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Around SBN: Odds On Peyton Manning's Next Home Includes Three Teams

Hey, it was a Celtics sweep before I heard about Garnett the next day! I wrote this late night yesterday, before the KG news and after the Bulls just laid a suckbomb on the UC floor against the Raptors where Brad Miller and Tim Thomas played the entire fourth quarter. Also, I'm a pessimistic boob.

Jeff Clark (of CelticsBlog) has Celtics in 6, and Kelly Dwyer has Celtics in 7 (sucker). I can be convinced by Saturday that the Bulls will push it to six games, but then again the Salmons injury makes me think otherwise.

almost 3 years ago Blogabull_s_tiny your friendly BullsBlogger 108 comments 0 recs  | 

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I still think we can win this series.

KG being out is huge. If he really is out for the whole series, this is a much better matchup for us than Orlando. We did beat them on St. Patrick’s Day, and the only difference now is that Powe is healthy, and Salmons is hobbled. With the exception of the last game, we’ve been playing great at home. So I don’t see how we can’t win all our home games, and steal at least one game in Boston.

My prediction: Bulls in 6.

by Rose MVP on Apr 16, 2009 3:11 PM CDT reply actions  

Wouldn't right now be as good a time as any for a poll?

I’m saying Celtics in seven.

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

by Juiceboxjerry on Apr 16, 2009 3:18 PM CDT reply actions  

hmm, how about just leaving predictions here

if someone correctly predicts the Bulls win, I’ll be so happy at the win I won’t give a crap. If someone correctly picks the Bulls loss, the season will be over so I won’t give a crap.

Maybe I’ll stick a poll in the sidebar for fun.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2009 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions  

Groin injuries take a long time to recover from fully, meaning Salmons is probably

at 80% at best. (I’e had groin pulls playing basketball or soccer in my life).

So it really is gonna be Rose+Gordon trying to shoot us into contention.
Is Tyrus gonna get any calls in Boston Garden? Unlikely.

Bulls lose in 5 UNLESS Tyrus is magically going to the line for 7-10 free throws a game.

by KentuckyBullsFan on Apr 16, 2009 3:29 PM CDT reply actions  

I'm longing for a Tyrus breakout

it’d be such nice retribution for the brow-beating he got when he shot 2-17 (or something) earlier in the year.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions  

Tyrus will be the key to the series.

By “key” I mean “biggest opportunity for the Bulls to get a leg up.” I’d be shocked if the Bulls win the series, but if Tyrus can keep Powe/Pierce subdued (assuming he spends time at SF to spell Salmons) and can put up consistent 20/10s with good percentages, the series will be much closer than I think it will be. If the Bulls steal the first game, I think they have a chance to take it to six or seven. If they lose the first two, though, it’s over in five.

by arjoseph on Apr 16, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions  

I hope Pax tells him that if he wants

that big deal after the 2009/10 season, he’d better start earning it right now. That might give him some motivation. But then again, he won’t be able to do much unless he’s actually in the game, so someone should maybe tell VDN that…

"The Zen philosopher Basho once wrote: 'A flute with no holes is not a flute, And a doughnut with no hole is a Danish.' He was a funny guy."

by Ugh It Live! on Apr 16, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions  

well if we have to rely on tyrus putting up 20/10 we are going to lose

even when tyrus is playing well, 20/10 is hard to come by. I think he needs to shoot a higher percentage, get to the free throw line, and REBOUND. If the Celtics control the boards then they can slow the tempo. We need our big guys to rebound and Tyrus is a big part of that.

by Basketball Smurf on Apr 17, 2009 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

should Salmons should sit the first game out?

If John had a full 5 days off before Monday’s game. Even if the Bulls’ best chance to win in Boston is to steal the first one, no one’s really expecting them to win any of the Boston games anyway—might as well boost our odds of winning the games we’re somewhat expected to win.

This assumes that an extra few days off has at least some incremental benefit for a groin injury.

by T Maple on Apr 16, 2009 3:31 PM CDT reply actions  

nah

I don’t think a couple extra days matters. Plus the Bulls have NO backup SFs.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions  

yeah

but it’s not like the Bulls knew Luol would break himself…again.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

ok for now... but when it happens again (Deng breaks himself).. we can't say no one knew..

and if he (Deng) remains a Bull, he’ll break again.. He’s no iron man like skinny Prince (Pistons)

man up!

by exult463 on Apr 16, 2009 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions  

Get ready for 3-guard lineups!

Hinrich might be our best Pierce-defender right now. DeMarcus Nelson!

by YaoPau on Apr 16, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

The fact that a guy we pulled out of the D-League is probably our best perimeter

defender in the playoffs is pretty much all we need to say about our chances against the Celts, KG or no KG.

Fire Vinny.

by fundamentallysound on Apr 16, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

good point..

Kirk or DeMarcus (pg shorties) can’t stop Pierce (strength).. We can only hope Pierce goes into a shooting funk for 5-to-7 games? And the Bulls pull an upset.

man up!

by exult463 on Apr 16, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

DeMarcus Nelson bio (and there goes my hopes for a miracle Salmons replacement)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeMarcus_Nelson

Nelson was not drafted in the 2008 NBA Draft, but he was signed by the Golden State Warriors on September 9th, 2008. He became the first undrafted rookie to start on opening night in the history of the NBA.3 On November 14, 2008, he and teammate Richard Hendrix were assigned to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League. He was recalled by the Warriors on December 16, 2008, but he was waived on January 6, 2009 to make room for Jermareo Davidson.4 Nelson joined the Croatian Adriatic League club KK Zagreb in January of 2009, but only played a single game.5 In March 2009, Nelson returned to the NBA D-League as a member of the Austin Toros. On April 9, 2009 Nelson was called up by the Chicago Bulls.

by KentuckyBullsFan on Apr 16, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

Now THERE's a real "journeyman"...and that's just as a rookie!

Golden State to Bakersfield D League to CROATIA to YOUR CHICAGO BULLS

in the last 8 months.

by KentuckyBullsFan on Apr 16, 2009 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

Not much help. It's not like a bruise, where a few exta days would help a lot.

Groin injuries destroy quickness. And they screw with your head: you can sometimes run at full speed and feel fine, but then turning your hip 1/4 inch in the wrong direction might lead to a spasm of pain.

How the hell can a shooter get into rhythm like that? Explains why Salmon was 1 for 7 the other day.

(and just imagine how hard it is to ply defense partially crippled…no wonder Marion was 15 for 18.)

by KentuckyBullsFan on Apr 16, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

What's worse: Hinrich or Tim Thomas at small forward?

I just don’t see Salmons being ready offensively or defensively.

by KentuckyBullsFan on Apr 16, 2009 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions  

Start Brad Miller

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 16, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions  

Exactly

Maybe Tyrus can defend Pierce

by bull83 on Apr 16, 2009 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions  

I doubt it...

But somebody has to. The way I see it, Pierce will get his offense, but maybe TT has the best chance of making him work to do it.

"Playoffs? Are we talking about playoffs? Really, I mean... Playoffs?"

by Khalid El-Amin on Apr 16, 2009 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, for us optimists it's "maybe he can do it successfully".

But when I’m being realistic, it’s more “maybe he’ll be better than anyone else.”

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 17, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions  

Well, Tyrus use to slow down Lebron

So, maybe he’ll get the job done. I just cant see Tim Thomas or Hinrich defending Pierce

by bull83 on Apr 17, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions  

Linton Johnson!

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 16, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

If only we had a healthy sf

id settle for noch….hed give pierce a ‘what for’

On Behalf of Sue, Wjb, majoyenrac, Bullshooter and all the other Hinrich fans...Ill keep the Hinrich Hope coming...There will be light!

by piccolomair on Apr 16, 2009 3:42 PM CDT reply actions  

I'd rather just stick Tyrus at the 3 at this point. It makes it less likely that VDN

will sit him or Noah for Brad, because they can have Tyrus, Joakim, and Brad all out their manning the 3, 4, and 5 spots respectively. I also think that Tyrus would be up to the challenge on defense of slowing Pierce down (see: his work against King James earlier this year), and I think it would be a serious confidence boost for Tyrus to have that much faith put in him. He needs that.

Fire Vinny.

by fundamentallysound on Apr 16, 2009 3:45 PM CDT reply actions  

Agreed

Not a very good idea. You’d probably get killed in the transition game and allow us to over-sink defensively to protect the lane and to crowd the strongside.

by cordobes on Apr 16, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

Slow?

They’ll have three starters… among the fastest players for their size… in three consecutive drafts. And Ben Gordon.

Yeah, so there’s Miller, but he’ll be running up against Kendrick Perkins.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 16, 2009 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

i think the permieter shooting is the bigger problem

with Ty, Noah and Miller up front, that means we have only BG7 capable of knocking down 3’s consistently. The Bulls rely on outside shooting so much I don’t think they can get away with Ty at the 3 for long stretches.

by Basketball Smurf on Apr 17, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think Pierce would get Tyrus in foul trouble

He’s quicker laterally and should be able to blow by him, and he’s savvy enough to throw in a headfake to get Tyrus in the air. That said, I love your “serious confidence boost” idea, and I think you’re right. If Tyrus plays Pierce and somehow manages to contain him, or if the Bulls pull out the series, we could see a whole new Tyrus next year. I’m with you.

by YaoPau on Apr 16, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions  

Is Pierce

that much quicker than LeBron? Tyrus did an decent job defending LBJ, albeit in limited stints

by torch on Apr 17, 2009 6:55 AM CDT up reply actions  

Pierce is slower than LeBron, but has better foot work and works angles better.

He gets to the line with herky-jerky moves to the basket and keeping his man off-balance. LeBron just blows past them or through them.

Fire Vinny.

by fundamentallysound on Apr 17, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions  

Celtics in 4

I hope I’m wrong, but I still think we have seen the ceiling of VDN’s “potential” but definitely have yet to see the basement.

"The Zen philosopher Basho once wrote: 'A flute with no holes is not a flute, And a doughnut with no hole is a Danish.' He was a funny guy."

by Ugh It Live! on Apr 16, 2009 3:51 PM CDT reply actions  

If Salmons and Deng were healthy..

…would the Bulls be the favourites?

I’m predicting Celtics in 6.

by cordobes on Apr 16, 2009 4:11 PM CDT reply actions  

If Deng were completely healthy and Tim Thomas was relegated to the bench?

Instead of trying to force 10-15 mpg of his and taking them from Thomas and Noah? And they somehow had figured out the minutes (would NOT have happened, but we’re guessing), I’d say it’d be close to even.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 16, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions  

What do you have against Tim Thomas?

I like the idea of having a playoff-tested 3 point shooter out there.

by YaoPau on Apr 16, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions  

Because we'll see how much that experience matters when he has barely played for us otherwise

In Phoenix he was the 1st big man off the bench and had a defined role. It’s also safe to assume the Nash/D’Antoni combo was muchhh better at getting production out of Thomas than Rose/Del Negro.

That Steve Nash is exactly the same as Kirk Hinrich, but worse.
by NBA Observer on Apr 8, 2009 12:23 PM CDT

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 16, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

There is no such thing as magic playoff potion.

Tim Thomas played in the post-season 6 times, right?

Two of those trips, he played 60 and 22 minutes; they’re meaningless to draw conclusions from. (He was bad and average, if one was curious.)

In two others, he played 142 and 191 minutes. One of those (142 mins.), he played better than at any other time in his career, and he was 22. For those respective reasons, I’m calling that season a fluke and meaningless to his current abilities. The other time (191 mins.) was when he was 25, and he still played significantly better than any other time in his career. It’s not quite as egregious, but still different enough not to accept.

In his second-longest stint, he performed at essentially the same level as he had during that same regular season.

In his longest run in the playoffs, in Phoenix, he did outperform his regular season performance. I’ll add a number of caveats, however. A) He had only played in 29 games that regular season averaging 23 mpg (25 mpg in Phoenix). That’s barely more than a training camp, pre-season and week’s worth of minutes and practice time.

For Tim Thomas, 3 years removed from his latest playoffs, at age 31, there is any reason to expect him to play better than what he has so far in the regular season. That’s a bad basketball player and worse than anyone else the Bulls should be trotting out there.

