Open Game Thread #77: Bulls at Miami Heat

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 5:54 PM CDT

[Thanks to wjb1492 for today's game preview. Go Heat and Bobcats. -Matt]

How great is it to cheer for a team that plays hard and plays together? That makes its free throws? That, when it stares into the jaws of defeat with just 2 minutes to play, locks down on defense and outscores its opponent 24-8 down the stretch to pull out an OT victory? That at the end of the season reigns supreme? Thank you, national champion Kansas Jayhawks, for providing some unbridled joy to this basketball fan, when her NBA team has been nothing but a sore disappointment.

And speaking of the Bulls, while not technically eliminated from the playoffs yet - hard as that is to believe at this point in a miserable season - the Bulls are certainly out of it. The official moment comes with the next Bulls' loss or the next Hawks' win, and Atlanta (@Indiana) has a decent shot at that win tonight. At some level it seems like this eminent official elimination should hurt more than it does, and instead it's something that many here seem to have been looking forward to for some time.

What if Atlanta fails to lock it up? Can the Bulls actually win a game, and thus continue to torture us all with infinitisimal playoff possibilities? Tonight's opponent is our old friend, the Miami Heat, perhaps the only other NBA team that is even arguably as disappointing as our Bulls (although I think the Bulls "win" that argument). The catch is, these aren't really our old-friends-Miami-Heat. No Shaq, no D-Wade, no Posey the Thug, no Haslem. The Heat's anticipated starting line-up for tonight includes Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook, Ricky Davis, Earl Brown, and Mark Blount, a group of players Shaq basically said suck big time. Surely, even the Bulls can beat this 13-and-64 Heat team, right? Because, even though on some level I couldn't care less, I have to acknowledge that somewhere deep down a loss to a team this bad would really bug me. And I'm not ready for my Jayhawk buzz to burst.

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Boylan is going to be happy

That Heat lineup sounds like the perfect oppurtunity for Boylan to bust out his much anticipated 5 guard lineup featuring Chris Duhon at center. Hopefully during the postgame interview, he well mention how he thinks the 5 guard lineup allows for perfect spacing to match up against Dwight Howard on Wednesday.

by shoryuken on Apr 8, 2008 6:10 PM CDT 0 recs

anybody watch that heat intro

with all the old shots of riley? did he get a nose job?

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

by bullshooter on Apr 8, 2008 6:33 PM CDT 0 recs

That Hall of Fame thing?

I was too busy rolling my eyes to watch. I can't like that man. I think it probably goes back to growing up a Blazer fan during his time with the Lakers, but the Heat-Bulls stuff sure didn't improve my opinion of the guy.

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

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 6:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

and you've got it backwards

a loss tonight would demonstrate forward thinking. Charlotte is doing everything they can to catch the bulls, why make it harder?

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

by bullshooter on Apr 8, 2008 6:37 PM CDT 0 recs

To clarify,

it's not that I necessarily want the Bulls to win games down the stretch, and I'd love even a slightly better shot in the draft lottery...

But, emotionally, I just can't reconcile that with losing to the Heat. Maybe if the Bulls went into full-on tank mode, too, and started the bench guys or a few D-League call ups.

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

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 6:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hinrich is cheating off his man a lot

looking for steals. I wonder if that is coaching or not.

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

by bullshooter on Apr 8, 2008 6:49 PM CDT 0 recs

Oh, don't worry,

Noc is doing help defense on Hinrich's guy, Hughes is still staggering from a steal he didn't get, and we always have Thomas to block shots...oh wait, he is on the bench.

by cranscape on Apr 8, 2008 6:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

well...

he has played the most min in the first half so everyone is getting what they want

by bullzfan148 on Apr 8, 2008 7:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Maybe he read some of Homegrown's posts

about the "studly" Larry Hughes and steals being the "real" mark of defensive ability...

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

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 7:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

This game would have been way more interesting

2 years ago.

by RogersPark Kris on Apr 8, 2008 6:59 PM CDT 0 recs

This really takes me back to 2004.

A meaningless game against a woeful opponent in an empty arena. No playoff prospects to distract the viewer from the bleak futility of it all.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 7:05 PM CDT 0 recs

Red Kerr just professed his love for Gray's

"little step-in." Didn't know Gray had a signature move.

by RogersPark Kris on Apr 8, 2008 7:10 PM CDT 0 recs

This contest resembles a rec league game

between a team sponsored by a bank and a team sponsored by a physical therapy clinic, both of which got sweet deals on realistic replica jerseys at a Sports Authority sale.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 7:18 PM CDT 0 recs

lol

I was thinking summer league myself, but rec league is probably more realistic. ;)

I might have to go re-watch one of KU's final 4 games instead. This is putting me to sleep.

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

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 7:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

I remember the good old days

(read: last season) when this blog was filled to the cup with great comments.

Now we're just left with bullshooter bullshooting his way to piss off Matt.

(oh, I'm just joshing with you, bullshooter)

"to the children: Fuck the Bulls." - Matt

by NittanyBull on Apr 8, 2008 7:23 PM CDT 0 recs

to the brim*

"to the children: Fuck the Bulls." - Matt

by NittanyBull on Apr 8, 2008 7:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

It's difficult to comment intelligently

on a team this bad. We've explored their problems ad nauseam. (I'm not counting myself as one of those "great commentors" you mentioned - just someone who's lost interest in the team a little bit.)

by Freethefro on Apr 8, 2008 7:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

I wonder if they sold the game out?

by RogersPark Kris on Apr 8, 2008 7:25 PM CDT 0 recs

The best part of this game is the

beautiful woman in red who occassionally appears in crowd shots.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 7:30 PM CDT 0 recs

It would be nice if the Heat announcers could

talk about something other than how awesome they think Riley is. It's twice as bad as listening to Red blabber about Aaron Gray.

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

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 7:32 PM CDT 0 recs

They did

do a nice little piece on Joakim.

by sue369 on Apr 8, 2008 7:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

True, that was nice

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

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Tyrus has

more minutes than anyone else on this team.

by sue369 on Apr 8, 2008 7:45 PM CDT 0 recs

The Bulls are losing to a team . . .

That is playing Earl Barron, Kasib Powell, Stephane Lasme, and Joel Anthony major minutes. How emblematic of the season.

by Big D on Apr 8, 2008 8:04 PM CDT 0 recs

I'm worried

that it's emblematic of next season.

by Freethefro on Apr 8, 2008 8:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

who's this deng guy?

by Zac23 on Apr 8, 2008 8:06 PM CDT 0 recs

am i a bad buls fan

in hoping for a loss?

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

by tyrus4prez on Apr 8, 2008 8:08 PM CDT 0 recs

Nah

by Freethefro on Apr 8, 2008 8:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

Chris Quinn is a machine

...

wait, what?

"to the children: Fuck the Bulls." - Matt

by NittanyBull on Apr 8, 2008 8:08 PM CDT 0 recs

this lineup

is amazing

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

by tyrus4prez on Apr 8, 2008 8:12 PM CDT 0 recs

Chris Quinn is tearing the Bulls up

But oh well, it's not like we have a highly-paid point guard who's supposed to be a good defender or anything.

by Big D on Apr 8, 2008 8:14 PM CDT 0 recs

I pray to Allah

that they're tanking, or simply not trying. Honestly, Chris Quinn? CHRIS QUINN? Rat face is man-handling the Bulls right now, honestly. This team is horrid. They're losing to the worst team in the NBA right now, with Drew Gooden being the only starter that isn't playing tonight

Chris Quinn?

"to the children: Fuck the Bulls." - Matt

by NittanyBull on Apr 8, 2008 8:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

We should

trade Hinrich for him.
You think the Heat would jump for that?

by Prevenge on Apr 8, 2008 8:25 PM CDT up 0 recs

Are you muslim

or just making fun???

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

by piccolomair on Apr 8, 2008 10:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

are you white?

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 8, 2008 10:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Touche....

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

by piccolomair on Apr 9, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

Zo

I am in Florida and wondering if the telecast is different and if anyone heard alonzo mourning on the telecast... was kinda funny... talkin about how sad it was that ewing never got a ring and something about needing to make criminals smarter...

by Zac23 on Apr 8, 2008 8:16 PM CDT 0 recs

So much for pride.

The Bulls' apathy is palpable.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 8:18 PM CDT 0 recs

John Paxson ows me money.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 8:19 PM CDT 0 recs

and time

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

by tyrus4prez on Apr 8, 2008 8:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

why the hell...

is deng not in if he was playing so well?

by bullzfan148 on Apr 8, 2008 8:22 PM CDT 0 recs

Because Jim Boylan loves mediocrity.

"to the children: Fuck the Bulls." - Matt

by NittanyBull on Apr 8, 2008 8:23 PM CDT up 0 recs

They aren't trying to win

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

by wjb1492 on Apr 8, 2008 8:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

$eng

deng this dummer: I'm so good against the Heat pay me $70 million."

by Zac23 on Apr 8, 2008 8:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

This would be a fitting way to be eliminated

Christ, I'd almost rather be a Heat fan at this point. At least their guys are playing hard. Granted, it's because they have a bunch of D-Leaguers trying to earn a spot in the league, but at least they're trying.

by Big D on Apr 8, 2008 8:23 PM CDT 0 recs

yeah

i basically made the same comment. fitting way to end our "run" to the playoffs.

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

by Jaina on Apr 8, 2008 10:31 PM CDT up 0 recs

they played about 5

without any starters in and they gave up a big lead i swear boylan is a d-bag

by bullzfan148 on Apr 8, 2008 8:28 PM CDT 0 recs

Bobcats win!

Bulls lose!

by Freethefro on Apr 8, 2008 8:29 PM CDT 0 recs

The schedules really favor

the Bulls in this tank-off.

The Bobcats have the Knicks, Pacers, Nets and Sixers.

The Bulls have the Magic, Cavs, Magic, Bucks and Raptors, so they could lose out all of their remaining games.

Increased statistical chance for draft pick #8 here we come!

"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Apr 9, 2008 12:19 AM CDT up 0 recs

woo-hoo!

I'm kindof liking the embarrasment that will be the last week of the season. Fitting that there are no silver linings, and egg on Paxson's face. For this interim coaching hire alone.

Drawback being now the league will think this team is full of bad players, but then again they're the types to line up to look smart in a reclamation project.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 9, 2008 9:05 AM CDT up 0 recs

Moving up past CHA

isn't a silver lining? Sorry couldn't help it, just a little burp of my positivity. ;-)

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

by bullshooter on Apr 9, 2008 9:07 AM CDT up 0 recs

technically, sure

but only if it actually results in a lottery win. Either way, Pax should be thoroughly raked over the coals for getting it to this point in the first place.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 9, 2008 9:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

and to be clear

my 'woohoo' wasn't entirely sarcastic. As I said at the top of this game thread, I was hoping the Heat and Bobcats won last night.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 9, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

The Bulls better secure a good coach and

rid themselves of Hughes, or next season will be another disappointment. This franchise is dead in the water.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 8:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Dude, how are they possibly

going to get rid of Hughes with that conract? Or anyone for that matter whose last name isn't Sefolosha, Thomas, or Noah? What frightens me the most is the very high probability that the only difference from this year and next year is the coach.

I'd really like it, though, if somehow the Bulls can trade away some of the bigger chips, and maybe the draft pick, for one good guard, point or shooting.

"to the children: Fuck the Bulls." - Matt

by NittanyBull on Apr 8, 2008 8:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

i remember

people saying the exact same thing about BW. And Hughes has a lot more game left than BW (obviously not all good).

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

by bullshooter on Apr 9, 2008 9:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

agreed

bad contracts are moved all the time.

I like the idea mentioned here of getting someone similarly overpaid, yet more receptive to fewer minutes. Or more accurately, someone who the coaching staff would be more receptive to giving fewer minutes.

However I thought that's what was possible with Hughes, yet the clown coach (under the watch of the sleepy GM) still found a way for 'entitlement' minutes.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 9, 2008 9:47 AM CDT up 0 recs

kind of true

kind of not. he hasn't actually been playing a ton of minutes, other than against cle which he actually deserved. hasn't played more than 32 otherwise since indiana. but i think that may be because boylan for some reason let duhon back into the rotation...

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

by Jaina on Apr 9, 2008 9:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

hmm, well

it certainly felt like a lot of minutes.

Why Duhon's back playing I have no clue. He's not coming back next season. Don't wake Paxson though.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Apr 9, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up 0 recs

there are definitely times

where it feels like he's out there for eternity.

but yeah, it's not actually that bad.. 0-6 against boston? he only got 21 minutes. 2-8 against atlanta? 18 minutes.

i'd much rather have him than wallace, so i don't regret the trade at all. at least he's not getting 35 entitlement minutes a night while producing nothing. :)

but yeah.. duhon. i love after boylan's "apology" or whatever, or admitting he was punishing him etc... he comes back. like WHY. yet he won't change his rotations to allow tyrus to play more until gooden's been out...

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

by Jaina on Apr 9, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up 0 recs

i bet Duhon

is playing again because Pax & Boylan felt bad about pushing him out of the rotation so suddenly. These guys are such "stand up" guys!! :)

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

by tyrus4prez on Apr 9, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

wow..

i am glad my league pass is not working. I listen to it online for 10 min and i am pissed i have not been watching family guy instead

by bullzfan148 on Apr 8, 2008 8:35 PM CDT 0 recs

I wonder how the Bulls will make a bad

situation even worse during the offseason?

I smell an uninspired coaching hire and a brash trade of young talent.

Paxson is on the clock.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 8:36 PM CDT 0 recs

watch..

i bet pax gets boylan as the coach and says that it was not based on his record. I will not watch a single bulls game or go to one if that happens. Ok prolly not that extreme but i will be pissed

by bullzfan148 on Apr 8, 2008 8:37 PM CDT 0 recs

i def

won't watch if boylan is coaching. period.

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

by Jaina on Apr 8, 2008 10:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

Kasib Powell

"kaboom."

by Freethefro on Apr 8, 2008 8:38 PM CDT 0 recs

I can't wait to get another diligent, plodding

"winner" in the draft! Yes!

Then we'll sit him. Woohoo!

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 8:38 PM CDT 0 recs

Blow this team up

The Bulls starters are getting blown out by a D-League team. Pax better not delude himself into thinking a new coach is all that's necessary.

by Big D on Apr 8, 2008 8:41 PM CDT 0 recs

Yeah for the Miami Heat dancers.

At least they look like they care.

WCUI pulling out all of the stops to entertain the Chicago audience.

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

by 1958ChiTown on Apr 8, 2008 8:41 PM CDT 0 recs

that was a good loss for DA BULLS

could mean some x-tra ping pong balls

by Orlando Woolridge on Apr 8, 2008 8:47 PM CDT 0 recs

I can't believe we managed to out-tank the Heat.

Awesome.

by Illini15 on Apr 8, 2008 8:48 PM CDT 0 recs

The Bulls weren't tanking

They played their starters their regular minutes, and they didn't sit anyone out other than Gooden. The Bulls just really suck.

by Big D on Apr 8, 2008 8:50 PM CDT up 0 recs

Fine with me.

I didn't get to see the game and I just got in, but I'm glad we lost. Ping pong balls > meaningless victories, especially for this heartless group.

by Illini15 on Apr 8, 2008 8:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Jimbo is a genius

With a nearly healthy roster and mostly playing his main guys, he manages to lose to the D-League All-Stars by single digits so David Stern doesn't get too suspicious. Absolutely genius.

by Orange Juice on Apr 8, 2008 9:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

No one wanted

to win this game tonight (except maybe for Deng) starting with Boylan.

by sue369 on Apr 8, 2008 8:51 PM CDT 0 recs

passing issues

Why do the bulls pass like all their wrists are broken? Or is it their brains are on vacation or something? Sorry really frustrated here. Well at least we know now if the bulls are better then even a dleague team.

by serbstream on Apr 8, 2008 9:06 PM CDT 0 recs

Gordon

Get rid of Gordon now. Just because he was the 3rd pick doesn't mean he's entitled to $55 million dollars. What a bum, is useless if his shot isn't falling. Says all the right things, but is really the teams biggest cancer.

Don't give up on Tyrus yet, he's starting to understand the game.

by armstrong2389 on Apr 8, 2008 9:10 PM CDT 0 recs

Get rid of Gordon and Hinrich both

We need to draft a PG and get this ship steered in a different direction.

by Illini15 on Apr 8, 2008 10:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Captain Kirk

he is not very good

by Zac23 on Apr 8, 2008 9:26 PM CDT 0 recs

If i worked the AP press....

my description of the game would be

AP Press- Luol Deng sighting! Oh wait he's playing against Ricky Buckets and a bunch of people who wont be in the NBA after 2 weeks. Throw in 5 TOs and uh...

See Hinrich. See Hinrich bring the ball up the court. See Hinrich pass the ball immediately after passing half court. See Hinrich spend the next 20 seconds standing in the corner doing nothing. Maybe he wished he was playing in the KU game.

Superstar to be Ben Gordon challenges Larry Hughes' to a "who can shoot the crappiest" contest. Gordon puts in a 4-13 performance against people who are his height and less athletically gifted than him.

Larry Hughes (unaware of the shooting contest) wins though as he manages to shoot 30%. Hughes is happy with his performance despite the loss, because he is able to play his style of bball (off-balance contested jumpers).

Tyrus and Noah - 21 rebounds
Heat starting bigs - 8 rebounds
Boylan smartly limits Noah and Tyrus to 32 minutes. In the postgame interview, Boylan stated that Noah may be suspended for the next 2 games for actually trying to play. 16 points on 50% shooting is unacceptable.

by shoryuken on Apr 8, 2008 9:52 PM CDT 0 recs