Open Game Thread #81: Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks
I know I made the joke somewhere else in this space before that the Bulls weren't going to catch the Bucks at this brief tank-a-thon because the Bucks have so much more practice.
And with a new GM and a completely mucked-up salary structure, Milwaukee will likely be looking to make some major changes in the offseason. As in 'might even consider taking Larry Hughes' type changes.
They do have pseudo-star Michael Redd, who is better currently than anyone on this squad, but is also turning 29 by the start of next season and therefore likely won't be a part of the next great Milwaukee Bucks team. I'd imagine the Bucks would be willing to do a move similar to what the Sonics did with Ray Allen: take on an equally crappy contract in a worse player, but for shorter years, along with 'assets'. For Allen, the Sonics received Wally Szczerbiak (1 year shorter deal), with the assets being the #5 pick and Delonte West. I'd think starting offer for Redd (who's younger and owed less, but for more seasons, than Allen was) would be Hughes and #8, but then you could really expand the deal considering the contracts both teams may want to unload, and other fun things the Bulls could throw in (like Thabo).
I'm not even sure I'd want to acquire Redd, even though he may be a maxed-out Ben Gordon, he's also getting paid more than Gordon will likely (as if I have a clue) ask for and you're getting his end-post-prime seasons whereas Ben's best is yet to come. Plus there's the sticky issue of committing max dollars into that magical summer of 2010 when James/Wade/Bosh are free agents. And the issue of committing max dollars to anyone who really doesn't deserve it. But it did get Hughes out of town, didn't it?
Think of that instead of this stanky tanky game. I'll collect your sheets at the end of class.
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Hughes for Redd
And this thread is better than mine.
I can see this game, so I'll be watching for the last gasp of the year. I was going to see it in person, but work interfered.
Micheal Redd is not the answer
Getting Bogut would be a worthwhile pursuit, but what could we offer to make this scenario plausible?
by Tyrusmancrush on Apr 14, 2008 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions
re: Gordon
So in the offseason they can still hope to sign Ben to a reasonable deal, and even if he took the qualifying offer it wouldn't be that awful.
I don't see why they couldn't keep both, besides the seemingly typical Bulls fan philosophy of you can't have too many good players when there are worse players to take their place.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions
What?
ahh...
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Noah is even playing like crap
This is gonna be vile
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 7:25 PM CDT reply actions
I'd like to see Hughes play all 48 minutes
This is embarassing
Well you know it's bad when
Boylan never had control of this team
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 7:42 PM CDT reply actions
My favorite player is Hinrich.
I was worried
it's defense optional
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Wayne:
ha!
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:46 PM CDT reply actions
the cold-heated wisconsin bastards
they showed a replay
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I was fearful
wayne did spend a good deal of time
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions
At the beginning of the year
Well at the end of the year it's still one of our biggest problems. Any team with any size or bulk just beats the hell out of us. At this point, Noah has more of a PF's body. I think a guy like Jeff Foster or Rasho Nesterovic who's long and strong would be a pretty good help over the next couple years while they fill out.
those guys both have expiring deals next season
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions
I always thought
by bullsfaninla on Apr 14, 2008 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions
well, Pollard is always hurt
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions
yea
by Sambossanova on Apr 14, 2008 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions
why would we want gadzuric @ 5 mil
by Ibleedbullsred on Apr 14, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Duhon making a late season push to stay
by RogersPark Kris on Apr 14, 2008 7:57 PM CDT reply actions
I won't be convinced until I see
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions
And Boylan
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 8:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Sefo
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 7:59 PM CDT reply actions
true, the Bucks may have scored 60
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 8:02 PM CDT up reply actions
what the hell
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 8:03 PM CDT reply actions
They are on a huge run
The second Gray steps on the court
Oh Red, stop blushing.
by RogersPark Kris on Apr 14, 2008 8:11 PM CDT reply actions
I saw him back in
He's going to give Red a heart attack
by RogersPark Kris on Apr 14, 2008 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions
81 - 71 in the first half
by RogersPark Kris on Apr 14, 2008 8:15 PM CDT reply actions
this game sure has a different complexion
duhon
You've got to give the Bucks credit
they've had practice
Teams tend to have career scoring nights against the Bucks. Except for Cleveland.
by KT on Apr 14, 2008 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions
What the bloody hell?
81-71? And now that Ty and Joakim are starters, now Boylan is playing the bench huge minutes? Yeah, I see the fouls, but so what? Anyway, I haven't watched yet, so I really shouldn't be commenting, but how in the world is it productive to give Duhon this much time?
Buck season ticket holders
by RogersPark Kris on Apr 14, 2008 8:34 PM CDT reply actions
OK, I have stayed away for long enough
You don't want MO for a point guard
by KT on Apr 14, 2008 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I would want him more than red
by Ibleedbullsred on Apr 14, 2008 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions
your right though, I wouldn't we need a point
by Ibleedbullsred on Apr 14, 2008 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Hughes and Noc
by bullshooter on Apr 14, 2008 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions
if you had a team of just Larry Hughes
lmao
Add Ramon Sessions
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 8:48 PM CDT reply actions
you're right
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions
well...
What I heard him say about it
Is a Gray/hughes linuep
I was thinking something like that myself
Then aaron gray, that last play when kirk bounced it behind his back for aaron, Gray was just too slow to get to the ball in time....uhhhh
aside from that though this game is going really good, imagine if we had gordon in....man he would have 25 by now easy...
Hughes should be locked in a cage
by RogersPark Kris on Apr 14, 2008 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions
If ever there was a guy
Luol Deng is unstoppable
the bucks announcers
wat,
by ChiTownCritic on Apr 14, 2008 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions
That means he is shooting 40% against good teams?
What happened to Yi Jianlian
by RogersPark Kris on Apr 14, 2008 9:10 PM CDT reply actions
Well. It's 141 to 124 with 6 minutes left
All we need now is for the Bulls to revert to form and blow this 20-point lead.
8th pick here we come!
In a strange way,
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions
true
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions
i really feel sory for you cuz
by ChiTownCritic on Apr 14, 2008 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions
what a truly strange game
by Freethefro on Apr 14, 2008 9:27 PM CDT reply actions
Johnny Mac and Jim
But Sessions having a lot of assists in a game where defense is non-existant is a bit of a stretch.
by KT on Apr 14, 2008 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Wayne Larivee was a sports agent last night
I did enjoy the ribs on Mo Williams having the watch it all.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Larrivee
He used to be an 'all-Chicago' guy, but the Bears let him go a couple years ago. I'm sure he doesn't want to burn his Wisconsin bridges by either sounding too pro-Bulls or not enough 'aren't those Bucks awesome.'
He is, in my opinion, the worst of all our home team announcers in any sport.
Larivee committed a Cardinal Sin
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions
that's not a sin
Go Packers!
by KT on Apr 15, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions
I shall hurl bratwurst at you
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions
WRONG
by NormVanBeer on Apr 15, 2008 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
not to mention
The worst is Neil Funk
But God help you if you hope to actually hear the score more frequently than once an hour.
And when something exciting happens, they'd rather say things like, "Oh my!" repeatedly while you hear the crowd reaction. Ten seconds later, if you're lucky, they might actually tell you what happened.
bulls shot 67% for the game
they were shooting
It's not inconceivable
Duhon for MVP (?!?!)
Did Duhon really go 8 for 9 from the field for 22 and hand out 15 assists with zero turnovers? Seriously?
I hope Pax didn't break his wrist
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 14, 2008 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions
YES!
by AGBallinisaHabit on Apr 14, 2008 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions
This game had the feel of a playground game
Strangely, their defense just took the night off. I'm not sure why it had to work that way.
The obvious joke would be that after the first quarter someone said Boylan's officially gone after tomorrow's game (like they were awaiting official word before they played hard). You have to wonder if in the backs of their minds they were playing free, just like that Nuggets game right after Wallace and Grif were jettisoned.
So given the thought of a fresh start next season, these guys just went out and shot the lights out. All the trade bait and free-agents-to-be got to showcase their skills. All the guys who the Bulls may end up keeping can point to their value in this game. Wonder what'll happen next game...
Try and watch the game if you can find it
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Didn't get to see
Didn't get to see the game.
Ramon Sessions is the answer!
don't like the sound of this
I had the same initial reaction.
I don't mind keeping Drew, since he's been productive and is reasonably priced, provided there is a new coach and that coach can figure out how to dole out the minutes reasonably between Ty, Joakim and Drew.
me as well
That's fine for me as well
Tyrus isn't even mentioned in the article, however. Maybe he gave KC the stink eye.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Tyrus is much more effective as a starter
Best improvement from Tyrus when he starts versus when he's a reserve; 10 percentage point increase in FG% from 36 to 46.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
It's hard for me to argue
by bullshooter on Apr 15, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions
soon this will turn into
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Not until he shows
by bullshooter on Apr 15, 2008 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Then it will be
As you, I know, realize...makes sense to me!
Thabo passed on Team Switzerland
Noc is playing for Argentina.
Deng is playing for England.
BG is trying to play for England.
Kirk probably won't make Team USA.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
probably won't?