Even if, however, I wanted to grant that simply having playoff minutes grants someone extra…. perfomance-enhancing abilities… If I were to grant that just having played in the playoffs in the past makes a player more likely to do well in the playoffs in the future, then I would say the Bulls would have to be giving every minute possible to the likes of Luol Deng*, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah between the SF and PF spots. I think winning a series would be great for them, but it would be very hard to convince me that the difference between benching Tim Thomas completely and giving him 15 minutes (or more!) that were taken from Thomas, Noah or Deng would make the difference between winning the series or not.

As it is, w/ Deng out, he should be the 8th guy in the rotation getting 10-15 minutes max. I’d like it to be less, but I don’t think Salmons’s groin or Brad Miller could take that.

*I include him because this was a hypothetical concerning Deng being healthy.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 16, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

Stacey King told me you're a hater
“That’s a bad basketball player and worse than anyone else the Bulls should be trotting out there.”

Not sure where you’re getting that from. Tim’s APM last year was +0.19, and that’s with one of the worst shooting years of his career (.505 TS%). He was a +1.25 defensively, which put him 14th in the NBA among small forwards. Even if his defense declined a tad this year (and I’m not saying it has) his return to his shooting norm makes him an above average player overall.

And none of this “Two of those trips, he played 60 and 22 minutes; they’re meaningless to draw conclusions from.” crap. Thomas has played 1529 minutes of playoff basketball, easily leading the Bulls, and his 87 career playoff threes rank him 18th among active players. And he’s produced in the playoffs at a .596 TS%.

That’s not to say he does or will do better under pressure, a lot of that I think can be attributed to luck. But he’s certainly comfortable in the playoffs to play up to his ability (and not get tight like so many players do), and that combined with his above average normal play makes him a pretty good play for 20mpg, especially with an injured Salmons.

by YaoPau on Apr 17, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions  

As I said, if just "getting minutes" are so important...

…give them to Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 17, 2009 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

And yes, if Salmons is hurt, which he appears to be...

….that changes the equation further.

This thread started asking about a healthy Deng (and I assumed a healthy Salmons, too). That’s where Tim Thomas gets zero minutes. W/ Deng out, 10-15 minutes isn’t bad. If Salmons is hobbled, another 5 minutes seems about right.

You shifted the discussion in your own mind. And when we get there, I don’t disagree.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 17, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions  

I got the Bulls winning in 6

It’s not Kool-aid either. I personally felt like this was a better matchup over Orlando anyway. The Salmons groin does bother me but I look at this Celtics team and think to myself, why can’t the Bulls steal on there, handle business at home and take one there? Rondo will be a problem and of course Pierce will be. I think the X-factor in this series is TT and Noah and how VDN uses them (Which scares me most). I don’t see anyone on the Boston front line that can deal with TT if he’s on his game. If the Bulls win this series it’ll be because Rose ,in a best of 7 series, figured out how to expose this team and plays like the unguardable force he is. Because TT and Noah played like one of the most athletic and fast frontcourts in the league. And because BG neutralized anything that Ray Allen has to offer. I really think Boston is beatable. Bulls in 6.

by Dils on Apr 16, 2009 5:05 PM CDT reply actions  

I agree with you.

It’s like everyone forgot how good Rose is. I can’t wait to see what everyone will be saying after we stun the Celtics in game 1.

by Rose MVP on Apr 16, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions  

Rose is likely to be mostly neutralized by Rondo's defense and his own ineffectiveness on D.

Rose is terrific, but he’s matched up against the best defensive PG in the game and one who can penetrate very well on offense, and Derrick struggles to stay in front of anyone, let alone someone as quick as Rondo.

Fire Vinny.

by fundamentallysound on Apr 16, 2009 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

I somewhat agree...

But I do believe that Rose is unguardable. And unguardable means just that. I don’t think in a best of 7 that Rondo can contain Rose without help. If he does contain him he’ll need help. That’s where guys like BG and Hinrich come in. Spotting up and nailing open shots. The Bulls are getting rightfully slammed for losing last night but they lost because open shots didn’t fall. I’d like to think that BG will be on more times than not and that Hinrich will play better. Hinrich is a key too. If he plays well the Bulls can pull this off

by Dils on Apr 16, 2009 6:01 PM CDT up reply actions  

I actually enjoy the pessimism

you were the only team blogger on there that picked his team to do worse than expected and worse than the opposing team blogger. A welcomed addition to the BDL predictions, especially since that nut with the new Pistons blog actually picked that series to go 7 games. Oh Pistons fans, so spoiled by years of success that they can’t recognize a garbage team when it’s sitting right in front of them.

by Calogero on Apr 16, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

i hope the pistons get swept.

