Open Game Thread #18: Bulls vs Boston Celtics
Before we get to the game preview, I'll post the email exchange I had with Jeff of Celticsblog, a place I used to go and antagonize Gerald Green fans.
1. The Celtics are #1 in defensive efficiency this season. Is Kevin Garnett that much of a difference on that end, and who else deserves credit for this facet of the new Celtics?
There's also the motivation factor. Pierce is a much better defender this year because he's got more to play for and he has less to do on offense. Same for Ray Allen. So yeah, it is a lot of things, but mostly you can point to KG.
2. What non-Garnett/Allen offseason acquisition has been the best performer so far?
Well, everyone is watching the minutes the big three are playing with a stopwatch and a growing ulcer. The minutes are not out of control yet, but even Doc is starting to admit that he needs to steal some rest of those guys from time to time. It is the old push and pull that ever coach of a veteran team must deal with. How do you ignore the good of the individual game in order to preserve the long term benefits of more rest?
It was written before the Detroit game, so may seem a bit pessimistic considering that big win. And while it was big, it's only so because at the very least it's a return to "the old Bulls".
Which is better than what we've seen this year, but still the team that lost in 6 games to Detroit. By the end of the season I don't want to have to rely on crazy-awesome efforts from Noc and Duh. Skiles coached last night like he did the whole Pistons series. Maybe the difference is that this year Nocioni and Deng were hitting big shots posting up and taking it to the basket. But I still think they'll need Tyrus Thomas, so we'd best get him ready. At least Noah is seemingly on that path.
Ben Wallace played like he was alive last night, so he's sure to go back into the casket before the Boston game.
On the other hand, Tyrus Thomas was a DNP, and therefore well-rested to jump over some heads.
On the 3rd hand, Skiles will definately play Wallace 40 minutes and Tyrus 4. At least I get that feeling. Ok, on to chgobr's game preview.
To our delight we exceeded this weekend's expectations with a great win last night in Detroit. Returning last night were my screams of joy waking and shaking my house when Deng and Duhon iced the game. Is it just possible, I know it is too much to ask, but is it possible - - - ?
Unfortunately the main goal tonight may be to prevent the big three, on the bench, from sitting and laughing in the fourth quarter (Boston Herald). 16-2 with an amazing +14.1 point differential (ESPN) leads to thoughts that this team may not only win it all but could break the Bulls 1995-1996, Michael's first full season back from retirement, 72-10 all-time NBA best record (NBA.com) . A genuine villain returns, James Posey. His flagrant foul on Hinrich (with intent to injure), braking TT's nose in the first game last year and another intent to injure foul resulting in wrist surgery for Deng are enough to get us riled-up. (Boston Globe). Not being blown out seems a worthy goal.
After endless diaries trying to find an inside presence we found one in Noc. His desire, fearless drives to the basket may energize us to get us back over .500. In today's Chicago Tribune Flip Saunders singled Noc out -
Is it possible, I know it is too much to ask, but is it possible - - - ?
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Big Game here for Bulls!
I wish Deng and Gordon and all the quite guys would get as jacked as Noah after big plays. I truely believe that the simple things that Noah and Nocioni do as far as energy after plays helps. When your tired and your guy is beating you in the forth and he still has energy to clap and go nuts that can be frustrating to the other teams. If Gordon would carry himself like Noah and be positive or just show some emotion then teamates feed off that. Rodman was good at that. Sometimes you need people yelling after big plays. I know it sounds dumb but the image it sends to other teams can be an advantage. I guess I would like to see more personality and emotion out of Gordon and Deng. More so Gordon. Like when Jordan dunked on Ewing in 92 and you could see every vain in his neck and bald head. Show us you care so much. Please. Ok I'm done.
by Johnnysharp on Dec 8, 2007 3:44 PM CST reply actions
Let's keep
I f*#&ing hate Posey.
ANDRES NOCIONI
by AngryAsianAce on Dec 8, 2007 7:41 PM CST up reply actions
Anything better than an embarrassing blowout....
It'd be nice to make a statement though.
key to the game
Hate to rain on your parade...
Usually
Matchups
- Paul Pierce has had horrid games against the Bulls since Deng started his ascent to near-miss-Allstar-status.
- Ray Allen is every bit the outside shooting specialist that his younger UConn counterpart Ben Gordon hopes to be.
- And of course, KG is everyone's problem. He will be exactly the kind of defensive matchup that Ben Wallace should get fired up for, if the Pistons game is any indication that the fire is back. It will be interesting to see how much Skiles rewards Noah with PT guarding Garnett. But the really intriguing matchup would be Tyrus Thomas, given his crazy athleticism.
- Rajon Rondo is a putrid free-throw shooter (as in, not even 49%) and is smaller and lighter than BG, but he's also extremely athletic, so it'll be interesting to see how Ben does on defense. We might see Rondo go to the line late in the game, but on the other hand, the big 3 are such great passers they don't really need a classic, passing point guard on the floor with them at crunch time.
- Kendrick Perkins is a beast, and a pleasant surprise for the Celts. He's 6'10, 264, which makes it exactly one Bull who actually outweighs him. He makes a living off of receiving the extra pass when everyone else is guarded/doubled, and the Bulls can't sleep on him.
- Eddie House can fill it up from the outside. He's a poor man's Ben Gordon and is averaging 20 minutes per game, which is 4 minutes higher than his career average. He'll force the Bulls to stay honest on defense--we'll see how well the Bulls can stay home on him or recover back to him after the doubleteam.
- Doc Rivers is not the brightest coach in terms of X's and O's, but has the reputation for being a player's coach--just the opposite of Skiles' reputation. But assuming the players do what they're supposed to, Skiles is clearly the better coach.
There's no doubt that the Bulls can pull this one out, at least on paper; but that's what we've said about the Bulls throughout this season, before they lost to the Knicks, the Clippers, the Lakers, et al.
Along with everyone else here, I'm just hoping, desperately hoping, for anything other than a blowout loss.
If we win
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Dec 8, 2007 7:36 PM CST reply actions
Weird having the Boston feed for a home game
ANDRES NOCIONI
by AngryAsianAce on Dec 8, 2007 8:07 PM CST reply actions
Bulls might get run out of this one.
I like what I'm seeing
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Dec 8, 2007 8:26 PM CST reply actions
shit
I'm at Union Station right now
by Grass on Dec 8, 2007 8:33 PM CST reply actions
Down by 4 at the half
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Dec 8, 2007 8:38 PM CST up reply actions
Are you sitting?
Damn!!
lol
Apparently I need to keep my Blogabull-verse and reality separated a little better.
Thomas
No, no. It's on there.
too many
Thabo's appearance seemed kinda random. I'm still not sure why he was in there, other than to give Lu a break I guess. But that could've and should've been Tyrus.
I've called the Chicago Police and entered a missing persons report for Tyrus.
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 8:48 PM CST reply actions
Holy cow
by Grass on Dec 8, 2007 8:48 PM CST reply actions
Gordon is playing terrible defense
how many
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:13 PM CST reply actions
It makes me ill
by Freethefro on Dec 8, 2007 9:13 PM CST reply actions
How can they be outplayed
by RogersPark Kris on Dec 8, 2007 9:16 PM CST up reply actions
But when Skiles has played his young guys
Some of it has to fall on the youngbloods, too.
by Freethefro on Dec 8, 2007 9:20 PM CST up reply actions
I can't agree.
by RogersPark Kris on Dec 8, 2007 9:26 PM CST up reply actions
I hope you're right
by Freethefro on Dec 8, 2007 9:34 PM CST up reply actions
Neither of which...
Not a good third
Well, let's have a big fourth, boys.
damn
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:27 PM CST reply actions
Count Chuck-Alot returns!
by RogersPark Kris on Dec 8, 2007 9:28 PM CST up reply actions
Noc sounds good tonight...
It drives me crazy...
by bullsfaninbigapple on Dec 8, 2007 9:30 PM CST reply actions
Noah
Yesterday Noah wasn't playing KG.
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:33 PM CST up reply actions
Boy, they're good...
by bullsfaninbigapple on Dec 8, 2007 9:32 PM CST reply actions
Their play-by-play guys
Hehe
I actually like the Celtics (they're a far-distant second favorite team), but watching their games with that announcing crew I subconsciously root against them, even when I want them to win.
by bleargh on Dec 10, 2007 12:10 AM CST up reply actions
Noce
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:38 PM CST reply actions
DAMN!!
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:40 PM CST reply actions
If nothing else,
KG
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:47 PM CST reply actions
you can't blame him, it was
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:50 PM CST up reply actions
seriously
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:50 PM CST reply actions
not too far off
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:53 PM CST up reply actions
Noc went 8/19 and 1/7 for three
by RogersPark Kris on Dec 8, 2007 9:56 PM CST up reply actions
This is going to be a frustrating season...
by bullsfaninbigapple on Dec 8, 2007 9:50 PM CST reply actions
We still can do this
some hope...
We haven't turn the corner,but it's close.
Need to shoot those open shots.
BG
by ScottieCartwright on Dec 8, 2007 9:57 PM CST reply actions
Really wasn't that bad of a game for the Bulls
As a Bulls fan, I can't say I am too upset. However if there is one person who should be upset it is Garnett. For people to refer to this Celtics team as a 3-headed monster is an absolute slight to him.
Why no Tyrus???
I'd like
There's a small blurb
Once again
Don't think I've ever seen BG referred to as a
it is a new one
But I really don't think he has favorites. He just likes his vets.
by KT on Dec 8, 2007 10:38 PM CST up reply actions
I didn't think
BG just kind of was lost tonight. I had hoped he would have a good game.
BG just kind of was lost tonight
What was he...0 for 10 in the second half?
The worst part is Skiles leaves the failing shooters in the game to the bloody end....
Why not at least TRY something....ANYTHING...with some other players?
Another 25% shooting effort
Whoa, yeah, he's makin' it rain. Woo. Hoo.
Rain bricks.
Nice game, BG.
For a good time
About halfway through the 4th I had seen enough to just hit the X2 button and left it in fast mode, only to see it become comical to watch in a different way -
When the C's had the ball, they would dribble, pass, and shoot and score.
When the Bulls had the ball they would dribble, pass, shoot and miss...or turn it over.
Same results...over and over on both ends...but in fast action....
Seeing that in regular speed is agonizing enough....Thank goodness for Tivo.
Geesh.
Oh....and not ONE BLOODY MINUTE of TT again tonight.
I'm beginning to wonder TT did Skiles' wife or something...
He said after
My impression is that when Ben
Just Checked BoxScore
16pts
5-11 from the field
2-4 from 3pt range
6 assists
1 turnover
Those numbers seem oddly familiar
As for duhon
1 pt...
That number also seems familiar
Hinrich did all that in the first half
Yeah,
Soka
Kirk had 12 in the first half
Yeah this was a game to play Tyrus in.
by Johnnysharp on Dec 9, 2007 1:15 AM CST reply actions
Question
Again i missed the game so im sincerely asking. Thomas, as far as i know, is a dunker/blocker. Kg would never let him dunk, and by the looks of what i read, pierce didnt do anything, ray allen would be on the perimeter (so no blocking unless thomas ran out there) and kg would not be stopped by thomas (hes freakin kg!!). Maybe posey or rondo would get blocked, but how often did they go inside when the bulls were actually set on defense? (thats another honest question, didnt watch the game so...)
Rondo was shredding Gordon
And I hear your arguments about Ty vs Garnett, but who on the Bulls is that not true about? You can see how effective Wallace was in the highlights when Garnett put the final nail in the coffin with like 40 seconds left with a sick fadeaway over Big Ben.
And then when others were cheating to try and double Garnett, KG was finding the open man every time. And not only that but he seemed to make the pass at the perfect time, when the defender had JUST slipped off his man enough. Garnett played even better than his box score indicated (and his box score was extremely impressive).
They had problems with Rondo last season.
by Johnnysharp on Dec 9, 2007 12:43 PM CST up reply actions
I can't fucking stand BG's body language.
by Johnnysharp on Dec 9, 2007 1:19 AM CST reply actions
I Typed Bulls-Celtics into Google News..
"Open Game Thread #18: Bulls vs Boston Celtics
Blog a Bull, IL - 21 hours ago"
Seriously? Blog-a-bull is rolling like that?
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Dec 9, 2007 12:52 PM CST reply actions
On last night
I mean, we caught breaks when we needed to but I suspect they were just for some sort of cinematic effect: the offensive fouls... the out of bounds, the bad pass, the rare three by nocioni. We'd grind out a possession, get our two, the garnett would take take that step back fadeaway jumper.
I swear the guy didn't touch rim all night.
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Dec 9, 2007 1:10 PM CST reply actions
Ass whooping?
I personally didn't see a great Celtics team in fact had the Bulls made their open shots they could have easily beat the Celtics by ten.
But they didn't make their open shots which means mentally the team was intimidated by Boston. It's a lack of focus. The help side defense was poor all night. It all mental if you ask me. The whole night the Bulls kept making silly mistakes. I don't understand this team. Boston didn't really play well.
by Johnnysharp on Dec 9, 2007 1:53 PM CST reply actions

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