The Ticket Chest

Chicago Bulls Slide Continues – Hello Lottery Pick!

Saturday, March 13th, 2010 | Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, NBA, Sports | No Comments

The Chicago Bulls free-fall continued with their 7th loss in a row – to the Miami Heat 108-95 on Friday night.  Playing short-handed with injuries to 3 stars – Derrick Rose, Loul Deng and Joakim Noah – Vinny Del Negro’s Bulls are clearly overmatched.  Once a lock for the playoffs for the 2nd season in a row, the Bulls now found themselves on the outside looking in.  The Bulls trail the Toronto Raptors by 2 games for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. Can you say lottery pick?

In last night’s loss, the Bulls were forced to start 2 rookies – Taj Gibson and James Johnson, 2 older veterans – Brad Miller and Jannero Pargo and better-suited 6th man Kirk Hinrich.  Ouch.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Bulls over the next week.  They have road games against the Grizzlies in Memphis and the Mavericks in Dallas and then return home to face the Cavaliers on Friday night at the United Center.  Can you say 10-game losing streak?

This would not be good for often-criticized Del Negro, but it could mean a good lottery pick for the team as well as a good chance to land a big free agent this summer.  If not, it could be another long stretch of bad Bulls teams for the foreseeable future.

Tags: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Vinny Del Negro

De Ja Vu: Rose, Deng Lead Bulls Over Trailblazers in OT

Saturday, February 27th, 2010 | Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, NBA, Portland Trailblazers, Sports, Utah Jazz | No Comments

For the 2nd game in a row, Derrick Rose and Luol Deng paved the way for a big Bulls win at the United Center.  Rose scored 33 points – 12 in the 4th quarter – to get the Bulls into the extra period.  Rose thought he had won the game with a driving layup as the horn sounded to end the 4th quarter, but the ball rimmed out.  The Trailblazers held Rose scoreless in OT, but Deng chipped in 7 of his 23 points in the extra frame and the Bulls were able to pull away for a 115-111 overtime victory over one of the better teams in the NBA.  Joakim Noah also had one of his better games since dealing with a severe foot injury – he scored 8 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 27 minutes.

The Bulls are now 31-27 overall with a stellar 19-9 home record at the United Center.  The Bulls are in Indiana tonight to take on the Pacers, before returning home to play the next 4 games in the United Center against the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz.

Tags: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng

NBA Playoff Teams All Set – Seeds Still To Be Determined

Sunday, April 12th, 2009 | Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, General, Houston Rockets, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trailblazers, San Antonio Spurs, Sports, Utah Jazz | No Comments

We know know all of the 16 teams that have qualified for 2008-9 NBA post-season play.  While some seeds have been established, there are still a few slots up for grabs.

In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers – led by Lebron James -  have locked up the #1 seed for the 1st time in franchise history.  The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic are still battling for the #2 seed, but the Celtics have a 2-game edge over the Magic.  The Atlanta Hawks have locked up the 4th seed in the East.  Miami and Philadelphia have each lost 6 of their last 10 games and are currently sitting in the 5th and 6th spots – they each have 3 games to play.  The surging Chicago Bulls – winners of 7 of 10 – and the Detroit Pistons are tied for the 7th and 8th seeds right.  That race will likely be decided when the Bulls visit Detroit on Monday night with the winner taking at least the 7th seed.

In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers – led by Kobe Bryant – have locked up the #1 seed for a 2nd consecutive year.  The 2nd through 5th seeds are up for grabs among the Denver Nuggets (#2 seed), Houston Rockets (1 game behind Denver), Portland Trailblazers  (1.5 games behind Denver) and San Antonio Spurs (1.5 games behind Denver).  The 6th through 8th seeds are also up for grabs among the New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks (tied for 6th and 7th seeds) and the Utah Jazz (8th seed – 1 game behind Hornets and Mavericks).  Looking to avoid a 1st round match-up with the Lakers, the Jazz play the Warriors and Clippers before ending the season against the Lakers – will they be able to bump out either of the Hornets or Mavs?  Only time will tell.

The NBA playoffs will soon be here in full effect – get ready for some intense playoffs hoops action…