Tuesday NBA: Bulls at Lakers
It’s No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose’s first trip to L.A., so all the Hollywood types should be out in force tonight when the Lakers face the Chicago Bulls, who are 12.5-point underdogs on WagerWeb.com.
This is the Bulls’ circus trip, which is an annual pilgrimage west when the Ringling Bros. circus takes over Chicago’s United Center for a few weeks. The Bulls are 6-52 overall on the annual November trek in the 10 years since Michael Jordan left. The Bulls went a combined 1-11 the last two times on this trip. The Bulls are 1-5 against the Lakers in Los Angeles since 2002-03, including losses the last two seasons.
Rose has been working an average of almost 42 minutes in the five games since Kirk Hinrich was sidelined by a torn ligament in his right hand. Rose is having a stellar season so far, averaging 18.9 points, 5.6 assists and five rebounds a game.
Only seven players in NBA history averaged more than 18 points, five assists and five rebounds as rookies: Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, LeBron James, Grant Hill, Steve Francis and Alvin Adams.
”I never thought I’d play these many minutes, but people are injured, and I’m happy I’m getting them,” Rose said. ”It hasn’t hit me yet, but I know later on I’m going to have to get more rest and get more treatment.”
He won’t have to guard Kobe Bryant tonight, however. That chore will go to Ben Gordon.
“Kobe’s the best,” said Gordon. “We have to help on him and try to get the ball out of his hands, and then at the other end attack him. I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make when you have a great offensive player is not to make him work at the other end.”
Gordon is averaging 25.5 points in his last four games — all starts. Gordon, though, has scored 12.5 points per game on 37.3 percent shooting (19-for-51) in four lifetime road games against the Lakers.
Despite having Bryant held to 36 points in his last two home games against Chicago, Los Angeles has won both games by limiting the Bulls to an average of 75.0 points and 34.3 percent shooting.
With starting power forward Drew Gooden questionable with an ankle injury, Chicago could be in deep trouble against the long, deep Laker front line.
The Lakers are off to a league-best 7-1 record, and Bryant is fifth in scoring with 24.8 points per game. L.A. did lose its last game, which also was against an Eastern Conference team: 106-95 to Detroit on Friday.
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