Game Preview #56: Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers

by chgobr on Feb 21, 2009 7:22 PM CST

[thanks to chgobr for the game preview -ed.]

Today's 11 AM game: I'm pumped. We looked great against Denver. TT (see update below) was a force and brought a big smile to my face. I particularly liked his huge rebound and 3 point play that sealed the deal in the 4th. We are young. We have Derrick Rose. TT is improving by the day. Paxson seems to have a good plan. We're playing well and today my Bulls play a depleted Indiana team. Milwaukee plays Denver at home. We win, Milwaukee loses we are in the 8th spot. Over the next few weeks it is possible for us to overtake Detroit and Philly and finish in the 6th spot with an outside chance of finishing higher. Hollinger's playoff odds have us in the 7th seed ahead of Detroit. Yes today is the perfect scenario for the Bulls to get blown out and rip my heart out!

TT update: KC in the Trib is reporting "After logging more than 44 minutes Friday night against Denver, Tyrus Thomas sat with a strained right hamstring. Del Negro said he wouldn't hesitate starting either Miller or Tim Thomas if Tyrus Thomas can't play. …" The Sun-Times is listing him as questionable because of a hamstring.

Indiana I thought was going to make the playoffs or be right in mix. They play with a great deal of energy. A number of heart-breaking losses and injuries have killed them. Two of their top players Dunleavy and Granger are out. They have one of the NBA's great hoodlums, Jamal Tinsley spending time in Marbury-land. Defense is the Pacer's Achilles-heel. They average 106.8 points-against. This is exceeded only by the three defensive gems of New York 107.5, Sacramento 108.8 and Golden State at the amazing number of 111.4. Indiana as a small market team has contract challenges beyond Tinsley. Troy Murphy is at $12 million 2010-11. T.J Ford has a player option through 2010-11 of $8.5 million and Dunleavy is at $10.5 million through 2010-11. Indy comes off a win against a Jeffersonless Timberwolve team. Marquis Daniels had a big game getting more minutes in Granger's absence. From the Indianapolis Star "Josh McRoberts, whose playing time might increase during the final 26 games, returned to the team after missing two games earlier this week with the flu . . . Foster missed his fifth straight with a sore lower back." The Bulls won the only game against Indiana this year November 15th at home 104-91.

Trade week: I'm still reeling from trade week. I have never seen so many posts as the trades unfolded. Wednesday' Noc/Gooden deal has 680 comments. Most within an hour. Then on Thursday we were able to jettison Hughes. That generated 456 comments. Matt did a great job organizing this for us. Thank God for the help of Sports2 and Doughthonous for trying to explain the James salary issues and the Ben Gordon salary cap challenges. I am certain quantum physics is easier to understand. I feel bad for Amare, but we mistakenly worried about his knees instead of his retinas. See the excellent BaB diary on retinas by T Thomas. Paxson had this figured all along. Paxson rocks!

Blogging with the enemy: Indy Cornrows and the Mike Wells blog in the Indianpolis Star

Remember - game starts at 11AM on WGN

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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Comments

We need this win.

The bulls have three games left against the Pacers. They are a poor team. If we are going to make the playoffs we have to take advantage of these three opportunities.

Bulls really should win this big. Pacers are counting on minutes from Travis Diener and Rasho Nesterovic. Jarrett Jack is their two guard. Ben Gordon she exploit him.

Also any word if Jeff Foster is going to play?

by robinhood on Feb 21, 2009 10:08 PM CST reply actions

Here is the update -

From the Indianapolis Star there is no update except what is reported below.

F Josh McRoberts, whose playing time might increase during the final 26 games, returned to the team after missing two games earlier this week with the flu . . . Foster missed his fifth straight with a sore lower back.

by chgobr on Feb 21, 2009 10:22 PM CST up reply actions

This is a game they could lose pretty easily if they're not careful

Early morning game is just a giant pain in the ass. No Granger, no Dunleavey, possibly no Foster. But they still have Rasho!

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 22, 2009 12:06 AM CST reply actions

They need to show up and put them away.

Sometimes when they are up against weakened teams they play down to that level instead of play to kill. I’d like to see them destroy them, but that is just me. :)

Everything I post is speculation. I have no insider information nor ideas deemed concrete enough by those who are self-elected to regulate post content.

by cranscape on Feb 22, 2009 12:43 AM CST up reply actions

Murphy's Law.

Just when Tyrus is hitting his stride, K C Johnson reports he suffered a hamstring injury and sat out Saturday’s practice.

Even worse, Vinny said not to worry. He has no problem starting the other TT against the Pacers (so he can relive the glory days of Drew Gooden? with his old buddy and former teamate who he had dinner with in Indianapolis). Let’s hope for a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, these types of injuries can be tricky and can linger without proper rest. The last thing I want to see is Tyrus losing valuable minutes to Thomas the Lesser.

If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost. You can still call him vile names.
Elbert Hubbard

by Tyrusmancrush on Feb 22, 2009 3:13 AM CST reply actions

omg

i hadent heard about this, got any links?

"we dont need a total rebuild, we just have a coach that is trying to fit the sqaure pegs in the round holes, players do well if you set the up to succeed, not try to mold them into a system designed for another team"

by TyrusThomas on Feb 22, 2009 3:15 AM CST up reply actions

i was really looking forward to getting up today watching TT dominate.

I dunno. As much as i love him, he has a game that would make him really prone to injuries and what not — you know the whole high-fly act. Maybe he should never really get more then 35 min or something.

by mandoman10 on Feb 22, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions

This is from K C Johnson's article on Tim Thomas in the Layups section of Sunday's Tribune.

After logging more than 44 minutes Friday against Denver, Tyrus Thomas sat with a strained right hamstring. DelNegro said he wouldn’t hesitate starting either Miller or Tim Thomas if Tyrus can’t play. He also said the no headband rule is still in effect. Both Miller and Salmon have worn them this season.

Sorry I couldn’t get the link to work.

If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost. You can still call him vile names.
Elbert Hubbard

by Tyrusmancrush on Feb 22, 2009 3:27 AM CST reply actions

Story is

here

Maybe we can?

by Granny Waiters on Feb 22, 2009 6:56 AM CST up reply actions

The no headband rule is the stupidest thing ever

When I watch NBA games I often call the fouls before the referees do. Sometimes it’s a gift. Most of the time it's troublesome. - NBA Observer

by Illini15 on Feb 22, 2009 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

We're gonna blow them out.

I can feel it.

by BAB-Bass on Feb 22, 2009 6:33 AM CST reply actions

oh ok

im glad its not that serious (i hope)
hopefully tyrus will be able 2 play

by TyrusThomas on Feb 22, 2009 7:52 AM CST reply actions

I mean any hamstring injury is pretty serious.

Even the minor hamies can take up to a week to heal. That is heal properly. Lots of b-ballers play on them but they dont really heal properly. I dont know if you can tell but i played to early on mine and its making me worry about TT. lol.

by mandoman10 on Feb 22, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions

Trap game.

Bulls need to come out with intensity; you get the feeling the Pacers could break early. If we win this we’re tied for the 8th seed.

Nice preview, Chgobr.

These early games are really weird, though!

The poster formerly known as Freethefro.

by MPG on Feb 22, 2009 9:38 AM CST reply actions

They're PERFECT! :D

For us europeans…

by BAB-Bass on Feb 22, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

OK, the wife has graciously agreed to watch the kids this afternoon, I'm off to the game at the last minute

BullsTwo

by Sports2 on Feb 22, 2009 10:08 AM CST reply actions

I was looking at Marquis Daniel's game log and he was pretty productive earlier in the season.

And that was with Danny Granger playing too. This recent stretch of good play has him playing at the 3? i wonder what he was playing when granger was still playing — i guess granger plays the 2? Not sure never really seen them play.

Seems like Marquis has been pretty productive all year but got messed up with some injuries.

by mandoman10 on Feb 22, 2009 10:31 AM CST reply actions

Yahoo! is showing "T. Thomas" starting

and “T. Thomas” as a reserve – this could get confusing. :(

Maybe we can?

by Granny Waiters on Feb 22, 2009 10:40 AM CST reply actions

interesting

brad miller playing aganist his old team for his oldest team while he gets older.. hope they treat this game seriously and not expect it to be a walk in the park, even though it really is…

on an off topic note. noce’s stats from his first game as a KIng.

FG: 2-11 3PT:0-3 FT: 6-8 +/- : -6
Reb: 7 Ast: 3 Pts: 10
and most importantly 4 fouls.
Though I must say, wearing purple doesnt take away his toughness and grit.

Chicago... Where giving up career nights happens

by Yibs on Feb 22, 2009 10:44 AM CST reply actions