Bulls 122, Suns 111: 3 in a Row!
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 1, 2009 12:17 PM CST
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PrintFirst 3 game win streak in 21 months. That's, um, pretty pathetic. But still!
(sorry for the lack of an overflow game thread, usually weekend games don't need them)
(only saw brief parts of this one, so no hard-cutting analysis (yet). I know you expect it.)
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Blazer fan here...
Caught some of your game during commercial breaks from watching the Blazers. If the Bulls could play like that every night….
Anyway, thanks for the help.
They are the center of the universe.
(and no, not just the NBA universe. the WHOLE universe)
Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!
Wherever you go
and whatever you do, they are there. Always and foremost.
"As a basketball player gordon is a useless as tits on a a whore" - BigWay (Dec 2, 2008). BigWank, I'll miss you more than all the others. This song is for you, my brother!
The Bulls forgot to sacrifice a baby to Kevin Pritchard
And he wrote a strongly worded letter and threatened to sue.
Vinny Del Negro interviewed for the job today. I mean come on! Nobody else thinks this is nuts?
by Juiceboxjerry on Jun 6, 2008 4:21 PM CDT actions actions 0 recs
by Ozzie Montana on Feb 1, 2009 2:35 PM CST up reply actions
lol, recced
Vinny Del Negro interviewed for the job today. I mean come on! Nobody else thinks this is nuts?
by Juiceboxjerry on Jun 6, 2008 4:21 PM CDT actions actions 0 recs
by Ozzie Montana on Feb 1, 2009 5:22 PM CST up reply actions
Nice
"Only dunk and go to the defense." Rudy Fernandez
by Sabonis4Ever on Feb 2, 2009 11:30 AM CST up reply actions
Let me get this all straight
Best owner, best talent, best coach and you need the Bulls help to make the 8th seed. What am I not getting? And there’s what like, 500 people in Portland? How do they all end up on Blogabulls?
by California Al on Feb 2, 2009 7:22 AM CST up reply actions
Hope
Just when it was looking like the lowest point in the last few years, this happens and gives us hope again!!!
I used to think coaches were overrated...
hope is a good thing
and no good thing ever dies…
Thabo
is playing his best ball ever. that’s not saying much, at a PER of 13.06 but given the jump after 2 and a half years of playing, he looks to finally become a contributing player for this team. Tyrus is also hitting a PER of 15 finally (ok 14.99) which is giving me hope that at 22 years of age, he is learning. Noah at a PER of 15.85 is also improving despite my perception of his defensive and offensive inadequacies. If Deng can continue to get back into previous form, at 23 with a bigger emphasis on rebounding, we have the makings of a very good team to surround Rose with.
Also with Thabo, Tyrus and Noah playing
and hopefully continuing to improve with Rose being amazing and Deng getting back to good Deng this team is really fun to watch.
Top Josh Paul Pornos- Big Navi Stroking, 2pitchers1cup, BJ to the Balls, Riggans Your Thingans
Every three weeks or so when Thabo plays well
Bulls fans suddenly talk like he is a potential starter in this league.
by LoveForTheGame on Feb 1, 2009 11:15 PM CST up reply actions
It's funny
Cuz I thought Thabo had a weaker than normal game against Phx….but he has been playing well of late.
It’s hard to play better when you don’t get any minutes….though Thabo like the rest of the Bulls sans Rose and BG sucked early on this year trying to learn an offense that at the time was nonexistent….
The PER
The Player Efficiency Rating (PER) is a rating of a player’s per-minute productivity
Two important things to remember about PER is that it’s per-minute and pace-adjusted.
I also stated that he is a contributing player for this team
I don’t think he is a starter type player, at least not until he gets more consistent with his outside shooting and reduces his turnovers. That’s a big if.
lets also not forget a key factor:
nocioni has only gotten 14 mins each of the past 2 nights. it’s amazing what can happen when you actually play your best players.
Noc's PER
of 10.9 really speaks volumes to the level of play he has dropped to this year. As much as I loved his contribution of a few years ago, it seems that VDN is finally accepting that Noc is a liability given so much time.
