Open Game Thread #73: Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 5:58 PM CDT in News Comment 87 comments

Where inadvertent tanking happens.

0 recs | Comment 87 comments

Comments

When you watch the Bucks

you're watching a team that has more internal issues than the Bulls do, but don't get the publicity on it, a team with an owner that's willing to spend, but spends foolishly and meddles in personnel decisions (but he did veto a trade for Zach Randolph), a team of players where some players won't pass to others, a team that plays no defense expecially if Bogut is out (broken nose, surgery yesterday to fix it up, but he's day to day), a team with players even more offensively challenged than Ben Wallace, a team of streaky shooters, a coach who is the most clueless coach in the world but did undermine his predecessor last year in a chance to get the head coaching job (Coach Larry K - a man who makes Terry Stotts seem brilliant), and a team that sucks more than the Bulls.

But they can beat the Cavs. They can't beat Miami, but if they played the Cavs every day of the week, they'd have a great record.

by KT on Mar 29, 2008 6:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Slightly OT

But I can't remember your feelings on Terry Porter and I've heard him suggested as a potential Bulls coach.

All I can see is Terry Stotts got a lot more players to work with (although of questionable quality) and didn't get many more wins

04-05 (Porter 30-52)
Redd, Gadzuric, a raw Mo Williams, Joe Smith, Des Mason, and half a year of Keith Van Horn

05-06 (Stotts 40-52)
Subtract Mason and Van Horn but add Magloire, rookie Bogut, more experience for Mo, pre-injury Bobby Simmons and post-injury TJ Ford.

I guess I look at 30 wins as being a pretty good outcome for the 04-05 team.

My Blog (Econ/Politics/Sports/NBA Salary Info)

by Sports2 on Mar 29, 2008 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Porter wasn't that impressive either

He was inexperienced, and it showed. It is telling, however, that Johnny Mac, the man who doesn't like to say bad things about anyone, actually implied on air that Terry didn't have a clue on how to use certain players - like Toni K.

Someday he may be a good coach, but he just wasn't ready when he started with the Bucks.

by KT on Mar 29, 2008 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where Chris Duhon pissing me off at the game

and then at Rockit in the same night happens.

Get Yo Self A Handful

by MarketMaker on Mar 29, 2008 6:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They might

win this one. If I didn't have to watch Larry Hughes chuck one more ball I'd be a happy girl.

by sue369 on Mar 29, 2008 6:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to watch this because???

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 29, 2008 7:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You don't have

a date tonight? ;-)

by sue369 on Mar 29, 2008 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ncaa's are all blowouts, so will watch first half

Hughes is just pissed cause every other guard is playing for themselves. Watch Hughes pay Redd on D if given the chance. You don't know what this guy can do, remember, he was playing out of position as a point guard, in the finals last year. He has led the whole NBA in steals, so wait until next year and hope we can buck up for a Superstar, Arenas is my bet.
They need one Superstar. Hughes is not one, but can compliment someone who will not break plays, Gordon, Dang and half the team are playing for their own stats and could give a crap about the team winning. Also, get another center with some years on them, the two rookies won't cut it for another two years.
Beside a superstar, we need an old crusty mean ass coach, way too much youth on this team.

by Homegrown on Mar 29, 2008 7:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

TYRUS!

by gobulls1124 on Mar 29, 2008 7:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

yea whats up with that

did they fire boylan or something?

by Jbasic89 on Mar 29, 2008 7:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stop The

World!

by T2fan on Mar 29, 2008 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow

Pax has made his point, finally. Or just flat out ordered it.

Dalibor and Dragan!
Like Pizza? Me too.

by FAQ on Mar 29, 2008 7:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

unfortunately

the rest of this whole season is extended garbage time. Meh, minutes will at least help his trade value.

(wait, are we no longer showcasing gooden? Bullshooter, help.)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 7:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry I'm late, what's happened?

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gooden has an 'ab strain'

so Thomas started. Showcasing.

Duhon was unearthed last game, apparently. We must be showcasing him for a sign/trade.

playground ball, not exactly two teams tanking but showcasing the heck out of eachother by making a pre-game agreement not to run plays or play defense.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Gooden has shown what he can do

so let's see what TT has been saving up while on the bench.

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

resentment, most likely.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has Hughes shown what he can do?

Somewhere a rival GM is reading the boxscores in his newspaper and seeing the minutes for Hughes, and going 'hmm...he's playing a lot of minutes lately. We must have this guy.' Someone suggests watching him play, only to be brushed off. The minutes are enough. Clearly he's worth acquiring. He's playing heavy minutes for a sub-30 win team. showcased.

(ok, perhaps Isiah does this...)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you just saw what Hughes can do

Shut down Redd when in, Gordon can't cover him,slashed, seven pts in a row, not bad for all your raggin on him

by Homegrown on Mar 29, 2008 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since we have too many more awful games to go

I'm going to ignore your 'showcasing' comments from now on. Just know, even without reading an actual response, I will be reading them and calling you an idiot under my breath.

