3RD QUARTER Bulls 24, Wizards 23
Top scorer: Kirk Hinrich, 10 Top rebounders: Nocioni, Jamison, 4
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
A team that seemed to have instituted a no-layup, no-ambulance rule in the series' first two games was suddenly rendered defenseless. The Wizards scored two layups and a dunk in the first two minutes of the third quarter, a run that pushed the lead to 20 points and completely quieted the building.
Nothing shook the Bulls' confidence and seemed to symbolize the shift in momentum more than Michael Ruffin's powerful slam from the right baseline in the mug of Antonio Davis. Ruffin is the Wizards' strongest player, just as Davis is the Bulls' strongest player. In a telling meeting at the rim, Ruffin elevated and viciously dunked on the veteran power forward.
What hurt Chicago was its utter reliance on the back court. If Ben Gordon, Kirk Heinrich or Chris Duhon weren't taking jump shots, no one was scoring for the Bulls. They became predictable and limited offensively, and never recovered from that quick onslaught at the outset of the half.
