Dec. 11--The Bulls improved to 12-8 with their home victory over the Clippers. Here are three observations:
The Bulls continue to struggle with physical play
Long a hallmark of this team, the Bulls allowed the Clippers to enjoy an 18-2 edge in second-chance points. This included 15 offensive rebounds, although the Bulls won the overall rebounding battle 54-52.
And that's the thing about the Bulls' rebounding numbers: They're a bit misleading. On the one hand, they lead the NBA at 48.4 rebounds per game. On the other, they are 16th in rebounding differential and 30th in offensive rebounds allowed.
That's likely why Pau Gasol screamed at Tony Snell, using an expletive, to box out as the Clippers grabbed another offensive board.
"We have to be more physical," Gasol said.
Aaron Brooks provided a nice lift off the bench
After three straight games in which he didn't play due to coach's decision, the scoring sparkplug did what he does, providing 10 points in close to 21 minutes. Perhaps more importantly, he increased the Bulls' pace, allowing Derrick Rose to play some off the ball and sliding Jimmy Butler to small forward to get him up the court more quickly.
"AB is a big piece to our team," Rose said. "With the way he plays, if he comes in I can move to the two or it could be vice versa. He played well."
Rose revealed after the game that coach Fred Hoiberg has instructed him to try to get the ball past midcourt by the 21-second mark on the 24-second shot clock. Rose did do a better job of playing with increased pace, however, his teammates didn't always follow suit. Rose seemed to be waiting for them at times.
"I feel I've been pushing but as far as a team, no," Rose said. "I think I've been playing with a pretty up-tempo type pace. Of course teams are going to load to me more because of the way that I push it. I just have to get everybody to run."
Tony Snell continues to disappear for too many stretches
Though he has shot well from 3-point range at times, the starting small forward managed just two points in 22 minutes and had the aforementioned missed boxout that grabbed Gasol's attention. The Bulls can't afford to have such offensive lulls in the starting lineup and it's fair to wonder if Snell will drop completely out of the rotation if and when Mike Dunleavy returns from back surgery.
