March 20--The Bulls improved to 35-33 with their home victory over the Jazz. Here are three observations.
The defense didn't rest
Beyond holding the Jazz to 40 percent shooting and limiting just the second opponent in the last 23 games to under 100 points, the Bulls' defense looked active and engaged throughout. Guards, including Derrick Rose, fought over screens. Big men pushed guards to the perimeter in screen-and-roll. Even the defensive transition, a major problem area of late, proved on point.
"Right from the beginning we did a great job getting into the ball," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "We were fighting over screens. The help was there, and Cris (Felicio) got us off to a really good start defensively. I thought he was terrific with his minutes. Derrick (Rose) was really good and engaged getting into the ball. That's where it starts. We've jumped out to double digit leads in two straight games, three out of four. That's got to be our constant."
Derrick Rose's shot selection continues to be solid
There's a reason Rose is shooting better than 50 percent from 3-point range since the All-Star break. His attempts are down.
This is just another example of how much Rose's shot selection has improved this season as he continues to mostly attack and make that midrange bank shot he has seemingly mastered.
Hoiberg has talked consistently about how much film he watches with Rose and has made clear that shot selection is one of the biggest topics.
The Bulls are halfway through a critical homestand
At 2-0 through a four-game home stretch against all sub-.500 teams, this is a crucial time in the season. Winning four straight games can vault a team in the crowded Eastern Conference. With games on tap against the Kings and Knicks, the opportunity is there for the Bulls.
"We need to shake off all the bull crap from earlier and pull out wins," Taj Gibson said. "We have to take care of business."
