Game Thread: Bulls vs. Bobcats
I'll have an 'official' game thread up here all season, your place for comments before, during, and after the game.
However I probably won't be writing much today since I'll be there in person.
Commenter 'One F' beat me to getting up a preview, so go there.
Man, it's gonna be a great night: the Bulls are back. Well, great unless they lose to the freaking Bobcats.
UPDATE(11pm):. Wow. I stayed the whole game, but not because I'm some never-say-die fan, I just was stunned they looked so terrible and was trying to figure out how they could be down 25 at home to the Bobcats.
Then Pike hit some shots, they locked down the Defense (finally), and Duhon had a spectacular game especially considering he was the only ballhandler left when Kirk Hinrich went down in the 4th with a sprained ankle. Darius Songaila started his soon-to-be-fabled Bulls legend with the tying 3, and by then the momentum was all Bulls.
The best feeling leaving that game was realizing how the Bulls used to play the role of the team waiting for the epic collapse. Playing all those big games last season mattered, as the Bulls were now ready to take over when given the opportunity, while the young Charlotte team looked on with bewilderment.
I'm too emotionally spent to do a full breakdown. Luckily the team's next game isn't until Saturday in New Jersey, so we have plenty of time to banter about plenty of material.
There's still much room for concern, but for tonight I'll just be happy with an exciting win, and as part of the celebration I hereby declare a self-imposed moritorium on Chris Duhon bashing. Needless to say a triple-double earned it.
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45 comments
Comments
Lonely Thread
As i said in One F's preview, this doesn't exactly surprise me but it still disappoints me to be getting killed by a team that, depsite improvement, will still be one of the very worst in the association.
by FAQ on Nov 2, 2005 9:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
No Hope
by DabullsRDaBest on Nov 2, 2005 9:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Not so bad
by DabullsRDaBest on Nov 2, 2005 10:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
25 down to send it to overtime
by DabullsRDaBest on Nov 2, 2005 10:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Down by 25
Are you kidding me?
by simplesinger on Nov 2, 2005 10:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
That crowd is rocking
by simplesinger on Nov 2, 2005 10:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Anybody watching this?
by kinglerxst on Nov 2, 2005 10:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
This is a huge surprise
by FAQ on Nov 2, 2005 10:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Unlikely Heroes
What the hell just happened there?
by simplesinger on Nov 2, 2005 10:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
LOL
by The Cheat on Nov 2, 2005 10:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
cheat
HurlyBuerhle
by FAQ on Nov 2, 2005 10:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Big College BBall fan
I watch the Bulls, but I would never claim to be anywhere near an expert. I'll leave the blogging about them to the professionals.
by The Cheat on Nov 2, 2005 11:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
YES!
by kinglerxst on Nov 2, 2005 10:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
what happened?
thanks
by dcarioca on Nov 2, 2005 10:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
What happened?
Like they did so much last year, first they locked things down on defense, forcing Charlotte into perimiter shots they don't hit well, then used some steals and 3 point shots from Pike and the new Songalia (who needs a nickname) and a huge 3 point play from Tyson. I'm just glad they kept the energy up in the OT and didn't blow it.
Charlotte also had a couple of cheesy turnovers, but there were at least 3 clear offensive fouls by my count that were called blocks on the Bulls.
by dbt on Nov 2, 2005 10:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Songbird
by bpa on Nov 3, 2005 8:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Crap
It came across on TV/radio that the crowd was rocking? I'm shocked. I was there, and Ozzie F'in Guillen got a bigger ovation than the Bulls at any point.
Sure, it was exciting. But it's still depressing that they fell behind that bad to the Bobcats. They looked like complete doo-doo most of the game. Even during the comeback, they managed to do it in the most unimpressive manner ever.
Positives: I like the new scoreboard.
by Moses Taylor on Nov 2, 2005 11:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Ozzie
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 2, 2005 11:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Watched it on NBATV
Champions or not, this team is an entertaining roller coaster every night. Next time the Bulls are down by 25 in the 3rd, are YOU changing the channel? I'm not!
As an addendum, may I say that the OT win is particularly sweet given that the Knicks LOST in OT. Against what is probably a superior team, granted. But still, a nice beginning to the ultimate goal of switching picks with them in 2007, which means that everything is working out as it should. Go Chicago Bulls -- may half your games be this much fun to watch after halftime.
by preverbal on Nov 2, 2005 11:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Since I'm in 'searching for positives' mode
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 2, 2005 11:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Griffin
by bpa on Nov 3, 2005 8:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
A win is a win!
by Jobu on Nov 2, 2005 11:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
1/82nd
by CookDing on Nov 3, 2005 7:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Last Night
It was amazing to feel the energy building as the Bulls erased the deficit. And then Songaila hit the three and it was pandemonium. Okay, not really. But it was pretty damn exciting.
