Don't be fooled though. Many times, the Bulls looked just as bad as the 76ers, simply making fewer mistakes. In the third quarter, they finally found the right wind and steamrolled through their hapless opponents. Knocking down shots, getting rebounds and collecting turnovers (at least one from every 76er except Isaiah Canaan), they made the talent gap apparent and kept Philadelphia winless for the season.
Nikola Mirotic, coming off a struggling string of games, came back to hit a trio of 3-pointers and earn a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Pau Gasol was steady throughout on both sides with 16 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Doug McDermott scored nine of his 18 points from beyond the arc and tied the team record set by Kirk Hinrich in 2004-05 with his 19th trey through the season's first eight games.
Derrick Rose totaled 12 points and a team-high seven assists, though he did miss another three long balls. Tony Snell and Aaron Brooks scored 10 apiece. When this team figures out how to score and divide that scoring, the depth can be lethal, especially against lesser teams like Philadelphia. Even E'Twaun Moore got in on the action by pouring in nine.
Joakim Noah (knee) and Nerlens Noel (wrist) were both held out, robbing us of a fierce defensive battle. It would have been nice to see two centers who were once among the best at their positions in college fight for rebounds. And if Noel really is Noah 2.0, we should have more head-to-head ammo to go on.
The Bulls need to use this game as an example of how they should play lottery-bound teams. Maybe it took them awhile to really get going, but when they did, the 76ers could only keep up in vain. The talent is there, but we don't always get to see it. That's why it's so frustrating to watch this team at times when it really shouldn't be.
The defense needs to keep up those 48 minutes of intensity Norm Van Lier loved to talk about. The 76ers probably helped in this game because they're so bad, so they shouldn't read so much into it as far as overall ability. And if it wasn't such an integral part of Hoiball, I'd suggest cracking down on the 3-pointers. But that's the system and the personnel that can shoot should, unless those shots aren't falling, in which case those who can penetrate are the ones to turn to.
The Bulls have three days off, returning to action Friday against the Charlotte Hornets. When these teams met in Carolina last week, the Bulls were badly blown out. Now, the venue switches to the United Center. Time to find out if lessons were learned.
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