Open Game Thread #16: Chicago Bulls @ Charlotte Bobcats

by bullshooter on Dec 5, 2007 2:26 PM CST

[Thanks to Bullshooter for today's game preview. Early start: 6pmCST -Matt]

Tonight's game features a battle between the 25th and 26th place teams in the Hollinger Rankings. While neither team should be proud of that mark, it does represent a five place improvement for the bulls from two weeks ago when they were dead last.

The bulls are coming off of a 103-98 loss to Dallas Monday night that wasn't close until the fourth quarter when the bulls finally woke up. Notable from that game was the 2nd half benching of Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas. Skiles decided to play a backcourt of Chris Duhon paired with BG to start and when that didn't have the desired effect, brought Hinrich back. The benching seemed to make Hinrich more aggressive offensively as he scored 14 second half points, all in the fourth as the bulls made a late run at respectability. The pairing didn't benefit BG at all, as he only hit one late three pointer.

The bulls and bobcats squared off just this last Saturday in what might have been the bulls best performance so far in this disappointing season. BG had what blogabullers everywhere hoped would be a breakout game with 34 points and after a customary shaky second quarter the bulls controlled the game, much like they were expected to and won 111-95.

The bobcats come into the game with the better record at 6-10 to the bulls disappointing 4-11 (did I mention the bulls have been disappointing?) Charlotte also lost Monday, getting blown out in Toronto. The big news in Charlotte is the signing of Anderson Varejo to an offer sheet. The deal is for three years purportedly for the MLE, with the third year being a player option. The bobcats lost big man Sean May to a knee before the season started which created the opening for Varejo. This would mark the second power forward the Cavs have lost under strange circumstances in the last few years with the other being Carlos "Stab the blind man in the back" Boozer. [The Cavs have matched on Varajeao -ed.]

Accuscore predicts a charlotte victory so blogabullers everywhere need to channel their positive thoughts and concentrate extra hard to sway the outcome. Either that or hope that Hinrich and Gordon can find their lost mojo and redevelop what used to be good chemistry, or that a possible lineup change that would start Joe Smith pays dividends.

Blogging with the enemy:

Bobcat Bonfire
The Charlotte Blogcat
Queen City Hoops
(Shows how crazy North Carolinians are for hoops that there are this many blogs for a miserable bobcat franchise. Kudos.)

FanPosts are user-created posts from the BlogABull community, and are to be treated as the opinions and views of that particular user, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

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Comments

latest report

Same starting lineup.

I predict Thomas craps the bed and Skiles flips off everyone. :)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 5, 2007 3:42 PM CST reply actions

Bobcats starting 5

They might start Dudley at the 4 and Okafor at the 5. This might call for an early substitution as Dudley apparently is hustling his ass off and producing.

by NBA Observer on Dec 5, 2007 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

Cavs

matched the offer for Varejao, I heard.

by Jaina on Dec 5, 2007 3:47 PM CST reply actions

They did

It was my understanding that Varejao is already in Cleveland. They waived Demetrius Nichols already so the ink should be dry by now.

by NBA Observer on Dec 5, 2007 3:54 PM CST up reply actions

Bulls should win ..

I don't like the Charlotte team, it seems they are not constructed well.

Walter Hermman was a good upcoming player last year and now he rarely plays? Let's trade Viktor for Hermman? Wow! this would be a good trade!

Adam Morrison? why did they draft him anyway? or Sean May?

Felton, ok but average.

Derek Anderson, Jason Richardson both question marks?

Two bright spots... Okafor and Gerald Wallace

Maybe some promise... Matt Carroll

Bulls win!

by exult463 on Dec 5, 2007 3:59 PM CST reply actions

I'm

looking forward to the second half of my drive home is bulls pre-game...kaaabooooommm!!

by tyrus4prez on Dec 5, 2007 4:06 PM CST reply actions

The Bobcats are bad

They got blown out by a Raptors team without Bosh, Bargnani, and TJ Ford the other night. The Bulls should not lose to this team.

by Big D on Dec 5, 2007 4:16 PM CST reply actions

Can you believe that Accuscore reports

64% believe Charlotte is going to win? That is incredible.

by chgobr on Dec 5, 2007 4:37 PM CST reply actions

Joe Smith

is starting at PF. I'm covering the game tonight from Bristol for ESPN.

by JSlakov on Dec 5, 2007 5:44 PM CST reply actions

Tell Stephen A. Smith hello

by Big D on Dec 5, 2007 5:53 PM CST up reply actions

haha

he's at the other building

by JSlakov on Dec 5, 2007 5:54 PM CST up reply actions

Hate to say it

but I think starting Smith over Tyrus is a good idea. Team needs some stability, someone who "calms the game down" like Adrain, but doesn't suck, like Adrain.

by Freethefro on Dec 5, 2007 5:58 PM CST up reply actions

and yes

Dudley is starting for the Bobcats

by JSlakov on Dec 5, 2007 5:54 PM CST reply actions

outta town help

i'm kinda outta the country and was wondering if anyone knows if this game is on SOPcast...what channel?

by chicagosportslove23 @ Blog a Bull on Dec 5, 2007 5:56 PM CST reply actions

Apparently North Carolinians aren't crazy enough

About hoops to actually go to games, judging by all the empty seats tonight.

by Big D on Dec 5, 2007 6:14 PM CST reply actions

Gotta tell you.

It is always encouraging to see Noah cheering his team from the bench. Of course I'd love to see room for him to play more, but he seems to have a great attitude, at least during the game when his teammates need support. With all the questions about team moral going on I like what I see from Noah. He can't be the leader even if no one seems to be stepping up, but I like what I am seeing.

by cranscape on Dec 5, 2007 6:30 PM CST reply actions

He's almost as good a towel-waver as Jack Haley

by Big D on Dec 5, 2007 6:40 PM CST up reply actions

Which is why we have Wikipedia.

I think I watched that whole season and still had to look him up. At least Noah won't be tagged "Rodman's babysitter". W

by cranscape on Dec 5, 2007 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

How did Smith miss that shot?

by chgobr on Dec 5, 2007 6:36 PM CST reply actions

How did Smith miss that shot again?

by chgobr on Dec 5, 2007 7:05 PM CST reply actions

And then

he laughs about it. There is no reason not to dunk those. That pisses me off.

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

by sue369 on Dec 5, 2007 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

I think

he didn't dunk it because he got lost and didn't know how far under the basket he was, he short shot it. The old man legs don't help.

by gobulls1124 on Dec 5, 2007 7:12 PM CST up reply actions

Sue - I wasn't laughing and I'd bet you weren't

laughing. I didn't think that was funny. It really bugged me that he laughed. I'd rather he throw something than laugh.

by chgobr on Dec 5, 2007 7:14 PM CST up reply actions

Hinrich and Gordon need to forfeit

their pro-rated salaries for the first half of this game.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 5, 2007 7:11 PM CST reply actions

What happened to Bulls running

full-court pressure, which was effective against Dallas. This game has no "energy".

by philosoball on Dec 5, 2007 7:15 PM CST reply actions

anybody have a feed?

Lottery Bound Horribulls. the bulls are tanking: http://www.blogabull.com/story/2007/11/19/31557/687

by hongydraw on Dec 5, 2007 7:16 PM CST reply actions

Not to be a downer . . .

But the Bulls' next two games are at Detroit, and home against the Celtics. So basically, they might want to win this one tonight, or we could easily be looking at 4-14.

by Big D on Dec 5, 2007 7:17 PM CST reply actions

Just tuned in...

saw Noah only played one minute. Ankle? Hair malfunction? Flipped Skiles the bird?

by Freethefro on Dec 5, 2007 7:19 PM CST reply actions

He played 6 minutes

in the 1st half, same as Tyrus.

by philosoball on Dec 5, 2007 7:21 PM CST up reply actions

He played more

than that. He played quite a bit.

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

by sue369 on Dec 5, 2007 7:22 PM CST up reply actions

thank you

by Freethefro on Dec 5, 2007 7:23 PM CST up reply actions

anybody have a feed to this game?

Lottery Bound Horribulls. the bulls are tanking: http://www.blogabull.com/story/2007/11/19/31557/687

by hongydraw on Dec 5, 2007 7:23 PM CST reply actions

BENCH HEINBRIK...BENCH HEINBRIK

by GoldenThreePeat on Dec 5, 2007 7:27 PM CST reply actions

SPELLCHECK... SPELLCHECK

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 5, 2007 7:28 PM CST up reply actions

Hin-brick

Is it better?

by Azabullsfan on Dec 5, 2007 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

His play really is baffling.

Barring injury, trade to a new team, and effects of age, can anyone recall a promising young player declining so rapidly? Did they recover?

by Freethefro on Dec 5, 2007 7:30 PM CST up reply actions

hinrich sorta stands out

but the whole team absolutely sucks. It's doubtful anyone is truly declining.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 5, 2007 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

cept Wallace and Smith

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 5, 2007 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

and the busted

fingers can't be helping anything.

Magic new coach juice might cure everything.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 5, 2007 7:37 PM CST up reply actions

What has happened to this team?

by chgobr on Dec 5, 2007 7:42 PM CST up reply actions

nothing

Ron Van Carlisle can't fix.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 5, 2007 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

Words cannot describe the quality

of basketball the Bulls are playing.

by philosoball on Dec 5, 2007 7:40 PM CST reply actions

though it may be fun to try

by Freethefro on Dec 5, 2007 7:41 PM CST up reply actions

It would take some of those

Scripps National Spelling Bee words I'm afraid.

by philosoball on Dec 5, 2007 7:48 PM CST up reply actions

The more and more I watch the team,

the closer I come to the conclusion that our players are a bunch of pansies. Every game, the opposition employs tough, physical defense against our "Core" and they invariably wilt.

53 points through three quarters against CHARLOTTE.

Disgusting.

Gordon showed a spark of life for about two minutes.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 5, 2007 7:47 PM CST reply actions

Is Tyrus dead?

Because benching him really doesn't seem to be improving the offensive efficiency of the team.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 5, 2007 7:51 PM CST reply actions

The Bulls have a new team rule:

No dunking allowed.

by philosoball on Dec 5, 2007 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

no blocks either

by fireskiles on Dec 5, 2007 7:56 PM CST up reply actions

don't you know

he doesn't hustle

by fireskiles on Dec 5, 2007 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

FIRE SKILES NOW!

NOW!

by fireskiles on Dec 5, 2007 7:55 PM CST reply actions

what did he do?

are aaron gray and thomas gardener being showcased again?

Lottery Bound Horribulls. the bulls are tanking: http://www.blogabull.com/story/2007/11/19/31557/687

by hongydraw on Dec 5, 2007 7:56 PM CST up reply actions

running the offense through noah

by fireskiles on Dec 5, 2007 7:58 PM CST up reply actions

man...it's really sad to see them doing so poorly

i just dont get it. after 98, all the players were gone. this time though all the players are still there.

i mean seriously is the almight inside-post-back-to-the-basket-shaq-style-dunker-(eddycurry) that important to have for this team? no penetration. teams just rotate, and the bulls cant get out of the peremiter. if they pass inside, its a miss or a turnover. sad.

Lottery Bound Horribulls. the bulls are tanking: http://www.blogabull.com/story/2007/11/19/31557/687

by hongydraw on Dec 5, 2007 7:56 PM CST reply actions

why did the NBA return the charlotte again?

this crowd is a joke

by fireskiles on Dec 5, 2007 7:57 PM CST reply actions

Duhon

nice stretch.he's so much better then Kirk(for now).So we down only by 1.We gotta beat this
bad team.

by Azabullsfan on Dec 5, 2007 8:02 PM CST reply actions

If you were making a decision based solely

on this season's play, Duhon deserves to be the starting PG.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 5, 2007 8:02 PM CST reply actions

i used to think Duhon was not an NBA player

not KH makes him look like early 90s Kevin Johnson

by fireskiles on Dec 5, 2007 8:03 PM CST reply actions

nice to see what a summer without back surgery

can do

by lampnasty on Dec 5, 2007 8:07 PM CST reply actions

nocioni is the most selfish player in the NBA

good thing he's white

by fireskiles on Dec 5, 2007 8:08 PM CST reply actions

This line-up

played very well:Noce,Duhon,deng,Noah,Gordon.
We're up by 4

by Azabullsfan on Dec 5, 2007 8:08 PM CST reply actions

stace

"KYP!"

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 5, 2007 8:10 PM CST reply actions

Start Duhon Friday!

by chgobr on Dec 5, 2007 8:12 PM CST reply actions

It's worth considering.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 5, 2007 8:20 PM CST up reply actions

How pathetic is it . . .

That the Bobcats need to have their P.A. guy yell "Defense, Defense" into the mic simply because they have no fans in the building to chant it themselves?

by Big D on Dec 5, 2007 8:18 PM CST reply actions

Noc!

There may be such a thing as too many Wheaties. Noc might have found it. What was he thinking?!

by cranscape on Dec 5, 2007 8:19 PM CST reply actions

And his is a danger to his team mates.

Poor Noah, ouch. It is good to see them getting rebounds, but really.

by cranscape on Dec 5, 2007 8:22 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

I love the way Noc grabs the rebound. throws some elbows, turns around to see where the defender, and then just delivered the most obvious elbow chop foul possible. Too funny.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 5, 2007 8:23 PM CST up reply actions

20 foot jumper from Noah!

by Freethefro on Dec 5, 2007 8:21 PM CST reply actions

NOC

if noc and duh plays like this more we wouldn't be this depressed this early in the season

醉生梦死

by blackmage71 on Dec 5, 2007 8:25 PM CST reply actions

Can we start Noah over Ben Wallace now?

He's great moving up and down the court and is more active on the boards (especially on the offensive boards ) then the Fro'.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 5, 2007 8:25 PM CST reply actions

Noc with a double double, Duh within one assist

of a double double.

They may be villified here on Blogabull, but they were two of the Bulls' best three players tonight (Deng was the other).

Hinrich continues to play like horse manure. At least Gordon showed signs of life.

Big win for the Bulls.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 5, 2007 8:27 PM CST reply actions

Not trying to

defend Kirk but he has been playing with injured fingers on his left hand for a couple of weeks now. Maybe he needs to sit out until they heal. Obviously they are bothering him.

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

by sue369 on Dec 5, 2007 8:37 PM CST up reply actions

prolly dont need to mention it

but that doesnt cure overdribbling, unforced turnovers, and silly fouls

by lampnasty on Dec 5, 2007 8:44 PM CST up reply actions

Sue...you're love for Kirk is too obvious

he just flat sucks.
And watching the game on tivo now (I just got home a while ago) I don't see any reference to his fingers bothering him....at all.

Kirk just needs to sit.
Period.

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 5, 2007 8:49 PM CST up reply actions

Oops...my bad...

I just saw him holding his fingers...

But still....

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 5, 2007 8:51 PM CST up reply actions

I don't

love Kirk. I like him as a player (he's an Iowa kid) and I hope he gets out of this funk soon. If he was the only one playing like shit it would bother me more but he's not.

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

by sue369 on Dec 5, 2007 8:58 PM CST up reply actions

I think

Kirk needs to benched. My brother kept throwing "Duhon is better than Hinrich" at me...to me duhon looks the same, its hinrich who looks horrid. So by all means we should bench the suckier pg. That last group out there really was good, when hinrich missed his wide open 3 in the 3rd i think it told the whole story. I was wrong of course, because then hinrich throws a horrid turnover, gets stripped, then runs down the lane, WHERE HE HAD A WIDE OPEN LAYUP OR TWO GOOD PASSES, and trips.

Something is so damn wrong with kirk its frustrating, and im getting tired of watching him like that. When Noah hit his jumper and kirk was all happy i felt like throwing something at him, get down and depressed, get your ass in the gym and hit the wide open shots, go read basketball fundamental books and come back as the player you were two years ago!

Kirk has a wife, and a nice contract, and i cant help but think what if he has truly become a hiccup. There was that moment where he sprinted down after a loose ball, but seriously, the ol' Capn Kirk would have gotten that ball, not barely missed.

Im sad....

im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Dec 5, 2007 10:02 PM CST up reply actions

wait, what 'body language' do you want

either he's happy and he then doesn't care, or he's mopey and he's thinking too much.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 5, 2007 10:32 PM CST up reply actions

Heh

I guess im looking for the kind of look i tend to have after sucking it up on the court. Happy for the team but pissed at myself, i then tend to try to figure out what i did wrong, work on it with intensity, and hope that i did enough to show up next time.

I guess i can understand if hinrich is not shooting well, but i think its aggrivating that he isnt doing other things well either. I remember in the begining of the season when he would get into foul trouble, get mad, and do something insane like take it hard at the rim. Not saying thats what he should do, but he should take that energy into the next practice...

I guess in the end im waiting for the law of averages (which has always faired well with hinrich, whos stats barely change every year) to catch up with hinrich. At this rate, hinrich will be having 50 point games near the end of the season.

im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Dec 6, 2007 2:09 AM CST up reply actions

I agree with

you that he needs to be benched. He's not helping this team at all. I wonder if he will ever get out of this funk he's in.

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

by sue369 on Dec 6, 2007 7:14 AM CST up reply actions

Hinrich

I'm starting to wonder if Hinrich isn't trying to get benched and seeing just how awful he can play before he doesn't get to start any more.

On the brighter side, this was slightly less awful than the Knicks game.

by Sports2 on Dec 5, 2007 8:54 PM CST reply actions

wonder if Hinrich isn't trying to get benched

How's this for a scenario:

Maybe Kirk, with his new wife, his new house, his cushy contract....
He DOES seem like he's "content" with his personal life now, and might perhaps even be thinking about nesting...and doesn't wanna have to move anywhere...

So maybe he's playing this way on purpose to try and make SURE that no team wants him in a trade...?

I realize how absurd that sounds -
But if he all of a sudden starts playing well AFTER the trade deadline, it would seem even more bizarre, wouldn't it?

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 5, 2007 11:13 PM CST up reply actions

I think he's a spoiled gangbanger.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 5, 2007 11:40 PM CST up reply actions

I can see

The gangbanger part, not so much of the spoiled aspect though

im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Dec 6, 2007 2:09 AM CST up reply actions

For all the flak

I took over a comment I made about "gangbangers" in the NBA -
Perhaps a little clarification on what I MEANT is needed here...

Car-not-so-mellow Anthony - - - now THAT'S what I would consider to be a spoiled gangbanger.

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 6, 2007 10:39 AM CST up reply actions

leave it at the white supremacist message board

thanks.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 6, 2007 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

You are truly

the biggest dick I have ever seen on ANY blog.

BTW - kiss my black arse.

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 6, 2007 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

you don't read fleshbot?

Playing the I-could-be-black game doesn't change some rather insulting and dumb statements. You'll probably stop taking heat for them when you stop defending, or repeating who Detective PNW thinks is up to no good.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 6, 2007 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not playing any game

I'm just sick of your assinine accusations and uncalled-for harrassment.

Shut the F up already.
We get that you're an ass - the sad part about it is that you're proud of it.

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 6, 2007 1:00 PM CST up reply actions

FWIW - statistics have proven

the ones who cry racism are the actual racists.
Which tends to ruin it for the rest of us.

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 6, 2007 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

apology accepted

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 6, 2007 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

the ones who cry racism are the actual racists.

Umm....that would be YOU being referred to here.

Typical that it once again has to be explained to you - but oh...I forgot - you admittedly can't even figure out internet acronyms...

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 6, 2007 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

Noah played well and the group on the floor during

the fourth quarter was obviously effective, but I am saddened by the fact that there doesn't seem to be room in Skiles' rotation for Tyrus.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Dec 5, 2007 8:59 PM CST reply actions

You must be crazy or high

by GoldenThreePeat on Dec 6, 2007 10:37 AM CST reply actions

Hinrich at his best might do some of those things.

But he hasn't done it this season and his defense and foul trouble doesn't have anything to do with his fingers. In fact I don't remember him being consistently good last season. Just average. I'd love for him to return to even last years form, but until he figures out how to adapt it isn't going to happen. And that is his fault. He'd probably say so too.

by cranscape on Dec 6, 2007 1:00 PM CST reply actions