Chicago Bulls vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Postgame Grades and Analysis
The Chicago Bulls never led during four quarters against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday, but when they forced overtime, it seemed assured Pau Gasol's Bulls would prevail in his return to L.A. Instead, the Lakers lasted through two overtimes for a 123-118 win, snapping their nine-game losing streak.
Somehow, the Lakers failed to hit a field goal from the 1:51 mark of the fourth quarter until just 50 seconds remained in overtime, but the Bulls hadn't pulled away. Then the visitors ran out of gas in the second OT.
The Bulls saw their comeback quashed by a no-name Lakers team vastly lacking in the talent and veteran leadership which the Bulls boast. After the Bulls stumbled through a 2-6 stretch, players and even general manager Gar Forman addressed rumors that coach Tom Thibodeau's job could be in jeopardy, per the Chicago Sun Times' Joe Cowley on Jan. 21.
Then the team won three out of four, but this loss can only fuel the rumor mill.
| Derrick Rose | C+ |
| Jimmy Butler | A- |
| Nikola Mirotic | F |
| Pau Gasol | B+ |
| Joakim Noah | B+ |
| Rest of Team | C+ |
| Jordan Clarkson | B |
| Wayne Ellington | B |
| Ryan Kelly | D |
| Jordan Hill | A- |
| Robert Sacre | B- |
| Rest of Team | B+ |
Chicago Bulls
Pau Gasol, Power Forward
Paul Gasol returned to the place he called home for his best seasons, and the Lakers welcomed him back with sincerity in t-shirt form. There was also a touching video tribute.
And true to form, Gasol commanded the championship spirits at Staples Center for some late-game magic, tipping in Rose's missed layup high off the backboard with his left hand to tie the game 98-98 with 11 seconds remaining in regulation. That basket felt like a tipping point, but the Bulls never managed to tip the scales in their favor.
Pau finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four blocks on an emotional night back in L.A.
Grade: B+
Jimmy Butler, Shooting Guard
Butler had eight points by halftime and then exploded for 14 in the third quarter as the Bulls closed within arm's reach of the Lakers. When his 49 minutes on the court were completed, Butler has 35 points from just 17 shots, getting to the foul line 18 times and missing only twice. He even added three steals.
The league announced Thursday Butler is headed to his first All-Star Game after being selected as a reserve. However, Butler's sparkling play has dipped in January, with his scoring average sinking from more than 21 points per game down to 16.3. And his shooting has fallen steadily from 49.8 percent in November to 46.5 percent in December and just 40.2 percent in January.
But if Thursday's efficiency is the start of a new trend, Butler has the two-way talent to carry the Bulls into April and beyond.
Grade: A-
Derrick Rose, Point Guard
Derrick Rose had the definition of an up-and-down game during Tuesday's 113-111 overtime road win against the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 30 points on 13-of-33 shooting, and he hit the game-winning shot. But the former MVP point guard also committed a whopping 11 turnovers while recording only one assist.
Rose seemed to think he could replicate that late-game magic against the Lakers, but he came up woefully short on his attempt at a game-winner at the end of the first overtime. The Bulls would have been better served with the ball in Butler's or Gasol's hands in that situation.
Rose limited his turnovers to just five against the Lakers along with six assists, but his shooting was brutal: 17 points on 26 shots and just seven makes. He also planted awkwardly on his right leg late in the fourth quarter and exited the game for a couple of possessions. He returned, but his fragility is as concerning as ever.
Grade: C+
Joakim Noah, Center
As per usual, Joakim Noah did a little bit of everything, dishing dimes and crashing the boards. He nearly cobbled together a triple-double, ending on nine points, nine assists and 17 rebounds.
He also had a crushing block on a Wayne Ellington layup in the final minute of overtime, after which he let out a warrior cry, as would be expected.
Grade: B+
Nikola Mirotic, Small Forward
Nikola Mirotic scored zero points for the first time since Dec. 6. He played just 12 minutes, all in the first half, and missed both shots he attempted.
Grade: F
Rest of Team
Aaron Brooks scored 15 points on 15 shots, hitting half of the team's six three-pointers. He also got ejected in the waning moments of the game, picking up a pair of technical fouls for saying some things that were most likely "not safe for work."
Taj Gibson has seen his play and his minutes decline since he was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate a season ago, but he still brings effective play off the bench. He contributed eight points, five boards, two steals and a block.
Tony Snell notched 10 points but did not shoot efficiently, missing eight out of 12 shots.
Kirk Hinrich failed to make much of an impression on the stat sheet, but he still acts as a defensive gadfly, which just means he's annoying. He finished with two points and a game-low minus-16 court rating.
Grade: C+
Los Angeles Lakers
Wayne Ellington, Shooting Guard
Wayne Ellington struggled to find the mark from three-point range, but he was effective from inside the arc. Despite hitting only one trey on six tries, Ellington had 8-of-13 shooting on two-pointers and chugged along to 23 points.
Grade: B
Jordan Clarkson, Point Guard
OK, so it wasn't all smooth sailing for Jordan Clarkson.
But overall, the youngster's play has been very encouraging. He posted 18 points, four dimes, two steals and two blocks. He also made his only three-point attempt and all four free throws.
The second-round rookie out of Missouri converted a difficult three-point play with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, briefly bobbling the ball in midair before regaining control and hitting the bucket. That put the Lakers up by nine, though it did not hold up, requiring an additional 10 minutes of basketball to be played.
Grade: B
Jordan Hill, Power Forward
Jordan Hill at times looked like a dreadlocked Pau Gasol, doing damage from the mid-range and at the rim. He piled up a team-high 26 points and double-doubled with a dozen boards.
Hill also missed a good look at a game-winning jump hook as the fourth quarter ended. He made amends for that by hitting the game-tying jumper from 18 feet that sent the game to double OT. Hill even came up with a timely block on a Rose layup late in that second overtime.
Grade: A-
Robert Sacre, Center
Bob Sacre fouled out of the game during the second overtime with nine points, nine boards, four assists and two blocks to his credit. He also came up with a big blocked shot late in the fourth quarter to preserve a five-point Lakers lead.
Grade: B-
Ryan Kelly, Small Forward
Ryan Kelly hit a three-pointer; he committed some fouls. That's about it.
Grade: D
Rest of Team
Like Gasol, Carlos Boozer also faced his former team, although his change of scenery was much less triumphant. He still provided a big boost off the bench, especially during the Lakers' first-half success. Boozer showed the Bulls what they're "missing" with 16 points, eight boards and two blocks.
Jeremy Lin had eight points with nine minutes left in the second quarter, but his scoring nearly ceased there. He ended on 11 points and five assists.
Ed Davis scored 10 points and ended one rebound shy of a double-double.
Wesley Johnson never got in rhythm, and he's failed to capitalize on the absence of Kobe Bryant (shoulder) so far. But his baby hook following a loose ball pushed the Lakers' lead to five with a minute-and-a-half left in double OT, marking by far the most important of his seven points.
Grade: B+
Coming Up Next
The Bulls continue their six-game road trip and complete the back-to-back with a visit to the Phoenix Suns on Friday. That will be a tough test after Rose, Gasol, Noah and Butler each logged more than 40 minutes in L.A.
The Lakers have off until Sunday afternoon when they visit the New York Knicks. They tip off at 2 p.m. ET so they can kick back and watch the Super Bowl on the Jumbotron—maybe.
