Anybody want Game4 tickets?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 10, 2007 11:41 PM CDT in News Comment 164 comments

Man, Sunday's game will be like a freaking wake. I guess I won't have anything better to do...

I watched at a bar tonight so it was tough to get a full gauge of the collapse, but if anything the 2nd half reaffirms what the first two blowouts told us: this team is far far away from contention.

There is no implied destiny involved with these losses. The NBA doesn't work where you lose in the first round a couple years, then the second round a year, and eventually you get to the Finals. It worked that way 20 years ago because they had Michael Jordan. It doesn't work that way for every young team, and the history of the league is littered with abandoned young squads that once had the promise but never made it. The whole situation needs to be re-evaluated, not just because they've lost, but how every time Detroit wanted to put them away they simply did, making this talent gap seem pretty vast. If it takes minor tweaks (plus internal development) or a more thorough overhaul is up to Pax, but we can feel reassured to know that from what he's told the media Pax himself isn't satisfied with this cute fun little team he's assembled.

In comparison to the roster, I don't think the coach is as much of the problem, but for tonight Skiles wasn't part of the solution either. After getting contributions from Tyrus and Thabo in the first half, they were completely benched in the second. Thankfully our man Duh got a DNP tonight, but even with the starters in the game for most of the second half Skiles bizarrely didn't make any substitutions until the lead was slipping away, and only then it was Nocioni (And if this series hasn't proved the need for Noc to go, I don't know what does) who came in after Tyrus was the first big off the bench in the first half. In a series where you're out-manned it takes some risks to try and get an edge, and I think everybody was willing to accept the risk of playing rookies whereas Skiles was hoping just to stick with his guys until the bitter end. It was a play-not-to-lose strategy that can't be used in a game that was firmly in control. They had to make it a blowout in the third so the Pistons would pack it in for the night. Once they were let back into the game it was already lost, because they simply use their possessions better.

But a bigger problem than the frontcourt rotation is their supposed star perimeter players, of whom you can't think leads to a championship after such an abysmal stretch in that half. The problem with 'ball-movement' offense is that it gives the ball opportunity to find the other team. It'd be nice for a few possessions to find one player to give the ball to and just let him create, as in the boring yet effective isolation NBA basketball. I had thought Gordon was the type to be that guy but he's been extremely disappointing all series, and like the rest of the team he had a great first half only to fall back towards mediocrity after that. Perhaps a team better than mediocre can beat most of the teams in the league. But it's not good enough to beat a team playing at an elite level, and while there's incremental success this season it does not imply that the Bulls ever get to that same pinnacle.

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As bad as Duhon has been . . .

I would have still rather had him out there for 4 or 5 minutes (but no more) in the second half, at least to give Hinrich and Gordon a rest. Obviously I'd rather see Thabo out there than Duhon, but assuming Skiles can't play Thabo for whatever mysterious reason, better to let Hinrich and Gordon get a few minutes of rest. Of course they disappeared in the 4th quarter - they played the entire second half!

by Big D on May 10, 2007 11:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There's a lot of blame to go around

But the biggest goes to Skiles tonight. I was at the game tonight, and the lack of a rotation in the 2nd half just boggles the mind, especially as the lead slipped away. I know there's several areas that need to be adressed to become a truly elite team, but I don't think we'll get to that level with Skiles as coach. Skiles may be the next Doug Collins. Who is our next Phil Jackson?

I love you Ben, you almost make me forget about...tacos.

by eddiew23 on May 10, 2007 11:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't go that far

I get the parallels (that have been going on for 3 seasons) between Skiles and Collins, but there's no way it can be proven until Skiles gets better talent. Benching Tyrus/Thabo for these playoffs is one thing, but we'll see if he does the same next year, or with (hopefully) whatever aquisitions they make.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 10, 2007 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would

Skiles blew it.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i've often had that thought

but i think skiles is a better coach than collins; as for talent, Collins had the greatest player ever, well before his prime, but overall skiles has had more talent. The teams collins had was litterded with future all stars, but besides Jordan, not much in the present

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blow it up

Skiles, Duhon, Nocioni, Tommy Edwards, Tom Dore, and Benny for Dirk and Don Nelson.

by Paxson Jackson on May 10, 2007 11:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

can't give up Dore

too much size.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 10, 2007 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha!

You know your team might have a problem when the play-by-play guy as taller than all the players.

by Big D on May 10, 2007 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One more addition

Can we package in Ron Santo as well?

I love you Ben, you almost make me forget about...tacos.

by eddiew23 on May 10, 2007 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NBA rules require all players have feet.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 10, 2007 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don Nelson?

That great coach who has never one anything? Whose teams always seem on the point of something and then fail?

I'm just numb.

by KT on May 11, 2007 6:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

You can't get Jerry Sloan for Benny the Bull.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is all I have to say...

in terms of analysis.

Skiles may not have had the best night, but he isn't the reason the Bulls lost, IMO.

The Bulls lost because the vaunted Core went 18 for 53! 18 for 53! Jesus Christ that is terrible. The team scores 30 points in the second half! That's awful! 13 points in the fourth quarter! They shot 33% for the game! I don't know what percentage they shot in the 4th, but I would guess it was less that 15%!

We outrebounded the Pistons by a large margin. We had more O-rebounds. We limited them to 8 or so second chance points, but you can't win if you don't score! And the members of the team who are supposed to provide the bulk of the scoring are Hinrich, Deng, and Gordon. They failed. Miserably.

That's why we lost, IMO.

The Core sucked ass.

I don't if it is because they are inexperienced, because they are young, because they choked under pressure when Detroit made a run, or because they simply are too small and unathletic.

I don't know. But in my eyes, Skiles' strategic decisions were a secondary concern at most.

This falls on Hinrich, Deng, and Gordon.

Maybe they just aren't good enough, especially the fucking guards.

I don't hold myself out as an expert, but the Core blew tonight.

What a sh*tty loss.

Sorry for the rant.

by 1958ChiTown on May 10, 2007 11:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's always the case

if the best players don't play well then stuff like Skiles' weird vet-love and small-ball foolishness doesn't really matter.

