Vinny Del Negro Must Learn from Team's Effort in Orlando

Most professional coaches and athletes shudder at the mere mention of a “moral victory” or “good loss.”  If there were ever a losing effort deserving of praise, the Bulls' performance tonight in Orlando would certainly qualify.

When it was all over the Bulls fell to 2-2, but the game should teach the Bulls and their coaching staff valuable lessons.

In what was their second road game, both against Eastern Conference playoff teams, the Bulls partially redeemed their embarrassing effort in Boston.  

For much of the game the Bulls out-played, out-hustled, and out-hearted the Orlando Magic.  In fact when Vinny Del Negro actually played his best players and benched most of the pathetic starting five, the Bulls looked like a playoff caliber team.

Which brings us to the first lesson Del Negro must take away from this game: Play your best players.  

It is becoming very clear that the Bulls are at their best when former starters Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon are on the floor.  After the starting five dug the Bulls into two different 17-point deficits it was the scrappy, inspired, and NBA quality play of Hinrich, Gordon, and Nocioni that got the Bulls back in the game.

At the end of the first half, those three, along with contributions from Derrick Rose and Drew Gooden, led the Bulls all the way back to within three.  Del Negro’s team had all the momentum, but the rookie coach decided to start the second half with his miserable starting five. 

The main culprits tonight were Tyrus Thomas and Lou Deng.  Thomas shot 3-7 but committed four ugly turnovers and had no chance at holding down Dwight Howard.  Deng, the Bulls’ $70 million man, scored one point and shot 0-8 from the field.

Derrick Rose had only one assist but looked much better when he had Hinrich or Gordon helping him out in the back court.  Del Negro has praised Thabo Sefalosha’s spurts of good play.  That is the type of praise worthy of a bench player and not a starting shooting guard.

If the Bulls want to compete this season either Hinrich or Gordon needs to be in the lineup to take some pressure off Rose.  Aaron Grey had a nice effort and was the only Chicago big man who looked up to the challenge of battling with Dwight Howard, whose 22 points were barely enough to get the Magic the win.

The second lesson on display tonight was that Andres Nocioni is a warrior.  With his bad boy style of play and offensive aggressiveness, he almost single-handedly got the Bulls a win.  It is a shame that starters like Deng and Thomas can’t play with that type of heart.

This is an encouraging loss, but only if Vinny Del Negro uses it as a lesson.  There is just no way he can stand there with his arms crossed and let the inept offensive play of his current starting lineup continue.

Either Hinrich or Gordon needs to be in the starting lineup.  Derrick Rose looks so much better when he has an established NBA guard playing next to him.

As for other changes, I think Deng is too rich to be a bench player, but Tyrus Thomas must be on a shorter leash.  

Bulls fans, could you imagine Scott Skiles letting Thomas take some of those ridiculous shots?