Open Game Thread #32: Bulls vs. Sacramento Kings
[Thanks to wjb1492 for today's game preview. -Matt]
Tonight the Bulls meet their near-twins from the Western Conference, the Sacramento Kings. Both teams have a 12-19 record for the season, both are 4-6 over the last 10, and both are coming off of a loss. Each stands at 4th in their division and 11th in their conference. The season scoring margins are very similar (-3.3 for the Kings to -3.5 for the Bulls). Both teams are likely to be without key contributors tonight (Lu for the Bulls, Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin for the Kings). Heck, the Kings even have the rookie the Bulls passed over in drafting Joakim Noah, as Spencer Hawes went next to Sacramento.
Notwithstanding all those similarities, accuscore likes the Bulls in this one, with a 50% chance of a big win. This would be great, as it would render the BG-and-the-last-possession-to-win-or-tie debate meaningless for at least one game, and (if a big enough win) possibly result in some meaningful playing time for the young guys. Imagine, this one game could reunify the blogabull community into a single happy whole!
Anyway, pick your poison for why the Bulls are the favorites: Kings are playing the second night of a back-to-back and are 1-4 over their last 5 with a scoring margin of -8.2, while the Bulls are 3-2 under Boylan with a much improved scoring margin of +5.0. As far as common opponents of late, both teams played @NY in the past week, with the Bulls winning by 17 and the Kings by 10. Still, particularly considering the guys who are out with injuries, the Kings have been playing pretty darn great and are a dangerous team. The game preview says that the Bulls have just 1 win against the Kings during the post-MJ era, so obviously the Bulls haven't played them well at all. I'm guessing quite a few people remember the last second, 89-88 win they got in the UC last year.
I'm picking the Bulls to win, but that shouldn't surprise anyone since I always take the Bulls. So, let's go Bulls! (And GO SEAHAWKS!)
Blogging with the enemy: Sactown Royalty (one of my personal favs)
FanPosts are user-created posts from the BlogABull community, and are to be treated as the opinions and views of that particular user, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.
409 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I just hope
GO BULLS!!!
Don't worry about reunification
Hmm
What if the bulls go on a win streak
okay i know ure answer ("well that wont happen") but even though the chance is slim it exists, and my point is that theres many a games left in the season. Thats as positive as it can get right now, and if u so choose, you can do that very illogical and yet natural thing...you can hope.
I rather people
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-WULyz1-OQc
anyone have a good narrators voice? Maybe i can dub it over...
Well, I am having a GREAT sports day...
Seahawks just wrapped up a huge win (although they did try to implode for the first couple minutes of the 4th).
It's up to the Bulls to close out the day in style. :)
I grew up in Washington and Oregon
Some things never die.
Oh, yeah!
Do you know where Odessa is? That's the booming metropolis that I lived in over there.
I had an intership in Richland tri-cities
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 8:02 PM CST up reply actions
I'm back
Speaking of the Celtics, Celtics 92, Detroit 85. Glen Davis had a hugh game, especially in the 4th quarter. 20 pts, 8/10 fg, and 4/5 ft. Oh well.
Wow, that's crazy.
oh, Red
"[something sounding like Abdur-Rahim], Ron Artest, Henry Bibby, and Kenyon Martin"
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 7:32 PM CST reply actions
The Pistons and Celts
I find I have little interest
Either he ate his wheaties,
Joe Smith used up his "turbo"
That's exactly what I was thinking
I come home and turn on the game
Nothing new here...
Matt said is best a few days ago: Watching this team is a chore now.
Like yours are any better?
Asswipe.
Bulls do go cold like no other team, don't they?
Well its the moment weve all been
The Kings have a lineup out there
Is Thabo in too?
No - your brilliant observation
Its about time they play the youngsters but I
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 8:13 PM CST up reply actions
Is WGN available in HD in chi-town?
they need to pipe that in the sky to dish. The
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 8:16 PM CST up reply actions
I thought I read somewhere that the Kings
Now Gray's in
At least Gray dunked and made it
Nice to see TT and his ally-oop again
As long as Tyrus keeps doing
they can spell it farvegnugen for all i care
xept he shouldn't shoot nothing but layups and
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 8:25 PM CST up reply actions
I'll get flamed for this
He just seems like he's out of "game shape", which comes from sitting too much.
It seems like a logical explanation for someone going from how he played last year to this.
I tend to agree but if you gotta see how he
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 8:35 PM CST up reply actions
maybe the Deng injury will help him
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 8:37 PM CST up reply actions
Oh come on, Matt....
(joke...kidding....nudge-nudge-wink-wink...ect....etc...)
thabo got away with a travel on the and 1
bullshooter you cad
Tyrus at the 3 is a bad idea, especially with Noah and Wallace as the frontcourt. And especially if Boylan wants him closer to the basket. At the 4 with Gray (who sucks, but takes up space) is a better combo.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 8:31 PM CST reply actions
heh
Du's gotta stop
He's got the open shot
I don't think it's the taking of the shot
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 8:35 PM CST up reply actions
the Kings are leaving him open
Man, Duhon is now 5 for 34
Yet another SHOULDA DUNKED from Wallace
thats what I was thinking. At least go for the
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 8:38 PM CST up reply actions
He's turned into the consumate wuss...
Watching him layp it up (and miss) instead of SLAMMIN' it down like he used to is awkward to even watch
miller must have been taken aback by that
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 8:41 PM CST up reply actions
Tyrus must have taken some
Just tuned in...
by Freethefro on Jan 5, 2008 8:41 PM CST reply actions
There are four guys looking for min
yeah but it's so easy
who's the 4th at backup PF? Veektor?
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 8:47 PM CST up reply actions
Too bad no one's looking for time at center.
let me guess:
that was a nice variation of the
This time instead of Gordon forcing a shot he threw it out backwards to nobody in particular.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 8:45 PM CST reply actions
We
Yeah, and the Kings are only missing
The Bulls should be POUNDING these guys...but I'll take a W tonight if they can pull it out
I just took that line from Matt's post up top
:-)
Very nice to see
Hope we see more of the young guys in the second half.
"Game by game" for Lu's injury
always funny to hear
Look who's on the floor: Duh/Hinrich/Noc/Smith/Wallace. The only options are jump shots or Wallace getting blocked by the rim.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:07 PM CST reply actions
Good point
But that changes when Noah and or TT come in as the energy shifts...
it's not energy
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:13 PM CST up reply actions
being able to jump
does Hinrich
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:09 PM CST reply actions
I think he's trying to figure out
I think he's channeling his frustration
okay...Noah and TT time...
Guess not....
Did you tear yourself away from the joys of
bwahaha
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:19 PM CST reply actions
gah?
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:20 PM CST up reply actions
Boylan has the charisma of
I don't care what he says
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:24 PM CST up reply actions
If you can't smack around the second string
We suck.
by Freethefro on Jan 5, 2008 9:20 PM CST reply actions
SHYTE!!!!
If Duhon
you really don't understand much about basketball
another reason I hate watching this team
And I find college basketball (the 'basketball' part) pretty boring.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:24 PM CST reply actions
So maybe NOW we can see some more
Would it help if we said please?
only if we were behind
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:25 PM CST up reply actions
take it back
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:26 PM CST up reply actions
Someone correct me if I'm wrong
WTF?
boylan's trying to make Skiles look better
he's loyal
by fireskiles on Jan 5, 2008 9:29 PM CST up reply actions
And funny how TT got flamed by Skiles
BTW, BW just sat down
I dunno
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:33 PM CST up reply actions
alll tyrus thomas does
(if only he made more FTs...)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:32 PM CST reply actions
he DOES seem a little wreckless out there
Celtics win
I'm not sure how great Tyrus will be as a Basketball player, but he'll definitely make a great businessman.
Davis didn't come out
the fact is
by fundamentallysound on Jan 5, 2008 9:35 PM CST up reply actions
doesn't change the fact that
by fundamentallysound on Jan 5, 2008 9:46 PM CST up reply actions
Fundamentallysound?
No
by fundamentallysound on Jan 5, 2008 10:02 PM CST up reply actions
Bwahaha!
So...now where did NOAH go??
can't have him and Thomas together
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:41 PM CST up reply actions
wait a second
the prison
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:42 PM CST up reply actions
So everytime they miss a FT
typical 4th Q Gordon play there....
Niiiiice...
Why oh why are we playing like garbage against
The he should be coach part cause I tend to agree
by Ibleedbullsred on Jan 5, 2008 9:43 PM CST up reply actions
I LOVE IT!!!
I loved that too
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:47 PM CST up reply actions
I got Sam' fist pump
How about KC Jackson
how about
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:52 PM CST up reply actions
It's good to remember
by KT on Jan 5, 2008 11:07 PM CST up reply actions
I sent sam an email
yet another indication
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:49 PM CST up reply actions
I'll tell ya what ELSE sam should be doing....
Speaking of Sam,
talk about profoundly stupid
talk about profoundly stupid
TT is playing F-ING unreal out there
Take notice Wall-lazy-ass....
Beautiful assist by TT to Kirk
Sad
Only up by one against this shitty team?!
Anything Matt happens to say about this game, I'll just go ahead and agree with it before I even watch the replay.
This is just lame
Anything Matt happens to say
tyrus at the 3
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:55 PM CST reply actions
this is it
TYRUS
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 9:57 PM CST reply actions
And there sits another bored Bulls talent
and Wall-ass is back in....yikes...
ok, a little up and down
Thomas is playing well
by Freethefro on Jan 5, 2008 10:03 PM CST up reply actions
Except that last TO on the fast break
At least it wasn't Adrian Griffin
by Freethefro on Jan 5, 2008 10:07 PM CST up reply actions
It might have
wow
Kudos, sir.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 10:05 PM CST reply actions
It is more than a little frustrating
Not to mention the poor shooting again.
Big Gordon shot
that big time
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 5, 2008 10:08 PM CST reply actions
I can't watch
I'm so fuckin sick of these kinda games
Every coach knows to just throw the whole team on Gordon at the end of games
God..I wish BG would learn...
by bullsfaninbigapple on Jan 5, 2008 10:14 PM CST up reply actions
Here we go
off the dribble?
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 5, 2008 10:11 PM CST reply actions
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Cool to see someone else's guy
NOW: ....NO BEN GORDON PLAY.....
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze
Unless Gordon makes the craziest shot ever
He is just gonna take a wild shot over 3 Kings and hopes it goes in
yet another failed iso play
heh
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 10:15 PM CST reply actions
oh wow
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 10:15 PM CST up reply actions
Sacremento is bad,
by Beef Wennington on Jan 5, 2008 10:15 PM CST reply actions
judging by the East
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 5, 2008 10:16 PM CST up reply actions
but the rest of the bulls are boring
by Beef Wennington on Jan 5, 2008 10:19 PM CST up reply actions
medical minds like
Captain Squirt has Shrinking Skills Syndrome
by Beef Wennington on Jan 5, 2008 10:31 PM CST up reply actions
Oh, and if
Sue's incredible.
Talk about Hinrich's bad play if he's playing bad, but never, ever discuss anything else about him. Ever!
Ok
by Beef Wennington on Jan 6, 2008 1:07 AM CST up reply actions
Six seconds left
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 5, 2008 10:15 PM CST reply actions
a Wall-ass lay up MISS....
That's a dozen
Of course
have the balls to take that shot
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 5, 2008 10:17 PM CST up reply actions
Boylan just
no kidding...
How have they looked tonight
Up and down.
wow...even NOAH is jumping up and down...
So are you
by Rusty LaRue on Jan 5, 2008 10:19 PM CST reply actions
Thank you for the win, its sad, we should have
Bulls got away with one...
But I hate Miller so I'll take it. :-)
Game over. Get off the floor.
There is no post game
Note: That FT was BW's ONLY point in the entire game.
Put that in your pipe....
Freaky shit
Happy, Yes!
That said, no worries for me. If the young guys play, and only win at 33%, it would take at least a year before I'd start to really complain. Though I don't know if my attitude is shared by many here...
