Probably last summer was the best for a Chicago Bulls' fan, when a medical lab announced the release of "Age Away." This could mean that the team's current star, Derrick Rose, could recover quickly from his last injury and that he wouldn't need to sit out for the entire season. But it also meant that probably the best player of all time, Michael Jordan, would return home.
Well, not exactly. Although the Bulls retained Rose and signed Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan turned down Chicago's offer.
However, their start of the season wasn't as good as they were expecting: first, some chemistry issues, and then the lack of bench depth, made really difficult to the Bulls to win some important games, and because of that they were 5th in the Eastern Conference by the time they had to face one of the best teams in the league: The Brotherhood.
It wasn't the best moment for neither of the two teams. Although winning their previous match against the Bobcats, "The Brotherhood" still had some doubts about their bench after the poor performance most of them displayed in the humiliating loss against the Mavericks. In the other hand, the Bulls were returning home after a disastrous road trip, in which they lost 4 out of 5 games.
The match started and from the first play it was clear that this could be one of the best face-offs of the season. Both teams traded baskets for a while, until the Bulls managed to begin a 16-5 run near the end of the second quarter, relying on Kendall Gill's explosiveness. The match headed half-time with the Bulls leading by 7.
But then, the 76ers' defence readjusted and all the responsibility of leading the comeback fell on Iverson. And he didn't dissappoint: 33 points in 24 minutes, plus 2 rebounds, 7 assists and a clutch steal to Kendall Gill, that lead to the play that tied the game.
With 5 minutes to go, the game looked as if it could go to overtime. However, World B. Free came in for Jrue Holiday and lead the team's final effort: thanks to his energy, the tired Bulls' defence fell apart and, with less than 2 minutes remaining, they were down by 5. They tried to come back, but it was too late: after the free-throws game, the Sixers won the game by 7.
Post-Game Stats:
Well, not exactly. Although the Bulls retained Rose and signed Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan turned down Chicago's offer.
"It was difficult for me to turn down the offer they (the Bulls) made me. I have to be honest, I would give everything to play one more day with that jersey, but at the same time I have some unfinished business. Ten years ago I promised a ring for a city, a ring that I couldn't bring. Thus, this season I'm going to play for the Washington Wizards" - Michael JordanWith "The GOAT" out of the team, another member of "the olympus of basketball" wanted to join the Bulls: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Not willing to return to Milwaukee, nor sharing team with Shaquille O'Neal in Los Angeles, he signed for the Chicago Bulls and instatly formed one of the most feared teams in the league.
 |
| Once a rival, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the new hero of the Windy City |
However, their start of the season wasn't as good as they were expecting: first, some chemistry issues, and then the lack of bench depth, made really difficult to the Bulls to win some important games, and because of that they were 5th in the Eastern Conference by the time they had to face one of the best teams in the league: The Brotherhood.
It wasn't the best moment for neither of the two teams. Although winning their previous match against the Bobcats, "The Brotherhood" still had some doubts about their bench after the poor performance most of them displayed in the humiliating loss against the Mavericks. In the other hand, the Bulls were returning home after a disastrous road trip, in which they lost 4 out of 5 games.
The match started and from the first play it was clear that this could be one of the best face-offs of the season. Both teams traded baskets for a while, until the Bulls managed to begin a 16-5 run near the end of the second quarter, relying on Kendall Gill's explosiveness. The match headed half-time with the Bulls leading by 7.
But then, the 76ers' defence readjusted and all the responsibility of leading the comeback fell on Iverson. And he didn't dissappoint: 33 points in 24 minutes, plus 2 rebounds, 7 assists and a clutch steal to Kendall Gill, that lead to the play that tied the game.
With 5 minutes to go, the game looked as if it could go to overtime. However, World B. Free came in for Jrue Holiday and lead the team's final effort: thanks to his energy, the tired Bulls' defence fell apart and, with less than 2 minutes remaining, they were down by 5. They tried to come back, but it was too late: after the free-throws game, the Sixers won the game by 7.
Post-Game Stats:
 |
| (Click for full resolution) |
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario