Open Game Thread #37: Bulls at Miami Heat
[Thanks to Bullshooter for today's game preview. -Matt]
Game previews usually include a bunch of links to stats, recaps of recent games, and commentary about the current state of the team. I don't think anybody who's going to read this needs a refresher about what's going on with the Bulls right now. I also don't think records and stats have much bearing on tonight's game. Dwayne Wade doesn't have to be reminded who swept him and the Heat out of the first round of the playoffs last year. Those playoffs and several heated regular season games are still fresh in his mind. And Shaq has obviously circled this date in advance as the perfect night to make his return from injury.
Given all the recent history, tonight's game will at the very least be interesting. The Bulls should be ready to get smacked in the mouth and how they respond will tell a lot about where this team is and where they are going. Were the first few games under Boylan merely a 'honeymoon', or is this team destined for the lottery? Was the Philly comeback a blip or a sign that this team does have some life and a chance to get back on track?
I'd feel a lot more positive about the outcome if Nocioni and Hinrich weren't game time decisions. But maybe that's for the best. We all know Noc's is never going to backdown from anybody, so maybe this gives us a chance to see what other guys will do. Hopefully, the youngsters, Thabo, Noah, Gray, and maybe even Tyrus will get a chance to show what they are made of. Hopefully, they will get the opportunity and rise to the occasion. Maybe a Shaq elbow to the head will knock some sense into Wallace and get him to play hard for more than 5 minutes at a time. Who knows...
Game on at 7pm EST on ESPN 2.
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Wade will
I'll record it as the Hawkeyes are on at the same time as the Bulls.
GO BULLS!!!
Normally, I abhor violence,
i second that
Great Minds Think Alike
Hmmm...
by RogersPark Kris on Jan 16, 2008 3:41 PM CST reply actions
Veeeeeektor for the win
Veeeektor's dunk attempt last night took me back to NBA Live '95. He missed exactly the same way EA Sports programmed the players to miss dunks when they took off from too far a distance from the rim.
by NBA Observer on Jan 16, 2008 3:45 PM CST up reply actions
damn I missed a Veektor dunk attempt?
I'm so going to have a Veektor google alert in place when he's plying his trade overseas.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 16, 2008 3:52 PM CST up reply actions
Bullshooter, that's the second time
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 16, 2008 3:54 PM CST reply actions
No
if you're a bad team
Maybe this is why you like Duhon as a starter so much: built-in adversity! :)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 16, 2008 4:19 PM CST up reply actions
heh
I want to see 25 minutes for Noah and Tyrus.
Specifically, I want this lineup: Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Tyrus, Noah. It's easily the most athletic, potent lineup the Bulls have, yet they refuse to play it for long stretches.
There is absolutely no legitimate purpose in playing Smith and Wallace 35+. Paxson must now recognize that clinging desperatly to the hope of the 7th seed is pathetic and destructive.
Maybe Noah will pimp slap Boylan. That would be worth watching.
Do you know what the difference
also a worthwhile goal
4th seed, 5th seed, 7th seed...
The veteran rotation won't win a title barring a miraculous set of circumstances (like a plague striking down the other plyoff contenders).
It just doesn't make any sense to me to mortgage the long-term prospects of the franchise for such a menial short-term gain.
Thabo on Wade
More Thabo=better team
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 16, 2008 4:36 PM CST reply actions
I'm just happy
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 16, 2008 5:03 PM CST up reply actions
Is Screamin' Steven A Smith
I just hate people who scream.
by KT on Jan 16, 2008 5:30 PM CST up reply actions
If they don't win tonight
Also did anyone post this yet?
Rosenbloom calls out Wallace and for Boylan to be fired. Glad to see someone not afraid to say it all. Most comments agree too.
I am hoping tonight
The arena
would you rather have
god this may be the worst televised game since ND stanford
way to go on the three lu
jesus shaq dropped the ball and it took so long
Wallace HAS to stop his knee sock
Butthen again
Smith
8 seconds
and please when shaq is that low, foul him ben
jesus
Heh
Looks anxious and frustrated.
he cheered on exceptionally hard
I did not like Hubie's spin
Wow. Miami is horrendous.
Tell me HOW that was a blocking foul
He was standing there forEVER and Wade ran into him...
geesh.
In retrospect,
bulls can't buy a call
Miami is in bad shape
Harder still to believe when that
But I can't deny what my eyes are witnessing. Miami is putrid.
I wonder if Thabo will just be relegated to the
Probably.
Thabo will just be relegated
If he keeps improving at the pace he is, I think him and Kirk starting together might just be a turnaround for the guard issues...
Right, but he only started playing
I assume they will just return to the Hinrich, Duhon, Gordon rotation.
