Chicago Bulls Thread

[air gordon]

sorry- was out of town since last tuesday so i missed the 4 past games. you guys will have to fill me in.

I couldn't believe the stats Chandler's been posting! LOL WTF!

You know that Celtic deal could pave the way for a Pierce dream. Forgive me while i drink the koolaid but I think Pierce could be the next to go as the Celtics move towards a total rebuilding. As mentioned already, the Bulls have some pieces Boston may like (including causasians Kirk Hinrich and Nocioni ).

But that's just a pipe dream for now. Paxson went on air and said no one is untouchable on the team (which could be very well be a hint to a team like Boston). Though I don't see Paxson making any moves if the team continues in this latest groove

[kinokong]

at least paxson is honest.... didn't dwane casey say before the minny celtics trade that no one is going anywhere?

[R.J.]

Hopefully we can contain Nowitzki tonight, Chandler and Deng will have to play some tough D.

Prediction:

Bulls: 96

Dallas : 92

[Andrew]

Close, but unfortunately the final result was reversed: Mavericks 98, Bulls 94. Chandler had 12 and 16 continuing his run of "starting to live up to expectations" games, at least in the boxscores.

[Andrew]

100-95 loss to the Hornets today.

[air gordon]

Chris Paul showed why he is the top rookie in the league tonite

He took over the game late in the 4th offensively and even came up with a key steal as well

Again the Bulls dug themselves a hole they couldn't get out of

Hey look- a Sweetney spotting

[Andrew]

Looks like Gordon could be on his way to a big night. 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in the first half, up to 26 points now four minutes into the third.

Update: Bulls are losing badly, Hinrich is having a real stinker. Gordon's just hit new career highs with 39 points including 9/12 from downtown and tied a career high with 14 field goals, to go along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

[MetalHead]

Looks like Gordon could be on his way to a big night. 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in the first half, up to 26 points now four minutes into the third.

Update: Bulls are losing badly, Hinrich is having a real stinker. Gordon's just hit new career highs with 39 points including 9/12 from downtown and tied a career high with 14 field goals, to go along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists.

Hey Andrew, check out nba.com's news section. The Chicago Tribune has a article which was posted earlier today about how Ben needs to pick up the pace, and take some shots. Looks like he took this advice to heart.

[R.J.]

Basically, Tyson in the first half, Ben, and Sweets are the only people who came to play tonight. Pargo, as usual, trying to get to the top of the league in shots per 48 minutes and worst assist per turnover ratio.

And Phoenix not showing any classs when that fuckin bald Irish guy was trying to run up the score.

[Andrew]

I'll check it out, thanks. In the meantime...Chicago loses 118-101. Hinrich did little but Gordon did a lot. 39 points (14/21 FG, 9/13 3PT), 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals in 39 minutes, tying or setting new career highs in points, field goals made, three pointers made and attempted, rebounds and steals.

For those keeping score: he's now averaging 15.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.8 apg and shooting 41.5% from the field, 42% from downtown for the year. As a starter, his numbers are 18.8 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.9 rpg, 45.4% from the field and 41.6% from beyond the arc.

[MetalHead]

-sigh- I'd rather have Hinrich and Gordon have 20 points each, and winning the game, than Gordon having to shoot 20 shots, and have Hinrich miss all his. On other news, Gordon shoots 66% Hell yeah.

[Andrew]

That would be ideal. But it's still great to see Gordon have a game like that, if the rest of the team hadn't done SFA it might have come in a better result.

[MetalHead]

Woah. What a game by Denver. Anyone else catch that amazing Miller steal to give Denver the lead? And btw, Duhon and Hinrich combined took 11 shots, and missed them all. These two guys really need to step up their game; they havnt' been consistent as of late. The Bulls need to do something about their point guard/shooting guard situation. After Hinrich, Duhon, and Pargo take/blindly throw their shots, Gordon doesn't have much to work with.

[Andrew]

It might be a knee-jerk reaction - mind you, I have been this way inclined since Gordon became a starter - but at the moment if they pull off a trade like the constantly thrown about Paul Pierce scenarios, I'd rather they give up Hinrich. Gordon has his offnights and has plenty of room for growth but after seeing what he can do given the opportunity, I'm more comfortable with the Bulls giving up Hinrich.

The downside is they'd almost certainly have to give up Deng and/or Chandler as well, not to mention the Knicks' first round pick. Chandler's been playing well as of late and getting rid of him would leave the Bulls even smaller but it would be worth it for a player like Pierce. Deng's been solid good this year, it would be a shame to lose him. But it's probably not even worth thinking about. With the Boston/Minnesota deal it looks like the Celtics haven't given up on Pierce as a centrepiece and they'd probably want Gordon anyway.

[maes]

Seems like Gordon has more upside and he's much stronger physically. But either would be sorely missed, but it has to be done if the Bulls are ever going to aspire to more than an early playoff exit.

Anyone but Pierce tho, ugh. He does a great job beating up on all the lottery teams of the league but he's been so erratic in the playoffs, he's a 40% shooter during the post-season :/

[air gordon]

3 game losing streak and another sleep walk through the 3rd quarter...

that's a big surprise- Andrew willing to part with Hinrich over Gordon haha. I won't count on a Pierce deal since Paxson only trades with Zeke and Babcock... though Ainge has been labeled by some media members as "Zeke-like" in regards to his trades

Maes- I'll take Pierce's 40% if he's able to draw double teams and go to the FT line 7 times a game... neither of which Deng, Hinrich, or Gordon do on a consistent basis

[Andrew]

I would have kept Gordon over Hinrich for a while now. Don't get me wrong, I'm still against breaking up the core for the sake of it - you know how wary I am of the team getting burnt on trades - but if it must be done I'd rather they keep Gordon.

[MetalHead]

I just think the Chicago management is apprehensive in trading Duhon, Deng, Hinrich, or Gordon. They've all shown streaks and flashes of greatness, but they just haven't kept consistent, and the fans and management can't wait for them to mature and develop. I just hope the GM doesn't rush himself and do anything rash. They've got a seriously bright future. Except Pargo. No, screw him.

[Andrew]

Gordon's been much more consistent since he got the starting job and consistent minutes. Last year everyone was talking about him as being an Andrew Toney type, basically just a scorer off the bench but this year he's been dishing out more assists and is averaging a healthy 18 ppg as a starter. All those guys are doing pretty well in only their second or third season, I think the Bulls can afford to be patient at this point. Of course, one always has to consider foregoing patience if the proverbial "deal you can't refuse" lands on the table.

[Andrew]

Another loss...Okur hits one three all game but it comes at the worst possible time. Another 30+ point game for Gordon, Hinrich contributed a tad more as well.

[air gordon]

hehe- when did you turn to the darkside, Andrew? It's a rarity that a white person would prefer to keep Gordon over Hinrich. Seriously- Hinrich is the second coming to many many fans in Chi town. Even he goes scoreless like 2 games ago, fans will give him a break and say he was "playing hard"

Gordon sure looks like he's found his comfort zone...

Last nite's game was arguably the most frustrating game of the year. Skiles drew up a brilliant play to get Gordon an open look for a 3 in the closing seconds of regulation. Gordon hits it and the Bulls proceed to build a 7 point lead in OT. Johnny Red Kerr says "A dagger" after a NOC 3pter but there was still 2 minutes left

Go figure the Jazz, who only had only won 1 game in games decided by 5pts or less, mount a comeback and take the game.

Chicago still had .7 seconds to get a shot off but Skiles, for reasons unknown, has Gordon inbounding the ball (!?!?!) and the play apparently was for Nocioni, who has the slowest delivery on the team

a little trade rumor going around has duhon & things for Gooden & things

[Andrew]

I know you're just ribbing me, but my complete reluctance to give up Hinrich was based on the fact he was reasonably consistent and a bright spot on the roster, nothing to do with his skin colour. That still holds true, right now I wouldn't be upset if both stay but with Gordon playing the way he has if you ask me which one I'd rather the Bulls keep I say Gordon.

Even he goes scoreless like 2 games ago, fans will give him a break and say he was "playing hard"

Seriously? I mean he's a Bull and I support him and all, but when you have a bad game, you have a bad game.

Chicago still had .7 seconds to get a shot off but Skiles, for reasons unknown, has Gordon inbounding the ball (!?!?!) and the play apparently was for Nocioni, who has the slowest delivery on the team

I know it's too easy, but I'll sugges the reason is simply "Skiles drew up the play. 'Nuff said."

a little trade rumor going around has duhon & things for Gooden & things

Could work, I know there's been question marks over Gooden in the past but I don't think he's a bad player. That does mean more PT for Pargo though and while he has his moments, not all of them are good.

[MetalHead]

Hinrich had a solid performance with 19 points, and Gordon came off strong yet again, but the Bulls are still a mediocre team. The lack of an ability to close out games is what keeps them grounded. They did great, pushing the game into OT, and then performing spectacularly, but ran out of either gas, or motivation, as Utah took over in the waning seconds. The Bulls also are lacking in identity. You can't call them a fast-break team, since most of their boxscores are 80 and below. And yet, you can't exactly call them a defensive team, since they never get any stops. Because of this, none of the baskets they score are easy. They're poor looks, and the shot selection is questionable at best. Although you could say this comes with maturity and age, they still have much room to improve on, and grow.

[Andrew]

There's positives there. The core has a little bit of playoff experience, they're not too bad (20-27 is better than the thrashing in recent years) and they'll have a chance to improve this offseason without breaking up the core they have in place. It's a much better situation than even a couple of years ago, it's easier to stomach.

[air gordon]

Hinrich had a solid performance with 19 points, and Gordon came off strong yet again, but the Bulls are still a mediocre team.

you could say that again

The lack of an ability to close out games is what keeps them grounded. They did great, pushing the game into OT, and then performing spectacularly, but ran out of either gas, or motivation, as Utah took over in the waning seconds.

how you can say that they lost the motivation to win the game in OT? I would say more it was a lack of execution and a little luck for the Jazz. Gordon took an ill advised shot early in the shot clock late in OT, it almost seemed like every Jazz miss found a way back to a Jazz player, and then Deng had that crucial turnover (he could have taken a timeout)

The Bulls also are lacking in identity.

hehe what are you talking about? they are a perimeter oriented team offensively and defensively they play mostly man to man and depend a lot on quick rotations due from all the help side they provide

You can't call them a fast-break team, since most of their boxscores are 80 and below.

actually the Bulls scoring is up from last year

And yet, you can't exactly call them a defensive team, since they never get any stops.

that's fo sure

Because of this, none of the baskets they score are easy. They're poor looks, and the shot selection is questionable at best. Although you could say this comes with maturity and age, they still have much room to improve on, and grow.

um do you even watch the games? shot selection or poor looks are not the problem. Skiles is an excellent X and O's coach. some of their plays are pretty basic like a simple motion offense or running a guy off a double screen on the wing. the problem is the team is a jump shooting team that is reluctant to drive to the basket. the problem is maginified since they don't really have a low post presence
.