Open Game Thread #20: Bulls at Indiana Pacers

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 12, 2007 4:19 PM CST in News Comment 105 comments

Early 6pm start. That means you get bare-bones preview. If it bothers you that much, email me and volunteer to be on my game thread task force. I've been pretty happy with that experiment so far but am always willing to take on more help.

Second game in as many nights for the Bulls, but the Pacers also played last night, getting pantsed by the Cavs in Cleveland. Jeff Foster and David Harrison didn't play, although I don't know their status for tonight. And as we know, Jermaine O'Neal is always game-to-game.

It's also the first game at Conseco Fieldhouse since that whole Jamaal Tinsley thing, and that could be an interesting sideshow, and at best (for us) a distraction for the Pacers.

Blogging with the Enemy: Indy Cornrows

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I hope the Pacers fans don't boo Tinsley

Considering the dude almost got killed and all. Of course, it probably won't matter, since they barely draw any fans to begin with.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 4:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

each game looms bigger now

if the Bulls are really going to turn the season around then this sure looks like the type of game they need to be able to win

they shouldn't use the back to back or road excuse because good teams still win those type of games (Bulls should still consider themselves a contender in the East regardless of their early season record)

hopefully they can continue to put some Ws together

by NY Chicago Fan on Dec 12, 2007 4:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

No more excuses!

This season has been full of them. No more:

"road game" crap
"back-to-back" crap
"fragile psych" crap
"not running the floor" crap
"shooting confidence" crap
"no real leader" crap
"effort/energy" crap

Even injuries need to cease being an excuse. A good team wins this game and stacks wins in a favorable week.

Either this team is good enough, or it's not. Let's find out.

Wrecked 'em? Damn near killed 'em!

by mdmnd9294 on Dec 12, 2007 5:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

PS: Go Bulls!

Wrecked 'em? Damn near killed 'em!

by mdmnd9294 on Dec 12, 2007 5:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It will

be interesting to see if they come out playing as hard as they did last night. I hope they do.

Let's do this!

Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 12, 2007 5:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Does Tyrus get benched...

...because he's too exhausted after last night's 20-minute performance? = O

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Dec 12, 2007 5:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

holy guacamole!

98(!) PACE.

That's a lot of running for a team that really doesn't have players known for... running.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 12, 2007 5:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

oh look

kirk got into the lane and dished.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Dec 12, 2007 6:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i'm still fuming at myself

can't believe i didnt remember (or check to look) that the game was on the superstation last night...i probably looked like an idiot listening to the bulls game on the radio watching the pistons...ugh

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 6:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't worry...

I did the same thing a while back. After the game I turned the radio off, turned the tv on. Flipped two stations and there it was. sigh

by cranscape on Dec 12, 2007 7:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BG on Dunleavy?

And the Pacers aren't pssting him up. BG is holding his own so far, but seems like this was a situation tailor-made for Thabo.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Dec 12, 2007 6:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

bulls starting to sound good

Joe Smith is playing really well of late...his consistancy is that of noch's good games 60% of the time...amazing 20%, and a putrid 20%....

I would take Free Money at those rates

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 6:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think Joe Smith must just smile

for different reasons than the rest of us. He's been putting up some pretty good numbers reletive to amount of effort he seems to expend to get them.

Ita est, ergo ita sit.

by alec on Dec 12, 2007 6:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

is the arena really as empty

as the radio guys are making it out to be

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 6:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It is

It looks like the Bobcats' arena did last week.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 6:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and for those of us outside of chicagoland?

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 6:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So simple

If the Bulls hit the shots they usually hit, they're as good as any team in basketball. That's the only reason they struggled this season.

Hopefully this trend of hitting open shots continues for the rest of the season

by Option27 on Dec 12, 2007 6:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bulls shooting a respectable 48%

at the end of the 1st.

by philosoball on Dec 12, 2007 6:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

come on guys

starting to lose it

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 6:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Duhon and Noc with 5 turnovers

letting the Pacers back in the game.

by philosoball on Dec 12, 2007 6:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

FIGHT!