That said, the comments are finally valid: NOW is the time for showcasing, since the season is over. However between the trade and now, the rotations were a genuine attempt at winning. Genuine failure, of course, but genuine.

In conclusion, senator, the whole idea of showcasing bad players, or players with an established track record, is idiotic.

To clarify:

'showcasing':

yes?: proving players are healthy and competent upon returning from injury or bench burial.

no?: reaffirming that Larry Hughes sucks and Drew Gooden is average, for those without the ability to watch the NBA the past several seasons.

'tanking':

yes?: the organization sitting better players with 'injuries' and 'illnesses'

no?: reaffirming that Larry Hughes sucks and Drew Gooden is average, for those without the ability to watch the NBA the past several seasons.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

huh?

can I just say "ok" and we move on?

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't Hughes suppose to slash to the basket?

by gobulls1124 on Mar 29, 2008 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Anyone see Kirk shrug his shoulders after Hughes didn't pass on that fastbreak?

by gobulls1124 on Mar 29, 2008 7:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hughes sucks.

by sue369 on Mar 29, 2008 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Gooden hurt?

by Freethefro on Mar 29, 2008 7:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

where is gooden?

dont see him on the bench

I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Mar 29, 2008 8:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Abdominal stretch

He's out for this game.

by RogersPark Kris on Mar 29, 2008 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

completely forgot there was a game on tonight

Du's back?

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 8:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

uh oh

Wayne just explained that 'energy guy' is a nice way of saying they can't do much.

Nocioni misses a dunk a few seconds later. Coincidence?????

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that's one of three missed dunks

since I turned it on three minutes ago.

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 8:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

fans should get refunds and

the results should be determined by a simulator when two teams like this play.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is a really important game to lose

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 8:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Bucks have way more experience tanking

when they want to lose they put in Dan Gadzuric and Michael Ruffin. We give heavy minutes to Tyrus Thomas.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

putting TT in is the opposite I thought

maybe the brass knew there was no way that Milwaukee was going to let the bulls beat them, so they naturally decided to play TT heavy minutes, right TT lovers?

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

uh, that was my point.

Are you showcasing for other blogs with these heavy commenting outputs? :-o

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 29, 2008 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you trying to tell me something?

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 8:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holy crow

the day TT starts, Duhon reappears. Boylan: this guy he cannot help sucking.

by Freethefro on Mar 29, 2008 8:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i love....

how you can hear the ice cream guy from the 300 level throughout ever single home game...atleast he was at the 300 level at the game i went to

by bullzfan148 on Mar 29, 2008 8:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

HAHA

Yeah, that guy drives me nuts. When I'm at the games he is a distraction, and when I watch the games on TV he cracks me up.

by Stay Chisel on Mar 30, 2008 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joakim is

playing well and so did Tyrus. Tyrus's jumper is looking good tonight.

by sue369 on Mar 29, 2008 8:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

3 assist 9pts 13 best D

best defense,

whats the average age of posters on this board? Do you girls/guys ever look at the other end of the court and see someone shut down Redd?

As they say, Basketball is like Church, many attend but few understand.

by Homegrown on Mar 29, 2008 9:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

by all means

please provide us a list (bulleted or numbered, whatever your preference) of A)How your favorite player is distinguishing himself tonight. B)How you'd address the current deficiencies in roster/rotation. Punctuation is optional, yet highly appreciated.

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 9:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

please don't

encourage Mrs. Hughes.

by sue369 on Mar 29, 2008 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They seem to be playing well tonight

I am glad to see TT play but I wish he could stay out of foul trouble

http:\\playahatersblog.blogspot.com

by TMD on Mar 29, 2008 9:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

who smells 4th Q let down?

by bullsfaninla on Mar 29, 2008 9:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Noah!

You have to love this guy

http:\\playahatersblog.blogspot.com

by TMD on Mar 29, 2008 9:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is costing us precious ping pong

balls.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 29, 2008 9:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The game is not over yet

http:\playahatersblog.blogspot.com

by TMD on Mar 29, 2008 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So true.

There is still hope.

Even I am tanking.

I skipped the game to drink tequila at Salpicon.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 29, 2008 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man this is typical

http:\\playahatersblog.blogspot.com

by TMD on Mar 29, 2008 9:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

at least we're consistent

by bullsfaninla on Mar 29, 2008 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately this is true

http:\playahatersblog.blogspot.com

by TMD on Mar 29, 2008 9:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

here it goes...

by NormVanBeer on Mar 29, 2008 9:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is why we watch

by gobulls1124 on Mar 29, 2008 9:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If you wrote this in a movie, the script would get

rejected for being to unrealistic.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 29, 2008 9:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I get that very same feeling

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leading scorer best defender Hughes this game

and you bench him in the 4th quarter

PRICELESS

by Homegrown on Mar 29, 2008 9:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

please stop...

by NormVanBeer on Mar 29, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

get off your cloud

by gobulls1124 on Mar 29, 2008 9:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The screen roll between Kirk

and Noah/TT is working real great ... more please.

by T2fan on Mar 29, 2008 9:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's working with TT as well

and TT should be able to "posterize" people.

