Game Preview #54: Bulls at Minnesota Timberwolves
by Cosmis on Feb 19, 2010 1:35 PM CST
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Print[Thanks to Cosmis for today's game preview -ed.]
Noah is out, again (sort of a given after he didn't travel with the team to New York.)
The Bulls look to take another step on the road to a first round exit playoff berth, and welcome four new players in Minnesota. Coming off of a home-and-home sweep of the woeful Knicks, and an even more woeful Minnesota team is just what the doctor ordered.
Most Important Bulls in the World-
I could take the easy way out and go with Derrick Rose, averaging 28.0 ppg after the All-Star break, on 65% shooting from the field (24-37). He's important. But I think I'll go with the four new guys, Hakim Warrick, Joe Alexander, Flip Murray and Acie Law. I'm hearing that Warrick and Alexander will be available, while Murray and Law might not. Either way, Warrick and Murray's ability to fill in for the recently departed John Salmons and Tyrus Thomas will go a long way towards getting this team into the playoffs.
The Key to Victory-
On the T-Wolves end of the spectrum, it should all come down to stopping Al Jefferson (wouldn't trading for him be a better way to stop him?) As good as Kevin Love is (and Jonny Flynn looks to be, eventually), Al Jefferson is pretty much the only reason this team beats anyone. He's definitely not at the top of his game lately, averaging 16 and 6 since the break, on 14-22 shooting (64%), and you have to figure that he's going to have of one his trademark monster games soon enough.
Then again, this team just lost to the Wizards. Not the Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood Wizards that took a career-high from Rose to defeat, but the "new-look" Al Thornton, Josh Howard Wizards (before they even had Thornton). Let's just say I'm fairly confident that the Bulls can take this one.
The Enemy-
Canis Hoopus
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how come tyrus will play but murry and law likely wont?
"Oooohhh, cat in the wall, eh? Now you're talkin' my language."
I think players from both teams are iffy
if one plays they’ll all play.
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 19, 2010 2:04 PM CST up reply actions
Noah's out again, guessing it's time to just assume he's out indefinitely.
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=4927572
Taj Gibson is the face of Bulls basketball!
by Trey23 on Jan 5, 2010 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That injury won't heal
with this break. He may feel better and stronger, but it’s going to come right back once he starts playing.
The more we win the more he’ll rest. Maybe we play well with the new guys. I’d like Noah to be as healthy as he can for the final stretch and the postseason if we can get there.
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
by NBA Observer on Feb 19, 2010 3:44 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs
Considering the Bulls are righting off this season anyways
May be best to just shut Noah down for the entire year.
by RogersPark Kris on Feb 19, 2010 6:49 PM CST up reply actions
right off the season mateys! starboard! starboard!
"Oooohhh, cat in the wall, eh? Now you're talkin' my language."
I'll be watching the Bobcats
And flipping over to the Bulls.
Are we allowed to post Tyrus stuff or should we just let it go? I’m thinking just let it go even though I don’t want to.
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
maybe a seperate Bobcats thread?
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 19, 2010 4:04 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
we did have box scores for a day or so :)
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 19, 2010 5:09 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, when Ben was actually playing well. Shocking how the two seemed to correlate.
Taj Gibson is the face of Bulls basketball!
by Trey23 on Jan 5, 2010 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
by Ozzie Montana on Feb 19, 2010 6:12 PM CST up reply actions
His first game. :P
Then … uhh … uhhhhhhhhhh …
Go Rockets/Nets[CDR]/Bucks[Jennings]!
excited to see how Warrick does. Seriously
hopefully he can be effective working with Rose. I’ve never really watched him play. But unless he is a skilled 1 on 1 guy or good in the pick and roll, I don’t know how he fits in VDN’s offense
by Basketball Smurf on Feb 19, 2010 3:44 PM CST reply actions
me too, although my enthusiasm has taken a bludgeoning from yaopau's post.
"Oooohhh, cat in the wall, eh? Now you're talkin' my language."
He's got a pretty decent jumper and we know he can dunk
so maybe he’ll be effective in the pick and roll/pop, but then again Del Coacho never used Tyrus effectively in this manner which always irked me.
Thrusting toward the playoffs, one game at a time.
When we scouted Warrick...
we liked the thrust he exhibited.
In the last year I've gotten rid of two Top-Five draft picks.....Sweet!
by GarForman on Feb 19, 2010 4:46 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
this is wonderful
RIP Jim Thome 1-25-2010
an AL team not having a DH is like a giraffe fucking a mule. - larry
this has potential
…to annoy. maybe :)
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 19, 2010 5:10 PM CST up reply actions
Gar won't abuse his power...
I plan to add my perspective to why Jerry….err…I mean Gar made the moves Gar made.
