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Open Game Thread #34: Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers

UPDATE: Noah is effectively suspended (officially he's just on the inactive list) from tonight's game after a verbal altercation with assistant coach Ron Adams at shootaround. Perhaps Noah was waving around a copy of his PER ranking at center. (hattip to Sue in the comments section) -Matt

Luol Deng's out for tonight's game. Boylan claims that to counteract Andre Iguodala (who, in these two teams last meeting, had a fine outing and Deng did, er, not) we'll see some hot Thabo action.

Poor Philly is in tanking-debate mode, which is far far worse than actually tanking. Marc Narducci says that it's a must-win for the Sixers to make a playoff push. Their record is pretty similar to the Bulls, so maybe we should feel the same.

But as to the discussion of whether the Sixers should tank: tanking's done by the GM, not the coach and players. New GM Ed Stefanski already dumped Kyle Korver's contract, and may do the same with Andre Miller (and would love to with Willie Green) before the season's out. Between that and playing younger players, the team can still try to win but just be not so good at it.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are tanking by playing their old dudes so much. (I crack myself up.)

Early 6pm start. The Bulls can make happy hour happier. Or much much angrier.

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Good news for the Bulls
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3192421

That means the Hawks might end up losing a win.  The Bulls might be competing with them at the end of the season for playoff positioning (which is incredibly sad).

by Big D on Jan 11, 2008 4:56 PM CST   0 recs

If they can replay the last 2 seconds of that game
They should do way more replays.

I think it's complete bullshit. The Bulls have had mad calls go the other way or miscalled, but they don't replay those

by Option27 on Jan 11, 2008 5:00 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

It said
cause of a miscalled Shaq foul that had him fouling out, right?

by Option27 on Jan 11, 2008 5:03 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Oh I had a typo
I meant to type in 52 seconds

by Option27 on Jan 11, 2008 5:09 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

nope
no calls were missed. the scorer's table incorrectly dq'ed shaq.
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Jan 11, 2008 5:16 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I wonder what happens to the gamblers in Vegas
If you bet on the Heat and you lost, do you get your money back now?  Do they ban you from the sportsbooks on the grounds that you must have a serious gambling problem to bet on a Heat-Hawks game in December?

by Big D on Jan 11, 2008 5:28 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I was thinking the same thing
What does Vegas do? But whoever bet on that game has bigger problems.
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Jan 11, 2008 5:30 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Go Bulls!!!
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 11, 2008 5:10 PM CST   0 recs

Tyrus
Like a wise man once said,

Shoot for the stars, and fall on Andre Iguodala.

Can this season be saved by jumping?

by cubbybear on Jan 11, 2008 5:33 PM CST   0 recs

Dammit Noah!!!
He's suspended one game for missing a shoot around. WHY??? That is just stupid on his part.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 11, 2008 5:36 PM CST   0 recs

Now they are saying
K. C. will report in his blog tomorrow that Joakim got into a verbal altercation with one of the assistant coaches today and that is why he was suspended. Hmmm.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 11, 2008 5:42 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

oh jeez
that's not good.

Perhaps Noah was waving around a copy of his PER ranking at center.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 11, 2008 5:57 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Ron Adams
It's on KC's blog now

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/fullcourtpress/.

Nichols has been activated and Ben Wallace and Chris Duhon have the flu bug.  

by KT on Jan 11, 2008 5:57 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

It's definitely been going around
Maybe Wallace is partying with Duhon and the college chicks?
Can this season be saved by jumping?

by cubbybear on Jan 11, 2008 9:52 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Tremendous upside potential in this situation
Best case: Noah is so upset by the team's lack of passion that he intentionally acted out to get everyone fired up.  He's channeling the same infinite wisdom that Big Ben used last season during the "headband incident."  The Bulls will go 49-0 the rest of the season and beat the Spurs in the Finals.

Worst case: Noah gets the night off, Bulls continue to play like garbage.  Noah learns that he can't yell at coaches.

by paxson43 on Jan 11, 2008 5:59 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

the point remains
that whatever the results are, the story will retroatively fit to it. I believe the Blazers win streak came after some practice altercation between Travis Outlaw and a squirrel.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 11, 2008 6:02 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Earl Boykins
isn't even ON the Blazers!!!
Can this season be saved by jumping?

by cubbybear on Jan 11, 2008 9:53 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Hehehe
He needs to learn that 90 percent of life is just showing up on time.

At least he's nice to reporters during interviews, though.  Not like that fucking asshole Tyrus Thomas.

by Big D on Jan 11, 2008 5:43 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

We are playing like crap.
I'd rather see the entire bench playing than any of the starters if they are going to play like this.  Blah.  I should have gone out tonight.  

by cranscape on Jan 11, 2008 6:26 PM CST   0 recs

Ok, I am turning it off.
I think I have a Netflix to watch.

by cranscape on Jan 11, 2008 6:29 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

wow
the bulls suck. im out.

by Sambossanova on Jan 11, 2008 6:29 PM CST   0 recs

Bulls suck
Hinrich turned the ball over and laid on the floor-that's a "break away play" of the game.
Are we officialy tanking this season?
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 6:31 PM CST   0 recs

Wow, people are getting the hell
out of the dodge since the Bulls are losing. Because if they suck, why watch?

sigh

"Glen Davis??? wow!! We had Glen Davis, his name is Michael Sweetney" - tyrus4prez

by NittanyBull on Jan 11, 2008 6:32 PM CST   0 recs

Just to watch
TT,Thabo,Gray playing.That's it.
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 6:37 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

i am tired
...of seeing BG get trapped and turn it over for the hundredth time

by bullsfaninbigapple on Jan 11, 2008 6:37 PM CST   0 recs

Teams are all double-teaming him
The Knicks had Nat Robinson glued to him.  We need TMac to free up Gordon.

by chgobr on Jan 11, 2008 6:41 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I like this lineup
Thabo si the fifth option

by Scotter on Jan 11, 2008 6:41 PM CST   0 recs

Until Duhon came in,
but Gray,Thomas,Thabo, and Gordon works for me.

by Scotter on Jan 11, 2008 6:44 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

hmm
Is there any other team in the NBA whose starters would probably lose to its bench?

by potato0328 on Jan 11, 2008 6:41 PM CST   0 recs

Hahah
That's pretty sad.  I hope our bench plays more minutes than our starters, pretty much every game.
Can this season be saved by jumping?

by cubbybear on Jan 11, 2008 9:57 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

good point
and BenG doesn't have to worry about Defense if he's guarding Duhon and Thabo takes Kirk

Bench strenght is a good thing as it proves Bulls depth but Bulls coaches have to know how to use that and Bulls management have to be able to use the assets they have collected

by NY Chicago Fan on Jan 11, 2008 10:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Im sick
I have a doctors note not to go to Bulls games this season... Not only would I need to puke but if I was at this game id have to pick a fight to see one person in a Bulls jersey work hard tonite. Where is Pau Gasol? If Hobo Smith is putting up these numbers in this system Gasol would easily be a 30 15 guy.

by TRiCioNeRo on Jan 11, 2008 6:47 PM CST   0 recs

Ben Wallace is just the worst
"Glen Davis??? wow!! We had Glen Davis, his name is Michael Sweetney" - tyrus4prez

by NittanyBull on Jan 11, 2008 6:48 PM CST   0 recs

just saw your sig, funny stuff
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Jan 11, 2008 7:03 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

SEFO!
He's playing good so far.Nice steal.
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 6:50 PM CST   0 recs

Dalembert
is kicking Wallaces' ass.
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 6:53 PM CST   0 recs

Skiles pressed him badly
Hopefully his confidence will be back.
I want to see him playing like he was playing aginst Wade in the Miami sweep.
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 7:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

ha!
I'd like to see TT do that!
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 11, 2008 7:07 PM CST   0 recs

Maybe we gave them the flu
during that first quarter.  

I turned it back on to see Thabo play.  He is doing well.  Exactly as I thought.  For the rest of them - in the first quarter they looked like the players from Space Jam who had their spirit sucked out of them.  It was horrific.  We may win this game, but the memory of that first quarter will linger on.  

by cranscape on Jan 11, 2008 7:13 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

the flu won't linger
you should let it go.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 11, 2008 7:20 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

everybody who left
is going to shocked tomorrow.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 11, 2008 7:11 PM CST   0 recs

Not so fast,bro.
As we know this team can fold in 4-Q without any reason and lose it...:-(
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 7:16 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I turned it back on
to see Thabo.  Because who knows when we will see him play again.

That first quarter was inexcusable.  Period.  Win or lose - you don't do that.  And for the love of Bob they better keep in the bench players who turned things around for them.  Last thing we need is another New York where they benched everyone who got them there then wondered why it went to crap.

by cranscape on Jan 11, 2008 7:17 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Who cares if they are or aren't?
They aren't real fans if they stop watching in the first quarter, even considering the situation of the game and season
"Glen Davis??? wow!! We had Glen Davis, his name is Michael Sweetney" - tyrus4prez

by NittanyBull on Jan 11, 2008 7:40 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

He-he
I'm agree with you :-)
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 7:44 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Guess I am not a "real" fan.
They played worse than crap in the first quarter and are perfectly capable of turning on the crap at any moment as we've seen all season. I frequently turn the game off in the 4th quarter when they are like that because when they don't care why should I suffer through it?  If they don't feel like playing why should we feel like watching?  Because we want to be real fans?  Give me a break.

Even when they sucked a few years ago they were fun to watch because they were trying 100% and were playing the kind of team ball that makes basketball look good.  I think we got maybe 10% out of them in that first quarter and that was from bench substitutions.  If they were at the UC they would have been booed.  Sorry if I expect a little more out of them than that.  Turning off the TV is perfectly acceptable for a fan to do.  Unless you are into torturing yourself.

by cranscape on Jan 11, 2008 8:55 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Amen brother
I watch and follow sports to relax and have a good time.  Unfortunately, I let a bad performances by my favorite sports teams affect me too much emotionally.  That's a problem that I have.  Especially when you consider I'm a fan of Chicago sports teams and the University of Iowa, I should be used to disappointment.  Still, I don't think it makes me a bad fan.  If anything, it makes me a reasonable person that I know to step away from the game that's annoying me and spend time with my wife and daughter instead.

by snley on Jan 11, 2008 9:58 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Whatever you have to say to yourself
"Glen Davis??? wow!! We had Glen Davis, his name is Michael Sweetney" - tyrus4prez

by NittanyBull on Jan 12, 2008 1:57 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

So lucky to have you to show me the true way
I guess it is really too much to ask for a sports team to be reasonably competitive and entertaining.   I guess they are paid millions just to put out what they feel like each night.  Y'know, I always thought Deng should put up the same effort as Wallace.  If he just doesn't feel like playing well he should flat foot it down the floor for half the game. Thanks for showing me the expectations of a true fan! /sarc

by cranscape on Jan 12, 2008 10:20 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

No problem
You typing a full paragraph of sarcasm only shows how uncomfortable you are with my statement.
"Glen Davis??? wow!! We had Glen Davis, his name is Michael Sweetney" - tyrus4prez

by NittanyBull on Jan 12, 2008 5:58 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

No, I completely agree with you.
I am really uncomfortable that you think a real fan should accept whatever crap the Bulls put out on the floor.  Real fans must be the reason Wallace is still employed.  See, no sarcasm there there at all.

by cranscape on Jan 12, 2008 8:02 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Wow
"Glen Davis??? wow!! We had Glen Davis, his name is Michael Sweetney" - tyrus4prez

by NittanyBull on Jan 13, 2008 12:10 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Nice play by the
Bulls to end the half. When I saw BG standing at the top dribbling I was cursing but then he passed to Kirk who passed to Noch. I never thought they would have the lead at the half the way they played in the first quarter.

Thabo played well. He has such quick hands. Makes me sick that Skiles almost ruined him.

Come out fired up for the second half guys.

Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 11, 2008 7:13 PM CST   0 recs

lots of movement on that play
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Jan 11, 2008 7:19 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

how many times
did they foul bulls on that possession?
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 11, 2008 7:27 PM CST   0 recs

Verbal altercation?!?
Craziness.  For us ex-pats, what's the word?  Did he same something truly abhorrent to the Bulls coaching staff, like "play me?"

by Freethefro on Jan 11, 2008 7:33 PM CST   0 recs

Holy crap
Looks like the Bulls started off slow, but something changed... up 9?  What was the adjustment?  If it is Thabo, then I'll be a very happy young man.

by paxson43 on Jan 11, 2008 7:46 PM CST   0 recs

great block by TT
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 11, 2008 7:46 PM CST   0 recs

Tyrus
...nice playson both ends

by bullsfaninbigapple on Jan 11, 2008 7:46 PM CST   0 recs

really nice to see bulls dominate like this
regardless of how bad the sixers are

by lampnasty on Jan 11, 2008 7:50 PM CST   0 recs

How did they look?
The game isn't televised in Iowa
TMD- http://playahatersblog.blogspot.com

by TMD on Jan 11, 2008 7:52 PM CST   0 recs

First quoter was worst of the season
but then they got back.Noce and Thabo played well.
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 11, 2008 7:55 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

The game was on
in Iowa. It's just that your cable does not carry CSN.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 11, 2008 8:43 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

lol sue
wonder how many times this conversation will occur...

by Jaina on Jan 11, 2008 9:31 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

He makes it
sound like all Iowa has is antennas and a rotor if you're lucky.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 11, 2008 9:42 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Is it my imagination
or do the Bulls stretch the lead with Gray and fall back with Wallsce?  I haven't been able to watch much.

by alec on Jan 11, 2008 7:57 PM CST   0 recs

I doubt it
TMD- http://playahatersblog.blogspot.com

by TMD on Jan 11, 2008 8:02 PM CST   0 recs

Wow
Finally some PT for Joe Smith.  This guy should just be on the floor every second of every game.  Ben Wallace too.  Brilliant.  
Insert sarcasm here.

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