One day, you'll be telling your grandchildren about 'The Aaron Gray Game'
Well, the Bulls broadcasting crew will, anyway. Especially Tom Dore, who likely saw the NBA player most resembling what Tom Dore the NBA player would've been.
So, great. Grayte, even. We now have a couple of wins in our pocket every season: the Aaron Gray low-post presence game joining the Duhon-hits-6-threes game. Gray was drafted to take over the Mike Sweetney role, providing a few minutes of being a big dude who can somewhat score, and he performed better than any appearance by Sweetney last season. Made his open shots, dunked when he could, found cutters (when he's double-teamed for whatever reason), and was also solid on the glass.
The team needed something from the big rookie, as Ben Wallace was out with (previously unmentioned) bone spurs in his foot. Knowing this pregame, Skiles looked into the mirror after finishing his comb-over routine, and said: "they think we're a jump-shooting team? I'll show them a jump-shooting team!!!" And rolled out a starting lineup of Hinrich/Gordon/Deng/Nocioni/Smith. And they predictably sucked to shit when starting each half. Funny how that happens when you have a frontcourt that can neither rebound, block shots, or finish in the lane. What a crock.
Luckily a Tyrus Thomas substitution changed that. While 'lame, odd, and old' were yelping during every Aaron Gray touch, Tyrus Thomas was quietly having a fantastic game. He was finishing around the rim, made a post spin-move, and drained several jumpers. And defensively, even when he got lazy (or tired, or unfocused, or whatever causes him to get lost) he made up for it with the hops, most spectacularly evidenced by his block of Jamison in the 4th, where he not only caught his own block, but was able to stay inbounds and get fouled. He then made his two free throws. I know what you're thinking Skiles: Did he sprint down the court to take those free throws? Just leave the kid out there, not only will he save your job but you can claim you're developing him in the process.
Seeing that Skiles was quick to put in Thomas and Gray to supplant that awful starting lineup, perhaps Skiles does believe in the 'performance-based' minutes, as long as Wallace isn't playing? We even got to see the dream lineup of Hinrich/Gordon/Deng/Tyrus/Noah, albeit not for long. After all, this was the Aaron Gray game.
Now let us never speak of it again.
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If nothing else this game should
by philosoball on Dec 19, 2007 11:45 PM CST 0 recs
Noah
by SlamDunk on
Dec 20, 2007 1:39 AM CST
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This was actually a good spot to use Gray
by Big D on Dec 19, 2007 11:53 PM CST 0 recs
"The Tyrus Jumper Game"
We've all been impatient with his progress, and rightly so, but remember he's the youngest Bull. Hopefully we start seeing some consistency from him this year (get him his PT Skiles!).
We didn't get KG, we're not getting Kobe, we let Tyson go, and we swapped LaMarcus. If we're going to stick with our young core, I really think Tyrus is the key ... his progression will determine if we get to the conference finals and beyond in the next two years.
Age
21 Thomas
22 Deng, Noah
23 Gray, Sefolosha
24 Gordon
25 Duhon
26 Hinrich
by Orange Juice on Dec 20, 2007 12:34 AM CST 0 recs
Yes, the three jumper game is so remarkable,
"I doubt anyone has seen this happen during a shootaround, let alone during a game ... so that's encouraging."
Thomas making his mid-range jumpers isn't something new. He's been doing it since the preseason. Complain about Thomas not hustling if you want, but giving Thomas a hard time about one of the two areas where Thomas has clearly improved himself is just stupid. The other area is turnovers by the way before you write something about Thomas not turning it over in shootaround. To make it easier for you, I'll provide the link to Thomas's shot chart for the season. Thomas can't make jumpers when he's not on the floor. Who knows how many times he would have made 3 shots if he actually played.
http://www.nba.com/hotzones/index.html?team=bulls&player=tyrus_thomas&season=22007&split =
by Scotter on
Dec 20, 2007 8:15 AM CST
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i think you do most of the complaining on here ...
According to your link, he made all of three midrange jumpers last season ... is there a hotzone for this season?
by Orange Juice on
Dec 20, 2007 1:28 PM CST
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What I linked to was this year's, but
http://www.nba.com/hotzones/index.html?team=bulls&player=tyrus_thomas&season=22007&split =
And yes, I am completely confident in Thomas making those jumpers because he has made them since the preseason. He's altered his form to create a more repeatable motion, is shooting across his body less as a result. I also knew his mid-range shooting stats for the year and have watched him consistently make mid-range jump shots this year. Maybe you weren't giving Thomas a hard time, but you were certainly showing your ignorance.
by Scotter on
Dec 20, 2007 1:46 PM CST
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didn't work that time either
He's 11/22 from elbow to elbow so far this year.
by Scotter on
Dec 20, 2007 1:48 PM CST
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Hard to believe
by eross226 on Dec 20, 2007 1:17 AM CST 0 recs
Matt, you're on the ball
I've signed up for League Pass so I can watch as many Bulls games as I can, but psycho Scott Skiles is freaking me out with his mind games with Noah. I think Noah probably talks back to him in practice when he tries his power trip and this is how he gets back at him by keeping him on the bench. How else to explain him not playing Noah against the Lakers. Noah has respect for authority, but he isn't intimidated by Skiles and that's Skiles' problem.
I'm glad you made the point about Tyrus' performance. He was brilliant tonight, but psycho Skiles will try to show him who's boss by his inconsistent pattern of floor time.
On the point of Skiles, when is Paxon going to go to him and say enough is enough, you'd better get your act together or you're history? Maybe he has secrets for Paxon?
by SlamDunk on Dec 20, 2007 1:57 AM CST 0 recs
Analogy
by cjurmann on Dec 20, 2007 7:12 AM CST 0 recs
Yep
by sue369 on
Dec 20, 2007 1:17 PM CST
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Free Throws!
Did they drive to the hoop more often? It looked like they were trying that against the Lakers, but they didn't seem to get the calls.
by mdmnd9294 on Dec 20, 2007 7:23 AM CST 0 recs
Other trends:
by bullhockey on
Dec 20, 2007 10:19 AM CST
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The view from Section 417
A few of my thoughts on the game, from several hundred feet up:
- Joe Smith seems like consistent, stablizing personality out there, espcially when everyone else sucks for the first five minutes of the game.
- Plenty has been said about Aaron last night. It was sweet to see in person.
- Tyrus's jumper was sweet from quite a varied range. I had to do double takes to make sure that actually was Thomas taking those shots. If he has nailed down that part of his game, he will be very dangerous very soon.
- Noah seemed lost a couple times on the defensive end. I don't remember if it was in transition, but he once switched between covering 3 different guys in under 2 seconds on one possession.
- We have long road ahead of us if we continue playing the type of basketball where our performance has Chris Duhon as the best finisher in the paint.
- There was one span during the game when we had three white guys on the floor at the same time, something I don't remember having seen since Kerr/Kukoc/Longley. Welcome to the Aaron Gray era.
- I was bothered by our complete absence on the offensive boards. I understand that a "jump-shooting team" isn't going to a ton of offensive second chances, but I would like us to average more than one body near the boards per jump shot.
- If we have the guys full court scrimmage an hour before the game starts, is there any chance they show up offensively before the second half? Seriously - what do we have to do to shake the rust off?
- How long is it before teams start offensively scheming to make sure Tyrus is nowhere near the paint when they drive? If Tyrus is in the paint when it isn't a jump shot, he gets to it. His ability to do so is asymptotically approaching "Every single time."
- Last night pushed me a lot closer to Matt's views on Nocioni, playing time, and performance.
by torch on Dec 20, 2007 7:33 AM CST 0 recs
Same section
2nd round of section 417 thoughts: Chandler must have bequeathed his brick-hands to Noah before he left town. But that being said, he, Gray and Thomas create post opportunities for Deng, Noce and others when they're in the game. There seemed to be quite a few baby-hooks, clear outs, put backs and whatnot when they were in the game. For a jump-shooting team (that can't shoot) like us, I want them in for that reason alone.
by Old Skool Sloan on
Dec 20, 2007 8:40 AM CST
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On Kerr-Kukoc-Longley,
Kirk Hinrich
Eric Piatkowski
Andres Nocioni
Jared Reiner
I'm not sure who the 5th player was, but I distinctly remember a blogger saying he felt like he was watching Hoosiers.
by bullhockey on
Dec 20, 2007 10:17 AM CST
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Gray
I don't mind the idea of a Noah/Gray, strategic rotation at starting center. As long as Tyrus is set at the 4.
by Freethefro on Dec 20, 2007 8:12 AM CST 0 recs
Tyrus 4/Noah 5
by Sambossanova on
Dec 20, 2007 9:30 AM CST
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Yes
by Freethefro on
Dec 20, 2007 9:36 AM CST
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In the preseason, some here opined
by alec on
Dec 20, 2007 10:44 AM CST
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Noah
by SlamDunk on
Dec 20, 2007 6:30 PM CST
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This game gave me hope
TT makes mistakes but he is the key for us to get to the next level. His Prince-like block on Jamison was huge. He came out of no-where and did this at a key time in the game. He also blocked a Jamison jump shot that the Wizards luckily got back and scored. TT can disrupt another team like no other Bull player.
Gray and TT should start Friday. Gray is a good match-up against Perkins and let TT try to guard Garnett. If they have bad games let's not give up on them. I also think Noah can be a major contributor to this team if we allow him to play more. He needs to play within 5 feet of the basket to help us.
And as Orange Juice points out we are still very young. We only have one bad contract. I don't consider the Noc contract bad (I know this is arguable). We could be a threat once Boston gets too old. Anyway it was fun to watch the young guys do it last night.
by chgobr on Dec 20, 2007 8:20 AM CST 0 recs
There's the old chgobr optimism
by Scotter on
Dec 20, 2007 8:32 AM CST
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Shoot 49% and lose
Free Throw stats
Boston: 13-21
Detroit: 20-23
Detroit beats you at the line.
by NBA Observer on
Dec 20, 2007 8:47 AM CST
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sweetney
I used to watch him in NY and lots of people here thought he had the chance to be a real good starter. He actually was a very good rebounder except he was fat, which kept him down. Other than that he had a wide body and knew how to use it. Dont foget he wasnt very tall. That is something I like about gray. He isnt short.
Sweetney also had a pretty sweet post up game that somehow got worse at chicago. He was very crafty. Up and under moves...all of that. Maybe we could have kept him and had him teach noah and tyrus a couple of things...including eating.
Where is sweets now. I miss the guy.
by Sambossanova on
Dec 20, 2007 9:28 AM CST
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sweetney was better than gray
by hscs on
Dec 20, 2007 9:31 AM CST
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no diggity
This will all be covered in my Sweetney career eulogy that I should've written over the summer.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Dec 20, 2007 10:02 AM CST
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Career Eulogy?
by Jobu on
Dec 20, 2007 11:14 AM CST
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he should still comeback
by NY Chicago Fan on
Dec 20, 2007 11:37 AM CST
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I was rooting for a bad team
by hscs on
Dec 20, 2007 11:41 AM CST
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Sweetney
by RogersPark Kris on
Dec 20, 2007 9:36 AM CST
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weight problems
by NBA Observer on
Dec 20, 2007 9:46 AM CST
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thanks Coach Ditka
by hscs on
Dec 20, 2007 9:51 AM CST
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Maybe someday
by RogersPark Kris on
Dec 20, 2007 9:56 AM CST
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Good grief
by Scotter on
Dec 20, 2007 10:03 AM CST
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Since when does
J.J. Redick was a great college player too. Doesn't automatically guarantee anything in the pros.
None of this changes the fact that Sweetney was lazy, too short, and a very average defender at best. His field goal percentage were far "outweighed" by his negative intangibles.
If anything we should hope Gray can compare to a player who he more resembles, like ..shit who does he remind me of...Chris Kaman?
by RogersPark Kris on
Dec 20, 2007 10:12 AM CST
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and Hinrich is John Stockton.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Dec 20, 2007 10:28 AM CST
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Van Lier has consistently trotted out
by alec on
Dec 20, 2007 10:34 AM CST
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Not Tom Boerwinkle - more like Will Perdue
I really can't think of a current NBA center who is slower than Gray. I think his skill set is such that he will have a pretty long career in the NBA but I don't see how he will ever be a starting center
by OldeBull on
Dec 20, 2007 4:04 PM CST
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Gray's turtlesque foot speed
by alec on
Dec 20, 2007 4:48 PM CST
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Stormin' Norman
by ScottieCartwright on
Dec 20, 2007 6:03 PM CST
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College career means something
Sweetney when he was merely overwieght had a good lateral quickness for his size and very long arms for his size, which made him at least an average defender. If you think Gray is even average as a defender right now then you never stopped drinking the preseason kool-aid. Shifting the argument doesn't get you out of a dumb use of per game stats.
by Scotter on
Dec 20, 2007 10:53 AM CST
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I guess it was dumb
But I guess it was all Skiles fault that Sweetney never matured as a player. That's why Sweetney is playing NBA2K8 with a giant slice of Domino's pizza right now dreaming of that day he had a layup against Tim Duncan.
by RogersPark Kris on
Dec 20, 2007 11:19 AM CST
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actually
by hscs on
Dec 20, 2007 11:38 AM CST
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Hold the blasphemy
Thanks. Drive thru.
by NBA Observer on
Dec 20, 2007 12:22 PM CST
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There's no question that Sweetney was good
It just seems that demanding coach + sensitive player + serious personal issue (weight problem or any other) = early exit from the league.
by bullhockey on
Dec 20, 2007 10:28 AM CST
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Gray is not Sweetney
by chgobr on
Dec 20, 2007 7:47 PM CST
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Reactions
Tyrus had a great game. The box says he had 13 attempts from the field. That seems high. I thought he had about 9 attempts. Nonetheless, he converted 6 of those attempts and 3 of them were 12-15 foot jumpers. I still bite my lip when Tyrus shoots, but what I did like was that he saw he was open, checked the floor for other openings, and when they weren't there he fired away with confidence.
When the game started I actually thought for a moment that Wallace was benched. After not seeing him the entire 1st quarter I knew he had to be injured. Even without Wallace, Chicago held Washington to 39% from the field.
Overall, this was a very thin Wizards roster. Nick Young started and put up 10 shots making only 1. I guess they really miss Antonio Daniels. But they did have a 4 game winning streak.
I just loved watching a half court set with a big body in the paint wearing a Bulls uni. Can we get Mr. and Mrs. Gray to attend every Bulls game?
by NBA Observer on Dec 20, 2007 8:43 AM CST 0 recs
nice win
As already mentioned several times Ty and Gray looked good out there. Gray's passing impressed me more than anything.
Stacey King was going ga-ga for Gray, lol...it was hilarious because you knew he was going to say something any time Gray touched the ball. After someone made a tough pass to Gray, and he caught it, Tom Dore said something like "no other 7-footer would have made that catch..." LOL...what!?
How or when did BG score 22?? That was the most quiet 22 I've ever seen. I was impressed with the 6 boards and 6 dimes.
Kirk is starting to worry me again...5 quarters of sloppy play. He needs to be on for Boston.
SOMEONE, ANYONE please tell Nocioni that he doesn't have to shoot EVERY time he touches the ball. 'Every time I get pass, I must shoot...and that's it!' There were SEVERAL possessions last night where the team could've and should've got a decent shot, but Noce felt the need to fire a quick jumper. Even Stacey King noted it a couple of times. He's been playing above his head and has been pretty consistent this year, but damn he can hurt you when you don't need it.
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 20, 2007 8:50 AM CST 0 recs
coaching
by NBA Observer on
Dec 20, 2007 9:48 AM CST
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free throws
by Blacknight23 on
Dec 20, 2007 11:19 AM CST
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book it
I'd be ecstatic if BG gets 7 FTA per.
by NBA Observer on
Dec 20, 2007 12:21 PM CST
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No, Matt. This was not the Aaron Gray game.
by alec on Dec 20, 2007 9:45 AM CST 0 recs
And the onset of the Gray Era
by Freethefro on
Dec 20, 2007 9:49 AM CST
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I'm guessing Matt was speaking with his tongue
If you've been reading Matt's post since the preseason, cj's analogy pretty much summed it up.
by alec on
Dec 20, 2007 9:55 AM CST
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the only way Aaron Gray
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Dec 20, 2007 10:01 AM CST
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Oh, Matt. The Aaron Gray era...
by alec on
Dec 20, 2007 10:03 AM CST
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I'm saving my copy...
Maybe I should sell it online now. Hopefully Dore, Red, and Stacey will start a bidding war.
That's assuming that Matt doesn't enter the fray and outbid everyone...
by mdmnd9294 on
Dec 20, 2007 10:20 AM CST
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The Ewing Theory.
by SlickRick76 on Dec 20, 2007 10:53 AM CST 0 recs
Simmons hates the Bulls because they
by alec on
Dec 20, 2007 11:12 AM CST
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Ask the Wizards about the Ewing theory.
by Tim S. on Dec 20, 2007 11:17 AM CST 0 recs
To me,
by Jaina on
Dec 20, 2007 12:02 PM CST
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ugh
by hscs on
Dec 20, 2007 12:07 PM CST
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I don't think they're better
by Jaina on
Dec 20, 2007 12:18 PM CST
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