Nov 10, 2011- The Season That Wasn't

Only two games on the NBA docket but both were good matchups as San Antonio traveled to Portland in the nightcap but the main event was in Chicago as the Oklahoma City Thunder visited the UC to take on the Chicago Bulls. This game featured the two best young players in the NBA in Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose. OKC was looking to make a big statement and take another step to legitmacy as a contender while the Bulls were looking for a prime performance after periods of uneven play to begin the season.

The Bulls came out with their usual defensive intensity and held the Thunder to just 6 for 20 from the floor in the quarter as the Bulls led  23-14 at the end of the first. Carlos Boozer got off to a strong start with nine points and four rebounds in the quarter and more importantly no fouls. Early foul trouble had plagued Boozer early in the season. Boozer's forward running mate Leol Deng also had a good first quarter with seven points and smothering defense on Durant , holding the reigning scoring champion to a 1 for 4 quarter.

The second quarter began with another of the Bulls weakness showing up, lack of scoring off the bench. The Thunder reserves led a 14-2 charge behind James Harden and  the newly returned from Europe, Serge Ibaka. Coach Thibs was forced to return Rose back to the game and the young star scored five quick points to put the Bulls back ahead by two. Durant and Russell Westbrook found the touch and rattled off the Thunder's next 16 points  took a 44-40 lead with two minutes left in the quarter. The Bulls turned up the pressure again, holding the Thunder without a point while scoring seven of their own, all by Deng to take a 47-44 lead at the break. Westbrook led the Thunder with 15 while Deng paced the Bulls with 14.


The third quarter was a back and forth affair as neither team could get in sync offensively. Durant and Rose both continued to struggle from the field. Through three quarters, Durant had 14 points on 5 for 18 shooting, Rose had 13 points on 4 for 13 shooting.  The secondary players for both teams stepped up as Deng led the Bulls with 22 at the end of the third, Westbrook had 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. A Kyle Korver halfcourt shot at the buzzer gave the Bulls a 69-66 lead at the end of the quarter.

The fourth quarter started out much like the rest of the game,  a defensive game with a few bursts of offense. The Thunder took a five point lead with six minutes left on the strength of a  11-3 run as the Bulls missed 11 of their first 12 shots to start the quarter. Harden continued his strong play off the bench , eventually finishing with 17 points. Rose re-entered the fray after an extended rest and got the Bulls back even behind five quick point to knot the score at  77.  The game became a game of two-on-two as the Bulls ran  mostly pick and roll and pick and pop with Rose and Boozer while Durant and Westbrook took turns for OKC. With the Bulls down two with 1:18  left, Boozer's three point play over Ibaka gave the Bulls the lead  88-87. The Thunder responded as Westbrook broke the Bulls defense down and found Kendrick Perkins for an easy layup to but OKC up one with 1:01 left. After a Bulls timeout in which Thibs reamed out his team for its defensive effort on the last possession, the Bulls responded as Rose's elbow jumup shot gave the Bulls a 90-89 lead with 40 seconds left. Westbrook had an answer , hitting a tough bank shot with 22 seconds to give the Thunder a 91-90.  The Bulls called their final timeout to draw up the final play.  Rose penetrated the lane and found a cutting  Boozer for a layup to give the Bulls a one point lead with  3.5 seconds to play.  The Thunder's attempted inbound pass to Durant  was stolen by Deng who was able to avoid being fouled and the clock ran out. The Bulls escaping with a 92-91 win.

Durant vs Rose
The much hyped matchup did not quite live up to billing as both young stars struggled.
Durant:  22points, 8 rebounds,   8 for  25 shooting
Rose:  20 points, 9 assists, 6 for 19 field goals

A Carlos Boozer Sighting 
Boozer had a big fourth quarter  and finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. More importantly , he stayed out of foul troubled and showing up big on a night where Rose was not his best

What about Leol Deng?
Although he didnt score in the 4th, his defense on Durant was huge along with the team high 22 points

The Best Player on the Floor
Russell Westbrook had a huge night with  31 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists , a near triple double against the MVP. While he has his critics, there is no doubt he is a great talent and just needs to continue to mature.

Other game
San Antonio  102, Portland 92