Actually, Thabo is playing
is it possible
Why are we talking about Katie Holmes?
I love
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 16, 2008 6:44 PM CST reply actions
i feel bad for Noc
boylan needs to get a T
Hubie Brown's name pronunciations
Hopefully
Tyrus, Thabo, and Noah all at once.
Tyrus, Thabo, Noah, and Aaron Gray
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Jan 16, 2008 6:49 PM CST reply actions
Thanks Boylan for making it interesting
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Jan 16, 2008 6:55 PM CST up reply actions
F-in refs
F.
F-in Shaq is getting ALL calls his way
this game is one of the worst called games
forgot to congratulate you Sue
Except that
Yeah
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 16, 2008 7:01 PM CST up reply actions
Gray is having a little difficulty with
He isn't getting any calls
F - YOU SHAQ HEAD
Not a good stint for the Big Vanilla.
Yeah...and the part that sucks
Pricks.
Gray
Anyone notice
classic BG dribble into the lane
BG
What a bunch of crap...
Why the F is Shaq getting pissed at a rookie? What, he hasn't gotten ALL the calls, only a gross majority?
by PittFan on Jan 16, 2008 7:12 PM CST reply actions
Looked like a flagrant foul on Noc
Did I mention how much I HATE F-ING SHAQ??
Tom, Stace, and Red are still the Shiznit
No-CHEE-o-ni @ ESPN
by Seth @ Blog a Bull on Jan 16, 2008 7:39 PM CST up reply actions
Couldn't agree more
Walton
Oh, to be a Bulls fan
I am glad to see the Bulls are playing with energy tonight. Ohh, and apparently Bill Walton thinks Shaq's foul on Noc was a flagrant, so much as to call Stu Jackson's attention to it. Glad someone else sees Shaq getting away with beating on other people tonight.
by ForWhomTheBullTolls on Jan 16, 2008 7:28 PM CST reply actions
Shaq
Pretty funny
and somebody should bitch slap
diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiickheaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaadddd
Thabo
yep
THAT'S what's impressing me
He has got to play more
Damn
Rick Bucher said its not a matter
Someone should ask Bucher
by KT on Jan 16, 2008 7:48 PM CST up reply actions
It ain't gonna happen
Him down low with Thabo coming on like this -
Shyte....that could be JUST the ticket...
Speaking of Bucher,
Is Thabo the answer?
duh has to go harder
Don't call the cops!
by Old Skool Sloan on Jan 16, 2008 7:50 PM CST reply actions
duh can't play the steal
OHHH!
Damn
Don't look now
WTF?
Gordon still looks a bit shakey
by RogersPark Kris on Jan 16, 2008 7:53 PM CST reply actions
Don't look now...
by Old Skool Sloan on Jan 16, 2008 7:56 PM CST reply actions
I can live with
Damn, Joe Smith
by Old Skool Sloan on Jan 16, 2008 8:00 PM CST reply actions
Yea
and Bobcats every week.
Wow
Seems like the only two teams
You're right,
Bulls....???
Holy shit batman
Nice effort
nothing like the two teams with balls on fire
jesus
Thabo
In my country
if nothing else
shaq just elbowed Wallace in the face
Wallace should take a flagrant against him
Did you see Noah chest bump
I caught that too
Sit your ass down
Hopefully Matt won't call this the
Um, are you really that lost when it comes to
Hey, SBulls, that was just a little
the difference between our young guys
We can sleep better tonight!!!
anyone see Thabo go into the lane
Nice.
VERY nice.
Is that
VEEEEKTOR!!!
But TONIGHT it's because the BULLS are the team doing the blowing out. :-)
Bulls with 4 guys over 20 points
that was a pretty bad pass by Tyrus
hahahaha
Bulls win
Skiles really screwed up Thabo!!
I hate to admit it
i wouldn't go that far
nah nah
Well...how about, at a minimum,
The Heat are hideously bad
I hope not
Thank you
I hope not
If he doesn't
It's almost like it's no surprise...
Our next two games are Golden State
Duhon Adds Nothing To This Team.
I hope when Kirk
Yeah, Thabo needs to start now.
I like Thabo-Kirk
I think it just might work better that way.
both norm and kendall
Actually, they said that it had to
What? That is a total mischaracterization.
And when he said it, he fallowed up by saying that that still didn't excuse laughing after all the BS that had just gone down.
Plus, Kendall said he never did it his entire career.
Well, then if you're going to be
Because everyone needs to leave
maybe yes, maybe no
Somehow
Where's the praise for Duhon's
Game of the year..
by Zac23 on Jan 16, 2008 9:13 PM CST reply actions

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