The Bulls best players aren't good enough. It's up to Pax to evauate whether they CAN be, and it's more than just 'well they're young so therefore they'll be fine'.

But one reason to advocate complacency is that they have Tyrus and this lottery pick, and hope that one of those 2 turn out to be studs.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 12:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe that I am going to be watching the

draft lottery with baited breath yet again.

I honestly thought I would still be watching the Bulls in the playoffs after May 22.

I really thought that.

I guess I am a fool.

Fuck.

It's just basketball. Tomorrow my regular life will resume, but right now I feel like I got sucker punched in the face. I didn't see this collapse coming. Losing the series? Sure. But not this.

Seeing Pistons' fans congregate on the concourse and scream "De-Troit Bas-ket-ball" after we were up 19 in the third quarter broke my (fan) spirit.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 12:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually disagree somewhat

Shooting wasn't great tonight, obviously, but Hinrich, Gordon and Deng did score 50 of the team's 74 points. They also had 31 of the 60 rebounds and all 12 of the Bulls' assists for the night. Meanwhile, they collectively spent all of 12 minutes on the bench.

The rest of the team, all 5 of them given Skiles' very short bench tonight, shot roughly the same percentage (.340 for the core vs. .333 for the rest) for 24 total points, had 29 rebounds and 0 assists.

If you just want to look at the 4th quarter shooting percentages and points, I don't think you can fairly lump the core together. Collectively the team shot .160 and had 13 points. Lu was 2-7 for 6 of those points (but missed 3 free throws), Kirk was 2-6 for 5 points, and BG was 0-5 for 0 points. So although shooting poorly, Lu and Kirk shot better than the rest of the team and scored 11 of the team's 13 points in the 4th.

So basically, while I'd agree that everyone shares in the blame on this one, I don't think it's fair to blame everything on the core. Feel free to conclude that there's not a Kobe among them, though.

Yanks sign Clemens: more evidence that the evil empire believes money solves everything.

by wjb1492 on May 11, 2007 1:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

12 Assists tells the whole story

Too much dribbling, no easy baskets.

"Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation." -Michael Jordan

by cubbybear on May 11, 2007 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

as usual, you're half right

you should have been a doctor because you unfailingly get the symptoms every time. The Bulls shot poorly in the second half because they were gassed precisely because Skiles chose to ignore the bench he so diligently developed all season long. Go look at the box score. All the guys played 40+ minutes, which is ridiculous. With 8 minutes left in the 4th the bench had played 24 out of 200 minutes. Not the way this team had played all season.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right dude.

Last time it was the rebounding. This time it's Skiles.

You conveniently ignore the one common thread of all of the losses: poor shooting from the Core. We're 33% for the series. The poor shooting doesn't result from fatigue, IMO, but from the fact that our guards are short and struggle to create shots against the long, athletic zone that detroit was playing. Meanwhile, the zone takes away Deng's slashing game and puts pressure on his weakness, creating his own shots off the dribble.

Baron Davis played over 40 a game against Dallas and he seemed just fine in the 4th quarters.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go look at the box score

here. The Bulls were 4-25 in the fourth quarter, which obviously brought their average down a lot. Hinrich was 4-9 through 3 quarters, Gordon was 4-11, but got to the line 6 of his eight times through 3. Not coincidentally, the fourth quarter was also when Hinrich, Gordon and Deng were playing 24 straight minutes and all over 41 with 47 for Hinrich. Do you play basketball? Then you know jumpshoting requires jumping, which is harder to do with tired legs. Skiles commented on how open looks they missed.

And does Baron Davis play with anywhere near the defensive intensity that the Bulls do?

And don't call me dude, you're not some teenage punk and neither am I.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you sure about that?

because it seems punkish to start arguments over who's more right about the many things that went wrong with the team.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

symptons and causes are two different things

there were plenty of symptoms.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK.

But I simply think that the cause of the symptoms was the fact that the guards are small and can't create their shots against longer, more athletic defenses. They've struggled all year against those sort of teams.

Skiles may have made errors, no one is denying that, but I think the main culprit is the fact that are players failed to perform. I am not going to give the Core a free pass on the basis of "fatigue." They just didn't play well. That's on them, not Skiles.

JMO.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they lost the game

of course they didn't play well enough. The reason why is because Skiles forced them into a situation where they weren't capable of playing well enough. I think they gave an admirable effort, but does anybody expect them to win when they played the entire second half? against a team like the Pistons that presents matchup problems to begin with?

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that your opinion

is that they played poorly because "Skiles forced them into a situation where they weren't capable of playing well enough."

My opinion is that they played poorly and shot poorly because they are too short and unathletic to create offense against a focused, longer, more athletic team, especially when that team is playing zone. I think that's why they shot poorly last night and throughout the rest of the series as well (when long minutes were not a factor). I think the guards' lack of size and athleticism, combined with some poor decision making against the zone, accounts for scoring 69 and 71 in two playoff games. I think it also accounts for our series long 33% shooting.

We'll just have to disagree, which is fine.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny that they

beat this team during the regular season. Face it, they are older and more experienced in the playoffs than the Bulls are. Give the Bulls a couple more years and then if they haven't made progress then have your pity party then.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sue, you are right.

They did beat them in the regular season.

However, it is pretty apparent that the Pistons weren't as focused then as they are now. I guess this is what Matt was alluding to when he wondered if the Bulls had a "playoff gear" or if they were just a pesky regular season team.

I am not having a pity party. I'll be at the UC next year just like I was this year. I'll always support the team, but right now I am trying to engage in a pretty blunt assessment of opur porspects. Not saying my assessment is perfect, just my honest thoughts.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It may be focus

but both teams are now at full strength, too.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess this could go to Matt too...

Both teams are now at full strength, and that's not a knock against the Bulls (who could've easily taken advantage of the situation themselves and won #1 seed and then watched DET possibly struggle against MIA).

I think DET matches up well with teams that have a low post focus because let's be honest, Sheed may be decent on defense but Webber and Dyess aren't all that great down low. All 3 big men constantly get in foul trouble, so a low post presence is what's needed to beat DET. DET aren't world beaters, they can handle teams that run and gun because they have the size and muscle to knock guys off picks, and they slow the tempo down a bit.

I'm surprised CHI hasn't won at least 1 game, because of all the years DET has had moderate success in the playoffs, they've never put together 7 straight solid games. There's always a "Brain fart" game, whereas this postseason they've had 2 "brain fart" halves in different games (Game 3 of both series).

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney on May 11, 2007 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

defensive intentisty

is mroe than made up for the speed at which they play

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm young teams with promise.

1998 Washington Bullets. Webber, Howard, someone else...
young Mavericks Jim Jackson, Mashburn, Kidd.
Orlando Magic Shaq, Penny, Nick Anderson.

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 12:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the magic went to a final

but injuries and trade and inept coaching ruined that team

you could prolly throw the late 80s early 90s cavs into that mix...same type of team

and the warriors for every year until this one

and the most obvious....2001-2002-2003 bulls

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why Duhon didn't play:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-070510bullsbits,1,2975874.story?c oll=cs-home-headlines

According to the Trib, he was benched for missing a film session.

by Big D on May 11, 2007 12:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wallace was late

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 1:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

mid 90s atlanta hawks

nice roster, solid coaching, strong "effort" and defense every night

they even finished with the best record in the East in 93-4

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1994.html

they never went anywhere

i see parallels, except Mookie Blalock and Steve Smith were better players than KH and Ben, and Mutumbo was better than Wallace

by fireskiles on May 11, 2007 1:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

terrible comparison

So the Hawks' journeyman backcourt was better than Hinrich and Gordon, but no mention of Nique? Shouldn't you be blogging about Gil Meche's gold jock strap or something?

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to be lighthearted

but Mookie was underrated and even inspired one of the great bands of the 90's.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

certainly more interesting than Boney-Vision,

but I did like Mookie. The unnamed, linked band is at best unlistenable.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

leave the ex-mariner alone

injures ruined what could have been a much more impressive career

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You forgot Kevin Willis

Willis had a great year when the Hawks posted the best record in the East.

In fact, I'm pretty sure Mutumbo was still in Denver then. He was on the Nuggets team with Rodney Rogers, Chris Jackon (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf), & Laphonso Ellis that was the first 8-seed to knock off a 1-seed (Seattle).

Wrecked 'em? Damn near killed 'em!

by mdmnd9294 on May 11, 2007 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just followed the link

Yeah, no Mutombo yet. A serviceable Danny Manning though. You can't compare Danny to Ben Wallace. So Mr. Royals Review even linked to Basketball-Reference and screwed up the roster.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

im an MSU homer

and i wouldnt dare say steve smith is better than ben....and mookie while underrated is no way better than KH

granted nique was out of this world and perenally underrated....and mutombo isnt much better than wallace....and inch for inch and pound for pound id take ben wallace

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nocioni...

...I think he's lost some of his energy and passion due to his lingering foot injury.

He'll probably be resigned because Pax loves him and his recent poor play has made him affordable.

by seang03 on May 11, 2007 7:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

both teams played hard

I'm looking for a home.

by Boney on May 11, 2007 8:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

one positive to come out of last night's game..

it gives the Bulls organization a chance to save money on traveling back to Detroit? saving money is always good

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney on May 11, 2007 8:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Stop flame-baiting

I'd rather discuss the Bulls than Boney's Rivalry Updates.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Boney, start testing your wares at a cavs or nets blog or something. Your 'I'm just here to talk to smart fans' speech before this series was obviously full of shit.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no matter what

Of course, I'm happy Detroit was able to pull out the W after playing horribly in the first half...

Whether I come out here and say "get out the brooms" or "both teams played hard" it gets hammered...

oh well

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney on May 11, 2007 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

poor boner

So what if you get the same response no matter what you say? being a jerk is being a jerk, and if you're response to a surly welcome is to act that way then just don't bother.

It's hard to flame-bait and then try and pull back from it right afterwards with more lucid commentary.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 2:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All I'm saying is

give credit where credit is due. But then again I wouldn't be surprised if Hinrich comes out sometime during the ECF and say how he wants to play Detroit again because they "gave" them the series.

The coach doesn't match the personnel. The only players on the team that play the defensive style that Skiles wants is Adrian Griffin, Ben Wallace, and Hinrich. Tyrus Thomas is undisciplined still, but he's a rookie. PJ Brown is on his way out of the league. BG can't play defense against bigger guys. Luol is still learning, but he will be great.

If this team wants to be "run and gun" like they were in the MIA series all the time, then hire a coach from the PHO or GS group of coaches. I think Dell Harris would be a good hire for CHI, if you ask me.

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney on May 11, 2007 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're just a dude

You're not in the Pistons organization and don't need or get credit, sorry.

We're not in the Bulls organization (although I'll try anyway to pass along your advice to Hinrich) and, more importantly, want to talk about the Bulls more than the Pistons.

Seriously, start a blog of your own or something, I can even give you your first post headline: "Dude! Bulls need a Dell"

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about reading what the post says

it didn't say anything about giving me credit.

My reply simply stated the "scheme" doesn't match the personnel outside of Hinrich, Griffin and Ben Wallace.

If the Bulls want to run, hire a coach that has coached in a system that runs. If Paxson (the GM) wants to keep Skiles and his "by the book, wanna-be LarryBrown hardnosed about everything" attitude, then pick up guys like Trenton Hassell, Aaron McKie, George Lynch and Theo Ratliff. There are reasons why guys like Gordon don't play well in Larry Brown or Skiles' systems, they don't fit in it. Skiles system should have one low post player, and one perimeter player. The rest should be serviceable, and solid on defense. They don't rely on their bench all too often, but Ty Thomas and Thabo are a good start. That's how the Skiles and Larry Browns of the world win.

Look at the Spurs... look at the 03-04 Pistons... look at the 00-01 6ers... you'll see the supporting cast is stronger than most teams "big 3". That's why Ben Wallace wanted out of D from last year, he didn't fit in Flip's scheme, and eventually would've been basically no better than Nazr Mohammed.

Get the brooms!! Deeeeeeeeee-troit Bassssssketball!

by Boney on May 11, 2007 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

why we don't listen to you

"Trenton Hassell, Aaron McKie, George Lynch and Theo Ratliff."

We don't sign those guys because we like to, ya know, win and stay under the cap

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Matt's Right!

Because we're obviously not smart fans....haha

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Deng, Gordon, Hinrich - good players- not leaders

What this game showed was that when things started to unravel there was no one on the floor to get the team refocused.

Deng got tentative, Gordon reverted to one on one dribbling down the shot clock and Hinrich wouldn't (couldn't) take charge of the offense.

I don't see any of these three being the leader of a top level team. None of them want the job.

Ye OldeBull

by OldeBull on May 11, 2007 9:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

leaders and/or 'best' players

I know Ben Wallace (and Brown and Griff) was brought in for vet leadership, but it's hard to have a role player (which he is, albeit a very good one) also be the leader.

I don't think is as much wanting the job as being able to handle it, 'refocusing' the team can be as simple as just giving a guy the ball and know he's going to get somebody (including himself) a good shot. They all completely failed when given this chance in the 2nd half yesterday.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

raucous crowd...

I saw a recap mention a "raucous" crowd at the UC last night. ESPN musn't have done justice, because the UC seemed more like a grave on tv than a do-or-die crowd.

by bpa on May 11, 2007 9:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If the writer of that recap happened

to be sitting in the press box, I can understand why he might have thought that the crowd was "raucous."

The entire 300 section just below the press box was a WWF Smackdown, especially in the 4th quarter. The anger of the crowd was palpable. It got ugly. A lot fights between Bulls fans and Pistons' fans. Thrown beers, the works.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup

Astute analysis Matt. This team just doesn't have a guy who can make things happen on offense by himself and I'm worried Gordon is never going to develop into that guy. Gordon is also the only guy who has that sort of potential. I once gave a huge diatribe about Skiles being this team's problem. I was wrong even though Scotty did fuck up the second half by benching Tyrus and Thabo who were clearly part of the Bulls pulling away in the first place.

Nonetheless I think there is some hope in the internal development route to the finals. If Thomas steps up his game, - and don't most guys in their second season? - He's going to be a monster to deal with. Not superstar of course but just a pain in the ass matchup for every opponent. This could take just enough pressure off the perimeter guys to give them some breathing room to score in a series like this next year.

by theundergroundman on May 11, 2007 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Too short

As good as Gordon is, and he's a very good player, it takes a very exceptional player (AI, Nash, Isaiah ::vomit::) to become that superstar guy at Gordon's size.

Most guys at that size succeed at PG, not SG. He's done a great job to get where he is as a SG, but he's not a PG and history shows very few guys that size make that leap to the elite at SG.

I'm not saying this is Ben's fault, by the way. I like Pax's plan, but relying on Gordon to become that guy looks like a mistake.

Wrecked 'em? Damn near killed 'em!

by mdmnd9294 on May 11, 2007 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Simple as this . .

Win game 4. Try and upset them in game 5. Game 6 should be easy cause it will be at home and Detroit will be feeling the pressure. Then game 7 will be an accomplishment in itself.

::Simple Fan Talk::

The only Yi Jianlian fan here

by Option27 on May 11, 2007 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LETS GO BULLS

NEVER DIE! RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWR

by SRQman on May 11, 2007 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love this team!

GO BULLS!!!

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts

on the game after a night to sleep on it.

I thought TT and Thabo should have at least been given a chance to try to bring something in the second half. I think both of them will bring some much needed help next season.

Ben Gordon should never be allowed to dribble the ball. Why does he dribble into the lane where the opponents are at least 5" taller than he is and try to shoot?

I've always been a fan of Nocioni but it's time for him to part company with this team and he can take Duhon with him.

I will be praying like hell that we get what we need in the draft.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 10:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Noc seems to be hurt pretty badly

Worse yet, the status of Bulls forward Andres Nocioni remains uncertain for the rest of the series.

According to a source close the situation, the pain and swelling in his strained right foot had worsened to the point that Nocioni began to take anti-inflammatories and painkillers in recent days.

The source said Nocioni would be required to wear a protective boot for 45 days after conclusion of the playoffs. He will be required to stay off the foot for at least 60 days.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 10:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's too bad.

I appreciate that he's played in pain but I also think because he is in pain he has hurt this team.

Probably won't be playing for his country this summer.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's on Skiles

No player is going to say they're hurt and can't be in a playoff game (ok, maybe Vince Carter), Skiles had to see he wasn't performing and bench him.

Rick Morrisey had a great line today about Skiles sticking with 'his guys':

Can someone explain Skiles' infatuation with Brown and his displeasure with Thomas? Because Skiles' explanation isn't cutting it.

"Tyrus is a peripheral player for us right now," Skiles said. "He's a good role guy off the bench, but our main guys, I wanted to leave the game in their hands."

You lose Games 1 and 2 by a combined 47 points, your main guys and their hands don't deserve special treatment.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Tyrus is not a starter by next season I will

be very mad.

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

back and forth

Matt, I love how at the top of the page, you say that until Skiles gets more talent, he can't be thrown in the mix of possible changes. Then at the bottom of the page, you say Skiles obviously fucked up by playing a guy on one leg.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, yeah

Just because he fucked up doesn't mean he's fireable. There are very few coaches in the league that can do the job that Skiles has done this season.

I still think he deserves a lot of leeway, far more than sometimes making questionable rotation decisions

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I seem to remember

you frequently and fervently disliking Skiles rotation decisions all season long (see small ball). This is just one (the second half choices makes it two) example of a questionable rotation decision and you're going to give him a pass? Is it because he benched Duh?

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's more to coaching than rotations

Basically, I don't think replacing Skiles with a coach who might make better rotation decisions (and ALL coaches play their vets more than fans want) wouldn't make up for everything else Skiles brings.

And also, those decisions even a game like last night are minor compared to the best players not playing well.

He eventually learned that starting Duhon and benching Gordon was a bad idea, I don't see a reason to think that if Tyrus keeps progressing he won't get more minutes as well.

Benching Duh is a plus in his corner too, no doubt :-D

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's also a difference

between a young team with no idea how to play and a veteran team with three years of playoff experience under their belts. I think it's evident that the Bulls have learned Skiles lessons of accountability and work ethic. Maybe Skiles was trying to get them to take the next step last night and do it without him yelling at them all the time. But if you play one style all season long, you can't expect the players to all of a sudden play a different one in the most important game of the season. Last night was a winnable game that Skiles lost by mismanaging the rotation in my opinion. Maybe he's teaching them something, but I don't think that was necessarily the best situation in which to do it.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

because he is in pain he has hurt this team

Sue, you must be the sister I never had because we think so much alike!

Kinda funny that when Noce went down during the season, da bulls turned it around and found a "new" line up by using TT and Thabo a lot more and put together their most solid stretch of won games all season.

And they were playing like a well oiled machine and winning when Noce came back.

So why then - except for the sake of loyalty to Noce, would you (attempt) to change BACK to the "Noce lineup" and all but destroy what convincingly got you to the playoffs?

Especially when things were clicking pretty well without Noce...?

And you HAD to know that his foot would flare up.
Plantar fasceitous (or however you spell it) is nothing minor - it is MAJOR painful and whether anyone realizes it, it COULD even mean that Noce's starting capabilities could be over...
Anything is possible...

All I know is, that Skiles' "drill sargeant" approach has been beneficial at times - harmful in others.
He is absolutely METHODIC in the way he handles things, including reprimands.

And as we touched on last night and you just stated again - TT and Thabo should have AT LEAST been given a chance to contribute in the second half last night.
They seem to (most of the time) provide a spark that gets the team going, at least at the UC.

Their stepping up when Noce went down was a huge step forward in their development, and not capitalizing on that for the playoffs has, IMHO, hurt us - perhaps beyond hope for this season.

FWIW...

by Bluelou on May 11, 2007 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

I think bullshooter hit it right on the head. In the third quarter Skiles should have brought in the bench and stuck to a decent rotation. A nice rotation would have let guys get a breather and in turn shoot better. I mean cmon, even Ben Wallace after the game said the team ran out of gas. And he was one of a few players who actually got some rest time in the second half. At the very least Tyrus could have energized the bulls with his hustle and getting the crowd involved etc. I wouldn't be too hard on Nocioni, mostly because of his injury. He is a good player and I think he will rise up next year. People have moved away from saying all we need is a post player, but really, I think that is the missing piece. A solid, offensive minded center, who can score and play a little bit of defense. How much better will that post player make our guards and small forwards?

by Checkster on May 11, 2007 10:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can we win 4 in a row?

One thing we know for sure is that this team won't give up. If we win one at home and gain some confidence, and maybe put the pressure on detroit to close, maybe we steal game 5, and come back home for game 6 and win. and then leave it all up to game 7?
Wishful thinking or...?

by Checkster on May 11, 2007 10:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can we win 4 in a row?

We did against the Heat...

by Bluelou on May 11, 2007 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love the optimism

of course, the odds are against them, but hey if anyone is gonna defy history, i would love it to be the Bulls.

by Squirrley on May 11, 2007 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, about that...

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

by alex cutter on May 12, 2007 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I heard on WBBM that Skiles was complaining

about where they put him after the game to be interviewed. '' I guess when you lose they stick you in the bowels of the stadium.''

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 10:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like people think this team...

...needs a "SUPA STAAA!"

by tyger1147 on May 11, 2007 11:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Here is a good article from Sam Smith

about the zone's effect on us last night.

I find myself in the unusual and uncomfortable position of having to agree with Smith.

In any case, interesting read. I thought Skiles' reaction was pretty fascinating, as well.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070510smith,1,7885158.column?coll=chi-sportstop-h ed

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 1:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

the money quote

The Pistons felt the zone changed the tenor of the game, though Bulls coach Scott Skiles vehemently disagreed.

"Is their zone getting all kinds of public recognition?" Skiles asked. "Is that what's going on? I think it's kind of funny, and I don't mean to show them any disrespect, but we have been getting shots all over the place. I'll look at the tape to see if we're looking at the same game, but we missed somewhere between 18 and 25 open shots.

"I don't want to take anything away from them because they have long, athletic guys and when you take it to the wrong area they will get a piece of the ball. We got a little tentative."

Nevertheless, it was clear the Bulls also lacked an inside presence to bail them out when the jumpers clanged, as they did in a horrific 10-for-41 second half.

So either the Bulls couldn't handle the zone, or they were tired and missed open shots. Either way, I'm disappointed.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm kind of feeling for Skiles

on all these interviews. This is just my interpretation, but I think he's stuck between the normal honesty and still trying to verbally present his team as having a shot at winning the next game. He's getting as little love as any of the players right now, and its such a lonely and depressing place to be to fail so miserably and then have to talk about it. So we get these weird statements out of him about the Piston's zone, flat out calling Ty a peripheral player (which may be true, but generally wouldn't be said in those terms), saying the Pistons are doing whatever the want on the court, but then insisting the Bulls can out-energy them.

Yanks sign Clemens: more evidence that the evil empire believes money solves everything.

by wjb1492 on May 11, 2007 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

one of the odd things about being a coach

or player for that matter, is the strange ritual of having to answer questions right after you may have been preceived to goof up. Or your team may have goofed up.

Although I'd love to see a group of reporters question members of my project tea after they've screwed up.

by KT on May 11, 2007 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

but that would probably make for a boring

headline in the sports section

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't tell if I am in the minority or the

majority here, but I really think Skiles is a brilliant coach and a genuinely intelligent person.

Similarly. I think Paxson is one of the best GM's in the league.

In my humble opinion, the Bulls just don't have the talent on the roster to win a championship yet, no matter the rotation or the minutes played or the scheme. That's just my little opinion. Paxson and Skiles have done as well as possible with the cards they were dealt, but they just didn't get high enough draft picks in any of the "special" drafts. When they did have picks, I thought they took the best player available. None of those players have turned out to be NBA luminaries, though. (Maybe Tyrus can develop.) Meanwhile, it's not as if there has been a superstar free agent available or a feasible blockbuster trade offer.

People have said, on occassion, that we are utlizing the Detroit 03 template: Team defense and balanced scoring. However, after this series, it seems apparent that we can't follow that blueprint because we don't have the size or length that the Pistons do, which hampers us. It's almost as if the Bulls are the mini-Pistons.

Perhaps we'll get extraordinaily lucky in this year's draft and land Oden or Durant! (OK, I'm reaching.)

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha!

Ben Gordon can't help it that he's not 6'8". Damn this is a slurpy comment.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's...my...point?

Not sure where you were going with that.

Regardless of whether it's Ben's "fault" (I am not sure if that term has any meaning in the concept of genetically inherited height), his lack of size can stil be a detriment on the floor. Hence my feeling that we lack the size and length to replicate the Pistons' championship team.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's over dudes

Its over dudes. Hasta la vista Bullies, Pistons in 4

by PistonFan on May 11, 2007 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks brah. Trenchant.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was in reference to

your handjobbery of Paxson and Skiles.

"I really think Skiles is a brilliant coach and a genuinely intelligent person.

Similarly. I think Paxson is one of the best GM's in the league.

Paxson and Skiles have done as well as possible with the cards they were dealt, but they just didn't get high enough draft picks in any of the "special" drafts."

I'm not invalidating your opinion, it's just an incredibly bold one to have, and worthy of being pointed out. I'd save a compliment like that for a Finals appearance.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, what do you think that Skiles and/or Paxson

could have done differently this year (or in previous years) that would have resulted in a better outcome?

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paxson and Skiles are both competent guys

but I never liked Bench Gordon for starters. Sweetney's career can't be directly blamed on Paxskiles, but all the concerns over Curry's health and talk of conditioning in general seems like a lot of hot air after one look at the guy. Ben Wallace was able to do a lot of things Chandler couldn't this season, but the rookies were supposed to be difference makers too. Even when Thomas capitalized on his chance when Nocioni was out, Thomas dissapeared for a crippled Nocioni. None of this is really damning, but I don't think a coach makes much of a difference to begin with. Paxson has been fine, but he's only built an above average team at this point.

I think I can articulate this stuff better around draft time.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

a little more thought

We'll be able to evaluate the Paxson/Skiles regime better next season. While being down 3-0 to the Pistons is unexpected and totally sucks, it's only a few games off from a less dissapointing outcome. I don't like saying "learning experience" because this is more of an evaluation of what the Bulls do and don't have for a more successful playoff run.

by Paxson Jackson on May 11, 2007 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

next year

I think everyone is foolish if they thought Thabo or Thomas was going to be factor against Pistons this year. The 2 rookies have talent and that darn "upside" but niether have experience. Thomas maybe deserves more playing time but he's wildly unpredictable and doesn't create his own offense which is what Bulls really needed

Bulls organization and the fans have to face the facts that they are not as good as Pistons. They have many more holes in there offense and Det exploited them.

Gordon is really tough player to figure out as he is capable of scoring but against wrong team the Bulls backcourt D suffers a lot and Gordon can be shut down on offense some nights. I think he will be Bulls toughest decision.

by NY Chicago Fan on May 11, 2007 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

competency warrents a name for you PAXjax?

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

would anybody be shocked

if I disagreed a little.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

nope

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 11, 2007 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm genuinely curious.

How do you think these players can develop into a championship squad? What improvements can they make?

If you were just taking issues with my statement about Skiles, what do you think he should do differently that would get this team over the hump?

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

First and foremost

I think they could have won the game last night but for a tactical error by Skiles. Aside from that, I agree they have needs for a bigger scoring guard who can defend, and a decent rebounding forward with a post game. That's it. In fact, if you put on Oden on this team I don't think you need to move Gordon to the bench because Oden will allow Gordon to gamble more on defense because Oden will be an effective shot blocker. But that's wishful thinking.

As for Skiles, the average tenure of an NBA coach is less than 4 years. Skiles is an above average coach, but he seems to have a very demanding style that may wear thin. Also, this team has evovled and is obviously not the same situation and coaching challenge it was 4 years ago. Consequently, Skiles needs to evolve, too. Maybe he has. Duhon misses a film session and gets benched, but Wallace is late and gets a small fine? Wallace is obviously essential, but just as essential is an aggressive Hinrich and Gordon. Not putting in your security blanket to give those guys a few minutes rest in the second half is foolish, no matter the reason. I don't know, I just don't see how Skiles choices last night were "brillant." Maybe there is a bigger story behind these things, I don't know.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One more thing

Even though I think it was Skiles blunder that cost the Bulls the game, I don't think you fire him just to fire him, and maybe I should have made that clearer. He's a good coach, but if a better one is available, I think you upgrade. Don't know who that is off-hand, because before last night, I never gave it any thought.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Skiles drives me nuts with rotations,

but his strengths make him a better coach than anyone available. I think Skiles also learns from mistakes, Collins proved in Detroit and Washington that he never learned anything. I want to see if Skiles learns from this season.

by Scotter on May 11, 2007 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

learning from mistakes

I should point out that last year's playoffs I went ballistic bitching that Skiles went too far into his bench during game 5. This year he not only didn't do that (except the Sweets appearance), but played he played starters (and really, it's only PJ. I think the core guys should be able to handle 40+ minutes) slightly too long. I consider that progress, actually.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Proof is Positive

This is not a championship contending team. Looking at the increased parity in the league, the bulls cant expect this collection of players to do much more than win 1 round in the playoffs. We do have good players, but the game is played and won about a foot above the rim, and the bulls really only have one player(Tyrus) that plays that way.

Pax has to look at moving Hinrich,Gordon,Duhon,and Nocioni for players with size and athleticism. This is the NBA, and that small ball crap only works if all of the rotation players are at least 6'4" and are athletic, like with the Warriors. Bottom line; bulls are undersized, outmatched, and the victim of some questionable coaching.

by DannyRange on May 11, 2007 2:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone still rooting for the Bulls on Sunday?

Root for the Bulls to be put out of their misery.

You have a horse with three broken legs; just shoot the damn thing in the head!

Come on, do you all really want to see this team get its insides chewed out at the Palace? A blowout game 5 would set them back at least another year. Ben Wallace won't ever recover,that's for sure. Game 4 is the perfect time to cut the losses and resign gracefully.

Oh, and can't have any of the "stars" (lol) get injured to lower their trade stock.

-We all know what the rest of the NBA doesn't: everyone on this team except Deng is an overachieving stock rotation player-

If you call any of these guys "stars" you're insulting Detroit, which actually does have a star player at every position. I say this summer is trade prime time, before the rest of the league gets in on our little secret.

by vlad001 on May 11, 2007 4:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mr. Vlad

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. May God have mercy on your soul.

"They beat us. They beat us, period." - Pat Riley

by NittanyBull on May 11, 2007 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Quote

from a hilarious movie. Vlad please be quiet.

by SRQman on May 11, 2007 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is wrong with you?

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

STARS

STock rotAtion playeRS. Stars, get it?

by vlad001 on May 11, 2007 4:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Stop making excuses...

Don't blame your own team for not winning, bad coaching, or poor shooting. The Pistons are just a better team. (emphasis on the period)

Chicago fans are blinded by their own arrogance.

by TooEasy on May 11, 2007 5:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pistons fans are blinded

by whole city blocks on fire.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 11, 2007 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Someone

needs a nap. That was completely uncalled for just because the bulls are getting there ass kicked.

by Detriotrocks on May 12, 2007 12:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know what's uncalled for?

Boney cronies popping up here like warts. And the fact that you don't know the difference between "there" and "their."

Little uncalled for.

"They beat us. They beat us, period." - Pat Riley

by NittanyBull on May 12, 2007 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not my cronies

they watch the Pistons, I don't know these donkeys

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney on May 12, 2007 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know what

I know the difference. I love how you people on this site try and find anyway to bring someone down to your level just because your team sucks. Get over yourself.

by Detriotrocks on May 12, 2007 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are a walking, talking, contradiction

You sarcastically make fun of the people on this blog, but yet you're still here. Honestly, you are on a BULLS blog with the name "Detriotrocks," which you spelled wrong, Boss. What the hell do you expect?

Ask a person why he complains all the time, he'll ask you why you talk so damn much.

"They beat us. They beat us, period." - Pat Riley

by NittanyBull on May 12, 2007 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LMAO!!!

Doesn't say much for their schools either does it?

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 12, 2007 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Losers

You have no idea where I went to school, you just assume that Im from Detroit. Thats sad. You should just shut the fuck up sue369, NittanyBull and anyone else who thinks that they are better than everyone else. Its a fucking forum, who cares about spelling? Apparently too many losers who as I said before you people on this site try and find anyway to bring someone down to your level just because your team sucks, or because you team has no motivation to win the series. Trying to degrade another city or team or fan of that team just because your team cant match up to them is low. So go fuck yourselves you stupid Chicago fans. And dont worry, I have no interest in helping you people prove that Chicago has a horrible fan base that cant live up to the DETROIT fans. Go Fuck Off.

by Detriotrocks on May 13, 2007 1:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you spelled all those swear words right

I'm impressed.

by Paxson Jackson on May 13, 2007 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look DeTRIOT

you came to this site and you said in the post above that our team sucks. If you can't take it don't dish it out.

I'll bet your mommy is really proud that you talked to a woman like that too. Your language speaks volumes about you DeTRIOT.

Disappointed? Of course but I'm still proud of my team.

by sue369 on May 13, 2007 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

as the saying goes

you can't spell 'Detriot' without 'riot'

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 13, 2007 1:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

chicago was voted by the sporting news

as the best sports city in the country....

meanwhile detroit has the lions and bandwagon tigers fans.....pistons fans are good fans, but not at chicago level...

ill give ya wings fans....

and im a michgander...so don't try and throw this back in my face

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he wanted the riot in there

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

spare us

your redundant "Detroit's a shitty city" comments. it's ridiculous some of the idiot posts on here from fans of the team I enjoy, but why resort to comments about detroit and what a horrible city you think it is?

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney on May 12, 2007 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just once

I'd like to hear a Piston fan admit to how crappy a city Detroit is...

by bullshooter on May 12, 2007 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice

your team is on the brink of getting swept and you choose to talk shit about the city of Detroit. wow man, that's impressive.

Enjoy the off-season, hopefully there's enough room at the lake for you to go fishing

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney on May 12, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man, is it too much to ask?

Boney, you don't even live in Detroit, do you?

by bullshooter on May 12, 2007 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did

before I moved for my job to DC

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney on May 12, 2007 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hah, someone's a liar.

"They beat us. They beat us, period." - Pat Riley

by NittanyBull on May 12, 2007 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

really?

so where am I from?

let me know, so I can give the DoD an updated history of where I've lived in the last 7 years of my life.

tool

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney on May 12, 2007 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hm

You said me that you lived in Virginia, and you're on this site when absolutely no one likes you. And I'm the tool.

"They beat us. They beat us, period." - Pat Riley

by NittanyBull on May 12, 2007 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I live in Virginia now

if you read my original reply to the question "You don't even live in Detroit do you"

I said "I used to, until I moved for work"

Who cares about burning cars and low employment rate? This is basketball, have fun fishing

by Boney on May 13, 2007 6:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

work release?

by Paxson Jackson on May 13, 2007 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

because

we want to offend you and get you to leave?

so...detroit sucks.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on May 12, 2007 6:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

aooooO

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

at least the pistons are getting their periods =

again...wouldnt want any more bugger piston fans to come intot he world

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Guys read my new diary

called 'Random thoughs by me'. I started typing stuff here but realized alot of it was already there.

Wallace, Deng, Hinrich, Thomas earing NBA accolades. Thomas, Gordon at All-Star weekend. A sweep of the Champs. One great year.

by hongydraw on May 11, 2007 7:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So...

since it was already here, you decided to make a diary re-stating it?

And you and joejoe are neck-and-neck for the Annual BlogaBull Illiteracy award.

If there are problems in this world that jumping can solve, Tyrus Thomas will solve them. (Truehoop)

by Chalkwhite on May 13, 2007 12:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The field

is pretty stacked this year.

by bullshooter on May 13, 2007 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last night was like watching your own death unfold

on TV. This series has been torture. I knew we were going to lose, but I still had to watch. I was too upset to post until now.

We're probably not as bad as we look, just like we probably weren't as good as people were saying when we won against Miami.

I read through the above comments. As usual I find this blog the best place to go to really understand what is happening with the Bulls. I even enjoyed Boney's contributions. Matt does a great job! Truth be told - I don't want the season to end partly because I will miss blogabull!

I need to wait until the draft to better assess our team. My main gripe as stated above many times was not playing TT and Thabo enough during the regular season and particularly the second half last night. I am not ready to give up on this team. Maybe a silver lining is that we can get Noc for a reasonable price. I had plantar-facciitis and it took me a year to recover.

Worst part ------ I will be glued to the TV Sunday rooting for us to at least win one game.

by chgobr on May 11, 2007 8:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

you dont have to leave after the season

its still kicking here, or you could always visit

sweethomesports.com/bulls

and the winner of the cheap plug award....

MILESGMSU

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think

we'll win Sunday.

by bu11s on May 11, 2007 9:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Has anybody else listened to Skiles

postgame comments? The whole thing sounds like he wasn't that shocked to lose, that he kind of expected it and was resigned to it. It's up on chicagosports.com. It's almost like he couldn't be bothered. And the whole thing about "seeing if the main guys could win it" is bullshit. He's played a deep rotation all season long. Sounds to me like there is something going on that isn't being reported.

by bullshooter on May 11, 2007 10:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope there is no internal strife or turmoil.

That would suck.

Maybe he was just numb.

by 1958ChiTown on May 11, 2007 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

something is fishy

I don't know.

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 11, 2007 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pathetic...

Some class you have there, Matt.

Anyways, I have a few extra brooms lying around...

by TooEasy on May 12, 2007 12:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Screw you

Get out of here man, this is a great Bulls blog Matt has put together. Go enjoy your 3-0 lead somewhere else. Don't be blinded, Detroit is a shit city. Hell, its so bad people dont acknowledge it and half of America thinks its in Canada!

by babybulls on May 12, 2007 12:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

half of america thinks it's canada?

where do those idiots live?

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney on May 12, 2007 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the rest of piston country?

by milesgmsu on May 14, 2007 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a book

that says "anyways" isn't a real word.

by Paxson Jackson on May 12, 2007 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

once again

Paxson comes through with his thesaurus and corrects everyone's english and vocabulary.

Man, is it too much for just one of you to say "Detroit earned 1 of their last 3 wins over the Bulls". All I ask is 1 of you.

by Boney on May 12, 2007 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

just say thanks

and leave it at that.

by bullshooter on May 12, 2007 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Bulls' buttholes...

"But Rasheed Wallace had a few words over in the Detroit locker room afterward, trying not to chortle. "As we chopped it down," he mentioned of the lead and the Bulls, "them butt holes got tighter and tighter."

by alex cutter on May 12, 2007 9:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

thanks for that. No one here reads the sports pages.

by Paxson Jackson on May 12, 2007 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Owww!

Tight butt-holes, AND sand in the vagina!

by alex cutter on May 13, 2007 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure

the women in your life appreciate the deep respect you have for them.

by Paxson Jackson on May 13, 2007 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you missing

an eye, an arm, and a leg?

by bullshooter on May 13, 2007 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Growth?

agree or disagree???

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-070512smith,1,3885313.column?coll =cs-bulls-headlines

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

by piccolomair on May 12, 2007 11:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Growth yes.

I really thought they were going to be better but things can deciving in the NBA. I guess I would have felt better had they played this series the way they played Miami last season. I think they could have gone into the offseason feeling like they can compete with anyone. Now I don't know that they are one of the top teams. Maybe in the top ten but not top five. I hope they make some good moves this offseason and get lucky in the lottery. If Sunday is the last game I hope the crowd atleast applauds the season they had. Even though they look like a college team playing the Pistons. They should have a great future still.

God please win tonight.

by joejoeEnglish94bulls4ever on May 13, 2007 12:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Growth? Yes.

They are a better team this year than they were last year. They were a better team last year than the previous year. They will be a better team next year; of that I am certain.

They're missing a key component this year, one which has been discussed ad nauseum. This is a huge detriment to a half-court offense. It's like playing baseball in the AL without a DH. I still think they would have paid too much for Gasol. I'm starting to think they should have really just picked up someone in this mold at the expense of an Adrian Griffin or a Sweetney. You know, someone cheap and ok but not great. Whatever. They wouldn't have won this year. They will pick up this last piece this offseason and the townspeople will rejoice.

The Bulls should really be aiming for dominance in about two or three years, when the Spurs, Mavs, and yes, the Pistons wane. If they draft a center this offseason, that guy will be just taking off by then, which is perfect. Suns-Bulls finals in 2010, baby!

by Craig Hodges Explosion 3000 on May 13, 2007 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know, someone cheap and ok but not great

They did...P.J. Brown.
IMHO, they will need someone really good to stand with BW down low...

And as far as "behind the scenes" - it is always possible that Skiles / Pax are looking hard at who will stay and who will be traded in the offseason and had already realized after 2 blowouts from detroit that it was over.

ANYTHING is possible....

I just hope we can at least win today to avoid a sweep from detwat.

These douche bag pissed-on fans that log on here to troll...man...must really have some self-confidence issues to need that kind of charge...

by Bluelou on May 13, 2007 12:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs