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The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

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Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor, send us an op-ed pitch or check out our open positions for the chance to be published by the Daily Utah Chronicle.
@TheChrony
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RMR: Running of the Bulls

By Chronicle Sports Staff

TAYLORSVILLE – No Tyrus Thomas. No Joakim Noah. No big deal.

The Chicago Bulls had just enough firepower to overcome a sluggish first half and, eventually, the Atlanta Hawks 85-79 in Bulls’ Rocky Mountain Revue debut.

Without last year’s fourth overall pick in Thomas and this year’s ninth pick, Noah, the Bulls struggled early to find their rhythm. The Hawks outscored the Bulls 25-16 in the second quarter and took a nine point lead into halftime.

Whatever the Chicago coaches said in the locker room during the break, it worked.

The Bulls stormed out of the gates in the third quarter with a more up-tempo style, nearly doubling their score from the first half. Behind second-round draft pick Aaron Gray, and forward Justin Cage, the Bulls swung the momentum – and the lead – back in their favor with a 65-59 third quarter advantage. Gray finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, both team highs.

The Hawks, without their top rookie – Al Horford (sprained right ankle) – looked to rely on forward Shelden Williams to take on the scoring load. The sophomore didn’t disappoint, contributing a game-high 20 points. His rookie teammate, 11th overall pick Acie Law, continued his streaky shooting in the Revue, but he chipped in nine dimes.

Noah, who led his Florida Gators to consecutive NCAA Championships, continues to remain in Chicago with a rotator cuff injury. He was unable to participate with the Bulls in the recently-concluded summer league in Orlando. Noah will not make the trip to Salt Lake.

Thomas, who had a nice showing in Orlando, did not accompany the team to Salt Lake for personal reasons.

“We let him go for the summer,” said a Bulls team official. “There’s no need to keep pushing him in the summer league.”

Jason Peterson

The cup is half empty

When the buzzer sounded signaling another Atlanta loss, it also signaled the midway point of Utah’s summer league.

Naturally, it signals the point where we must rehash some of the highs and lows of the 2007 Revue.

The high: the talent on display.

This is the All-RMR team of the first half:

Guard-Acie Law (Hawks): Law has easily been one of the most explosive guards in the Revue this year. He’s also been one of the best passers on display. He’s averaging 11.7 points, 8 assists, 2.7 rebounds in four games.

Guard-Louis Williams (76ers): Williams owns one of the prettiest strokes in the summer league, which he put in display when he dropped a Revue high 31 points on July 16th. This came after a helter-skelter trip back to Memphis, Tenn. to watch his brother get married. And oh-by-the-way, this guys only 6-1 but he can jump out of the gym.

Center-Shelden Williams (Hawks): It comes at no surprise that Williams is dominating the paint as a 6-9 center. There is nobody in the summer league that can match his frame, and Williams has shown that he can also shoot from the outside as well. He’s averaging 18.5 points and 8.25 rebounds in four games.

Forward-Paul Millsap (Jazz):Millsap possesses as much raw ability as anyone in the Revue. He also has the poise of a savvy veteran to boot. This makes for a scary combination against the rookies he’s gone up against. Millsap is averaging 14.6 points, 2 assists, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks over three games this summer.

Forward-Louis Amundson (76ers):A case can be made for this guy being the MVP of the league thus far. Amundson is showing a ferocity on the floor that stands out. And that is no small feat considering there are over 70 players fighting for the handful of jobs available. He’s is averaging 15.3 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2 blocks in three games.

Honorable mention: The fans. The 4:30 game has featured a packed house every single day of the Revue. This is just another reminder that Utahans love their basketball.

The lows: The food.

Fans can’t bring food into the stadium, and they have to pay an arm and a leg ($6.75) for a dinky personal pan pizza and a Pepsi, which is the only edible thing served. This must be how the Jazz gather the money for their player’s per diem every year.

Tony Pizza

Ty Cobb

The Hawks’ Acie Law attempts a layup over D’or Fischer on Day 4 of the Rocky Mountain Revue.

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