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Open Game Thread #57: Bulls at Indiana Pacers

Chicago_bulls_logo_tiny by chgobr on

[Thanks to chgobr for today's game preview. -Matt]

Tonight is another opportunity to digest the trade and the solve the Bulls puzzle. Can we find a combination that dazzled us against Denver? Can we better understand what is missing? Are all the pieces already here and nothing is missing? There is a great deal to like about this group of players. Our challenge is meshing, chemistry, synergy, finding a way for the sum to be greater than its parts and avoid redundancy (like I just did).

Tonight's game is between two struggling teams. The Bulls have lost 5 of 7 and the Pacers 12 of 15. Kirk Hinrich's 38 points led the Bulls to a 108-95 home victory Jan. 23. Kirk is salivating as he looks forward to facing Travis Diener again. Indiana, 22-35, a tad worse then our 22-34, have pieces (O'Neal, Murphy, Dunleavy, Tinsley, Foster, Marquis Daniels, Granger and Kareem Rush) and like us, are trying to solve the puzzle. Speculation about O'Neal and Tinsley's knees and their return abound. If you could guarantee O'Neal's health he would be in the mix for Bulls savior. O'Neal's knees and $19.7, $21.3, and $23 through 2009-10 make him almost impossible to move. Against Toronto Monday the Pacers came from 10 down and Kareem Rush almost tied it with a three. Expect the Pacers to play with energy as they did against Toronto.

" We really competed our hearts out in the second half," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "We played a good basketball team, never gave up ....."

Bulls - Pacers: opportunity to examine pieces and solve our puzzle.

Blogging with the enemy:
Indycornrows.com
PacerInsider.com - some Pacer draft ideas here

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.

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Kirk better be going for 46 tonight...
Minutes that is, as opposed to the 6 or so minutes he played at dallas. Skills aside, he really has to not talk to referees. They dont like him, they dont give him calls, and they dont give him respect. So he should stop trying to play to the refs, and i say this as a fan of his. Hopefully he shows some of  20 and 10 game that i believe he can have, and shows that top 10 guard stuff everyone sort'of kind'of thinks he has.
im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Feb 27, 2008 5:35 PM CST   0 recs

I am glad he came out strong
because if he looked like he went out drinking with his KU buds last night, I was ready to dumptruck the guy.
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Feb 27, 2008 6:23 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I hope
Kirk has another game like the last time they played the Pacers and I hope he keeps his mouth shut and just plays ball.

Break this losing streak guys.

Kirk Hinrump is dead to me. :-)

by sue369 on Feb 27, 2008 5:40 PM CST   0 recs

I'm stuck with tape delay tonight
But I'll be wishing I were watching live the whole time.  Time to start a winning streak!
Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Feb 27, 2008 6:03 PM CST   0 recs

Don't know which is worse
I officially went HD yesterday and was drooling over the beauty of the Lakers game on my big 65" and excitedly anticipating tonight's game on ConCast HD -

But, NOOOOooooo...
I gotta watch it via Indiana's feed which is not HD, and the comms sucketh....

Sigh....

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Feb 27, 2008 6:45 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

This is a time where
The new guys should be able to dominate in whatever minutes they play.

by BiNgO on Feb 27, 2008 6:09 PM CST   0 recs

Tyrus
That jump shot actually looks deadly now.

People will soon respect it and then he really shines

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 6:18 PM CST   0 recs

Tyrus totally solid all around tonight
Great rebounding, great shooting, sweet pass to Deng cutting to basket.

by BiNgO on Feb 27, 2008 6:23 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Love the opposing (IND)
announcing crew: "Let him shoot that."  And swish goes the TT 20 footer.  Or: "He can't really handle", right before setting the table on Deng's dunk.

Last night's POR game the Laker guy sez: " How much do the fans in Chicago regret the trade of LaMarcus now?" Answer: Not at all, dipstick!

by marionette on Feb 27, 2008 6:33 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

The only thing I regret
Is not having a guy like Nate as our coach, who actually trusts his youngs

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 7:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

when is the last time
that there was a team that started 4 American white guys?

by JSlakov on Feb 27, 2008 6:23 PM CST   0 recs

The marionette
wet dream starting lineup: My heart is about bursting just to see this! Pretty good performance so far, other than the weak perimeter defense (what else is new?).

by marionette on Feb 27, 2008 6:24 PM CST   0 recs

I'm worried about Deng
He  just don't look right out there

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 6:26 PM CST   0 recs

slam-a-roo!
its been a few since i've seen a lob for a slam!
we like the stuffing of the basket. plz do it again fellas.

by akuma77 on Feb 27, 2008 6:26 PM CST   0 recs

WHy take Tyrus out?!
The guy is off to his best start ever perhaps!

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 6:26 PM CST   0 recs

don't fret...
they all still meshing. the mins will wrk out for everyone by nxt week.

by akuma77 on Feb 27, 2008 6:35 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

A reason to fret
What does it say to Tyrus when he's put up one of his best 5 minute stretches of his career only to be the first one yanked out?

That's why it's bullshit.

