Nobody predicted the Bulls and Grizzlies would replicate last night’s 128-122 Suns-Thunder offensive supernova, but this was as ugly as basketball gets.

The Bulls failed to score for the last 3:15 of the game and scored just two points the final 5:40 as Memphis ground out a huge win in their race to secure a Western Conference playoff berth.

Both teams hold similar win-loss records, yet the Bulls could claim the 4th spot in the weak East while Memphis was on the outside looking in before tonight’s game.

The game began to turn in the Grizzlies’ favour late in the third quarter with a barrage of offensive tip-ins from their energetic big men and threes from the likes of Mike Miller.

Miller would finish with 14 points on 5-7 shooting including 4-5 from behind the arc.

Marc Gasol added 18 points and 10 rebounds, while his frontcourt running mate also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.

Kosta Koufos was the difference maker down the stretch for Memphis, the Greek big man contributed 12 points largely on put-backs from missed shots that kept the Grizzlies ahead.

Losing the rebounding battle was always going to be a decisive factor in this game, though the Bulls lead the fight at halftime. Memphis, however, would dominate the second half glass, outrebounding Chicago 27-14. The Grizzlies pulled down 10 offensive rebounds compared to Chicago’s 12 defensive rebounds.

Looking back to the offense, while Joakim Noah’s stellar passing and scoring repertoire has received ample praise the past week, the Bulls’ offense tonight was a car-crash. Far too often they’d dump the ball to the post and hold, looking for a cutter or dribble hand-off.

These plays work well for the Bulls but when not moving the ball much becomes your primary offense, good defenses like Memphis’ will shut down the passing lanes emphatically. The Bulls gave up several turnovers from the second quarter onwards as Noah tried to thread the ball through gaps that didn’t exist.

Combined with this lack of motion, the Bulls contrived to miss 11 of their 13 three-point attempts.

The first quarter set the low-scoring tone, Memphis leading 15-12 after the first frame as both teams combined for appallingly low shooting percentages.

Joakim Noah played his usual all-round game, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists, though his passing was often interrupted and he had several mindless turnovers at critical moments, once throwing away a pass instead of attempting a shot before a travel in the post all but sealed the game.

Taj Gibson kept Chicago afloat at times, leading the Bulls with 18 points and continued his excellent shooting from the baseline, comfortably knocking down a shot that has increasingly become a staple of his game.

He will continually find himself open as Augustin and Noah draw defensive attention with solid pick-and-roll action.

Augustin ignited the Bulls offense in the second quarter, scoring 12 in the period but made too many poor decisions, culminating in his airball on a foot-on-the-line three with the Bulls down six in the closing minutes. Augustin was the third of just three Bulls to score more than 10 points.

This game was supposed to mark the victorious start of a six-game Bulls home-stand. Now the task must be to bounce back, a tough job considering the opponents in the stretch at the United Center includes Houston, San Antonio, Miami and Oklahoma City. We will know much more about this team, especially offensively, very shortly.

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For Chicago (34-27), that importance is in the chase for the third seed and avoidance of a Washington Wizards team that has played them well this season.

For Memphis (34-26), the importance regards their very participation in the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference.

The Grizzlies are currently in a playoff spot but with four teams within a couple of wins of each other, seeding changes on a nightly basis.

Looking to the game, the Bulls enter the game as the more consistent of the two teams with two four-game winning streaks in their recent past. Memphis, however, have mixed wins over quality teams in the Clippers and Wizards with losses to Brooklyn and Charlotte.

These two teams have followed very similar narratives this season, though to varying degrees of severity.

Memphis, like Chicago, lost it’s best player early in the season though Marc Gasol has returned. Both teams struggled in the early going, falling under .500. Both have since returned not just to a positive win-loss ratio but into the playoff hunt in their respective conferences.

The similarities do not stop there. Neither has stellar backcourt play and both boast strong frontcourts featuring great rebounders and one elite passing big man apiece.

Marc Gasol and Joakim Noah should have a great battle tonight in the match-up between the two men considered the best passing big men in the league.

Noah has certainly had the better season and is playing perhaps the most complete basketball of his career in the past seven days. Two triple-doubles in the last three games have seen his name vaulted into people’s discussions for top 15 and even top 10 players in terms of importance to their team or who you would pick for one fourth quarter performance.

There was speculation about a thumb injury Noah picked up that forced him to wear tape on his hand Wednesday night but he is expected to start having gone through shootaround this morning.

