Last Night

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 11:14 AM CDT

Proved a couple of things for me. First, post presence, post presence, post presence. We have to have it on offense. Pax do whatever it is you need to do, but get a big man that is an offensive threat here immediately (I would not get rid of Deng, Thomas, or BG though). Anybody Else is fair game.

Second, we have no closer. Every team has one...except us. I wanted Ben or Deng to be that person- the guy that demands the ball at the end of the game...(ie Baron Davis). If there was ever the opportunity for someone to step up, the third quarter was it! Nobody wanted to. And zone?? Give me a break! They have played against zones their whole life...then they see a "match up zone" in the playoffs and act like they don't know what to do. Nobody attacked, nobody went to the basket...nobody wanted to. For as tough of a team as we claim to be, we certainly had our tail between our legs in the third.

Finally, I would like to comment on a screen shot about 3 minutes before tip off that I saw. Big Ben and Billups at center court, laughing and smiling. Did this bother anybody? A must win game, people are riding you for not playing as hard as you could against your "boys" and you are at half court laughing and smiling? THIS IS A MUST WIN GAME!! Where is your focus? How about getting the team ready for battle? This is our captain too? Some people might not think it's a big deal, and if it happened during shoot around 20 min. prior to tip off fine. This is right before gametime. If I am out of line and over reacting, my apologies ahead of time.

In closing, it is a privledge to watch Billups run a team. A true point guard and general out there. Everybody listens and follows his lead, nothing is stronger than a great leader with the ball in his hands. All Championship teams have them and the Pistons are a championship team.

FanPosts are user-created posts from the BlogABull community, and are to be treated as the opinions and views of that particular user, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

Tweet Comment 48 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

"might not think it's a big deal"

::raises hand::

They're all buddies in the NBA.

You could say it would give Wallace MORE motivation to win if it's against his friends, is there anything more fun than trash talking over that?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 11:22 AM CDT reply actions

as I said...

I understand if it were 20 min. before the game...not right before tip off. I am sorry, biggest game of the year, should not have happened. Lack of focus. Now did Ben play hard? Absolutely! I thought he played as hard as he could. But the Bulls look to him for leadership, LEAD by example!

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Its Bullshit

you can tell Ben wishes he was on the other side and he could just keep the 60 million. Does that mother fucker know we gave him 60 Million dollars? 14 minutes late and doggin tho coach on the biggest night of the season?

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

What a "privledge." Slooooooowed down offensive sets, and post up skills aren't exactly things I'm dying to see from a point guard. The last few hurrahs Kidd and Nash are inexplicably having is a little more of a "privledge" to NBA fans.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 11:24 AM CDT reply actions

Are you really questioning Billups?

You must not know Basketball then.I understand why YOU like Nash and Kidd, the fast breaks and behind the back passes. I think Chauncey crushes Kidd now...that might be a fact. Billups runs teams- Nash is GREAT, no argument there-because he leads the same way. To say Chauncey isn't the reason we are losing is crazy

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Chauncey isn't the reason why the

Bulls are losing. He's good, but no transcendent point guard, sir.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions

ah what?

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Not a transcendent point guard?

Billups single handedly willed his team back into the game last night. Tough shot after tough shot, night in and night out he hits them. It's not always his shooting though either, it's his D, it's his passing and decision making.

I don't put him in the same book as Magic, Isiah, Nash...

It wasn't just the Bulls flubs last night that caused Detroit to get back in the game. When you're down 10+ points it takes good possessions to cut in to the lead. Don't be Mr. Sour Grapes because your "golden boy 2nd team all NBA defensive team" and your undersized SG are getting used by both Rip and Billups. Give respect where respect is due, Billups hit big shots and brought his team back after being down 10+ in the 1st half.

jesus...

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions

uh

"I don't put him in the same book as Magic, Isiah, Nash..."

That's what I said. The Pistons' defense deserves the most credit, and Billups isn't an all-time great dominating the Bulls by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm officially done talking about the Pistons.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

ok....

You just mentioned 3 of the greatest point guards ever. Sorry! Billups runs the offense. He CONTROLS the game. He is a coach on the floor.

He is the reason Rasheed is open for threes. He is the reason RIP goes off and Prince all the sudden has 20 in a blink of an eye. HE CALLS THE PLAYS! Switch Billups in place of Heinrich, and we probably would have seen a different outcome in the game last night.

Why am I alone in saying Chauncey is underrated and the heart of this Piston team? Take him away from the Pistons, they don't beat us.

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

cliche, hyperbole, and an "e"

in Hinrich aren't going to win you any allies with this Billups stuff.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow

Your vast English Language education/knowledge continues to impress me!!!! I just wish it translated to Basketball knowledge.

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions

me too

Obviously your basketball knowledge is so great you can rely on cliche, hyperbole, and an "e" in Hinrich without it coming off as lazy and uninformed analysis.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll put

My knowledge and understanding the game of Basketball up against anybody out there

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Against anybody? Like a Walk-Off?!

You must be able to remove your boxers without taking off your pants. That's impressive.

"They beat us. They beat us, period." - Pat Riley

by NittanyBull on May 11, 2007 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Hahahah!

Classic Movie!

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Sucks for you

The Blogabull Knowledge and Understanding of the Game of Basketball Contest was last week (Matt barely lost to an 82games.com spreadsheet), and it only happens every four years. I really look forward to the next competion though.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions

hater

wow, he's not an all-time great, but he's the MVP of this series. Him or Tayshaun

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Boney..

Just so you know, I LOVE THE BULLS! But congrats, your boys look better then they ever have. AND BILLUPS, is just about the most impressive vet. I have seen this playoffs.

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

that's great

I would expect anyone on here to love the Bulls. Too bad some (Paxson Jackson) can't see past their own Steve Kerr posters to realize that the other team in this series has actually earned a win or 2.

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

listen

I don't get how you can think nobody's giving the Pistons 'credit', they've proven to be better and it's not one can't realize they're playing bad because of the team they're playing.

Here's the reason nobody is giving them 'credit' as YOU define it: nobody here wants to talk about the Pistons, we want to talk about the Bulls. If you had a blog like 'boner's brainstorms' you could have all the Pistons love you wanted.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions

"Credit"

perhaps a few of the guys on here have given credit where it's due. most of the everyday commenters however, continue to not admit they're (the bulls, not actually them... don't want you to "correct" me even though we both know what I mean) getting beat in all aspects of the game. No matter what rotation, no matter what Skiles does, Detroit is outplaying the Bulls.

You can talk about the Bulls, and I don't even necessarily mind some blind homer-isms, but to have people continually say how "detroit's not this good" really must only watch WGN (or whatever channel the Bulls are on locally now) and not ever any nationally televised games.

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney @ Blog a Bull on May 12, 2007 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions

No one cares how good

or bad Detroit is. The Bulls looked like a better team than the one still clinking jumpers off the rim in practice right now, and that deserves discussion here. Detroit was better than the Bulls before this series, and they had whatever respect (a poor word to use, because I'm not a fan and don't truly 'respect' the Pistons) they deserved going into game 1.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on May 12, 2007 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Didn't Magic and Isiah

give each other a kiss right before tipoff in the finals? If Wallace was giving Sheed or McDyess pointers before the game, that would bother me, but this doesn't that much.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

hmmm....

they were on the same team before???? Interesting??

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

the last thing Ben Wallace wants

is for the Pistons to win the championship without him. Or maybe Wallace is a complete moron. I don't know, but I don't think so.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I may be in

the minority but I don't think BG is a must for this team. He can be a great shot but his lack of height is also a problem. If we can get a big in the draft and with TT maturing I think Thabo could replace Ben and not hurt this team.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 11:27 AM CDT reply actions

you'd need a big

that can score 20+ a night. b/c that's likely the difference between Ben and Thabo

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

You don't think

TT can pick up some of those points?

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe you can package BG and Noce for Pau?

I think this would be a nice team:

Kirk
Thabo
Deng
Pau
Wallace

Tyrus first off the bench.

Of course, Memphis would probably demand Deng.

What if we did that? How would that look?

Kirk
BenG
Tyrus
Pau
Wallace

That seems decent to me as well.

The only person I realy, really don't want to give up in a trade is Tyrus. I think he might be special. And he is basically the only Bull that is really fun to watch.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't hink

they can afford to give up Luol. He will only get better each year and I'd rather see him get better in a Bulls uni.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Noch has an injury

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions

BG needs to be a point guard

You see how well this whole "little guy playing SG" idea worked in Philly with Iverson.

Gordon is a liability on both ends of the court as a SG. He can work on ball handling...

Don't trade Luol, he's the most valuable piece to your whole team. A SF of his height and ability is hard to come by.

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

uh, they made it to the finals?

With pretty much crap besides Iverson.

Last season Dallas had an undersized backcourt as well.

and Gordon is not a 'liability' on both ends, since one of those ends is, uh, offense. He's a liability in THIS series, sure.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

how's he not a liability on offense

since he hasn't been able to create his own shot against a bigger defender?

Dallas had an undersized backcourt, but they had a frontcourt that could dominate mostly anyone (Dirk and Josh Howard)

Iverson's Philly team made it to the Finals, but his team had a lot of components that fit well into the system that was run in Philly at the time. Plus, look at the teams in the East they played in the playoffs:

Raptors in the Semis
Bucks in the ECF?

Wow, real tough road to get past back then when Shaq was the dominant force and the West was still kinda young and dominant.

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Good point!

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Closer and more thoughts on ben G

Its sort of strange cause there arent really that many players that compeltely take over games night in and night out to close out games. As much as many would like to think that the opposite is true, almost all those players that one might think of as closers miss last second shots frequently and dissapear during fourth quarters once in a while. On this team, i dont think ben gordon is that different. He has missed a lot of last second shots but so do kobe and others. Gordon has also sealed the deal countless times 4th quarter by shooting lights out and securing the victory.

I know that some people tend to think that intangibles are extremely important and its easy to make fun of the bulls for being that team that overachieves etc...but I think its important to realize that Gordon and Deng and hopefully thomas have a superior work ethic that is found in few players. Gordon wants to be that guy and he thinks nothing is going to stop him. His lack of focus/silly mistakes is the only thing that can really stop him...I am not sure how you work on that (sports psychology?). Despite his height, he has become a decent defender (even though this series might lead you to think otherwise).

by Sambossanova on May 11, 2007 1:48 PM CDT reply actions

good point Sam...

but I would have liked to see Ben demand the ball and at least try to draw some fouls (like Kobe would). Ben's season and 4th quarter stats speak for themselves, he is tough. But where is he when we need him?

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

He tried to demand

the ball from Thabo last night but Thabo wouldn't give it to him. Thabo brought the ball up and didn't turn it over.

When Ben did have the ball and tried to drive to the basket last night what happened? TO after TO. He maybe got a foul called once but the other times he turned the ball over. He's not a good ball handler.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Billups

And Kirk is just an average ball player. It was stated in the Sun Times that Kirk is probably the fourth or fifth best player on the team. And Billups did him several times last night. Expendable!!!

by thurlawmen50 on May 11, 2007 4:37 PM CDT reply actions

AGREED!!!

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 11, 2007 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

To paraphrase Skiles,

if I thought the Sun-Times knew anything, I might be worried.

Yanks sign Clemens: more evidence that the evil empire believes money solves everything.

by wjb1492 on May 11, 2007 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions

lol

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Hinrich

Hinrich is more valuable to the team than BG... book it

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney @ Blog a Bull on May 11, 2007 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions

hahahaha

Hinrich is an NBA 6th man

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 14, 2007 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

You need to

get over your hatred of Kirk. He's going to be here whether you like it or not.

History..you can either read about it or be part of it. GO BULLS!!!!!

by sue369 on May 14, 2007 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Hatred

I don't Hate Kirk. He plays timid and scared. I think we could do better. Is there another team out there he would start on?

Men lie, women lie, numbers don't

by Knowledge32 on May 14, 2007 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Um

BG is the guy who said he wasn't going to shoot because he was sure he would miss.

Gordon, who was 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, didn't think he was turning down open shots.

''Not really,'' he said. ''I'm not going to shoot if I'm not in rhythm because I know I'm probably going to miss it. So I'm going to wait until I'm comfortable to shoot. I got some open threes at the top of the key, and I was able to connect.''

by bullshooter on May 14, 2007 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions