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Interpretation of the organization's mixed message

Paxson: Trade will open up frontcourt time for our young players.

Boylan: ::extends middle finger::

Either Pax is failing to properly jam his hand up what should be a puppet coach, or he endorses this kind of 'earned' time.

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I'm still confused
as to why Tyrus only saw the little time he did last night. Why not just call it a 3 game suspension?

by Ugh It Live! on Mar 10, 2008 8:27 AM CDT   0 recs

Best he could do
Boylan couldn't schedule a conference call with Big Ben and A-Drain soon enough to get their approval to extend the suspension for an extra game.

by paxson43 on Mar 10, 2008 8:57 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

bench teaching
Tyrus never saw the floor after he rebounded the ball in the 2nd quarter, dribbled past half court, didn't pass it to Kirk when he called for it, and tried to feed it to Deng for a face up on the left wing and just passed the ball out of bounds.

It was an awful sequence for Tyrus.  You have to give the ball to your PG.  Tyrus must think about the team and what the team can do.  Tyrus is not a dribbler.  He's not a very good passer.  So what the hell is he doing to trying to do both?

I still think Tyrus should have played more.  You take him out, explain to him what was wrong, and give him a chance to correct for his mistake.

If he soils his diaper, change him.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 8:59 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

and that was after
a few plays before where he waived off three guys to take it to the basket from the perimeter.  He got a foul call, but it wasn't exactly pretty.
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 9:26 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Obviously a reason to never play again.
Ever. Obviously.
Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 10, 2008 9:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

did I say that?
You might have thought I implied it, so let me go on record to say that I DO NOT endorse that position.  To be honest, Boylan might have Alzheimer's and just forgot that TT wasn't in because he seemed to do the same thing with Hinrich in the second half.  That or Boylan's a fucking tard.
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 9:41 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Boylan
punishes with benching/playing time even if it is to the detriment of the team.  Hinrich and and Thomas have been seeing a lot of this.  Because, by golly, he is going to get his point across.

He should have sent Thomas in and told him to focus on rebounding.  Give a player something to focus and succeed at and the team really needed a guy rebounding last night. Right now Thomas probably feels like he needs to do something spectacular just to stay on the floor and his attempt at play making and ignoring the offense is a symptom of that.

by cranscape on Mar 10, 2008 9:47 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm definitely not a Hinrich fan
But anyone can see that having two shoot first players in the back court is a mistake.

Maybe the Bulls are purposely throwing the season for the draft pick? A method to the madness.

by RogersPark Kris on Mar 10, 2008 9:53 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I was thinking
Perhaps the Bulls are playing Larry and Ben so much to show them off for trade bait....

I mean Kirk has enough talent/skill to get 30MPG+ even with a Larry and BG on the team....

It's very odd that our leader/face of the franchise the past couple of years is suddenly playing 18-20MPG and that he seems comfortable with it.

Paxson obviously thought highly enough of Kirk to give him the big contract....I bet you Paxson has talked to Kirk and said that his minutes will be cut a bit while we showcase our 2 shoot first guards for an offseason trade.

Otherwise, why wouldn't we play more of a Larry and Kirk backcourt.  Larry can give us those points/defend, and Kirk can uberdefend, and give us a consistency we lack in Gordon....

That's at least what I was thinking after watching Kirk shockingly ride the bench in the 2nd half.

by majoyenrac on Mar 10, 2008 12:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

at the PG
Hinrich simply is not a better defender than Ben Gordon.

In fact, both are average defenders at that spot ... nothing more and nothing less.

Hinrich's strength is that he can also 'slide up' and defend bigger wing players w/o too much difficulty ... something Gordon isn't very good at doing.

That said, however, when you evaluate Hinrich & Gordon, as a PG, for this team, in terms of:

Defense
Offense
Rebound

it's Gordon who comes out on top.

(in a way that's similar to certain other PG's from yester-year like the Supersonics' great player, Gus Johnson)

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 1:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gordon's
A better scorer, that's about it.

We'll agree to disagree.

Kirk wasn't voted a 2nd team all defender by the coaches last year for nothing.....

That's all I will say.

Kirk is a better passer (and when his guys hit their open shots, Kirks a better than avg assists guy), he tends to have few turnovers normally....the only thing Kirk does is get into foul trouble at times with stupid ticky-tack fouls.

I think you'd be in the vast minority saying BG and Kirk are similarly skilled defenders....

I like BG as much as anyone, but it's not for his D. I think if Ben was 3-4 inches taller he'd be an avg defender, because he has some D skills, but I don't think anyone would ever consider Gordon a solid defender today.

