The Chicago Bulls talked often during the regular season about believing they had the personnel to play as a physically imposing team. Their output has caught up to those desires so far during the postseason. Jimmy Butler (6'7''-G/F-89, college: Marquette) scored 22 points, Rajon Rondo (6'1''-PG-86, college: Kentucky) finished one rebound shy of a triple-double and the Bulls beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their series against the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. While some might be shocked by how Chicago has played as a No. 8 seed that was just 41-41, Butler made it clear he's not one of those folks. "I'm not surprised because everybody's so locked in right now," said Butler, who added eight rebounds and eight assists. Rondo had 11 points and 14 assists on a night when all five Bulls starters reached double figures. Dwyane Wade (6'4''-G-82, college: Marquette) had 22 points, including 16 in the second half, and Robin Lopez (7'0''-C/F-88, college: Stanford) added 18 points and eight points. "Everybody's putting in each work, watching film, working on their game," Butler said. "That's where your confidence always comes from." The Bulls host Game 3 on Friday. After a better start by the Celtics, a familiar theme started to take hold as the Bulls took control by again dominating on the offensive glass. Chicago held a 43-38 rebounding edge for the game. Isaiah Thomas scored 20 points for Boston. Boston got within 91-82 early in the fourth before Chicago went on a 14-4 run to push its lead up to 19. The Celtics did a much better job containing reserve Bobby Portis (6'10''-PF-95, college: Arkansas) in Game 2 after he hurt them with 19 points off the bench in Game 1. But Paul Zipser (6'8''-G/F-94, agency: BeoBasket) picked up the slack in Game 2, scoring 16 points in 29 minutes. After getting thoroughly pushed around underneath in Game 1, the Celtics grabbed the first four rebounds of the night while scoring the game's first seven points. That changed quickly, though, as the Bulls responded with a 20-4 run. Boston's early rebounding edge evaporated just as fast, with all five Bulls starters grabbing an offensive rebound in the first six minutes of action. Boston shot 46 percent for game, but too many times was just one-and-done in the half court. Chicago again used its big men to push the Celtics out of the paint and was quicker to the ball in a lot of 50-50 situations. The Bulls outscored the Celtics in the paint 32-20 for the half. "I feel like in the second half, the ball stopped moving. It wasn't moving at all," Celtics guard Avery Bradley (6'2''-PG-90, college: Texas) said. "Even when we made a good play, got a steal, got an offensive rebound, we were just thinking quick 3s. As a polished team we have to know when to take those shots and when not to." Courtesy of: abcnews.com
Philadelphia 76ers select Markelle Fultz No. 1 overall - 17 hours ago
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Washington point guard Markelle Fultz (6'5''-G/F-98) with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Fultz, considered the consensus top prospect by most draft outlets, averaged 23.2 points and 5.9 assists in his lone season with the Huskies. Washington has had back-to-back top eight draft choices, with Marquese Chriss going eighth to Phoenix in 2016. Philadelphia acquired the first pick from the Boston Celtics on June 20. The 76ers relinquished the No. 3 overall sel... [read more]
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Washington point guard Markelle Fultz (6'5''-G/F-98) with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Fultz, considered the consensus top prospect by most draft outlets, averaged 23.2 points and 5.9 assists in his lone season with the Huskies. Washington has had back-to-back top eight draft choices, with Marquese Chriss going eighth to Phoenix in 2016. Philadelphia acquired the first pick from the Boston Celtics on June 20. The 76ers relinquished the No. 3 overall selection plus a future first for the right to take Fultz. The trade was made possible by former 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie's apt for collecting draft choices. The future first-round pick due to Boston is the 2018 Lakers selection, which the Sixers initially acquired from Phoenix at the 2015 trade deadline. If the choice falls between the second and fifth slots, it's parlayed to the Celtics. Any other result sends Sacramento's 2019 first-rounder to Boston. It's the second consecutive season Philadelphia chose first overall, last year taking LSU's Ben Simmons. Simmons missed the 2016 season with a foot injury. The 76ers embarked on a complete rebuild in the 2013 offseason, moving proven players, such as point guard Jrue Holiday, for draft picks. Philadelphia has picked in the top three in four consecutive drafts, previously taking Joel Embiid (2014), Jahlil Okafor (2015) and Simmons. Plush with cap space and oozing potential, Philadelphia's rebuild, while debatably controversial, is starting to bear fruit. The Fultz, Simmons and Embiid trio is among the league's best young cores.
Round 1
1 Markelle Fultz (6'5''-G/F-98) - Philadelphia 76ers (from Brooklyn via Boston)
Chicago Bulls trade Jimmy Butler to Minnesota - 17 hours ago
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
The long-anticipated reunion between Jimmy Butler (6'7''-G/F-89, college: Marquette) and Tom Thibodeau is on. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that the Chicago Bulls had traded three-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and the 16th overall pick Thursday night to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Zach LaVine (6'5''-G-95, college: UCLA), Kris Dunn (6'4''-G-94, college: Providence) and the No. 7 overall pick. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal... [read more]
The long-anticipated reunion between Jimmy Butler (6'7''-G/F-89, college: Marquette) and Tom Thibodeau is on. Two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that the Chicago Bulls had traded three-time All-Star Jimmy Butler and the 16th overall pick Thursday night to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Zach LaVine (6'5''-G-95, college: UCLA), Kris Dunn (6'4''-G-94, college: Providence) and the No. 7 overall pick. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by the Chicago Tribune, had not been officially announced. The trade brings together Butler and Wolves coach and president Thibodeau, who coached the Bulls for five seasons before being fired in 2015. Butler gives Thibodeau the tough-minded scorer and hard-nosed defender that he has been searching for to complement a promising young core. The Wolves paid a big price: Besides surrendering the lottery pick, they gave up a rising star in LaVine, who is coming off of a torn ACL and Dunn, last year's No. 5 overall pick. Butler played for Thibodeau for four seasons in Chicago, developing from an unheralded, late-first round draft pick into a perennial All-Star. The two strong-willed workaholics clashed on occasion during their time together and Butler said during the Olympics in Rio last summer that it was "love-hate" relationship. But he also acknowledged that his appreciation for Thibodeau's hard-driving style increased as time went on, especially when the Bulls struggled in their first season under the more player-friendly Fred Hoiberg. And according to a person with knowledge of the situation, Butler welcomes the move to Minnesota to join his old coach and a team loaded with young talent in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. The Wolves drafted Arizona sharpshooter Lauri Markkanen (7'0''-PF-97) for the Bulls at No. 7 and the Bulls took Creighton forward Justin Patton (7'1''-C-97) at No. 16 for the Wolves. Patton is a 6-foot-11 forward who was the Big East freshman of the year after averaging 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds last season. When Thibodeau was hired as team president and coach last summer, he quickly set his sights on bringing Butler to Minnesota. The two sides engages on serious discussions on draft night last year, nearly reaching a deal that would have included LaVine and Dunn, a player the Bulls were very high on coming out of Providence, for Butler. The deal could not quite be completed and Butler went through a frustrating season with the Bulls, who brought in Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo in hopes of squeezing some more immediate success out of the group. LaVine was having a breakout third season in the league when he tore the ACL in his left knee February. His rehabilitation has gone well, but the injury certainly complicated the Wolves' re-engaging Chicago on Butler. Adding to the difficulty was Dunn's underwelming first year in Minnesota, which diminished his trade value as well, even in the eyes of the point guard-needy Bulls. With all that in play, the Wolves were forced to also offer up the No. 7 pick this season to push the deal over the top. But they did receive Chicago's first-round pick in return, offering them an opportunity to continue adding to their depth. The move, and the package they assembled to make it, signal an organization that is desperate to start winning now after 13 straight seasons of missing the playoffs. While not a great 3-point shooter like the Wolves need, Butler still averaged career highs in points (23.9), rebounds (6.2) and assists (5.5) in his sixth season. He is also one of the league's top defenders, an absolute necessity for a young team that finished 26th in the league in defensive efficiency last season. He will turn 28 in September, right in the middle of his prime for a team in need of veteran leadership. The move also represents the first significant steps toward an overhaul for the Bulls. Despite a spirited effort, the Bulls were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Wade opted in for the final year of his contract, but that isn't stopping Chicago from pivoting to a new, younger nucleus that includes LaVine, Dunn and Denzel Valentine. Courtesy of: nba.com
Sacramento Kings (NBA) cut 32-year old guard Arron Afflalo (196-98kg-85, college: UCLA). Afflalo played there last season. In 61 NBA games he averaged 8.4ppg, 2.1rpg and 1.3apg. The previous (15-16) season he played at the Knicks where in 71 NBA games he had 12.8ppg, 3.7rpg and 2.0apg. In 2007 Afflalo was drafted by Detroit Pistons in first round (27th overall). The former Univ.of Calif.at Los Angeles standoutis in his eleventh (!!!) season in pro basketball. Afflalo has played previously... [read more]
Sacramento Kings (NBA) cut 32-year old guard Arron Afflalo (196-98kg-85, college: UCLA). Afflalo played there last season. In 61 NBA games he averaged 8.4ppg, 2.1rpg and 1.3apg. The previous (15-16) season he played at the Knicks where in 71 NBA games he had 12.8ppg, 3.7rpg and 2.0apg. In 2007 Afflalo was drafted by Detroit Pistons in first round (27th overall). The former Univ.of Calif.at Los Angeles standoutis in his eleventh (!!!) season in pro basketball. Afflalo has played previously for three other teams: Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and Orlando Magic. His game is described as:
(by Matthew Maurer for NBADraft.net in 2007)
Moves extremely well without the ball in his hands, understanding how to free himself for shots. Works well running off screens where he is a capable shooter. Has three point range on his jumper. Good finisher in transition. Body strength enables him to convert difficult shots with ease as well as the ability to finish after contact.
Lacks the first step to gain full separation from his defender. There are times where he becomes too perimeter oriented offensively.
Copyright (c) 1998-2017 Eurobasket Inc. Disclaimer
WARNING:
Do not copy, redistribute, publish or otherwise exploit information that you download from the site !
Do not encumber, license, modify, publish, sell, transfer or transmit, or in any way exploit, any of the
content of the site, nor will you attempt to do so.
USA Basketball
Canadian Hoops
: World Champ.s U19 starts