A win tonight would cap a run of eleven wins in thirteen games ahead of a tough schedule next few weeks that sees Miami, San Antonio, Houston and Oklahoma City visit the United Center before two games against Indiana end March.

Key match-up: Joakim Noah vs Marc Gasol

As mentioned, Noah vs Gasol is going to go a long way to determining the outcome of this game. If one can assert some form of dominance either in the form of Gasol’s great scoring touch or Noah’s ability to give the Bulls multiple looks on the same possession via his work on the offensive glass, they stand a better chance of winning.

Probable Starters

Chicago Bulls

PG: Kirk Hinrich, 11th season. 8.9 points per game, 4.1 assists per game.

SG: Jimmy Butler, 3rd season. 12.9 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game.

SF: Mike Dunleavy, 12th season. 11.1 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game.

PF: Carlos Boozer, 12th season. 14.4 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game.

C: Joakim Noah, 7th season. 12.0 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game.

Memphis Grizzlies

PG: Mike Conley, 7th season. 17.3 points per game, 6.2 assists per game.

SG: Courtney Lee, 6th season. 10.0 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game.

SF: Tayshaun Prince, 12th season. 8.2 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game.

PF: Zach Randolph, 13th season. 17.3 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game.

C: Marc Gasol, 6th season. 13.6 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game.

The post Game #62 Preview: Chicago Bulls vs Memphis Grizzlies appeared first on Bulls By The Horns.

And deservedly so.

Gasol was fifth in the league in Defensive Rating and second overall in Defensive Win Shares. He averaged 1.7 blocks per game and 1.0 steals. Perhaps most importantly, the Memphis Grizzlies held opponents to 88.7 points per game, the lowest mark in the league.

The video doesn’t lie: this guy is an elite defender both in terms of individual defense and team defense. He absolutely anchors the Memphis defense.

Of course, all the same things can be said of Joakim Noah. Chicago’s Game 2 win over the Nets proved it beyond any shadow of a doubt. And back in January, Noah was certainly one of the leading candidates for this particular honor.

Unfortunately, Noah developed a case of plantar faciitis and started missing games, a total 16 in all. Typically speaking, players who miss chunks of the season due to injury don’t win NBA end-of-year awards.

Still, Noah made a good showing, receiving 13 first-place votes and earning a total of 107 points. He placed fourth behind Gasol (212), LeBron James (149) and Serge Ibaka (122).

Not bad company to be in all things considered.

The big man didn’t seem too broken up about not winning the award.

Said Noah: “It’s all right. It’s not about that right now. It’s not about individual accolades or any of that. All my energy is on Game 3 right now. We put ourselves in a pretty good position. Now we’ve got home court. That’s what it’s all about. I’m not really worried about it.”

Did I mention Noah has also said he feels better and expects to play about as many minutes in Game 3 as he did in Game 2?

For what it’s worth, Luol Deng received a single first-place vote and Jimmy Butler got a second-place vote.

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Stats from Basketball-Reference

Grizzlies Injury Report:
Quincy Pondexter: out (sprained knee)
Zach Randolph: missed Friday’s game (strained lower back)

Overview:
The Bulls and Grizzlies square off in what is sure to be a high-scoring affair, just like the last time they met. And by high-scoring, I mean a lot of points for a high school game. One of the teams will probably hit 80 points.

It doesn’t help the Bulls offensive chances that they are tired from last night’s overtime win and that Luol Deng will probably be on the sidelines because he reinjured a hamstring injury against the Celtics.

In two surprising moments, Kirk Hinrich hit a shot that sent the game into overtime, and Marco Belinelli hit the game-winner with three seconds left in the extra period. These two made baskets were only surprising because of the fact that Hinrich actually made a jumper and Belinelli didn’t get the ball stripped before getting the shot up, not the timing and importance of the baskets (OK fine, they were both clutch).

It’ll probably be Kirk and Marco that get remembered after the game as the heroes, but the one guy who is already being forgotten is Jimmy Butler. His stats don’t blow you away (13 points, 4 rebounds), but he filled in after Deng left with his injury and hit some big shots. He was also the only guy hitting foul shots down the stretch (4-4).

Carlos Boozer (19 points, 20 rebounds) and Joakim Noah (14 points, 13 rebounds) both chipped in double-doubles and Rip Hamilton scored 20 points in some extended minutes.

For all that good, there were some glaring issues. Rajon Rondo killed the Bulls in transition, when Chicago failed to stop the ball on multiple occasions. Rondo finished with 30 points, the second time he recorded a season-high in points against the Bulls this season.

Memphis is right in the middle of the league when it comes to fastbreak points—averaging 13.2 per contest—and they have their own point guard that could cause some havoc in Mike Conley. The Bulls can’t allow the point guard, or any ball handler, to drive straight to the rim on a fastbreak. They need to cut the ball of and force a pass.

Boston scored 14 fastbreak points, only one more than their average, but it was the ease that many of them came that was the problem. The parting of the seas occurred a few times and even though Rondo isn’t seen as much of a scorer, he can finish around the rim just like any NBA player (with the exception of Ronnie Brewer). Failing to cut off the ball handler is a simple rule in transition defense.

The half-court defense was great with the exception of slowing Rondo. Kevin Garnett (5-16) and Paul Pierce (5-17) both struggled to score, and finished with 16 and 13 points respectively.

What kept the Celtics in the game was that the Bulls had 21 turnovers against a Boston team that normally forces 15.7. However, the Celtics couldn’t convert off Chicago’s mishaps, scoring just seven points off of the giveaways. The Bulls scored 16 points off 12 Boston turnovers.

Memphis is also coming off of a Friday night win; theirs was a little more convincing though. The Grizzlies allowed just 69 points to Sacramento, who shot 34.1 percent from the field and had 17 turnovers.

The absence of Zach Randolph was no problem for the Griz last night, but their starters did have to log heavy minutes. Rudy Gay (41 minutes) logged Luol Deng-type minutes. Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Tony Allen all played 37 minutes.

Noah led the Bulls with 45 minutes played, with Boozer close behind (43).

The Bulls are 4-4 on the second night of back-to-backs, while Memphis is 3-4. Chicago will probably be without Deng, but Randolph is going to give it a go for the Griz. Randolph scored 10 points on 4-14 shooting December 17 against the Bulls. He also grabbed a game-high 15 boards.

Deng struggled, as did most guys on offense, finishing 4-17 from the field for eleven points. Both teams shot 37 percent as Conley (17 points) and Boozer (16) led the way. Memphis is second in both defensive rating and opponent points per game and the Bulls are fifth (defensive rating) and third (opponent points) in those categories. Both squads’ middle-of-the-road offenses, especially the Bulls without Deng, are going to struggle to find the basket.

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Stats from Basketball-Reference

Grizzlies Injury Report:
Darrell Arthur: doubtful (concussion-like symptoms)

Overview:
The Bulls hit the road for a short trip to take on the Grizzlies, before flying back home to face the Celtics on Tuesday night.

The Grizzlies were great out of the gates, winning 12 of their first 14 games. But haven’t had the same success since then, going 4-3 over their last seven. Memphis did snap a three game losing streak their last time out, when they topped the Jazz by 13. Zach Randolph dropped 25 points to go with 16 rebounds; Marc Gasol went for 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Mike Conley added 12 points and 8 assists.

Memphis dominated their opponents on the glass, outrebounding Utah 48-35. They also won the battle in the paint, scoring 50 points to the Jazz’s 38. That came against Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson, who are great bigs themselves.

The inside battle is going to be key, as Memphis has arguably the best big man duo in the league. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer are going to have their hands full trying to slow Randolph and Gasol down. Expect to see a little more of Taj Gibson tonight, in an effort to try and hold Memphis’ bigs from tearing Boozington apart on the defensive end.

Points are going to be tough to come by tonight. Even if the Bulls do stop the Grizzlies, which won’t be easy considering Memphis is 10^th in offensive rating, they are going to have a tough time scoring points of their own. The Griz own the second best defensive rating in the league (99.9). The Bulls are third in defensive rating at 100.3 and 20^th in offensive rating (103.2).

Chicago is looking for its fifth straight road victory, and third consecutive win overall. The Bulls topped Brooklyn Saturday night, getting a one-point win behind 12 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks from Joakim Noah. Marco Belinelli scored 19 points on 6-9 shooting and Luol Deng chipped in 17 points and seven boards.

The Bulls trailed 77-71 with less than five minutes left, but a line-up lead by Marquis Teague brought the Bulls back for the victory. Teague scored four points and Belinelli added six, in the final five minutes of the game. Deron Williams hit a three at the buzzer to make it a one point win, but really the Bulls outscored Brooklyn 12-2 over the final five minutes, an amazing defensive effort (the two points the Nets scored came on free throws from Williams).

“We played great defense the last three or four minutes,” Belinelli correctly observed after the game. “That’s why we won the game.”

Kirk Hinrich will be in for the Bulls, after missing the last two games with a knee injury. With Hinrich returning, it probably spells the disappearance of Teague’s minutes, which is unfortunate because it was nice to him getting playing time. Per 36 minutes, Teague is averaging 9.8 points (38.1 percent FG) and 6.5 assists. Hinrich’s per 36 numbers are 8.8 points (36.1 percent) and 7.3 assists.

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Zach Randolph manhandled Taj Gibson and the Bulls.

Okay. I was wrong.

I predicted that — with Joakim Noah out — the Memphis frontcourt of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay might finish with at least 70 points and 35 rebounds, thereby exceeding their combined season average of 55.7 PPG and 27.0 RPG.

Well, those three players ended up with only 60 points and 30 rebounds to go along with 6 steals and 5 blocked shots, while shooting 22-for-42 from the field and 15-for-18 at the foul line. To put that into perspective, Chicago’s entire starting lineup combined for 78 points and 23 rebounds, and the Bulls earned 21 free throw attempts as a team.

More painful numbers: The Grizzlies outrebounded the Bulls 46-31, outscored them 62-42 in the paint and finished +9 in free throw attempts. To put things in a more science-y way, Memphis had decided advantages in Effective Field Goal Percentage, Offensive Rebound Percentage and Free Throw Rate…as illustrated by this Four Factors chart from Statsheet.com:

The fact is, the Grizzlies’ big men wore the Bulls down, especially Zach Randolph. Derrick Rose posterized Randolph with a wicked dunk in the third quarter, but Z-Bo had the last laugh, finishing with game highs in points (31), rebounds (18) and free throws (7-for-8).

Of the dunk, Randolph said: “It got me on ESPN. … [Rose] got me good.” Well, you more than returned the favor, Zach.

Chicago started the game on fire, winning the first quarter 32-19 and going up by as many as 17 points in the second. But teams with an strong inside game and an opposing frontcourt tend to win the battle of attrition in the NBA, which might explain why Memphis is tied for the most comeback victories from a deficit of 15 points or more this season.

The Grizzlies outscored the Bulls 29-16 in the final quarter, and the most telling stretch occurred after Memphis had tied the game at 90 on a foul shot by Randolph. The Grizzlies then got two three-point plays — a layup and one — from Gasol on back-to-back possessions to go up 95-90. Gasol missed the free throw on his second three-point play opportunity, but Gay ended up with the offensive rebound, and then O.J. Mayo swooped in for a layup.

Just like that, the Grizzlies were up 97-90 and the game was essentially over.

While Memphis was getting high percentage shots at the basket — the Griz finished with 23 layups — the Bulls were settling for long jumpers, or forced jumpers, or having layups blocked.

Said Rose: “It hurts. We worked so hard, then the ball bounces their way. We were right there and they made some great plays, effort plays, and they got the ball.”

Added coach Vinny Del Negro: “We have to get bodies on people and be more physical. You have to control the tempo of the game and get more baskets. Everyone has to be more physical and get more loose balls.” 

Yeah, well, it’s hard to do that when your best defender and interior defender is sitting out due to plantar fasciitis. Now maybe people will start to understand why Charles Barkley thought Joakim should have been an All-Star. His absence is slowly killing the Bulls. And they have seven more consecutive games against potential playoff teams, including division leaders Dallas (twice), Orlando and Cleveland.

Said Luol Deng: “It’s not time to panic. We’ve got 21 games left. We’ve got to play with a lot more energy than this, especially in the second half.”

I’m all for the Bulls playing with more energy, but that’s not going to make them grow any taller or add any bulk. Brad Miller is a savvy veteran, but he’s old, slow and much more suited to a backup role at this stage of his career. And Taj Gibson has been fantastic for a first year player, but he’s still a rookie, and he got used like an old dish rag by Randolph before fouling out.

Chicago needs Noah back. Desperately. But that’s not going to happe for a while. This next 8-10 games could get ugly, folks. So, with all due respect to Deng…

…it might be time for a little panic.

Timeout tally:
1st timeout: Rose missed 19-footer
2nd timeout: Warrick was fouled before the timeout
3rd timeout: Deng had a 19-footer blocked by Gay
4th timeout: Randolph was fouled before the timeout
5th timeout: Murray turnover (Gay steals)
6th timeout: Deng drew a foul (2-for-2)

Extras:
Recap, Box Score, Advanced Box Score, Play-By-Play, Shot Chart, Photos

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