Since I don't have anything to say about the state of the Bulls (inability to properly close out on shooters, take hard fouls at the rim, and finish around the basket), I'd like to take time to pay homage to the real highlight of tonight's game - Doris Burke.

Can we appreciate the fact that she offered that Kirk was a good 'baseline' defender (chasing Rip off screens), actually diagrammed Tayshaun's weakside backdoor cut and spoke knowledgably about basketball for the entire game.  While the networks continue to force 'outrageous' or 'entertaining' personalities down our throat (Stephen A., Jon Barry, Mark Jackson, Reggie Miller), Doris Burke actually knows the game and explains it to the viewers.  I might actually watch the Big East Tournament if she's going to be the analyst.

Thanks Doris...

Gotta love national broadcasters.  Although Fratello usually does a great job (and should always be paired with Marv), here were a couple winners from tonight:

1. Commenting that Thabo, in order to be a good point guard, needs to work on his handle.  Thabo, at best, will give this team spot minutes at the point.  He is a 2/3 with length who can get to the rim and crash the boards.  Not a primary ballhandler, not at all.
2.  When Kirk came down to take a quick jumper on the break, Fratello mentions that Kirk wouldn't ordinarly take that shot.  Umm...he takes those shots every game.  

Don't these guys meet with the beat reporters before the game to take the pulse of the team?  If I had to hear them rehash the contracts, Skiles firing again, I'll be sick.  I know its a national broadcast, but the five non-Chicago residents that tuned into this game probably also tuned into last week's game in Golden State and heard the same thing...Sorry performance, Czar.

In witnessing the latest Bulls debacle, I would like to commend Coach Boylan on some particularly exceptional defensive breakdowns and offensive inadequacy:

1.  Four back door layups by Kings guards in the first half.
2.  Repeated inability to rotate to stop penetrating wings.
3.  Frequent out of control close outs on shooters, leaving help defense in terrible positions and open shooters everywhere.
4.  Inability to rein in the team - at critical points in abortive comeback attempts, the Bulls pick up three technical fouls that effectively stopped momentum.
5.  Running three straight offensive sets at the start of the 4th quarter that ended up with Tyrus Thomas as the go to guy.
6.  An inability to make the Kings pay for overplaying every screen role, exacerbated by the fact that Bulls bigs always try to slip the screen and rarely get a body on anybody.

These are not new complaints or observations, it was fortuitous that they all coalesced (again) tonight in Sacramento.  With Boylan running on fumes, who can right this ship next season?  And with what players?