| |
|
NBA PLAYOFFS - Bulls lean on C.J. Watson to take over at point
By Fakhouri Amjid PhilBoxing.com Wed, 02 May 2012
CHICAGO -- Life without Derrick Rose charges on for the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their best-of-7 opening round series at the United Center.
The Bulls captured Game 1, 103-88, Saturday night and took a 1-0 lead. But it turned out to be the franchise's "saddest win ever" as Rose, the reigning MVP tore his ACL in the final 1:10 of play. After surgery and rehabilitation, he will be out for six to nine months.
Beneath the grim news, however, hope rises in the form of C.J. Watson, the dependable back-up point guard who has steered the Bulls' ship in this injury-ravaged season. In the 27 games that Rose has missed due to an assortment of ailments, the Bulls won 18 and lost just 9.
Oh yes, these are the playoffs. The stakes are higher, the competition stiffer. But Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau has complete faith on the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Watson.
"He's an excellent pick-and-roll player," Thibodeau told the Chicago Tribune. "He can push the ball in transition. He's a terrific 3-point shooter. He has good quickness. And he knows how to run the team. He understands his teammates' strengths and weaknesses. He has played with the starters and bench guys. He has a really good feel for that."
Bulls general manager Gar Forman mirrors Thibodeau's confidence on Watson.
"We had followed him really for a couple of years before he came. We think he's got the ability to run the team, the ability to play with pace, the ability to make shots. He was our kind of guy. We thought he would fit in with our guys," Forman said.
A four-year pro out of the University of Tennessee, Watson has played in a total of 305 NBA regular season games averaging 7.8 points, 2.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds per. Before signing a two-year deal with the Bulls in the summer of 2010, Watson played in Europe and the D-League.
Watson, who played three years with the Golden State Warriors, makes $3.4 million in salaries this season. (Fakhouri Amjid)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Fakhouri Amjid.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Fight Results from Sanman Boxing Event at Bula Gymnasium in General Santos City , Thu, 13 Mar 2025Flores Family: Filipino Fistic Fury By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 13 Mar 2025March 22 fight card at Tropicana Atlantic City has strong local flavor , Thu, 13 Mar 2025Inoue to Fight Cardenas in the USA on May 4, Another "Expensive" Mismatch Expected By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 13 Mar 2025PH's Top Chess Players to See Action at DG's Cup 2025 Invitational Chess Tournament This Friday By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 13 Mar 2025A Monster May: Pound-For-Pound King Naoya Inoue to Defend Undisputed Junior Featherweight Crown Against Ramon Cardenas May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas , Thu, 13 Mar 2025HACKETT SEEKS ROMAN REVENGE IN ORLANDO , Thu, 13 Mar 2025World Boxing approves applications from National Federations in China, Turkey, Sudan, Greece, Montenegro and Slovakia to increase membership to 84 countries , Thu, 13 Mar 2025SAMPSON BOXING SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH UNDEFEATED MEXICAN SUPER WELTERWEIGHT ISAAC LUCERO , Thu, 13 Mar 2025Athletes secure guaranteed prize money on day three of IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Niš , Wed, 12 Mar 2025Chances Are: Top Rank Signs Amateur Standout Emmanuel Chance , Wed, 12 Mar 2025Johnny Wellem Andam Carzano tops Iligan chess tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 12 Mar 2025April 5: Unbeaten Standouts Albert Gonzalez and Steven Navarro Added to Richard Torrez Jr.-Guido Vianello Card at Palms Casino Resort LIVE on ESPN+ , Wed, 12 Mar 2025Hatice Akbas confident of second gold medal at IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships , Wed, 12 Mar 2025Sanman Boxing Event Set as Fighters Successfully Make Weight in General Santos City , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Filipina Boxing Champions Norj Guro and Wenie Cline Verano Seek Guidance from Promoter Brico Santig for Career Advancement By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025The Past Week in Action 10 March 2025: Lauren Price Outpoints Natasha Jonas to Unify IBF/IBO/WBA/WBC Welter Titles By Eric Armit, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025A Pilgrimage of Gratitude: Remembering Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Bye Bye Dallas Mavericks - From Finalists to Also Run (Again)? By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Justin Viloria's Star Continues to Rise By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025WBA Champion Eimantas Stanionis Settles in at Wild Card Gym in Preparation for Unification Showdown with Jaron “Boots” Ennis , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Irish light heavyweight prospect Thomas Myers Shipping Up To Boston to fight Saturday , Tue, 11 Mar 2025GM Joey Antonio rules rapid chess tilt By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Cebuana Lhuillier Slo-Pitch Softball Team Bags Another Championship Title in Pangaea Cup Tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025Araw doubles netfest set March 14-17 at Flores By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 11 Mar 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|