Open Game Thread #62: Bulls at Boston Celtics

by wjb1492 on Mar 7, 2008 5:14 PM CST Comment 150 comments

[ed. note: Thanks to wjb1492 for today's game preview. -Matt]

I'm really not sure what to say about tonight after last night's win. Part of me wants to be all excited and gung ho, but then I remember that the Bulls haven't won three in a row all season and tonight's game is against the Boston Celtics - who are an NBA best 47 and 12 (27-4 at home). Needless to say, Chicago is not a league best at much of anything, unless you count being the best at shooting poorly as good. But hey, that's where the league leading 13.5 offensive rebounds per game come in - at least the guys get a lot of their own misses!

The Bulls are a big-time underdog tonight, with accuscore giving Boston an 80.7% chance of winning and a 59.7% chance of winning big. Needless to say, the guys will need to shoot like the second half last night (23 of 40), rather than the first half (17 of 51), to have a chance. Maybe adding Sam Cassell to the mix will be just enough of a distraction for the Bulls to grab a win....

Speaking of whom, for those who enjoy this brand of humor:

"We've been eying Sam for a while now, but the idea to sign E.T. didn't come up until over the weekend," said Boston GM Danny Ainge. "We were talking about how to ease Sam into the Boston experience; just to make him feel at home, you know? Somebody suggested bringing in a relative, and - actually this is a little embarrassing, because I actually thought Sam was descended from hammerhead sharks, and I was worried about where we'd put the tank at the Fleet Center. But anyway, we got that all worked out and we're just happy that E.T. was ultimately willing to sign for a lifetime supply of Reese's Pieces. Turns out that doesn't even count against our salary cap number, so it's like a freeroll."

For his part, Cassell seemed grateful for the chance to be around family.

"Me and E, we've always been really close," Cassell told SSNN. "He's technically my cousin, but to me he's more like a brother. We do everything together - like when we were little, we used to scare the hell out of people by levitating, or making our fingers light up. Good times."

Go Bulls!

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GO BULLS

i'm curious to see how we perform against the #1 and #2 seeds in the East on the road. IF we make the playoffs (you never know with Boylan), we're gonna face one of these two teams. are we capable of taking a few games from them in a series?

dare i even suggest the possibility of a golden state-like 1st round upset if we get our shit together and play up to our potential?

first things first obviously. wins would be nice, but i'd just like to see us play well this weekend.

by Orange Juice on Mar 7, 2008 5:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Please

don't suggest such things. It makes the losses hurt that much less when we all turn to our biting sarcasm instead of our broken hope.

by ForWhomTheBullTolls on Mar 7, 2008 6:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am relegated to the Wennington crew tonight.

I'll have to imagine Tyrus in his suit.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 7, 2008 5:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Anything is possible.

If they play hard and smart I will be happy.

by sue369 on Mar 7, 2008 6:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll say this for Boylan . . .

At least the Bulls haven't been getting blown out as much as they did under Skiles earlier this season. The game in Boston in December (along with the Rockets game the night after) was the end for Skiles, because it was obvious that the team had quit on him. With Boylan, they're losing close games instead of blowouts. Of course, they're losing close games because Boylan is an idiot, but at least they're not getting blown out by 20 every night. I think that suggests that with a decent coach, this team might not be as far away as their record suggests.

by Big D on Mar 7, 2008 6:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

this team might not be as far away

Gee...ya think? :-)

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 7, 2008 7:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How / when the heck did PJ Brown

end up on the Celtics?
Wasn't he still under contact with the Bulls?

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 7, 2008 7:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

obviously not.

He was a free agent who said he didn't want to play anymore. Obviously jumping on the Celtics bandwagon to championship.

When the Spurs when everything again, he'll be sorry.

by KT on Mar 7, 2008 11:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's one thing to try and beata good team

but to continually have to get past a lop-sided ref crew is a whole other matter....

Celts can't do no wrong - Bulls get hit with ticky tacks...

shyte.

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 7, 2008 7:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The refs

have been under "The mystique" since game #1. And it's even worse at BOS.

by marionette on Mar 7, 2008 7:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can honestly say

that this is the worst they've been all season.

It is absolutely horrible, and the Bulls won't even stand a chance like this....I'm so disgusted I'm about to turn the game off....seriously.

Spring training....FINALLY!!

by Bluelou on Mar 7, 2008 7:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

the only complaint i really have

is that boston has set a bunch of illegal screens at the top of the key, obvious ones

by ihatenoce on Mar 7, 2008 7:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How's your complain list now?

I nominate Posey's flop that took a reb away, and House's slap down at Hughes' shot. When the ball still goes up, they're supposed to call it a foul. These are just the last two possessions, and knowing it'll just get worse, I'm thinking of sitting this out w/ Bullish. I can always watch the Suns lose.

by marionette on Mar 7, 2008 7:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tyrus

We could really use him about now

by Option27 on Mar 7, 2008 7:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Aaron Gray is just not awesome.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 7, 2008 7:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bulls

in no way can win this just shooting tough jump shots.

They gotta get to the line to even have a chance

by Option27 on Mar 7, 2008 7:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Or at least

make the ones that weren't so tough. There were quite a few, and Noah missed a couple lay-ins.

by marionette on Mar 7, 2008 7:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

noah and gray on the floor at the same time

i must be dreaming!!!!!!!!!!!

by ihatenoce on Mar 7, 2008 7:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

here comes drew

ugh

by ihatenoce on Mar 7, 2008 7:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A team with starters v.s a team full of bench

players

by BiNgO on Mar 7, 2008 8:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

wow...hughes sucks...

...just what we needed, another freaking turnover machine to add to noc, bg and hinrich

by bullsfaninbigapple on Mar 7, 2008 8:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hughes is really forcing the action...

...right now. But at least he is trying to make something happen. Here we go again languishing on the perimeter shooting jump shot after jump shot. When is the last time we took a free throw? We gotta become a more offensively aggressive team, and despite Hughes struggling right now at least he is attempting to get to the basket.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 8:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Turnovers

were hurting even before this BOS run...

by marionette on Mar 7, 2008 8:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gooden isn't hustling

I'd like to see some Cedric Simmons whenever Leon Powe comes in. Seems like a fair fight.

by YaoPau on Mar 7, 2008 8:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

whats that smell

oh its that pile of du on the floor

by ihatenoce on Mar 7, 2008 8:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Just as I was invoking my last resort:

"At least Duhon hasn't played."

The dream is dead.

by jpx7 on Mar 7, 2008 8:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Three Pointers aren't falling 2nite...

... FG percentage is low and we've only taken 7 free throws. Recipe for disaster!!!! Who on this team is capable of grabbing the game by the throat and taking over? Who gets mad when we fall into these lulls? We ALWAYS go through this and i hate it!!! This is why we can trade EVERY SINGLE PLAYER on our roster. Not one of them has a killer instinct!! I take that back. Nocioni has one and maybe Gordon. But no one else even remotely has that championship fire in them.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 8:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Also, let me add....

..Joakim Noah. He has fire as well and will be an exciting player to watch over the years.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 8:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice going Drew.

by sue369 on Mar 7, 2008 8:16 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Way to go, Gooden.

At least we can put Tyrus in.

Oh, wait, the dipshit coach Paxson hired suspended him for two games. For missing one practice.

The Bulls aren't even competitive.

But if we make the playoffs with the vets, I can look forward to four straight games of this! Yes! Awesome. Good strategy.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 7, 2008 8:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Fugly

describes it pretty much.

by sue369 on Mar 7, 2008 8:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Noah is good...

...the rest of this roster is a ragtag bunch of no-hopers...

by bullsfaninbigapple on Mar 7, 2008 8:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Whats up with Fouls

I got a call so missed the entire first half except for gooden being ejected (great timing on my part) i also noticed that the celtics shot what 29 free throws compared to the bulls 9? WTF! Is this star treatment, or are the bulls just sucking on moving thier feet? By the way, that last tip in by gooden looked legit, so gooden has every right to be upset. The officials must have decided that the bulls were way too blue collar, and needed to eject at least one every game or something.

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

by piccolomair on Mar 7, 2008 8:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

This isn't star treatment.

I don't know if you have noticed, but all of our scorers are jump shooters. We don't go to the basket very often and when we do we don't get the benefit of the doubt because we do it so infrequently. Boston has been attacking the basket (unlike us) and crashing the boards (they are outrebounding us by 10). The day we decide to become a more aggressive team is the day we'll get more calls and free throw attempts. Incidentally that will also be when we start to win.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 8:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

{Insert description of feces here}

That's pretty much it.

Drew Gooden beard meter - 6 (Old Amish Carpenter)

by cubbybear on Mar 7, 2008 8:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Woah

Steven A Smith just pretty much said the Bulls were the worst team ever except for Noah

LOL

by Option27 on Mar 7, 2008 8:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Stephen A. Smith

AMEN to your assessment of the Bulls!!!!!!!!

It's not Boylan and it wasn't Skiles. We are not very talented and cannot win unless we play balls to the wall and shoot the lights out (like we did against Cleveland for instance). When Luol Deng is your best player (debatable by the way), then it's trouble.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 8:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was searching for the word and I think I got it:

Pride. This team has none of it. (Again, not talking about you, Joakim.)

by YaoPau on Mar 7, 2008 8:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Jim Boylan sounds like a YMCA coach in the huddle

"Keep your heads up, guys!" "Box out, keep hustling, you'll get 'em!" Jesus...

by YaoPau on Mar 7, 2008 8:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

YaoPao, the word you are looking for is talent.

...again, Noah (and maybe Deng) being exceptions

by bullsfaninbigapple on Mar 7, 2008 8:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

haha

touche

by YaoPau on Mar 7, 2008 8:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Deng IS NOT an exception.

He is probably the most regular so-called superstar player i've ever seen.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 8:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Noah got suspended for bitching at the coaches?

This is the only guy who gives a damn on this pathetic team.

by violentdiarrhea on Mar 7, 2008 8:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If Boylan only had a brain....

Jim Boylan as the Scarecrow:

"I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head, I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain."

Ben Wallace as the Tin Man:

"When a man's an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I'm torn apart
Just because I'm presumin'
That I could be kind-a human
If I only had a heart."

Luol Deng as the Cowardly Lion:

"But I could show my prowess,
Be a lion not a mowess,
If I only had the nerve
I'm afraid there's no denyin'
I'm just a dandelion
A fate I don't deserve."

With various appearances by Ben Gordon and Chris Duhon as the Lollipop Guild.

And Paxson skipping merrily along singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'.

by BullsFanInSeattle on Mar 7, 2008 9:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sounds about right

"As soon as you see the white of their eyes, fire!!" - Jim Boylan

by YaoPau on Mar 7, 2008 9:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pip

Hire Pippen next year at least he could control a team and be respected.

by armstrong2389 on Mar 7, 2008 9:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yuck

But Atlanta lost, and New Jersey looks like its going down barring a miracle in the last minute, which leaves the Bulls still right there just outside the playoffs. Woo-hoo. The less than mediocre among these teams is past old.

Maybe I'll take up hockey.

by wjb1492 on Mar 7, 2008 9:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

A couple of thoughts

We did score 30 in the 3rd quarter
I don't like it, but I can't blame them for letting things go in transition, considering the entire Celtics team is getting the "Dwayne Wade in the finals" treatment where breathing on them gets a whistle.
Does anyone else get the impression we got extra whistles in the third, so the final FTAs would look closer? (f$%&ing Donaghee)

by torch on Mar 7, 2008 9:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

OMFG!

Is this a 4 guard lineup with Gray.

Matt's head just exploded...

by torch on Mar 7, 2008 9:18 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

Do you say that Hughes is at the 4 and Kirk at the 3?

by torch on Mar 7, 2008 9:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They're basically out of players

no T2, Gooden, and Noah's played the whole half thus far. But yes: Boylan's an awful coach. Just listen to the difference between the way Doc Rivers addressed Rondo vs. the hackneyed rah-rah stuff Boylan was spewing. What a poor choice by Paxson. Yech.

by Freethefro on Mar 7, 2008 9:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

its not like

T2 would of played anyway. Maybe in garbage time...

