Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From Philadelphia 76ers
Game Recap: Bulls 115, 76ers 111 (OT)
Snapshot: A career performance from one of the NBA’s emerging talents allowed the Chicago Bulls (23-15) to overcome and impressive opening half from the 76ers (4-37) on Thursday night at The Center. Jimmy Butler, who spent the bulk of his first three campaigns developing in the shadows of proven All-Star teammates, continued to build upon his breakout showing from last year. The league’s Most Improved Player in 2015, Butler burst for 53 points, matching Steph Curry’s NBA season-high from October 31st. Butler’s efforts were pivotal in helping Chicago outlast the Sixers in overtime, 115-111.
In the first half, the Sixers dominated. They managed to score a season-best 62 points, and led the Bulls by as many as 24 points midway through the second quarter. That margin also marked a season-high. Chicago began to make inroads during the third period, when they limited the Sixers to five field goals. In the fourth frame, Butler, who – at that stage – had already scored 36 points, added 15 more, proving particularly impactful amidst a late 13-2 surge that propelled the Bulls in front for the first time since the first quarter. Ish Smith was able to send the tilt to overtime on a clutch three-pointer with 17.6 seconds to play.
While the Sixers rattled off the first four points of the extra period, Chicago struck back. They turned things over to fifth-year guard E’Twaun Moore, who single-handedly manufactured a 9-0 spurt on his own. That run was enough to give the Bulls control for good.
The Sixers were paced by Robert Covington’s 25 points. After being held to single-digits in 12 of his previous 13 outings, the Sixers’ top scorer from a season ago recaptured his valuable perimeter stroke, canning six of his 10 three-point tries, and eight of his 16 shots overall. Smith deposited 24 points, while handing out eight assists. Nik Stauskas netted 12 points, and was also efficient from beyond the arc, knocking down three of his five triple attempts.
Top Moment:
With two and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter, after Chicago pushed ahead for its first lead since the opening period, there was plenty of time left for dramatics. Ish Smith nailed a 18-foot pull-up jumper to flip the scoreboard back in the Sixers’ favor, 99-98. Jimmy Butler then responded with one of his two three-pointers, only to see Ish Smith lock up the contest again on a lay-up. E’Twaun Moore’s triple broke a 101-101 tie, but, after the Sixers came up with a crucial stop with 30 seconds to go, Smith had one more chance to deliver some heriocs in regulation.
http://www.nba.com/sixers/video/games/sixers/2016/01/15/0021500587-chi-p…
Brett Brown Said – On the Sixers’ performance in their 115-111 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls:
“I don’t fault these guys much for anything that wasn’t A-plus effort. I think they played their hearts out.”
Notes and Quotes:
For the first time this season, the Sixers played a game without Jerami Grant. The second-year forward had made 47 consecutive appearances dating back to a streak that beganlast April. He was kicked in the calf during the Sixers’ 95-85 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, and subsequently didn’t practice on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Prior to Thursday’s tip-off, Brett Brown spoke about the difficulty that NBA players encounter in attempting to log a full, 82-game season.
“It is hard,” said Brown, who has spent 15 years in the league, either as an assistant or head coach. “The more you see it, and the more you sort of go through it, those people that break records for duration, the Andre Millers, Bruce Bowens through years, and you’re just reminded of how much luck you need, and how much attention you have to pay to your body. Luck, and just knowledge of sports science, and taking care of yourself, it all factors into that.”
Miller, a former Sixer, is currently a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and is in his 17th professional campaign. In 10 of those seasons, he survived the duration of the schedule. Brown worked with Bowen in San Antonio. Bowen, now retired, made 82 regular season appearances in six separate seasons.
Brown said he expects Grant to be available for the Sixers’ next contest, this Saturday versus the Portland Trail Blazers.
Chicago, meanwhile, had injury issues of its own. Derrick Rose missed his sixth game this season due to discomfort in his left knee. Pau Gasol, now 35 years old, didn’t make the trip in order to rest a sore leg.
Thursday marked the third time this season that the Windy City-raised Jahlil Okafor went up against his hometown team. In the previous two meetings between the Sixers and Bulls, Okafor fared well. The rookie center ripped down 15 rebounds, still a career-high, in his professional debut versus Chicago on November 9th at The Center. That night, Okafor also punched in 21 points. A little more than a month later at United Center, in front a large contingent of family and friends, Okafor generated 22 points and eight rebounds. He left a strong impression on two All-Stars for whom he used to root.
“He’s good,” said Derrick Rose, himself a Chicagoan. “He’s scoring the ball and getting these numbers without even knowing the NBA game yet. So, it only shows you his potential once he gets organized or has a great team around him, he’s going to be pretty good.”
Rose earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2009. Through the first two and a half months of his career, Okafor has put himself in the running to receive that same distinction. He leads all first-year peers in scoring with an average of 17.4 points per game.
“Jah’s a great player,” Noah said. “Can really score the ball in the post, can shoot it, got soft touch. Makes plays for his teammates. Very skilled big.”
At the outset of the second quarter, Okafor strung together a stretch during which he connected on three consecutive field goals. The first of these buckets came from the interior. He then moved back to bury a pair of jump shots over Noah.
“He’s a great post player, and somebody who can score in a variety of ways,” said Noah. “Eighteen, 19 points a game. For a 20-year old kid, that’s pretty impressive.”
The Bulls buckled down on Okafor after intermission. He finished with 12 points (5-11 fg) and four rebounds.
A week and a half since re-signing with the Sixers, Elton Brand continues to work his way back into game-shape, participating in drills during practices, and prior to games themselves. Brand began his 17-year career with Chicago, which chose him first overall in the 1999 NBA Draft. At that time, Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg was also on the club’s roster.
“He was great,” Hoiberg said of Brand. “I had my best statistical year with Elton because he got double-teamed all the time. He was a great teammate.”
While Hoiberg referenced his 2000-2001 campaign with a laugh, he also was telling the truth. That season, his second with Brand, was indeed the most productive of his 10-year career.
“Just a great kid, a true pro, and an excellent, excellent basketball player,” said Hoiberg, who, at 43, is Brand’s senior by about five and a half years. “He was a great guy to play with. Mature beyond his years. He was a guy that came in, I think he was 19, when he was drafted there. Just a wonderful person.”
Chicago traded Brand to the Los Angeles Clippers the night of the 2001 NBA Draft.
Next Up:
The Sixers will conclude their season-long six-game homestand on Saturday at 7:30 PM EST, when the Portland Trail Blazers (17-24) make their lone stop of the year in South Philadelphia. Following their first Northwest Division championship campaign in 16 years, Portland endured substantial change during the summer, when key members of an experienced nucleus exited via free agency. No departure was more significant than that of LaMarcus Aldridge. The 30-year old center spent the first nine years of his career with the Trail Blazers, averaging 19.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during that stretch. Selected to participate in each of the last four All-Star Games, Aldridge opted to sign a lucrative four-year contract with the Spurs this off-season worth a reported $84 million. Portland also saw Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez, and Wesley Matthews leave to join other organizations. Consequently, the Trail Blazers decided to shift their focus towards developing a new core anchored by promising young guard Damian Lillard, who agreed to a five-year max contract. Lillard ranks seventh in the NBA in scoring, posting 24.7 points per game. Portland also acquired Maurice Harkless and Mason Plumlee through trades, and has benefited from the ongoing growth of C.J. McCollum (20.8 pts), a Lehigh University product. The Trail Blazers have won back-to-back games since falling in three consecutive contests.