So was I the only one
It's been a hard week.
Yup.
Bulls played like shit
Missed the whole game
I needed the laughs for when i stared at the boxscore...it all balanced out....maybe the boxscores got a bit more leverage.
I hear that ben wallace had a clutch block at the very end to keep the kings from scoring...but my source is my brother so i wonder of how reliable it is.
ehh well i thought a bit and the laughter has faded, im depressed....
Wallace
Not a foul
Bench Big Ben + C-Du
Duhon had 0 points in 25 minutes and was 0-7 from the floor (0-6 on 3 pointers).
WE CANNOT BEAT ANY LEGIT TEAM WITH THESE LOSERS PLAYING BIG MINUTES! They are complete and total offensive liabilities!
We should have beaten the Kings by 30 tonight. They were without their 3 best players and we won by 1 at home.
I see no point in this team trying to win games because they do not currently have the personnel to win a playoff series if they even get there. Coach Boylan, please go back to Skilesball and start Griffen. He can calm the team out of playoff contention.
at the same time
It would be great if Duhon were making shots, but he's also open enough to dribble in and take 2 point attempts. He doesn't have to always jack threes.
Duhon is asked to do three things.
- Distribute without turnovers
- Defend the opponents guards and limit penetration
- Force the defense to move, rotate, and expend energy.
Tyrus Thomas...
I understand that he can jump out of the gym, and he is by far the most athletic player on the Bulls, but Tyrus Thomas (a second year pro) still plays like a rookie (for which I mostly blame Skiles), and this team isn't nearly good enough to carry a rookie in big game situations.
Almost everything he does on this team stems from oppurtunities that arise from either blown coverage, broken plays, or missed shots. He's like Tyson Chandler (feasting on these moments of pure athleticism) in that regard, except for some reason Tyrus isn't content to just block or steal the ball. NO, he has to dribble it all the way up the court and telegraph an easy pass back into Udrih's waiting hands... Are you kidding me? That's a play I expect to see at the YMCA, not in an NBA game from a 6 foot 9 forward. Lobbing it to a barely 6 foot guard ten minutes after he was wide open in the middle of the court (who was so badly covered by the time it even got there)! Was he expecting Ben Gordon to rise up and dunk it over 2 players anyway? It was a bad pass that led to a 4 point swing and highlighted yet another reason Tyrus can't stay in the game. Horrible basketball IQ, and It drives coaches nuts.
That's why he wasn't on the court in the final moments, and as sad as it is we were better off with Ben Wallace shooting free throws with the game on the line. Even more sadly I'm not sure Tyrus will ever get this. Watch him closely on defense. For every shot he sends into the front row he gets beat for easy layups or ends up fouling (or causing his helpside D to foul) his man. He should know this by now, and when it happens he doesn't seem to learn because it happens over and over again. At least Noah seems to understand when he makes a mistake.
This team is not good enough to play him right now.
They gave Duhon Open Threes
Sacramento actually knows something we don't. THAT should scare all Bulls fans.
not to sound like a negative nellie
I dunno, rudy,
They had god bounce and aggressivenes. Thabo took it to the hoop. He may have an ugly flat jump shot, but around the basket he's got great feel. And TT's mind wasn't wandering. He missed one look for an inside pass from Du, but got twoo great--I mean great--lob dunks.
Yes, the game wasn't perfect, but the thing many of us here care most about--high level performance by the kids--made this the best game we've seen in a long time.
Thabo's defense was very helpful
those guys play good defense
We need TT
23 minutes
14 points
1 stl, 3 blocks
9 rebounds
2 assists
2 turnovers
What more can we ask from a 21 y.o. player? Yes, he makes dumb-ass miss-stakes that make me drop and shake my head. But he does things that impact and energize our game. His two blocks late in the game were awesome. He is 21 years old. He played great for a 20 year-old rookie last year. Did all of a sudden he become horrible requiring ADHD treatment to get him minutes? Management should not repeat the lack of patience and tolerance we showed Chandler. We gave away someone who appears to becoming one of the NBAs best centers. Tolerating 21 y.o. miss-stakes is necessary or we risk passing on someone who 2-3 years from now is an NBA star. Josh Smith is now coming into his own in his 3rd NBA season. TT is one of the few players who provides a spark. Management needs to tolerate the dumb plays that come along with a 21 y.o. talented player. We need TT.
If for no other reason
He definitely
Agree
by Beef Wennington on Jan 6, 2008 11:27 AM CST up reply actions
You're the one that came up with it.
He played well
Obviously.
For all he did
we only use raw +/- here to dog Nocioni
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 6, 2008 3:03 PM CST up reply actions
No real good reason
If you take out the minutes that
And his replacement could have been more than a -3
I'll blame Aaron Gray
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 7, 2008 3:15 PM CST up reply actions
He might be the culprit
Opinions of Tyrus
A player similiar to ...
E-Rob or Shawn Marion?
Hopefully Marion because he just scores points mainly on put backs (garbage baskets) without being a first or second option, and also SM has decent outside (3pt) shot, although it's a strange looking jumper. SM has great anticipation and timing, a outstanding defender and grabs lots of rebounds. I think this would be a best case model for Tyrus, and it seems to be what Paxson envisioned. So I believe Tyrus should not try to be like a Tracy McGrady type player and attempt to run the point.
I hope he really gets to a similiar SM level one day, but he'll need to run the floor always, improve his outside shot (maybe add 3pt), improve positioning and anticipation to the offsensive boards (especially when Kirk/Duhon shoots), defensive block outs, learns to play solid defense, and limit fouls. Wallace doesn't run and doesn't finished, but there are different expectations of Tyrus if he wants to get to another level. Now, how is he going to learn all of theses fundementallySound basketball skills
You're best/worst case scenarios are terrible.
Tyrus isn't much like either of them once you get beyond the ability to jump. Tyrus can do alot more when it comes to handling the ball and passing. He 's made some really great passes this year. And his potential to score in the post is alot greater. If Tyrus is just finisher then it's a waste of his abilities. Give him the ball and let him create. It's part of the reason he was dominating summer league. He had the ball and was able to create shots for his teammates as well as himself.
Paxson used three lottery picks on guys who strongest offensive skill was passing. But they can't pass if they don't have the ball and their passing ability amounts to nothing if Ben Wallace or Chris Duhon is the open guy on the floor. This team has to committ to putting the ball in their hands and going through the growing pains in order possibly be really good as a team or be satisfied with Ben Gordon dribbling out the clock and struggling to stay above .500. I know which one I vote for.
I'm hoping for a Josh Smith comparison
For 2007-08, after 30 games here are Josh Smith's statistics
SEASON AVERAGES
MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
07-08 30 30 35.5 0.429 0.261 0.737 2.0 6.0 8.0 3.4 1.9 3.2 3.33 3.30 17.9
Career 256 234 32.5 0.437 0.266 0.707 2.1 5.1 7.2 2.6 1.1 2.5 2.44 3.00 13.0
Last Three Games
Date Opponent Result MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OFF DEF REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Jan 05 vs. NJN L 107 - 113 44 14 - 22 0 - 1 6 - 10 1 8 9 3 3 3 5 1 34
Jan 04 @ IND L 91 - 113 33 7 - 13 0 - 1 6 - 8 1 3 4 1 0 5 6 3 20
Jan 02 @ CLE L 94 - 98 35 8 - 15 0 - 1 4 - 6 4 4 8 2 1 1 2 4 20
Though still a work in progress(high TOs), you get the feeing Josh Smith can be a significant NBA contributor. I'm hoping the same for TT.
RE: I'm hoping for a Josh Smith comparison
My point is, YES he can become a good player, maybe even a star, but you can't compete with him on the floor in big game situations right now. Obviously the Hawks knew this with Josh Smith, they took their lumps, and now he has developed into a solid player. The Bulls chose to compete... Which makes the fact that we DON'T compete all the more frustrating!
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 12:43 PM CST up reply actions
It's a good thing...
It's a good thing...
By that argument I can assume you must have been inconsolable when we traded Eddy Curry.
Try to look beyond the box score.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 1:02 PM CST up reply actions
ha
RE: ha
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 1:06 PM CST up reply actions
RE: Was the sarcasm that hard to see?
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
He played well because he played well.
It's funny...
RE: He played well because he played well.
He also continued to make some of the same bone head plays that almost cost them the game.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
He played well for anyone.
RE: He played well for anyone.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 1:21 PM CST up reply actions
RE: For a 35 minute pace...
For a 35 minute pace that would be 20 points and 10 rebounds!
But he also had his shot blocked once which means for a 30 minute pace he would have had his shot blocked 10 times... Probably 10 turnovers too... To go with 0 assists.
Wow, he really is a great rookie after all!
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 1:27 PM CST up reply actions
Pretty much.
Sample sizes?
Don't be mad because your argument has more flaws than a Tyrus Thomas jump shot.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 1:40 PM CST up reply actions
Smith is still all of those things
RE: Opinions of Tyrus
Secondly if you really think that TT will ever develop a 3pt shot, let alone a mid range jumper, then let me know where I can purchase a ticket to the fantasy world you live in too.
E-Rob is probably a closer aproximation of his true potential.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 12:26 PM CST up reply actions
I started by saying that comparing TT
TT should never take 3s. And he already has developed his mid-range jumper. He's shooting around 50% from the top of the key all season. TT has more potential than Marion because he has a broader offensive skill set. Whether or not Tyrus reaches that potential is another issue. But leave the E-Rob/Marion comparison spectrum out of discussions of Tyrus. It's a stupid comparison, and leads me to question your own basketball I.Q.
RE: I started by saying that comparing TT
Thanks though.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 2:52 PM CST up reply actions
TT beyond statistics.
Correct and hopeful
I'm having trouble containing myself, but my true hope is that this is the beginning of a trend for him, with more playing time.
He's still waltzing back
He will make highlight reels every night. It's the other 20 minutes of floor time that is worrisome.
You still have to play him because you know his athleticism is going to spark a run or stop one from the opponent.
In addition, has Tyrus helped Joe Smith had blocked shots to his repetoire? I didn't know Joe Smith had this shot rejection game, but he's denied almost 20 attempts over the last 6 games.
Wallace's trade value
Time to bail on this guy, Pax.
RE: Wallace's trade value
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 3:30 PM CST up reply actions
RE: Who would you want to trade for?
Wallace obviously has value for the Bulls, and he brings intangibles that we don't have anywhere else on the roster, but we paid too much for him and his skills are diminishing at a rate faster than our younger players are building theirs.
At this point (conceding that the Bulls will not win anything this year) I would trade him for cap relief and a draft pick, and hopefully parlay that into a decent free agent pickup in the off season.
Again, seeing as his salary is so high we can't do that unless we pick up a bunch of expiring contracts from a team that REALLY wants Ben Wallace.
All scenarios highly unlikely.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 3:39 PM CST up reply actions
I've been looking at salaries for weeks
My dream trade
odd dream
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 6, 2008 5:22 PM CST up reply actions
He's not out for the season yet.
I don't think Wallace will ever play less than 30 minutes a game this year. If he did, he'd be valuable, but as it is, I think he's a detriment to the team. He is below average when playing 35 minutes so that's bad; he's taking up minutes that should be used for the younger guys; he costs a lot of money. I actually don't mind Boylan's minutes rotations except for Wallace. Since I don't see the Bulls winning it all this year, if I could just cut him this year, I would. It'd force them to play Thomas and Noah more. As it is, he's a triple negative for the team.
Further, as has been pointed out numerous times here, there and everywhere, players getting big contracts rarely change teams through free agency.
So, since I don't think, if he's here, that Wallace will play less than 30 minutes, even if Arenas doesn't come back, I think the team will still be better this year and in the future. Adding further that the Bulls would basically get "first dibs" on Arenas.
I don't see, if Thomas and Noah are getting a combined 50 minutes the rest of this year, that next year's team isn't a serious contender next year with Hinrich/Arenas/Deng/Thomas/Noah/whoever.
Besides...
well there's plenty of reasons
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 6, 2008 6:17 PM CST up reply actions
As I said...
For me, it'd be worth getting a smaller but longer contract back and giving up a draft pick and some money just to have first "dibs" on re-signing Arenas. Has a team ever wanted to re-sign it's own player and not been able to?
But whatever.
I guess the question for me is...
you should start your own blog
By the way...
Don't look for him to argue his own case.
or maybe i didn't feel like diving
Washington...
I doubt they would trade Arenas for anything less than a superstar or younger prospects in return.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 6, 2008 6:02 PM CST up reply actions
Because of the contract
On the defensive end, I don't feel he "anchors" the defense. A combination of other players could offer more intensive defense (with height) and better rebounding. I'm sure some playoff bound teams would like to have him if they are convinced he won't throw a fit when he realizes he won't be getting 30+ minutes a game.
Noce!!!!
http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2008/01/nba-news-manus-back.html
by sivanjohn on Jan 6, 2008 7:17 PM CST reply actions
Amare missed a practice
Shall I revive the Wallace/BG for Bell/Stoudemire trade talk?
only if you really think you know something
I know
That may be true
Please revive the Ben Wallace for Stoudemire trade
Amare links
Oh snap
It is alarming when Suns center Amaré Stoudemire sends a morning text message
lol, txt message out of work
Dear Paxson,
Phone. Phoenix. Now.
Sincerely,
Bulls Fans
by NBA Observer on Jan 7, 2008 11:00 AM CST up reply actions
What would do to get rid of Big Ben?
Maybe take phoenix 1st round draft pick to because they like to give those away.
Az central
Dear Ben Wallace,
Please destroy the Knicks & 76ers. Play with energy and you can play next to Amare in a couple weeks.
Thank you,
Blog-a-Bull community
Your trade proposal
Phoenix would probably deal Marion since his contract extension is going to be very expensive, but they need Marion even if they add a stopper that is big.
This was my trade proposal that received quite a few laughs around here. Understandably so though in my view.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=2381~885~49~1727&teams=21~21~4~4&t e=&cash=
Bulls Get
Amare
Raja Bell
Suns get
Ben Wallace
Ben Gordon
by NBA Observer on Jan 7, 2008 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
Amare
You cannot forget Phoenix's management. They don't want to add salary & Ben Gordon thinks he is worth 50 million. Both teams have the components to help eachother out. Plus, you would think Kerr & Paxson could hammer something out together.
Yes!
As far as Gordon, he probably is worth 50 million, just not to the Bulls because he can't play D. Maybe Phoenix would see fit to pay it considering their philosophy has always been to run and outscore their opponents, but they would be pretty exposed with Nash and Gordon in the backcourt together.
I like the comment above hoping that Kerr will pull a McHale.
Also, as much as I hate to say it there is actually a decent article in the ESPN mag that talks about why GM's have become trigger shy with pulling big name trades recently. In the fans eyes you never get back what you lose. Not so much the article, but the point is well said.
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 7, 2008 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
Bell 3-pt...
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 7, 2008 12:35 PM CST up reply actions
It might also have something
Perhaps...
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 7, 2008 12:51 PM CST up reply actions
I'm with ya on that.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 7, 2008 1:08 PM CST up reply actions
Also...
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 7, 2008 12:55 PM CST up reply actions
I don't know how you're proposing to get Bell.
I tend to agree...
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 7, 2008 1:50 PM CST up reply actions
Sefo/Khryapa for Bell
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 7, 2008 2:03 PM CST up reply actions
Or...
by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 7, 2008 2:09 PM CST up reply actions
Start Thabo
Duhon is regressing. Thabo has actually looked OK when given the opportunity to run the offense. Start him and give him at least 10 minutes to see what he can do. Sure his jump shot looks bad, but at least he's shooting better than 14%(Du's % as a starter.)
Thabo is definitely doing better than Du
And these are Thabo's FIRST six games according to the Trib - that is, when he was looking particularly awful. He's raised his percentages a little bit since then, but even how he started off is better than how Duhon is playing now.

by 













