Bulls End Raptors Regular Season On Losing Note
I believe in honesty. If this Raptor Rewind is not to the level that you are use to it is my fault. I say that knowing that there really isn’t going to be much I can say about this game that will be that important unless there is an injury and I sure do not want to talk about that. So let’s knock on wood and get started. Raptors were off to a good start with the starters all present and accounted for on the floor at the United Center. This game had a real pre-season type feel. Chicago would be happy to see this season over. A team that many had pegged for the Eastern Conference Finals and Maybe the Finals. Instead they earned a seat at the NBA Lottery at NBA TV in New Jersey. Ben Wallace was in Cleveland. The guy that was suppose to push the Bulls over the top. Instead he had a less then productive couple of seasons in Chicago. Detroit knew what they were doing by not re-signing him and letting him walk to Chicago. If there was anything of meaning for Toronto in this game it might be building some confidence for Andrea Bargnani. He was doing ok once he entered the game playing with Primoz and Hump. Jose Calderon woke me from my daze with a buzzer beater 3 point shot.
Raptor reserves were able to keep a lead going into halftime. The Raps starters would return for the start of the 3rd quarter and extend the advantage the reserves were able to hang on too. Maybe the Bulls were out of gas from scoring 150 plus the other night. Or the just lack of getting it done as a whole on the season. Whatever the case the Bulls looked like a defeated group. Which made it really hard to get any read on what the Raptors were doing in this game. The Reserves would check in about 4 minutes left in the 3rd and would likely play the rest of the way. Primoz Brezec Technical foul streak in now at 2 games and Raptors lead had shrunk to just 1 point. Bulls would score late to take a 76-75 lead after 3 quarters of play. If people wonder why Sam Mitchell has tighten up his rotation you were seeing why in the ladder stages of the 3rd quarter.
The Bulls had found some effort in the 4th and had charged out to a lead. the drama of a Raptor winning season or a ho hum .500 finish was not enough to motivate me to get excited. I take some shots sometimes at Chuck and Leo but in games like this the stuff that annoys me in a game like this I enjoy. It is a hard job to keep people interested in a game like this one. I have done play by play on minor levels and can relate to how hard that can be. Almost as an extension of the pain the shot clock at the United Center went dead. Much like the Bulls season had long ago. Please someone fix the clock. I would like to take this time to invite anyone that missed my blog below this one to read my blog on my interview with Jack Armstrong today. Or better still start your letter to MLSE saying you want Jack Armstrong back next season. The game marched on with old school clocks on the floor thank God. The clocks would come back to life not long after. Raptors were down 7 by the way. Raps were struggling to score with some of the bench players that will get minutes vs. Orlando but they were not building a case for more. Carlos Delfino is the one player that concerns you. He has had a real roller coaster season. At times he has been a very effective weapon and at others you see why he was something Detroit felt they could part ways with him. He will be an interested player this off season as to what the Raptors decide to do as far as re-signing him. At this point I would pass but the playoffs could change my mind if he comes to play. Almost on cue as I was typing Delfino drained a 3 point shot. Raps were now down 10. I will give some love the Gray on the Bulls he was a good pick for this Bulls team and in a game where some peoples effort could be questioned his could not. he had 19 points and 21 rebounds. I understand that it was a pre-season like effort by Toronto but still 20 plus rebounds is something in any game. Get out the DEEP DISH PIZZA this ball game was over. A Noah Slam and 1 made me break out the Deep dish for the Bulls.
I can’t say I am shocked based on who played in this game that the Bulls were heading to the winner’s circle. This would snap a 4 game winning streak the Raptors had going over the Bulls after not being able to buy a win against them for years. The key as I mentioned for Toronto honestly was just to keep safe in getting ready for Orlando on the weekend. Mission accomplished. For the Bulls a long off season begins with a search for new answers. See you Sunday in Orlando but till then we have lots of time to get ready for the playoffs here at the Dino Nation Blog.
Boxscore:
http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280416004
No Podcast Tonight…Tomorrow we will have Playoff Preview Podcast.