You have a link re: Thabo's plans? Team Swiss didn't qualify for the olympics, so I'm not sure what they'll be doing this summer anyway.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Hinrich opted out of the tryouts last summer
by bullshooter on Apr 15, 2008 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Hold on a minute...
Maybe that's the message Pax is trying to get through to the guys.
"opted out"
Hinrich, as well as anyone else with two eyes, could see that he wasn't going to make the team with the glut of talented guards there. Even in the small exhibition games his playing time dwindled to practically nothing.
by NormVanBeer on Apr 15, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions
He read the tea leaves
Once Kidd committed it was pretty clear that Kirk making the squad was difficult. He did get married while Team USA was playing.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah
however, it was pretty clear he was not going to make the squad. even though he DID make it over arenas the first time...
Over Arenas?
Arenas preferred to avoid being considered for the cut list even though he would have made the team.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions
i thought
can't remember where i read that though, so it sure could have been wrong.
Arenas could close this chapter
Team USA's official story is that Arenas withdrew his name from consideration due to a wrist injury.
Arenas' version is that he was on the final cut list and Jerry Colangelo asked him if his wrist injury was something the coaches should consider for the final cuts and segued into the plea offer that became the Team USA version. Arenas blamed Coach K, D'Antoni, and Nate McMillan. Soon thereafter he made his claims that he was going to drop 50 in the 06-07 season every time the Wizards played the Suns and Blazers for revenge.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Thabo's Swiss status
"They're playing games, but I'm not going with them," Sefolosha said of the Swiss team. "I really want to focus on next year for the team."
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Blogabull CST is an hour off
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions
Thabo link
It'd be nice if Tyrus takes Thabo down to Florida
Tell me more
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions
KC made a reference to IMG on Saturday.
From Saturday's game recap.
Hmm, IMG says Thabo is alread an alum
It would great if Tyrus and Thabo can shuttle between IMG and the Orlando Summer League this Summer.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions
I think you'e really getting to the crux of it.
I also think they can be partly read as a `shot over the bow' of Deng and Gordon and their Brit commit.
This isn't anything new
If guys are out on their own they might be working hard and they might not.
What is Paxson really saying here:
Is this an implied threat against BG, Deng and Noc? Will they not be in the Bulls plans if they don't dedicate their summer to the Berto center?
Will Pax treat Gordon and Deng the same as Noc?
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=172942
This seems like a pretty rash (stupid?) statement to make...unless Pax has inside information about a Western nations' boycott of the Beijing Olympics?
Don't you think...
I don't seem to be getting what you're getting out of it at all.
You may be right.
""I really am looking forward to sitting down with each player and talking with them about this year and about what I expect going forward. I do expect this off-season to be more team-oriented as opposed to individually oriented. That to me is going to dictate this organization's future."
Several players recently have stated intentions to split off-season workouts between the Berto Center and either hometowns with personal coaches or cities with basketball academies. As a player, Paxson participated in closely knit team off-season workouts organized by Michael Jordan."
Of course, we all know KC is totally full of shit; however, we also generally suspect that every word he commits to print has been fully Paxson-vetted.
I don't know what he actually meant. I'm just trying to think through what he could have meant.
Let's just assume he meant what he said.
What I'm questioning is
Paxson's comment strikes me as either ill-conceived...or just a bunch of fan-friendly b.s.
Maybe you trust him more than I do.
The thing is, the players who play for a national
Olympics different than Euroleague
If Deng and Gordon play for England they will have to qualify for the Olympics first and then play in the games. That could mean an additional month of play prior to the games.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions
why work out together at berto
In the spirit of this comments section, I'll extrapolate that Paxson means Boylan's coming back :)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Paxson will deal
I can't imagine he hasn't already made up his mind about the current coaches. The players will know by Friday that they are already on notice for the new, as yet unnamed coaching staff.
I didn't read it that way
It's not just you. It's only alec. He has a real
maybe, I still think Pax is wayyyyy too concerned
In KC's article he mentioned how Pax used to work with the team with Jordan as ringleader. Well, ok, but what was more important: the workouts between blackjack sessions? Or that they had Michael Jordan on the team?
Sometimes I worry that Paxson isn't sure.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
Wait a minute - are you suggesting that
I wouldn't.
But whether he's a starter or not, it'd help if they just committed to him as a regular rotation player, bad games and all.
What those stats tell me more is that he never deserved to be taken out of the starting lineup, but I do think Gooden's at least more viable than Joe Smith or Nocioni.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions
maybe I'm being too soft on this
The point is a Noah-Tyrus-Gooden frontcourt rotation is actually pretty good, and a good coach could figure out the deployment. Gooden is a far better complement for Tyrus/Noah than what they've had in the past, because he can score around the rim and has the strength to body-up some of the bigger opponents (when he feels like it).
But it may be worth it to start Thomas/Noah just to make them all chummy as 'frontcourt of the future!'.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions
Personality massaging
In Philly, the writers are making the best case they can to start Thaddeus Young for similar reasons. Young is better as a starter and the Sixers are a .650 club when he starts.
The difference in production is something that needs to be broken down deeper to see determine when in the game Tyrus' production is best. I want to say it's early and often because of his young legs compared to the opponents that may need 4-5 minutes before they really get loose.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions
I think it has more to do
by bullshooter on Apr 15, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd save the trouble
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions
I agree with that
But mostly, for Ty more than probably anyone, there has seemed to be a huge difference in quality between his starts and coming off the bench. When he's started (barring the very beginning of the season) it has been a case of injury so that he was sure to get more than 10 minutes by virtue of having no one else to throw out there. Off the bench, his minutes have been hugely sporadic.
right
he looks better as a starter because he's gotten more consistent minutes when he's been starting.
if he got good consistent minutes off the bench, there'd probably be no complaining, and he'd probably perform better than he has off the bench, as well.
He did leave out the "our"
I had the same reaction as you.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions
Why the hell does he have to decide who starts?
He had to say something about Larry
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Totally agree
Unfortunately, after we loose the chance to go to the playoffs, i didn't watch one game of the bulls. This numbers are incredibly, but the Bucks are really bad. Did Duhon make a dunk? If so, the world is lost...
Duhon did dunk
Duhon used to have much better hops. He competed in the McDonalds High School All-American dunk contest when he was a HS senior. He may have even won the thing. He performed a lot of dunks off the bounce, but one was a smooth gather, elevate, catch, and finish with a windmill.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
i had the exact same thought
by Orlando Woolridge on Apr 15, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Jesus.
I can't wait for the Drew Gooden era.
Stuck somewhere in the back of my mind
You'll get your Gooden, and we'll get our Tyrus...and we'll all get Noah to crack the whip on 'em.
That was sarcasm.
If it wasn't clear, I thought Paxson's statement was full of canin feces.
That would be so stupid.
A front-court that started Deng, Thomas and Noah and subbed Gooden and Sefolosha would be one of the better ones in the league. With improvement by Thomas, Thomas + Gooden could probably be a Top-5 PF combo in the league. (I'm probably wrong, but I'm too lazy to actually check.)
If Paxson lets both Deng and Gordon go, and they don't sign somewhere else for some ridiculous amount of money (> $13 mil/yr would be ridiculous), then I would probably quit on this team. Obviously, unless they brought back something greater.
Off-topic Question
Also, I'm so glad Luol Deng decided to show up big for us against such a tough opponent in a game with playoff implications. He's really showing promise as the future star of the team.
Did Duhon impress the Bucks enough tonight to make
True, and with the
Now it seems that the Bucks have more PG's than Memphis (more, but not better). So the Bulls will probably be looking at that as well.
(Of course, this does not address which of these is a "pure" PG as opposed to the more common combination guard...)
I think they'll keep Bogut
Bogut, Yi, and Gadzuric: That's the Bucks frontcourt with a sprinkle of perennial injury list candidate Bobby Simmons.
What I didn't know was that Bobby Simmons looks like he is 6'10" next to Luol Deng. Too bad he lurves the 3 ball and can't pass it up.
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions
The Aaron Gray injury
I watched a slow motion replay on my DVR and it appeared like Gray may have been punched in the groin by Royal Ivey. The live game film showed Ivey wind up his left hand as Gray was passing the ball out and then swing it past his hip towards Gray's midsection. The replay footage was from the baseline under the basket so Gray's body blocked this entire view. The live footage didn't show Gray stepping on anyone's foot.
When the flashed to Gray on the bench he looked fine right afterwards.
I don't see any quotes from Gray in the beat reports today. Did anyone else see anything like this?
Thanks, Zapruder :-p
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 15, 2008 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions
Ivey and Noc
by bullshooter on Apr 15, 2008 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Don't bait sue. I remember Reggie fondly from his
yea i thought that too
Thanks Yibs
by NBA Observer on Apr 15, 2008 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
yea
off the bulls topic
when I saw the replay
The amount of luv for Bron is sickening.
by NormVanBeer on Apr 15, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
They were showing replays on NBATV
ah ok
They definitely screwed this one up though. Foul or no-foul, either call it when it happens or let it go. Philly got shafted.
by NormVanBeer on Apr 15, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions

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