Gooden can have some minutes. I ain't mad at that.  

Boylan can suck it

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 6:41 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

my thoughts exactly
Pulling TT when he's hot makes no sense
Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Feb 27, 2008 6:47 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

If bullshooter were here, he'd explain it.
He has insight to the direction of Thomas's sporadic minutes.
Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Feb 27, 2008 7:00 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

he's playing 5 and 5
no mystery there, and TT was the first guy back out, but I wouldn't have subbed him in the first place, either.
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Feb 27, 2008 7:13 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Ok let's all take notice
Around the 4:15 mark in the 1st, Boylan takes Tyrus out of the game.

He had 4 points, 5 boards and a nice assist to Deng.

Looks more active than anyone on the court!

HE ALSO ONLY HAS ONE FOUL.

I ask why?

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 6:29 PM CST   0 recs

how long has Gray been out there?
it's been however many minutes too long.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 6:46 PM CST   0 recs

well, he's +1 right now and 2-2 FT's
But Noah is back now coach.
Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Feb 27, 2008 6:52 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I thought we were making progress here.
But a relapse goes way far back and we're to half-quarter plus-minus. Ouch!
Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Feb 27, 2008 7:04 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I only brought up the +/- stat for your sake
but you knew that
Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Feb 27, 2008 8:10 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

wow
I;ve seen enough of Gray.  Noah?  

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 6:46 PM CST   0 recs

WTF is with the officiating again
Is this rampant all over the NBA... These guys are too old to keep up with the pace of the game.

by BiNgO on Feb 27, 2008 6:49 PM CST   0 recs

I'm only puzzled by Aaron Gray
hatred. But I don't have to listen to Red most times, maybe that has something to do with it?

by marionette on Feb 27, 2008 7:02 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Seriously?
Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Feb 27, 2008 7:04 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Boylan is the main reason this game is close
Tyrus being yanked out early was his first mistake.  

Taking the whole line up out with about 3 minutes left in the 1st was his second mistake.

Keeping Gray in for so long is his 3rd mistake

Noah just watching from the bench still is his 4th mistake (Noah could have a big game against a team like Indiana)

And yanking Tyrus out again with about 10 to go in the second was his 5th mistake (all due to that infamous 2nd foul in the first half).

Boylan makes me sick

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 6:51 PM CST   0 recs

Boylan makes me sick
Can't imagine one BaB-er who doesn't second that
Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Feb 27, 2008 6:54 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Yup
he doesn't let anybody get into a rhythm.  

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 6:59 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Let's hog tie him...
and make him disappear...ok, it didn't really work, but too bad he couldn't follow his players to Cleveland.  
And the starting line up for your world champion Chicago Bulls. . .

by AGBallinisaHabit on Feb 27, 2008 7:46 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

THAT IS NOT A WALK
his footwork was fine.

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 6:56 PM CST   0 recs

They just need to hang in there
this quarter, with 5+ team fouls. I'll take a tie at half time.

by marionette on Feb 27, 2008 6:59 PM CST   0 recs

I hate how this game is going
Bulls should be blowing these guys out. They are going into far too many scoring droughts.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 6:59 PM CST   0 recs

what the hell?
Philly's up 53-30 on the Magic in the 2nd?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 7:00 PM CST   0 recs

Thabo
is currently sporting the impressive Eddy-Curry-like assist to turnover ratio of 1:3.  Meanwhile, Tyrus sits cause of two fouls.

by jpchi on Feb 27, 2008 7:00 PM CST   0 recs

is Boylan 'going small'
by taking out Noah again? argh.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 7:01 PM CST   0 recs

Is Tyrus
Punished for the rest of the half for getting 2 fouls?!

Hey Jim, usually your best player on the court is in foul trouble if he has 3 fouls before the half!

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 7:01 PM CST   0 recs

Anyone with a pirate feed???
Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Feb 27, 2008 7:02 PM CST   0 recs

LLoL
Clever.
Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Feb 27, 2008 7:24 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I strongly dislike this toolbag
Boylan.  Noah was JUST starting to play well - good D, rebound, junk basket.  So time to sub.  

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 7:02 PM CST   0 recs

Anyone else thinks
Hughes over dribbles? I mean, i get he may be trying to slash or whatever, but still, it looks wierd, i have this fear that hes looking more at his shots rather than whats the best decision on the floor. Or at least thats what i see...
im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Feb 27, 2008 7:03 PM CST   0 recs

Over dribble? One of our guards?
He fits right in with Gordon and Hinrich then.  The Bulls over dribble as a signature offensive move.  

by cranscape on Feb 27, 2008 9:20 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

i enjoy watching this team so much
better than before  the trade.  They have so much more energy, their passing is better all of which over-rides the miss-takes they make

by chgobr on Feb 27, 2008 7:04 PM CST   0 recs

ticky tack fouls
every time.  Neither of those "blocks" needed to be called.  

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 7:04 PM CST   0 recs

The Bulls
Pump fake more than any team I may have ever seen

I think coaches have them do 75-100 pump fakes before bed every night

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 7:05 PM CST   0 recs

Heh
Like samurais practicing thier kendo swings?
im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Feb 27, 2008 7:07 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Was my gamecast right,
was the rare 4 guard lineup?

by JeffD on Feb 27, 2008 7:12 PM CST   0 recs

Gooden
Is getting schooled.

But yet it take him "3" fouls to get back to the bench

::nods head in disbelief::

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 7:13 PM CST   0 recs

Lazy by Gordon

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 7:14 PM CST   0 recs

can we slap a ref plz!
just once i'd like to see the ref make another bone-headed call and the playaz response is a slap in the face!!!!

by akuma77 on Feb 27, 2008 7:18 PM CST   0 recs

you like it
I'm just goofin here Matt Damen. i don't believe in violence unless its Bourne choking out an assassin!

by akuma77 on Feb 27, 2008 7:30 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Matt "Damen"
how'd you know my Wicker Park rep?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 7:34 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

You know, I'm a huge Bulls fan,
and I'll probably like this team no matter who they trot out there.  But that half, they played flat and stupid.  

Nevertheless, go Bulls.

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 7:19 PM CST   0 recs

that was a bad half.
And yet again (as I mentioned above), Boylan confuses 'go small' with 'go short', where he sits Noah and puts Gooden at center, even though Noah is far better suited to chase around an opposing smaller lineup.

That and the Tyrus yank was bogus. (10 minutes this half??)

But overall nobody's really playing well so hard to completely call out Boylan the boob.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 7:22 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I'm just waiting
for the world famous Duhon/PeeOn/Brown/Nichols/Simmons line-up

by paxson43 on Feb 27, 2008 7:31 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I couldn't disagree more.
They weren't going to pull away after putting (refs putting?) IND in the bonus w/ 8:00 left. When Travis Diener can parade to the line, it's easy to score points.

PHX vs NO locally here, but I'll be watching this one, so I'll measure my "huge fan" next to anyone's. I saw as much (or more) brilliance and liveliness as flatness and stupidity.

It's easier if you simply watch the game. Put little credence in the negatives here.

by marionette on Feb 27, 2008 7:33 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

tyger1147
Try channelsurfing.net for the feed

by California Al on Feb 27, 2008 7:20 PM CST   0 recs

Boylan's halftime speech
"Tyrus, you gotta stay outta foul trouble. I don't care how good you look out there! Aaron, keeping being a big body out there and taking up space and time. Drew, we're counting on you to show Joakim and Tyrus how to bring it every night and Ben . . . just keep soing whatever you wanna do out there"

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 7:20 PM CST   0 recs

Who cares if he fouls out a game!
Why are the Bulls so afraid of him fouling out? They rarely play him in the closing minutes anyways. They've been over-coddling of Tyrus since game one of the season.

by RogersPark Kris on Feb 27, 2008 7:27 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Trivia
Boston just signed which ex bull player for the remaineder of the season?
im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Feb 27, 2008 7:20 PM CST   0 recs

The Veteran
From Louisiana?

by Option27 on Feb 27, 2008 7:23 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Marcuz Fizer???
ehh no u got it right, its good ol PJ (the peej) Brown. Whoo hoo, more old ankles should definetly get them through thier push to the finals....
im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Feb 27, 2008 7:30 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Marcus Fizer?
I'm watching Cle/Bos and no Ben Wallace in this stretch :(. Although the cavs are down double digits so I assume he's already done some damage.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 7:24 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

oh jeez
2 fouls in a minute and he's back on the bench. no fun.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 27, 2008 7:29 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Why do the Bulls
get so many fouls called on them? I know they do make some of them but this is ridiculous. And the ref at the far end of the court makes the out of bounds call at the other end of the court? I hope they come out and keep their hands to themselves so there is no doubt they didn't foul.
Kirk Hinrump is dead to me. :-)

by sue369 on Feb 27, 2008 7:26 PM CST   0 recs

I don't understand it myself
they seem to get such ticky-tack calls.  Nocioni, especially, has gotten to the point where any call that's even FAINTLY ambiguous goes against him.  He's getting jobbed fairly frequently now, and though I'm not a big Noc guy, it's clear that he's getting poor treatment due to his prior and egregious floppery.  I'm not sure if this is true, but I have the feeling that we're viewed by refs as a pretty "whiny" team.  What do you all think?

by Freethefro on Feb 27, 2008 7:31 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

viewed by refs as a pretty "whiny" team
Nail on the head.
Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Feb 27, 2008 7:45 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Does that make the Pistons
a "very" whiny team then?  

I don't see us as terribly whiny.  We just have twice as many things to be upset about than most teams who don't get handled by the refs as we do.  What I don't get is why are the Pacers so great that they get handled with kiddy gloves by the refs?  I'd expect the Bulls to get short handed on fouls against a good team, but the Pacers?  

by cranscape on Feb 27, 2008 9:26 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I very rarely see Kirk, Noc, Noah
speak cogently and respectfully to a ref.  It's always hands up in the air, demonstrative yells, strutting away.  Other teams, I see veterans stop and have actual discussions with refs - as in, how did you see it, this is what my guy's doing that's il