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

by tyrus4prez on Mar 7, 2008 9:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It could be worse

Ben Gordon and Luol Deng could've accepted those contracts in the offseason.

I'm not sure they're worth more than 60% of what they were offered.

by BullsFanInSeattle on Mar 7, 2008 9:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Some team will offer Gordon big money!!

Can you imagine him with the Phoenix Suns or Golden State with his ability to shoot and inability to defend (although Golden State will likely keep Ellis and not need a Gordon)? Or even a team like Atlanta. He'd fit in perfectly. One thing that they all have is a point guard who demands attention defensively and that will create several open shot opportunities for Gordon and he will thrive.

Deng, we'll keep him. But it better be at significantly less than the 57 million he was offered last summer. I'd pay him about what Nocioni is getting. About 40 million over 5 yrs at the most.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 10:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Doc Rivers followed Boylan right into the gutter

Why Rivers wouldn't just leave his big guys in is beyond me. If Davis and Powe were in the game they would kill the Bulls on the inside. Instead, he broke out his own 4 guard line-up. Ha!

PS. good to know Duh-on still can't shoot.

by danger mouse on Mar 7, 2008 9:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

3pt shooting

Hughes is 1-5, Noce 0-4, Duhon 0-3. 1-12 between them. I think they should keep shooting the 3's though. Its working...

by danger mouse on Mar 7, 2008 9:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

My wife, looking up from her crossword:

"they're like a semi-pro team."

(Goes back to her crossword.)

by Freethefro on Mar 7, 2008 9:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

When Noc is your tallest guy on the court...

This is the point in the game where we used to get the "Free Viktor!" chants going, right?

Maybe this is how you deal with a guard log-jam: play four at once!

by torch on Mar 7, 2008 9:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Anyone notice

BG wispering to Tyrus just now?

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

by tyrus4prez on Mar 7, 2008 9:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

and???

by violentdiarrhea on Mar 7, 2008 9:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can

someone PLEASE start a www.fireboylan.com website?

by leeac on Mar 7, 2008 9:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else really angry

at this ESPN announcer? Yeah, they're playing very poorly, but this tongue-lashing is out of control. No effort, no talent, no blah blah blah. Who is he, one of the Barrys?

by Freethefro on Mar 7, 2008 9:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hell, it's the truth...

...to a large degree. The truth hurts.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 9:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

YES!!!!!

I was two steps away from mailing a turd sandwich addressed to Jon "Very poor man's Brent" Barry at the Worldwide Leader. I hate that guy.

by ForWhomTheBullTolls on Mar 8, 2008 9:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My guess is those two Barry boys

still can't beat their dad in a game of 2 on 1...on the court or at the microphone.

by alec on Mar 8, 2008 9:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't expect win from the Bulls

but effortless blowout is just sad.
And when those assholes from espn are laughing
about Bulls I want to crush their talking heads!

"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Mar 7, 2008 9:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

did that just happen?

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

by tyrus4prez on Mar 7, 2008 9:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

what?

"YES,WE CAN!"-B.OBAMA.

by Azabullsfan on Mar 7, 2008 9:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Big Baby

diving onto the scorer's table

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

by tyrus4prez on Mar 7, 2008 9:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

With tonight's performance

I'm going to have to ask you to be more specific than "that"

by torch on Mar 7, 2008 9:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boylans post game comments

"We played a good team on the second of a back to back but overall i thought that we played good but we just need to shoot a little better."

by eross226 on Mar 7, 2008 9:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So who wants to argue that Luol Deng's....

...achilles bothered him tonight? Once again we see a subpar peformance for this so-called superstar. True no other Bull had a great game, but no one else is constantly billed as a superstar (or budding superstar) or turns down $57.5 million. Like I said last night when the Bulls played Cleveland, against a superior small forward or great team, Deng is overmatched (unless we are blowing the other team out then he usually looks good). I want SO BADLY for this guy to be who a lot of Bulls fans think he can be, but the truth is he isn't and will probably never be. He just does not possess the ability to impose his will on the game and that's unfortunate.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 9:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Shut up.

Or get your facts straight. Being stupid is annoying.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 10:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What facts...

... did I mess up tyger? Hell, if you really cared you'd call Deng out too. He HAS to be better if the Bulls are gonna be better. Either that or we need a serious talent overhaul because i will tell you like I tell everyone else. There are at least 15 small forwards I'd take over Deng!

Quit being overly sensitive about Deng's bum ass anyway until he gives you reason to believe he's gonna be anything more than the 18 pts 7 rbds guy he is! By the way, those numbers would be fine, IF PEOPLE DIDN'T TOUT HIS AS A BUDDING SUPERSTAR AND HE DIDN'T TURN DOWN THE MONEY!!! Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups both make about what he was offered and he is nowhere near the competitor that either of them are.

Here is every game he has ever played in his career:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/denglu01.html

Go to game logs and splits.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 8, 2008 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There were only two facts there.

How much money did he turn down again? The other fact is too tedious for me to even care, and I doubt you've gone through every game either.

And Deng played well in the first round of the playoffs last year, the most important games of the year up to the point.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 6:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And immediately after he played well against.....

...Miami (who in truth was a terrible team and we saw more of that from them this year), he went on to post numbers of 19.5ppg, 8.5rpg (down from his fabulous first round series) which are decent but not GREAT and obviously not enough to lead us past the Pistons.

As for the money, some reports say he got the same offer as Gordon (5 yrs 50 million).

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=Deng_Bryant

Other reports say he was made another offer of 5 yrs 57.5 million.

http://nbabeat.com/search/nba%20news/

http://lakers.topbuzz.com/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-p-82273.html

Bottom line about Deng, we see now that he is just too mentally fragile a player. He and Gordon both got bad advice in regards to those extensions they rejected.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 8, 2008 8:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe

that Arenas corroborated the report on the 5/50, since he said that Gordon spoke with him and said that both he and Deng were offered that, with no offers to barter.

by Jaina on Mar 8, 2008 10:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

From what i rember reading about on....

...chicagosports.com, there was a second offer made to Deng. The 5/57.5 offer, which was an indication of sorts that the organization was looking more toward featuring Deng.

I just tried to pull the article up from an old link but it's no longer there.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 8, 2008 11:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boylan: Anime Form

Just watch the first 30 seconds of this clip to see the perfect anime version of Jim Boylan
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NBYnK-5Jalw

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

by piccolomair on Mar 7, 2008 10:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That was so bad I kept watching

Hearing Steven A. Smith rip the Bulls at halftime was worth the abomination of the game. The Celtics were up by 20 for the entire 2nd half, yet they still played balls out, kinda like how this team used to last season.

Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Mar 7, 2008 10:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The difference being....

...that in addition to all the effort they put forth, the Celtics also have a little thing called MAJOR LEAGUE NBA TALENT!!!

Something we sorely lack. We have nice players. They have great players who make their nice players look pretty damn good.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 7, 2008 10:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I had to change the channel

I couldn't take Stephen A. for halftime after being dealt Jon Barry all game.

by ForWhomTheBullTolls on Mar 8, 2008 9:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ya' know what makes the recent losing even more

intolerable?

All the newbies with their various "theories" [Note: term used very generously] about the Bulls' struggles.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Mar 7, 2008 10:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the price of Matt's success.

by KT on Mar 7, 2008 11:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought it was even better

when they all started trade diaries, and then commented on each and every one of them with each other. That was just swell

"Jerome James PER.. is 46.68... Do that trade now! Screw Horford, we don't need him. Jerome is a monster!!!!!!!!!" - BNeL21

by NittanyBull on Mar 8, 2008 2:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Sam & ET humor

was good! better than the game.

by exult463 on Mar 8, 2008 12:18 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

who guarded garnett

tonight? the bulls really need tyrus back and playing healthy minutes.

by Jbasic89 on Mar 8, 2008 12:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Noah did well on him

Gooden, not so much. Defensively, Noah seems to do better against SFs and PFs. Kendrick Perkins was outmuscling Joakim all night.

I'd like to see Boylan experiment more with Noah at PF and Gooden/Tyrus at C.

by YaoPau on Mar 8, 2008 7:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When Aaron Gray leads your team....

....in ANYTHING, and it is not a college game....well, that about says it all.

And i'm a Gray fan...

by PittFan on Mar 8, 2008 3:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I can hardly wait

for the Bulls to grab that bottom play-off rung.

by alec on Mar 8, 2008 7:36 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

BG at the PG spot vs a quality opponent

if you check out ...

http://popcornmachine.net/cgi-bin/gameflow.cgi?date=20080307&game=CHIBOS

you can see that when

Gordon isn't forced to play beside Hinrich
Gordon gets to play PG with running mates like Hughes, Deng, Nocioni (plus Sefolosha, when he's healthy)

the Bulls can more than hold their own vs a team Boston

... especially if/when the Bulls coaching staff actually decides to play

Thomas & Noah (plus Gray) as the 2 Bigs with Gordon (as the PG).

NBA basketball is a game of "individual match-ups" and playing Ben Gordon at the PG spot - given his size, strength and quickness, relative to this position - is the best scenario for Chicago vs elite level teams in this league.

http://khandorssportsblog.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/running-of-da-bulls/

From a coaching perspective ... it's really a no-brainer.

by khandor on Mar 8, 2008 7:56 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe next

season Ben's new team will let him play some at the point.

by sue369 on Mar 8, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd go into why you are so wrong

but I get the feeling that would just elicit "more wisdom"...

Baby Bulls II?

by bullshooter on Mar 8, 2008 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody wants to see your blog

stop fucking posting it everywhere.

"Jerome James PER.. is 46.68... Do that trade now! Screw Horford, we don't need him. Jerome is a monster!!!!!!!!!" - BNeL21

by NittanyBull on Mar 8, 2008 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just like I said.... Gooden

is lazy as hell! Can this guy score in the post? I mean seems like he only scores in transition. This guy is nothing more than a Sixth man at best. And of all games to get himself kicked out of, he gets kicked out the one were TT is suspended and we're forced to look at Aaron Gray during the vital moments of the game. We can only hope he pulls a repeat performance of this Sunday. Maybe let the real starting PF Tyrus Thomas will get on the court for more than 8mins. That game was sickening! BTW I am officially starting the sign-&-trade Deng bandwagon; this guy is as awkward as any small forward in the league. He can drive the ball, he can't post and he cant consistently defended his positon. We have to be the only team in the league that has a spot-up jumpshot shooting SF in our starting line up. Kinda reminds me of a lesser verison of Chuck Person.

by Takeaseat on Mar 8, 2008 8:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Vital moment?

We were down by 20 points to the best team in the east when Gooden got kicked out, it was hardly a "vital" moment. Tyrus Thomas wouldn't have done any better either.

Sign and trade Deng? You realize he has been hurt most of this year right? You think losing Chandler and watching him develop was bad, wait until Deng is another team.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Deng

Sadly, we've seen Deng's ceiling and it was his performance last year. Deng is an awesome third option on a good team. He can hit some mid-range jumpers and slash from time to time, but he has no killer instinct and cannot impose his will on the game like true top-tier players. Deng will be a "potential All-Star" for his whole career. He should have been traded last season when his value was highest. Now we are going to overpay for someone who has no leadership ability and merely above-average skills.

I know this post sounds like a rant, but I cannot understand why people are so in love with Deng. A few seasons ago, Isiah Thomas said that Channing Frye was "untouchable" in trades because he had such great potential. In a few years, we're going to look back at Deng's "untouchable" status and laugh at Paxson like we laughed at Zeke. If the Bulls are so high on potential, they'd give Tyrus a max deal and play him 40 minutes a night.

by Stay Chisel on Mar 8, 2008 9:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No one expected

this season to go the way it has. I'm thinking it is a one time occurrance (because of many factors) and am willing to give the players another chance. Deng is not the only player to not play up to his potential.

by sue369 on Mar 8, 2008 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fo' rizzle.

Hinrich, Gordon and Deng have been the problem this year but are hardly the problem going forward.

Deng is actually back to his "old self". I see no reason not to offer him whatever it takes to keep him, since I don't think he'll hold out for a ridiculous amount.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 10:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

God, it's so pathetic...

...how Thomas and Noah deserve to play on a basketball ability level, yet this team is so intent on teaching them lessons that it gets lost. I guess I'm glad Wallace was traded so that there was no chance for Boylan to keep overplaying him.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tyger....

... if Deng insists on 50 million for 5 yrs, would you pay him that? If so then why? If not then why?

Let's not forget that he and Gordon both felt like their offers were lowball offers.

What do you think is a fair amount to pay Deng considering what he's done (somebody tell me what he's done) and what you think he may be capable of doing?

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 8, 2008 3:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd gladly pay that to Deng.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 6:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well with the way he is playing now...

... thank goodness you aren't the Bulls GM.

Here is a list of small forwards IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE ALONE who make less money than you'd pay Deng. For the record, I think Deng is on par with some of these guys but I'd take all of them over Deng with the exception maybe being Dunleavy.

-Josh Smith (will probably get 10 million of his own soon)
-Gerald Wallace
-Danny Granger
-Andre Iguogala
-MIKE DUNLEAVY (just 4 kicks look at the site below)

http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&p1=denglu01&y1=200 8&p2=dunlemi02&y2=2008&p3=grangda01&y3=2008

-Hido Turkoglu
-Last but not least, TOUGH JUICE A.K.A. Caron Butler

AND THIS IS JUST IN THE EAST

Again, these are all small forwards that make considerably less than the money you'd pay Deng yet they are all more productive. Doesn't bode well for his all-star potential either seeing as though I obviously didn't include LeBron or any of the power forwards that will be voted in before Deng ever will (Bosh, Vince Carter for example) I respect that you think Deng deserves that long money (You should be his agent), but I respectfully disagree.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 8, 2008 8:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Praise Be to Stay Chisel!!!!!!!!

This is PRECISELY what I've been saying and my fellow Bulls fans continue to want to argue. NOBODY wants Deng to break out and be a star more than I do. I had visions of Deng being the next Grant Hill when he was at Duke far before he donned a Bulls uniform. But this is as good as it's gonna get. He just doesn't make the type of improvement from year to year that suggests he's going to make the jump from "potential all-star" to "all-star". Not to mention, his durability is a bit of a question mark at this point.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 8, 2008 3:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah i said vital moment

people don't understand how important that defensive intensity is to winning and losing. A 20 point lead in the 2nd quarter is hardly insurmountable. But you have to stop the ball. The reason the Bulls lost last night was because they couldn't stop anyone. You'd be amazed just how much one intense player could have on a team. A few blocked shots and defensive stops could have turned that game around last night. Instead we fought offense with offense; and we all know the Bulls just aren't that good of offensive team. This is why they got ran out to the gym. Drew and Larry are two offensive minded players and if their offense going well for them theirs pretty much no need to have them on the floor. To Hughes' credit from time to time he can be a decent defender but he's just not consistent enough.

Deng is no max player... if you cant see that then i don't know what else to say about it. As for Tyson Chandler he's in an offense with a true point guard... so that's some of the reason for his success but outside of that I blame Tyson's failures with the Bulls on Skiles. If he would have cared about the overall development of this team he would have taken the time to help and Tyson improve. If we're not careful the same thing is going to happen to Tyrus.

I'm really beginning to wonder about this organization and why they have so many issues developing young players, from issues with headbands, tattoos, braids and lifestyle. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like every young player that has come through this organization over the past 8-10 years has left this team pissed for one reason or another.

by Takeaseat on Mar 8, 2008 3:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Chandler's development...

Tyson's last year as a Bull (his 5th in the league) he averaged almost 27 minutes a game, with close to 4 fouls per contest. How is it Skiles fault he didn't develop more, unless you think he was supposed to teach him how to post up or shoot the sky hook himself?

But I guess it's easy to blame Skiles and Boylan for "player development". It's the NBA, these guys are supposed to know how to play when they arrive. If they don't that's what practice is for. It's not Skiles fault that Chandler found a "true point guard" (which is maybe the worst cliche on this board) in New Orleans, and it isn't Boylan's fault that Tyrus thinks practice is optional... And you think Deng, probably our best character player, should be shipped out? Yeah, think about the kind of message that will send to the younger players as we throw a ton of minutes at Tyrus Thomas so he can "develop".

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 6:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Firstoff

a true point guard to me is a guard with pass first mentality. Secondly, the development of Tyson, Eddy and Crawford was all on Skiles. Thirdly, you don't draft players straight out of high school and expect them not to go through some growing pains.

Now looking at Tyrus... what exactly are his character issues? The guy was hated by Skiles seemly right out of the box but one ever knew exactly why. Now that Boylan(Skiles buddy btw)takes over the guy is moved into the starting line up and moved out for Gooden the moment he gets his first practice under his belt. Now what kind of example does that set? And I bet that Boylan moves Thabo back to the bench when he comes back. These guys have been here for 2 years now riding the bench, practicing hard, leaning the plays and what happens when two new guys come to town? They get moved back to the bench for reasons unbeknown to me.

When it comes to Deng you talk about him being a character guy... well if that was all it took to win guys we'd be one of the top teams in the league right now! If you want to watch character guys you may need to go back to watching high school or college ball because the fact is most of the top players in the league come from shady backgrounds and because of that they may have developed some bad habits but I say that is no reason to totally shut people out and label them as bad people! They talked to Tyrus and we have to hope and believe he'll get better but to think that we should give up on him because he missed a practice is absurd, bench him suspend him but for Christ's sake play the man!

by Takeaseat on Mar 8, 2008 7:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

First off...

I do watch college ball, and to be honest it's a better product. That being said, the San Antonio Spurs seem to have plenty of guys who work hard, learn their roles, and don't end up in the paper for negative things. I don't think I need to tell you how that's worked out for them. Not that this is in any way a problem for the Bulls, but I think Paxson realizes the importance of Deng on and off the court for this reason. If you think we should drop character guys in favor of pure athletes then I urge you to take a long hard look at the Knicks and ask yourself if you like what you see.

Secondly, I never said we should "give up" on Tyrus Thomas, that would be stupid, but we shouldn't play the guy anymore than he deserves/earns (regardless of where we drafted him. That's Paxson's fault not Boylan's). I don't think he's a "bad person" at all, maybe just a bit misguided if he doesn't realize he earns a ridiculous amount of money for playing a game he doesn't feel the need to practice. Once this is behind him (and I truly hope it is), if he's the best PF on the team he might learn the system and get in the game more. Fact of the matter is he plays like a rookie and if he couldn't jump out of the gym he wouldn't even be on an NBA roster. Maybe he has potential, but so does half the NBDL.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 8:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets not forget that

Spurs have Tim Duncan in the middle of all that... without him they would be just another team. We havent even sniffed a franchise player since this guy has been in charge. What you've failed to realize is that Deng isn't a all-star player and isn't going the be going forward so regardless of whether hes a character guy is totally a pointless argument I mean, your probably a good character guy but I don't think you cut out for the NBA sir. So lets stop kidding ourselves here, you either come ready to play or dont play at all stop trying to sell this Pleasantville Basketball it just isnt realistic. Fact is good players have egos its been that why since the beginning of time. Just look at the Bulls when they were winning Michael Jordan probably slept with hundreds of women but did anybody care? NO! Dennis Rodman was a nut case, did anybody care? NO! In fact some thought it was cute.

by Takeaseat on Mar 8, 2008 10:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

Tim Duncan is the rarest of players, and Deng is far from that level. However, Deng isn't half bad, and he should only cost the Bulls about half (maybe a bit more, but not much) of what Duncan makes. He's a good piece of the puzzle in a market where superstars like Duncan just aren't available.

All that being said, the Bulls were probably dumb for not swaping him (and everyone else) for Kobe.

I know it sounds hypocritical to say that, but Kobe is instant (and future) playoffs, and trades like that just don't fall out of the sky.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 10:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ncaa

College basketball is a better product? What does that even mean? The tournament is exciting but the level of play is nowhere close to the NBA. Games are competitive, but that's because every team is mediocre.

by Stay Chisel on Mar 8, 2008 11:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess it's subjective...

... and I do enjoy watching the Bulls, but I find it hard to watch any other team (except maybe The Suns on occasion).

There are probably ten college teams that I could watch on a regular basis, mostly because of past school affiliations and the desire to see the little guy beat the bigger schools.

I went to a mid major undergrad (barely mid-major even), and an Ivy league grad school. I realize that neither of the schools I went to will probably ever win the tournament, but it is exciting to watch them try. If either school ever does win it all it would far surpass the feat the Bulls achieved by winning 6 championships.

The tournament is one of the single best end of the year formats in any sport because of the cinderella possibilities it creates.

But that's just my opinion.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 9, 2008 12:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

Did you ever consider that the reason Boylan is playing Gooden is because the Bulls know exactly what they have in Tyrus, but they'll lose Gooden at the end of the season and want to see if it might be worth keeping him around... Regardless of what you think.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 8:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think if

Paxson doesnt know BY NOW what Gooden is capable of he should be fired. I mean when you make a trade shouldnt you know how the guy fits with your club? Besides, Gooden has been in the league like 6yrs, ask a scout! But what am i saying, this is the same guy who over paid for Noc, Wallace and Kirk. Not to mention he traded Ron Artest, Brad Miller for Jalen Rose, traded Damarcus for Tyrus, decided that Brandon Roy had reached his ceiling so he passed on drafting him and oh by the way traded Tyson for JR Smith then swapped him for Adrian Griffin. U know what your right, Paxson may need more time to evaluate Gooden sorry. At this point Id rather he do it from his living room sofa as a fan because as a GM Paxson sucks! Its only a matter of time before hes gone. In over 8 years hes managed to totally dismantle a bad team to create another one... way to go Johnny on the spot!

by Takeaseat on Mar 8, 2008 9:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gooden...

Yeah, he knows what Gooden does... On the Cavs. NOBODY knows what he is on the Bulls. Good or bad.

And by the way it's LaMarcus, not Damarcus. At least learn the guys name before you slam Paxson for not being a fortune teller.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 10:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And...

He's also the guy who suckered the Knicks into mortaging the franchise on Eddy Curry (after they knew he wouldn't play for the Bulls because of his heart).

He also drafted a team that went from the worst in the NBA back to the playoffs pretty damn quick.

You can say what you want about he has handled the day to day issues with the Bulls management, but to bring up his draft record is hardly damning evidence to can the guy...

But then again I know who is LaMarcus Aldridge is, and clearly you think he's somebody named Damarcus.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 10:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Damarcus...

Hang on, I just realized that Paxson probably passed up drafting JaMarcus Russel and let him fall to the Raiders.

He should be fired as GM of the Bears too!

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 10:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

WOW!

I think you killed that horse three times over... you are one HUGE cornball. ;)

by Takeaseat on Mar 8, 2008 11:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

WOW!

You are a huge idiot and have narry a clue about the NBA.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 11:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

YES YOU ARE RIGHT OLD WISE ONE

by Takeaseat on Mar 8, 2008 11:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought this was one of the

worst officiated games I have ever seen. This was 2006 Finals worthy. The 2nd quarter was just as bas as any quarter in the 2006 finals. Chicago couldn't molest the refs for a foul. We were getting fleeced by the officials. This was a crucial moment where Jim Boylan has to stick up for his players. If he needs to walk onto the court and get in the officials face to make them hear you, DO IT.

The Bulls play was poor, but it's demoralizing when you're playing five against eight. Andres Nocioni gets shoved to the floor on a layup right in front of the officials face and there is no call. It leads to a Celtic fast break because it's 4 on 8 now. The Celtics get a hoop and the harm in transition.

I watched the whole game because I thought that if at some point the refs put their whistles back in their pockets this game could be close. They didn't. They were just as whistle happy in the 3rd as they were in the first half.

Toughness matters. If your team is getting raped by the refs somebody needs to stand up and make a statement. Making it easy to call a foul by denying Rajon Rondo left hand dunks in the paint is one way. Putting KG on his ass in another. Where is the intensity?

The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Mar 8, 2008 9:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

i basically ff'ed

through the 2nd half cause i couldn't bear to watch.

but i totally agree. however, i was surprised to see the FT tally only 43-38 in favor of the celtics.

i'm pretty sure it was 29-9 at the end of the first half, which means it was 29-14 in the 2nd half in favor of the bulls, actually.

but the 2nd quarter officiating was absolutely ridiculous. i'd've been pissed if i were drew gooden, also.

by Jaina on Mar 8, 2008 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Boylan did

get a T and I think it was when Noah got abused and nothing was called. It was beyond ridiculous.

by sue369 on Mar 8, 2008 10:11 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The officiating was bad

In the 1st half, but that's never an excuse for letting a game get out of hand like it did in the 2nd quarter. The Bulls were playing tight defense for about 1 1/2 quarters, then all of a sudden Rondo started getting into the lane with ease, Allen and Pierce were making beautiful cuts to the basket for open layups. We even made a chucker like Eddie House look like a real PG. This team has no one who can either pick up the slack, or lead by example. If the entire team doesn't collectively decide to play hard, they usually suck, especially against the best team in the league.

Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Mar 8, 2008 10:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

whats up with it, though

why has this been happening? all of us have seen the bullshit the bulls have had to do deal with when it comes to the officials. i dont get where it is coming from. maybe its make up time for all the years the bulls used to get the calls when pip and mj were around. who knows? david stern has to fix this problem, the officiating in the league is terrible
i am pissed that gooden got tossed, he has to know better, but i thought he had a valid argument. it looked like he cleanly tipped the ball in. whoever it was the refs thought he went over the back of was way too far under the rim, anyway. total bullshit

by Conor on Mar 8, 2008 11:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Who knows?

Age? No veteran leadership? Maybe having two of the biggest whiners in the NBA?

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Last part makes sense

There's no one to coddle the refs on this team. If Hinrich ever tried to have a reasoned discussion with the ref like the stars do, he'd get some leeway like a Bruce Bowen does(who basically has a free pass to commit every dirty trick he feels like).

Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Mar 8, 2008 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There was one point in the game

Hinrich was called for a foul after a screen. Hinrich went up to the ref and started explaining how the guy setting the screen prior to the foul had used his hip to bump hinrich which is how hinrich went into the guy he was defending. He actually went through a lenghty and calm conversation (filled with dance moves by the way). Its actually something i like to see from hinrich more and more (wish he had the sense to do this maybe 3 years ago). I think finally he might be getting the hang of it, dont shout and scream and slump around after a call. If you dont like it go talk to refs about it calmly and cooly. Thats the whole point of discussing fouls with refs, not to change the call, but open thier eyes to what really happened in that foul, and hope the next time the foul goes the other way. Obviously hinrich was in foul trouble most of the game so it didnt work then, but if he keeps it up at some point refs will give him the bennefit of the doubt.

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

by piccolomair on Mar 8, 2008 12:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I saw Kirk

do that too. I also saw in the game on Thurs. night after one of his team mates got a foul called on them Kirk went calmly up to the ref and talked to him. Hopefully he's learning.

by sue369 on Mar 8, 2008 12:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

God, I hope so.

He needs to be the leader of this team. He's the most tenured of the Bulls and the best player of the guys over 25. Obviously, it's not part of his personality, but if he can learn to really lead this team (other than learning to not be indignant on 80% of the foul calls on him), I think he can "turn the corner." The team needs it, and he's the first one to look to.

I'd love to see him get enough cajones to take charge, get in players' faces, etc. If he can do that, along with the enthusiasm and passion Noah displays, I think it really would be infectious. If Thomas quits being an idiot, Deng gets more tenacious (heh) and Kirk becomes more of a vocal leader, I really do think it's all the team needs. I think there's enough talent here. (Getting rid of Hughes and keeping Gordon being presumptive of that)

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In the past

week I saw Kirk talking to his team mates on the floor and actually pull some of them together to discuss things and Boylan said he had become vocal in the huddles too. It's a step in the right direction anyway.

by sue369 on Mar 8, 2008 1:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He is the damn captain

It is his job to be the floor leader, he is the starting PG as well. This type of stuff is in his job description. And yeah, I noticed that discourse with the ref, I was impressed by it.

Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Mar 8, 2008 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just cause he's the captain doesn't...

...make him the leader. Coaches don't have to tell their players who the captains/leaders are. They cream rises to the top. You think the Bulls voted for MJ to be captain? Lakers for Kobe to be captain? Hell even with all the trouble he used to cause, it wasn't hard to see Stephen Jackson is a leader on the Golden State unit and subsequently was named a captain.

Captain Kirk sounds nice, but it just doesn't fit. We have no leaders on this team. Skiles was our leader and when your coach has to fill that role there is a problem.

by lexdiamonds0730 on Mar 8, 2008 2:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thats Mistake #1

Although it seemed right at the time, skiles was definetly our leader and that might have caused things to go sour. I wish skiles had trained Hinrich into a leader, but he really didnt. When the bulls rose up against skiles (presumably due to wallace) they came across the problem that once skiles is gone who would lead. You would assume wallace would (he rallied the troops) but i guess his leadership was a once in a lifetime event, and he used it for the most retarded thing ever.

THe good news is still this group is young, and if hinrich can actually become a better floor general and a leader (even of sorts) there is hope for the bunch. We may need a superstar to win championships, but this group in itself can become a very good team (NO Pax, that doesnt mean stop trying to get the superstar).

This year really is moot, I am more so waiting for a good bang and a real good offseason, my guess is gordon and hinrich and thomas will stay for at least one more year (I see gordon getting that 1year qualifier, and deng getting a 10 mil 3 year contract with options) and then next deadline we will have a good idea of who is worth keeping plus some better contracts to get rid of.

People who are looking to the draft shouldnt look so hard, theres no one who can just come in and save us at this point in time (i dont think beasly is that great) But I do hope they get a center or pf, so that if thomas doesnt pan out we have something. I am just really hoping next season the bulls return to respectability. The players have time to grow, the question is will they be good enough to grow together, or will they go seperate ways?

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

by piccolomair on Mar 8, 2008 6:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm really hoping

that Tyrus talks to the administration and finds out exactly what it is they expect of him and he stays in Chicago this summer and either he or the team hires someone to work with him.

by sue369 on Mar 8, 2008 6:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Me too.

Obviously not missing practice is one, but that part where Henry Abbot said Tyrus had no idea what he had to learn seemed really telling to me. Either Thomas is a complete and utter moron and I mean really self-absorbed and stupid (I'm not quite ready to rule that out), or Paxson, Skiles and Boylan are only saying things like, "Try harder. Run faster. Run more."

I honestly believe it's probably the latter. And I do think that Thomas thinks he's running super hard, but the coaches don't. And he's really not flying up and down the court like most everyone else. Even if that's the case, that's still on the coaching. If, this far into the season, the coach is saying, "Run more!" and Thomas is saying, "I AM!!!" they need to find a better way to reach/teach him.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 7:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think...

The problem to me looks like he just doesn't know what his role is on offense. The only time he doesn't look lost is when he's grabbing rebounds or flushing alley oops, which is very telling considering his athleticism.

Every time they go into a half court set you can pretty much expect Tyrus to do the same thing on almost every play. Run to the elbow, set the high screen, then turn and run back for an offensive rebound. I can't imagine that's what he is supposed to be doing all the time. It's probably a symptom of a larger problem, and I think it's BOTH sides fault.

If the problem is being lost on offense, then he really needs to pay attention in practice... Oh and go to practice too I guess.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 7:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Whiners?

Just out of curiosity who is the other biggest whiner? (I'm assuming one of them is Noc right?)

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 6:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

I don't see it in Noc as Kirk, but it's still there. And even if it's not "whining" at Kirk, looking and acting like you didn't commit a foul 80% of the time you're called for one is annoying.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 6:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kirk...

Agreed, but in his defense (no pun intended) he is usually guarding the other teams best player, and in the NBA that usually means a free pass to the free throw line if there is any question about a particular play.

It is annoying to watch him react like somebody just stole his lunch money though.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 6:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True.

I never minded before. Maybe it's the losing that finally made the whining too much. If Kirk fouls four times in a night, he'll argue, or at least pull his mouthpiece out and plead, three of them. I most hate, when I'm watching on TV, when I know it's a foul and he still pleads his case. It's like, "C'mon dude. You fouled him; get over it."

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 6:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thabo...

That's what I like about Thabo, he usually is a class act about it.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 7:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gooden was terrible last night

Typically, at least with the Bulls, he has done a pretty nice job of getting some rebounds. Last night it looked like he mailed it in from the get-go.

His defense was terrible, he just kind of seemed to be wandering around out there, and when a shot went up, he wasn't trying to put a body on anyone.

I am really disappointed with his effort in that game. Despite being kicked out late in the first half, his contribution level was the same the whole game. I don't think he ever wanted to be there in the first place.

His worst game in a Bull uniform.

GetYoSelfAHandful.blogspot.com

by MarketMaker on Mar 8, 2008 11:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Everyone Sucked

Doc Rivers said that he expected to see Chicago in the 8th seed of the playoffs this year. I think he just wants his team to play chicago first so that they can take a nice liesurely stroll through the first round, rest up kg and company real good, then be ready to take on the cavs and pistons.

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

by piccolomair on Mar 8, 2008 12:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think......

that most teams would like to see us in the playoffs instead of the lottery. Reason being, the lower our draft pick, the least likely we will be able acquire a game-changing player either through the draft or trade.

Even though this year has been a disaster, when you break some of the wins and losses down, we are staying close but coming up short and not finishing games.

In games decided by 7-10 pts, we are 7-8.

In games decided by 6 or less, we are 5-9.

Right there, we are a combined 12-17 in games decided by 10 pts or less. The Bulls have also blown double digit leads 8 times this season and are 0-4 in OT games.

The inability to finish games all boils down to not having a leader on the floor and someone we can rely on to help us finish games. Ben Gordon was a great finisher in his rookie season when he wasn't on teams radars, but teams can now focus on him and eliminate his effectiveness in crunch time.

This team is loaded with great role players and a few who have amazing potential but haven't reached it. Should we trade some of them away, not sure doing that now is a good thing, especially when their value is low.

My preferance is not to see the Bulls in the playoffs. Knowing that we don't match up with Boston at all. Like I stated before though, some teams in the East know we can still be a tough team and if we could get lucky and maybe get Rose or Beasley, then things could change for us quickly next season.

by BullsAttitude on Mar 8, 2008 1:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

I thoroughly agree with your entire post, BUT we would have to have some kind of CRAZY luck to get ahold of Rose or Beasley in the draft. In fact, I think we would have to live in some kind of mathematical alternate universe to land any of the first three picks (unless we trade for it I guess).

I'd look further down, like maybe Roy Hibbert, or (God forbid) Chase Budinger.

by Khalid El-Amin on Mar 8, 2008 6:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's a bad use of "stats".

They've won 40% of games overall. If your numbers are to be trusted, then in games 7-10 points, they're doing better than their overall record. In games 6 or less, they're at 35%, but one more win would have put them at 42.5%

Basically, they're the same team in close games they are in blowouts. Not surprising, actually; that's how things usually are.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Mar 8, 2008 6:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs