'Winning isn't everything' doesn't just pertain to Larry Hughes
This place shouldn't be Blog-a-Tyrus&Noah, but honestly: it's tough to be too happy about a gimme victory when Noah plays 20 minutes, Tyrus plays 8, and neither play in the last 16 minutes of the game.
Yes, Tyrus looked terrible tonight. In those 8 minutes, he had 4 fouls. But there's still two fouls left, and whether he looks good or bad, he needs to play. Noah as well. For 30+ minutes. Even Boylan's misguided philosophy of 'A-game or sit next to me' has no teeth: they're both pulled when they're playing well too, and treated differently than the rest of the team.
The Bulls are competing for the lowest seed in the lamest conference playoff race ever, and have a coach willing to hold onto any lead like grim death, as each win serves his resume towards some fruitless (hopefully, sheesh) attempt at a full-time job.
It's unproductive and pretty maddening that in a lost season we can't even get 30 games to learn more about two of the most important players on the team. Instead we get to see Boylan do a lot of coaching.
On the bright side, Hinrich, Gooden, and Noc played well, Gordon salvaged a horrible start with a good 4th quarter.
Luol Deng had his best game since coming back from injury, although Boylan left him out there for almost 43 minutes. Yet another short-sited strategy in a hollow victory.
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Tyrus tried too hard today
by Ozzie Montana on Mar 4, 2008 11:18 PM CST 0 recs
can you blame him?
when you constantly have to look over your shoulder to see if you're going to get yanked, the tendency is to try to do everything and not let the game come to you.
by Orange Juice on
Mar 5, 2008 12:35 AM CST
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He does that all the time
by Takeaseat on
Mar 5, 2008 8:25 AM CST
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right
he's allowed to have a bad game. it happens.
by Jaina on
Mar 5, 2008 8:29 AM CST
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Right. It's not even about Thomas anymore.
This season is close to lost on two fronts: not only has it been shitty record-wise, but now none of the youngsters are getting that "valuable" experience that will "justify" their playing time next year. Kinda sad like that, huh?
*A certain anti-Thomas couple will disagree, I'm sure.
by tyger1147 on Mar 4, 2008 11:21 PM CST 0 recs
I like your thinking
I still don't like Boylan, but he's stuck between a rock and a hard place. If there's anybody to fault for not playing the rookies, it's Paxson, who first signed Joe Smith and second replaced Skiles with someone whose career depends on winning now.
by YaoPau on
Mar 4, 2008 11:51 PM CST
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good point
"hey look at me, before I took over we were out of the playoffs, and after I took over we made the playoffs. I'm awesome!"
Boylan must be salivating at the fact that his team could be 5 games under .500 and still make the playoffs. And I know for sure that he dreams of upsetting Boston or Detroit in the first round and signing that 10-year NBA head coaching contract.
by Orange Juice on
Mar 5, 2008 12:47 AM CST
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I could easily have liked Boylan...
by California Al on
Mar 5, 2008 7:08 AM CST
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as usual not entirely true
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 11:02 AM CST
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oh an Boylan is gone either way.
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 11:02 AM CST
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it's two of the last three games
I don't think the organization is giving up on him either. I think there's a disconnect between Paxson and Boylan, and it's frustrating because Boylan should've been hired as a puppet.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 11:09 AM CST
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We'll disagree on this.
It's hard to make sense just looking at the numbers, and you'll remember it how you want, but Deng got hurt the first week of the year (and came back for a short stint), precisely when Thabo started playing more. At that point, one of Gordon, Hinrich and Deng were out of the lineup on a (fairly) consistent basis. Thabo had to get steady minutes because it was either him or Griffin. To Boylan's credit, he gave it to Thabo.
Noah isn't starting because Boylan's developing guys. He's doing it because he doesn't have anyone better. Noah's been the second center on the team all year and now he's the only one.
I don't think Boylan's trying to stunt the development of these guys (which is what you seem to think I meant), just that he'd rather have the veteran over a younger player nearly every time.
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 11:46 AM CST
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I could be wrong on this.
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 12:06 PM CST
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why do you always forget what the point was?
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 1:55 PM CST
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not likely
Thabo only got minutes because everyone else was hurt. And I have little doubt that Thabs will have to 'earn' his spot back.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 2:10 PM CST
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fine
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 2:13 PM CST
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Indertiminate???
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 3:52 PM CST
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Thabo was named the bulls player of the month
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 4:10 PM CST
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Then you missed my original point.
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 3:53 PM CST
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Nope
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 4:04 PM CST
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What was my underlying argument?
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 4:17 PM CST
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point
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 4:22 PM CST
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Yeah, well...
Being allowed to play through a player's mistakes is probably the most important of gaining that expierience (one could argue it's the only part), something that would happen if there was an actual commitment to it.
So yeah, it does matter how they get their minutes. As usual, I'm sure you'll disagree.
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 4:48 PM CST
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try to look at it from the perspective
That said, I would have liked to see Boylan go back to TT one more time, too. But at what point are you pulling guys just to get TT in. The other guys deserve a chance to get a rhythm, too. And the point is still to win the game if for no other reason than to get 4 more games for TT to potentially play in...
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 6:11 PM CST
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contrarian bot returns
There is no carrot of playing time. Just give him time. He's productive already, he proved it last season and is doing so again. We'll only know if he's getting better if he plays. That may mean a bad game once in a while. Sorry, bad games = inconsistency. A scary thought on this contending bunch.
Your last sentence is a joke, right? If this veteran charge gets the Bulls into the postseason, how many minutes do you really see Tyrus getting? What if he gets 2 FOULS?????????
I honestly don't believe you believe in 'teaching lessons' still. Come on.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 8:18 PM CST
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also, your point fails
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 8:20 PM CST
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I also said
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 9:43 PM CST
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ugh
by Stay Chisel on Mar 4, 2008 11:32 PM CST 0 recs
First round
by Option27 on
Mar 4, 2008 11:41 PM CST
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Yes, Tyrus looked terrible tonight.
by Sky on Mar 4, 2008 11:49 PM CST 0 recs
He looked terrible, but...
I can't get excited about any of these wins when you know that they won't close out upcoming games against Cleveland, Detroit and Boston. And where will we be next year? Unless people are moved (Gooden or Noc), we'll be facing the same scenarios in the front court next year. I don't know what's more important - the selection of the next coach or Pax's offseason clearing of the decks.
BTW - Boylan is such an idiot. In his press conference, he talked about what a great leader Kirk has been since he took over as coach. Inconsistent minutes, failure to make himself available to the media after those games - is that what makes a great leader?
This whole team has reached new lows and it's just sad.
by Gene Banks on Mar 5, 2008 12:00 AM CST 0 recs
wow if you scroll up ...
by Orange Juice on
Mar 5, 2008 12:58 AM CST
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First time I ever heard...
Sheesh.
by Sky on Mar 5, 2008 12:05 AM CST 0 recs
Tyrus isn't a rookie
by Option27 on
Mar 5, 2008 12:06 AM CST
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Rookie? Soph? same thang
by Sky on
Mar 5, 2008 12:19 AM CST
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nuttin' but a PT-thang
why can't he control himself?
why hasn't he developed?
BECAUSE HE'S NEVER GOTTEN CONSISTENT MINUTES.
have you noticed what Tyrus has done when he gets over 25 minutes a game? look at the game logs.
the "Sky" is the limit for this kid.
by Orange Juice on
Mar 5, 2008 12:52 AM CST
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besides the already mentioned fact
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 9:15 AM CST
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I'm a big Tyrus advocate,
TT was a ghost out there today.
Drew Gooden played really well today, too.
So that's 2 strikes against his playing time tonight.
That being said, it was pretty clear that Gooden was gassed in the 4th quarter.
I'm not sure he ever left the floor in the second half, but I know a couple minutes into the 4th quarter he was too tired to play defense. He wasn't even getting off the floor.
Boylan would rather have a gassed Gooden standing around out there than TT playing the 4th quarter with 4 fouls.
by MarketMaker on Mar 5, 2008 12:08 AM CST 0 recs
To clarify-
by MarketMaker on
Mar 5, 2008 12:12 AM CST
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Noah did play well
by Big D on Mar 5, 2008 12:23 AM CST 0 recs
I think it's funny
by Ozzie Montana on Mar 5, 2008 12:47 AM CST 0 recs
And TT is not a 2nd round draft pick
by bullsfaninla on Mar 5, 2008 12:58 AM CST 0 recs
Deng playing 43 minutes was also insane
by Big D on Mar 5, 2008 1:17 AM CST 0 recs
Too many minutes?
Last night was a textbook 'Skiles' coached game. Those effective defensively played. When the lead was well in hand, you could change defense for offense. Hughes sat the whole fourth quarter despite playing very effectively to open the half.
