Game Thread #21: Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 11, 2006 6:15 PM CST in News

Theory time: the Bulls do poorly against good defensive teams. Against poor defenses they can do their drive-and-kick stuff all night, and we know they have good shooters. Or maybe they just do good against bad teams in general? Either way, Minnesota is (surprisingly) the 5th best defensive team in the league. So compared to the likes of Boston(24th), Philly(27th), and the Knicks(26th), we all should've expected a test on Saturday. Amazing to think how different we'd evaluate this Bulls roster if they were in the Western conference.

So time to re-focus. Not on Allen Iverson, or Marty Vicious, but the Indiana Pacers. Eh...it's a hard team to focus on. The Bulls beat them earlier in the year, a game that was probably Ben Wallace's best of the season, with 18 rebounds leading the Bulls to a 51-28 total rebound advantage.

For tonight's game, Stephen Jackson is suspended for some usual Stephen Jackson bullshit. Jermaine O'Neal is likely out with a sore hamstring, and Al Harrington, Jamaal Tinsley, and Marquis Daniels may also be out due to food poisoning. Awesome quote: "Daniels attempted to join the team[for shootaround, the basketball kind -Matt], but was vomiting on the bus and was returned to the hotel."

Oh and back to the theory: The Pacers are 10th in defensive efficiency. So that'd be as unsettling as Daniels' stomach, but I'd think they won't be as strong on D while not at full strength.

Lastly: Go Rex!

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Are you really

going to watch this over Da Bears?

"all the girls loved BJ." -sue369

by Colossus @ Blog a Bull on Dec 11, 2006 6:17 PM CST reply actions

So that leaves

Bynum and J.O.? Where's your Artest now, Larry Legend?

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Dec 11, 2006 6:31 PM CST reply actions

oops

Granger. Bynum plays for the other yellow team.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Dec 11, 2006 6:32 PM CST up reply actions

I think Pax needs to

do whatever is necessary to sign this kid as soon as fucking possible.

"all the girls loved BJ." -sue369

by Colossus @ Blog a Bull on Dec 11, 2006 6:36 PM CST reply actions

I'm off the college basketball circuit

is Morris doing anything worthwhile for Kentucky? Don't sign him just b/c he's tall.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 11, 2006 6:41 PM CST up reply actions

Look at his

Game log. The averages at the very top corner are only for the first game, so ignore them. Pretty good at scoring and rebounding.

"all the girls loved BJ." -sue369

by Colossus @ Blog a Bull on Dec 11, 2006 6:50 PM CST up reply actions

Morris

I remember him leaving early or something last year and having nothing happen. Is he really able to sign as a free agent?

Do you guys remember when he almost declared straight out of high school? More importantly, can you believe that he and Dwight Howard were on the same freaking AAU team?

In Pax we Trust!

by Jobu on Dec 11, 2006 7:35 PM CST up reply actions

hmmmmm

NBA GMs must have been REALLY unimpressed with his attitude. You'd think someone would jump on a 6'11" center with enough talent to play major minutes as a freshman for a good team in a good conference and follow it up by averaging double digit points and shooting 60% from the field.

by theundergroundman on Dec 12, 2006 1:57 AM CST up reply actions

I'll be

recording this game and watching the Bears. I'll check during ads but it sounds like the Bulls should win with so many Pacers players not playing.

Go Bulls!!

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 11, 2006 6:46 PM CST reply actions

You want to see if Rex cracks up?

Poor Rex.

It cracks me up when people compare him to Brett Favre. Favre in his prime was just freakish in what he could do, and he got really good when he had a coach who could reign that ability in.

Plus, Rex's never picked up one of his receivers and carried him across his shoulders after running down the field 60 yards.

pss - my mom gloats about the Bears everytime one of her cheesehead kids calls home.

by KT on Dec 11, 2006 6:59 PM CST up reply actions

I would

love to see Rex do well tonight. I like Rex but I also like to win and if he doesn't have it then bring in Brian.

Thabo....the accent is sweet!!

by sue369 on Dec 11, 2006 7:04 PM CST up reply actions

Game was Boring

by JoeJoe on Dec 11, 2006 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

Regardless of what happens

Da Bears game automatically tops the Bulls because the intro had my boy, Obama in it.

"all the girls loved BJ." -sue369

by Colossus @ Blog a Bull on Dec 11, 2006 7:31 PM CST reply actions

Are we playing a CBA team tonight?

Wow, we better kill this team tonight. No wonder they suspended Jackson. They probably figured they had no chance anyways, so they might as well suspend him so they can look like disciplinarians.

by Big D on Dec 11, 2006 7:47 PM CST reply actions

I actually feel kind of bad for Indiana

Not many teams could handle that many injury/illness/idiot DNPs all at once.

I'm watching the Bulls - not a Chicagoan, not a Bears fan. [Boo, hiss, let me do it for y'all]. However, my friend has Rex as backup QB, so for her sake I hope he does well.

Just finished a calculus final, and I can't think of any greater reward than watching the guys destroy Indiana, even if a big part of it is due to the many DNPs.

by wjb1492 on Dec 11, 2006 8:16 PM CST reply actions

defense

Its great that they are scoring so many points but it would be nice to see the bulls play a strong defensive game for once. The only game they impressed me with their defense was against the lakers and maybe against the heat.

by Sambossanova on Dec 11, 2006 8:42 PM CST reply actions

stephen jackson

suspended for usual stephen jackson bullshit hahah

by milesgmsu on Dec 11, 2006 8:44 PM CST reply actions

At least . . .

He didn't pull his gun on Carlisle.

by Big D on Dec 11, 2006 9:12 PM CST up reply actions

One would think

the conditions are ripe for the rooks to get some playing time in this game... but not Skiles apparently.

by No bull on Dec 11, 2006 8:59 PM CST reply actions

Red is the best

Laying into Stace for playing fantasy baseball is deserving of high praise.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Dec 11, 2006 9:18 PM CST reply actions

stephen jackson

got suspended for 'shootin up' practice like Wild bill hickok.
maybe reporters will be intimidated by this gun toting thug and make him out to be a good guy in the press so as not to face retaliation. (does he read this blog?, hope not)

by NocChapu on Dec 11, 2006 9:21 PM CST reply actions

by the way....

knicks lost to celtics, curry had 30 in the loss

by NocChapu on Dec 11, 2006 9:22 PM CST reply actions

but,

and I wonder if we're allowed to "but" this, they came back from 30...but you should never be down 30 to the celtics

by milesgmsu on Dec 11, 2006 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

but, but

they are both horrid teams.

I was score watching - it spoils things to see the Knicks down only by 3 with less than a minute left.

Geesh, every other NBA team - put the Knicks away and keep 'em put away!

by KT on Dec 11, 2006 10:20 PM CST up reply actions

Another amazing day for Chicago

Bulls win... (it would have been more than a little disheartening if they couldn't put away the puking pacers)
Knicks lose.
Bears are going beserko with Hester.
Rex isn't playing his pass the ball to the defensive lineman game.

Be still mine beating heart.

by Bullschicago on Dec 11, 2006 10:45 PM CST reply actions

and Boston beat the Knicks

Boston has a worse record than the Knicks.

by JoeJoe on Dec 11, 2006 11:05 PM CST up reply actions

deng

dunks a lot. its really great. Remember when i posted how he never dunked last year. all that has changed. not only does he dunk but he really has been throwing it down lately...there should be a permanent message thread where everyone can gush about Deng. We can invite the raptor fans over too.

by Sambossanova on Dec 11, 2006 11:04 PM CST reply actions

Deng and Nocioni

like the new ball.

by JoeJoe on Dec 11, 2006 11:06 PM CST reply actions

You know

I bashed that ball when it first came out but the gym I goto had chaned their balls to synthetic leather also and I kinda liked them also. Still like real leather better.

by JoeJoe on Dec 11, 2006 11:08 PM CST reply actions