Gameday Open Thread: Blazers vs. Bulls

http://sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/preview/NBA_20080103_POR@CHI

That being said, I cannot believe the Bulls solved all their problems when Skiles left the team with John Paxson's footprint embossed on his fanny. Ben Wallace is still on the decline, and they still have no interior presence.  LaMarcus should be looking to have a big game.  They're playing better now, but they haven't much of a history of playing well this season.  I think they'll win if they can stay in front of the Blazers.  I think they'll crumble if the Blazers get a lead and hold it, which seems to be how the Blazers usually win their games.

Hopefully they play him. Last night Ben Wallace played over 36 minutes so indications are that he returns to the sarcophogus during pregame. Joe Smith played 24 minutes, and he be old too. Thus far in the "so hot, he's" Boylan era, it's been the vets starting, and then Nocioni and Aaron Gray (yes, that's right) getting the first calls as reserve bigs. Noah's game (and it was only an aberration in the sense that he recieved minutes, he has the high-PER on the team) should've propelled him to be the first frontcourt reserve, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Also, watch for the lead that the Bulls spot an opponent every half because they insist on starting Chris Duhon. He's been an abomination since becoming a starter, and between him and Wallace they're playing about  3.5-on-5 on offense. If the Blazers can't capitalize on this gift, Ben Gordon will come in and make it rain. In theory.

Bulls need this game so bad, the 3 wins in the 'a watched pot is never' Boylan era have been against Milwaukee, Charlotte, and the Knicks. The hard-fought crusade back to mediocrity will get a big boost with a win over the Blazers.

But where are ya? What ya doin'?

Talk to us. Please Lenny.

"Lenny Suckerpunch NEVER bet on me!" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

Wallace and prolly Tyrus Thomas are both stronger than LMA (not saying a lot, but still), but not too strong to push him off the block.  And when he gets the ball, he's got a good half foot on them arm-length wise.  I'd be surprised if Aldridge doesn't come out big tonight to show everyone who runs or follows the Bulls that LMA is #1 in the Universe.  I'm sure LMA is happy with what team he's on now, but being spurned is good motivation.

Let Gordon shoot deep, go right at the surprisingly slow Deng, and allow Nocioni to take himself out of the game with whining.  And hope Hinrich doesn't find his former self as well.

Everyone knows they don't have great inside presence(s), but the Bulls are good rebounders and could obviously hurt us there (us sucking at rebounding and all).  Plus, they could definately find their shots tonight playing at home on TNT... or shrivel under the bright lights.  We could do both also, but so far we've played well in our national games.

The Bulls have traditionally been a jumpshooting team who capitalizes on turnovers in the open court and takes jumpers in the halfcourt-- and all of their key jumpshooters have been pretty cold with especially bad play coming from Hinrich.  

We don't force turnovers like the Bulls did/do, but we certainly live by our jumpers this season.  Luckily, we got a lot of shooters to go to if someone is cold, but it's still not a reliable approach to winning most of your games.  The Bulls seem like they are experiencing that this season, and really have been hurt by having zero low post scorers (who knew, the pundits and average NBA fan were right for once).  We aren't the best down low, but LMA can score down there and should try his dangdest to get position on the smaller defenders, doubly so if the rim gets tight and we can't hit a jumper.  

Also, Roy and Jack's great penetration ability is another way to get points if our jumpers don't fall.  The Bulls just don't have as many options when the jumpers aren't falling.

So here's to hoping we vary our attack and keep the shots falling.  The Bulls aren't as bad as their season record at ALL, but they also aren't as good as their 3-1 record under the new coach.  Again, this goes both ways, as they can say we aren't a 13-in-a-row team really either.  But I think us Blazer fans know which is REALLY true... (wink)

I don't think Pritchard will make the same mistakes Paxson has with the cap space and young pieces he's gathered, but just like the Wolves are the Blazers in 2004 the Bulls are us in 2009 after some wrong draft choices and a bad big time free agent signing.

The Bulls will likely play better than they have been, but I don't see how they're gonna be better than a 40-something win team for a while.  They'll make the playoffs, so no lottery picks, and they are chained to Wallace and his contract for a long time.  I really like Deng, but he hasn't made the jump I expected yet.