Bottom line, Luol has to get going. This was a good game for that. Rudy Gay has been scoring at will most nights, but it's for obvious reasons. He really doesn't play defense. Luol exploited that. Good. More please.
by NBA Observer on
Mar 5, 2008 8:31 AM CST
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The problem is, he's coming off a nagging injury
by snley on
Mar 5, 2008 8:47 AM CST
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that and
by Jaina on
Mar 5, 2008 8:54 AM CST
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As the game wore on
by alec on
Mar 5, 2008 8:57 AM CST
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can anyone comment on the positives of this game
by opkevin on Mar 5, 2008 1:56 AM CST 0 recs
The coaches coached
Now, how do we get coaches to coach every game?
by NBA Observer on
Mar 5, 2008 8:33 AM CST
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Unrelated...
To be fair, I suppose if my job were to analyze this god-awful mess, I'd keep a bottle of Jamison's within reach at all times, too.
by ChrisRobin on Mar 5, 2008 2:18 AM CST 0 recs
He's had the flu.
by alec on
Mar 5, 2008 8:59 AM CST
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Nice to see
by sue369 on Mar 5, 2008 8:25 AM CST 0 recs
Right.
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 8:50 AM CST
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Game flow shows removing Noah was a bad idea
http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20080304&game=MEMCHI
You'll also notice how the Crittenton/Lowery lineup was too much for Ben Gordon. He can't guard either player. He couldn't even protect an area let alone play man defense. How can his feet be so slow without the basketball yet he's fairly quick with his feet while controlling the basketball. It is usually the other way around.
by NBA Observer on Mar 5, 2008 8:38 AM CST 0 recs
I was really surprised by Lowry
(Of course, this game could have been nothing more than just another in a long line of players having career games against the Bulls this year.)
They had Lawry and Crttenten both on the floor for long stretches...is Crit a dreaded Kirkian combo guard or is he a point guard--I ask this in terms of his being a potential trade target for the Bulls this summer.
by alec on
Mar 5, 2008 9:16 AM CST
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I don't see the Bulls going after
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 9:20 AM CST
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Where do you stand
by alec on
Mar 5, 2008 9:39 AM CST
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Or, how about this--
by alec on
Mar 5, 2008 9:50 AM CST
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Hinrich is not close to the problem.
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 10:26 AM CST
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I think it's fair to ask
When you look at the really great point guards--from the grainy old black and white footage of Cousy, through Magic Johnson and Stockton, to Kidd, Nash, and now Paul, Deron Williams (and of course many others over the years)--what they all have in common is that they make the team better (or "more better") than merely their own contributions in the box score might imply.
I would further say that if you're not going to get that kind of play from your point guard, then you need some other player to be outstandingly spectacular--Bird, MJ, Kobe, LBJ. These players so rarely come along that I think it's easier to build with a damn good point guard than it is to find (or fall into, through the luck of the draft) a transcendent star.
by alec on
Mar 5, 2008 10:56 AM CST
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So what you're saying is, if you don't have a star
by snley on
Mar 5, 2008 11:07 AM CST
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a small forward who's as good at small forward
by hscs on
Mar 5, 2008 11:08 AM CST
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Everybody's jumping on my mention
I'd be very happy with Calderon, who is not anyehere near the mvp converstion that Paul is in.
I'd be happy with Lowry, or TJ Ford, even. I think they would make a bigger imopact on making the Bulls better than a Calderon-equivalent small forward.
by alec on
Mar 5, 2008 11:29 AM CST
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yes you mentioned Paul
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 11:40 AM CST
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a better sf
by bullshooter on
Mar 5, 2008 1:59 PM CST
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uh, it's not fair
So yes, all of the best point guards of any generation are better than Kirk. You cracked the code.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Mar 5, 2008 11:11 AM CST
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Paul is superior to Kirk
I don't think you really compare them because Paul is lengths ahead of Kirk in body control, balance, dribbling, and maneuvering inside the paint. It stems from foot speed where Paul is one the best at moving his feet and Kirk tends to drag his when surrounded by defenders.
by NBA Observer on
Mar 5, 2008 11:21 AM CST
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That's all over the place.
How intentional is your awkwardness and how much is natural? For all your "pure" and "true" talk, you sure muddy the waters of discussion.
by tyger1147 on
Mar 5, 2008 11:26 AM CST
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Then clarify it for me.
by alec on Mar 5, 2008 11:32 AM CST