In the last year I've gotten rid of two Top-Five draft picks.....Sweet!
no no no they're not cancelled
just instead of nba games, we will see tiger’s speech on replay over and over
by iamsasquatch on Feb 19, 2010 6:00 PM CST up reply actions
this team has looked awfully confident the last 2 games. and so has rose. even his mistakes appear to be made with more authority.
and not to be presumptuous, but it appears as though the team has really responded to him. and yes NY stinks, but beating the hell out of inferior teams is important too. hopefuly they keep it up.
"Oooohhh, cat in the wall, eh? Now you're talkin' my language."
Well, Minny plays about the same amount of defense as NYC does
and have about the same level of talent. The Bulls (viz. Rose) should keep their level of confident play up there enough to raise their road record to 12-17 tonight.
Too bad about Noah, though. I’ve had plantar fasciitis, and it took me a few months to finally be recovered. Let’s hope he heals up more quickly than that! On the good side, the Bulls are 4-2 since he was shut down by the team.
Difficult to treat; slow to mend
I almost wish Noah had a less nebulous injury – even if he were predicted to be out a month – just to remove the ambiguity from the situation.
It'd be nice for Luol to have a monster night
just in case the Deng-Jefferson deal gets re-explored this summer as a consolation
We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan
YFBB
All day today I’ve been getting spyware tracking viruses from your site (I have something that removes it quickly, but thought I’d give you a heads up for your IT guy—presuming SBNation has one).
Sadly....through thick and thin....
No I can't at work
And today was one of those strangely very quiet days at work…
At home yes, but Firefox ain’t supported at work.
Sadly....through thick and thin....
email support@sbnation.com
that’s strange. Unless it was T-Mobile
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 19, 2010 5:11 PM CST up reply actions
I don't get to see who it is
Just my tracking cookie thing popped up….every time I was on here today…
I will email them.
Sadly....through thick and thin....
I have faith...
that my acquisitions will pay big dividends tonight!
by GarForman on Feb 19, 2010 4:28 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
Yes....
Gar replies to Gar’s own replies.
by GarForman on Feb 19, 2010 4:35 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Does Gar lie to Gar?
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
by NBA Observer on Feb 19, 2010 4:38 PM CST up reply actions
Maybe
Are you safeword “luvtyrus”?
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
by NBA Observer on Feb 19, 2010 4:47 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
No
Gar doesnt participate in bondage with other men…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
In the last year I've gotten rid of two Top-Five draft picks.....Sweet!
Are you sure? When I look at that mug of his it reminds me of an old acquaintace
who was on the receiving end of heavy bondage sessions for many years, although he was better looking.
.
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 19, 2010 7:13 PM CST up reply actions
here's to my DVR finally working properly tonight. maybe i'll be able to watch a game after the all-star game for once
definitely like Flip the most of the new guys. he just seems to come up with timely plays. it felt like he killed us every game off the bench vs. DET. i will admit i’m gonna miss Fish from The U!!!!! most successful Canes alum in the NBA. but the option was haunting my dreams.
we went out for pizza after the game. -dave wannstedt
by BULLieving in Miami on Feb 19, 2010 4:38 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Murray and Kirt always went at it.....bumping /elbows/stair downs
I like Flip because of his creativity……but his fg% leaves much to be desired. Hopefully he’ll take more open/easy shots here
"What are you doing Dragic?!"
Thanks for the info. Should be fun tonight.
Although if we lose……..arrrh…Fire Garpax!!!
"What are you doing Dragic?!"
He looked good
on the first defense possession but on offense he is going way to fast
Tyrus, 54 seconds, 2 blown layups. That was kind of awesome.
At least he blocked a shot.
Taj Gibson is the face of Bulls basketball!
by Trey23 on Jan 5, 2010 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
TT just got a big block.
This line from a movie, television show or other piece of popular culture pretty much sums up my entire personality.
No. Came in about halfway through the first.
This line from a movie, television show or other piece of popular culture pretty much sums up my entire personality.
I like Tyrus....
it just wouldnt work out here in Chicago for him….with him verbally assualting Vinny and what not.
In the last year I've gotten rid of two Top-Five draft picks.....Sweet!
by GarForman on Feb 19, 2010 6:35 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
LOL
Joakim on whether he ever tried tennis: "I played a little bit. If anybody on the Bulls wanted to play me, I would kick their ass."
right, that happened so early in his career.
In the past 10 years, just four team owners have not paid a luxury tax and are not on pace to pay one this year: Donald Sterling, Jerry Reinsdorf, Chris Cohen (Golden State), Bob Johnson (Charlotte).
Two owners’ teams averaged an operating income of over +$10 million per year while their teams have lost over 60% of their games: Donald Sterling and Jerry Reinsdorf.
It is not official
Tyrus is no longer a bull…he just scored his first points as a bobcat
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