The Charge

Bulls Take Spurs Down to the Wire to Remain Undefeated in Summer League Games

Portis and Valentine lead the Chicago Bulls back from an 11 point deficit to edge the San Antonio Spurs in a 79-76 victory

By: Sal Galati

Denzel Valentine showing off his hard work effort as taught by
Michigan State coach, the great Tom Izzo.

   Well, the Chicago Bulls may not look like contenders in the NBA this year, but their Summer League team on the other hand is another story. After trailing for most of the game, Bobby Portis, and Denzel Valentine sparked the scorching Bulls team to remain undefeated in Tuesday nights' battle of a pair of unbeaten teams.

   The San Antonio Spurs had much going on in the passed few days, after losing arguably the best power forward in the game Tim Duncan to retirement, however there was still a game to be played. Former WNBA player and defending Summer League Champion Coach Becky Hammon took the reigns of the Spurs' team once again and brought them to a 2-0 start of the NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas. Hammon being the first ever woman Assistant Coach, and being mentored by the legendary Gregg Poppovich, has quickly made a splash around the league.

   The Spurs jumped to an early lead in the game because of a couple turnover issues the Bulls were having. In spite of poor passing decisions, and a couple of screen violations, the Bulls managed to keep the score close at about a 6 point deficit average.

   Poor shooting was also the Achilles heal of Chicago shooting just an abysmal 18.8 percent from the field. Denzel Valentine, the Bulls 14th pick in this years draft drained the first 3-pointer of the game, then proceeded to go 1-7 from the field. 

   It was a couple of sleepers that kept Chicago in the contest. Forward Jack Cooley came in off of the bench and immediately provided the Bulls with a rebounding presence with an ability to clean up the boards. Newly waived guard and back up to recently acquired Jerian Grant, Spencer Dinwiddie added a few crafty buckets of his own but all of these efforts were not enough to give Chicago a lead. They trailed at the half shooting a lousy 38 percent from the field.

Last year's Summer League MVP, Johanthon Simmons, actually
paid $150 for a tryout with a D-League team back in 2012.

   The Spurs continued their run into the second half of the game backed behind Johnathon Simmons, a player who went undrafted back in 2012 and actually had paid $150 just land a tryout with a D-League team. Simmons finished with a game high 22 points while shooting 6-10 from the field and hitting 9-11 free throws

   Simmons' big game however was not enough to keep the Bulls from charging back from an 11 point deficit. Last year's first-round pick, and fan-favorite power forward Bobby Portis provided the push that the team needed registering 18 points and 8 rebounds including a spectacular put-back dunk on a Spencer Dinwiddie missed layup. He wouldn't be alone in the action. Denzel Valentine started heating up and hitting a few inside jumpers and after 14 total lead changes and a back and forth final quarter, the Chicago Bulls were able to walk out of the gym with a perfect 3-0 record.

   San Antonio had a chance to win it late in the game, with only 10 seconds left in the game, Hammon called a time out to advance the ball into the front court. providing the Spurs with one final chance to tie the game. Johanthon Simmons attempted the 3-point field goal from the right sideline only to miss it and come up short on the attempt to tie the game.

   With this victory the Chicago Bulls take their undefeated record into the Summer League playoffs with the best chances of receiving a first-round bye. Seeding, as well as official times and channels of the tournament are to follow. All-in-all it was a great, hard-fought, team effort for the Bulls.