Bucks vs. Bulls: Video Highlights, Twitter Reaction and Grades
The Chicago Bulls will roll into the 2012 NBA All-Star break on a high note after blowing out the Milwaukee Bucks at home, 110-91. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng both poured in solid performances, but the real All-Star of the evening was Joakim Noah, who registered his first career triple-double at the Bucks' expense. Six Bulls, in total, registered double-figure scoring nights.
The victory helps the Bulls keep pace atop the Eastern Conference standings with the Miami Heat, who will close out their first half of the season against Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks Thursday night.
Tweets of the Night
The Bulls may not look like a great passing team when you watch them play, but, on paper, they just happen to be the most assist-happy team in the NBA. That trend continued against the Bucks, as Bulls stathead Jeff Mangurten points out:
"This is the Bulls 6th 30+ assist game of the season. No other team in the NBA has more than 3.
— Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) February 23, 2012"
How about some fun facts concerning Joakim Noah's triple-double, courtesy of KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
"According to the PR staff, Noah is first #Bulls center to post a triple double since Artis Gilmore on Dec. 20, 1977.
— K.C Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 23, 2012"
Must-See Highlight
Because Noah deserves plenty of love for pulling down his first triple-double, let's have a look at the moment that earned him the single-game milestone:
Grades for Key Bucks Players
Brandon Jennings: B-
Brandon Jennings didn't have a bad night, per se, but he was far from good enough to keep the Bucks in the game. Jennings needed 20 shots to register 20 points on the night and managed just five assists against three turnovers.
Ersan Ilyasova: C
Ilyasova did well to turn 11 shots into 15 points, but he chipped in just four rebounds on the night. Such a paltry total is patently unacceptable for Ilyasova, who is one of the few decent rebounders Milwaukee has and who averages nearly nine boards per game.
Grades for Key Bulls Players
Derrick Rose: B+
It's tough to fault Rose for his solid, if unspectacular, line—16 points, seven assists, two rebounds, two blocks—seeing as how his Bulls blew the Bucks out of the water. Still, with some bigger numbers and perhaps another spectacular play or two, D-Rose would have been well on his way to "A" territory.
Luol Deng: B
All-Star, Schmall-Star. Lou was actually pleasantly efficient for Chicago on Wednesday night, finishing with 16 points on 12 shots along with five rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block in 34 minutes. Not bad, not great, but very Deng-like.
Deciding Factor: Turnovers
As impressive as the final 19-point margin of victory may seem, it actually should have been much wider. The Bulls shot themselves in the foot with careless mistakes throughout the game, piling up an unsightly 20 turnovers on the evening. Subtract a few of those errors, and Chicago would have easily won by 25-to-30 points.
Stat of the Night: 20
Including Wednesday night's game, the Bulls have earned 20 of their 27 victories by double digits this season. Not bad for a team with legitimate title aspirations.
Game MVP: Joakim Noah
Remember all the talk about Joakim Noah struggling under the weight of his new five-year, $60 million deal?
Well, it appears as though Noah has finally found a way to succeed on the court while saddled with an eight-figure salary. The Bulls' center needed only three quarters to notch his triple-double. All told, Noah finished the game with 13 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 10 assists.
What's Next?
Neither team will play again until next Tuesday, when the Bucks welcome the woeful Washington Wizards and the Bulls host the equally horrific New Orleans Hornets.