Thomas just threw a punch . . . not that I blame him, but that's an automatic suspension.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 6:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It was more of an...

open hand push toward the face. But yeah, he is gone.

by cranscape on Dec 12, 2007 7:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tyrus

Why?! Be a man!

by Option27 on Dec 12, 2007 6:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

guess tyrus won't be playing against the knicks

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 6:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It was only a matter time for tyrus

2 game suspension coming fro ty-ty

by lwinston300 on Dec 12, 2007 7:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Are you Sam Smith?

by philosoball on Dec 12, 2007 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

why don't we get FT's

wasn't it a shooting foul w/ tyrus?

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

get noch outta there

this is his 20% putrid

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gray is in?!?!?

Skiles is panicking.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 7:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Amd as I type that . . .

Jermaine O'Neal blows right by him for a layup and a foul. He had to be laughing his ass off when he saw Gray guarding him.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 7:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

aaron great

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

gray - p'neil

i expect many more hard fought battles ;-)

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

that wasn't a punch ...

that was an open palm push to the face! i mean troy "i just got called for traveling and a technical" murphy's big nose got in the way of any damage tyrus possibly could've done. suspension? please, tyrus shouldn't have even been ejected!

by Orange Juice on Dec 12, 2007 7:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

truth

by lampnasty on Dec 12, 2007 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 12, 2007 7:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

At least Hinrich had a nice half

with 6 assists 0 TO's.

by philosoball on Dec 12, 2007 7:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He has been

playing better. I hope he has turned the corner.

Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 12, 2007 7:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Do we know his fate?

To me the ejection is enough. We won't know until later about anything more, right? It really was a girly, open hand push to the face area. That can't be more than an ejection.

by cranscape on Dec 12, 2007 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

respect!!

by tyrus4prez on Dec 12, 2007 7:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They lost

their drive, energy whatever you want to call it and with TT out for the game someone needs to step up and get this team going.

Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 12, 2007 7:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

indiana is not going to shoot

56%....law of large numbers...

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

did any one hear the 'marqueezy for threezy'

PA call?

by lampnasty on Dec 12, 2007 7:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

more proof indiana does not deserve the franchise

by lampnasty on Dec 12, 2007 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hiring marquis daniels

is the straw that broke the back

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

gawdddd

this is pathetic

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

daniels has to wkae up

and realize he's marquis daniels...

smae with kareem rush

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

fire skiles now

him and tyrus deserve each other

by fireskiles on Dec 12, 2007 7:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Crazy stuff on espn.com

Trying to somewhat follow the game w/ autorefresh on the box score. It keeps going back in time.

by snley on Dec 12, 2007 7:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

79-68 pacers

bull's settling into a multi-quarter incompetence on O...

by fireskiles on Dec 12, 2007 7:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Indiana

can't stay this hot.

I still like our chances

by Option27 on Dec 12, 2007 7:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

defense has gotta stay on assignment

and fire skiles bots need to be removed from this site

by lampnasty on Dec 12, 2007 7:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

get noch outta there

give noah some development or veektor or nichols but noch is playing like a piece of chapu

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

These Pacers announcers are atrocious

Jeeze louize. They're like nails on a chalkboard

"My jumper's so smooth it will seduce your girlfriend." -1958ChiTown

by NittanyBull on Dec 12, 2007 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

r u listening to the radio guy

"boom baby" and they're hitting em so often ugh

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone see that post move by Gray?

WOOO!!!

"My jumper's so smooth it will seduce your girlfriend." -1958ChiTown

by NittanyBull on Dec 12, 2007 7:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

jeebus christ

by milesgmsu on Dec 12, 2007 7:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What a collapse

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 7:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

from up 16 to down 16

wow

by fireskiles on Dec 12, 2007 7:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Too much dribbling by...

... Noah let the blowout last night go to his head, now he wants to dribble around the court.

by Sports2 on Dec 12, 2007 7:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Indiana just shot lights out

In the third quarter. It's amazing the Bulls didn't get blown out.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 12, 2007 8:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thabo will be Marquis Daniels one day

if we're exceptionally lucky

by Sports2 on Dec 12, 2007 8:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Kareem Rush

just made Kirk look pretty bad on a couple trips down the court.

There's a guy who's never lived up to his billing except tonight.

by Sports2 on Dec 12, 2007 8:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What the hell kind of defense was that

from Hinrich?

This game is getting very ugly

"My jumper's so smooth it will seduce your girlfriend." -1958ChiTown

by NittanyBull on Dec 12, 2007 8:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

My patience with this team is wearing thin.

We're getting blown out by a sh*tty f*cking Indiana team.

Play some defense. Jesus.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 8:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

9/12 from three

Someone man up Dunleavy. It's not that hard,he's a spot up jumper. Don't really have to worry about him driving the lane.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 12, 2007 8:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's hard when Nocioni

doesn't play his man

"My jumper's so smooth it will seduce your girlfriend." -1958ChiTown

by NittanyBull on Dec 12, 2007 8:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Noce tends to leave home....

a LOT.

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 12, 2007 8:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's over.

Bulls can't play any defense tonight.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 12, 2007 8:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

They're playing no defense whatsoever

I think they need to spend $60 million on a former Defensive Player of the Yea . . . oh wait, never mind.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 8:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of which.....

I just turned on the game in the 3rd...
Where's Ben Wallace?

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 12, 2007 8:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

PF of the future

Noah, Thabo, Kirk, Duhon, Gordon on the court. Awful

by Sports2 on Dec 12, 2007 8:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I am so tired of seeing the Bulls make some

scrub from the opposing team look like a perennial All-Star.

The fucking Mikki Moore phenomenon.

Tonight, they are succeeding in making not one, not two, not three, but four separate scrubs look like modern day MJ's.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 8:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Griff....trotting down the court

lazy pass into the lane and it gets stolen...
Is it me or does a-drain look like he's in slow motion?

Geesh..

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 12, 2007 8:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's not "early" anymore

We're 20 games into the season now. By this point last year, the Bulls were already back at .500.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 8:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The schedule isn't going to get much easier than

this week.

If the Bulls don't make a fucking move soon, they are going to be at serious risk of missing the playoffs.

Ludicrous. Absolutely ludicrous.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 8:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Going to be?

Umm...last I looked they're noy even close to .500...
And the east is better thab last year.

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 12, 2007 8:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And on top of that

I can't eben smell tomight! :-)

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 12, 2007 8:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sad as it is

They're not even far behind that 8th spot....Long season to go.

They'll be there but if they play like this, they wont be there long

by Option27 on Dec 12, 2007 8:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so much for last night's big win...

...helping their point differential

by T Maple on Dec 12, 2007 8:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

How many times have the Bulls gotten

blown out this season?

This is tiresome.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 8:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I thought perhaps Gordon was returning to

form after last night.

But no, he comes out tonight and puts up 33% shooting.

That being said, we lost this game because of our embarrassing defensive effort.

40 points allowed in the third quarter.

Disgusting.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 8:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If they can't beat the sorry-ass Knicks on Friday

then it might be time to fire Skiles. This team should not lose to a team like the Knicks, and this would be the second time in a month they've lost to them. That would indicate that there are serious problems that go far beyond players not shooting well.

by Big D on Dec 12, 2007 8:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hinrich should be mortified by his defense

tonight.

When the Comcast announcers are calling you out on TV, you know your effort is lacking.

I haven't been this infuriated in quite some time. I don't mind losing to good teams, but getting blown out by the sh*t Pacers is inexcusable.

Paid for seasons tickets for this dogcrap. God damn.

I don't know what can be done to shake the team out of its stupor, though.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 8:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

P.S. I understand shooting woes, but

someone please tell me how our defense has regressed so drastically since last season?

The hallmark of the damn team was defense. The franchise was built for defense. The franchise was marketed on defense. Defense wins championships. Now we don't play any!

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 8:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We can't even beat Indiana

At this pace we are lookin' at 29-53 for the season. Something has to be done, this can't go on.

by tomcat on Dec 12, 2007 8:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Uf

40 Point quarter?

With emphasis, Uf!

"Shoot 25 balls in one minute? It's impossible for me. It's not my game. I know that." -Andres Nocioni

by cubbybear on Dec 12, 2007 8:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

UGH!!! :-(

Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 12, 2007 8:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, we blew that game, but on the

other hand, we are still in the midst of a decent stretch of play and happened to run into a hot-shooting Pacers team, so I don't think the season is lost quite yet.

by philosoball on Dec 12, 2007 8:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

horseshit.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 12, 2007 9:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It is lost?

by philosoball on Dec 12, 2007 9:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

sorry philosoball but...

they were up 16 and they got blown out...there is no "on the other hand", with a loss like this .

by GoldenThreePeat on Dec 12, 2007 9:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow am I lucky

I left at the start of the second quarter when the bootleg league pass stream crapped out. I really thought the Bulls had turned the corner, they were handling the Pacers. BG was hitting shots, Kirk was getting in the lane and dishing, Joe Smith was hitting... WTF happened? Did BG go 0 for his next 20? Kirk has a good stat line, but only 28 minutes, foul trouble? Lu and Noc not getting it done, Noc and Du turning it over? Wallace only 25 minutes and 6 boards? Disappointing.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Dec 12, 2007 9:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Kirk had foul trouble as a result

of his typical needless fouls 50 feet from the basket. When he was on the court, his defense was atrocious.

Tyrus got ejected.

Gordon lost his jumpshooting touch and, in usual fashion, couldn't finish at the rim when he did drive.

Wallace was invisible.

Noc was terrible and launched too many early shots.

Lu shot 33%.

Etc.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 9:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"the core" was supposed to improve

and make this team a contender. They have not improved, they have gotten worse and unfortunately, I don't see how "the core" can change the rest of this season.

by GoldenThreePeat on Dec 12, 2007 9:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree. That is the issue

right now.

The Core is not playing excellent (or even competent) basketball on a consistent basis.

Hinrich is the worst offender. Gordon has been ineffectual in most games. Luol has been the best of the three, but his play has hardly been stellar.

It's frustrating. Either they simply don't have the physical skills to dominate at this level or they are psychological weaklings who became distracted by contract negotiations/Kobe trade speculation/offseason personal developments/what to wear to prom.

If the latter, they need to re-focus immediately.

"We goin' to the 'ship!" - LSU IS IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 12, 2007 9:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I still say fluke.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 12, 2007 9:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

what do you mean by fluke?

"the core" or this game itself?

by GoldenThreePeat on Dec 12, 2007 10:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

the core

It's a definite concern they're not better, but I think it's a fluke that they're this bad.

It was a response to the above comment saying it was either they don't have skills or they're mentally weak. I say neither.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 12, 2007 10:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

at least...

the knicks lost again, har har harrrrr di har har

by GoldenThreePeat on Dec 12, 2007 9:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

20 games is no fluke...its 7-13 now

tonight I saw "the core" become mentally weak. They built a big lead, let them come back and kick their butts in the 2nd half. Nevermind skills or mental toughness, this team just ain't that good.

by GoldenThreePeat on Dec 12, 2007 10:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

when we we reached .500 wins vs losses

1.) 15-15
2.) 20-20
3.) 25-25
4.) 30-30

I think this was a game where Bulls needed to establish themselves. Seattle's game was an expected win. Now, I don't envision them reaching a .500 record at 20-20, maybe later? But this won't happen until they make a change and/or play better to defeat average teams on the road and win back-2-back games.

by exult463 on Dec 12, 2007 10:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If we go 8-2 for the next 10

We'll reach 15-15...
That would be progress...

by exult463 on Dec 12, 2007 10:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If we go 5-5 during next 10

It will be disappointing. Anything less that .500 during next 10 is an validation that this team is in serious trouble..

by exult463 on Dec 12, 2007 10:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Blogabull nation is in serious trouble

when you feel compelled to reply to yourself not once, but twice.

Relax, unless you paid for non-refundable championship series tickets, everything will be ok. Just because a bunch of blowhards predicted that the Bulls would be a force this year doesn't mean anything. They could still get there. Maybe they don't. But aside from Wallace and Smith, who gets clock that is over 27? Give it time.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Dec 12, 2007 11:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hey, I was one of those blowhards

I'm with ya though, what's the point of trading away these guys? at the very least wait long enough to see what can happen with a sign/trade during restricted free agency.

I'm always open for an upgrade though.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 12, 2007 11:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs