Observations Abroad

by PTBALLER1523 on Apr 28, 2009 8:30 AM CDT Comment 8 comments

Bulls fans, I am currently studying abroad in Paris, France, and I have been dying to watch a live Bulls game. I have been trying to catch the live feeds, but the quality is not great with the french bull**** internet. Its unfortunate, because of the time difference, that no bars would be playing NBA games.

So, First off, Thank you to yourfriendlybullsblogger for providing me with pretty damn good coverage for the bulls, and all you other dedicated bloggers. It's really awesome to be abroad and still know every damn detail about the bulls because of you guys.

Second, what a run we have been able to witness. It is amazing to see what this team has become. I feel like Ben Gordon is as comfortable as he has been playing along side Rose and Salmons. If Ben Gordon keeps up this level of confidence we might have found a star. Ben Gordon defintly has the tools to be a star in this league, it was just a matter of him putting it together day in and day out. I think this season he has demonstrated it. He must be resigned next year, because him and Rose have the potential to be deadly with Deng healthy as well. It truly sucks that were probably gonna have to offer him around 13-15mill to get him to resign because of his great season, but thats a hole paxson dug himself. Also, Joakim Noah is starting to remind me of the guy who won back-to-back championships. He is defintly looking like a steal out of that draft. Al Horford, the 3rd pick in the 2008 draft after #1 Oden and #2Durant has played 4 games just like Joakim, and Horford's averages are: 10.5 pts, 7.5 rbs, and 1 block on 47% shooting. At the same time, Joakim is making his playoff debut (dont forget that pressure madeJoakim shine in college, and know the pressure is higher) His averages are very pleasing: 11 pts, 11rbs, 3blks on 54% shooting. Those numbers are stifling when you think of expectations for both players. If you want to get even crazier, check out Greg Oden, the number one pick of the 2008 Drafts, numbers: In 4 games he is averaging a measly 16 minutes and picking up 6pts and 4rbs a game. It makes me doubly satisfied to know that Joakim is outplaying his draft counterparts from two years ago. He might end up being the steal of that draft. This is only his second year, and he is making a hell of a difference. I realize it's a little premature to sing his praises knowing that these numbers do include 15 extra minutes of overtime games, and not having to face KG. Hoford is going up against Jermaine Oneal, who is a decent defender, and Oden just sucks. So, go Joakim and lets hope he keeps it up

Third, is Deng done for the season, and what exactly happened to him. I have been doing a lot of traveling, and I came back from Prague, and all of a sudden Deng was gone. Did he have Surgery or what?

Fourth, does anyone know a good website to stream games live. JustinTv didn't work last game, so I used some asian channel, and the sound was crappy.

Thanks again Bulls fans for making it easy to follow my team while studyin abroad.

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Here you go. I actually can’t give a smart remark to the streaming, because it’s a little hard to find if you don’t know about it, but it’s here.

by NittanyCub on Apr 28, 2009 8:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm surprised there's no French love for Noah and his 'le coq sportif' shoes on the tele?

by smash! on Apr 28, 2009 9:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Add in that Horford's

Putting up those numbers against old man, lost knee O’Neal. Whereas Noah has to battle with the strong and huge and not that slow tandem of the underrated Davis and especially the strong Perkins (who Noah’s normally matching up with) …..also guys with championship savvy to boot…..

I think it’s pretty impressive.

Ok so Vinny seems to have the X's down.....now he needs to learn the O's.

by majoyenrac on Apr 28, 2009 9:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll offer my answer to question 3

At the end of Feb. About 3-4 games after the Mille/Salmons trade Deng had two games where he went 2-8 for 4pts and 3-7 for 6 pts. Some of the fans and media started getting on him and the Bulls for playing bad, the low point of the season occurred during this time when Barack sat courtside at a Bulls Wiz game and Bulls lost by 30ish.

He sat out the next game with a shin contusion. About a week later things got interesting. Other injuries had the Bulls playing games with 1 sub for the PG SG SF position. Deng continued to sit with what he said was a stress fracture in his shin. He got and MRI and was checked by Bulls doctors, they couldn’t find the stress fracture.

March 4th- The Bulls management released a press release publicly ripping Deng for not geting back on court. Quote:

At this point, he will undergo “active rest,” meaning that he will be encouraged to challenge himself physically, and if symptoms remain minimal, he will be allowed an expeditious return to play.

The Buls Management was questioned by some press for coming so hard at a player but a lot of chicago fans( me) loved it.

After that they let Deng take another MRI/X-ray in Miami and the doctors found a tiny chip on the bone really high on the shin. Most stress fractures occur on the foot. The Bulls told Deng to rest and see if he could come back near playoffs.

Around March 15th- The Bulls started playing great at home winning 14-16, They had a good shot of catching Phili for the 6th seed but failed on the last day of season. John Salmons fit in perfectly at the SF in Vinny’s Pheonix style offense. He also hurt his groin last week of season but has played through it ( his stats are down though).

Conclusion: Deng is not missed by many Bulls fans right now. There are some who still wish he could add depth to a rotation of 7 regulars. Others argue that without Deng Vinny was forced to play 7 man rotation and that saved the season for Bulls. Salmons has filled in as an upgrade on offense because he creates his own shot and shoots 3s. His defense is as good as Deng some games but not as consistent. Deng is a better rebounder.

The sad thing occurs this offseason when Gar Foreman ( new GM if you missed that) has to accept that signing Deng cost the Bulls Ben Gordan. The Bulls will have to work Deng back in lineup next year because he has a 72mil contract and no team realistically will trade for him.

by Jscho316 on Apr 28, 2009 10:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's not a universal belief that the "active rest" statement was a "rip."

The media jumped all over it and many fans think that’s what it was, but I don’t (and I don’t think I’m alone). It was an accurate statement of the treatment: we’ll let Deng test his own injury with activities at whatever level he feels comfortable, and we’ll go from there. If he can keep ratcheting it up, we’ll keep going. If not, we’ll step back. I never really understood what the controversy was about.

by arjoseph on Apr 28, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Deng vs Salmons

If Salmons could just improve his shot selection a little better I sadly think he clearly would be better then Deng as at least he can hit the 3 and dribble drive to the basket while not scared to try and score in big moments

Do agree Deng is better rebounder …. but I’m really worried his contract is going to be much worse for the Bulls then KirkH who at least can play multiple positions and might be more tradable asset. Deng is too light to guard other PFs and can’t play the 2 so really just will be at SF where Salmons is doing okay at much cheaper price. I’m not hating on Deng, it is just a salary cap thing, Bulls need some explosive scoring to play with Rose/Thomas/Noah and Gordon fits that role better then Deng it seems

by NY Chicago Fan on Apr 28, 2009 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thanks again

Jscho great breakdown on the Deng situation, and thanks for that… kinda interesting… so did deng shut it down for the whole season, or is their a chance he will return if we advance?

by PTBALLER1523 on Apr 28, 2009 10:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

H'll probably return to play for GB this summer :-)

As for game feeds, I also live in an NBA-starved country (Switzerland, Vevey), and I find my game feeds on this very website (blogabull). Just go to the game threads, and people a little bit more computer-savvy than me will communicate when they find a good (or not so good) feed. Otherwise, atdhe.net is the place to go to.

The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on May 1, 2009 3:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs