Anatomy of (another) Collapse Man, another heartbreaker for the Bulls as they blow another lead at home, this time to the Celtics. After a fun win (well they're all fun) against the Knicks on friday when Eddy Curry had a great 4th quarter after Antonio Davis banged up his creaky knees. Davis was back for last night's game, and the team looked solid in the first half. Sure the basketball was typical eastern-conference poor, but the Bulls had a 14 point lead at halftime. The best part of the game was undoubtedly the 2nd quarter run by the Bulls (and a quarter where the Celtics scored 9 points total). I have to admit I wasn't watching the game closely enough to notice who was on the floor during this run, so I went to the play-by-play. I wont lie, I picked the starting and stopping points of analysis to make a point :).

(10:19) [CHI] Davis Substitution replaced by Curry (10:19) [CHI] Team Rebound (10:19) [CHI] Hinrich Substitution replaced by Crawford (10:19) Jump Ball Blount vs Davis (10:13) [CHI 23-24] Curry Dunk Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Crawford (1 AST) (9:55) [CHI] Gill Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (9:55) [BOS] Mihm Free Throw 1 of 2 missed (9:55) [BOS] Team Rebound (9:55) [CHI] Gill Substitution replaced by Brunson (9:55) [BOS] Mihm Free Throw 2 of 2 missed (9:54) [CHI] Curry Rebound (Off:0 Def:2) (9:33) [CHI 25-24] Blount Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) (9:29) [BOS] Mihm Turnover: Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal: Robinson (1 ST) (9:11) [CHI] Robinson Jump Shot: Missed (9:10) [BOS] McCarty Rebound (Off:1 Def:3) (9:04) [BOS] McCarty Turnover: Lost Ball Out of Bounds (1 TO) (8:48) [CHI 27-24] Blount Turnaround Jump: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Brunson (1 AST) (8:31) [BOS] McCarty Jump Shot: Missed (8:31) [CHI] Team Rebound (8:31) [TBD] Timeout: Regular (8:31) [BOS] McCarty Substitution replaced by Baker (8:31) [BOS] Mihm Substitution replaced by Blount (8:20) [CHI 29-24] Curry Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Crawford (2 AST) (8:04) [CHI] Blount Foul: Personal (1 PF) (8:04) [BOS] Banks Substitution replaced by James (7:49) [BOS] Davis Turnover: Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal: Crawford (1 ST) (7:32) [CHI] Brunson Turnover: Lost Ball (1 TO) Steal: Blount (1 ST) (7:24) [BOS] James Jump Shot: Missed (7:21) [CHI] Curry Rebound (Off:0 Def:3) (7:10) [CHI] Blount Jump Shot: Missed (7:08) [BOS] Davis Rebound (Off:0 Def:3) (6:59) [BOS 26-29] Davis Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: James (2 AST) (6:43) [CHI] Curry Turnover: 3 Second Violation (1 TO) (6:30) [BOS] Welsch Jump Shot: Missed (6:28) [CHI] Curry Rebound (Off:0 Def:4) (6:18) [CHI 31-26] Crawford Jump Shot: Made (9 PTS) (6:04) [BOS] Baker Layup Shot: Missed Block: Blount (2 BLK) (6:04) Jump Ball Blount vs Baker (6:04) [BOS] Team Rebound (5:54) [BOS] James Layup Shot: Missed (5:51) [BOS] Blount Rebound (Off:3 Def:2) (5:43) [BOS] Davis Layup Shot: Missed (5:41) [BOS] Baker Tip Shot: Missed (5:41) [BOS] Baker Rebound (Off:1 Def:0) (5:40) [CHI] Curry Rebound (Off:0 Def:5) (5:35) [CHI] Team Timeout: Regular (5:35) [CHI] Blount Substitution replaced by Williams (5:35) [CHI] Brunson Substitution replaced by Hinrich (5:35) [BOS] Welsch Substitution replaced by Pierce (5:22) [CHI 33-26] Curry Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Robinson (1 AST) (5:02) [BOS] James Jump Shot: Missed (4:59) [CHI] Williams Rebound (Off:2 Def:3) (4:36) [CHI] Curry Jump Shot: Missed (4:33) [BOS] Pierce Rebound (Off:0 Def:1) (4:25) [BOS] Pierce Turnover: Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal: Williams (1 ST) (4:17) [CHI 35-26] Crawford Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS) (4:00) [BOS] Davis Turnover: Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal: Curry (1 ST) (3:54) [CHI 37-26] Robinson Layup Shot: Made (2 PTS) Assist: Williams (1 AST) (3:50) [CHI] Team Violation: Delay of Game (3:50) [BOS] Team Timeout: Regular (3:50) [BOS] Davis Substitution replaced by McCarty (3:50) [BOS] Baker Substitution replaced by Welsch (3:50) [CHI] Curry Substitution replaced by Davis

To summarize, Curry comes in for Davis and makes a basket to give the team a 23-24 lead. His totals for the next 6 and a half minutes (including that basket) are 6pts in 3-4 shooting with 4 rebs and 1 TO. And as a 'bottom line' stat, he left the game with the score at 37-26, or in hockey terms a +10 rating while in the game. His (admittedly) poor defense didn't seem to help the Celts much since they only scored 2 points in this span. Now Lets look at the 4th quarter, at another critical junction:

(6:51) [CHI 67-68] Gill Jump Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Fizer (1 AST) (6:37) [CHI] Gill Foul: Personal (3 PF) (6:31) [CHI] Curry Foul: Shooting (5 PF) (6:31) [CHI] Curry Substitution replaced by Davis (6:31) [BOS] James Free Throw 1 of 2 missed (6:31) [BOS] Team Rebound (6:31) [BOS] Mihm Substitution replaced by Blount (6:31) [BOS] James Free Throw 2 of 2 missed (6:29) [CHI] Davis Rebound (Off:1 Def:6) (6:09) [CHI] Fizer Jump Shot: Missed (6:07) [CHI] Davis Rebound (Off:2 Def:6) (6:04) [BOS] Blount Foul: Personal (4 PF) (5:56) [CHI] Crawford Jump Shot: Missed (5:53) [BOS] Welsch Rebound (Off:3 Def:3) (5:38) [BOS 70-67] James Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS) (5:13) [CHI] Gill Jump Shot: Missed (5:13) [BOS] Team Rebound (5:13) [CHI] Team Timeout: Regular (5:13) [CHI] Fizer Substitution replaced by Williams (5:00) [BOS 73-67] James Jump Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Pierce (2 AST) (4:35) [BOS] Pierce Foul: Personal (3 PF) (4:35) [CHI 69-73] Williams Free Throw 1 of 2 (7 PTS) (4:35) [CHI 69-73] Williams Free Throw 2 of 2 (7 PTS) (4:20) [BOS] Pierce Turnover: Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal: Crawford (2 ST) (4:16) [CHI] Crawford Turnover: Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal: James (2 ST) (4:13) [CHI] Davis Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (4:13) [BOS 74-69] James Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS) (4:13) [BOS 75-69] James Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS) (4:00) [CHI] Davis Turnover: Bad Pass (2 TO) Steal: James (3 ST) (3:54) [BOS] James Layup Shot: Missed (3:52) [CHI] Crawford Rebound (Off:0 Def:4) (3:48) [CHI] Davis Jump Shot: Missed (3:46) [BOS] McCarty Rebound (Off:1 Def:7) (3:37) [BOS] Pierce Layup Shot: Missed (3:35) [CHI] Williams Rebound (Off:5 Def:6) (3:31) [CHI] Gill Layup Shot: Missed (3:30) [BOS] Welsch Rebound (Off:3 Def:4) (3:29) Jump Ball Williams vs Welsch (3:29) [BOS] Welsch Turnover: Lost Ball (2 TO) Steal: Williams (3 ST) (3:05) [CHI] Williams Jump Shot: Missed (3:03) [CHI] Williams Rebound (Off:6 Def:6) (3:02) [CHI] Williams Jump Shot: Missed (3:00) [BOS] McCarty Rebound (Off:1 Def:8) (2:44) [CHI] Gill Foul: Shooting (4 PF) (2:44) [BOS] Team Timeout: Regular (2:44) [BOS 76-69] Pierce Free Throw 1 of 2 (25 PTS) (2:44) [CHI] Williams Substitution replaced by Robinson (2:44) [BOS 77-69] Pierce Free Throw 2 of 2 (26 PTS) (2:31) [CHI] Gill Jump Shot: Missed (2:28) [BOS] McCarty Rebound (Off:1 Def:9) (2:17) [BOS 79-69] Pierce Jump Shot: Made (28 PTS) Assist: James (3 AST) (2:04) [BOS] Welsch Foul: Personal (1 PF) (2:04) [CHI] Crawford Free Throw 1 of 2 missed (2:04) [CHI] Team Rebound (2:04) [CHI 70-79] Crawford Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS) (1:52) [BOS 81-70] Pierce Driving Dunk: Made (30 PTS) (1:46) [CHI] Hinrich Turnover: Stepped out of Bounds (6 TO) (1:24) [BOS] McCarty Jump Shot: Missed (1:21) [CHI] Crawford Rebound (Off:0 Def:5) (1:19) [CHI] Team Timeout: Short (1:19) [CHI] Crawford Substitution replaced by Johnson (1:16) [BOS] Blount Foul: Shooting (5 PF) (1:16) [CHI] Gill Substitution replaced by Jefferies (1:16) [CHI 71-81] Hinrich Free Throw 1 of 2 (5 PTS) (1:16) [CHI] Davis Substitution replaced by Williams

In this 7 and half span, Davis comes in the game and does the following: 0pts on 0-1 shooting, 2 rebs, a TO and a shooting foul. And accumulated a -9 rating as the Celtics put the game out of reach. I know this is very crude analysis, and doesn't take much into account besides the end results, but I just remember in this 4th quarter hoping and praying that Curry would be put back into the game for Davis while the game slipped farther and farther away. All a fan needed to do is look back one night to see how Curry helps out in late game situations. I know that Skiles (and Cartwright before him) prefer a veteran and 'defensive' lineup to close out games, but you also need somebody in the frontcourt who can make the defense respect you. And nobody expects Antonio Davis to make a play late in the game. When he gets the ball in the post, its obvious that he's going to be looking to hand it off to Jamal Crawford or another jumpshooter. What Curry can do is command respect (and double teams) from the defense to make plays himself or free up the perimeter. And I value that more importantly than whatever Davis can bring with 'intangibles'. Look, I like the trade bringing Antonio Davis here. And he is undoubtedly a better defender and rebounder than Curry. But I had a different role envisioned for him than how he's being used now:

Antonio Davis becomes the primary backup frontcourt player for the team, and even a starter possibly if Tyson's back keeps acting up. While he is only 6'9", Davis has played the center position for several years in Toronto, and shouldn't be too much of a size disadvantage in the East. I think he's a nice insurance policy to have on the bench when Curry gets into early foul trouble. He also takes away all of Corie Blount's minutes, which is a plus. It think this role (buzzword of the day) is more within his means in this stage of his career than in Toronto as a starter playing nearly 36 minutes a game.

Like many problems with this team, this situation should be alleviated somewhat by the return of Tyson Chandler. Even without Chandler though, Antonio Davis' minutes should be reduced to make more time for Eddy Curry. Hopefully this changes as he gradually gets his stamina built up, but putting Curry in at the end of games not only would help the team win games right now, but further his development as the future of the franchise. (whew). Tommorow's game is at home against the Phoenix Suns. This will be my second game at the United Center this year, hopefully it turns out better than the last one.