Open Game Thread # 68: Bulls vs. San Antonio Spurs

by Big D on Mar 20, 2008 3:56 PM CDT

Like a cockroach surviving a nuclear explosion, the Bulls are somehow still in the hunt for the 8th playoff spot in the East. They'll try to move to within a game of the Nets and Hawks for the 8th spot tonight when they take on the Spurs (7:00 Central, Comcast SportsNet). Despite the early starting time, the game will apparently not be on TNT. That might be a good thing, unless you want to hear Charles Barkley talk about how the Bulls need a low-post scorer.

I don't know if he counts as the mythical "low-post scorer" the Bulls have needed for years, but Drew Gooden has really been impressive since he got here. Since the trade, he's been averaging 18.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per-40 minutes. I've seen people on here complaining about Gooden playing so much at the expense of Tyrus, and while I agree that Tyrus needs to play more, there's no reason why his minutes need to come at the expense of Gooden. The Bulls have a grand total of three frontcourt players - Noah, Gooden, and Tyrus - so you'd think finding playing time for all three wouldn't be a problem (and no, Gray doesn't count). It wouldn't be a problem at all if Boylan didn't insist on playing Deng and Nocioni at the 4 for long stretches. Based on its great success on Tuesday, though, I can only imagine that we'll see a four-guard lineup tonight.

The Spurs are coming into Chicago on a 4 game losing streak, and they've dropped to 6th in the Western Conference. Of course, they're still only 2 games out of 1st in the West, so there's no need to shed any tears for them.. Manu Ginobili has been playing at a near-MVP level (I say "near-MVP" only because he doesn't play as many minutes as the other top contenders do) this year, but somehow he didn't even make the All-Star team. I hope Thabo doesn't have his minutes limited tonight, because I am looking forward to seeing him guard Ginobili. If Thabo can somewhat contain elite shooting guards like Ginobili, he can be a solid starter in this league - at least on a team smarter than the Bulls.

Blogging With the Enemy:
Pounding the Rock
Spur of the Moment
Spurs Dynasty

The Bulls were blown out by the Spurs in December, and much anger was directed towards "interim-interim coach" Pete Myers' rotations. After three months of Jim Boylan . . . well, let's just say that Myers ain't looking so bad right now.

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Comments

Since

it is guaranteed that Boylan will use some wonky lineups, I can only hope that we will one day see Deng/Tyrus/Gooden/Noah/Gray.

by Kemp on Mar 20, 2008 4:38 PM CDT 0 recs

Tyrus would have to be pg

Deng has no handles whatsoever.

Kirk Hinrich. The FORMER Best White American Point Guard in the NBA, Will Soon be Traded :(

by piccolomair on Mar 20, 2008 4:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Tyrus and Noah

bringin' the ball up.

by alec on Mar 20, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

They

keep saying we need a taller back court. :)

by cranscape on Mar 20, 2008 7:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah but,

2 quick fouls on Tyrus and then here comes Noc as usual.

by RogersPark Kris on Mar 20, 2008 5:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

That would be amazing to see

by gobulls1124 on Mar 20, 2008 4:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

Win won for ole Pete Myers

don't let Pete get sunk for the poor interim interim showing at San Antonio in December.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 20, 2008 4:55 PM CDT 0 recs

This is a tough matchup game

So, let's hope Boylan tries to play to our strengths instead of hoping to counter theirs. No answer for Parker and Duncan, and I have visions of Bowen sitting open on his favorite perch. We'll need to put some points up tonight. Good leadoff thread; Manu is an excellent test for Thabo.

by California Al on Mar 20, 2008 5:02 PM CDT 0 recs

we're going to win

hey everyone, we're going to win tonight. i guarantee it. im going to own that bug, bowen. im looking at scoring 50 or 60 points tonight. count on it. this is going to be the game where we come out of our funk and i personally will make sure it happens. a 30 point blowout is not only possible, but in fact probable. we're going to kill those spurs. and my boy thatbo is going to get involved, two. im guessing he scores a career high of 40 points as well. on the other hand, hughes and hinrich, or as we call them in the locker room, "the terrible h's," will not get more than 15 minutes of play combined. if larry hughes gets more than 10 minutes of playing time, im going to strangle him and jim. if at any point chris, error gray, or nocioni get on the floor, i will do the same. joa and tyrus will get significant playing time also.

by ben gordon on Mar 20, 2008 5:27 PM CDT 0 recs

Bulls fan should rejoice

at least we're not Spurs fans, right. With arguably the best player of the last 10 years, the spurs have only won four championships. And at least the bulls didn't trade a leading candidate for rookie of the year away this year.

Tyrus Thomas 2006-2008. R.I.P. We hardly knew ya...

by bullshooter on Mar 20, 2008 5:33 PM CDT 0 recs

No Kirk tonight :-(

He rolled his ankle on that last shot of the quarter Tues. night but continued to play the rest of the game. Hope he doesn't have to earn his starting spot back again.

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 6:19 PM CDT 0 recs

Well, that sucks.

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 6:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

What really sucks

is that instead of Thabo earning his starting spot back they are starting BG. UGH!

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 6:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Did they happen to say

How long Kirk would be out?

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2008 7:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

No

and I'm hoping he will be back Sat. night.

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 7:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sounds day-to-day type of thing,

if he didn't realize he couldn't go till warm-ups. But even if he were to miss Saturday as well, the next game isn't until Tuesday and you'd have to think he'd be back by then.

I hate when he's out, but at least it opens up some minutes in the guard rotation.

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 7:13 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sue - you are spot on

Thabo is the answer to the Spurs guards - NOT BG.
The Bulls were winning games with Thabo starting and BG coming off the bench.
But dumb F Boylan forgets anything good about what has worked.

I only hope we do see a good deal of Thabo during the course of the game.

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

wait...

i thought bg just recently earned back his 6th man role. is he being punished for something by being relegated back to the starting lineup?

by leeac on Mar 20, 2008 7:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

I hope this means more Thabo!

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2008 7:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

Mayo is not impressing me thus far.

I know, OT.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 20, 2008 6:50 PM CDT 0 recs

K State is tough when they get someone

in addition to Beasley going. I wish I were getting that game. For some reason TPTB seem to believe Oklahomans are more interested in the Texas A&M matchup against BYU than KSU-USC.

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 6:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

I wish Memphis was playing

Rose is my favorite player to watch in college

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2008 7:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

Mayo's starting

to pick it up

by alec on Mar 20, 2008 7:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

anybody have a feed to this one?

for whatever reason, channelsurfing.com only has audio today :\

Lottery Bound Horribulls. the bulls are tanking: http://www.blogabull.com/story/2007/11/19/31557/687

by hongydraw on Mar 20, 2008 7:15 PM CDT 0 recs

Gooden is

off to a good start.

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 7:16 PM CDT 0 recs

I know it's early

But I also like the way Noah looks on duncan so far.

Keeping him outside

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2008 7:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

If BG is gonna throw up AIR BALLS like that

Thabo better be in sooner than later

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:18 PM CDT 0 recs

It would be cruel for the Bulls to draft

Eric Gordon - Red would never get his name right.

But I do prefer Dwight Gooden to Ben Wallace.

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 7:23 PM CDT 0 recs

Me too.

I hope Tyrus does really well tonight.

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 7:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

prefer Dwight Gooden to Ben Wallace

Agreed.

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

I love watching Tim Duncan ...

But with Beasley vs Mayo on CBS, and Boston vs Dallas on TNT, I've decided to watch those games in that order with the Bulls game coming in third place.

I have a feeling it's gonna be a good game though. Maybe the Bulls will win if I don't watch them, since they've lost most of the games I've caught this season.

by Orange Juice on Mar 20, 2008 7:32 PM CDT 0 recs

So far so good

We're leading after one

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2008 7:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

King and Dorr talking Spurs getting Barry back

someone should tell them he got traded back to Seattle....?

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:37 PM CDT 0 recs

and waived,

so 30-day waiting period and he can be back with the Spurs. Same thing Stackhouse was talking about that screwed up the Mavs including him in the Kidd trade.

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 7:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

I didn't know he got waived

thanks for clarifying. :-)

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

Typical BG start

1-5 and looking like crap with no D.
Geesh.

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:38 PM CDT 0 recs

dont forget that he didnt once penetrate the lane

from the pg position

by lampnasty on Mar 20, 2008 7:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

Maybe it's just the curse of the starting PG

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 7:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Wow, USC and Blemont making a couple

of tight games there. It would totally screw my bracket, but it would so be worth it to see Duke get knocked out in the first round by a 15-seed.

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 7:44 PM CDT 0 recs

Gooden is leading the Bulls in scoring tonight

but he's on the bench....
??

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:48 PM CDT 0 recs

I hope they

can stay close most of the game.

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 7:49 PM CDT 0 recs

wheels falling off

by lampnasty on Mar 20, 2008 7:50 PM CDT 0 recs

At least when they play from behind

we don't have to worry about when they give the lead up...

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Gordon is killing us

Horrible shots

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2008 7:53 PM CDT 0 recs

and ZERO defense

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 7:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

it's time for...

DUHON!

by leeac on Mar 20, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

and

NICHOLS!

by leeac on Mar 20, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

i...

...assume that boylan is somehow going to be handsomely rewarded at the end of the season by upper management for being the scapegoat in this tanking charade. my only hope that it will be included in a severance package, and not a contract extension.

by leeac on Mar 20, 2008 7:56 PM CDT 0 recs

What easier way for the Spurs to get back on track

than to play the Bulls at home in the UC...?

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 8:02 PM CDT 0 recs

how about...

playing miami or ny?... at least they don't try to cover up tanking the rest of their seasons.

by leeac on Mar 20, 2008 8:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

BG...2-8 so far...

ugh.
What a shyte game.

At least the Lakers are on after this....something to look forward to.

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 8:06 PM CDT 0 recs

this is pretty sobering

kinda sad since the bulls handled the spurs alrite last year. but god are the bulls miles away from being a legitimate team. although theyve shown evidence of this all year so who am i to complain?

by lampnasty on Mar 20, 2008 8:06 PM CDT 0 recs

KState strarting to run away

from USC. I guess that's the last of Mayo.

by alec on Mar 20, 2008 8:09 PM CDT 0 recs

Even better -

Duke is still potentially in trouble, with less than 2 minutes to go. :)

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 8:11 PM CDT up 0 recs

That game is crazy

by alec on Mar 20, 2008 8:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

NUTS!

by Option27 on Mar 20, 2008 8:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

So close!

The games tonight are much better than this afternoon. (Except Washington State's blowout)

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 8:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

next up

West Virginia vs Arizona. Should be good. I want to see Bayless...as well as Alexander and Budinger.

by alec on Mar 20, 2008 8:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

even as...

the bulls lost early this season, i kept convincing myself that this team was a jigsaw puzzle... all of the right pieces that needed to be fit together properly, with perhaps just 1 missing piece.

i was wrong.

this is a team of role players. with all due respect, mostly very good role players. i guess most of you have know this all along. and that means you have also figured out that robin and batgirl can never defeat the joker. only a batman can do that.

no more game tickets for us.

by leeac on Mar 20, 2008 8:18 PM CDT 0 recs

Wake up Red!

attributing the Bulls lack of offense to missing Kirk....Good grief!

The Bulls just flat suck - and Kirk's being out is not the reason...

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 8:31 PM CDT 0 recs

although

having two shoot-first-pass-never players like Gordon and Houghes out there can't be helping the flow of the offense. At least Kirk looks for over people's shots before his own. None of them should be play that spot, but Kirk doesn't think he has to get 20 shots up a game to feel good about himself like our chuckers do.

by cranscape on Mar 20, 2008 8:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Exactly.

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hinrich

could've passed first, second, third, and fourth all night long and it wouldn't have made one bit of difference last night. Just like Kendall Gill said in the post-game, the Spurs are just the better team, period. Anybody who thought Kirk would've made a big difference is fooling themselves and is an idiot and doesn't watch basketball.

by NormVanBeer on Mar 21, 2008 8:09 AM CDT up 0 recs

No one said

he would have made a big difference. There is also no need for calling anyone an idiot unless it's directed at Boylan.

by sue369 on Mar 21, 2008 8:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

i said "idiot"

to nobody in particular, just as a generalization. Wow, it's easy to see who the Kirk fans are around here, they jump down your throat as soon as anything negative is said about him. That's cool, I think we all have our team favorites, keep doing ya thing. No hate against Kirk, I just know that him playing wouldn't have made a BIG or SMALL difference ok?

by NormVanBeer on Mar 21, 2008 4:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Since he didn't

play we don't know what difference it would have made.

by sue369 on Mar 21, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

wow

can you set aside your Kirk love for just ONE post? Come on, even the most hardcore fan can recognize that his presence would not have resulted in a Bulls win. What is wrong with you? Can you just not see that? I guess not.

by NormVanBeer on Mar 23, 2008 6:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

WOW!

No where did I say his playing would have resulted in a win. I said it might have made a difference as in maybe a closer score but since he didn't play we will never know. :-)

by sue369 on Mar 23, 2008 7:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

Did they ever say why Du's out?

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 8:35 PM CDT 0 recs

I heard he got benched for something...

thos were his words too....

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 20, 2008 8:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

We aren't still on that Duke game and missing

the shoot-around, are we?

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 8:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

They are going

to tell us in the post game show why Du is not going to play. I'll let you know what they say.

by sue369 on Mar 20, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thanks

I hate not getting all the postgame stuff. I know it generally shows up in the papers tomorrow, but I'm not into delayed gratification. I wonder why they're saving it till after the game, though?

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 20, 2008 8:54 PM CDT up 0 recs