The first game of the evening (9 May 2016) was played between the 76ers and the Bulls.  The 76ers was the home team and the Bulls was the guests/visitors.  The starting lineup, for the 76ers, consisted of #2 Elliott "The Penetrator" Reid (G), #33 Christopher Watson (G), #32 William Jackson (F), #1 Tyrone Mitchell (F), and #34 Willie Tennyson (C).  The starting lineup, for the Bulls, consisted of #45 Jimmy Foster (G), #22 James Dix (G), #10 Desi Johnson (F), #5 LeVandrew Hawthorne (F), and #3 Philip Whittington (C).  I was surprised to see the Bulls report without their newly acquired Coach, James Johnson, for two consecutive games.  They were also playing without their scoring champion, James Daniels.  The 76ers won the tip-off and the game was on.

I did not see what I expected from two of the league's most dynamic teams.  Jimmy "Champion" Foster (#45) led the Bulls with 12 first half points and Chris Watson (#33) led the 76ers with 9 points.  It was evident that the Bulls did not come to play when Elliot Reid (#2) consistently dribbled the ball down the center of their defense to the basket, at-will, to either layup or pass for an assist.  I could not believe what I was witnessing.  I was left wondering if the Bulls had lost confidence or what?  Though the Bulls played with lethargy, the 76ers were not impressive - either.  Both teams shared a low scoring first half which had nothing to do with defense.  The 76ers led the first half with a 26 - 24 edge.  The 76ers committed seven team fouls and the Bulls committed eight team fouls.

The second half was not much better with both teams scoring around the same amount of points.  Willie Tennyson (#34) and Tony Campbell (#24) stepped up, for the 76ers, to account for 18 of the team's 31 second half points.  Philip Whittington (#3) and Jimmy Foster (#45) led the Bulls with 9 points, each.  The Bulls committed nine team fouls and the 76ers committed three team fouls.  The 76ers defeated the Bulls 57 - 53.

Closing observation:  The 3-point shot has changed the way basketball is taught and played.  More players/teams are opting to attempt 3-pointers than to layup or pass to a teammate closer to the basket.  At some point all teams will use strategy, math, and time management to prepare for games.  That will payoff in the end.

The scorers for the 76ers were: #34 Willie Tennyson with 12 points, #33 Christopher Watson with 11, #24 Tony Campbell with 8, #2 Elliot Reid with 6, #32 William Jackson with 6, #10 Tony Flemming with 4, #1 Tyrone Mitchell with 4, #15 Marcus Watkins with 3, and #00 Cleotis "No Limit Soldier" Brown with 3 points.

The scorers for the Bulls were: #45 Jimmy "Champion" Foster with 21 points, #22 James Dix with 12, #3 Philip Whittington with 11, #33 Ian Trowers with 4, #5 LeVandrews Hawthorne with 2, #10 Desi Johnson with 2, and #34 Leo Preyer with 1 point.