Andrew's 06 Bulls, Part 2 :: 07/08 (October 2007)

[Phil89]

Cool. Hope it continues. Do you have a favourable schedule coming up?

[Andrew]

Two home and two away games left in March, all four against teams under .500 (including two against the Bobcats), so the opportunity is there for a strong finish. Then 10 of 14 at home in April, though there are a few strong opponents such as the Pistons (currently 40-22), Celtics (37-27), Suns (36-28) and Magic (40-21).

[Andrew]

March 22nd, 2007
Washington (65) at Chicago (98)
Bulls blow out listless Wizards for 60th win
[ Boxscore ]


Ben Gordon skies for the lob pass from Kirk Hinrich

The Chicago Bulls encountered little resistance from the struggling Washington Wizards on route to their 60th win of the season, while extending their record breaking winning streak to thirty seven. Ben Gordon led all scorers with 31 points to go along with 10 assists, four rebounds and four steals. Jared Jeffries top scored for the Wizards with 15 and also added seven rebounds.

Both teams got off to a sluggish start though the Bulls began to show signs late in the first quarter when Gordon made a three pointer to give them a five point lead. Looking a lot sharper in the second quarter, they would by as many as 26 points and managed to hold the Wizards to just eight points in the period, before a short run allowed the Wizards to cut into the deficit and trail by 17 at halftime.

It would be another dismal third quarter for the Wizards however as the Bulls outscored them 26-14 to take a commanding lead into the fourth quarter. Washington would not make another serious run, finishing the game shooting just 35.1% from the field while scoring a season low 65 points.

Notes: 65 points is the second lowest total by a Bulls opponent this season. Chicago held the Milwaukee Bucks to just 62 points on March 6th...the Bulls attempted just six free throws in the game, making four. The Wizards were 10/12 from the charity stripe...Washington outrebounded Chicago 44-42, also edging them 16-14 at the offensive end. Chicago has not reached the 60 win mark since the 1997/1998 season, the year they won their sixth championship.

Current Record: 60-5
Next Game: vs Charlotte Bobcats; 25-43 (March 25th)

[kibaxx7]

I'd say 75-7 Huge job here Andrew.

[Andrew]

We'll see. I don't want to lose on purpose just for the sake of the story but at the same time, part of me doesn't want to go undefeated the rest of the way. I'd like to at least finish March undefeated and hit 40 as the next big round number.

Also, judging by the number of attempts by Jared Jeffries, it's time to run the Primacy Fix again.

[Fresh8]

Wow, 60 wins already and only 5 losses. Keep it up.

Will be nice to see you break that 72-win record.

[rise]

Two home and two away games left in March, all four against teams under .500 (including two against the Bobcats), so the opportunity is there for a strong finish. Then 10 of 14 at home in April, though there are a few strong opponents such as the Pistons (currently 40-22), Celtics (37-27), Suns (36-28) and Magic (40-21).

Yeah, you can beat all of them. You're going 77-5.

[Andrew]

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for checking in!

[Andrew]

March 25th, 2007
Charlotte (114) at Chicago (122)
Bulls survive wild shootout against Bobcats
[ Boxscore ]


Ben Gordon gets by college teammate Emeka Okafor for a layup

Restless through much of the first half, the Bulls faithful at the United Center went home happy as the defending champions overcame the hot shooting Charlotte Bobcats in a high scoring affair. Ben Gordon overcame a tough night from the field to score a game high 33 points to go along with 15 assists. Gordon's college teammate, Emeka Okafor, scored 30 points of his own for the Bobcats and added 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Aside from a 10-2 run that began late in the first quarter, the Bulls limped through the first half as they struggled to put the ball in the basket and shut down the Bobcats, who were 25 for 41 from the field through the first two quarters including 7 for 12 from three point range and 6 for 8 from beyond the arc in the second quarter alone. The home crowd appeared a little subdued as Charlotte took a 59-53 lead into halftime.

The Bobcats began to pull away again in the third quarter but led by Gordon's 15 points in the period, the Bulls stormed back and took a 73-72 lead late in the quarter after Kirk Hinrich made a steal and fed Gordon on the fast break for a layup. Okafor answered at the other end with a dunk to recapture the lead, which would be traded back and forth until the Bulls edged ahead 86-84 heading into the fourth quarter.

Taking advantage of Chicago's starters catching a breather, Charlotte opened the final quarter aggressively and soon held an 89-88 lead, prompting the return of Chicago's starting five. Gordon and Carlos Boozer each had 10 points in the fourth as Chicago scrambled their way back into the lead, eventually taking the lead for good at 102-100. The Bobcats continued their aggressive play but a 6-0 run by the Bulls, culminating with a Boozer dunk, ultimately sealed the win.

The teams will square off again in Charlotte on March 28th.

Notes: Both teams grabbed 18 offensive rebounds but overall Charlotte prevailed in the battle of the boards 43-36...Charlotte had 25 assists in the game; on the season, they average 19.9 per game. The Bulls had 29 assists...the Bobcats turned the ball over 26 times while the Bulls committed just 12 turnovers...ten players scored in double digits in the game...Charlotte shot above 50% from the field, three point range and at the free throw line.

Current Record: 61-5
Next Game: @ Charlotte Bobcats; 25-45 (March 28th)

March 28th, 2007
Chicago (105) at Charlotte (94)
Bulls top Bobcats again
[ Boxscore ]


Gordon once again outdueled his former UConn teammate

Different day, same result. The Chicago Bulls once again outlasted the Charlotte Bobcats after a tough back and forth battle, seizing control of the game in the fourth quarter for a 105-94 victory. Ben Gordon led all players with 26 points, also dishing out 11 assists. Emeka Okafor countered with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats.

Chicago once again had a sluggish start as Charlotte scored the first six points of the game and held a 12-2 early on. The Bulls rallied however and managed to cut the deficit to one by the end of the first quarter with Gordon scoring 10 points in the period. The second quarter saw several lead changes but the Bulls gained control of the game behind a strong defensive effort, holding the Bobcats to 19 points and taking a 46-42 lead into halftime.

The Bulls appeared ready to blow the game open in the third but Charlotte countered with a run of their own and Raul Lopez tied the game at 65 with a three pointer. The teams traded baskets through the rest of the third quarter until the Bobcats had an opportunity to hold for a final possession and possibly take the lead heading into the fourth.

However, Kareem Rush turned the ball over with 13.8 seconds remaining, giving Chicago one final possession before the end of the quarter. Kyle Korver knocked down a three at the buzzer to give Chicago a 72-69 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The shot would prove to be a turning point for the Bulls as Korver made another three to begin the fourth quarter and the Bulls never looked back, racing out to lead by as many as fourteen in the period before finally winning by eleven.

Gordon and Korver combined for four threes in the fourth quarter, with the Bulls making 11 of 19 from downtown in the game. Tyson Chandler added 24 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls, while Korver finished with 21 points off the bench. Carlos Boozer contributed 10 points and eight rebounds while Hinrich provided eight points and nine assists.

For the Bobcats, Gerald Wallace had 18 points, six assists and three rebounds but left the game in the second quarter after a collision with Kirk Hinrich. He later returned to action wearing a facemask and will undergo further evaluation tomorrow. Standout rookie Ayeshi Tam was held to just 10 points on 4/11 shooting and was 1/5 from downtown. Lopez finished with 10 points and three assists, starting at point guard for Charlotte.

The Bulls have now won 39 straight games and will have a chance to complete another undefeated month and extend their NBA record winning streak against the Nets tomorrow night in New Jersey.

Notes: The Bulls shot better than 50% from the field, three point line and free throw line...the Bobcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Bulls 41-28 including a 19-9 advantage at the offensive end...Chicago committed only five fouls in the game while Charlotte was whistled for 15...the teams combined for just 13 free throw attempts...the Bulls assisted on 33 of their 44 field goals. The Bobcats had 21 assists on 42 made field goals.

Current Record: 62-5
Next Game: @ New Jersey Nets; 32-34 (March 29th)

March 29th, 2007
Gerald Wallace to miss three weeks with broken nose

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Charlotte Bobcats' starting small forward Gerald Wallace is expected to miss up to three weeks after suffering a broken nose in the team's 105-94 loss to the Chicago Bulls last night. The injury occurred when Wallace caught an inadvertent elbow from Bulls' guard Kirk Hinrich, as he attempted to block Hinrich's layup attempt. He returned to the game wearing a facemask but was visibly uncomfortable despite finishing with 18 points and six assists.

Wallace is third on the team in scoring this season with 13.3 ppg and is also averaging 7.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.5 spg and 1.4 bpg, while appearing in 61 of the Bobcats' 72 games. Originally drafted 25th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2001, he was acquired by the Charlotte Bobcats via the expansion draft in 2004.

[Phil89]

Gordon had a couple of great games there, despite a rather wasteful shooting night in the first game.

1 more win for 40 straight.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I managed to knock a few down with him when they counted. Freestyle Superstars is definitely handy when the CPU's going ballistic.

Hoping I can close out the month with the win to hit 40 and three undefeated months. The Nets almost cost me the record setting 34th consecutive victory though, so I probably can't afford to have another slow start. I've enjoyed that a few of these recent games have been more challenging though.

[Fresh8]

Air Gordon is just... floating so damn high. haha. This does not look humanly possible!

[Houndy]

You got to just keep rolling.. Ben Gordon is on fire

[Martti.]

Is Gordon topping the MVP race right now?

[Andrew]

Air Gordon is just... floating so damn high. haha. This does not look humanly possible!

Part of it is the angle of the screenshot, but players do jump a little too high on some FSS moves in 06.

You got to just keep rolling.. Ben Gordon is on fire

Indeed, hopefully there'll be no All-Star snub next year.

Is Gordon topping the MVP race right now?

He was the last time I checked, so he's definitely in with a shot.

[Andrew]

March 29th, 2007
Chicago (101) at New Jersey (85)
Bulls beat Nets, complete another perfect month
[ Boxscore ]

The last time the Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets met, the Nets almost prevented the Bulls from setting a new NBA record for consecutive wins before a furious comeback and gamewinning three by Kyle Korver saved the day for the defending champions. This time, they weren't taking any chances.

Despite a slow start which saw them shoot just 39% from the field in the first quarter, the Chicago Bulls took control of the game and held the lead throughout the second half, building a double digit lead behind a strong third quarter. Despite a rally that saw the Nets pull within four late in the fourth, the resilient Bulls withstood the charge and finished the game on a 10-0 run to claim their 40th consecutive victory and end another undefeated month. Their next game will be April 1st when they host the Indiana Pacers.

Ben Gordon, the league's leading scorer, struggled with his shot making just 9 of 25 shots but finished with 21 points and also had five rebounds and a game high 13 assists. Carlos Boozer and Tyson Chandler each finished with double-doubles, with Boozer scoring 14 points to go along with 13 rebounds while Chandler added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson led the way for New Jersey with 18 points apiece, with Kidd also providing five assists. Vince Carter played only 22 minutes due to foul trouble, scoring just seven points.

Notes: Chicago outrebounded New Jersey 41-37, with a 14-12 advantage at the offensive end...Chicago racked up 25 assists on 44 made field goals, while New Jersey assisted on only 13 of their 38 baskets...four players finished with double-doubles...the two teams combined to shoot just 8/32 from downtown, with each team making four three pointers.

Current Record: 63-5
Next Game: vs Indiana Pacers; 35-33 (April 1st)

[Andrew]

March 2007 Recap

Record: 63-5
Team Stats

Team Leaders

PPG: Ben Gordon; 28.1 ppg
RPG: Tyson Chandler; 10.0 rpg
APG: Ben Gordon; 8.8 apg
BPG: Tyson Chandler; 1.3 bpg
SPG: Ben Gordon; 2.4 spg

The Chicago Bulls completed their third consecutive undefeated month, having won an all-time record 40 consecutive games. Ben Gordon completed another spectacular month as he registered another quadruple double and currently leads the league in scoring, assists and steals.

MVP Candidates



Ben Gordon's continued brilliance has catapulted him to the forefront of the Most Valuable Player debate. Gordon's Bulls are currently 63-5 behind an incredible 40 game winning streak, thanks in no small part to last year's Finals MVP who registered the second quadruple double of the season and his career in March.

LeBron James' strong all around play has the Cavaliers on track for another playoff appearance, keeping him in the discussion. Chris Webber also remains one of the frontrunners as he continues to average a double double for the surging Philadelphia 76ers, who have won nine of their last ten games to move into second place in the East. Baron Davis' strong season has garnered some attention despite the Golden State Warriors' losing record and Dirk Nowitzki is still in the mix, leading the Mavericks to a 46-22 record through the end of March.

Bulls' Gordon, Rockets McGrady named Players of the Month for March



NEW YORK, NY -- The Chicago Bulls' Ben Gordon and the Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady have been named the NBA Players of the Month for March. Gordon, who garnered Player of the Month honours in February, averaged 29.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 11.4 apg and 4.8 spg as the defending champions went 14-0. McGrady meanwhile has been putting up huge numbers in the absence of Yao Ming, averaging 21 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.1 bpg and 2.4 spg while trying to keep the Rockets competitive in the West.

Kuffour and Cotton named top rookies in March



NEW YORK, NY -- A pair of Lius have garnered Rookie of the Month honours in March. Liu Kuffour of the Toronto Raptors was named East Rookie of the Month for the first time this season after posting averages of 20.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 4.1 apg while the New Orleans Hornets' Liu Cotton was named West Rookie of the Month for the third time after averaging 18.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.8 apg and 2 spg.

Cotton, a 6'2" shooting guard, was taken first overall out of high school by the Hornets in last year's draft. Kuffour was taken 15th overall out of Wake Forest by the Raptors.

League Leaders

Points



Rebounds



Assists



Steals



Blocks



Field Goals



Free Throws



Three Pointers



Standings

Pacific Division



Northwest Division



Southwest Division



Atlantic Division



Central Division



Southeast Division

[Andrew]

April 1st, 2007
Indiana (92) at Chicago (107)
Bulls blow early lead, bounce back to defeat Pacers
[ Boxscore ]


Ben Gordon and the Bulls celebrated their 41st consecutive victory

The Chicago Bulls were dominant at the beginning and end of tonight's game. In between, the Indiana Pacers made it interesting.

It seemed as though it would be a long night for the Pacers after the Bulls began the game on a 21-3 run, much to the delight of another sold out crowd at the United Center. Ben Gordon scored 11 of his game high 36 points in the first quarter while also handing out eight of his 14 assists, as it appeared the Chicago Bulls were preparing for a blowout victory.

However, Indiana was not deterred by a seventeen point deficit at the end of the first quarter. After struggling to score 15 points on just 35% shooting in the first quarter, the Pacers outscored the Bulls 28-18 in the second quarter as Chicago suddenly found themselves unable to buy a basket. Chicago limped into halftime with a shaky 50-43 lead.

The Pacers' confidence didn't waver in the third quarter as they continued to attack and break down the Bulls' defense, tying the game at 70 on a three by Sarunas Jasikevicius and then taking a lead on a layup by Jamaal Tinsley. Indiana would lead by four before the Bulls managed to score on back to back plays to tie the game at 74 heading into the final quarter.

Chicago began the quarter slowly as their starters caught a breather, giving the Pacers an opportunity to go up 82-80. With Gordon and the rest of the starters returning with 10:10 remaining in the game, Chicago recaptured the lead before a jumper by Stephen Jackson tied the game at 86. Gordon and Kirk Hinrich then hit back to back threes for a six point lead, which proved to be the turning point of the game. The Bulls finished the game on a 21-6 run to take a 107-92 victory.

In addition to his 36 points and 14 assists, Ben Gordon also had six rebounds and seven steals, including a key interception late in the fourth that led to a fastbreak layup by Luol Deng for two of his 18 points. Hinrich had 10 points and 11 assists, Carlos Boozer added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Tyson Chandler also had a double double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Pacers, Jermaine O'Neal led the way with 18 points and seven rebounds but played only 26 minutes as he continues to recover from a sore right achilles tendon. Jackson and Tinsley contributed 16 points apiece, with Tinsley also handing out six assists. Ron Artest had a quiet night with 11 points on 4 of 12 shooting but had a team high seven assists along with two steals.

Notes: With their 41st consecutive victory, the Chicago Bulls have gone undefeated for half the regular season...four Bulls registered double doubles (Gordon, Hinrich, Chandler and Boozer)...the teams combined for 47 turnovers in the game...Indiana attempted nine free throws compared to just four by Chicago...the Bulls won the rebounding battle 37-30. Both teams had 10 offensive rebounds...all five starters for each team scored in double figures.

Current Record: 64-5
Next Game: vs Houston Rockets; 34-35 (April 2nd)

[rise]

The Chicago Bulls completed their third consecutive undefeated month, having won an all-time record 40 consecutive games. Ben Gordon completed another spectacular month as he registered another quadruple double and currently leads the league in scoring, assists and steals.

I must've missed the quadruple-doubles. Congrats on those! Your next task is to get a quintuple-double.

[Andrew]

I don't think I'd be able to manage that with Gordon, even if I maxed out the blocking slider.

[rise]

Aww, come on, I got one with Westbrook in Live 2003 in 9 min. quarters recently. (playing on all-star, not superstar)

Anyway, hope you can finish the season with 77 wins!

[Andrew]

Well, yeah, but that's NBA Live 2003. It's not so easy to get blocks with 6'3" guards in NBA Live 06, even with the sliders turned up.

[George7]

jaw-dropping
Gordon is the Truth,he's killing it every time!!! Please make that Quintuple-double happen!

[Andrew]

5-5-5-5-5 is probably the best I can hope for with maxed out blocking sliders and even that's probably wishful thinking!

[Murat]

What? 40 in a row? You rock man