The Chicago Bulls are still considered amongst the favourites to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, but right now, they have dropped six of their last eight games and Derrick Rose is getting frustrated.
ROSE VOICES FRUSTRATION AFTER CAVS LOSS
After losing 108-94 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago look a shadow of a side that are meant to be competing for the NBA championship at the moment and guard Derrick Rose is unhappy as he vented his frustration following the loss.
Via ESPN:
“Everybody has to be on the same page,” Rose said. “Until then, we’re going to continue to get our ass kicked.”
Asked who was not on the same page, Rose was quick with a response.
“It’s just the whole team,” he said.
The Bulls canceled practice on Tuesday.
Rose’s comments come amid one of the worst stretches of the Tom Thibodeau era.
The part that irritates players and coaches isn’t so much the losing, especially given that the Bulls are playing without starters Joakim Noah (knee/ankle) and Mike Dunleavy (ankle). It’s that they’re not playing with the type of intensity that has come to define them over Thibodeau’s five years as coach in Chicago.
“I think communication is huge,” Rose said. “We’re quiet when we’re out there, and it’s leading to them getting easy baskets. We got to give a better effort. It seems like we’re not even competing, and it’s f—ing irritating.”
THIBODEAU’S JOB IN DANGER?
While it seems unlikely, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau might be finding himself working harder to stay in work according to independent basketball websites, including Sheridan Hoops.
Via Sheridan Hoops:
A source close to the Bulls tells SheridanHoops that eating the remaining money (roughly $11 million) and years (two after this season) on Thibodeau’s contract will not be a concern to management or ownership if they decide to fire him.
The feeling among some players in the locker room is that Thibodeau is simply too hardcore, too much of an oddball personality, and runs his best players into the ground both in practices and games.
POSSIBLY THE BEST NBA INTRODUCTION EVER
The Atlanta Hawks took the prize for best intro during MLK day as they eventually collected their 13th straight W on Monday.
They can’t do no wrong right now..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41N6761syW4
DION WAITERS ENJOYS GETTING THE BALL IN OKC
Since leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dion Waiters has been slightly happier.
Why?
He’s the getting touches and feels part of a team – so he says, anyway.
Waiters has been productive in the handful of games he’s played with the Thunder, posting averages of 14.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and two steals.
Via The Oklahoman:
“They brought me in since Day One with love,” Waiters said. “It seems like I’ve been here forever. It seems like I’ve been playing with them forever, too. When I came here, we clicked right away.”He chuckled. […] “Listen,” he said, “they give me the ball. Like, I touch the ball. Like, I actually, like, you know, touch the ball.”
“I’m able to feel the game out, knowing when to take the shot, when not to,” Waiters said. “Like I said, we got a great group of guys on this team who’s very unselfish and they want you to be successful. So I think I came into a great situation.”
