Gordon Off The Bench Works Like A Charm Bulls Top Knicks

Jim Broylan may not be a genius, but NBA fans in Chicago could be forgiven if they think he’s one. Why you ask??Well Broylan the interim coach of the Chicago Bulls is now 2-0, and seemed to solve all the team’s woes with one simple move. Broylan asked Ben Gordon to go from being in the starting lineup to coming into the game from the bench. With just that one move the Chicago Bulls went from a moribund team to a club that resembles the playoff team from last Spring. Gordon came off the bench Sunday against the New York Knicks, and paid big dividends, scoring a game high?25 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, and Chicago beat New York 100-83.

Gordon was not exactly?in love with the idea, when Broylan approached him about?it soon as he was named the replacement for Scott Skiles who?was fired last Monday. Broylan told him that Gordon would supply offensive fire power?off the bench, so for the good of the team he took the?assignment. In 2 games it has paid off quite well, not only allowing Gordon to score in a backup role, but it has allowed Kirk?Hinrich, and Luol Deng to prosper in the starting lineup. The team shot 50% from the field for the game making 36-72 shots. ?Add a nice game by veteran Joe Smith, and 10 boards from a re-energized Ben Wallace, you got the makings of a win.

New York was without leading scorer Jamal Crawford who hot his right hand banged up in practice on?Friday, X-Rays were negative, but he was in too much pain too be effective. The Knicks also played without Stephon Marbury, Marbury has?had a tough time dealing with the grief after the loss of his father. Marbury was with the team but was not dressed for the game. Coach Isiah Thomas had Eddy Curry come into the contest off the bench. Unfortunately Curry did not embrace the move with the same enthusiasm Gordon?did.?Curry did score 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, but was unhappy with the move. He showed it on the court, and told it to reporters after the game.

?Chicago basically had control of this game by the end of the first quarter, as they led 30-22 at the end of the period, and 50-43 at the half. The Bulls increased their lead to 73-57 by the end of the third quarter, and New York was never a factor in the final period. Besides Gordon, Luol Deng scored 17 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, Hinrich scored 13 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal. Joe Smith also scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal,?and Wallace only scored 6 points, but that’s okay when he grabs 10 boards, 5 offensive rebounds,??2 steals, 1 assist.

Nate Robinson starting at?point guard led the Knicks with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, ?3 steals.? Zack Randolph back in the starting lineup after one game coming off the celebrated with a double-double, 18 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists. Quentin Richardson scored 13 points, ?3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, David Lee scored 11 points, 7 boards, 1 block , 1assist. Chicago is now 11-17, while New York is 8-21.