Before I start, I'd just like to preface this review by saying I was at Rock Bottom for most of the afternoon watching the CU - Nebraska game and I had several drinks stronger than Pepsi. I'd also like to state I was watching the game with my friend Cameron who is one of the most cynical fans of all-time. While I'm at it, we decided this game reminded us of Antoine Dodson, the funniest video of the year (I recommend you look it him up if you haven't seen the clip), so I'd like to dedicate my first, and I'm sure after reading this probably my only recap, to him.
With that out of the way, lets get to the review...
The obvious out of the way:
Chicago was missing Derrick Rose tonight so a home game against a Rose-less Bulls team should be an easy win. Especially considering they're on their annual Barnum and Bailey road trip. For about the first four minute of this game, it looked that way, racing out to a huge early lead. Nene was killing them. Melo was killing them. The Bulls couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. However, with what seems to be commonplace for the Nuggets in recent years, we played down to the level of our competition and let them back in the game, tied with only 6:20 left in the game. Oh wait, it gets worse. Kyle Korver decided to drop a triple to give the Bulls their first lead of the game with 6:00 left. A seesaw game occurs over the next six minutes with the Bulls actually leading by three with less than a minute left but hold the phones. Why give away what happens before the awards section?!
If you don't have a sense of humor and/or haven't looked up Antoine Dodson, I'd probably recommend you stop reading here. You'll either A) get annoyed, B) get pissed, or C) have no clue what I'm trying to relate to. With that out of the way, let's have some fun.
The Antoine Dodson Awards:
"You are so dumb."
I giggle like a schoolgirl every time I hear him say this. I always think of this line every time I watch something stupid happen. For instance, watching AC foul Noah in the middle of the third quarter on a wide open breakaway dunk. Immediately, Cameron and myself screamed, "You are so dumb!" in the Antoine Dodson accent. A few of his passes made me say the same. I can't say this enough but Anthony Carter has no business playing meaningful minutes in the NBA, much less thirteen of them.
Every time Bird got an entry pass - I like Bird. I want him to succeed. I love his athleticism, I love his finishes, I love his rebounding and I'm glad he's playing again. However, let's face it, his greatest strength is not his low post offense. Every time I see a pass go deep into him, I think, "You are so dumb." This game did not help my opinion of his hands or his finishing moves.
"We gonna find you."
For as much grief as I gave Chris Andersen for his offense, his weak-side defensive help was just as good early in this game. He singlehandedly erased two easy buckets by the Bulls. You could also tell that the Bulls were a little wary of going to strong to the rim after those early swats.
C.J. Watson - It absolutely kills me to say this, but CJ Watson (no relation to the incredible Randy Watson) killed us tonight. If you're asking who CJ Watson is, I don't know what to tell you. Somehow the Nuggets made C.J. Watson look like a young Michael Jordan tonight.
Luol Deng - I had this whole paragraph written about how bad a Deng and Gibson package looks for Melo early in the first half. Then Deng decided to show up and made me erase what I had written. His overall game looked good tonight, scoring in a variety of ways and rebounding very well. The fact I almost wrote the line, "CJ Watson and Luol Deng dominate as the Bulls win," made cry a little inside.
"Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, and hide yo husband."
Nene. He absolutely crushed everything in his path tonight. Noah looked like he wanted no part of him tonight and I can't blame him. Defensively, he was a force as well. If it wasn't for some questionable fouls called on Nene, he probably DOMINATES this game in the way all of us want him to on a nightly basis. Alas, what could have been.
Melo. He wasn't as sharp as I'd like to see tonight but overall, he was real good. Chicago seemed to double him automatically every time he touched the ball, especially early in the game, but it didn't matter that much. He scored pretty efficiently and made some solid easy passes. Other than a couple of dribble-drive forces, I really enjoy this version of Carmelo.
Ty Lawson. His line might not say it but his three-point shooting, especially in the third quarter meant everything in this game. His penetration, while not always successful, really opened up a lot of shots for his teammates tonight. His speed is infectious.
"So you can run and tell that! Homeboy!"
Carmelo Anthony. What? WHAT! HIDE YO KIDS, HIDE YO WIFE, AND HIDE YO HUSBAND CAUSE HE BE MAKING EVERYTHING UP IN HERE. There's a reason why he's considered one of the most clutch end-of-game players in the NBA (statistically, it's basically him or Ginobili over the last few years). What's that reason you say? Carmelo dropping a 17 footer in your face with 0.0 seconds left on the clock for a game-winner. Yea, that's good. I can't finish this recap by saying anything other than what's stated in the movie, Coming to America: "That boy good!"
So after all of that, the bottom line is: NUGGETS WIN!
