Open Game Thread #42: Bulls vs Charlotte Bobcats - Midseason Grades Edition!!!
Luol, Duh out. Gordon likely out.
I have a bad feeling about this one. For one thing, the Bulls aren't good at playing basketball. Secondly...actually they're all just derivatives of the first thing. They won a game shorthanded, and I'm not liking the odds of winning two. But at the least knowing that it hinges on the likes of Thabo and Noah makes things interesting.
In honor of the second half of the season, I'll contribute my version of the time-honored ritual: grades.

(Here's John Jackson's assessment, which was the inspiration):
Kirk Hinrich - D: Just completely abysmal until recently. Being a 'shy' captain exemplifies lame demeanor of entire team.
Ben Gordon - C-minus: Extra points for not throwing a shit fit when asked to go to the bench for no reason. I know I threw one.Luol Deng - C: I'm hoping that his injuries explain away his lack of development as a player since last season. Although he seems willing to try some wrinkles in his game this year, so far it's not working. Like making layups.
Ben Wallace - F-minus-minus-minus-minus: Is no longer a dominant defensive rebounder, and whatever offense he once had has now completely disappeared, as 34.7% from the field, for an interior player, is a monumentally bad season. Bonus negative points for quitting on Skiles, and just quitting in most games. Even more negative points for being the pollster of the Bulls caucus.
Joe Smith - A: Joe Smith has ruled, and despite playing unreasonably heavy minutes, hasn't broken down. It'll be great if that's parlayed into a trade.
Andres Nocioni - C-plus: Probably could get a B, but watching him just pisses me off. Reading the constant glowing remarks about him makes things even worse.
Chris Duhon - F: I'll miss making fun of him when he's gone. To Greece.
Tyrus Thomas - C-plus: He's been completely misused, but that said, his per-minute numbers aren't as good as last year, either. Actually...nearly everything is except his FG%, and he's bizarrely missing dunks (jumper does look better) and committing goaltends. However, if it's a protest against his inept development structure, then A-plus.
Joakim Noah - A-plus: One of the best rookies in the league, one of the best players overall on the team. It's been known a while, but now it's getting re-told as if the veteran shenanigans actually spurred Noah on.
Thabo Sefolosha - C-minus: He's had a handful of good games, but has mostly been garbage this season, whether it was Skiles' fault or not. Negative points for being a test case against young players. (at least a case for those who group underperforming youngins with those who do perform, for no real reason)
Aaron Gray - B-minus: Good for a big, slow...did I mention big? Almost gets the same negative points Noc gets for unreasonable adoration.
Viktor Khryapa - A: No explanation needed.
Adrian Griffin - F: For every rolling hook shot Griffin takes, a baby panda gets decapitated. And he's a piece of crap for the Noah thing. And hypnotizing Pax into a 3-year guaranteed contract.
JamesOn Curry - P
Demetris Nichols - A: I think he had a foul in his minute of action. Nice work.Bonus grades that Jackson forgot:
Skiles - F
Boylan - F-minus-minus-minus-minus-minus-minus-minus: with more negative points for every postgame interview
Pax - incomplete: Not sure we have a GM
Matt - C-plus: outsourcing game previews, getting into fights with moron commenters, failing to update links section for quite a while. On the positive side, the righteous anger makes the words flow. And that stretch where I started booting out commenters was pretty fun and a boost to the site. (hmmmm)
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Pretty much agree
by Bluelou on Jan 25, 2008 6:56 PM CST 0 recs
With the exception
I think he's actually a solid player with his ball handling and passing.
The points will increase as his minutes increase.
He is smooth - and his court presence is better than just about anyone in the "core" group.
I'm sure there are debates soon to fly about this - but it's just my opinion.
It is NOT, nor do I STATE it as, the end all to what Thabo is.
...it is just my humble opinion.
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 7:03 PM CST
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The team really needs to win tonight.
I have an inkling that Tyrus and Noah will have good games.
by 1958ChiTown on Jan 25, 2008 7:01 PM CST 0 recs
Jesus H. Christ!
"I think the controversy maybe motivated him a little bit, spurred him on. Sometimes when you go through those things, when you get through it, you get out the other side of it, you're a little bit better than when you went in."
Does he ever have anything original or meaningful to say?
by tyger1147 on Jan 25, 2008 7:10 PM CST 0 recs
I hope they
by sue369 on Jan 25, 2008 7:17 PM CST 0 recs
Be nice if Lt. Kirk
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 7:27 PM CST
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yeah, he spent too much time
by bullshooter on
Jan 25, 2008 7:31 PM CST
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nothing wrong with his scoring
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 7:39 PM CST
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Yeah especially
by sue369 on
Jan 25, 2008 8:41 PM CST
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Wouldn't it be great....
by MarketMaker on Jan 25, 2008 7:26 PM CST 0 recs
is the game blacked out tonight on LP?
by bullshooter on Jan 25, 2008 7:26 PM CST 0 recs
If you find something...
by tyger1147 on
Jan 25, 2008 7:38 PM CST
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Tyrus's FG%
by Scotter on Jan 25, 2008 7:34 PM CST 0 recs
I'm going to puke
Comcast using the "Star Trek" theme for background music hyping Hinbrick's shooting performance the other night.
Ohhh, ba-ru-ther....
by Bluelou on Jan 25, 2008 7:35 PM CST 0 recs
It was meant as a joke.
by cranscape on
Jan 25, 2008 7:43 PM CST
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You're probably right
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 7:48 PM CST
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Ok, not looking so good so far.
by cranscape on Jan 25, 2008 7:46 PM CST 0 recs
Noc in true chuckalicious form.
by tyger1147 on Jan 25, 2008 7:53 PM CST 0 recs
Whoa! Big ball. Two centers for CHA.
by tyger1147 on Jan 25, 2008 7:56 PM CST 0 recs
Lokks like Joe Smith lost his shot
by Azabullsfan on Jan 25, 2008 7:57 PM CST 0 recs
Either one would be good choice
by Azabullsfan on
Jan 25, 2008 8:00 PM CST
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TT on the bench
And Du comes in?
Nice to see Skiles...I mean...Boylan is still up to his assinine line ups...
ugh.
by Bluelou on Jan 25, 2008 8:04 PM CST 0 recs
Boylan heard me
by Bluelou on Jan 25, 2008 8:07 PM CST 0 recs
Ahh
by gobulls1124 on Jan 25, 2008 8:09 PM CST 0 recs
this is starting to look like one of those quarter
by bullshooter on Jan 25, 2008 8:10 PM CST 0 recs
One of those GAMES
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 8:12 PM CST
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Noah has to learn how to dunk
by Azabullsfan on Jan 25, 2008 8:15 PM CST 0 recs
spend more time lifting weights.
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 8:19 PM CST
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he had a torn rotator cuff
by bullshooter on
Jan 25, 2008 8:24 PM CST
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First I heard of that
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 8:26 PM CST
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I do remember something about
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 8:29 PM CST
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He did
by wjb1492 on
Jan 25, 2008 8:33 PM CST
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Yea
by Azabullsfan on
Jan 25, 2008 8:39 PM CST
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He rehabbed all
by sue369 on
Jan 25, 2008 8:48 PM CST
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But he didn't do things the way the Bulls
And he did NOT spend a great deal of time at the Berto Center.
Which is what I was saying if you read the post.
Sue....stop it already.
You just ate crow in the other post...you hungry again already?
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 8:53 PM CST
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I think he
It was Tyrus who did not spend time at the Berto. They have no idea what Tyrus did last summer other than what he said he did.
by sue369 on
Jan 25, 2008 10:01 PM CST
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When I read THIS post
I WAS talking about TT - and somehow I missed that Noah was mentioned....(oh, oooops!)
My bad this time Sue - sorry for the confusion. :-)
All that time I was thinking "how could they not know about TT's issues...?"
And now it's clear what happened...(sigh)
Just goes to show how posts can get twisted around...
by Bluelou on
Jan 26, 2008 11:05 PM CST
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i don't think anybody here
by bullshooter on
Jan 25, 2008 8:29 PM CST
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Did I SAY anything about HERE???
You always seem to need to prove someone wrong, but there's no need to look past your own mirror.
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 8:38 PM CST
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It has nothing to do with proving
by bullshooter on
Jan 27, 2008 9:56 AM CST
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Don't even have a dog
Maybe you should find a new catch phrase?
by Bluelou on
Jan 27, 2008 12:05 PM CST
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I am really glad to hear that.
by bullshooter on
Jan 27, 2008 12:18 PM CST
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Seems like the only time Wallace dunks anymore
by Bluelou on Jan 25, 2008 8:24 PM CST 0 recs
How did they look?
by TMD on Jan 25, 2008 8:24 PM CST 0 recs
That's too bad
by TMD on
Jan 25, 2008 8:33 PM CST
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Tyrus nice play
by Azabullsfan on Jan 25, 2008 8:25 PM CST 0 recs
Duhon couldn't finish lay-up
by Azabullsfan on Jan 25, 2008 8:31 PM CST 0 recs
Bulls play as usuall
Bobcats is a shittyy team and Bulls look even worse.What a looong season...
by Azabullsfan on Jan 25, 2008 8:35 PM CST 0 recs
looks like from the game feed
by bullshooter on Jan 25, 2008 8:37 PM CST 0 recs
Yep
from perfection.Is he going to be just Dunking/Bloking guy???
by Azabullsfan on
Jan 25, 2008 8:42 PM CST
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I wish
by TMD on Jan 25, 2008 8:40 PM CST 0 recs
a streak longer than two games
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 8:47 PM CST
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Definitely not a
Nice to see TT get a great dunk. I'm sure we'll see more of him in the second half.
by sue369 on Jan 25, 2008 8:46 PM CST 0 recs
It would be nice
by TMD on
Jan 25, 2008 8:48 PM CST
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We need
by TMD on
Jan 25, 2008 9:09 PM CST
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noah in to start the 2nd half
by bullshooter on Jan 25, 2008 8:50 PM CST 0 recs
think his knee is finally acting up
by bullshooter on
Jan 25, 2008 8:52 PM CST
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lol
by gobulls1124 on Jan 25, 2008 8:57 PM CST 0 recs
i got a video stream,
by bullshooter on Jan 25, 2008 9:01 PM CST 0 recs
Grizlies fan?
by Azabullsfan on
Jan 25, 2008 9:15 PM CST
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pshaw
by bullshooter on
Jan 25, 2008 9:16 PM CST
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Thabo had a good stretch
Make it even in third and kill them in fourth!
by Azabullsfan on Jan 25, 2008 9:02 PM CST 0 recs
Thabo is playing better with each passing game
by Bluelou on
Jan 25, 2008 9:05 PM CST
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And someone was wishing to let
by Azabullsfan on
Jan 25, 2008 9:09 PM CST
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The rumor I saw
by TMD on
Jan 25, 2008 9:12 PM CST
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That was just awful,bad...
by Azabullsfan on
Jan 25, 2008 9:17 PM CST
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Hmmm
Sorry - that's what happens when you spend the day with kids I guess.
by wjb1492 on
Jan 25, 2008 9:24 PM CST
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I think it's more like
by TMD on
Jan 25, 2008 9:37 PM CST
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Nice to see
by Azabullsfan on Jan 25, 2008 9:05 PM CST 0 recs
I just wish Boylan would sit Wallace
by Bluelou on Jan 25, 2008 9:08 PM CST 0 recs


