Chicago Bulls Thread

[mp3]

Really liked the work Rose put in against Westbrook.

He looked like his old self in that game, hopefully he can stay healthy

[air gordon]

Pau indeed brought his game. Niko looks like Thibs Niko lately wtf

Rose was just letting Rubio double off him almost all game. at some point the double/blurry vision is supposed to go away right? i hate that Rubio kid even with his new haircut

Wiggins really took it to Butler and the bulls "team" defense

Brooks... lol

next stop in Philly. excited to see Okafor and Noel!

[mp3]

Wiggins.... that spin dunk.....

[air gordon]

Strange turn of events last nite

Noah was supposed to start but last minute sits the game out due to a knee injury

Noel sits due to "sore" wrists??

Niko responds with a Fredberg Niko performance

The defensive rotations were good last nite before the game got out of hand.

Amused to see McBuckets and Sauce Castillo guarding each other. dougie even had a 2 hand flush lol

[Andrew]

Elsewhere, the Hawks' loss to the Timberwolves makes me feel a little better about the Bulls' loss to them. A little. Still have to play better than they did in that one, but at least the Timberwolves are pulling off some big wins.

[air gordon]

a few days in between the next game make the mind wonder-
-would you switch rosters with the T'wolves??
-9 games in and Fredberg already making changes to the lineup?
-Gasol questioning the team's heart after loss to the T'Wolves
-Butler says the same thing after blowout loss to the Hornets

another episode of Cousins vs Karl. kick up the rumor of Rose/Niko/1st pick for Cousins/filler??!!

[Andrew]

I'd still keep the Bulls roster. I'm guessing (hoping?) this is just an early season hiccup. Even the 1991 Bulls started 0-3 before winning 61 games and eventually, the championship. Now, I'm not making any such predictions or guarantees for this team, but slow starts do happen, and it's good to see the veterans/leaders on the team calling everyone out, saying let's get it into gear. Now's the time to experiment, tinker, and figure out how to get it together for the year; it'll be more concerning if this is happening late in the season, like Indiana's meltdown a couple of seasons ago.

[Moz]

I reckon they're still trying to figure out the Hoiberg system and as Andrew mentioned, it's alright to experiment in these early parts of the season... The first year of the Heat's big 3 was kinda sloppy also but look where they went...

another episode of Cousins vs Karl. kick up the rumor of Rose/Niko/1st pick for Cousins/filler??!!

With Darren Collison please... I don't want Brooks or Moore to be the starter if ever they dealt Rose... There's a lot of rumors though about them dealing somebody for Rudy Gay in the deadline... Speaking of the Kings, that 2016 1st rounder is looking cloudy at the moment...

[air gordon]

It's an optimistic view... and valid
I agree it takes time for things to come together and I am glad fredberg is willing to make changes

I have issue with the lack of effort type of losses. It's inexcusable for these to occur so early in the season

Another noodle baker is the micro managing of GarPax. What other GM is in daily conversations with their coach or are often at team practices? Let the coach coach. This is reminiscent of krumbs krause

GarPax needs to back off and work the phones for a cousins trade

I want to gag any time the bulls are compared to the heat. Yeah nice ending to that one but don't ever compare what the bulls are trying to fit with what those clowns did

[Andrew]

Sounds like Vlade Divac is currently doing that in Sacramento as well. I agree, give the coach room to breathe...and of course, coach.

[air gordon]

Butler still remembers the last outcome vs Charlotte, specifically Roberts making a shot in the closing seconds of the blowout. something's a brewing. Charlotte will be waiting with their pick and roll attack

Noah will play... with braids and hinrich is available as well.

[Andrew]

Hopefully a less embarrassing outing this time around.

[air gordon]

Perhaps a rivalry brewing between the hornets and bulls? it was a good game with Butler putting on the finishing touches

No Sisqo George Hill for tonite. Paul George could go bonkers. Could use opening week Niko for the game. He's due

[Andrew]

Just to make that rivalry even more interesting, apparently Butler reached out to MJ for advice.

