Game Preview #56 - Bulls at Washington Wizards
by torch on Feb 22, 2010 8:31 AM CST
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Print[Thanks to Torch (Wayne Larrivee reference?) for today's game preview -ed.]
Here we are again, the week after the trading deadline and paying our first visit to the Verizon Center this year, to take on the Washington Wizards (19-34).
Unlike our moves at the trading deadline that shuffled around some bench pieces, the Wizards are a completely different team than earlier this year - having traded away their three best players (Jamison, Haywood, & Butler) and having two more suspended for the rest of the season (Crittendon & Arenas). Despite the drastic move to completely rebuild the franchise, the Wizards have seen the same kind of post-trade surge that the Bulls have enjoyed, beating Denver in DC and taking Toronto to the wire north of the border.
Newcomers Josh Howard and Al Thorton have fit themselves into Flip Saunders scheme, averaging 19/5/2 and 15/3/1 respectively in the two games since the deadline. Technically Zydrunas Ilgauskas is on the team, but he is working on a buyout so he can resign with a contender later next month.
Despite the boost Washington has received from the influx of new players, this is a game the Bulls should win. The Wizards are a bad team and we are on a nice streak of beating up on bad teams lately. They have no players that scare me on either end of the court and there's no matchup where they are anything more than comparable to what the Bulls can bring to bear.
Blogging with the Enemy:
Bullets Forever
Truth About It
Game time: 6:00 PM Central
TV Coverage: Comcast SportsNet (Chicago & DC), NBA League Pass
Radio Coverage: ESPN Radio 1000 (Chicago), 106.7 The Fan (DC)
I'll be the maniac sporting the '84 replica Jordan jersey in Section 216 across the court from the Bulls bench. See you for tipoff!
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I'm not sure who looks at Hoopdata
but I recently just found out their motion charts, which is a remarkable piece of equipment to help you spot trends in any NBA player. Really easy and really effective data shown on graphs.
I’ve been wondering if Deng has been slashing to the hoop more, and how effective he’s been in the process. Do I have any sweet graphs that can help me now? You bet your ass I do.
These graphs are going to show Deng in shots that are less than 10 feet, and his eFG% for <10 ft throughout the years. Deng in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010. You can press the Play button on the lower left-hand side to see a time-lapse of his development.
Early 2009 was by far his worst gap in slashing and being effective. Since then he’s been constantly showing improvement in that area to being the most efficient he’s ever been in taking <10 foot FGs and making them. WOO DENG!!
How'd you get eFG% and < 10 ft, etc?
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.
oh crap, forgot to link that
They set up a whole other motion chart database for that. You can get those types of data here
The 84' jersey is sick.
This has the feeling of a trap game. Any word on Noah’s status? Also, do both Thorton and Howard start? The Wiz seem to have a nice collection of redundant SGs and SFs.
I saw T2 at Walgreens in Deerfield he’s tall. if you’re wondering what his grocery list included: magnums, french vanilla ice cream and a 20 oz sprite
by Super-Structure on Feb 22, 2010 12:41 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Trap game
I thought the second Knicks game and Philly were traps, too. What has been most impressive about the win streak is that the Bulls play to the level of the opponent, seem to have another gear, and put them away when they need to. Rose seems to be able to take over when needed also.
by El Toro de Goro on Feb 22, 2010 3:46 PM CST up reply actions
Vinny said he will play 5 or 6 minutes in the first half and maybe few more in the second
Jannero Pargo = Larry Hughes 2.0
probably similar to his plan in the last game
but since we kicked ass we didn’t need him to play in the 2nd half.
"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"
i feel like the games are always tough in the verizon center.
"Oooohhh, cat in the wall, eh? Now you're talkin' my language."
I don't think it is the crowd
Last year, most people were far more interested in getting Obama to wave at them rather than watch the game.
From your post to God's ears
The Sac game still reverberates in my psyche. We have had a way this year of losing games we thought we had won. That said just play like they did against Philly and I will be happy.
Like to make a quick note about those wins the wizards had.
Their victory over Denver had the Nuggets coming of a back to back where they played a pretty emotional overtime game vs. the Cavs the night before.
Also, their close loss to the Raptors was a Chris Bosh-less game. Still, give them credit for playing well with a far, far worse team.
Anyhow, this doesn’t mean the Bulls will run away with it, I actually feel like this might be a trap game as well, just because we might start getting a tad complacent.
the one thing that makes me at all confident that this team can be consistent at all
is they might be starting to establish an identity for themselves. their defense has always been good, but now with salmons gone, murry in, and even deng looking to push the ball more suddenly, they have become a team kind of like what PHI was before eddie jordan killed them and their middling hopes.
"Oooohhh, cat in the wall, eh? Now you're talkin' my language."
i think my sister is going to this game!
"They should. They better. I'm Vinny Del Negro!"
by Jaina on Feb 22, 2010 1:55 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
We're due for a loss
But it won’t come tonight. Bulls by 11.
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
Bulls by 22!
Practice beats talent when talent doesn't practice.
by iamsasquatch on Feb 22, 2010 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
I miss Wayne Laravee
He’s awesome doing college sports now.
In the past, we would suck because 3-4 of our top guys would have real bad games.
Now I feel if 1-2 guys play subpar, we can weather that and still win.
But yes Definitely a trap game.
"What are you doing Dragic?!"
Other Larriveeisms? (Boy did I mispell that)
The dagger!
"What are you doing Dragic?!"
I liked it when a team was up by one point
and he’d say, “lead by the slimmest of margins.”
And if he did screw up he’d “beg my pardon.”
Unlike Neil and Stacey who will almost never admit being wrong.
I'm cuckoo for Kukoc!!!
one more
down the well
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
by NBA Observer on Feb 22, 2010 3:18 PM CST up reply actions
The Dagger
Jim Durham was the first one I ever heard use “the dagger” for a shot that killed an opponent’s last hope. Larivee got to where he’d use “dagger” in the first quarter and at least four times a game.
by El Toro de Goro on Feb 22, 2010 3:52 PM CST up reply actions
he really started to ham it up
when it became ‘dagger time’
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 22, 2010 3:56 PM CST up reply actions
I thought he was the only one to say "buggy whip"
But Neil also says that.
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 22, 2010 4:58 PM CST up reply actions
I thought "Down the well"
was a Neil saying too.
Bosh or Bust
by JockstrapNoah on Feb 22, 2010 5:58 PM CST up reply actions
B&B talking about Lebron to Chicago.
Sources close to Lebron say: “Chicago is the team no one talks about”. Miami,L.A., and New York are all listed as non-prefered choices. If I was a betting man I’d say it’s between Cleveland and Chicago.
2010 WhiteSox Baseball: "even if it works it's still stupid"
Sign and Trade
Kirk, Deng, and Noah for Lebron and Varejao
Pretty fair trade really.
"Michael Redd's owed 18.3 million next year. He can either opt out like an idiot or opt in like a douche bag." - NittanyCub
no no no no no!
none of this fantasy basketball crap. Lebron is not going to be signed and traded. He will have complete control over where he wants to go.. plus why would he want to come to the Bulls without Deng,Noah, and Kirt. Thats 3/4 of our selling points.
2010 WhiteSox Baseball: "even if it works it's still stupid"
I was kidding
He can get an extra year in a sign and trade. Its not too crazy if he signs another 3 year deal. And then becomes a free agent again in 2013.
"Michael Redd's owed 18.3 million next year. He can either opt out like an idiot or opt in like a douche bag." - NittanyCub
well it's nothing to kid about
since he can indeed get an extra year, higher starting salary, and higher raises. I forgot the extra over the 5 years but it’s fairly significant even for a global icon. So S/T isn’t an unreasonable scenario.
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 22, 2010 3:58 PM CST up reply actions
I can see a sign-and-trade
but CANNOT see a 3-year deal with the new CBA around the corner. LeBron is signing for a max contract somewhere. 5 years if he changes teams, and 6 years if he stays. Those are the only two likely/plausible outcomes.
You are right
Remember he and Wade and Bosh only signed 3 year deals in 2006 or 07, whenever it was. IIRC.
"Michael Redd's owed 18.3 million next year. He can either opt out like an idiot or opt in like a douche bag." - NittanyCub
Yeah
it was 3 years with a player option for the 4th, right? Taking them up to the end of the current CBA? Now that it definitely appears the new CBA will drastically reduce max salaries, they definitely will want to sign a new contract this summer – the last possible summer to sign a new deal under the current CBA.
I think the 4th year being player options was a hedge, in case it appeared that the new CBA would actually allow for increased player salaries (which was just as likely at the time those guys signed their current deals).
To illustrate this point
there have been a few articles about the conundrum the OKC has with regard to Durant. They can either extend him this summer (he becomes eligible for his first extension) and essentially pay him a max contract. Or, they can risk royally pissing him off by waiting for the new CBA to come into effect and sign him for the then-max-contract (likely to be way less than the current max), which they can do because they own his rights until 2012 or whatever. Then they’d have to hope he either doesn’t leave as a free agent or demand a trade.
I'm still convinced that the majority of the players will stay with their same team or move in a sign-and-trade.
Makes too much financial sense not to.
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.
I pretty much agree
though with the probable exception of Joe Johnson, and possibly STAT and Bosh. It will definitely be VERY interesting between draft day and July 15th!
NY City is 44 times the size of Cleveland.
LeBron’s marketing team knows this and is calculating the difference that is going to make in sponsorship revenue. If the difference in contracts is 30 mil or something like that (not sure), then the marketing/sponsorship revenue difference of NY vs Cleveland needs to be greater than that.
Knowing nothing about those numbers, I’m going to speculate it can be.
Bosh or Bust
by JockstrapNoah on Feb 22, 2010 6:09 PM CST up reply actions
Some where on this blog yesterday
I posted an article about this. That article is where they got the info from.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
Anyone see ATL blow 15 pt lead in the 4th to GSW?
Is there a more fun sucky team than the GSW?
"Michael Redd's owed 18.3 million next year. He can either opt out like an idiot or opt in like a douche bag." - NittanyCub
they have a terrible record every year, but are then on ESPN making an incredible comeback against somebody all the time
Why aren't they selling Rose's all star jersey?
And since they only dressed 8 players
that loss the Bulls took at GSW doesn’t look as terribly crappy as it did at the time.
If Drose "flips" in 28 pts tonight
That will raise his ppg to 20 on the dot.
A little nugget for you Rose maniacs.
And yes I will use “flips” as the verb, for as many activities as possible.
"Michael Redd's owed 18.3 million next year. He can either opt out like an idiot or opt in like a douche bag." - NittanyCub
Uh oh
This game is one of the games you can pick on The Streak tonight. That either means we’re going to lose or it’s going to be really close since I’m pretty sure the guy who chooses the games is a wizard.
We are the angry mob. We read the papers everyday day.
We like who we like. We hate who we hate.
But we're also easily swayed
A wizard as in a magician
Not a wizard fan haha
We are the angry mob. We read the papers everyday day.
We like who we like. We hate who we hate.
But we're also easily swayed
My only fear about this game is watching Pargo destroy a Bulls lead shooting bricks all night
Jannero Pargo = Larry Hughes 2.0
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