Kirk's an above avg defender, even in this bad for Kirk season.

by majoyenrac on Mar 10, 2008 1:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

or Gus Williams
but everything else has been beamed in from Saturn, so there's no reason to quibble over a name.
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 10, 2008 1:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

sorry man, but
the signal strength from Saturn isn't always operating at full capacity these days ... something about wearing down with the onset of old age ... :-) ... (D) Johnson, (G) Williams, Downtown (Freddie) Brown ... I think you know who I meant to say ...

http://www.nba.com/history/players/guswilliams_summary.html

When a PG who knows how to score the ball like Gordon also learns how to limit his own shot attempts per game ... it's a dangerous combo in the hands of a solid NBA coach.

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 5:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gus Johnson!
Another entry in the "Who's Ben Most Like" sweepstakes!  So far we have Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson, World B Free...and now Gus Johnson.

I'm not making fun of you, khandor.  It's just that this business of comparing BG to players from the past really rubs some of the more serious-minded posters here the wrong way.  I, needless to say, do not count myself among them.  Gus Johnson--very good.

by alec on Mar 10, 2008 1:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

See that?
I couldn't even get in ahead of him!

by alec on Mar 10, 2008 1:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Alec
how would you characterize/diagnose khandor's blatant and willful disregard for reality?  Is it consistent?
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 2:24 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Ha! I did notice YaoPau
mention something about writing a diary in which the author argues against his own points...have to admit, it sounded enticing.

I agree with you.  Reality seems to be taking quite a hit these past few days.

by alec on Mar 10, 2008 3:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gus Johnson the
undersized PF known for defense and rebounding playing for Baltimore in the 60s was very good?  That Gus Johnson?  Just checking, but I agree Gus Johnson was pretty good for his era.

by Scotter on Mar 10, 2008 2:27 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That was good
He was attacking Amir Johnson who is a weak perimeter defender.  That's a film session response.
The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 10:00 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, punish him for scoring.
That'll learn you Tyrus.

Don't you ever, and I mean EVER, take your man off the dribble again. :)

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 10, 2008 11:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you raise an interesting point
but then how do you decide who's going to take the shot on a given possesion?  So basically if TT gets the rebound he should just run it up the court and go one on one?  And if he is forced to pass for some reason then BG gets to shoot it?  Is that how you'd work it?

There were more than 10 seconds left on the shot clock when TT did that.  If it had been in the scouting report like NBA Observer said, don't you think that the guys trying to set the picks would have seen it too and just let TT go?

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 11:48 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Did not Tyrus and Mike Brown
get to the arena quite early to work together?

Amir Johnson is filling up a highlight reel AROUND THE BASKET and stinking it up on the perimeter.  There were a couple of questionable calls in the 2nd half where Amir was coming out to show on the high screen and hip checking Ben Gordon.  Gordon just needs to dribble right into him instead of trying to get around a leg whip.

The high school kids have serious deficiencies in fundamentals.  They defend with their hands on their hips.  They show on the screen with their legs instead of their bodies.  Not even a genius defensive roundtable like the Pistons' vets can cover up these things for Amir Johnson.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 1:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Tyus Thomas..
... should have been givn the chance to help around the basket, both deensively and offensively. Boylan is an idiot...

by Vangelis on Mar 10, 2008 6:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Boylan must go now!!!!!!
He's soooo full of crap... Keeping him on after Skiles was let go was a huge mistake in judgement by Pax.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-080309-chris-duhon-duke-benched,1 ,1193571.story

"Here's how excited Thomas was for his punishment to end: Rather than taking one of two team buses to the arena, Thomas hailed a cab. He shot jumpers with assistant coach Mike Brown more than two hours before tipoff.

"He's played well against the Pistons," Boylan said. "His athleticism around the basket is always helpful for us against them. We welcome him back with open arms."

Thomas entered with 43.7 seconds left in the first quarter. He finished with one point and one rebound in four minutes."

by Hiryu on Mar 10, 2008 8:39 AM CDT   0 recs

There were long stretches
in last night's game that were screaming for Boylan to insert Tyrus Thomas at the 4 and give either Noc or Deng a rest/benching.  When Noc was in at the 4 he was being guarded by Jason Maxiell.  Umm, ISO left wing perimeter EVERY POSSESSION.  Make Maxiell play above his abilities.  He will foul like crazy.  Flip Saunders will have to reach down the bench and play Walter Hermann.

I really don't think our team is coached at all by Boylan.  I was watching the the coaches most of the night to see their reactions to what they were seeing on the court.  Ron Adams had three hand to forehead, rolling leg gestures going from legs side by side to legs crossed and turned.  This is body language that communicates frustration.

In the 2nd half we were attacking the rim, getting into the paint, and going hard at the Detroit interior defense.  Their bigs were all in foul trouble.  The officials were practically parting the red sea for Chicago to win the game and we just stopped attacking the rim.

We have serious deficiency at in our coaching staff.  They may be great in practice.  They may be great at teaching.  But in games they are inept.  I've seen more activity from comatose patients.

WAKE UP!

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 8:53 AM CDT   0 recs

Rolling legs?
That's kind of funny, although I don't disagree :D

I have, however, seen no evidence they're great at running practices or teaching.

by Sports2 on Mar 10, 2008 9:11 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How can you note that,
and not comment on the three hands he apparently has?  If I had an extra hand I might roll my legs, too.  ;)
Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 10, 2008 11:17 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

"Steamy Turd"
I couldn't stop saying "steamy turd" everytime I saw Boylan last night.  Last night the Bulls really could have used Tyrus athletic ability because there was no shot blocking and too many second chance points by the Pistons.  

I think Boylan is one of the only people who wants the Bulls to win this year.  Everyone else just wants to put this season behind them.

by Jesse07 on Mar 10, 2008 8:56 AM CDT   0 recs

What's funny to me is
Tyrus Thomas is better than Gooden even with his needed development.

But I understand that Gooden is cagey, fundamentally sound, shorter, less athletic, played in the final four with Kirk Hinrich, hustles more in practice, doesn't make fun of Boylan, scores less than 12 points a game, and did I mention that he's older? In the end, that's all that really matters.

He's got those Adrian Griffin like qualities that you can't teach.

by RogersPark Kris on Mar 10, 2008 9:22 AM CDT   0 recs

We need an interim interim...
...if there is such a thing...

by bullsfaninbigapple on Mar 10, 2008 9:33 AM CDT   0 recs

Jim Boylan's
idea of teaching is to never give a player a chance to redeem himself. I hate him.

by sue369 on Mar 10, 2008 9:36 AM CDT   0 recs

No kidding!
All Boylan needed to do was give Thomas an assignment.  Send him in to rebound and don't make him worry about making spectacular plays just to stay on the floor. We really needed some defensive stops and rebounds and instead of getting that stop we benched our best shot blocker and taller rebounder because he made a few offensive blunders.

by cranscape on Mar 10, 2008 9:51 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Skiles was known for his Strictness
Make a mistake, no matter how small, ill put you on that bench. Thats what skiles did right. Hinrich commits a stupid T.O, bam on the bench, duhon take his place! Duhon comes out misses a defensive assignment, Hinrich get your ass back out there! Hinrich plays well the rest of the way, he stays. The next game, everything was forgotten, and the cycle began again. Thats how skiles did it.

Why the bulls rebelled is still up in the air, i remember the reason many wanted skiles fired here was mainly guys like thabo and tyrus got little playing time since they would make a mistake the moment they stepped on the court, so when it seemed the bulls were losing possibly due to not listening to skiles we were relieved.

Who would have known, we would get BOYLAN. I cant figure the man out. At first i thought he would play the better players and would be less strict, and by golly he was. You make a mistake and he keeps you in the games, Thabo got good. We were happy. Yet all of sudden after the deadline he goes bonkers, sitting out players for no reason, is thabo injured, or is this another boylan plan to give hughes more playing time?

In the process the bulls have totally lost any credibility they had in the league, the playing style that made them famous is gone with the old coach, the defensive numbers are way down, they are the worst efficient team offensively in the league, and yet you see the players and (except for injuries here and there) they got better (Hughes and gooden are WAY BIG improvements over wallace) so how do u explain all this. THE DAMN COACH!!!

Kirk Hinrich. The Best White American Point Guard in the NBA.

by piccolomair on Mar 10, 2008 8:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

On a more serious note...
...the biggest failing of the coaching staff is getting players to understand their strengths and limitations, and teaching them to play to them. Of course this pre-supposes that the coaches themselves are able to correctly identify these things. For example, it still boggles my mind that after all these years of coaching the Bulls, Boylan doesn't get that BG cannot be the primary ball handler.

by bullsfaninbigapple on Mar 10, 2008 9:40 AM CDT   0 recs

depends on your definition of primary ballhandler
Gordon was definitely the primary ballhandler when the Bulls were winning games. My definition is "has the ball more than anyone else."
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 10, 2008 10:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed
If I see Gordon trip over the three point line and cough up the ball one more time...

by torch on Mar 10, 2008 10:07 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You'll complain about it?
And hope a player who's worse but does other things poorly gets a shot at sucking more?
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 10, 2008 10:09 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Even the most fervent Ben Gordon defenders
have to admit that his late game turnovers are more than an occasional anomaly and saying that simply, "Well, no one is better!" is a flat out cop out.

by RogersPark Kris on Mar 10, 2008 10:14 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm not a Ben Gordon defender
I'm a get a better player, or don't play someone worse advocater. I'd also like to see someone else on the team try to do something at the end of games, with Ben Gordon on the court. Imagine that!
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 10, 2008 10:17 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

nba basketball's a funny game
when you put a different set of players on the court with a PG like Ben Gordon ... ie. big & agile who can defend & rebound the ball (Sefolosha, Hughes, Deng, Nocioni, Thomas & Noah) ... everything about Gordon's 'game' changes for the better, including his 'decision-making with the ball'.

The fact that he's played porrly in the past ... when teamed with lesser calibre players than the Bulls have on their roster right now ... is completely irrelevant to how he could/would be able to perform with the guys on this team at the moment.

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 11:13 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he's actually played better in the past
Nocioni is big and agile?
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 10, 2008 11:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you're right
If only the Bulls could add other big and agile players like Brian Scalabrine, Speedy Claxton, Mark Eaton, Earl Boykins, and Jerome James. There are no better combinations of bigness and agility in any other players.
Fire Boylan!

by hscs on Mar 10, 2008 12:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

actually
I was thinking more along these lines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbxzfVl_7c4

instead of Brian Scalabrine, Speedy Claxton, Mark Eaton, Earl Boykins or Jerome James.

In general, there's a very good reason "______ is considered the lowest form of wit."

enjoy the rest of your day.

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 12:28 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

all that size and agility
got the Noc one rebound in 29 minutes last night. And I'll guess that one was jumping over a teammates back. Which does take some agility, I guess.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 10, 2008 1:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes, but
how many rebounds did the Bulls collection of 'big & agile' wings collect as a group?

on his own, I wouldn't necessarily say that Noc is a keeper but, in concert with hughes, deng & sefolosha? ... yessir, he sure is, in my book.

 

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 1:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

What are you guys talking about
has it been that long? Big agile wings? Noc? Give me a break! The closes player to being agile on this roster is Larry Hughes... thats it!

Please remember Scottie Pippen and MJ. The way they would cut to basket, catch the call and make a hop all in one motion... it hasn't been that long has it? Gezzz  

I swear from the Deng (standstill jump shot shooting) fans to the Kirk (getting pushed all over the place) fans, we have on this board we have really lost some of our understanding for the athletic player.  But there is hope I guess, I mean I think this is the reason there are so many supporters of Tyrus Thomas because they see that kind of potential in him.

by Takeaseat on Mar 10, 2008 5:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Let me fix that sorry
Please remember Scottie Pippen and MJ. The way they would cut to basket, catch the ball and make a hoop all in one motion... it hasn't been that long has it?

by Takeaseat on Mar 10, 2008 5:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

That's a lot of conundrums in one comment ;-)
but I will say that BG did an excellent job last night of doing his thing.  He didn't try to pass it or take it to the basket much unless the lane was wide open.  He just took open jump shots and nailed them.  It seems like those looks are there for him most games, I just wish he'd look for them.
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 11:14 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's beginning to look to me
like BG is the most tough-minded player on the team.  He seems to be about the only guy that has risen above all the bs.  It's almost enough to make me think that his problems early on were just a plain old shooting slump.

by alec on Mar 10, 2008 1:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

for one game at least
he definitely came out with a different approach after sitting quickly with those two fouls.  Hopefully he comes out that way next game, too.
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 1:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gordon is still a massive
defensive liability.  Without improving his defense drastically he can easily be sidelined by forcing him into foul trouble.

The alternative is just letting his man get by him and hope that help defense doesn't leave so many holes in the interior defense to generate increased offensive rebounding opportunities for the opponent.

Is there a sabremetric that evaluates all this?  I need something to compare against his proven scoring ability.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 2:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yet Gordon's
fouls per game are down.  So he's not fouling as much.  But how do you gauge how many times he's giving up buckets without fouling?

Does the Roland Rating do this?

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 3:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gordon is going to end up on...
... a team like Golden State or Seattle where he can play either a run and gun style or he can play off a real superstar and he'll be a monster!!!

Seeing as though he averages about 20 pts as things stand, if we had someone who could take the defensive focus off of Gordon then he'd really be dangerous.  Someone who was truly a #1 option.  Put Gordon next to any of those guys in the league and Gordon explodes!!!

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 10, 2008 9:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree 100%
It seems no one besides Gordon (with the exception of Tyrus Thomas when he's in) wants to shoot the ball down the stretch.  What's up with that?

Everyone just gets out of Ben's way and he goes 1 on 5 and I think the defenders know that no one else is gonna step up and that's why he's always under so much pressure when tryin' to get a good shot off.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 10, 2008 9:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It seems to me like
they don't even draw up plays at the end of the half or game.  After a time out and huddle they all look confused and flat footed and Ben ends up taking the shot because no one is doing anything.  Unless that was the plan all a long.  Which isn't a comforting thought.  

by cranscape on Mar 10, 2008 9:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

There is a play drawn
It's the same as every play Boylan draws.  Gordon with the ball, Noc playing the 4 coming to set a high screen to pull a shot blocker out of the paint, Gordon appears indecisive to where he wants to go, Noc is told to screen and leak to the 3 point line, Deng is asked to cut from the baseline, Noah screens for him, the other guard(Kirk, Larry, Thabo) camps in the corner baseline for a 3, and pray the defense collapses to create a shot opportunity.

It's ineffective because Gordon isn't a very strong passer and doesn't use the screening teammate to their full advantage.

The Pistons run this exact same play with Billups as Gordon and Sheed as Noc.  It works for them because Billups is a better ball handler, knows how to maximize Sheed's body as a screen, and Sheed knows when to roll off to the perimeter and when to roll to the bucket to pull a help defender off McDyess/Maxiell/Prince.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 11, 2008 9:28 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So
If Noc was Sheed and Gordon was Billups we'd have a good play?  Sounds like we need a different play book.

by cranscape on Mar 11, 2008 4:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

When Ben was 7-7 from the field
were any of those shots NOT created off the dribble?

This is his game.  When he was spotting up to shoot(think 4th quarter wide open right baseline that was a bad brick) the shots weren't falling.  Also, when Ben does spot up to catch and shoot his elevation is weaker.  The shot isn't as fluid with proper rotation when he's not getting his legs into it.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 11:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

most were one or two dribbles
or catch and shoot.  He was leaning into them better last night for some reason.  The wide open baseline miss was after he'd played for at least 10 minutes straight.
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 11:57 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

agreed
if you check the game thread from last night, you will see that, at the time gordon missed that baseline jumper, i said he was tired and the bulls needed a time-out.

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 12:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yes, but
these are fixable defects ... and, the skills he has in 'creating' his own shot off the bounce are more than worth their weight in gold, in the nba ... if he's coached properly, at the PG spot, with wings like hughes, deng, sefolosha & nocioni, and bigs like thomas, noah & gray.

with the right coach in place, i'd say this team, right now, is very close to being very very good.

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 12:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's come to the point
Where I don't even want to have "depth" anymore on our team.

Only speaking about the Bulls . . .

I used to think depth was a luxury to have on good nba teams.

Now depth just means your best players sit behind veterans on poor teams.

The only think Pax can do to get Tyrus playing time to to trade everyone who Boylan is able to play ahead of him.

Who am I kidding? Even at that point, Boylan would just play Deng more at the four and have a 3 guard squad out there.

We can't win with this guy at all.

by Option27 on Mar 10, 2008 10:54 AM CDT   0 recs

Ben Gordon is good
but how do we make him great?

He was on fire from the field when he could actually stay in the game and avoid fouling.  This does mean he will give up easy buckets especially to players that dominate him like Billups and Hamilton.  But when those players were on the bench Ben Gordon was the best player on the floor.

Just watching Saunders tease Chicago by keeping Billups on the bench in the 4th was frustrating.  I knew it was only a matter of time until Flip wanted to patch the wounds and make the Bulls start bleeding.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 10, 2008 11:19 AM CDT   0 recs

the position he plays is key
on the wing, Gordon's a limited NBA player ... but, at the PG spot, his ability is strictly 1st rate.

I'm going risk incurring wrath when I say this on this site, but ... Ben Gordon is a terrific PG for a team that would use the Triangle Offense ... to exploit the multi talents of players like Hughes, Deng, Sefolosha, Nocioni, Thomas, Noah and Gray (plus Duhon, as a back-up).

by khandor on Mar 10, 2008 12:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

he's only first rate at shooting
so why would you put him at the PG spot, unless you wanted to be the Knicks?
Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 10, 2008 12:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You must notice by now
that Ben Gordon's shot is much better when creating off the dribble.  He needs the dribble as momentum to get his legs under him for proper elevation.  When he is standing off the catch to shoot his elevation is poor, follow through is weaker, an