[Kevin]

Game-saving block by Butler well played.

[Moz]

Almost lost that one fortunately Butler redeem himself in the end... If they will themselves to go to the line instead of taking jumpshots when the Pacers got early with the penalty this will be an easier win... They love their jumpshots there's the answer for those analyst who's wondering why they're not going to the line that much... It seems Hoiberg is favoring Hinrich over Brooks in these past few games perhaps he grew tired of those dumb shots he's taking... I'm seeing that Pau not being the stiff he usually is and was hustling for loose balls the past 2 games Niko on the other hand played shit again... MDJ's coming back in 2 weeks DRose twisted his ankle though...

[Andrew]

Great defensive play by Butler once again to preserve a victory, but definitely not a great win. They did actually get a respectable amount of free throw attempts, but they weren't knocking them down. Rose's absence down the stretch didn't help, hopefully that's not too serious, though he seemed to be holding up alright before he got subbed out. With any luck, holding him out the rest of the way was all just precautionary.

Apart from that though, they weren't getting good shots or making brilliant decisions down the stretch. Really thought they were going to let it slip right up until Butler saved the day.

[I Hate Mondays]

Hinrich over Brooks ? C'mon coach Hoiberg. What the actual hell ? When Rose left with that ankle sprain in the last minutes, Hinrich was looking like a lost kid in Walmart during Christmas. Good decision to stick with Moore, he looked more confident. I believe Brooks would handle late game situations like a real pro. Last year when Rose was injured, I remember Brooks making great late game decisions.

[mp3]

Really enjoyed watching the Pacers game, good to see both Paul George and Derrick Rose playing back close to what they uses to be.

[Andrew]

I can understand not being completely trusting of Brooks, as he does make some bone-headed plays sometimes, but Hinrich hasn't seen a lot of court time this season and despite being the more experienced vet - by a few years, anyway - he's prone to similar lapses at times. I agree that it's good to see Moore getting a run.

As for Rose, it seems like it's a regular sprain, remains to be seen whether he'll be available next game. I'm sure it'll delight everyone in the "Wait and see, he'll get injured again" camp, but it's not like rolled ankles aren't common in basketball, and he was playing through it for a bit.

[air gordon]

escape win for sure. Rose was rolling. Gasol was a disappointment- he should have been the one to step up when Rose left. the offense went south quickly.

brooks is so crappy that hinrich is getting minutes. seriously, i don't think Brooks had a chance against Ellis or Miles. i think if Moore hits the 2 three pointers in the 4th, it seals the game.

Niko needs to do something. Rose is expected to miss the next game.

coincidentally Hoiberg is giving big minutes to the lineup Thibs would roll with.

[Andrew]

Gasol seems to be settling for a lot of jumpers, and doesn't look smooth when he does post up. Niko's struggles are a tad disheartening; he'll a hit a big three or make a good play every now and again, but like you said, they need his Week 1 form.

[air gordon]

So do you think one of those 2 would benefit coming off the bench??

Maybe one would thrive as the high usage player with the reserves??

Rarely see the post ups or iso Niko did in the preseason.

Aside from Snell, the starters are high usage guys.

[Andrew]

I'd probably keep starting Gasol for now. Perhaps you could bring Niko off the bench, and start Gibson in his place, if you're going to change things up.

[Moz]

A fucking dog fight until the closing minutes. I don't know why Hoiberg rescinded on bringing back Taj I reckon it would've been better for the defensive rotation (probably avoided those 2 daggers by the warriors in the closing minutes) since Gasol is slow to cover the perimeter... Pau should focus on his defense first before complaining about not getting enough post-up plays for him... Niko finally got out of his slump and Hinrich is doing a great job so far in Rose absence (and being a THE backup PG when DRose' active). Those 2 consecutive errant passes in the 4th is dumb though... Only thing I can say about Butler is he needs to drive/post up more and reduce his outside shots...