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Open Game Thread #82: Bulls vs Toronto Raptors

Blogabull_s_tiny by your friendly BullsBlogger on in News

Ah...finally this awful, awful season is over.

And so is the season of the open game thread, specifically the last game thread on the `old' SBNation platform (BaB is migrating this weekend).

Special thanks to those who helped me this season in writing previews for each game. As you can likely tell they're not my favorite thing to do here, but beyond the shared workload I enjoyed getting new voices in on the action once in a while. So much gratitude to commenters joemoses, wjb1492, chgobr, bullshooter, Big D, and prashantrao for helping out.

It's also a goodbye to Boylan, Duhon, and likely a bunch of other Bulls. Even though this team this season brought feelings of ambivalence to outright hatred, I'll miss actually watching them play. The offseason seems fun but it's really short bursts of fun spread out into a verrry long time.

One of those bursts of fun is the lottery, and the Bulls are one win `ahead' of Charlotte. Both teams (Charlotte with the Sixers, Bulls with the Raptors) are facing playoff teams with their fates already decided.

So I guess it'll depend on who wants those pingpong balls more. Ugh, that's enough to forget what I said above: I'm truly glad this is it for a while.

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No Joakim tonight.
He's in NY to attend a funeral. Gray is starting in his place.

by sue369 on Apr 16, 2008 6:45 PM CDT   0 recs

tankalicious!
and more Noc than you can shake a stick at.  (that's about as hscs as I can get.)
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:03 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You forgot to put in another joke
that's similar to Dennis Miller; you know, the joke that no one understands.
"Honestly. Love, James or Paul; who would you really rather have?" -Kemp

by NittanyBull on Apr 16, 2008 7:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you don't get all of hscs's jokes?
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I guess you do,
but this diary left me with two options: read the articles and understand the joke, or just not read it.

I did the latter. I bet it is funny, and worth diary-ing about, but meh.

"Honestly. Love, James or Paul; who would you really rather have?" -Kemp

by NittanyBull on Apr 16, 2008 7:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I was just messing with you.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Whoosh
That's the sound of your joke going past my head.

I guess I don't understand anyone's jokes. See you guys in October.

"Honestly. Love, James or Paul; who would you really rather have?" -Kemp

by NittanyBull on Apr 16, 2008 8:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i will miss them
but it will be a long offseason with many rumors
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith

by tyrus4prez on Apr 16, 2008 7:20 PM CDT   0 recs

Happy birthday Luol Deng!
We should like make a huge card for him hitting that sweet 18 ft. jumper. Also, saw Nocioni yesterday, I didn't know 8 million a year gets you no better than Cheescake Factory.
Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 16, 2008 7:30 PM CDT   0 recs

Charlotte is up but 17
What are the BaB changes that will be occurring this weekend?

by chgobr on Apr 16, 2008 7:32 PM CDT   0 recs

Go to South Side Sox
And look at their layout.
Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 16, 2008 7:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gray overheard before the game
to Chris Bosh,"Stay out of my tonight, or i will fucking destroy you in life itself."

That still cuts me up...

Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:34 PM CDT   0 recs

Thanks Matt!
Thanks for giving us a place to vent to terrible, awful, no-good, very bad season.  Thanks for your hard work.

by BiNgO on Apr 16, 2008 7:38 PM CDT   0 recs

Thanks for the 1-line responses
Followed by emoticons :)
Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 16, 2008 7:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

was that at me?
if it weren't for my insistance in looking idiot by using emoticons, there'd be even more sarcasm missed on this site.

:-p

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2008 10:35 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

wait
did my eyes deceive me or was that JoNo standing there?
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:39 PM CDT   0 recs

Sue is JoNo's publicist
that's the only way to reconcile the misinformation she seems to be spreading about JoNo...
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Hey,
that's what they said on Sports Nite. He obviously made it back. Good to see.

by sue369 on Apr 16, 2008 8:10 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

53 seconds in
Hughes first dumb TO.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:42 PM CDT   0 recs

How much is Calderon worth?
Would you give him a larger contract than Ben Gordon? I don't see Toronto ever parting with him, maybe it's time we pull some kind of trade for TJ Ford for Nocioni. They desperately need another option at 3 and he will fit in perfectly with their Euroleague roster.
Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 16, 2008 7:44 PM CDT   0 recs

what a %$@$#@^#^$# call
Ford fell down...
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:44 PM CDT   0 recs

Who has the "tie-breaker"
Charlotte or us?  (By that I mean if we have identical reconds who gets the higher pick?)

by Freethefro on Apr 16, 2008 7:52 PM CDT   0 recs

split the ping pong balls evenly
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Sweet

by Freethefro on Apr 16, 2008 7:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

But for the draft spot...
I remember last year they did coin flips with a week or so to go. Charlotte, NYK and Sacramento had the same record, so the same ping pong balls, but Charlotte won the coin flips over both and NYK "beat" Sacramento so the Bulls got the 9th pick instead of 8 or 10. Anyone remember reading about this in the past week?

Since it's only a 2% of winning the lottery, tying is really about this anyway.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Apr 16, 2008 8:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah you're right
bulls fans don't have to worry about that because if the bulls tie with Charlotte, Charlotte will undoubtedly get the third pick.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 8:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

where is everybody?
looking for a feed?
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 7:55 PM CDT   0 recs

Basically
Plus, most of me doesn't want to watch this so I don't break out in tears watching every playoff game.
Dickey Simpkins>Ben Wallace

by Ozzie Montana on Apr 16, 2008 7:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Aaron Gray:
dominant.

by Freethefro on Apr 16, 2008 7:58 PM CDT   0 recs

Big Gray!
Gray is going for 40 and 20
Deandre Jordan, the future hall of fame center for the bulls.

by armstrong2389 on Apr 16, 2008 8:03 PM CDT   0 recs

AG with a double double in the 1st quarter
I am going to go ahead and declare this the "Aaron Gray Quarter."
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 8:03 PM CDT   0 recs

Tyrus with the 22 foot jumper!
impressive. Now he's Bargnani but, a freak athlete.
Deandre Jordan, the future hall of fame center for the bulls.

by armstrong2389 on Apr 16, 2008 8:06 PM CDT   0 recs

that's a new twist on the BG TO
getting tripped by JoNo.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 8:09 PM CDT   0 recs

Bobcats up by 2
with 90s left...

by Freethefro on Apr 16, 2008 8:19 PM CDT   0 recs

And Bobcats win
all in the Bulls hands now...

by Freethefro on Apr 16, 2008 8:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If Thabo can get to the rim like that
with regularity, he's got a bright future.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 8:31 PM CDT   0 recs

they just showed the Ivey Incident
dirty play...  Ivey ran up to him like on a double team and gave him an underhanded shot with a closed fist.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 8:40 PM CDT   0 recs

Thanks Matt
I didn't participate very much here this year (as evidenced by my woefully out of date signature line), but I continued to read and follow along over the course of this miserable year. Thanks for fighting the good fight, Matt. And everyone else 'round these parts who did their best to keep things interesting.

We meeting for the draft again?

Deng 4 MVP, 2008! My new blog: Road Games

by corey williams corey benjamin on Apr 16, 2008 8:40 PM CDT   0 recs

no worries CWCB
Lurkers are welcome just as much as the actives. Maybe moreso on most days :)

Draft Party is likely.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2008 10:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This Game is kind of boring
I mean, no excitement from anyone. Even Joakim looks out of it. And Toronto is only using 2nd string players, although as Dore(k) put it "A very GOOD Toronto Second Unit"...So boylan is gonna play the young guys today huh? Maybe he should have done that, A MONTH AGO. How about we let the original bulls play one last time together. I wanna see kirk, bg, deng, tyrus and Noah in all at once, for the rest of the second half. Letting duhon and Thabo get 7 mins of playing time for rest, and Nichols and Gray coming out to rest Noah and THomas. ANd then, i want to see at the very end of the game, the last 2 min or so of the game, i want to see a lineup of duhon, gordon, kirk, hughes, thabo, and Deng....then the season would be complete. At least do this for us Boylan, a parting gift as it were....
Kirk Hinrich. The FORMER Best White American Point Guard in the NBA, Will Soon be Traded :(

by piccolomair on Apr 16, 2008 8:42 PM CDT   0 recs

um
your last lineup has 6 guys.  leave out deng. :)
"Joakim Noah looks like a young Kimberly Williams." - my mom

by Jaina on Apr 16, 2008 8:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Im completely out of it?
Okay...i made a stupid mistake...
Kirk Hinrich. The FORMER Best White American Point Guard in the NBA, Will Soon be Traded :(

by piccolomair on Apr 16, 2008 9:02 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How good would Hughes look
in a Toronto uniform?
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:01 PM CDT   0 recs

That, or any one of 28 others.
There's only one uniform he doesn't look good in.
It takes a special coach to make Aaron Gray a guy you can see.

by wjb1492 on Apr 16, 2008 9:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

bulls need to remember to lose this game.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:13 PM CDT   0 recs

again,
they just dont realize this win wont mean a thing..

by ChiTownCritic on Apr 16, 2008 9:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yeah,
except maybe the chance to get a higher draft pick.. everything we can get this summer is useful.

by ChiTownCritic on Apr 16, 2008 9:22 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

AG is going to need an IV after this
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:18 PM CDT   0 recs

Red may need an IV, too.
He must be so happy and so proud.
It takes a special coach to make Aaron Gray a guy you can see.

by wjb1492 on Apr 16, 2008 9:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

The only thing that would have made that
funnier is if Red asked AG how his balls are...
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:25 PM CDT   0 recs

That falls under the
dont ask, dont tell policy.
The Kids Must Stay In The Picture!!!

by NBA Observer on Apr 17, 2008 8:14 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gray was playing so bad at the start of the third
quarter.
That's the only time I saw him, but he had the amazing sequence of dropping the ball, missing a 2 foot hook shot [missing the whole rim actually], missing another, and ... just generally sucking.
TT swished a bunch of jumpers though.
plays NBA 2k8 to forget about the horror ... the horror

by Prevenge on Apr 16, 2008 9:27 PM CDT   0 recs

in the world of 2k8
Ben Wallace locks down the post
Tyrus thomas and hinrich can be paul and chandler/nash and stoudemire
Ben gordons height means nothing
Thabo can take off from the freethrow line and posterize the poor sap under the rim
Kirk hinrich can average 10 assists per game
Joakim Noah kind of sucks
Big name trades could be made so long as the salaries match and you showcased a player a few times.
Kirk hinrich is a true leader
Scott skiles is still the coach....
In two seasons times the entire bulls roster is filled with allstars

In the world of 2k8, everything is the way it should be, everything is right....

yes i like escaping into the world of 2k8 myself

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

by piccolomair on Apr 16, 2008 9:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Pretty much,
except Joakim doesn't suck at all. Mmm.
Actually, I traded Joakim/Tyrus/Sefo to the Sonics, so I have a frontline of Green/Durant/Noah/TT/Sefo. Run on people, dunk, rinse/repeat.

by Prevenge on Apr 16, 2008 9:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A couple steals
In free agency, as a default theres a bunch of players (who i guess are real no name guys...) i like two of those guys alot and have them on my roster to help round it off (keeping the team chemistry and roles intact)

One is a 7'3 chinese dude,  his name is Ha. I like him cuz of his size, he is also strong. Beware though, until you give him some defensive training, guys like d-wade will be dunking all over him. However couple him with Noah and he is the post option for the bulls.

The next guy is pg named Kopenen (i think thats how you spell it) His overall is 60, however he is money from the 3 pt area. His shot animation is real smooth so its easy to hit. Also his stealing is like 79 or something already high, and with a bit of training in  a season or two he becomes a monster thief. He is basically a good combo guard to have, though sort of slow, because he is a pg he is adequate in passing and handling so he gets the job done.

Also i like Thadeus Young from the 76ers. The cpu never really uses him so you can get him for a steal, the best part about him is he is quick, has more hops then Ty2 (in the game) and has real good awareness. I like him as my alleyoop man...he does some insane stuff.

I dont know if you save your replays, if i go to my cousins this week ill see if i can post them on youtube to show you mine.

Also, in the draft (which is always random players) i got this 7'2 monster of a center named Glover. He has post moves like shaq in his prime. gonna be my rookie of the year. Although my seasons going pretty bad (3 wins 5 losses thus far).

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

by piccolomair on Apr 17, 2008 12:00 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i may be slow...
but why are they blaming Redd for it?

by ChiTownCritic on Apr 16, 2008 9:27 PM CDT   0 recs

lmaoooooo
the horn was like 50 years late

by ChiTownCritic on Apr 16, 2008 9:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It was
for the first 2 or 3 minutes.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

lol
the fans are like tryin to confuse em

by ChiTownCritic on Apr 16, 2008 9:33 PM CDT   0 recs

Du for 3
he knows how to lose the game.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:33 PM CDT   0 recs

so
they get it back huh

by ChiTownCritic on Apr 16, 2008 9:33 PM CDT   0 recs

AG is turning pink
he is so dehydrated.  His kidney's might shut down if this game doesn't end soon.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:39 PM CDT   0 recs

I can't wait
for all the people to talk about how good AG is when he starts.
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on Apr 16, 2008 9:42 PM CDT   0 recs

I know you are kidding...
But I wouldn't count it out around here.

by Khalid El-Amin on Apr 16, 2008 9:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no kidding
next I'll have to hear how good Ben Gordon plays off the bench...

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 16, 2008 10:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

grrrr
or even how well he should play off bench...  :-p
Don't tell anybody, but here's hoping TT puts it all together.

by bullshooter on