Don't Blame C.J. Watson for What Happened to the Chicago Bulls

To set up what became Chicago's final field goal of the season, C.J. Watson made a brilliant pass to Omer Asik. The dunk put the Bulls up by three and appeared to effectively end the game. But on the next possession, Thaddeus Young made a ridiculous scoop shot, bringing the Sixers within one. 

C.J. Watson got the ball and raced out into the open. He crossed halfcourt with nine seconds to go. Lou Williams was gaining from behind. Spencer Hawes was between Watson and the basket as C.J. reached the perimeter area. Behind the Philadelphia center was Omer Asik, a 45-percent free throw shooter, but an apparently open 45-percent free throw shooter as Hawes flinched towards Watson. 

It was a trap. Spencer Hawes bounced back towards Asik as the pass arrived, early enough to foul Mr. 45 Percent. Clank. Clank. You know the rest, and you likely know the expository. Iguodala drew a foul with 2.2 seconds left and hit two free throws for the win.

Watson was and remains the goat, which is a bit odd to me. Why is it his fault that Omer Asik can't shoot free throws well? Why is it his fault that Omer Asik didn't manage to hit at least one in a big moment? I'm not blaming Asik either—I just think it's odd that we're excusing him for being bad at something while blaming C.J. Watson for doing something badly. Watson is far from your point guard prototype, he's a shooter in a PG role. You could argue that decision making is to him as free throw shooting is to Asik. 

The real culprit is, and remains, Derrick Rose's knee. It isn't Tom Thibodeau's fault for leaving Rose in too long. It isn't the NBA's fault for sanctioning a compressed, 66-game schedule. Chicago's disappointment has no scapegoat, apart from the bad luck that shreds tendons. 

But it is difficult for us to process this, to assign nothing to disappointment other than being disappointed. Someone must be blamed, because otherwise, the world is a frightening, seemingly arbitrary place. It is more comforting to believe that people control events and not the other way around. 

The Bulls were on borrowed time since the first game of the series. C.J. Watson—at worst—merely cost them the opportunity to lose later. With that in mind, it's a bit odd to scapegoat a backup point guard for passing to a backup center.