That said, they do have great young pieces that can turn into draft picks or more veteran help.  I am not sure who would really help or who is available to be traded that wouldn't hurt the team overall.  

I thought they'd be better this season like most people did, but more the low 50-win variety.  They don't need to make many changes to get there in the still-weak East, but if they wanna go further than that I dunno... I should also note I am not a Bulls expert, so I could be way off.

If the Blazers play how they have played for the last month, I think we got a good shot.

Mortimer

It will be very interesting to see how the team does.

I guess I'm the only one who likes the Trailblazers these days :-(

As long as we win.

BUT FRYE GETS IT RIGHT BACK!  Jumper.  18-17 us

Webster drives but misses, Gordon a layup on the break.  19-18 them

Bulls turn it right back over

WEBSTER FOR THREEEEEEEEE!  21-19 us

Frye rebounds and takes it up hard...offensive foul called.  Too bad because the shot went in.

Bulls miss.

Blazers +8 on rebounds.

Sergio deep drive and a nice pass to Frye...who travels.

Two turnovers to start the second.

And we miss again...Trout

26-21 them.  7-0 run

And ANOTHER turnover!

The White Unit is borking it.

Gordon misses a three on the other end.

Ugly turnover by Jack.

And Sergio CLOTHESLINES the dribbler to stop the break.  Wow.

2 free throws.  28-21 them

Przy back in with the White Unit.

Finally Travis hits a wide-open jumper.  28-23

He wasn't even in the damn key!

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

Now Tyrus Thomas hits.  31-23

By the way, Matt from Blogabull mentioned my mis-mention of Tyrus playing over Joakim in the preview.  Turns out I had the crystal ball working, eh?

Bulls hit again.  33-23

33-25

Jack for two!  33-27

Timeout.

The game is starting to get physical now.

As is typical lately, he misses his first.  Makes the second.  35-31

Now Joe Smith hits one.  37-31

JONES IN THE CORNER FOR THREE AND THE FOUL!!!

That makes everything better

That arena is a tomb tonight.  What happened to the Bulls' fans?  Used to be considered among the best in the league.

Blazer miss.

Wallace scores inside.  39-35

WOW.  Jack drives and an offensive foul called.

Roy fouled and to the line.

Bulls rebound again.

Gordon drives and is BLOCKED by Roy!

Smith recovers and dunks.  43-37

Roy hits both.  43-39, 2:15 left

Zone coming out

That hurts.

LMA misses.

Outlaw scores with 1 second left!  48-41

That's the half.  48-41 them.

41 points is not good for us.

Now an offensive foul on Nocioni.

Now Hinrich hits.

This is all we need.

Timeout Nate.

53-41

No basket.

And Joel picks up a foul defending.

Martell misses.

Roy with a long two.

55-43

Duhon for three...WAY short.  But it bounces off of Outlaw and out of bounds.  Bulls ball.

Bulls turn it over.  Blake for THREE.

57-46

Martell misses a three.  Ben rebounds.

59-46

Roy for another long two.  59-48

Trout hucks one from the top of the key.  Fouled (luckily).

59-50

59-52 them.

Timeout Chicago.

5:52 left

Blazers and Bulls both miss.

61-52

61-54

We need to keep the pressure on or this will be just another NBA third-quarter run.

Now a foul on the Bulls and Smith and Outlaw are getting in each others' faces.

Bulls score, we miss.  65-57

And Trout gets it back.  67-59

67-62

Nocioni misses a bad three.

BLAKE FOR THREE!  69 ALL!!!

3.3 seconds left.

At the beginning it says, "Professional Driver on Closed Course."  So the point is...uhhh...don't try to drive down a regular road getting animals to jump in your car and sing 70's hits with you?

Isn't that a few too many letters?

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

JACK FOR THREE!

Hope so anyway.

Right off the bench.

Breaking the play.

Of course there was no 3-second call either...

ROY IS AMAZING!

Foul on LMA.  But Ben's free throws are...yuck.

When the worst shooter in NBA history was shooting them.