Open Game Thread #70: Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks
I've been out of town the past few days, and during that time was in a state of blissful ignorance in terms of the Bulls on-court performance. After reading about them (and yes, I went through both entertaining game threads), it seems like they just crapped the bed against a far superior Spurs team, and pulled the Boylan Sabotage Special against Indiana.
No matter, I've been checked out ever since that game against Philly. Not rooting for them to tank, but hoping they lose. Sadly this team is too dumb to even tank properly, or I should say 'conventionally'. I guess Boylan's strategy is very effective, even if it's his imbecilic quest towards securing the head coaching job, and securing playoff funds for the Bulls.
So I've given up on wanting playoffs, and after these past 2 games put them 3 games out and 3 teams out, it's over. However a loss tonight (7:30pm CST, CSN) may finally produce the organizational message of the same. I don't even want them to stop trying, I just want them to stop saying they're trying. It's annoying.
Atlanta is the semi-secured 8th seed, and Hollinger's playoff predictor (which is actually useful by this time of the season) has them at 61% odds of holding on. The Bulls are at 3.9%. To illustrate how futile those odds are, they have a 1.4% chance of winning the draft lottery.
Like the Bulls, the Hawks have an interesting group of free agents available in Josh Smith and Josh Childress. I don't believe they were even offered contract extensions to turn down, yet somehow they persevered where Deng and Gordon didn't.
Lets hope they continue that and beat the Bulls tonight and put us all out of our misery. At least until Boylan says they still have a shot, both the Bulls for the playoffs and he for the head coaching position. But during the game I won't be openly rooting against them, just detachedly watching the game and exuding a simmering hate for Boylan and Paxson. And most of the players. And Solomon Jones, just because.
0 recs |
138 comments
Comments
For the love
Your man Sam had his last appearance as an employee of the Tribune on CTL tonight but he's going to be a regular once a week on CTL as their basketball expert.
by sue369 on Mar 25, 2008 7:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I really am sad
by JeffD on Mar 25, 2008 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
heh
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just want
by sue369 on Mar 25, 2008 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I must officially be THE MAN since....
by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 25, 2008 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep it comin' Sue!
You and I are a match made in heaven! We were meant to blog together...LOL
by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 26, 2008 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now that I am used to it
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 7:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 7:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to see
by AGBallinisaHabit on Mar 25, 2008 7:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I can deal without Kirk
Ugh.
And Gooden has ALL of the Bulls first 10 points.
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Two winning, playoff teams last night -
And tonight - two LOSING, likely NON playoff teams - the Bulls and Hawks...
What a glaring difference.
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 7:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Noc is really the first sub tonight?
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 7:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That's what you get
by ChrisRobin on Mar 25, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
link anyone?
by AGBallinisaHabit on Mar 25, 2008 8:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
that must be coaching
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 8:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
30 games seems like a dream at this point
by armstrong2389 on Mar 25, 2008 8:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Hey, it's TT, Thabo, and Noah in together
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 8:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wish granted!
by AGBallinisaHabit on Mar 25, 2008 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't look now
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 8:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Tyrus getting some first half burn tonight
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 8:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I could be wrong
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If you are wrong
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey where have you been?
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm here.
If anyone cares to look at what I've said about Deng they'll notice that I like the guy. I think he's a nice player but not a $50 million dollar guy and I don't want to keep him at that amount. This is why i'm so critical and argumentative regarding him. Now $35 million for 5 years is more reasonable and I'd love to keep him at around that amount. But at anything more than that I don't like it. I mean guys like Chauncey Billups and Gilbert Arenas make $10 million a year. If we pay someone like that then I want it to be a player like that.
So there you have it. The source of all my anti-Deng rants.
by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 25, 2008 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
isn't noc's contract
so deng isn't getting less than that. period. i know noc's contract is the source of much angst around here, but regardless of whether he deserves it, deng is going to command more.
by Jaina on Mar 25, 2008 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep 5 yr/38 million...
by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 25, 2008 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
5/50 is 20% more
by bullshooter on Mar 26, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let me reiterate
by bullshooter on Mar 26, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL...I hear ya shooter.
But judging from the new post Matt has about the dirt (which I haven't read or heard yet by the way), it sounds like Deng has other things on his mind, as do several of the Bulls players. But don't think for one minute that issues are unique to this Bulls team. Even the best teams always have some internal bullsh!t going on, but the good teams are able to overcome it. It's been the death of us due to our lack of leadership and I split that blame between our entire so called "core" and our GM Paxson for assembling such a team with no true leadership...and worse yet not being able to develop one.
One thing is certain. This will be an interesting off-season and I will be watching very carefully as I'm sure many here will be.
You are officially "The Man" now shooter!!!
by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 26, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
20 and 10 at the half for Beard
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Gooden
So how long til Boylan goes small to tank this game away? What is the over/under on that?
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 8:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This poor blog is dying
by NittanyBull on Mar 25, 2008 8:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that started`
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
seriously
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hear you
The Bulls may not rise again, but Blogabull will.
by Freethefro on Mar 25, 2008 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gordon's line:
by Freethefro on Mar 25, 2008 8:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was scoring too much so Boylan took him out
In another time and circumstance, that would be really funny....(sigh) :-(
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not usually
As an excuse, plus he is very young anyways.
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that was a great break
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 9:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This is all setting up perfectly
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 9:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
don't for a second think
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 9:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
a good run
by Yibs on Mar 25, 2008 9:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Note: We are up 12, and Boylan just went small
by YaoPau on Mar 25, 2008 9:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Childress... to the rack, again! Up 8...
by YaoPau on Mar 25, 2008 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
... and 1 for Joe Johnson... then a layup... up 5
by YaoPau on Mar 25, 2008 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Boylan puts in Noah!!!
by YaoPau on Mar 25, 2008 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Collapse?
Will Boylan disappoint? Of course.
by danger mouse on Mar 25, 2008 9:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i know this lineup is really helping
by lampnasty on Mar 25, 2008 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Noc and Deng in at the same time?
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 9:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
oh no
we must have went small
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and now, to add to the ugly game loss memories,
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Small guards,
by Freethefro on Mar 25, 2008 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of fro's...
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
don't look now
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
When is the last time Wallace had 29 adn 14???
Have Wallce AND Joe Smith combined for 29 and 14 at any time?
What about Wallace and PJ from last year?
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
kirk guarding joe johnson
by lampnasty on Mar 25, 2008 9:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
kirk on Joe Johnson
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 9:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Is everyone on the coaching staff
by danger mouse on Mar 25, 2008 9:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
T-A-N-K-I-N-G
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that makes me feel even worse
So yeah, there goes all my faith in a lotto pick as we tank. (I'll root against them too almost if I wasnt such a diehard homer, I HATE TANKING and am totally against it and all the principles of it.)
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joe Johnson
He's a hell-of-a young player.
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You're totally right
by Freethefro on Mar 25, 2008 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As long as he's not jacking up threes
by NBA Observer on Mar 26, 2008 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that
by torch on Mar 25, 2008 9:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I give up. I give up. I give up.
by danger mouse on Mar 25, 2008 9:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Haha, within three
by NittanyBull on Mar 25, 2008 9:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Atlanta is undersized
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Not 4th quarter special
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and with 4 minutes left and 5 fouls
What....is Boylan gonna save him for garbage time?
Good grief...
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Horford
Hey if Hinrich hit that last shot I was about to go off on a rant of how he almost looked like the old Kirk that I knew and loved from 05-the first half of the 06-07 season (especially 06 playoffs).
But then he just missed the shot and I frowned instead while wondering how a good young pointguard with so much promise can fall off so far.....
What the heck took so long for Gooden to get back in the game?!?!? And why does it have to be for Noah!?!?? Why cant we have both of them in the game, is that a 4th quarter rule for the "Boylan sabotage special"?!??!?!?
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
do you only show up
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
We don't have to match up with them
by danger mouse on Mar 25, 2008 9:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
YES SIR!
NICE!!!
But its still only a 5 point game and there is a whole 3 minutes left WITH BOYLAN AT THE HELM.. :(
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Gooden and Noah
by Freethefro on Mar 25, 2008 9:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
and now with TWO minutes left
Him and Gooden are the post players to finish with...
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thabo's just gotta go straight up there
by Freethefro on Mar 25, 2008 9:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
hey hey
by lampnasty on Mar 25, 2008 9:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
scared to say
by AGBallinisaHabit on Mar 25, 2008 9:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
WTG BG
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
if anyone can
by AGBallinisaHabit on Mar 25, 2008 9:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
nah
by Bluelou on Mar 25, 2008 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm kind of disappointed
by AGBallinisaHabit on Mar 25, 2008 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this win is going to make it
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow
by Deng is the next Bull superstar on Mar 25, 2008 9:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
If you don't count
Tyrus's last six game:
1-5 Atl
1-1 Ind
0-4 Sas
1-5 Nin
0-2 Nor
0-3 Phi
for a whopping 3-20 for his last six games. What is going on with that?
by alec on Mar 25, 2008 9:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
wow it really does all come back to TT
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just trying to take
by alec on Mar 25, 2008 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
it always comes back to you saying that
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 25, 2008 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and the fact that he's regressing with his
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 25, 2008 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it's clear that Boylan
I think Boylan wants to keep Tyrus in his back pocket as a ready-made excuse for when he inevitably gets fired. "See, if Paxson hadn't saddled both Skiles and me with this lunkhead, either one of us could have taken this team to the finals."
I look for Tyrus to get NOTHING from here on out.
by alec on Mar 26, 2008 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i noticed that as well
by Jaina on Mar 26, 2008 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looks like Thabo at the start of the season.
by wjb1492 on Mar 26, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Does TT really blow?
Player Minutes (+-)
Hughes 215:51 -12
Deng 265:48 -24
Noah 172:27 -8
Gooden 266:57 -7
Gordon 200:14 -31
Nocioni 91:32 -13
Nichols 4:22 +2
Gray 40:21 +7
Thabo 140:40 +16
Kirk 198:22 +11
THOMAS 97:58 +28
Duhon 0 0
During this almost 98 minutes on the court he has comitted ONLY ONE TURNOVER. Just think of what he may be able to accomplish if they ever gave him some consistent pt and actually ran a play for him.
by Tyrusmancrush on Mar 26, 2008 12:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In limited minutes last night
It's amazing what he can do in just under 15 minutes of action. It's hard to get in a rhythm when you're yanked for no good reason.
Lucky for us Luol had 3 blocks last night. Because when Noah and Thomas are on the bench the opponent just attacks the rim at will.
by NBA Observer on Mar 26, 2008 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Deng is the guy taking TT's minutes now
by bullshooter on Mar 26, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes
by Jaina on Mar 26, 2008 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
have you
by bullshooter on Mar 26, 2008 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well i know
by Jaina on Mar 26, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is funny to read these threads after missing
It's really sad how the Bulls this season have sucked all the fun out of even a win.
by wjb1492 on Mar 25, 2008 10:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
it was a good game
by bullshooter on Mar 25, 2008 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kirk had a good
by sue369 on Mar 26, 2008 7:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That pretty much guaranteed I was going to watch
by wjb1492 on Mar 26, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ugh
again, luol has no rest in the 2nd half. only 1 big man out at a time (luol at the 4). 3 guards. no tyrus 2nd half. he hasn't been good on offense, but he did have 2 blocks in 9 minutes. there is absolutely NO REASON he should not have a 2nd half stint while we are tiring out luol. it would be one thing if we needed luol to play that much, but we really don't, seeing as we have a very talented young forward who never gets time in the 2nd half.
and what happens? we ALMOST blow the lead. we somehow salvaged this game, this time, though. the opposite could have happened.
don't even know if i wanted them to win... cause then we have to hear about the playoff hunt more. which i don't particular want since i don't want to extend our season 4 more games to get embarrassed in the 1st round. bah.
by Jaina on Mar 25, 2008 10:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah, boylan was really tryin
I was kindof laughing and waiting for the collapse to be complete...but it didn't happen. Then Boylan postgame: "we really needed that one"
....noooooooo. :)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 25, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
true
anyhow.. this comment is on the verge of becoming an incoherent rant. for awhile i didn't even know why i was watching the game since i expected the inevitable collapse. i hate watching boylan postgame (and with league pass i don't get it which is fine by me), because he is one of the most uncharismatic people i've ever seen on tv.
by Jaina on Mar 26, 2008 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah it was interesting
by NormVanBeer on Mar 26, 2008 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can you remember what Hughes did in the 3rd?
This morning I looked at the gameflow and Hughes was a +20 for the game and +14 for his 3rd quarter stretch. He was 0-3 from the field with 2 assists. His +- is good, but what exactly was Hughes doing that would make Boylan leave him out there? Is Boylan just guessing on what's a good thing and what isn't? It made no sense.
Gordon is your scorer. He is a defensive liability, but that's why you insert him at the same time you insert Thabo. Gameflow again show us that Gordon in the game without Thabo allows the opponent to attack us, but once Thabo enters the attacks are defeated and the trend of the game shifts to our favor.
Luckily Hughes didn't play at all in the 4th.
by NBA Observer on Mar 26, 2008 9:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HSCS said it (somewhere)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 26, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
very true
I don't know, I really didn't have a problem with Hughes being in there, like I mentioned, it wasn't that he was playing poorly, but they sure could've used some points at that time to help swell the lead...it was just frustrating because you could tell that Boylan had no clue why Hughes was in there either. If someone would've asked him later I bet he would've said, "I felt the guys we had in there had a good rhythm so I wanted to stick with them and see what they could do.." blah blah blah
by NormVanBeer on Mar 26, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you're tanking
And why are people complaining about Hughes playing too much last night? (He was a rare +20)
Unless they (like me) are hoping to get a better chance in the draft... ;)
by Bass on Mar 26, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
come on
by NormVanBeer on Mar 26, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't worry. I'm not easily fooled. :)
But seeing as the point of the game is for your team to outscore the opponent, I'd say he was pretty successful on this night. :)
And why single out Gooden and Hinrich? He was also on the floor with Noah and Deng...
No, it's you that shouldn't be fooled.
by Bass on Mar 29, 2008 5:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is new how?
by Jaina on Mar 26, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The extended minutes of burn
by NBA Observer on Mar 26, 2008 8:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
draft
by hughes sucks on Mar 25, 2008 11:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
you must have missed
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the more i think about it
by Illini15 on Mar 25, 2008 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Take Pistons or Celts 6 games????
by bullschwaah on Mar 26, 2008 9:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by 












