SAN ANTONIO -- The Chicago Bulls took advantage of the injury-riddled San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
Andre-Pierre
Gignac Jersey . Jimmy Butler had 19 points and Carlos Boozer added 16
points and 12 rebounds and the Bulls handed the Spurs their third straight loss,
96-86. "It was huge," Butler said. "Its big to come in here and get a win on the
road." Tony Parker had 20 points and Tim Duncan had 17 points and 12 rebounds
for San Antonio, which hadnt lost back-to-back games until this current skid.
The Spurs were without Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and
Tiago Splitter, who were all out due to injuries. Ginobili joined San Antonios
growing injury list Tuesday night, straining his left hamstring against Houston
after throwing down a one-handed dunk. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich dismissed any
talk of fatigue. "I dont care, thats just an excuse," Popovich said. "Everybody
tried as hard as they could. I dont know how to measure fatigue. Just go play.
We try to watch peoples minutes and that kind of thing. "It doesnt matter whos
hurt, or what your schedule is, or anything like that. You go play. Nobody
cares. All that matters is the win or the loss. We lost or defensive consistency
and they went up." The Bulls can certainly relate after losing All-Star point
guard Derrick Rose to a season-ending knee injury. The Bulls have attempted to
step up collectively since the injury and that depth led them to their 10th road
victory of the season. Chicago had seven players score in double figures, with
D.J. Augustin and Taj Gibson adding 15 points each and Joakim Noah had 10 points
and 10 rebounds. "We have a roster full of NBA players just like everybody
else," Butler said. "A lot of people sleep on us, but we have a really talented
group of guys that do so many things well. When we play together and just as
hard as we can, I think we can win a lot of games." With four players missing
from their main rotation, the Spurs turned to their depth with less
effectiveness. Nando De Colo and newly signed Othyus Jeffers, who both played in
the D League, both started for the first time this season. Jeffers brought
hustle and De Colo another distributor, but neither brought much offence.
Jeffers failed to score, going 0 for 1 from the field, and De Colo had eight
points. It led to a disjointed and inconsistent offence for San Antonio. The
Spurs had 19 turnovers and only 16 assists on their 33 field goals. "Its tough
to keep a rhythm," Duncan said. "With a lot of our guys out, our consistency
just isnt there on both ends. We cant sustain for the periods of time that we
need to. "But at various points throughout the game were where we want to be.
And then we go through lulls where defence or offence cant get it done." San
Antonio went scoreless for nearly five minutes as part of Chicagos 12-5 run to
close the first quarter. It could have been worse, but Patty Mills made a
3-pointer with 2.8 seconds remaining to keep the Spurs within 21-15. San Antonio
responded with a 17-3 run to take a 27-24 lead. Chicago scored just seven points
in 10 minutes bridging the first and second quarters, turning a 21-12 lead into
a 36-28 deficit. But the second half belonged to the Bulls and Butler. "Its just
tough right now," Parker said. "Back to back, it felt like we had no energy. We
didnt make shots in the first half. We had some pretty good looks in the first
half; open 3s. They just didnt go in and we just try to fight through it. We
tried to get some energy in the second half, but they played better than us."
Butler was 7 for 11 from the field as the Spurs had no answer for the athletic
forward. "Jimmy was terrific," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said, "with his defence
and then turned that defence into offence, which was a big plus for us." Not
having to guard Ginobili, Leonard or Green on the wings allowed Butler to defend
Parker and the other Spurs guards. Parker finished 8 for 17 with six assists in
34 minutes. "Its a challenge (defending Parker)," Butler said. "He can do so
many things well, but whenever I was beat, I had Taj (Gibson), (Nazr) Mohammed,
Jo (Noah) or Booz (Boozer) to alter his shot or make him go a different
direction." NOTES: Green (fractured left index finger), Leonard (fractured right
fourth metacarpal) and Splitter (sprained right shoulder) all sat behind the
bench during the game, all wearing sport coats with no ties. Ginobili was not
with the team. ... Noah (illness) and Kirk Hinrich (right hamstring) both played
after being game-time decisions due to injury. ... Jeffers endeared himself to
the fans and Spurs quickly, diving onto court twice on the same possession for a
loose ball, earning a jump ball. ... Noah was given a technical foul with 5:02
remaining in the third by official Josh Tiven. As he ran back defensively, Noah
punched the air in disgust after missing a layup he thought was caused by a foul
on Duncan. ... When asked how the Spurs will handle the rash of recent injuries,
coach Gregg Popovich said he didnt want to be a smart-(aleck) but ... "You play
the guys on the bench. We cant play the guys on the other team. I know that."
Aron Johannsson
Jersey . Plata blasted a rising shot to the upper left corner for his
team-leading seventh goal of the season. He got the kick after referee Allen
Chapman ruled Chris Tierney fouled John Stertzer in the penalty area.
Jonas Hector
Jersey . JOHNS, N.
http://www.soccerpro.us.com/USA/Chris-Wondolowski-Jersey/ . Ricciardos exclusion from the results tarnished what had been a day of
celebration for local fans, who were jubilant that the Red Bull driver had
apparently become the first Australian to finish on the podium at his home race.
However just before midnight, stewards ruled that Ricciardos car had "exceeded
consistently the maximum allowed fuel flow" and that the team refused an
instruction from the races technical delegate Charlie Whiting to change the
fuel-flow sensor before the race and a further request during the race to reduce
the fuel flow.Atlanta Falcons Reason for Pessimism The Atlanta Falcons had an
excellent regular season last year, winning 13 games. But many of them were by
remarkably close scores. I remember the Carolina game and the Hail Mary pass
from Matt Ryan to Roddy White to position the Falcons for the winning field
goal. That game could have gone either way. The same in regards to the Oakland
game - won by three. The Arizona game? Won by four. The Tampa Bay game was won
by one. The Saints game was won by four - on the last play of the game. And the
playoff game at home against Seattle - a 30-28 win in the last minute. Thats six
games that could have gone either way and in a very tough NFC South. The Falcons
will need that late game skill again. The rushing attack was 29th and on defence
was 24th - being 21st against the run and 23rd against the pass. The Falcons are
a very good team that needs to improve. The biggest concern is cornerback.
Asante Samuel will take care of one side but the other may be a rookie. Either
Desmond Trufant or Robert Alford. Either way, starting a rookie cornerback is a
risk but Atlanta may not have a choice. Reason for Optimism Matt Ryan has signed
a new big time contract and heres why. He has 56 wins in his first five seasons
and the record for wins in their first six seasons is 60 by Ben Roethisberger.
Matt Ryan may surpass that significant record as soon as week on Monday night
Football at home against the Jets. As a team the Falcons were +13 in takeaway
and giveaway and second in third down completion percentage. Thank you, Matt
Ryan. All the Falcons need to be the best offence in football is for Steven
Jackson to stay healthy and the best three receivers in football - Jones, White
and Gonzalez to do what they do. The other key component is Osi Umenyiora as a
pass rusher on one side and Kroy Biermann on the other side. They must play well
to offset the youth in the secondary. Give credit to the Falcons in that they
were one more good play from a Super Bowl appearance and still may have eight
new starters in the effort to improve. Reality: Tough, tough
division. New Orleans will be better and Tampa Bay as well. Carolina always
plays Atlanta tough. But the Falcons have great receivers and an improved
defence depending on the two young cornerbacks. The two games against New
Orleans will probably determine the division. Theyll finish first in NFC South.
New Orleans Saints Reason for Pessimism Last year, the New Orleans Saints
allowed an all-time record for yards allowed with 7,O42. They also had nine
games of 25 points allowed or more. Their total defence was ranked 32nd, their
rushing defence was 32nd, pass defence 31st and their scoring defence was also
31st. Can that defence now contain Matt Ryan, Cam Newton and an improving Josh
Freeman? Until proven, its the biggest question with the Saints. They do have
three good young players in free agent Keenan Lewis from Pittsburgh, John
Jenkins at the nose from Georgia and Kenny Vaccaro out of Texas. But can all
three be 16-game starters? Reason for Optimism You cant
undervalue the presence and accountability of Sean Payton back as head coach. In
the last three years with him, the Saints won 37 of a possible 48 games and won
it all in 2009. Without him, they were 7-9. Even if the defence plays mildly
better, the Saints can win games on their own - second in total offence, first
in passing offence, third in scoring offence and fourth on red zone efficiency.
The only negative number was rushing offence, which was 25th. But you know that
will improve with Payton back. And you know the Saints wont start the season 0-4
again. Reality: If the defence catches up withh the
offence, then the Saints are a playoff team again this year.
Hugo Lloris
Jersey. The have two key games with Atlanta to open the season at home,
then its off to Thursday Night Football on Nov. 21. That will probably determine
the division. The Saints finish second in the NFC South - but not by much. Tampa
Bay Buccaneers Reason for Pessimism The Bucs are a team that could finish first
or last in the NFC South. They started the season a strong 6-4 but ended it a
poor 1-5. And the one win was against an Atlanta team in Week 17 that had little
to play for. The concern for the Bucs is quarterback Josh Freeman. He did have a
great year in terms of passing yards and touchdowns passes, but threw 10 of his
17 interceptions over three games late in the season - which kept the Bucs out
of the playoffs. Still, Tampa Bay spent money in free agency and if that pans
out then what was one of the worst secondaries will become one of the best. In
one of the oddest years in defence, the Bucs finished first against the run and
32nd against the pass. Can that pass defence catch up with the run defence?
Reason for Optimism There are some hidden gems of talent on this years Bucs
team. Doug Martin was spectacular last year and a big reason was Carl Nicks at
left guard and Donald Penn at left tackle. Vincent Jackson had a good year,
Gerald McCoy lived up to his high draft pick status as a defensive tackle and
Mason Foster played well at middle linebacker. Finally, Darrelle Revis, Mark
Barron, Eric Wright and Dashon Goldson make up talent wise an excellent
secondary. A lot will depend on Josh Freeman and the pressure is on. Greg
Schiano has not said it is his job to lose and they also drafted quarterback
Mike Glennon. The Bucs could be a 10 win team. Reality: Just like the
Panthers, the probable is who do the Bucs move ahead of into the playoffs? The
Saints or the Falcons? I say its possible but the Bucs will finish third in the
NFC South. Carolina Panthers Reason for Pessimism This is probably it for Ron
Rivera. For the last two years, the start of the season has been disastrous but
and the end of the season has been terrific. Last year, the Panthers won five of
their last six but lost six of there first seven. Statistically, there was
nothing that outstanding about what Carolina did on offence or defence. They
finished Top 10 on defence and 12th on offence - pretty good . Not dominant, but
pretty good. They do need to find another receiver other than Steve Smith, but
thats been an issue for years and if they do then Cam Newton will have another
year as good as his rookie campaign. In that year, Carolina won 12 games and
made the playoffs. The pressure is on this year - more than
ever. Reason for Optimism Over the last five years,
Carolina has won 12, eight, two, six and seven games - so theyre on their way
back (only one game from .500 football!). Also, seven of their losses were by
seven points or less. With Newton, his touchdown runs are down but his touchdown
passes were up. With three good running backs in Jonathan Stewart, DeAngelo
Williams and Mike Tolbert, Newton does not have to throw thew ball 30 times to
win. And with three good linebackers led by Luke Kuechly and two good outside
pass rushers, the Panthers made their first and second pick defensive tackles to
make it stonger than ever. Reality: The Panthers
are a good team in a very tough division. They also have one of the toughest
schedules playing six playoff teams. A lot will depend on how well Newton
continues to progress, but he will have to out play Drew Brees and Matt Ryan to
be a playoff team. Possible, but not probable. Carolinas fourth in the NFC
South.
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