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Open Game Thread #23: Bulls at Washington Wizards

[Thanks to Big D for today's game thread. -Matt]

The Bulls will try to get back on the winning track tonight when they face the Washington Wizards (6 PM Central, Comcast Sportsnet).

The Wizards have been one of the surprises of the league so far.  They've won 13 of their last 18 games, despite the fact that Gilbert Arenas is out for the next few months.  One of the big reasons is Caron Butler - he's taken another big step up, and currently has the 17th best PER in the league at 22.48.  I tend to doubt he can play that well all season, but while he is, it's not surprising that the Wizards are continuing to win games.

Blogging With the Enemy:
The Wizznutzz
Bullets Forever

The Wizards haven't played since Saturday, while the Bulls played last night, so I suppose somebody might try to use that as an excuse if the Bulls lose.  I don't know about that - at the very least, you'd think Ben Wallace should be fresh.  It's not like he played last night (Update: He won't be playing tonight either; he's out with a foot injury. Nocioni will start in his place.).  Regardless, it would probably be a good idea for the Bulls to win this game, considering their next three games are at Boston, home against Houston, and at San Antonio.  They were already back to .500 by this point last year, so the "it's early" excuse doesn't really fly anymore.  They're not even close to .500 yet, and if they don't start playing much better they could find themselves in a big hole soon.

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No BB tonight.
He has been fighting a foot injury and injured it further last night. Maybe that is a blessing as hopefully Noah will get some playing time tonight.

Please just win tonight.

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

by sue369 on Dec 19, 2007 5:51 PM CST   0 recs

Interesting
well, that explains his play.  Wonder if Skiles will ever stop playing him when he's injured, since it really doesn't help us.

by Jaina on Dec 19, 2007 5:57 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Yes
Big Ben = BB
Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 19, 2007 7:07 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I want Aaron Gray to start
to read the fusillades of sheer poetic outrage from Matt.  And also, I want to see him dunk again.  That was funny.

by Freethefro on Dec 19, 2007 6:05 PM CST   0 recs

Hinrich/Gordon/Deng/Nocioni/Smith
luckily the Bulls make a lot of shots, so they don't need rebounders on the court.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 19, 2007 6:12 PM CST   0 recs

4 layups for the wiz
don't need shotblockers either.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 19, 2007 6:16 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

With Wallace out . . .
How will Skiles be able to avoid playing Noah and Thomas together?  I'm sure he'll find a way (cough*Aaron Gray*cough), but you'd think those two should see some time together tonight.

by Big D on Dec 19, 2007 6:19 PM CST   0 recs

I want to hear the conversations Pax and Skiles
have about who he plays.  I know Pax has said he won't dictate who is on the court, but he didn't draft Noah for him to sit.  He drafted Noah to take Wallace's place eventually.

by KT on Dec 19, 2007 6:49 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

What it kill Skiles
to start an actual center at center?

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 19, 2007 6:27 PM CST   0 recs

Skiles brings in Gray ahead
of Noah and Tyrus. I hate him worse then Jason Kidd.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 19, 2007 6:31 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

hmmm...maybe wait
until halftime. make it the entertainment.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 19, 2007 6:30 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

who's supposed to be guarding
jamison?
Ita est, ita sit. ("It is what it is." c1650--Arnold Geulincx)

by alec on Dec 19, 2007 6:36 PM CST   0 recs

I just turned on the game
has Noah played at all yet?
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 6:43 PM CST   0 recs

Noah sighting!
hwere he comes
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 6:45 PM CST   0 recs

Is this the first time
Noah and TT have been on the court TOGETHER?
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 6:46 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

ANDRES NOCIONI
"I WILL SMASH WIZARD PLAYER IN FACE WITH MY SUPER ELBOW."

"WHILE I MAKE THREE POINT SHOT."

youtube.com/angryasianace

by AngryAsianAce on Dec 19, 2007 6:50 PM CST   0 recs

why can't the bulls ever get respect
We always get the ticky tack type fouls called against us. I've watched almost every game this year and noone on the teams get calls. Noone.

by Blacknight23 on Dec 19, 2007 6:54 PM CST   0 recs

noah wasn't looking to pass
FYI Stace.
Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 19, 2007 6:54 PM CST   0 recs

Hinrich looks HORRIBLE
WTF is he even out there?
He stands there, TT is wide open for a run through the lane, and he decides to throw up a friggin' AIRBALL...
ugh...
It's to the point where it's just maddening to even see him OR Gordon with the ball...
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 6:56 PM CST   0 recs

And then just as I post this
I look up and Hinrich swats the guy going to the hoop for the most half-assed, lazy shit stupid foul you could imagine....
WHY would he do that??
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 6:57 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

And then Du replaces private kirk
and the bulls score  straight and take the lead...

Leave Hinbrick on the bench...he just flat sucks

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 7:01 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

What I like about grey is that he hits his free
throws, soon as I say that. He blows one.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 7:03 PM CST   0 recs

LOL!! That's murphy's law of basketball
as soon as you mention "he hasn't missed tonight", he throws up a brick  
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 7:05 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

should Skiles start the 2nd half
with the guys whoe pere playing well at the end of the first?
Ita est, ita sit. ("It is what it is." c1650--Arnold Geulincx)

by alec on Dec 19, 2007 7:05 PM CST   0 recs

who were (wtf?)
Ita est, ita sit. ("It is what it is." c1650--Arnold Geulincx)

by alec on Dec 19, 2007 7:06 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Well...the guys who finished the half
are the ones who took the lead for the Bulls...
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 7:08 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

But seriously -
Gray has been playing better than Wallace has played in WEEKS...
At least is seems that way...and yes - Gray does tend to make his FT's.
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 7:06 PM CST   0 recs

Guys - maybe we found our low post presence
Grey looks solid.  We are a different team when we have a low post threat.  Now to keep this up for the second half.

by chgobr on Dec 19, 2007 7:08 PM CST   0 recs

Gray has
not hurt us so far. Think there is any chance he starts the second half?
Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 19, 2007 7:12 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

maybe
I should retract my statement about Gray's minutes being a reason for Skiles to be fired.  Oh wait, small sample size and we're going nowhere if our answer is Aaron Gray.  But hey atleast he's playing well.

by fundamentallysound on Dec 19, 2007 7:23 PM CST   0 recs

Gray shoud get min's depending on the matchup
against big guys that are not real athletic.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 7:26 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Eh
I'd rather see Tyrus and Noah getting those minutes and really exposing those guys that lack athleticism on the other side.  Also having our two lotto picks getting minutes would help, you know, develop them.  It's kind of a foreign concept to Skiles to develop his Lotto pick big men, I know, but still it's what I'd like to see.

by fundamentallysound on Dec 19, 2007 7:34 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

yeah I agree with you but tyrus has a lil down low
play but he can't guard centers and noah offers less of a threat on offence even though he can guard centers so gray gives a small threat down low and he can guard a center.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 7:38 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

but also it should only be based on matchup agains
t bigs like heywood's athleticism and worse, definitly not against guys like D. howard and such.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 7:40 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

this lineup sucks.
Didn't skiles see that at tipoff. No rebounders/finishers. We played our best ball with gray, tt, and noah out there. Lets get them some burn.

by Blacknight23 on Dec 19, 2007 7:33 PM CST   0 recs

OK, that was a short time to enjoy the lead
Alright we need something inside if the jumpers stop falling, I'm gonna call for some tyrus and grey.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 7:33 PM CST   0 recs

what do u guys think of this lineup?
I wouldn't mind seeing them start the game off with Kirk, BG, Deng, TT and Gray or Snith depending on the matchup.

by Blacknight23 on Dec 19, 2007 7:39 PM CST   0 recs

Tyrus has really improved his jumper this year
I cringed every time he took that shot last year.  You can tell he's worked on it, though.

by Big D on Dec 19, 2007 7:41 PM CST   0 recs

The way kirk is blowing chunks
I'd rather see Du out there....at least they seem to play better when he is...
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 7:42 PM CST   0 recs

those blocks that thi wiz are getting
look a lot like fouls to me...
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 7:47 PM CST   0 recs

At least we're better than the Heat
Alonzo Mourning tore his knee tonight, and might be out for the year (and his career).

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3162228

by Big D on Dec 19, 2007 7:50 PM CST   0 recs

ouch Shaqs gotta come off vacation for rea now
or the heat are done, worse than when we beat them on opening day last season or whenever that was.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 7:56 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Tyrus deserves
major minutes. I love his enthusiasm out there

by Option27 on Dec 19, 2007 7:50 PM CST   0 recs

AAAAAron Gray
Is owning.
youtube.com/angryasianace

by AngryAsianAce on Dec 19, 2007 7:53 PM CST   0 recs

9 rebounds too...
wow...
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 7:56 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Snap!
I completely forgot the game was on, got home from shopping to find we are in the 4th quarter, and Gray is getting playing time?  And doing ok?  rubs eyes  Those numbers are better than Wallace.  I can't really say if he is doing those "intangibles" since I missed it all, but it looks good on the paper...in comparison to our other center at the moment.  

by cranscape on Dec 19, 2007 8:06 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Tyrus!!!!
If he can hit that jumper consistently, he can be an All-Star.  I just hope it happens for him in Chicago.

by Big D on Dec 19, 2007 7:56 PM CST   0 recs

comcast blows. my tv keeps going in and out.
Wtf. Oh yeah duh. Tyrus thomas can't help the bulls win. He can only run and jump high duh.

by Blacknight23 on Dec 19, 2007 7:57 PM CST   0 recs

Ok really though
Thomas and these jump shots? Are you kidding me?

He hits those, he'll be seriously tough to stop

by Option27 on Dec 19, 2007 7:57 PM CST   0 recs

not when
the 'Tyrus Stopper' is the head coach.
Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 19, 2007 8:02 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Aaron Gray
10, 10, and 5 in 25 minutes.  When (according to draft express) you go 7'2 and 280, that sounds about right.

by Freethefro on Dec 19, 2007 7:58 PM CST   0 recs

come on now the ex-bulls exacting there
revenge is so cleche(sp?) ok now get noah in for gray against blatche

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 8:01 PM CST   0 recs

the wizards are horrible
aaron gray's gigantic and feminine body has never looked better

waive wallace now

by fireskiles on Dec 19, 2007 8:02 PM CST   0 recs

nice description
"gigantic and feminine body".  

by Freethefro on Dec 19, 2007 8:04 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Naah, they just missing there superstar pg and
they are missing there backup point guard/six man as well.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 8:10 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

"gigantic and feminine body"
I don't know.  I went to the Knicks game on Friday, and it seemed to me like Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph had bigger titties than Gray does.

by Big D on Dec 19, 2007 8:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

bigger titties
You mean "man boobs"?   :-)
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 8:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I'm thirsty
I might need a cold drink of some GRAYTORAAAAAAADDDE

-Matt

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

by NittanyBull on Dec 19, 2007 8:03 PM CST   0 recs

W-T-F?!
What is this F-ing love fest Skiles has for having Gordon and Hinrich in to finish games?

Doesn't he watch the video?
Doesn't he see how LAME they are in 4th quarters?

I seriously hate Skiles' coaching (if you can call it that)

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 8:04 PM CST   0 recs

hinrich is seriously
the worst regular in the NBA... its really amazing to watch

by fireskiles on Dec 19, 2007 8:06 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

and his rank has been reduced
to ensign
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 8:07 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

So have the bulls
Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 8:08 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

What game are you watching that the wizards
have been hosed, you must not be watching something else and listning to the wizards announcers.

by Ibleedbullsred on Dec 19, 2007 8:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

We are so used to
the Bulls getting the short end that when another team gets an occasional call that benefits us it is really shocking.  I'd like to see it more often this way than the majority of the time when it is us in that position.  :D

by cranscape on Dec 19, 2007 8:43 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Maybe Kirk
is going to start getting some respect from the ref's. It did look like he got some calls his way tonight.
Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 19, 2007 8:46 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

that's why Tyrus
MUST PLAY MORE

by Freethefro on Dec 19, 2007 8:08 PM CST   0 recs

specfication:
block, rebound, two free throws.

by Freethefro on Dec 19, 2007 8:09 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Agreed.
And why not with Noah?
They are GREAT energy together.

You'd almost think Skiles just has one of his stupid personal issues with rookies / young guys being successful

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 19, 2007 8:10 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

YOU GOTTA SCORE! YOU GOTTA SCORE!
REDD Kerr lives and dies bulls basketball. I haven't see Thomas sprint down the court once this game and he made one hella of an impact. Skiles is so bullshit.

by Blacknight23 on Dec 19, 2007 8:11 PM CST   0 recs

True...
but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be much better with a little sprint to his step.  It would be dumb for Thomas to be holding the glass ceiling over his own head just because his athleticism might give him good highlights. I don't think at his age he should be benched because of it, but in the next three years or so he should be expanding his game.

by cranscape on Dec 19, 2007 8:21 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

True.
If you give this guy 25 minutes a night he can erase a lot of mistakes. Team leaders Hinrich Gordon and Deng need to step to TT and tell him to run hard. Play him till he's exhausted then tell him you demand more. No more DNP-CD's. No more quick hooks and no return (last night VS. LA). That's all.

by Blacknight23 on Dec 19, 2007 8:33 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

How do you
know they aren't telling him to run hard? If Skiles tells him and he doesn't listen what makes yhou think he would listen to his team mates? It's on him to get his ass down the floor as fast as he can.
Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 19, 2007 8:37 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I am thinking
that Noah will be good competition for Tyrus.  Noah has the hustle even he doesn't have the same intensity around the net.  I'd rather they wouldn't have to compete, but if they have to they at least have talented people to be compared to and to work hard against.

by cranscape on Dec 19, 2007 8:41 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I agree.
I like what all the young guys bring to the game. I just wish Thabo was playing better than he is.
Please get this season turned around and play some great basketball.

by sue369 on Dec 19, 2007 8:44 PM CST to parent up   0 recs