Silva: Noah, Boozer look to be fourth quarter mainstays

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Come fourth quarter of Friday’s game against the Celtics, Bulls fans witnessed somewhat of a rarity, at least by this early season’s standards.

About 90 seconds into the final quarter at the TD Garden, when the Celtics had slashed a 20-point deficit down to four, coach Tom Thibodeau looked to his bench and summoned two players we haven’t seen much of in fourth quarters this season, starters Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.

Welcome back to crunch time, fellas.

Noah and Boozer played as if they had been waiting for this opportunity, as odd as it might sound because most teams go with their starting five down the stretch. Maybe the day off had them refreshed. Maybe they were tired of facing questions about why they weren’t playing late in games.

Whatever the reason, they each had a key role in the Bulls’ 88-79 win over Boston that left them with the league’s best mark (11-2) and still their best start in 15 years. About a sixth of the way through this lockout-shortened season and the Bulls have had their projected starting lineup, which includes Rip Hamilton, for only five games. Backup point guard C.J. Watson has missed the last eight games as he recovers from an elbow injury, and even Rose has missed a game due to an ankle injury.

Boozer and Noah, meanwhile, have been either in foul trouble or inconsistent – and yet the Bulls continue to string together quality wins. Now that’s not to excuse their so-so play, but it does show how much depth the Bulls have, which has been the main explanation Thibodeau has given the media whenever Noah and Boozer are saddled on the bench during fourth quarters.

Neither Noah nor Boozer had played in the previous two fourth quarters, and Chicago eventually pulled away late to win both of those games. Noah was averaging seven fewer minutes and Boozer nearly four fewer minutes a game this season heading into Friday’s game. It’s strange because they haven’t left a glaring void in the frontcourt, thanks to the steadily improving youngsters Taj Gibson and Omer Asik.

Hours before the Celtics game, Thibodeau again explained how he has to do what’s best for the team, how he still has confidence in his starting front courtand how he has no plans of switching up the starting five.

If you’re the type of fan that lives and dies with each game, then the way Noah and Boozer played against Boston probably had you all giddy. It was close to what you’d expect to get from two players who are making nearly $140 million combined in salary.

Noah was a presence in the paint, blocking three shots, altering others and being his scrappy old self on the offensive end. Boozer was selfless on the offensive end in a way that didn’t hurt the team. He had a nice hustle play that resulted in a long jumper for Ronnie Brewer and had a heady assist – one of his three in the quarter – by passing out of a double-team to Rose for a trey.

When Noah’s on his game, he’s going to stand out on the defensive end. When Boozer is clicking, he’ll have a broad stat line. In other words, when they’re active, engaged and not in foul trouble, they fit in and make the Bulls that much better.

Now if you’re more of a big-picture fan, then you’ll nod your head in affirmation at Noah and Boozer’s performance but still have some reservations. It’s not questioning their talent but whether they can have this type of night on a consistent basis – starting Saturday night against Toronto.

So I’m not willing to just say, “problem solved” on the whole Noah-Boozer fourth quarter quandary. This was just one game, albeit a very good one. But there’s no way Bulls fans will feel comfortable about this until Noah and Boozer give Thibodeau no choice but to play them a bulk of the fourth quarter.

Chris Silva, former Pistons beat writer for the Detroit Free Press and Kevin Durant’s de facto biographer for thunder.nba.com, covers the Chicago Bulls and the NBA for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter at @silvawriter or email him at christopherbsilva@gmail.com.

 

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Silva: Howard-to-Chicago rumors are senseless

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CHICAGO — Fresh off last night’s 14-point beatdown of the Orlando Magic — on the road, no less — can someone please tell me why the Chicago Bulls should jeopardize everything they have going right now by trying to trade for center Dwight Howard?

Lest we forget, the Bulls won a league-best 62 games last season, had the youngest MVP in league history, saw their first-year head coach win Coach of the Year, were the league’s top defensive team and went on a playoff run that saw them reach the Eastern Conference finals.

When basketball resumed following the end of the lockout, the Bulls upgraded the shooting guard position with Richard Hamilton, entered training camp with the majority of last year’s team intact and healthy, and were considered to be in a better position to dethrone the Heat atop the East.

Over the years, Chicago’s front office has been methodical in getting bad, fat contracts off the books, assembling a strong supporting cast around Derrick Rose and has gotten everyone on the same page.

So explain why the Howard gamble would make sense? A legitimate championship contender doesn’t need to make wholesale changes or a chemistry experiment, and Howard represents just that.

Plus, unless he were to indicate otherwise, he’d be a rental.

How and why Howard’s name has been linked to the Bulls, and where the rumor even originated, is unbeknownst to me. Howard has made it clear that he would like to be traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers or New Jersey Nets. He has not mentioned the Bulls, nor did he address the situation before the Bulls’ game in Orlando. While anything is possible, in this digital day and age the Howard-to-Chicago speculation seems to be nothing more than a eye-catchy headline or good water cooler talk based off some daydreamer throwing stuff against the wall with the hopes that something sticks.

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Silva: What the Bulls showed in California

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CHICAGO — I tried to not get caught up in all the hype surrounding the first week of the NBA season because, well, it’s the first week of a 66-game season. No matter how frantic the pace – four games in six nights for the Bulls – there’s still plenty of basketball to be played, and much more to be revealed.

The first four games for Chicago, and the rest of the league for that matter, were more like an exercise in shaking off the rust than a definitive barometer for what’s to come. Consider that the Bulls have had just over a week’s worth of practice with new starter Rip Hamilton and still managed to go 3-1 on their season opening road trip through California.

Think about it: They had a better week at the Staples Center than the Clippers!

I’d say the Bulls are right where they’re supposed to be at this early juncture in the season (though my sources tell me Sheridan is dropping them from No. 1 in the power rankings running later today). As forward Carlos Boozer told Bulls.com during the week, “We’re trying to get our swag back.”

Ask head coach Tom Thibodeau where he’d like to see improvements and he’ll surely tell you across the board. Of course, there were many things he liked in his team’s three wins – the defensive stops and transition game in Sacramento, the late-game execution the next night against the Clippers – but I find what’s most telling about a team is how it responds following losses and when faced with adversity.

It’s too early in the season for the Bulls to find themselves in adverse situations, but immediately following Monday’s loss at Golden State Thibodeau ripped into his team, calling them out for their deficient defense and sloppy play on the offensive end.

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Silva Column: First Look at Rip Hamilton in a Bulls Uniform

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CHICAGO — Rip Hamilton didn’t look like a player who was debuting for a new team, something you can chalk up to his 12 years in the league that have exposed him to any and every offensive set and defensive scheme known to man.

In a word, I’d describe his first game in a Bulls’ uniform as exceptional. And I still stand behind my earlier claim that he’s a more than suitable fit for this team moving forward.

But what should we make of the Hamilton acquisition for the Bulls after just one exhibition game? For starters, it’s important to remember that this was the preseason, which means that 66 games from now no one will remember this night.

Sure, his final stats – 13 points on 6-for-12 shooting, four rebounds and six assists – will make for good water cooler talk.

But in taking the big picture approach, I’ll say this: preseason game or not, Hamilton’s transition to the Bulls will be as smooth as one could ever imagine. He’s getting accustomed to two things right now: his teammates’ tendencies and a new terminology. Really, that’s it basketball-wise.

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Silva Column: Rip Hamilton would be the right fit in Chicago

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CHICAGO — One of the most talked about players at Bulls’ Media Day on Sunday wasn’t even on the roster – or at least not yet. Richard Hamilton commanded quite an amount of attention at the Berto Center, as the former All-Star guard awaits a buyout to be finalized with the Detroit Pistons. Once he clears waivers, presumably in the next 48 hours, Hamilton will be free to sign with any team, and multiple reports having him Chicago-bound.

Based on the way things went down for the Bulls during the postseason, Hamilton would be a welcome addition.

Time and again this offseason, reigning league MVP Derrick Rose has willingly shouldered the blame for the Bulls’ inability to get past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. While the Heat won the series, 4-1, the Bulls either led or were within a handful of points heading into each fourth quarter. Outside of Rose down the stretch, the Bulls’ offensive options were extremely limited. There was only so much the league’s youngest MVP could do. Chicago’s Game 1 victory notwithstanding, the Bulls’ were outscored in the series’ remaining four fourth quarters by an average of 22.5-16.25.

Enter Hamilton who, if you discard his rocky two previous seasons in Detroit, has been one of the league’s most efficient midrange scorers. Give Rose and Co. a proven scoring two-guard for the playoffs – Chicago usually went with a shooting guard by committee in postseason fourth quarters – and the Bulls would be in a better position to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since the Jordan era.

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