Bulls 120, Pacers 110: Pounding
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 25, 2010 12:32 AM CST
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Print| Pace | Eff | eFG | FT/FG | OREB% | TOr | |
| Indiana | 103.0 | 106.8 | 48.3% | 28.4 | 17.1 | 11.7 |
| Chicago | 116.5 | 53.4% | 31.0 | 27.9 | 15.5 |
The Pacers looked barely NBA caliber tonight, thus I will barely do a recap. It is the nice part of the back end of any NBA schedule, as the ones marked down as 'winnable' become even more probable as there are teams (like the Pacers) that at this point know they aren't making the playoffs. And worse yet aren't relying on some fringe hungrier players, perhaps more capable of a fluky 48 minutes. Even the Ronald Dupree - Paul Shirley Bulls (or the Wizards earlier this week) were able to look competitive once in a while because they cared enough to stay in the league. With a veteran high-paid team like Indiana it's not only not going to happen for them this year, but they know it.
So beyond a barrage of 3-pointers in the second quarter, there wound up being little to worry about tonight. I thought Taj and Deng were fantastic in overpowering the Pacers on the offensive glass and attacking the rim, and Rose had one of his most well-rounded games of the season, with 8 assists and 9 rebounds, taking over possessions the few times it was necessary.
One worry is the continued question mark of Noah's health, as he did not even play in the second half, likely because it wasn't required, but it wasn't as if he looked right in the first half either. I really don't see a good way out of this, and I suppose it's only good that this game wasn't requiring of his services (though the lead never got too large in the 4th to where the scrubs could come in). While all rest helps, it looks like only offseason rest will fix the guy.
Bigger game this Friday against Portland, who are famously banged up but did just beat the Raptors in Toronto tonight. Though just crushing these teams that have given up will be enough to make the playoffs, I'm excited to see them in some more tests, too.
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It would be nice to pull off a win against the Blazers Friday
Since we get to play the Pacers again afterwards. The Blazers are short on bigs right now and a combo of Taj, Brad, Hakim and a little Noah should wreck havoc on the glass.
Wade 2010!!!!!
(offensive glass)
I’m worried all we’re getting is a little Noah from here on out :(
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 25, 2010 12:41 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
I would stop playing Noah for at least another month
We are going to make the playoffs with or without him because of the subpar eastern conference. This season really doesn’t matter too much anyways and we need him fresh for the future. Miller, Taj, and Warrick are enough to get by for now. Noah is not looking good right now.
by LoveForTheGame on Feb 25, 2010 12:51 AM CST up reply actions
We should just shut the guy down untill the playoffs already.
How in the hell is he helping us by playing 7 minutes a night? Lets hope they wise up and sit him.
Wade 2010!!!!!
He provided the answer himself
“You look at the pros and look at the cons of everything,” Noah, who recently missed seven games, said when asked about possibly taking some time off again. “It’s the end of the season right now. I know that playing basketball is the only thing that’s going to get my conditioning right. But at the same time, I know I’m not going to be at 100 percent. I’m just trying to get back into the rhythm.”
by jpx7 on Feb 25, 2010 2:06 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Ah
good find.
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."
I agree with that
Better have him well in the Playoffs
by JustAnotherFan on Feb 25, 2010 7:13 AM CST up reply actions
Agreed...
Having Noah play seven hobbled minutes per night, while it may help the Bulls win a couple of games, it may actually hurt the perception of the team around the league, and specifically hurt the impression made on the 2010 class…
I would rather see Noah on the shelf another month until full strength.
Thomas, Miller, Salmons, James, Pargo, Gray, MLE, and (there is no LLE thanks to the Pargo signing) will not be here with a Max Free Agent...don't get too attached.
I've been saying this for a while now
When they shut him down before the all-star break, they should have just kept him out. Now that they had to let Chris Richard go and there is no other center, I guess they are just going to keep throwing him out there. I don’t see the point in it either. He’s not even healthy enough to really contribute much.
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."
I would rather him sit out
than to keep limiting his playing time. If the Org wants him to stay in shape, buy him a frigging treadmill.
Wade 2010!!!!!
uh...I don't think a treadmill helps the foot problem either.
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 25, 2010 9:39 AM CST up reply actions
He's a pool boy for now
Any running is going to delay recovery.
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
by NBA Observer on Feb 25, 2010 10:34 AM CST up reply actions
I'm ready for that first round playoff sweep.
Then the SUMMER! Which will suck according to Bosh. How does a briefcase full of cash and a condo in Trump Tower sound?
Beasley spent the first two quarters like he was wandering through a forest.-Neil Funk
they arent going to get swept.
jeeze.
Why aren't they selling Rose's all star jersey?
No way we be any worse
At the worst of scenarios we get a Boozer or Rudy Gay or Lee
by JustAnotherFan on Feb 25, 2010 7:14 AM CST up reply actions
LESS MINUTES FOR MILLER
the less minutes for brad miller, the better off the bulls will be. The guy sucks, he can’t rebound, jump, slow, and can’t play defense. This better be his last year with the bulls and they better not resign him because the guys a soft bum to me.
I hope
As seems to be the case of late, whenver he gets called out cuz he’s crappy, he’ll have a big game….he was huge for us 2 short games ago with that 14-16 pt many board 3rd quarter…
Ok Stacey I'm am so sick of hearing the "Hard Hat and Lunch Pail" nickname for Taj. Enough already, wasn't funny the first time, but you now say it 15-20 times per broadcast. It's enough to make me want to hate Taj, when I don't hate Taj.
Noah is hurt
Miller’s minutes will decline when Noah is healthy. I thought we could have played Warrick more last night. We should play him against lesser opponents to better gel with Rose.
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
by NBA Observer on Feb 25, 2010 10:35 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
He wasn't expecting or should have been expected to play so many minutes, but with Noah's injury Vinny's choices are limited.
Miller can be effective with his veteran savvy, passing and long range shooting capablity which helps spread the floor against certain teams, but when he’s gassed you might as well play without a center. Trading Gray for Brown was stupid and totally wasteful. As bad as he was, and uncoached as he was, Gray’s big body could have provided some minutes to give Brad a chance to rest and recover. Cutting Richard didn’t help either. Thomas guarded Okur (Utah’s center) tonight. Need I say more?
If you can't answer a man's arguments, all is not lost. You can still call him vile names.
Elbert Hubbard
Deng is a silent killer
He’s been playing well all season and must be ranking on top 10 underrated players this season
by JustAnotherFan on Feb 25, 2010 7:15 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Does anyone know why Warrick didn't play in the second half?
He wasn’t impressive on both ends of the floor, but others weren’t playing well either – like Hinrich and Flip – and improved on the second half… I liked some things that I saw from him in this first couple of games, especially on the offensive end, but I’m not completely sold. Maybe that’s why I want to see him more out there. On the other way, I don’t want to see Pargo at all. And Vinny played him during an important period of the game. Fortunately, he didn’t screw everything and the Bulls still won.
As for Noah, he already said he wants to play and wants to help, but he won’t if he keeps playing like this. Someone should tell him to be patient and to rest as much as he can until the playoffs. That’s when he will be an important player and will help us to win a series against the… Hawks!
Jannero Pargo = Larry Hughes 2.0
Vinny said matchups for Warrick not playing in the 2nd half.
by CrashDavis on Feb 25, 2010 8:56 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
it's a luxury that Deng and Taj are allowed to be 4-5
that’s how small the Pacers are getting. Unlike the dearly departed, I don’t care about jerking around Hakim Warrick’s minutes effecting his play.
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by your friendly BullsBlogger on Feb 25, 2010 9:41 AM CST up reply actions
i liked that it showed VDN
doesn’t believe Warrick is some unexpendable piece. For a second I was worried that Warrick was going to start getting more minutes than Taj. No one should care if Warrick, Murray or anyone else on our bench gets consistent minutes. They are mostly situational players and guys to give the starters rest.
by Basketball Smurf on Feb 25, 2010 1:24 PM CST up reply actions
At least we know it just wasn't an excuse.
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.
by tyger1147 on Feb 25, 2010 1:12 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Vinny being Vinny
It doesn’t make sense. Just to Vinny and his Bulls payroll amen caucus.
12/31/08: Fire Vinny Del Negro.(upd: 1/7/10)
by NBA Observer on Feb 25, 2010 10:36 AM CST up reply actions
I hope thye dont mess up Noah more, one of my favs
Go bulls..good times right now
by Belize on Feb 25, 2010 2:09 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Shocker.
So the Bulls beat a below .500 team AT HOME, shocking. The Bulls have played well in spurts this year, and for that they deserve an applause, but the one big issue is they will beat the Blazers at home on Friday (I relly think they will, beacuse it is a big game), but will follow it up with a loss at Indiana on Saturday. This has become the trademark of this team this year, play hard in big games, then lose all momentum the second they play a bad team (Washington two games ago).
I’m not sure if this is coaching or players just being young, but something has to change (but won’t).
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