Belated thoughts on Game 6

Here are those thoughts I mentioned in a previous post. Is it stupid to put these thoughts up after game 7? Maybe the first one, but the second I think is relevant.

1. You could see Derrick visibly shaking in his Adidas from about the last 5 minutes of regulation through each overtime. Don't get me wrong, the block on Rondo was a great play, but on offense every play it seemed like he was thinking to himself "please don't fuck up, please don't fuck up..."

And it's not so much his fault. We have huge expectations for the kid, but when it comes down to it, he is a rookie playing in his first playoff series. If it happens next year (when, Vinny or no Vinny, I expect a much longer playoff run,) then we'll have a problem.

And the reason it is stupid to post this now, he had a much better Game 7. Not great, still a few bad passes/decisions in the 4th quarter, but he didn't wilt under the pressure so much.

2. At the end of the first overtime, when we had 4 seconds left to get off a last shot, I turned to the people with me and said "I want any shot here but an off-balance, BG 20 footer." Because everyone and their grandma knew that was what was coming. I know it goes in every once in a while. I also have a friend who wins money on scratch-off lotto tickets a disproportionate amount of the time. Does that mean he should always play the lotto?

The most worrisome thing to me is the fact that BG fouling out of the game filled me with more confidence in our chance to win. Is that really what you want out of your franchise player? Fans to be relieved when he fouls out? Please, GM-wannabe Simmons, take BG on your team, give him 10 million per, and watch him throw up a shot every time the ball comes within 10 feet of him.

BG reminds me a of a certain person who shall remain nameless that plays pickup basketball with us some time (Will knows who I'm talking about, but I'm sure anyone reading this that plays pickup basketball knows someone like him.) He jacks up a shot on 70% of his team's trips downcourt. He can get hot and carry you for 4 or 5 straight games, but it's not even fun. Why should I run around all these screens and get open for a good shot when you're just going to jack up a running 18-footer over 2 guys? I bet there are Bulls players thinking the same thing today.