"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"

by Jaina on Apr 16, 2009 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions  

My prediction:

Vinny becomes the first coach in the playoffs to cause every loss for his team, playing small ball and trotting out lineups with Tim Thomas or Aaron Gray as the only big. Celtics in 6: the Bulls win two of their games at home, with the other ones being 2 Celtics blowouts and two nail-biting losses. Our last play switches Paul Pierce onto Ben Gordon and he airballs a tough fadeaway 2 as time expires.

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 16, 2009 5:16 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Sam Smith is drinkin some Kool-Aid

He has the Bulls in 6.

Sometimes I wish we would have hired Doug Collins as our coach in the summer of 2008. Then we could have fired him and won 6 more championships!

by chibullsfan03 on Apr 16, 2009 5:28 PM CDT reply actions  

Seriously? Link?

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

by Juiceboxjerry on Apr 16, 2009 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

sure. forgot to

it’s here, last sentence

Bulls in six. Hardly out of the question now.

Sometimes I wish we would have hired Doug Collins as our coach in the summer of 2008. Then we could have fired him and won 6 more championships!

by chibullsfan03 on Apr 16, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

Thanks. Wow, I'm shocked at how optimistic people are about this

I mean I can see it being a competitive series, but actually winning? I just don’t see it.

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

by Juiceboxjerry on Apr 16, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions  

What intimidate me the most about Bulls vs Celtics

is the match up of coaches. Doc Rivers>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Vinny

If we switch coaches, the Bulls would have the series IMO

"...Lies, damned lies, and statistics."

by Teri on Apr 16, 2009 5:48 PM CDT reply actions  

I don’t know if Doc is necessarily a great strategist, but he is a great motivator. Thibadibbadibba is a great strategist. They are both working against a man who doesn’t know what strategy or advantage means, and who’s team responded best to shipping out a bunch of players.

They're after our precious bodily fluids

by chowder on Apr 16, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions  

Thibadibbadibba... LOL

I never really know how to pronounce his name either.

"...Lies, damned lies, and statistics."

by Teri on Apr 16, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions  

The irony

is that before last season, most people would have said Anyone >> Doc Rivers
How quickly things can change

by torch on Apr 17, 2009 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions  

Celtics in 5

I don’t write here often, but I lurk frequently (mainly because I can’t catch the games out west, and don’t know what I’m talking about first hand)

The Bulls do have the superior big men, but it is going to be interesting to see how those matchups manifest themselves. Noah and Tyrus are athletic and quick, but have the upper body strength of a 12 year-old girl. Powe is a bruiser and banger, and would be a stud if he were a few inches taller. He’s not, so he is a bench player. It’ll be interesting to see if Powe will flip into beast mode and push Tyrus out of the way on the block, or if Tyrus’ can negate the strength discrepancy because he can jump, extend, and alter anything he puts up. Perkins again is a physical, strong player with speed limitations, what will win out between that and speed. Big baby is a similar big body with out the bruising mentality, and Mikki Moore really isn’t a great option.

Without Garnett, the celtics have no shot blockers, and hopefully that will open up the lane. Particularly since the big men for boston also lack speed and/or height. But I’m guessing Thibadibbadibba will concocte a way to minimize that flaw, and Del Negro will fail to realize we have that advantage.

For the most part, I don’t see much defense in the series. The match-ups simply aren’t favorable for either team, but the Celtics coaching can mask their deficiencies, while our coaching won’t recognize them.

I think the Bulls athleticism will get them one win in the United Center.

They're after our precious bodily fluids

by chowder on Apr 16, 2009 5:48 PM CDT reply actions  

fail

I was amending my statements and accidentally pushed post. Don’t forget Pierce was amazing last playoffs, I don’t think we have an answer for him, and he can single-handedly win about 3 games for Boston.

They're after our precious bodily fluids

by chowder on Apr 16, 2009 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

girls youth sports is becoming highly competitive

didn’t you see “Stick It”

They're after our precious bodily fluids

by chowder on Apr 16, 2009 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions  

I did

but I don’t think we’re talking about the same movie…

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

Are you holding that up as proof that TT and Noah are strong?

I’m seriously asking.

"Playoffs? Are we talking about playoffs? Really, I mean... Playoffs?"

by Khalid El-Amin on Apr 16, 2009 6:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

Stronger than most give them credit for.

And mocking ridiculous hyperbole and the sexist undertones that go with it.

It’s not like they’re Brandon Wright or Kevin Durant.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Apr 17, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions  

If Salmons is going to play like he did last night I would rather we tried others.

Salmons couldn’t defend or score last night. I’d try L Johnson on Pierce. If that doesn’t work TT, Hinrich, Noah and so on. Do not ask me what the so on is. But it is not a Salmons that is so impaired he is ineffective.

by chgobr on Apr 16, 2009 6:11 PM CDT reply actions  

BULLS in 5

"Whenever Kirk/Ben are in together. Kirk turns into a crappy player, because he tries to freeze Gordon out of the offense." - Andrew7

by gobulls1124 on Apr 16, 2009 7:21 PM CDT reply actions  

Wrong!

Gotta be a bit more optimistic. :P

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 18, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

Celtics in 4

Without Salmons added offense the Bulls are pretty bad. And I think Rondo is going neutralize Rose.

Now, considering the Cletics ages and the Bulls ages, I could imagine a clever coach turning things into a highspeed up and down game with lots of Celtics turnovers and a toll on their legs that would allow the Bulls to grab a few games.

I doubting Del Negro is that coach.

by hitlesswonder on Apr 16, 2009 9:14 PM CDT reply actions  

Rose should have less trouble getting

into the paint with KG out. Maybe Rondo can make him work on the perimeter, but what are the Celtics going to do if Rose decides to take it inside? Their defense is different without KG. We should take it to the basket until they find a way to stop us. And if we play in transition and don’t let them slow the game down their defense will not be able to get set as well. (shrug) Rose is going to have four games to learn how to adjust. It will be interesting to see if he learns as it goes on.

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 Apr 16, 2009 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions  

damn! danny ainge had a heart attack?

this KG business is really tough for them to swallow…

I remember Michael dribbling at the top of the key. Everybody knew to just get the hell out of his way. - Steve Kerr

by Yibs on Apr 16, 2009 9:24 PM CDT reply actions  

I wish him a speedy 100% recovery..

..always liked Ainge. Was happy for him when the "C"s won championship

man up!

by exult463 on Apr 16, 2009 9:42 PM CDT up reply actions  

Ainge was a punk

but he’ll probably get out of the hospital, suit up and lead the Celtics to victory in 6. He once singlehandedly beat my UCLA Bruins, knocking them out of the NCAAs. I hate him almost as much as I hate Bill Russell.

by Cannoli on Apr 16, 2009 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions  

how do u hate bill russell?

I remember Michael dribbling at the top of the key. Everybody knew to just get the hell out of his way. - Steve Kerr

by Yibs on Apr 16, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

He treated opponents

with such disdain that everyone was afraid to go near the paint. He’d actually laugh if you tried to score against him inside. He makes KG look like a a 12 year old girl trying to be tough. His teams always won, usually humiliating the opposition. My team (the vaunted New York Knicks) looked like a high school team in comparison.

As for Ainge, I will never forgive UCLA’s humiliating loss to Ainge’s BYU team in the 1981NCAAs second round. He looked like Pistol Pete Maravich on speed in that game. Then he went to the Celtics and it gave me even more reason to hate him and his obnoxious sneer.

by Cannoli on Apr 17, 2009 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions  

man, 12 year old girls

are getting it rough in this thread.

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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 17, 2009 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions  

thats playing the game

u gotta realize that he did all that in an era where guys didnt get the big star treatment by the league like KG and others get. russell had to remain strong in the game then, to get the respect from the other players and the league. i cant hate a guy for playing the game with dominance, even if it was against my teams. as long as he did it fairly i could care less.

I remember Michael dribbling at the top of the key. Everybody knew to just get the hell out of his way. - Steve Kerr

by Yibs on Apr 17, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions  

It was the Sneer

they were more arrogant than the’27 Yankees. They beat you, and then they humiliated you, and then they beat you some more. He’d beat you today if you gave him a chance. And then their fucking coach would light a cigar and and blow a kiss to your girlfriend. Russell didn’t want respect, he wanted you to grovel.

by Cannoli on Apr 17, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

I get traded around from team to team

With a face you want to rearrange
I look a lot like Opie
Hello, I’m Danny Ainge

God I loved the SuperFans at the Grant Park…

by torch on Apr 17, 2009 7:27 AM CDT up reply actions  

And clogged arteries

just like the rest of us old folks! For those of you who have never had a heart attack, they really fuckin’ hurt. No matter how tough you think you are, you realize that you’re not tough at all. Heart attacks even humbled da Coach.

by Cannoli on Apr 17, 2009 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions  

Heart attacks are bad?

I had no idea!

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 18, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions  

[:P]

Joakim Noah: Better than you.

by Prevenge on Apr 18, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions  

Not bad. Actually

they are good for your character. Perhaps you’ll get an opportunity to experience such an amazing growth opportunity yourself someday, and you can remember this pithy exchange as they stick the IV in your arm and the tube down your throat. That would be right before they crack you open like a piece of ripe fruit, remove your heart and throw it in a bowl of ice water. And then slice you open from hip to toe so they and rearrange your plumbing. Are we having fun yet?

by Cannoli on Apr 20, 2009 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions  

Celtics preparation and Thibadibbadibba as a great strategist

will surface and the strategy might be to neutrize Rose, keep the ball out of is hands.

IF so, VDN and staff will need a quick response, we may see both Kirk and Rose often with also Gordon…

Now we need that Point Forward that everyone was hoping Deng could become when the idiots suggested Deng to play some SG. Deng handles are so bad, he made Noce seem like LBJ.

man up!

by exult463 on Apr 16, 2009 9:39 PM CDT reply actions  

Celtics in 5

Bulls can probably win game 3 before having a vacation.

Philippine Carabao: FRIENDLIER THAN BULL

by Juan dela Cruz on Apr 16, 2009 10:09 PM CDT reply actions  

Celtics in 4

I may be setting a low expectation ( it cannot be lower) to avoid being dissapointed. Withouth a healthy Salmons we have no answer to Pierce. The matchups strongly favor the Cs. I am happy we made the playoffs and provide Rose, Noah and TT an opportunity to play at a higher level. I hope my prediction is not true since I’m gong to game # 4.

by chgobr on Apr 17, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions  

Worst case: Celtics in 6; Best case: Bulls in 6

Even without KG, they’re still very strong. They’re the defending champs and, because of that, they’ll have the referees on their side. But I still believe we can beat them on 6. The "only" thing that we need to do is to learn to play some defense until tomorrow. If we guard Pierce properly – the only one that scares me to death without KG -, Rose and Gordon will do the rest. The duo of Rose and Gordon is not worst than Rondo and Allen. Actually, I believe that Rose and Gordon are a little bit better.

In the worst case, I say Celtics will beat the Bulls in 6. Why? Because I have a feeling the Bulls will win the first two games at home and lost the first two in Boston. If that happens, the 5th game will be huge and will determinate our future in this series. For better or for worst.

by bull83 on Apr 17, 2009 10:56 AM CDT reply actions  

Celtics in 6

I think without KG, the Bulls match up fairly well with the Celtics. I think TT has an advantage over whoever the Celts throws out at the PF because he plays both ends. I’m not as worried as some people about the Rondo – Rose matchup; I figure they will both get theirs and by the end of the series it will be a wash.

What really worries me about this series is the Bulls late game execution vs. the Celtics late game execution. The Bulls have lost to many close games for me to believe that in a tight situation, they are going to outplay Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Those guys take and make big shots. I see a series with 6 pretty close games, but the Celtics superior defense, rebounding and late game execution will be the difference.

The Bulls only shot in this is to control the tempo. That means Tyrus and Noah have to rebound and block shots and be the disruptive forces we know they can be. The Bulls frontcourt guys have to outplay the Celtics frontcourt guys to win this series, because this is one of the rare instances where the Bulls are overmatched on the perimeter. I can’t wait to see how it plays out.

by Basketball Smurf on Apr 17, 2009 3:48 PM CDT reply actions  

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