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

by bullshooter on Mar 29, 2008 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yup ...

it makes it easy for both of them to finish or get a foul while going to the basket.

by T2fan on Mar 29, 2008 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Noah the center of the future?

He really looks like their most promising player. No one is untouchable, but I would need to get a pretty good player back to move Noah.

by danger mouse on Mar 29, 2008 9:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I got home tonight just in time

First thing I hear is some comment about the Bulls winning every quarter, and then tonight's version of the 4th quarter meltdown kicks in. Good times all around.

It takes a special coach to make Aaron Gray a guy you can see.

by wjb1492 on Mar 29, 2008 9:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Eeeeeeehhhhhhhhhh.

A pointless win.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 29, 2008 10:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, a slash, fouled and Hughes iced the game

When you play him next year, you will see what you got, till then, you guys/girls/boys and little one's need to know what a player position is, that taking two points on D is as good as scoring.
Plus, get a better site, this weak for the NBA

Out of here

by Homegrown on Mar 29, 2008 10:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"peace"

by Freethefro on Mar 29, 2008 10:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OK, douche.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 30, 2008 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Thabo

played great defense on Redd when he guarded him towards the end of the game. Thabo's three at the end was huge.

by sue369 on Mar 29, 2008 10:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You should know

Redd has a long history of being Mr. Un Clutch in the fourth quarter. Not to say Thabo didn't have a part in it.

This is one of the two Types of Bucks game, btw, stink for most of it, then put up an offensive firestorm only to fail at the end. The other type they just stink.

by KT on Mar 29, 2008 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kind of like

the two types of Bulls games where one they play great for three quarters and then tank in the 4th or play hard for 3 quarters and barely hang on in the 4th.

by sue369 on Mar 30, 2008 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes

it's scary just how much their bad seasons are a like, except the Bucks as a whole are worse than the Bulls.

And they have lots and lots of contract issues - Larry Harris let ZaZa go and signed Dan Gadzurik to a long term deal. That's just one.

by KT on Mar 30, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Bulls

are the only NBA team I follow but ewww, is Gadzurik always that bad?

by sue369 on Mar 30, 2008 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

but it's harder to remember the days when he was better.

by KT on Mar 30, 2008 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice to know

it's not just the Bulls players it happens to then.

by sue369 on Mar 30, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

there's 3 types of bulls games

the third: the blowout - bulls come out looking so bored and don't try until the 3rd quarter if lucky.

"Joakim Noah looks like a young Kimberly Williams." - my mom

by Jaina on Mar 30, 2008 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's easy to see why other teams want Thabo

He's probably the most in demand player around the league on our whole roster.

His length and quick hands really bother scoring threats.

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 31, 2008 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

scoring threats

like the Bulls offense. hahahahahahaha.

Man we have to trade Nocioni. Even with the 'guard glut', Thabo can at least be Deng's backup to help things a bit.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Mar 31, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

wow this place is sure dead huh?

i'm sad that i didn't get to see the vein pop out of larry k's neck or hear him swear on the feed this time.

"Joakim Noah looks like a young Kimberly Williams." - my mom

by Jaina on Mar 29, 2008 10:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Started going bad when Boylan went small...

I've missed the last few games and a lot of games over the last couple of months (work and all), but I've been reading Matt straight-up rip Boylan for going with the 3-guard lineup. I was at the game tonight, and it happened again - the Bucks' late run coincided perfectly with Boylan going small. I realize that with Tyrus's foul trouble today, it made it harder to play 2 "quality" (taken with a grain of salt) bigs at the same time, but the point is still taken.

I don't have the plus/minuses from the game, but I'll add this as a data point to the "small lineup = bad lineup" argument.

by Jivas on Mar 29, 2008 10:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i read

just now in the wrap-up that not only was drew inactive, so was gray. so in addition to tyrus' foul trouble i'm kind of surprised we didn't end up seeing simmons out there or something. :P

but yes... in all the other games, the blowing of the lead basically consists of boylan going small.

"Joakim Noah looks like a young Kimberly Williams." - my mom

by Jaina on Mar 29, 2008 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Noah is the only reason to watch now

I would include Tyrus in there, but I don't expect him to get that many minutes when Gooden gets back. Hell, even tonight he only played 21 minutes, despite the fact that he and Noah were the only two bigs available. I guess there's no way Boylan can allow Tyrus to foul out of a meaningless game.

by Big D on Mar 29, 2008 11:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Boylan was making sure he didn't foul out.

He was expecting a 4th Q collapse and wanted to save Thomas.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 30, 2008 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Tyrus

played a good game last night. He only played 21 minutes but he had 10 pts. and 7 rebounds in that short period. He was a +5 for the game. He should have stayed in the game.

Another good game for Kirk. In the last five games he's had 40 assists to 6 TO's.

by sue369 on Mar 30, 2008 10:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs