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Not even sure it could be called a venting thread

Blogabull_s_tiny by your friendly BullsBlogger on in News Comment 215 comments

I mean, a home loss to the Knicks. Getting outscored  28-12 in the 4th quarter against a team that can't play defense and in most cases simply doesn't find it necessary. You could call it stunning, but the Bulls haven't been playing well lately despite their record, and when you let teams hang around like this, it can happen.

I wasn't happy with Boylan's caving into the Knicks' small-ball by countering with the tiny-ball lineup for too long. But tough to complain too much when Tyrus got plenty of time (ok I will complain, why have him at the three the entire game?), and they were better with him on the court (+6), especially in a first half stint paired with Noah and Gray. But it was balanced with several mistakes, including some poor shot selection and a couple no-chance goaltend tries. Overall though, more Tyrus minutes means good things [Edit: For those who (wisely? heh) avoid the comments section, I'm not saying Tyrus had a good game, just that his time tonight was no indication that he shouldn't be playing], and I credit Boylan for using the quick hook with Nocioni, whose flu game was just like Michael Jordan's, except the complete opposite. Felt the same with his use of Aaron Gray, the hook came at just the right time to keep him effective (if he insists on playing him in the first place).

Down the stretch, Joe Smith was carved up by Zach Randolph,  Gordon completely dissapeared, and the team in general was missing plenty of close shots. Again, this Knicks team cannot guard anybody, and when you do miss there's usually an offensive rebound waiting in your lap. To only score twelve points in a quarter is a team-wide collapse.

In this era of good feelings the Bulls squeaked out wins against crap teams, and it was worrisome. But the reports were that the players were feeling better, and I suppose a lot of fans did too. Maybe now this is another reality check that they're not out of the woods yet, and the Boylan plan of benching Gordon and giving heavy minutes to Wallace (38 tonight) and Smith (34) wasn't really 'working' at all.

Whether anything will work is another question.

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I thought
you only used raw plus/minus to pick on Nocioni.  I guess we can add to praise the inconsistent Tyrus Thomas to the mix.

by JSlakov on Jan 8, 2008 11:13 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

well they go hand in hand
because Noc always has a shitty +/-, and Tyrus always has a good one.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:15 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

well then
what about Duhon's consistently good plus/minus

by JSlakov on Jan 8, 2008 11:15 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

yeah but nobody thinks Duhon is good
He didn't have one last year, or the year before that.

So chalk it up to Hinrich's shit start.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:22 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

how about
Ben Gordon having the worst plus/minus on the team?

If Duhon has the best and Ben Gordon has the worst then I guess you should agree with Duhon starting over him?

by JSlakov on Jan 8, 2008 11:23 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Is everything in this 30-game vaccum?
These guys have track records, you know.

(not the same track record Ben Wallace has)

I don't get the hullabaloo over quoting +/-. I don't use it as an end-all and never pretend to. So why the need to try and pin me down with some counter-argument using it?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:26 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

because
I've seen you scoff at plus/minus when it favors Nocioni or Duhon.  All I ask is that you be consistent.  I personally think its a stupid stat.

As for Thomas, he has a track record too, of being inconsistent, and he's proven it in pretty much every game he's played this year.  I want him to play as much as you do, but not necessarily to start and not necessarily heavy minutes.  And I don't think playing him is the answer to all our problems.  And I definitely don't think there's any point to constantly comparing him to Nocioni when I happen to think they should be playing together much more often instead of thinking of Nocioni as stealing Thomas' "well earned" minutes.

by JSlakov on Jan 8, 2008 11:31 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

it's not a stupid stat
I suppose game-to-game it is, and without factoring teammates it is.

But that's my point: Tyrus' "track record" is one of having a positive plus/minus over the course of an entire season, which is a more useful piece of evidence then a label of  'inconsistency'.

I think that Noc is absolutely blocking Thomas' minutes. Maybe I don't need to use plus/minus to bash Noc, but there's a disconnect in most circles of Noc's effectiveness. Although I'd say in this space we're all pretty aware that he's not very good, so maybe I can retire it. But I won't because it's fun for me, and Tyrus still needs love in the face of those who love all that is chucky and roamy and monster playoff games against Antoine Walker-y.

I never said it's the answer to all the problems. But it's one answer that's easier to implement than a trade.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:42 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

track record
Tyrus Thomas has a negative plus minus for his career.  Games this season count just as much as last season on a per game basis.

by JSlakov on Jan 8, 2008 11:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

well, now you're just making stuff up.
Or not. I'm looking at net (on court - off court) per 100 posessions. That's the one labled in green and green means go.

Thomas is  +1.3 this season, +3.6 last season

http://www.82games.com/0708/07CHI11D.HTM
http://www.82games.com/0607/06CHI10D.HTM

Again, I use it in particular with Noc and Thomas because I think Noc doesn't get enough flak for the non-box-scored deficiencies in his game.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:06 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

and sorry that this needs to be pointed out
but when I explicitly say that we only use +/- to bash Noc and praise Tyrus...that's meant to be facetious, and admitting there's some bias involved in me using it.

I used it in this game's recap because Tyrus had a bad game but I wanted to point out that it wasn't THAT bad.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:13 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

the point
I know you're being facetious but the point is that you continue to hail Thomas in every post even when he's not that great.  Then, there have been games that Nocioni completely carried us in and you give him a back handed compliment.  And because they're such different players, you can't honestly say that Thomas would have done a better job if he had Nocioni's minutes because he's not capable of doing the things that Nocioni has done at times.

The overall point is that we need Nocioni and Thomas both to play well to be a great team and both of them have shown they are capable of this.  However, neither of them are going to carry the team and if either of them is doing anything but their role on the team its a problem.  So I don't like Nocioni jacking up contested threes, even though at times it seems to work better than our usual offense, but neither do I want Thomas running the break or trying to post up.  And the truth is, both of these guys would look a lot better if we had some real talent instead of the ugly amalgam of overhyped jumpshooters that we do.

by JSlakov on Jan 9, 2008 12:23 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

but Noc is an overhyped jumpshooter
And because they're so different (like you say) I think Tyrus could help the team more with Noc's minutes. Just speculation, but that's what I think.

Right now Noc is at 25.5 MPG, and Tyrus at 16.8, and that doesn't factor in the DNPs

As far as what they can and can't do, at least when Tyrus 'can't' post up, when he does it can be viewed with a purpose of shaping his game in the future. Do you really think that Noc and Tyrus are equals when looking at the big picture?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:30 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

big picture
I wince when I think of the big picture knowing that this team is fucked unless they can pull of a good trade.  The fact that they tricked me into thinking this team was anything close to a contender makes it even worse.  I think we're both just mad and you choose to take it out on Nocioni and Duhon and I choose to spread the blame out more evenly.

As for Tyrus posting up, I don't really envision him ever being a post up guy but more of a shooter/dunker, Marion with more hops at best.  At this point I wouldn't mind seeing Nocioni traded to a good team so A.) we can get something good for him and B.) I'd like to see him succeed because I really do think he's a good player who would be very valuable to the right team

by JSlakov on Jan 9, 2008 1:13 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

that said
I appreciate those with Noc-love to keep me in check. f'real. Because I admit further bias against Nocioni because I hate watching his style of play, and that's not exactly fair.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:32 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Finally!!!
Your blog, but man, has the Noc bashing gotten old.  Especially, in light of a team that needs to be bashed in general.  Be a little more versatile.  Move to another player, like say, Hinrich.  Whose inability to now even consider shooting, on a team that can't score, is crushing.  Then move on to...

by EdNealy on Jan 9, 2008 10:21 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

actually
it sounds like he does watch the games because anyone who watches the games knows that the whole team is playing terribly.

by JSlakov on Jan 10, 2008 1:01 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

anybody who watches the games
knows they played fine until the last 4 minutes of that NY game.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 10, 2008 8:59 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

playing fine
playing fine is not good enough.  We should be blowing out the Knicks, not letting them hang around and definitely not letting them come back tow in

by JSlakov on Jan 10, 2008 4:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

wrong
the reason the knicks lose is because they don't play together, not because they don't have talent or other teams are so much better than they are.  If the knicks play the right way, they are ever bit as good as any other team in the league and can beat any other team in the league.  They played together in the 4th quarter.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 10, 2008 9:08 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

well
thats not the stat you were referencing in the original post.

by JSlakov on Jan 9, 2008 12:13 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Tyrus's +/- is actually better than that this year
He's at 3.4 per 100 poss according to basketballvalue, which is dedicated just to +- per poss.  82games offers more information, but for +- I prefer basketball value.
http://basketballvalue.com/teamplayers.php?year=2007-2008&mode=summary&sortnumber=21&sor torder=DESC&team=CHI

by Scotter on Jan 9, 2008 9:06 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

well
Matt referenced the stat +/- that can now be found on NBA.com in the box score and in that stat Thomas is -22 on the year or -16 if it wasnt counting last night's game yet.

by JSlakov on Jan 9, 2008 4:19 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That's simply semantics.
I know Matt would agree that pace adjusted +- like the numbers Matt linked to at 82games and I linked to at basketballvalue are better than what's in the NBA boxscores.  The NBA boxscore +- is only good for talking about individual games.  Tyrus has a significant track record of being better than the guys playing ahead of him on the roster.  He has a positive +/- for this year and his career.

by Scotter on Jan 9, 2008 4:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

ok
then he should have used that stat in the original post instead of the raw plus minus which he's mocked in the past.  I don't think that stat really says anything about individual games  either because a player can play terribly and the team can still gain points if there are other players making up for it and vice versa.

by JSlakov on Jan 9, 2008 7:36 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Whoa.
Don't argue based on the supposedly self-evident merits of consistency.  In a post-modern world, there is no special virtue in consistency.  Yes, you may want your players to hit their free throws consistently, but in terms of arguments, lifestyles, belief systems, viewpoints...consistency is not merely over-rated, it is non-existent.  

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 12:05 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

well after filtering out the alec-ness
that's a good point. A lot of times asking for consistency is asking the player to be simply better, which is rarely possible.

Like, if only Duhon could consistently hit his shot.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:09 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It's not non-existent...
it's lack is just given a free pass by everyone

by Sports2 on Jan 9, 2008 6:28 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Well....no.
If you actually want to learn about it, there are a lot of good entry level articles on the internet about post-modern psychology.  Post-modernism stems from the same roots as most other 20th c advances in math, physics, logic, etc.  Demanding consistency is like demanding the universe operate according to Newton's laws.  We now know it doesn't.   Get out of the middle ages.  

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 8:49 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

wow
alec, you have finally enriched my life.  your existence is no longer futile.  congrats on taking a big step.  can i get a link to some of those articles.  thanks.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 9:08 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

If you're actually interested...
which I honestly can't tell (but I think you're not) I can link you.  I do have a (what I think is a) really interesting article from the L.A. Times archived....

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 9:25 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

very interesting article
but I would tend to agree with Sports, there is a difference between the consistency with which TT views himself as primarily in a catch-and-shoot jumpshooter and/or a slasher/primary ballhandler and the consistency with which he makes his FT's.  But it is interesting to speculate whether or not Wallace views himself as a late game offensive option or not in addition to be a tough on-the-ball defender.  And how much of that identity is determined by the guys they are playing with.  It would seem to me that if Kirk doesn't think you are an "offensively capable guy" he's not going to pass you the ball much or in good positions to prove that.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 10:14 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

LOL
True advances in science are the result of demanding consistency.  Discarding Newtonian physics for quantum mechanics is precisely because the new theories are more consistent with observed phenomena.

Taken as some kind of whole, I wouldn't say "post-modernist" thought makes much sense as a concept. It doesn't stem from the same roots as true advances, it's largely a reaction to them from the emotional lot of folks who can't or won't think scientifically and therefore don't want anyone else to. A half-assed reincarnation of the Romantic reaction to the Enlightenment. :)

by Sports2 on Jan 9, 2008 9:45 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

My how this has taken a turn!
I think if we keep this up a lot more folks even than usual will start to get pissed off.  So I'll only add this one more bit then drop it.  But it was nice to chat....  

The mathematical foundations of post modernism really come out of Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem, which, in a nutshell, demonstrated that completeness and consistency are mutually exclusive.  That was almost 100 years ago, and it remains the mathematical innovation we're still attempting to come to grips with, in both hard and soft science as well as the arts.  

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 10:35 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

All I'm saying, Matt,
is you feel free to be as inconsistant as you like...even to the point of being on both sides of the same issue--because the you that makes the case today is not the same you that made the case yesterday.

And I said I'm done.

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 10:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I was being serious
I didn't mean you couldn't have this conversation in any thread, whatever it was (didn't read most of it)

And if you wanted to explore the studio space some more, you could make an 'alec's corner' diary.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:52 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

OK, To bring it back to the Bulls...
... they can (and must) remain consistent because they cannot be complete. :)

Put differently, The Bulls are not an "end state", they are a collective effort toward a goal. But reaching the goal wouldn't make them "complete, it'd change the goal".  In a sense they're all consistency and no completeness (Like the solution to a math problem, the Bulls must be consistent in following the rules that lead to championships.

I don't know if there's a hard and fast set of rules, but I do think there are consistent things that lead to winning.  I used to think the Bulls had a plan and a pretty good handle on that.  Not just the "Xs and Os", but what type of players work, what kind of systems work with what kind of players, how to get folks to work well together.  What kinds of trades and signings work and what kind don't.  What it costs to win and how much players in general and there own in particular, can and can't do.

Now, I just don't know.  Do they have a consistent vision?  Maybe they do and they've just executed it poorly.  Or maybe they don't have much of a plan and they're just winging it.  I really

OK, I'll stop now :)
Since Matt doesn't want it here, can I suggest my Religion/Politics/Philosophy board?

by Sports2 on Jan 9, 2008 11:10 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

C'mon Matt
Tyrus might have been +20 in the first half, but he was +6 for the game, so what does that tell you about the second half?  He played like crap.  Sure it was bouncy and energetic, but he didn't accomplish anything and actually got stuffed by Curry.

And if you are wondering why he didn't get time at the 4 in the same breath as pointing out Smith didn't handle Randolph well at the end, do you really think Tyrus was the answer?  Really?  Randolph would have abused Tyrus.  If Deng wasn't out and Noc wasn't under the weather, Tyrus wouldn't have played this game, and it's debatable whether or not Thabo wouldn't have been the better choice to pick up the extra minutes at the 3 anyway.

Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 8, 2008 11:15 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

He got stuffed by Curry twice, actually
it was no good.

I thought Tyrus was fine in his first stint in the second half, but he was part of the sinkhole to end the game, and he did play his part in that.

If Randolph had to guard Thomas, it's possible Randolph would've fouled out. I don't get why it's always one-way when talking about 'matchups'

I fear that you're correct that if Deng wasn't out and Nocioni wasn't awful (sick, my bad) that Tyrus wouldn't play. That's saaaaaad.

In conclusion, Tyrus Thomas still rules.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:19 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

(btw, I'm not saying Tyrus had a good game)
just that his time tonight was no indication that he shouldn't be playing in general. Often.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:23 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

to a point
I agree, but the whole "TT is the savior" thing needs to ratchet down a notch.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 8, 2008 11:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

savior to what end?
I'm not arguing the ends here, I think Thomas and Noah have simply earned heavy minutes, and that opinion coupled with seeing our old-men frontcourt play for as much as they do gives ample reason to change in that direction.

Besides TT may not be a savior but he's more of a hope of one than a Joe Smith 18-footer or earth-moving Wallace defense.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

So, we're righting off
this season and going back to the never ending youth movement?  Honestly, I too want heavy minutes for Noah, Thomas and Sefalosha and if it means missing the ever-popular 7-8 seed, so be it.

by EdNealy on Jan 9, 2008 10:25 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Unfortunately
I think this debate is going on in unproductive terms.  I think, but can't prove:
  • "Heavy" minutes aren't necessary.  These guys do need game experience, but for every game they probably spend twice as much time in practice.  That's where the majority of NBA players learn and grow (if a practice is useful).
  • "Steady" minutes are necessary.  I think what'd help, more than playing these guys a ton, is playing them a little bit, but steady.  I think to do that, however, someone else needs to be moved out of the frontcourt. Wallace, Smith and Nocioni eat up too many minutes to play three young guys steadily.  At the moment, I'd use Gray situationally and still get a consistent 12-20 minutes for Thomas and Noah.  Finding the right lineups is tough because neither of those guys is a good fit next to Wallace.
  • From what I've seen, we'll have a hell of a time making the playoffs with our young big guys playing huge minutes, or if someone gets hurt. Still, I think Pax will go all out for the playoffs. I don't think he wants to go to the Chairman at the end of the year with that to show.  And I don't suspect the Chairman wants to miss out on those revenues.
  • As far as how it'd be viewed, I won't view sneaking into the playoffs, especially on the backs of the rapidly aging bigs we've got, as a very productive season.  I mean, Skiles was fired to get this season back on track and implicity the idea was that the problem was largely him and not the players. Well, if the goal is just getting into the playoffs, expectations have fallen a lot with or without Skiles.
  • I hope the Bulls are looking hard at moving Nocioni and especially Wallace.  I'd be trying to find a future pick for Duhon while I'm at it. In the case of Wallace, I expect him to fall apart playing the minutes he's playing. If he's not being showcased, I'm not gonna be happy.

by Sports2 on Jan 10, 2008 8:12 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Tyrus
The coaches should give him an opptunitity to succeed.  Having him on the court in crunch time as a three with the offense running through Big Ben and everyone in the building knowing little Ben is taking the shots in the last 5 minutes is just dumb by the coaching staff.  

by Jesse07 on Jan 9, 2008 9:28 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Plus
the last 5 minutes is what made the huge jump from a + 20 to a + 6

by Jesse07 on Jan 9, 2008 9:29 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

right, I didn't pull that +/- out of thin air
when watching the game, it was notable that the team's lead got bigger when Tyrus was on the court, and then shrank when he left it.

Thus I was very happy to see Tyrus come in during those final 5 minutes, but he didn't play well and nobody scored.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

there's a difference between
passing the ball to Wallace on offense, and running the offense through him.  Why do people think they are running the offense through Wallace?  They aren't.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 9:30 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

they do on some posessions
one is one too many.

You don't agree that putting Tyrus at the 3 is a bad idea? He had to stand in the baseline corner most of his time out there.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 9:49 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Tyrus does not look ready to play the 3!
Facing the basket from 25 feet out usually ends up in a turnover or bad shot.

Leave him at the 4 where he can exploit his quick leaping abilities over the slower and heavier PF's. His post game was just starting to come around, plus he forces the opposite team's 4 to jump out on him and not leave him open for the 15-17 foot jump shot (which he has definitely improved on this year!).

by RogersPark Kris on Jan 9, 2008 9:55 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He's got to be a 3 against a team like the knicks
and the offense is more evolved than the 3 just stands in the corner.  Deng posts up all the time so TT could do the same at the 3.  He isn't just standing in the corner.  And Matt, if he is your wonderboy, he should be able to impact the game positively from the 3 or the 4.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 10:17 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

well technically he did
And I really don't see the concern with 'matching-up' with the Knicks.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:25 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

the bulls need to match up with everybody
because none of their guys is consistently a problem for the opponent.  You know this already.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 10:30 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Time to give up on the season
If this team can't beat the Knicks at home, then they fuckin' suck.  Try to make a trade, and play the young players in the meantime and see what you have.  Why bother playing Wallace and Smith big minutes?  So the team can get swept in the first round by the Celtics or Pistons?  Smith had a damn good game tonight, and Wallace had a typical 2008 Ben Wallace game, and the team still lost at home to the Knicks.  That's the upside you get with those guys, so what happens when they get hurt or have lousy games?  I understand why Boylan thinks he can rack up wins by playing the vets, but I have no idea why Paxson would allow it.

by Big D on Jan 8, 2008 11:25 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

We're really a different team without Deng ...
Deng goes out in the 2nd half and we lose in OT to the Blazers, we barely beat a Kings team without Bibby, Martin, Artest at home, then we fall apart and lose to the Knicks at home.

It seems like without our best player (if it wasn't clear before, it's 100% clear now that Deng is by far our best player) we can't beat teams we're supposed to beat and we don't have a chance to be competitive against the better teams.

It just pisses me off that we should have a 7 game winning streak now but instead we lose two OT heartbreakers and that piece of shit game last night.

by Orange Juice on Jan 9, 2008 3:22 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

it was more than
Deng's absence...they got nothing from the 3 spot as a whole

Deng - out

Noce - 7 pts

TT - 2 pts

Thabo - 0 pts

ADrain - DNP

If they could've gotten around 15-17 from ANY combination of those guys they get a win last night

by ScottieCartwright on Jan 9, 2008 3:32 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Thabo barely counts
He played less than 3 min.  And Noc really hurt us - a guy as sick as he looked out there shouldn't have been out there for 15 min.  He was 3-12.

by Jaina on Jan 9, 2008 5:24 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Really remarkable that
Khryapa didn't get a look at all given the utter lack of productivity at the 3.
"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Jan 10, 2008 10:07 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Before the season started I was really hoping
Deng would get big minutes at the 2, thereby opening time at the 3 for Tyrus.  What we've actually seen happen is that Deng's game near the basket has improved, which has rendered the plan to move him further away somewhat moot.  As for Tyrus, it seems that every inch further from the basket he gets, his play drops off a foot.  

Plus, I don't think it can be disputed that Joe Smith has been by far and away the best player since the coaching change.  The team would probably mutiny if his PF minutes were parceled out to Thomas.

This team is in a hard place right now.

by alec on Jan 8, 2008 11:26 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Deng at the 2?
Seriously? You thought he could play the 2 in the East?

by Khalid El-Amin on Jan 9, 2008 1:25 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Deng at the 2 was coming full bore
out of the Bulls' preseason hype machine...Deng posting smaller 2 guards.  That's all we heard until his bad back put him--and the plan--on ice.

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 8:36 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It doesn't matter if the Bulls have
the matchup against small guards if they don't take advantage of it.  (see Tyrus & Starburry last night)

by Jesse07 on Jan 9, 2008 9:34 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

We need trades
And I don't care that our players at the lowest
price level.Wasn't point of firing Skiles play the
youngsters more?
And Boylan played them.Noah,Gray,TT,Sefolosha...did very well in second Q.That was actually one brught spot of the game.Then all of a suden they got benched.
I was replying to Jaina why he did this and I think he just scared of Wallace.He's afraid that
"veterans" will tune him out like with Skiles.
He is thinking about his career not about teams' future.
"RUN,TYRUS,RUN!!!"-Formerly Chicago Bulls coach S.Skiles

by Azabullsfan on Jan 8, 2008 11:27 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

You can't blame a guy for thinking
about his future, but I keeping going back to that yahoo article Matt dug up about what Boylan should really be doing:  developing the kids.  

That's actually the best career move for him, because if he does it right, everyone who counts (read: who might be in a position to hire him) will notice.

by alec on Jan 8, 2008 11:32 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't blame him for thinking about his future.
But like you said he think about his nearest future instead of the long run.He just has no balls.But it's ok.I'm wondering what the hell is Pax thinking about?
"RUN,TYRUS,RUN!!!"-Formerly Chicago Bulls coach S.Skiles

by Azabullsfan on Jan 8, 2008 11:45 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It might be best to forget this game ever happened

Noc was sick, terrible late game shooting. On the opposite end, both Curry and Crawford played out of their minds.

Bulls are still in the playoff hunt and they still have  Deng coming back. It's not the end of the world, pretty damn close tho'.

by RogersPark Kris on Jan 8, 2008 11:33 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

you're probalby right
it sucks, but the knicks always get up for the Bulls with all the chicago connections on that team.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 8, 2008 11:35 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

For how long we gonna
foul ourselves,giving exuses.
We have a pretty shitty team and something needs to be done ASAP.
"RUN,TYRUS,RUN!!!"-Formerly Chicago Bulls coach S.Skiles

by Azabullsfan on Jan 8, 2008 11:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It's never a good idea
to make a move simply out of desperation or panic. If the right deal isn't out there, you don't do it.

by RogersPark Kris on Jan 8, 2008 11:55 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Gasol
"RUN,TYRUS,RUN!!!"-Formerly Chicago Bulls coach S.Skiles

by Azabullsfan on Jan 9, 2008 12:05 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

right, I'm sure Pax is as pissed as we are
but in reality, this one game doesn't mean any more or less than beating the Kings by one on Saturay.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:10 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

They shouldn't make changes because of this game
They should make changes because this game was pretty typical of the way the Bulls have played this year.  If they had a good record like last year and then lost to the Knicks at home, then you could write it off as a bad night.  They're 13-20, though, and they just lost at home to one of the worst teams in the league, so it's silly to expect a magical turnaround now.

by Big D on Jan 9, 2008 12:43 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly!
And even those 2 loses in overtime were kinda typical for the Bulls.Guys should learn to close the games they must have been win.
"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Jan 9, 2008 12:52 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Doesn't matter?
I think I understand what you're saying regarding this loss not mattering any more than the one-point victory over the Kings, especially given your Road to Nowhere Campaign.

But to me, even close wins/losses on a middling team can make all the difference in the world. If the Bulls end the season just a half game out of a playoff spot, then this will all have been a major step backwards, the firing of Skiles, the posturing of Pax that this is still a playoff team, and even arguably the entire Pax rebuilding plan. And the close losses will be pointed to as one of the keys to this season-long failure. Whereas close wins would be cited as this team showing heart, finding a way to win, and proving that you can't hold a good team down.

Even for Boylan, a relative afterthought in the franchise's big picture, this game is like a neon sign saying, "I CAN'T COACH", and worse yet, "MY GM CAN'T PICK WINNERS"--worst road team, bad morale, league joke comes into your building, you fancy yourself a playoff coach of a playoff team (even if it's the East) and you can't protect a double-digit lead well into the 2nd half?

Anyway, even in terms of the subjective perceptions of this team (by everyone--fans, pundits, NBA personnel), I'd venture to guess that this one solidifies the current Bulls team as pretenders rather than contenders, and labels it That Team that Just Lost to the Knicks Again. This, during the supposed honeymoon of their new coach and during their supposed rejuvinated play.

"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Jan 9, 2008 11:14 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

the Noc flu game
I was up in 300-level (first time in a while I was in attendence, and it was so great not hearing the announcers, btw), so I can't say. But did Noc look ill? It's not like he hasn't been shooting like this lately, sick or not.

I don't mind the chucking, honest, but he has to be at least set. I swear, one time he even tried the Gordon step-back jumper.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:45 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

TV Crew
The TV crew said Noc looked very pale at the start of the 2nd half.  They flashed over to some comments from Boylan who said that Noc felt good before the game once he got warm and active, but was worried about cooling down at half time and not having anything for the 2nd half.

Turns out Boylan was exactly right.  Once Noc wasn't out there running the flu really started to affect him.  By the time he came out in the 2nd he looked slow.

When the TV flashed to the bench you could see Noc coughing a lot.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 8:25 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Noce
I thought Noce looked bad even starting off the game.  His first few 3-pt shot attempts were very short - clanging the front of the rim with no chance to in.  He usually can get the whole ball over the rim before it clangs out (jk).
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." - Ron Burgundy

by mdmnd9294 on Jan 9, 2008 9:23 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

He looked pretty rough coming off,
and I was just reading that Kirk was coughing and sounded hoarse after the game, which worries me that this is something that might make the rounds of the team.  Sharing the flu and not sharing the ball (lousy assists total last night) is not a good recipe for making up ground.

http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2008/01/09/sports/nba/bulls/doc47847f9b7f89d820744609.txt

"I believe. I believe. It's silly, but I believe." (Miracle on 34th Street)

by wjb1492 on Jan 9, 2008 10:02 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

No press pass?
I jest. But seriously, there are bloggers with press passes. Just wondering how formally you've looked into getting one.
"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Jan 9, 2008 11:34 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

never looked into it
From what I've heard and read, the NBA isn't that keen on it in general anyway.

I'd only use it for the free tickets and access to Sam Smith.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 11:37 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You gotta believe that as hard as it is
for us to watch this team, it's got to be pure torture for Paxson.   If any of these rumored deals have any substance, I truly hope something happens before too much longer.

Any professional therapists in the crowd?  Where in the 5 stages of grief is Paxson by now?  I hope he's not still stuck in disbelief, because if he is, we've got a long dark night ahead of us before he finally works his way round to acceptance, and does something about this mess.

by alec on Jan 8, 2008 11:46 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

There's still 6 weeks
until the deadline. As long as Pax doesn't fall into 'desperation' (is that one of the stages?)

He should definitely be active though, even if it's something relatively minor like getting in a bigger guard.

He famously hasn't made an in-season trade since the Jalen Rose ticket out of town.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 8, 2008 11:51 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

stages
1 - Denial

2 - Anger

3 - Bargaining

4 - Depression

5 - Acceptance

========
I gotta think he's just left 3, going into 4 right now  :-)

by ScottieCartwright on Jan 9, 2008 8:57 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Ha!
Thank you.  Let's hope he doesn't get stuck in 4.

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 9:05 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Except we sure as hell don't want him to get
to 5.  Let's go back to stage 3.
"I believe. I believe. It's silly, but I believe." (Miracle on 34th Street)

by wjb1492 on Jan 9, 2008 10:03 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

actually
we DO want him to get to 5...it was explained this way:

"You have to accept the loss, not just try to bear it quietly. Realization that it takes two to make or break a marriage. Realization that the person is gone (in death) that it is not their fault, they didn't leave you on purpose. (even in cases of suicide, often the deceased person, was not in their right frame of mind) Finding the good that can come out of the pain of loss, finding comfort and healing. Our goals turn toward personal growth. Stay with fond memories of person."

Let's hope he finally realizes and accepts that the way this team is currently constructed, it will NOT win a championship.  Maybe then will he make a trade or two.

by ScottieCartwright on Jan 9, 2008 10:23 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

First things first.
I'm just hoping he's not stuck at 1.
"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Jan 9, 2008 11:16 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I was just joking about bargaining,
as in, please let Pax be out there bargaining for a trade.
"I believe. I believe. It's silly, but I believe." (Miracle on 34th Street)

by wjb1492 on Jan 10, 2008 11:37 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

keep deng,gray and noah
trade tyrus.  feature him for a couple of weeks, give him lots of minutes, let him dunk the ball 10 times a game, do plenty of alley-lob passes and trade him ASAP.  

His basketball fundamentals seem to be the level of a H.S. player, he needs to develop, but he was drafted to high to be demoted to the D-League where he needs to be developed playing (with instructions) or he needs to be on a NBA team that can commit to him developing while making mistakes (Bulls don't have a good recent history of developing Bigs) and trying to figure out what his basketball game entails.  

He took advantage of a final 4 opportunity, dupe GM Paxson and he was not basketball fundamentally ready, he should still be in college learning to play the game.  At best, in 2006 he should have been a late first to a second round pick.  I have always had this opinion, Tyrus continues to fool many because he can jump, but it won't last too much longer..

I like Tyrus, but I don't see how he can be successful in this present situation?  

Also Viktor? can't be successful in his present situation? he should have received minutes at the three while Deng is out and Noc sick?

by exult463 on Jan 9, 2008 6:16 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

I've seen this movie before
To pull a page from the horrendous "Tuesday Morning Quarterback": With minutes left in the game and the score tied up, Ben Gordon misses back to back jumpers while trying to draw the foul. I write "game over" in my notebook.
Seriously, stop doing that! It never works! Whenever I hear "Ben Gordon at the top of the key..." on the radio my heart sinks. But, as his defenders will say, I don't know who else even has a chance of scoring on this team.

by Old Skool Sloan on Jan 9, 2008 8:03 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

What's the use?!?
We just lost to the New York Knicks AT HOME!!  We can talk about who needs to play these minutes, who doesn't need to play those minutes, who needs to do this, who needs to do that, trade this guy, don't trade that guy, but none of that matters.  No matter if Deng is out and Noc is sick, we should have still beat them at home.  

Also, +- is, probably, the worst stat to take into account when assessing a player.  So many other factors play into the +- of a player.  If you look deep into the stats, Adrian Griffin has has been on the + side during stints he's been in the game, and that should NEVER happen.  

by BigScott03 on Jan 9, 2008 8:16 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Last Night...
Tyrus Thomas has Marbury on him for long periods, and the Bulls still decide to run the ball through Ben Wallace on the opposite side of the court.  Find a NEW OFFENSE!  Spread the court, (I know we don't have enough shooters).  In that situation, let Joe Smith and Tyrus be on the same side and take advantage of the mismatches.  Even when the Knicks switched (the one time the ball was thrown into the post) Tyrus made a solid move and scored easily on Jefferies.

I was a little shocked to see T2, Noah, & Gray in at the same time, but it was refereshing to see them all play good together.  I was looking forward to seeing them again in the 3rd, or dare I say part of the fourth to see what they could do.  

The 4th quarter offense... It shouldn't be run through Wallace.  If you want him on the court Boylan, its fine, but do not have him setting the high screen or dropping it to the in the post.  There is no flow.  

Thabo...  You would think a game without Deng & Noce against a bad opponent would be a good game to play the youngster extendend minutes.  I love seeing Tyrus out there, but not all his minutes as a three.  

Please make a trade or fire a coach again or something...

by Jesse07 on Jan 9, 2008 8:30 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Tyrus
didnt have his best game thats for sure.  I heard the post game interview with Boylan and his thought was to counter the small lineup Isiah put out there. So, we counter the lineup but don't take advantage of it on the offensive side.  Boylan was outcoached by Isiah, I hate to say it.  I agree the spin move off the glass from Tyrus was exactly what i want him to do with the ball.  Thabo should of seen some tick with Noc, Deng all sidelined.  I am so tired of the Du starting role.  If the plan is to keep Gordon on the bench, what about Thabo starting.  He'll miss shots like Du, but is a better defender and a true SG
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Jan 9, 2008 8:45 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Thabo starting
would give Kirk a chance to actually guard his own position
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Jan 9, 2008 8:47 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

...and get absolutely murdered
by smaller, quicker point guards like he always does.  

by EdNealy on Jan 9, 2008 10:30 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

the one time TT tried to take Marbury
he lost the ball out of bounds.  TT might not be good enough yet to exploit that kind of matchup.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 9:15 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

he shouldn't
be trying to take Maybury off the dribble.  He was able to post up Jeffries on a nice spin move.  Thats should of been the target of attacking the small lineup.
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Jan 9, 2008 9:32 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

huh?
the 6'9" guy should attack the defensive 6'11" guy in a small ball situation?  are you sure that's what you meant?
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

i meant
when the Knicks went small and Marbury was gaurding Tyrus.  The Bulls should of went to Tyrus in the post against the smaller Marbury to counter Isiah's small lineup.
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Jan 9, 2008 10:01 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

they did once
But Tyrus did a bad job getting position and didn't recieve the ball until he was 18 feet away. Then when trying to spin baseline he turned the ball over.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:07 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Very simply, Tyrus
possesses no offensive skills beyond the flamboyant dunk.  I do like that everyone appears to be very pleased with his new, sub-par jump shot though.

by EdNealy on Jan 9, 2008 10:32 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I only like the jumper
because it's also flamboyant. It's in the wrist...

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:33 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That's true. I may have
missed placed my adjective.

by EdNealy on Jan 9, 2008 10:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Forcing it.
At the time of that turnover, he forced it.  He was probably in disbelief that this was the first time the Bulls were trying to capailize on the mismatch, so he forced a bad mood too far away from the basket.  I would understand his frustration, especially when he is trying to take advantage of the limited playing time.  

by Jesse07 on Jan 9, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Thoughts
It appears Tyrus might be able to play the 3, but I really doubt it.  Against the Knicks, he was able to play the 3 when they went zone and he could move around the floor, threaten the paint, and catch and distribute the ball to the wings and into Gray.  My view is that this is only possible against the Knicks and a few other weak NBA defensive clubs.  Eventually the 3 position will have to dribble out of trouble or to create trouble for the opponent.  Tyrus isn't there yet and I really don't want him to work on that game.

His offense is best suited for the 4.  He looks more confident in the low post and setting perimeter screens to roll off to circle than cutting to the hoop with the basketball.  Near the basket he is a deadly weapon.  No defense can leave him or snooze on him when he roams the baseline.

What looked really good?  The front court kids lineup.  Tyrus 3, Noah 4, and Gray 5 were terrific on the floor together.  They were moving.  They were screening.  THEY WERE PASSING.  Those were the best minutes of the game.  It seemed like every possession with this crew resulted in either an easy hoop near the rim or a foul with free throw attempts.  Once the starters came back in you really saw the offensive flow drop off.  I started yelling at the TV to "PLAY THE KIDS".

I liked watching Thabo handle the ball handling duties as a point forward.  He appears to be a player that you can elevate his confidence by giving him the basketball and letting him set up the offense.  I'd rather he not shoot threes and watch some early Tony Parker film where he couldn't shoot anything but still could draw out defenders to allow him to drive right past them.  Thabo has some silky moves to the rim.  Use them.  Don't be afraid to take two steps in and launch an 18 footer.

So I saw some good things, but the bad things came from players I didn't expect to deliver.  Marbury seemed to hit every shot he had to make including the game sealing tray with 12 seconds remaining.  The Knicks did what Chicago needed to do in order to win this game.  They attacked the rim to create 26 free throw attempts compared to the 14 for the Bulls.  They blocked more 3 more shots than us.  The paltry number of free throw attempts are really hurting us.  We're putting up 20 more shot attempts per game in many of these losses and we're still looking at net deficits on team free throw attempts.  BG and Kirk and in the top 3 NBA free throw percentage.  GO TO THE RIM!

I hope Paxson is active in trade talks.  Chicago can either deal directly or play a role as a third party in facilitating trades for other teams.  One thing is clear, we are fast approaching the date when trying to make the playoffs won't be in our immediate interest.

I really should be more angry with losing to these Knicks at home.  But part of me says this team is just not very good because our roster is incomplete.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 8:42 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

KC
on the Mike North morning show, said he's pretty sure Paxson is looking at trades. But KC implied Pax doesn't leak info about trades (KC said he and the beat writers didn't know about the Deng/Chandler first round pick for Garnett talks).

And he thinks Pax would trade Wallace if he could get someone to take the contract.

It'll be up on the Score site, but since it is a Mike North show, you get a lot of crap in between information.

by KT on Jan 9, 2008 8:58 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wallace had a couple of his patented
plays where he was wide open near the basket with the ball and just stood there. I can only imagine what a pain in the ass that is to deal with on offense.

I believe another 4th quarter posession involved posting Wallace up for the final 10 seconds of the shot clock to have him take a fadeaway jumper. But at least it made him feel good about himself.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 9:22 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

And I am yet again happy
Charter doesn't offer league pass.  It makes dealing with things easier when you don't get to see it.

by KT on Jan 9, 2008 9:49 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

those moments
that you speak of were definitely jump out of my chair, with arms in full flail moments for me....especially the "just standing there" moments...I halfway don't mind the fadeaways because at least it's a shot at the basket.

But when he just stands there and is completely scared to go up and shoot, those I can't deal with.  Each time you could hear the crowd go into somewhat half gasp/half boo type of thing, at least that's what it sounded like on TV...what did it sound like there?

by ScottieCartwright on Jan 9, 2008 9:56 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, there was that one play last night
where Kirk hit him with a nice pass and Wallace was all alone under the basket but didn't put it up.  You could actually hear the reaction from the crowd when he turned to pass it out instead of going up for a dunk.
"I believe. I believe. It's silly, but I believe." (Miracle on 34th Street)

by wjb1492 on Jan 9, 2008 10:09 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Pax needs to
try his best to get BW traded.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 10:16 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

His early layup miss
I'm probably asking for way too much, but Wallace had a wide open layup with nobody near him.  All he had to do was put it up with left hand, bank it off the board and it falls.  Instead, he does a circus one hander with his right and tries to curl it off the board with english to get it to fall.  It rounds off the rim and rolls off for a miss.

My arms were up in the air for a "what in the hell was that" pose.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 10:20 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wallace had a poor game
Down the stretch there were a couple of possessions where Eddy Curry was actually beating Wallace down the floor.  Joe Smith had to pick him up and by then it's over.  Curry was far too deep in the post to be stopped by one man.  Wallace's strengths are pushing the bigs further out, holding his position, and getting his hands on interior passes.  He basically bothers the bigs before they get the ball.  Joe can do this against some bigs in the L, but not wide bigs like Curry.

If Curry and Randolph change ends like they did in the 4th quarter than the Knicks are at least a .500 club.  Eddy had the fam at the game.  I guess Randolph had some Crips in the crowd.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 11:07 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Offensively
he's like that guy in a pick up game who no one ever wants to see get the ball, but every once in while he gets his hands on it.. and you know you might as well start running the other way.

by JeffD on Jan 9, 2008 10:50 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

grumble grumble....youth movement or big trade
Maybe these choices aren't mutually exclusive, but I think that's where we're at. We're beyond comparing them to last year's team. Last year's team shouldn't have lost any of these recent home games. Last year's team shouldn't have needed a healthy Deng to win. Last year last year last year.

Last night was the first (and probably only) game I'll get to attend this year, and seeing them struggle up close was really instructive. I'm realizing how truly limited this team is offensively. As bad & inconsistent as the Knicks are, it's amazing how I got used to expecting their shots to go in (they're professionals after all! They should be making open jump shots), and yet I was surprised when our shots went in.

One option is a complete youth movement. Boylan may not like it, as he'll be trying to save/promote his job, but what Skiles didn't get is at some point it became about saving his boss's job: making hay out of all these supposed young assets with good attitudes. I was more excited to see Gray/Noah/Thabo/Ty (in that order) then anything else. Play the youngins like crazy (though I wonder if that's better to do on the road--the UC fans are getting tired of this nonsense and home boos may not do much for some of these young players' development).

Or, Pax may have to suck it up and make a deal w/o waiting for his players' trade value to go up. The timing of Skiles' dismissal was supposed to be helped by a stretch of winnable games, but is drastically improved play in the next 5 weeks (assuming that even happened) really going to get another GM to make a significantly better deal than now? I wonder.

I still say Gasol is worth it. Even this year's uninspired, listless Pau, he of the weak defense & rebounding, would help this team. This team can hustle on the boards and regain some of their defensive tenacity, but they don't have a player that can consistently create his own offense (reliably, in a half-court game, in the playoffs) and they won't go anywhere until they do.

Ask me again after a few good games and I may change my mind, but I hope Paxson doesn't. Even if Deng returns at his Miami-playoff-series level, even if some of the offensive crispness returns, it's only an illusion.

by T Maple on Jan 9, 2008 9:20 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

I mentioned in this space yesterday
that my brother-in-law's #10 ranked ANC team was playing #1 St. Benedict last night...and WE WON!   They really are a great team and worth watching, if for no other reason than to treat ourselves to a little mental vacation on basketball fantasy island.

I believe they have another national game coming up that will be streamed out of Villanova.  I can try to get the details if anyone's interested.

It occurs to me that watching this Bulls team night after night is a little like the punishment...what was his name?   Oh, yes--Alec...had to endure in A Clockwork Orange.  His "therapy" was to watch horror scenes--his eyelids propped open with tooth picks, his head locked in a vice so he couldn't turn away.

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 9:40 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

I am glad that
my 2nd favorite basketball team is UCONN's women's team.  UCONN has won their 13 games by average margin of 43 points so far.  Right now it's a lot more fun to watch a team struggle to play forty minutes of perfect basketball than watch Boylan struggle to keep this team comfortably average.  There was a Dave Berri post awhile back about interesting teams being either teams that win alot or lose alot.  Boylan's goal so far seems to be to make this team as boring as possible.

by Scotter on Jan 9, 2008 10:00 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

The "new coach" honeymoon is so over
The bubble has burst, the bloom is off the rose, the thrill is gone, etc.

Whatever cliche you choose, the fact is that there is no way to deny reality any longer.  In spite of the close wins over bad teams in the brief Boylan era, I was hopeful that simply winning those games and being competive in the OT losses to good/hot teams would settle this team enough to set it in the right direction.

That is no longer the case.  Since the bad start of 2-10, this team is basically a .500 team at 11-10.  For whatever reasons, this team is not playing like it has in the past 3 seasons.

Specifically addressing this Knicks game, how do you go an entire 4th quarter with only 6 rebs, no FTs (not even a FTA!!) and no 3-ptrs??!!!   12 points on 6 FGs??  If you are a jump-shooting team - make open 3s!! (everyone else does against the Bulls)  If you can't hit those, then you're not a jump-shooting team and you need to attack the f'in basket and get to the line!!  If you can't do either, then your a rec-league team.

Apologies for the formatting fun, but I'm really pissed.

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." - Ron Burgundy

by mdmnd9294 on Jan 9, 2008 10:03 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

The best part
of the game was Kirk, Aaron, Joakim, Tyrus and Ben G. on the floor at the same time. That was fun to watch. I really like Aaron and hope they don't trade him.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 10:14 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

The three kids
Do you think the three kids lineup would produce against anyone else in the league other than the Knicks?

I liked it too, but I'm now correcting any projections because this was against the Knicks.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 10:22 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm with ya
and am only ok with Aaron Gray time because he had a big slug to match up with in Curry.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:27 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

wait
now matchups are ok?
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 10:47 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

with Aaron Gray they are.
Since he needs special circumstances to be useful.

(Like special-olympics circumstances, ha!)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:54 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I didn't say
anything about the kids in any other game but last night' game. It worked last night.

I hope Aaron gets to play in every game. He can't get better sitting on the bench.

Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 10:48 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

actually
Kirk wasn't on the floor long (or at all) during this period.  Duhon was..
Tyrus and Noah took shots and missed and Gray cleaned-up with rebounds and put-backs.  
Duhon was afraid to shoot, so he became a good passing PG.  If both BG and Kirk were on the floor during this period, Kirk and Ben would have dribbled endlessly trying to setup shots for themselves and the offensive movement would have staled as usual.  That's what BG and Kirk do! Except during this stretch BG was content to pass the ball and let the young Bigs have fun.  And as you and NBA Observer said "It was the best part of the game".  Then Boylan put the regular starters back in after Isiah's subsititions and the Bulls lead went from 11 back down to 4.  Boylan should have rode the young guys until they became ineffective. It seems as if they would have built a 25 point lead the way they were playing.  Boylan didn't for some reason?

by exult463 on Jan 9, 2008 2:29 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Kirk was on the floor
Check the game flow.  How is that you are so consistently wrong and can so consistently misinterpret things?  Kirk and Gray, the last to come in were on the floor for over 4 minutes together.  Gray was only in for a little over 7 minutes so the majority of the time was with Kirk.
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 2:39 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Did you
even watch the game? You say "if" Kirk and BG were on the floor during this period they would have dribbled endlessly trying to set up shots for themselves and the offensive moment would have staled as usual. If you had watched the game you would know that that didn't happen.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 3:44 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

K-Dizzle
makes the obvious point that I didn't: The frontcourt was tired out to end the game.

Fewer minutes for Wallace and Smith can solve a lot.  Or maybe not, but it's an easy change. Harder if you care about Wallace's feelings, but really, why should anyone?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:21 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Wallace + 10 rebs = ???
Paxson said he expects 10+ rebs a night from Big Ben.  So is Boylan obligated to play him until he gets there, no matter how long it takes?
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." - Ron Burgundy

by mdmnd9294 on Jan 9, 2008 10:32 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I think we've reached the point
where Pax should demand the youngsters development and just say fuck the playoffs

by Option27 on Jan 9, 2008 10:39 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Yes!
it's happened: Caller on the Score just complained that the Bulls got rid of Jamal Crawford :)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:42 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Has someone called
and complained about getting rid of Curry yet?

Geesh.  As bad as things are now, I don't ever think I could look back fondly of the Rose-Crawford teams.  Ever.

by KT on Jan 9, 2008 10:46 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

that was Zac
Nocioni-Khryapa in '08

by bullshooter on Jan 9, 2008 10:46 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

A big part of getting rid of Crawford
was that he and Jay Williams were incompatible.  Jamal's a great talent and he's a lot of fun to watch...on the highlight reels.  It's better for me to remember him fondly while watching him on another team.  His minute-by-minute, game-by-game performance is, sadly, a lot like Tyrus Thomas's.    

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

More on the Score
They have the KC Johnson appearance with the Mike North show on the website.  Towards the end of the bit, Mike North starts ranting about the way Paxson arrived at the decision to fire Skiles.  North says that Paxson had a meeting with Arn Tellem and at this meeting Tellem encouraged Pax to fire Skiles.

Is there any reporting to support Mike North's suggestion?

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 11:14 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

Pax denied
that in an interview right after Skiles was fired. Guess you have to decide who you want to believe.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 11:19 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Pax falling
Paxson's rep is falling fast and furious with me.

Now I've got to check out all this Arn Tellem nonsense.  Tellem is a principal with WMG(Wasserman Media Group).  The founder of WMG is Casey Wasserman, grandson of Lew Wasserman(deceased) one of the great fixers of the Hollywood film business.

I wonder if Keith Glass(Skiles agent) would agree to an interview with Blog-a-Bull.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 11:28 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Who cares
who is with what media group and grandson of whoever? I doubt Pax cares how you feel about him.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 11:42 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

What, Sue--too many refs
packed into one sentence for you?  The point he's making is simply that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...or, by their fruits you shall know them...or, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me...or, get it?  Or how about this bit of fatherly advice I'm attempting to pass along to my 11 year-old daughter:  It might behoove one to ask a few questions before jumping into bed with a guy.  

What statistical group gets sent to prison more than any other?  Tax cheats? Drug dealers?  Armed robbers?  No--it's people who've already been there.  Return visitors.

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 12:07 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Then save it
for your daughter.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 3:03 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

The short short
Why would anyone care about winning when you're making 30 million per season right now despite the Wallace contract?

In essence, I think the story may eventually tell itself but I would rather jump right to end.

Jerry Reinsdorf doesn't care about winning in the NBA.  Why would he?  The team, after all the trickle down money to players, agents, trainers, etc, still walks away each season with 30 million dollars in profit.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 12:21 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Because making the playoffs = more profit
Several home playoffs games really pads the bottom line.  One of the reasons given for Skiles's firing was that Jerry was worrried about not making the playoffs.  I don't care much about Jerry's various motivations or how much the Bulls make.  But, the playoffs are a financial incentive for owners.

by Scotter on Jan 9, 2008 12:29 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It's true--even Donald Sterling
has made an attempt to put a reasonably competitive team out there in recent seasons. The only way this happens is if it's better for business than his perennial doormat routine.
"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Jan 9, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Notwithstanding certain exceptions
(notably, the Cubs), a good product is usually good for business.  Before you ask...yes, I'm familiar with Marcuse's "One-Dimensional Man" analysis that finally doomed the American communist movement and drove it off college campuses in the `60's--that propaganda trumps reality, that the working class can be deceived into believing their interests are the same as capital's...all you need is a good ad campaign.  

Even so, I can't be quite as cynical as your comments suggest.  I think Reinsdorf wants to win.  Desperately.  He has a raft of other business interests that make him plenty of money.  I believe he views himself in a civic role as a sort of patron of the athletic arts.  

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 1:03 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

"patron of the athletic arts"
There's a phrase I could never have predicted reading.  Ever.  I'm torn between donning my turtleneck to ponder this further, and laughing out loud in the face of absurdity.  This really splits right down the center.

Regardless, I think Jerry would be quite flattered by that title.

Further, I like the image of Ben Wallace as a petulant "athletic artist".

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." - Ron Burgundy

by mdmnd9294 on Jan 9, 2008 5:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

It's a blog site about basketball...
Nobody "really" cares what you think either.  Sorry to burst your bubble.

by EdNealy on Jan 9, 2008 10:38 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Right back
at you sweetie.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 10, 2008 7:18 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

someone reported it
I believe Pax denied it. So who knows. KC didn't deny it, for what that's worth.

I just got finished listening to that interview. Mike North continues to be a discrace. His thoughts on Thabo was that he's soft because he's Swiss, and the 'cornrows make him look like a bitch'. Also, Aaron Gray is better than Tyrus Thomas. I wonder why he thinks that. Oh, and Luol Deng has no right to ask people to donate money to the Sudan since he turned down a contract extension.

KC also disappointed (in a different sense) with his support of Wallace, quoting 'double-digit rebounds' to make his case.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 11:34 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Mike North tried out to replace Don Imus
I thought he was the perfect replacement for Don Imus.  ;)

North really hates Ben Wallace.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 11:40 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm...
That would explain why Mike North hardly ever has a bad word to say about THE BEST WHITE AMERICAN POINT GUARD in the league Kirk Hinrich.

by RogersPark Kris on Jan 9, 2008 11:42 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

what with the comment....
THE BEST WHITE AMERICAN POINT GUARD in the NBA?

Actually ... the guy from Miami (Jason Williams) and Kirk are about equal with Kirk averaging slightly more pts, but Jason better 3pt percentage?  Once you consider the intangables its a toss-up? Clutch scoring, stellar defense and mentally tough in close games?  Still both theses guys don't rank among the elite among PGs.

by exult463 on Jan 9, 2008 2:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I think Hot Dog Boy forgot...
Steve Nash.  Let's see.

White?  Check
Point Guard?  Check
2-time MVP?  Check
American?  This is debatable, but the last time I looked, Canada was in North America...

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." - Ron Burgundy

by mdmnd9294 on Jan 9, 2008 5:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I think he
meant a US citizen.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 5:59 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I know, I was picking on Hot Dog Boy
He certainly limited his sample size with "white American point guard in the NBA"!
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." - Ron Burgundy

by mdmnd9294 on Jan 9, 2008 6:20 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

North frickn' rips
Hinrich. Are you kidding?  He rips the whole team, which they deserve.  His incorrectness mysteriously has everyone tuning in for some reason.

by EdNealy on Jan 9, 2008 10:42 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

'everyone'
please. He's getting shellacked in the ratings by two vanilla national hosts every morning.  

to be fair, I'm pretty sure he thinks Hinrich's no good either. And he doesn't even work for the Sun-Times.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 10:48 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

and Matt...
thank you for your preciseness. "Everyone" is indeed incorrect.  One can only try to be worthy.

by EdNealy on Jan 12, 2008 12:30 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Ahh, a Mike North apologist.
Let me, gently but frankly (though likely not be the first to) tell you, you need to get into a program.  You may not even know it yet, because it generally feels good--at first--to indulge in a broad range of self-centered behaviors.

Why does it feel good?  Because it represents a return to a time when your world was small and it truly and necessarily was all about you.  Infancy, early adolescence--these are times when one can't fend for oneself, when one does need to be taken care of, when one legitimately is the center of an outside caregiver's world.

However, as we mature physically, we generally discard our infantile emotional states.  But not necessarily.  While it may be impossible to halt the march of time as it inexorably propels us toward our physical destiny of adult maturity, it is not at all uncommon to be left playing catch-up emotionally, where, be it through choice or circumstance, we can fall out of step and become fixated on a no longer useful or appropriate emotional state.  

Admittedly, it is not always an easy thing to tell if you are truly stuck, as opposed to being merely, say, an emotional late bloomer.  Luckily, there are self tests you may administer.  Do you, for example, find yourself defending Mike North's opinions?   Or do you repeatedly point out to others that so-and-so doesn't care about how they feel?  

In fairness, it must be noted that these tests require at least an incipient sense of self-awareness.  If one is truly stuck, some form of outside intervention may, unfortunately, become necessary.  

But no matter where you are, it's OK.  There's plenty of help available.  You can outgrow the Mike North mentality.

by alec on Jan 10, 2008 12:27 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Just getting around to reading your post...
I read the first sentence and decided against it.  Hopefully, it didn't take you long.

by EdNealy on Jan 12, 2008 12:27 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

thanks
I was going to take a listen, but now I won't...North is more annoying than Mariotti to me.

by ScottieCartwright on Jan 9, 2008 11:41 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I couldn't agree more,
especially about Mike North.  The guy shouldn't even be allowed a forum...especially one kids might tune in to.  He spews more hatespeech than Rush Limbaugh.  He's unlistentoable.  And KC...sadly, the guy's just got nothin' going.  

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 11:44 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

we're still, overall,
a meathead sports town. So North still has an audience. It's dwindling though, and like Ben Wallace, North's huge contract is undeserved. but unlike Wallace it's up this year!

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 11:52 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

sorry mr. traffic cop
i wasn't really making trade talk, that's why I didn't post it there...just random Memphis thoughts on the day  :-o

just think of it as two places where we can think of Nocioni soon being a thing of the past...

by ScottieCartwright on Jan 9, 2008 11:57 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Ahh...
something positive.

by alec on Jan 9, 2008 11:46 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

07-08 bulls season=murphy's law
who honestly saw this coming?

by Conor on Jan 9, 2008 12:14 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

I think nobody could
plenty of people predicted the bulls hitting a plateau and falling short in the playoffs again. But everyone regressing?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 9, 2008 12:37 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Move of the Night
Crawford breaks Kirk's ankles AND leaves his jock strap laying on the court all at the same time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Crs-QT1DERo

by ScottieCartwright on Jan 9, 2008 2:26 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

A payback cross
Kirk crossed Jamal onto his behind earlier in the game.

by NBA Observer on Jan 9, 2008 2:27 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Aww
Missed it, anyone have a clip of this?
im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Jan 9, 2008 5:45 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That was a very nice 'And 1' move
Kirk, why the hell did you use your left hand to swipe to the right?

No wonder he was able to dribble right past you!

by RogersPark Kris on Jan 9, 2008 2:32 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Conor.. who saw this coming?
actually...

I don't claim to know much as many on this site. And there are some great writers and people who give expert analysis, insightful comments, and give great sarcastic humor!  

But during the summer of 2006, I considered every player personnel decision that Paxson made horrendeous and it would evenually bottom out this team.  I believe this was the year (2006) in which Paxson had a chance to go up to the next level.  I gave him a grade of double FF- that summer for trading Tyson, getting Wallace, and drafting Tyrus and Thabo.  

Even if you analyze it more you'll see that basically Paxson rebuilt the exact same team which Krause left without headbands.  He just devalued Krause's players and went on to give them away for nothing and acquired his version of their clones.  Pride and arrogancy, clean house of the perceived Krause mess and put his stamp of approval on everything.  

You won't see Bryan Colangelo getting rid of Chris Bosh too soon?  He at least found something to keep... (he also kept the coach so far.. similiar to Paxson with Cartwright)

Clones. We just went around in a circle during the last 10 years..

PG.  Jay.Williams    =   Kirk   (both equal..yet accident cause this. both are very average and are shoot first PG who questionably don't make the other players better)
SG.  Crawford        =   Ben Gordon  (about equal, both have one dimensional games)
PF.  Tyson Chandler  =   Noah (about equal - clones)
C.   Eddie Curry     =   Aaron Gray (about equal)
SF.  Jalen Rose      =   Deng (Paxson's better )

(no position player)
E.Robinson           =  Tyrus Thomas (about equal, jumps about the same, TT a little taller, both either drafted and signed based on a playoff/final 4 series..limited amount of games. Hyped players!)

C/PF  Donyell Marshall = Ben Wallace (no advantage here)

Yet, Paxson did do some things better.. He evenually hired a better coach than both Floyd and Cartwright with the Skiles selection.  He also created a more professional environment for the players.  Yet Paxson allows his coaches to criticizes the player too much publically as a means of correction. (the new coach is already doing it.. he'll definitely isolate himself from the players quickly and Mr. "poison" Wallace and his trainees will not tolerate this again).

Yet, both (Paxson & Krause) have the ego's that the mall of america can't contain.  And Krause evenually destroyed his image attempting to prove it was about him and wasn't about Jackson, Jordan and Pip.  (Oops did I forget to say "Paxson" in the previous sentence?)

If he gave Krause's player away for next to nothing, acquired their clones.  Now what will he give his beloved hand picked players away for now?  Well based on his trading, nobody in the NBA will be considered equal value.  (He needs a day-trader mind now.. don't fall in love with that stock or using his word: asset)  

Paxson needs a Danny Aingle homerun now to get out of this situation.  I hope he finds it...

   

by exult463 on Jan 9, 2008 4:12 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Who did
Boylan publicly criticize and can you provide a link?
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 9, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

That's
what I thought.
Win, just win.

by sue369 on Jan 10, 2008 7:18 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wow!
I actually feel dumber for reading that.  Out of curiosity, a very morbid curiosity, can you please explain how Krause's players formed one of the worst teams in the NBA every year and Paxson's "clones" made the playoffs 3 years running?  I can't say I was overly excited about Paxson's moves during the summer of '06, but I would never dare to compare him to Krause or claim that he made a mistake by not paying the likes of Crawford and Curry much more than their worth provided in production.  Try to actually think about what you just wrote here, because it's asinine.

by snley on Jan 10, 2008 11:23 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I also forgot
to mention he signed AG that summer also.  I don't think my analysis is asinine.

As I mention, initially Paxson help create a better environment, hired a better coach, a drafted initially excited players who were overachievers who now are now clones of Krause's players.  

Also Sue I heard the comment over the radio AM 1000 concerning Boylan post game comments.  I don't have a link.  His statements were typical Skile critism.

by exult463 on Jan 10, 2008 2:26 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I saw him very mildly criticize
Aaron Gray.  I think it was after the Knick game.  I remember at the time thinking that he probably felt he had to criticize someone, and that Gray was a safe target because he wasn't actually in the game for the meltdown.

by alec on Jan 10, 2008 3:14 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Or he was likely preempting
the second guessing of not playing Gray:
As for Gray, Eddy Curry scored on him as much as the rookie scored over Curry.

"I'm pleased with the way Aaron is playing," Boylan said. "He's learning the game. He makes mistakes. He turns it over once in a while."

What a horrible position to be in, it's gotta be tough to hold back from saying 'it's because he's a sloth, you morons'.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 10, 2008 3:27 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

You didn't answer my question
If these guys are "clones" of the guys Krause brought in, how did they make the playoffs 3 years in a row?  How did they sport the best point differential in their conference last year?  That's why your "analysis" is asinine.  It's more like the random, vitriolic ranting of your typical talk radio bozo who just wants someone to listen to him.  

by snley on Jan 10, 2008 6:26 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Holy crap.
I return to Chicago to find that the team has lost to the Knicks...at home...after leading by double digits in the fourth quarter.

The dream is dead.

LSU 38 OHIO STATE 24 - LSU IS THE NATIONAL CHAMPION AND I AM THE KING OF BOURBON STREET!!

by 1958ChiTown on Jan 9, 2008 5:32 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

What do you guys think
about Anthony Parker on the Raptors. I live in Canada and watch a lot of Raps games and hes a good shooter, ball handeler, and a really good defender.I just dont know what they would want for him. Duhon? or maybe a second round pick and Duhon but im not sure?

by eross226 on Jan 9, 2008 7:13 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

like him
Parker has been an excellent role player for Toronto.  Since they brought him in Joey Graham has become a ghost.

I think Toronto will hold out for a while to see if TJ Ford can return.  If he cannot, Duhon would be a very nice fit in Toronto.  They really only want their point guard to distribute, bring the ball up, and keep turnovers to a minimum.  This is Duhon's NBA game.

Colangelo and Mitchell really like Parker though.  It's a similar love affair that Paxson has with Nocioni.

by NBA Observer on Jan 10, 2008 9:26 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm in shock
You guys said it all above.  I'm just terribly disappointed.  

by chgobr on Jan 9, 2008 7:16 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

That loss almost makes me want
a better life for Luol and Thomas.  Deng needs to get healthy, btw.  Our suckage is much more apparent when he's in a suit.
Can this season be saved by jumping?

by cubbybear on Jan 9, 2008 8:50 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

The OJ Mayo sweepstakes....
are upon us and Matt is still pissing and moaning about
TT's +/-???   The sound you're hearing is the boat pulling
away from the dock without you on it.

by Rusty LaRue on Jan 9, 2008 9:42 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

college basketball kicks ass - there's passion!
I don't care at all though, and the draft is many Tyrus Thomas positive raw plus-minus games away.
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Jan 9, 2008 9:52 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

OJ mayo
NBA draft.net has him going 10th to the Bulls.  I don't want anymore young talent, but one can get excited about a 6'5" Shootgaurd that still has the potential to be special.  A special player could make the rest of this Bull's team fall into place.  Could he be the missing piece???  He could be our best SG since Brandon Roy - oh wait we drafted Tyrus, than since MJ.

by Jesse07 on Jan 10, 2008 1:17 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Rather
I'd rather have Eric Gordon or Derrick Rose than OJ Mayo.

Whatever the case I just want bigger guards with skills.

by NBA Observer on Jan 10, 2008 1:59 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I just want people in the draft thread
http://www.blogabull.com/story/2007/11/20/172814/31

Where the salivation over young men is even more acceptable than in the other threads.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 10, 2008 3:04 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

I can't read any of the comments in that thread
They don't show up for me.  All I can read is 1958ChiTown's original post.  I wish I could read them, because I have a new interest in reading draft talk after that Knicks game.

by Big D on Jan 10, 2008 4:56 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

shiiiiiit I'm sorry
I had to re-enable the comments for that post after a certain time. It should be fixed now.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Jan 10, 2008 5:11 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

HOwd u find this
Random searching on youtube??

Its awesome though!!!!

Is it just me  or does noch say ASS when he is being interviewed.

The funniest moment though was A-Griffin's interview, "his job may not show up, but we really appreciate what he does" heh, how long has he been waiting to finally say that about someone else (as opposed to always hearing it about himself)

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

by piccolomair on Jan 10, 2008 2:47 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Memphis' view of Gasol
LINK

"We've got a pretty good nucleus and hopefully we'll get a little bit more out of them," Heisley said. "I live in Chicago and all they talk about up there is getting Pau. So he must be pretty valuable. He's a great post guy. But by discussing him I don't mean we're out there shopping them. If we trade one of our guys, we've got to get a lot back that's good.

"It's interesting that we sit around talking about the possibly trading Pau. And nobody finds anything wrong with that. But when Pau says 'Hey, maybe I'd like to go to a contending team,' then he's disloyal to do that. I never took it that way."

by Option27 on Jan 10, 2008 11:23 AM CST reply actions   0 recs

This Tyler Hanbrough dunk
on 7'7" Kenny Georgein last night's UNC vs. NC-Ashville has to be the so-far highlight of the men's college season.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=htwkRYa0gOk

by alec on Jan 10, 2008 4:38 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

Now I know
you're being facetious.  But what if UNC wins the NCAA's and Hansbrough winds up Player of the Year?  I'm sure he'll be there at the bottom of the lottery where the Bulls are likely to be picking.

I'll answer my own question.  As much as I like him, he's too damn short, and the Bulls can't afford to add another too short player to any positon on the floor.

by alec on Jan 10, 2008 5:20 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Wow
Where does that Monster come from ? Had never heard of a Kenny George 7.7 ! Does he have any skills (apart from being dunked on) ?
The Game chose him !

by Diabolo on Jan 11, 2008 1:50 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Uhhh
Tyrus looked pretty bad in the Knicks game...am I missing something?

by Kemp on Jan 10, 2008 5:21 PM CST reply actions   0 recs

He just needs to think more.
And that will have to come with time.  He had a lot of athletic plays, but sometimes being more subtle would have worked out better.  Those blocks that were called goal tending might have been better contested by getting better positioning and denying them the ability to put a shot like that up in the first place.  We certainly didn't need to give them points in that stage of the game.  Those are faults that wouldn't matter so much if we had a 15 point lead against NY like we should have had in the first place.  That is the teams fault.

by cranscape on Jan 10, 2008 6:02 PM CST up reply actions   0 recs

Ooooh!
Subtlety, that is what they call not playing like shit.

by Kemp on Jan 11, 2008 1:50 AM CST up reply actions   0 recs

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