinrich, on his foul of Monta Ellis: “I waited too long and I messed up. It was a bonehead play. I know better than that.” Well, that’s comforting to know. Or discomforting — depending on how you want to view his statement.

* Mavs veteran Dirk Nowitzki, on the foul by Hinrich (who is in his 12th NBA season): “In my 17 years, it was one of the dumber fouls I’ve ever seen.”

* More than costing the Bulls a victory (the Mavs prevailed 132-129 in double overtime), his foul cost the Bulls playing time — as in accumulated minutes for Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah (all of whom have dealt with injuries this season). Not to mention for Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy. 3 Gasol led the Bulls in minutes (50) and points (29) and tied Noah for most rebounds (14). Dunleavy logged 49 minutes, Butler 46, Rose 37 and Noah 36. Maybe the additional playing time normally wouldn’t be too much of a problem. But the Bulls have a game Wednesday night at Charlotte. Rose has enough trouble playing consecutive contests, much less back-to-back ones. Something says Thibodeau will have to use his bench early and often — and that’s assuming the aforementioned players suit up.

* Gasol, after playing his most minutes since 2011 and played Wednesday: “Hopefully whenever we get there I’ll go to bed and get some good sleep and ice my legs, pretty much my entire body tomorrow morning.”

* Rose on playing Wednesday: “I feel good, but who knows. I’m disappointed we let this go, but we are still confident as a team.” Is it me or does each time Rose uses the “confident” seem like he is trying to convince himself or others?

* On the bright side (well, almost), Rose did hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into a second overtime.

* Speaking of making field goals, Ellis had a game-high 38 points. Noted Gasol:
I think he took 35 shots [16-of-35], which is impressive.” Yes, but he was probably really tired after the game, too.

* The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided arbitration with second baseman Darwin Barney. The former Cubs fan favorite agreed to a reported one-year, $2.525 million deal. Given the limited role he had as a backup middle infielder, either Thanksgiving came late or Christmas came early for Barney.

Playboy’s December Playmate Elizabeth Ostrander.

* If it’s Wednesday (which seems likely because yesterday was Tuesday), then it means “Sports & Torts” with co-hosts David Spada and Elliott Harris on talkzone.com at noon Central time is only a day away. The highly acclaimed (well, certainly in the Spada and Harris households as well as reportedly elsewhere) interview show will featured Playboy’s December 2014 Playmate Elizabeth Ostrander and former Miami Dolphins receiver Mark Clayton. The program also will be available later Thursday via podcast in the Talkzone.com archives. Meaning the show should be around forever, if not longer.

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