After posting double-doubles in three consecutive games, Bulls forward Drew Gooden’s 20 points and 12 rebound effort wasn’t enough to cool down the hot shooting of the lowly rated (6-32) Oklahoma City Thunder in a 109-98 overtime loss at the United
After posting double-doubles in three consecutive games, Bulls forward Drew Gooden’s 20 points and 12 rebound effort wasn’t enough to cool down the hot shooting of the lowly rated (6-32) Oklahoma City Thunder in a 109-98 overtime loss at the United Center. "This is one of the toughest losses of the year," Gooden said. "Especially at home to a team we should beat." The 16-21 Bulls would deliver another stinker for the fans in the first half after being outhustled in points in the paint 30-18 and dominated on the offensive boards 15-4 in second chance points. "We just got outworked," Bulls coach, Vinny Del Negro, said after Saturday’s disappointing loss. "The bottom line is you look at the rebounding, they had 22 offensive rebounds. We were not getting a body on people. They were more physical." Del Negro was really disappointed with the play of forward Larry Hughes, who is dissatisfied with his lack of playing time and recently asked Bulls General Manager John Paxson to trade him. Hughes also could be nominated for one of the most selfish plays of the year, after blatantly ignoring a wide open Derrick Rose on a 2-on-1 fast break that failed to convert. And insult to injury, the play led to a turnover and an easy dunk on the other end by Thunder guard Russell Westbrook. "I took the shot," Hughes said with sarcasm. "What did I do wrong?" Hughes would go on to finish with 16 points, two assists and six rebounds after fouling out late in the fourth quarter. But Del Negro was very steamed about the play. "You have to play the game the right way," he said. "You have to transfer what we do in practice to the game." Rose, who’d finish with 16 points in 40 minutes, was also aggravated over the play. "I’m frustrated, a little, but it’s the way it worked out. He felt he had a lay-up, but it didn’t work out that way." The Thunder snapped the Bulls two game winning streak. Forward Kevin Durant led all scorers with 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting. In addition to tonight’s game, both Derrick Rose and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook were named the T-Mobile Eastern Conference and Western Conference Rookie of the Month for December. For Rose, this would mark the second consecutive time he has taken home the award. No Bulls rookie has accomplished this feat since Michael Jordan. ______ Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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