I still want Noce to play, somwhat
so his trade value goes up. Noce needs to get out of here by the trade dealine, or i’ll be very disapointed because apparently he has “trade value” around the league according to Sam Smith
by LoveForTheGame on Feb 1, 2009 11:17 PM CST up reply actions
Well
It was at like 8.0-8.25 in mid to late Dec because Nocioni was just completely horrendous there for a stretch (much worse than ever and his PER dropped considerably down during that stretch). Since that like 10 games of misery though he’s done rather well to bring it back up….
But yeah I don’t know what happened in that 10 game stretch…..and found it odd that Noc was still getting 30 MPG through it all, and only on the last game of it did he say he wasn’t playing so well……
I think there was a slight nagging injury (Cuz that was the last time Noc played really consistently awful—the plantair facitis playoffs)…..especially because he was playing so poorly and VDN kept him out there…….and nobody said anything sans us fans.
But yeah, Noc ain’t needed, esp with Tyrus coming on a bit and most esp with his big for his new role on our developing team contract.
I have to agree.
You all know I’m a big Noce fan and I have to admit he isn’t needed here.
Thabo does real well at the SF position and even Gooden outplays Noce most of the time at the PF position.
But (yes, it’s time to take potshots at me) I still greatly admire his hustle, desire, toughness and grit and I’d like him to be a Posey/Horry type of player with a team that can afford that luxury.
But not here, not now.
Agree with you PatBull
Though I do think Noc outplays Gooden (Gooden has better stats because he’s better at the O end, and a better rebounder because he’s a true PF who plays some C too) but Noc is a far better defender than Drew and that kind of nullifies Drew’s offensive game.
Still neither are needed, and Noc is less needed on this team than Drew actually, especially with the long contract.
I do think though he is a Horry or Posey type (who’s unfortunately making $2M more than Posey)…
Noc isn't a better defender than Drew...they are equally absymal.
by fundamentallysound on Feb 2, 2009 12:15 PM CST up reply actions
and Drew is a far far better rebounder.
not just ‘better’.
USE THE SOFTWARE. Actions-> Rec/Flag. Reply to comments with the reply button. Rec good fanposts/fanshots so the crud gets pushed down.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 2, 2009 12:47 PM CST up reply actions
yeah, I'd love to see Noc completely phased of the lineup when Drew returns
Thabo gets all of Noc’s minutes at the 3 and Drew and Tyrus can split up the rest of Noc’s minutes from the time he usually plays at the 4. Basically, I don’t ever want to see Noc on the floor for the Bulls again.
by fundamentallysound on Feb 2, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions
Well, it is your opinion (and wish) so I won't go up against that.
For me, I’d like to see Noce as an 8th-9th man who can play 12-15mins a game and spread the floor a little, maybe take a few opponents out of their games with his flopping and physical D.
But mostly, I’s like him to doing it with another team, one where he can achieve greater success.
Shucks, what's wrong with my keyboard (meaning me)?
…I’D like him to BE doing it…
Is this fools gold?
I am as happy about this 3 game streak as anyone. The Bulls are actually playing good basketball which is fun to watch. I think we are all asking the same question, is this fool’s gold? LAC, Sac and a fading Phoenix team is not exactly passing a tough test. After almost two years of shitty basketball, it is still gold to me.
We have played the Spurs and Hawks well the last few good teams
and I think that we’ve won the last 9/10 games vs teams over .500
So thats kind of what I’m thinking about if they show up agianst some of these teams like the bottom feeders. We’re more talented than most of these teams at the bottom or trying to make that eighth spot.
I might be wrong on that one stat about the teams over .500 (I have no idea who gave me that one)
But we’ve played them well
I think it was in the Sun-Times.
"You remember the first time you picked up a basketball video game and you had no idea how to run plays, so you just gave the ball to your shooter and you ran around the court aimlessly until a defender was far enough away and then you jacked up a shot? THAT IS LARRY HUGHES!"
-Anonymous fan letter, heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com
Anytime time a team starts off 3-0 on a west coast trip,
that’s impressive.
by LoveForTheGame on Feb 1, 2009 11:18 PM CST up reply actions
Record with or without Hughes and Gooden (at the same time) is still bellow .500
I’m with those who say that the last three wins happened because Hughes and Gooden didn’t play – ok, maybe our coach started to think more clearly (baby steps) also. They kill ball movement and have the (bad) habit to take shots at every opportunity, with most of them not entering the rim. But, as much as that cost me to say, our record with both playing and without both (at the same time) is still bellow .500.
Without both (4-5)
Cleveland (L)
Atlanta (L)
Toronto (W)
Atlanta (L)
Toronto (L)
Minnesota (L)
Clippers (W)
Scramento (W)
Phoenix (W)
With both (10-11)
Indiana (w)
Lakers (L)
Portland (L)
Golden State (W)
Denver (L)
Utah (w)
San Antonio (L)
Philadelphia (W)
Philadelphia (L)
Milwaukee (L)
Washington (W)
New York (W)
Memphis (L)
New Jersey (w)
Charlotte (L)
Clippers (W)
Boston (L)
Sacramento (w)
Washington (w)
Oklahoma (L)
Portland (L)
Now, stats help people understanding the game, but not every thing is about stats. This analysis may show that there’s not much difference when Hughes and Gooden play or not play at the same time, but there is. Specially in Noah and Tyrus mind. Noah and TT now know that they’ll have playing time, no matter what they make on the flour. If they make a mistake or if they get too many fouls early, they’ll still play – Vinny playing TT against Phoenix when he had 5 fouls is a prove -, because Gooden will not be there to tempt Vinny to play him. Besides, now Gordon doesn’t have to watch Hughes missing some of the shots that he could be making.
You're forgetting injuries.
Deng and Hinrich most importantly, or when Nocioni/Gray are in. Did you factor that into your analysis? Even though I think Hughes and Gooden shouldn’t play much, both of them have been below average/mediocre this year.
And I think that there is going to be some growing pains, especially when you have a 20 year-old gem of a point guard who’s starting every game. This might be the proverbial “turning point” this season, which would be nice, especially considering the rest they’re going to have from the ASB coming soon.
No, only the W and L
Yeah, I forgot Gray and Noc. But you know, sometimes Noc has good games, sometimes not. I’m all with trading Noc, but just because of his contract. He’s not one of those players like Hughes or Gooden that can kill the ball movement. Sometimes he just moves with the ball and fals asleep on D, but he’s ok… :)
oh
he destroys ball movement by shooting selfish looking shots
by LoveForTheGame on Feb 1, 2009 11:19 PM CST up reply actions
Selfish
Looking if you want to think they’re selfish looking.
Noc has been taking plenty more shots in the flow of the offense. It’s annoying the games where he’s missing and keeps shooting, but he’s not really forcing shots, but has games where he can’t hit a layup even when wide open.
Noc forced shots last season…..this year not so much, he’s just had some strangely awful shooting nights (esp that 1-11 night where he got open, got look after look and clang).
Yeah. I'm thinking his plantar fascitis has affected his shooting form.
But it doesn’t matter what the cause is.
He’s no longer a threat from the outside, he’s no longer quick enough to bother SF’s or PF, he’s never been big enough to be an inside force…
He’s about a year away from being Scalabrine or Cardinal…but he’ll win a game or two for some other team.
Yeah, sorry about Noc's deterioration
He tries desperately hard, and taking those shots is his role. He is a caricature of the player he was. But he’s also one player that I think makes winning the focus, not his individual play and recognition. Maybe they can shut him down for awhile when Gooden comes off ir.
by California Al on Feb 2, 2009 7:36 AM CST up reply actions
I think though
Noc is playing better of late….and his PER improvement is indicating that (even though his PER is woeful, it was abysmal earlier, so he’s at woeful now and can quickly move to mediocre before finishing avg for his role on this team this year)….
Still not necessary for what we pay, but I do respect that he tries to do things to help focus on winning rather than individual play—still sucks that he was a culprit for our Dec slide from soon to be post .500 to the hole we’re in right now….
Can't be helped though.
If he was averaging 30pts and 10 rebounds, no one would blame him.
As such, his performance was a big factor of our slide.
But not the biggest nor the only factor (as other people here keep on insisting)
Yeah, I hope he gets to rest a bit...
maybe even for a long while. Maybe then he’ll recover.
I might start watching games again..
Vinny still irritates me by given TT only 26 minutes and Noc almost 20 at the PF position
Im starting to get pumped for the next Bulls game Tuesday night against the Rockets
and I haven’t been pumped for a Bulls game in a long time.
by LoveForTheGame on Feb 1, 2009 11:20 PM CST up reply actions
Tyrus was in foul trouble the entire game
so his minutes were limited and same goes for Noah. Nocioni was subbed out of necessity.
Who knew
that tyrus in 26mins can outplay Amare’s 43mins. If not for that clean block by TT that was called a foul, he couldve played and extra 5-8minutes. If he can only learn when to go for that J. If he is open, he shoots a decent % on jumpshots. If he drible b4 going for the shot, his % drops so bad.
I also like thabo, he plays good D, and he’s the only guy other than Deng that knows how to cut. TT is also improving in that department. I hope he can get consitent minutes(15-20)If only we can merge BG and thabo into 1 player.
I hope VDN will continue to limit noce to around 15mins and maybe give him upto 25 only when he’s hot. Give TT and Noah >30mins and Gooden gets the remaining minutes. Then bench Gray and Hughes.
Yeah that block
was B.S.
I wish Tyrus wouldn’t have those 2-3 plays in the 3rd every other game if not every game where he goes too Harlem Globetrotter….he’s done that each of the past 3 games….at least and probably in some of those 5 game losing streak earlier…..and at least in the last 3 we were lucky the team recovered, becuase Tyrus’s doing ridiculously too much at once and failng are momentum switchers for the other team.
Though I like TT and am reasonably happy with his play of late (like what it’ll mean going forward, would be more happy without the spurts of doing too much—1 play ok, but it seems with one comes 3 before VDN is forced to pull him out, or TT just fouls his way onto the bench, or both)…
I'd like to mention I met Vinny's uncle on the train ride back from the game
Couldn’t say he was a nicer guy. He said he’d been traveling to games to support Vinny since he playing at NC State. He mentioned that VDN had been stressing tons over the last month and that the win over Phoenix was really big for him. He said Kirk is one of the nicest players he’s ever met off the court. He threw in a few Noah weed/effort jokes to boot. Nothing really shocking but cool to hear from someone who gets to interact with the team from time to time.
After sitting second row and being able to hear the players talk with the referees, gettin caught by the wgn cameras at the end of the game….a really surreal experience. And it shed a human light onto the team that I’ve missed when watching the games on my computer and typin over here in teh BaB interwebs.
by lampnasty on Feb 1, 2009 11:58 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Now that's good stuff
Great night, eh? Tell us more. I WANT to like BG, Lu, Kirk, Noc, Rose, TT, Sefo, Aaron and Noah. And Vinnie. I’ve had the most aggravation when it appeared that Hughes and Gooden were being incorporated into the fabric of the team, and the whole team looked and played like losers. Am I way off?
by California Al on Feb 2, 2009 7:44 AM CST up reply actions
How could you be way off
Al? That’s been the story, to me. Better if Paxson had Wallace boxed and buried than traded for Hughes and Gooden. (And I don’t dislike any of those three, I’m just sayin’!)
My write up is like a green nugget way down at the very bottom there, and I thought I’d link it in case you hadn’t already read it. When I saw my recs (first ones, I think) and the color just now, I got a tingle like when Fitzgerald turned the corner on that LB and split the safeties last night. LOL!
"As a basketball player gordon is a useless as tits on a a whore" - BigWay (Dec 2, 2008). BigWank, I'll miss you more than all the others. This song is for you, my brother!
I'd go to games if I got almost-courtside seats like that.
That’s awesome, though.
"You remember the first time you picked up a basketball video game and you had no idea how to run plays, so you just gave the ball to your shooter and you ran around the court aimlessly until a defender was far enough away and then you jacked up a shot? THAT IS LARRY HUGHES!"
-Anonymous fan letter, heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com
Hope bulls win against Houston
Blog a Bull: Where your Friendly Bulls Blogger happens.
by broseleay301 on Feb 2, 2009 2:37 AM CST reply actions
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