Monday, March 28, 2011
Posted: 10:28 p.m.Updated: March 29, 12:22 a.m.
By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com
CHICAGOWhen you have a home record of 32-4second-best in the NBAand the best record in the Eastern Conference as the Bulls do, a 23-point first-half deficit does not seem daunting. Add to that the fact that Chicago has an MVP candidate running the team in Derrick Rose, who is seventh in the league in scoring and 10th in assists.
Rose had a quiet first half, but he was awesome in the second. Still, his game-high 31 points were not enough to beat a Sixers team that held the Bulls to 41 percent shooting and won the rebounding battle by two in a 97-85 victory.
If Sundays loss to Sacramento was incredibly disappointing, Monday was extremely satisfying.
I told you before the game that we had a resilient group of guys, Doug Collins said. To think that we would come in here tonight after the game we had yesterday and play like we did today, these guys never cease to amaze me.
I thought we won the game at 9:30 a.m. when we got together this morning. We got in the locker room and just talked about what we believe in, how we do things and we are not going to waver from it and our guys responded.
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At 9:30 we were focused, Elton Brand said. We were ready. We still had to get on the court later, but our mindsets were ready at 9:30 during that shootaround to win this ballgame.
It really was hard to believe the last time the Sixers were in the United Center they were beaten by 45 points and that night the Bulls were not even at full strength like they were on Monday.
Chicago trailed by 16 at the half. As expected, the Bulls made their push in the third.
That quarter did not end well for the Sixers. They were outscored 7-0 in the final 3:22, missing six consecutive shots. They led 69-64 heading into the fourth.
The Sixers had had a similar experience in Miami last Friday, only this time they fought back.
I said this is where we grow, Collins said. The other night in Miami we were up 16 in the first half. They make a bucket and I took a timeout and say, Guys, they are getting ready to make a push and they did. They went on a 25-8 run. Tonight, it was the same thing.
I got a little upset with them. But I told them I wasnt going to let them cave in. Thats not who we are. We are not going to do that. We are not going to let this team come back and win this game.
We just have to stay calm, Andre Iguodala said. We have to know where to put the ball because if we get a good look well knock it down.
Plenty of guys knocked down shots for the Sixers. Spencer Hawes shot the ball extremely well, finishing with 14 points. Iguodala said his shot felt good after scoring 19. But Thaddeus Young was unbelievable to watch.
Sunday was the exception for Young when he shot 2 of 11 from the floor, finishing with four points and one rebound in 18 minutes of work. Monday in Chicago Young was the first substitute off Collins bench, entering the game with 3:24 to play in the first quarter. He scored four points and grabbed three rebounds before the quarter was over.
Young scored 21 points17 in the first halfhad seven rebounds and matched his career high with four blocked shots.
Thaddeus looked like he was shot out of a cannon, he was so quick in that first half, Collins said.
Youngs night was almost cut short when with 5:27 to play in the game he dove for a loose ball and ended up straining his right groin. He was able to return and did with 1:39, replacing Hawes who had fouled out.
I didnt here anything pop so I wasnt scared, Young said of his injury. It hurt for like five minutes and then the pain started to ease down. Its just stiff, more than anything. It got stretched out, but Ill be fine and ready to go next game.
Maybe it was the inspirational text message he received from his head coach Sunday after the overtime loss to the Kings that led to Young returning so quickly to the Sixth Man of the Year contender that he has been this season.
I texted him last night and said, I believe in you. Bounce back, were going to need you tomorrow, Collins shared. He sent back that I got you coach so I dont worry about Thad. A big thing for our guys coming down the stretch is to keep our confidence level up, playing hard and finding a way to win some games.
Lou Williams followed up yesterdays 1-of-12 shooting with a 2-for-11 outing. He finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. He also had a key deflection with a minute to play that led to a fastbreak bucket, putting the game out of reach.
In their last two games, the Sixers had been beaten on the backboard by 18 rebounds in Miami and 22 boards against the Kings. In the first quarter against the Bulls, every starter had at least two rebounds.
Hawes thought the reason the Sixers had struggled in that category of late was a lack of concentration.
Coach always talks about how when offensively things are coming easy to us we get away from our building blocks, he explained. At this point in the season rebounding is critical for us.
The Sixers are averaging 10 offensive rebounds a game this season. They had eight at the half in Chicago, which they turned into 10 second-chance points.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com