As bad as they played through three quarters, this team showed maturity in battling back. Two years ago (which is what they looked like for much of the game), this team would have quit. But they kept at it and came out on top.
How ironic that Matt's favorite player, Duhon, led the team in points, rebounds and assists. He's not going to light anyone up, but he plays hard and distributes the ball well. 7 assists and a big three in the fourth quarter.
There were definitely a lot of concerns early last night, but there were some positives as well. It should be an interesting season.
[BTW, my new favorite NBA resource is Popcorn Machine. Their game flows are very slick and informative.]
by Mike Aparicio on Nov 3, 2005 8:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Popcorn machine
The whole game I was thinking "man I know Nocioni's +/- is going to be AWFUL". They just went in the tank whenever he came in.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 3, 2005 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
When Chris Duhon is the only positive...
by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Nov 3, 2005 10:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Perspective in the morning
The Bobcats are likely the worst team in the NBA (non-nomad division). Yes, not quitting was good to see. But I think this team should be beyond moral victories. An OT win (even without the comeback) against Charlotte should be alarming. Maybe if they played without Kirk the entire game, it'd be acceptable. But they actually played significantly better once he got hurt.
Chandler looked like a rookie again. Gordon looked horrible (and he didn't even like he was trying until the 4th quarter). Deng and Noce looked incredibly slow on both ends of the balls. Sweetney is fat. Thomas looks like he's going to be a ballhog. Songbird (thanks, I like it) looked tenative and weak. I mean, Gerald Wallace looked like Kobe out there last night.
It's early, so I'll try to keep things in perspective. But I'm officially saying that I'll be surprised if this team makes the playoffs (their division is going to eat them alive). And no, Curry wouldn't have made a lick of difference.
Note: I'm going to save this post, and post it when they're playing at home in the first round so that I have official proof of my idiocy.
by Moses Taylor on Nov 3, 2005 11:32 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Songaila
by preverbal on Nov 3, 2005 11:44 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
nickname
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 3, 2005 12:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The guy behind me
by One F on Nov 3, 2005 2:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
One game
Well then again this is what blogs are for. I will have the flamethrower out by the weekend if they look this bad again.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 3, 2005 12:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Last season
There are definitely some areas of concern but the Bulls can adjust. The important thing is we're one game ahead of where we were last season... ;)
by Mike Aparicio on Nov 3, 2005 1:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
one difference
This time they closed it out with confidence. It could just be b/c it was the Bobcats, but I also think this is a more mature team due to last season's run.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 3, 2005 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly my point
by Mike Aparicio on Nov 3, 2005 2:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Predictions?
On the nickname thing, how about this:
DAINA f Lithuanian
Means "song" in Lithuanian.
by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Nov 3, 2005 2:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
I liked it
Predictions:
We will lose some games badly. We will win some games that we shouldn't easily. I say 44 wins and a playoff spot. We will lose in the first round again unless we get lucky and draw a Washington again. I also predict that the Bobcats will not be as bad as people seem to think. They won't make the playoffs but they will win 25-35 games. Some of them against good teams.
Story:
I was at the game last night and Harry from ESPN was sitting in front of me. He left at halftime. Bum. To be a sports analysist in Chicago I feel you should watch the games you are talking about on the radio. That said, he was very friendly.
Conclusion:
Let's buy some beer, sit back, and enjoy a young team get better and better. There will be many exciting games. Guaranteed.
by One F on Nov 3, 2005 3:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Kinda Makes you smile....
Not Starting Disappoints Crawford:
"Jamal Crawford sounded disappointed and angered that Larry Brown benched him in favor of Quentin Richardson as the starting shooting guard. Crawford looked crushed and didn't seem to understand the move. 'I'll be professional and be ready when my number is called. That's it.'" -- New York Post
by dcarioca on Nov 3, 2005 4:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
friendly reminder
I love that item though. I need to buy league pass just to see the Jamal & Eddy show.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Nov 3, 2005 4:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Overreacting
Coach Scott Skiles had a lot on his mind Thursday as he tried to pinpoint what caused the Bulls' meltdown through three quarters against Charlotte. Their struggles had them down by 25.
"Maybe in the middle of the season, if you're playing pretty well and you come out just one night and don't play very well, you can blow it off and move on," he said. "But that was opening night. That has to be looked at and addressed."
How bad did the Bulls look a day later on tape?
"Sometimes you play a game like that, and you look at the tape and realize that it's not as bad as it seems," Skiles said. "This is actually worse."
by Moses Taylor on Nov 4, 2005 9:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
He's a good coach.
by One F on Nov 4, 2005 9:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Interior D
by The Artis Formerly Known as Gilmore on Nov 4, 2005 1:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Artis Gilmore
by preverbal on Nov 4, 2005 10:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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