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Bulls 94, Timberwolves 90: Welcome back, Tyrus

Tyrus Thomas played in his first preseason game since the opener, and while it wasn't as welcome of a sight as seeing Derrick Rose back would be, it was darned close.

Tyrus came off the bench and immediately made an impact, finishing with 22 points and 13 rebounds in 25 minutes, ironically on the same day reports came out with Tyrus saying he could be a '20 and 10' player this year. Oh, how we laughed. And rightfully so, to the point where a subsequent report came out saying Thomas never said he'd average 20 points to keep us from laughing. He's not going to average that, but he looked very good and played the type of game he can always bring.

I actually don't think he made a jump shot in the entire game. It was all offensive rebounds, dives to the basket, trolling the baseline, a backdoor cut or two...with the TWolves too slow to react, leaving the option of covering their head as Thomas dunked (or fouling him).

And I don't mean in the sense that he can't do more and should stick to only this type of play. But that this should be merely the floor of what he can do in terms of running and rebounding. He has such unique gifts at that position, being able to get a steal and lead a fast break on one possession, deliver a perfect inbounds pass in another, another including a great catch on a pass that was behind him as he drove...add the jumper and the face-up drives (a post up game, even?), and then he'll have that breakout season at last. 

Then unfortunately he limped a bit as he came out of the game for the last time. Hopefully it's nothing, because I don't want any Tyrus tease this season be because of a lack of minutes.

Nobody else really distinguished themselves in the game. We already know by now that Taj Gibson will play hard, but we've also found out that aggression means a lot of fouling. Hinrich shot terribly and Deng barely shot at all, and as a team the Bulls were only 2-8 from three.

And I think we're all sick of seeing Jannero Pargo by now, but with Rose and Salmons out, Pargo had to play a lot, as throwing Lindsey Hunter out there is senior abuse at this point. So while I get that he has to play, does the end of every quarter have to be an isolation for him? It's preseason, we already know how that play works, Pargo will wiggle free and likely fire up a miss (they did try using Hinrich in the 2nd Q, resulting in a turnover). Maybe use Deng for one, or even...Thomas? 

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it was the end of the 2nd quarter

time was running out. He beat his man into the lane, got past Jefferson, who had stepped up to cut off the drive and had a wide open floater in the lane - which he passed up to throw the ball behind him right to Al Jefferson. It was vintage end of quarter Bulls.

by Basketball Smurf on Oct 17, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think he was looking for James Johnson and did some spin move

and Wayne Ellington intercepted his pass. Then let out a shriek. But nobody really cared last night…

I've got this thing and it's fucking golden!

by SoulEater7 on Oct 17, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions  

just wanted to point out that Thomas did hit at least one jumper that I saw

Announcers called it an 18-footer and it was from the baseline with a man on him pretty tight. If that’s a sign that his jumper has improved even more then Thomas might actually be ready for that mystical ‘breakout’ season we’ve all been praying for.

by jpm356 on Oct 17, 2009 2:35 PM CDT reply actions  

Yep. I was just going to point this out. He made one jumper, but that was it.

22 points on 9 shots? Very nice.

1. Cut a hole in a box
2. Put your Kirk in that box
3. Make some team open that box

by fundamentallysound on Oct 17, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions  

teams beware

we break wrists around these parts

"I think it’s safe to say Noah and Rose are the future."

by Belize on Oct 17, 2009 3:30 PM CDT reply actions  

And about the whole 6'10 thing...

it’s accurate. Tyrus is definitely longer and he’s gained great strength, too. With his wing span, he might get higher than anybody in the league short of Bron and Dwight.

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Oct 17, 2009 4:14 PM CDT reply actions  

Umm...

Michael Beasley?

"You ain’t as hot as I is / all of these false prophets is not messiahs /
You don’t know how high the sky is / the square mileage of earth or what pi is." - Nas

by Jivas on Oct 17, 2009 11:19 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

I never thought of Beasley as a good jumper ...

??

I support the Tornado Release [See: Joakim Noah]

by Prevenge on Oct 18, 2009 12:03 AM CDT up reply actions  

beasley?

he tested out terribly in terms of jumping and athleticism at the bulls individual workouts…don’t remember how he did at the combine but doesn’t seem anywhere near the class of Bron/Dwight or even close to Tyrus

by BooRad16 on Oct 18, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions  

His no-step vertical was 30"

And his max vertical 35" at the combine – so not horrible, but far from Tyrus and the other crazy jumpers. Tyrus had a 34" and 39.5".

Beasley’s right around average for a SF, slightly above for a PF. Then on the other hand, it doesn’t really matter much – he’s got spectacular body control,which is every bit as much an athletic trait as jumping really high. His game will ultimately be limited only by where his head is at, not by not being able to leap out of the gym, imo.

In honor of the dearly departed, I declare July PB&J month - everyone raise a sandwich to the memory of Ben!

by wjb1492 on Oct 18, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah,

but MPG specifically said ‘get higher than anybody in the league’.
:P

I support the Tornado Release [See: Joakim Noah]

by Prevenge on Oct 18, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions  

Unintentional joke..

Higher than Mike Beasley! Haha

"..what you mean? I'm a legend like Kareem!"

by CommittedToExcellence on Oct 19, 2009 3:10 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Actually

I think it was intentional, just a little too subtle as most people (including me) missed it at first.

by runningman on Oct 19, 2009 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ohhhhh!!!!

Yeah, too subtle.
Ah, now I’m kicking myself. :P

I support the Tornado Release [See: Joakim Noah]

by Prevenge on Oct 19, 2009 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions  

It was intentional :)

"You ain’t as hot as I is / all of these false prophets is not messiahs /
You don’t know how high the sky is / the square mileage of earth or what pi is." - Nas

by Jivas on Oct 21, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions  

Still don't get it.

Things could be worse. We could have kept Boylan.

by stupidgenius on Oct 22, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions  

And I think we’re all sick of seeing Jannero Pargo by now, but with Rose and Salmons out, Pargo had to play a lot, as throwing Lindsey Hunter out there is senior abuse at this point. So while I get that he has to play, does the end of every quarter have to be an isolation for him? It’s preseason, we already know how that play works, Pargo will wiggle free and likely fire up a miss (they did try using Hinrich in the 2nd Q, resulting in a turnover). Maybe use Deng for one, or even…Thomas?

I’d like to see JJ get a look in those spots. But I get your point, A.B.J. (anyone but Jannero)

"That's a spicy meatball-a!" - Vinny Del Negro

by Juiceboxjerry on Oct 17, 2009 4:49 PM CDT reply actions  

TT played a good game

I don’t want to get ahead of myself and overly praise him because it was one pre-season game. However I do have to say it was good to see Tyrus come out with intensity, and being active. I believe the way Vinny unfairly used him in the playoffs added with the emergence of Taj is gonna be serious motivation for him. TT has to play focused and with energy all year long and his reputation will continue to grow. As for Pargo, I was hard on him yesterday, but Pargo is a scorer who can make big shots. Pargo will be better served running the play, and when a shot is needed to be taken then he should shoot. But to dribble the ball up the court, then jack up a shot is not what this team needs. For the record, Pargo is a perfect example of someone who is not a pure point guard!

by Mr Rhythm on Oct 17, 2009 5:51 PM CDT reply actions  

I second

More than anything, I hope TT is looking at this as a breakout season. For him to call his stats last night is really testament that he is putting his entire game together, both mentally and physically.

Cheers to a solid season from TT!

by brianm on Oct 17, 2009 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ouch Kirk got reverse dunked on by Pav? Good thing I missed the highlights.

by Camry on Oct 17, 2009 7:08 PM CDT reply actions  

Here is the most important question..

are you guys gonna be drafting tyrus thomas in fantasy?

by mandoman10 on Oct 20, 2009 1:03 PM CDT reply actions  

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