1/11/08 Chicago Bulls @ Philadelphia 76ers Game Thread

[NLK]

6PM CST/7PM EST (for those elsewhere on this planet, do the math )


@


STARTERS: (in the voice of PA Announcer Matt Cord @ the Wachovia Center). "Now lets introduce tonights starters. First for the visiting Chicago Bulls. They are coached by Jim Boylan...."
The starters are:
G: Kirk Hinrich
G: Chris Duhon
F: Andres Nocioni
F: Joe Smith
C: Ben "I'm super lazy" Wallace
Bench: Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Aaron Gray, Thabo Sefolosha, maybe Demetris Nichols. Luol Deng is probably out.

Seventy-Sixers:
G: Andre Miller
G: Willie Green
F: Andre Iguodala
F: Reggie Evans
C: Samuel "don't confuse me with Chandler" Dalembert
Bench: Louis Williams, Jason Smith, Thadeus Young, Calvin Booth, Rodney Carney, Gordon Giricek, and Kevin Ollie.


Keys for the Bulls:
1.) DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE! Esp. on the transition! Force Iguodala into tough shots, ditto with Miller & Louis Williams.
2.) Ball movement. Make the Extra passes. They're still vulnerable inside with Dalembert and Evans. You can get those two guy in foul trouble.
3.) Play the youth to counter their youths' energy. This means Joakim, Tyrus, Aaron Gray, a little bit of Thabo.
4.) Crash the boards! The Sixers are pretty good with their line of Iggy, Evans, Sammy, & Smith. Don't give them offensive rebounds.



Last Meeting: Bulls Home Opener. Bulls were thoroughly outplayed on both ends, never getting any continuity on the offensive end (dealing with Iguodala prying the ball free a few times on Deng) and unable to stop Andre Miller from scoring. The only bright spot in that game was Tyrus Thomas' 21 pts & 12 rbds. The Bulls need this game, especially on the road, with all the uncertainty surfacing about the teams mental frailty. A win on the road can help push them toward getting back on the winning track.


Tyrus Thomas Mix vs PHILLY

This is your one shot. Bulls don't win this game, you never make another game thread.

Win Or Lose, I won't be making another GT. Especially if we lose to PHILLY! I hope DENG Plays though!

I want to go to the game, but no one wants to go with me

I might go. I won't know until 4pm EST, it all depends on how I feel. If I feel energetic, the Bulls win. If not, its another loss. Yes, I know its crazy.

BTW, the GOOD LUCK CHARM (sorry cool007)

[Magilla_Gorilla]

This is your one shot. Bulls don't win this game, you never make another game thread.

[Bulls919823]

I've been ready to watch some games thinking that they are automatic wins, but obviously nothing is that consistent with our team. Yes, the offense is beginning to look more reliable, but the defense has been sliding since Skiles' departure. They need to get back on defense and play up to their abilities, putting together a complete game.

[bre9]

I hope the bulls win this one. If they don't all hell is going to break lose. It's all about execution for the bulls. I also hope they play some great defense.

If Deng is back 26 pts, 8 reb
Gordon 25 pts, 4 assists
Hinrich 16 pts, 9 assists

[kulaz3000]

I hope the bulls win this one.

Its really sad when in less then a year ago, a game against the Sixers would almost be an automatic win. Moreso, we would expect a win and be really dissappointed if we lost. Whereas now, we're hoping the Bulls win. Wishing that they would win, but having a heavy feeling inside that they have a high chance of losing..

We have played so poorly at home this season that i think they may find solace in playing away from the United Center. Well i "hope"..

[theanimal23]

I want to go to the game, but no one wants to go with me

[TB#1]

I'm not sure I'll even watch the game. I probably WILL end up watching, but only because I'm sad and pathetic and really have nothing else to do, not because I'm looking forward to watching a game.

[bentheredengthat]

I wanted to start a completely negative new thread titled "Everyone state one thing they hate the most about the Bulls right now", but I thought better of it. So I'll just start it here.

What I hate about the Bulls right now:
1) A "good shot" in our offense is a fast break pull up 20'er.

[girlygirl]

Has anyone heard the status of Luol, Noc and Kirk for tomorrow's game? I saw Kirk now has the flue as well, and I haven't ehard anything more about Luol's injuries.

[suckfish]

From Bulls.com

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/injury_report.html

Forward Luol Deng

# Day-to-day for Friday's road game versus the Philadelphia 76ers
# Left Achilles tendonitis
# Missed the last two games due to the injury
# "He's still feeling a little discomfort," Interim Head Coach Jim Boylan told the media on Tuesday. "We don't play again until Friday [in Philadelphia] so we feel like the next couple of days of rest will be good for him."
# Had an MRI on Jan. 4 which confirmed tendonitis
# Left Chicago's home game on Jan. 3 versus the Trail Blazers game with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter and did not return
# Deng said he'd hurt his Achilles' tendon on Dec. 30 versus New York and aggravated it against Portland when he came down after a jump shot

[girlygirl]

From Bulls.com

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/injury_report.html

Forward Luol Deng

# Day-to-day for Friday's road game versus the Philadelphia 76ers
# Left Achilles tendonitis
# Missed the last two games due to the injury
# "He's still feeling a little discomfort," Interim Head Coach Jim Boylan told the media on Tuesday. "We don't play again until Friday [in Philadelphia] so we feel like the next couple of days of rest will be good for him."
# Had an MRI on Jan. 4 which confirmed tendonitis
# Left Chicago's home game on Jan. 3 versus the Trail Blazers game with 10:05 remaining in the second quarter and did not return
# Deng said he'd hurt his Achilles' tendon on Dec. 30 versus New York and aggravated it against Portland when he came down after a jump shot

So does this mean people with the flu aren't considered injured? Or that they simply expect Noc and Kirk to play?

[bulls6pack]

MemoraBULL Moment:


During a 1996 game dubbed " The Stackhouse Game", Michael Jordan burned Jerry Stackhouse for 48 points, on 18-28 shooting, in only 34 minutes of action. With rookie Stackhouse mouthing off to the press about how he held his own against MJ during his summer-UNC warmup sessions, MJ was quietly enraged. Adding fuel to the fire, Vernon 'Mad Max' Maxwell was upset that the Bulls were getting so much press with MJ's return after retirement that he spewed nonsense to the press as well. It awoke the sleeping giant!

Highlights of that game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUMHZbvnMAA

[BR0D1E86]

I'll probably end up watching it, but this team has essentially destroyed my enthusiasm.

I'll get excited again when they either put out consistent efforts or the young guys start getting the bulk of the minutes in the front court.

[Mr. Tibbs]

man that tyrus thomas mix brings back bad memories..i remember thinking during that game that he could maybe hang with aldridge statistically for the season...how wrong i was.

[Rerisen]

A loss to the Knicks might be the thing to wake this team up, if there is such a thing that can possibly do that. It's kind of like hitting the lowest of lows. However, the team seems pretty nonchalant of late which is not encouraging.

Still, I'm rooting for a blowout. And yes, for the Bulls. What happened to the team just last year that was able to actually beat teams by more than 10 points? The best remedy for not losing a close game is to not be in a close game.

[newskoolbulls]

ok so lately every game i have been saying win so for this game I will say loss to try and help us turn our fortune around. Sixers on any given night could win, i think they have a nice group of guys and they would be stupid to tear it up. I like that they shed Korvers deal but i think they should not look to move Miller and Dalembert because they are 2 very good vets and they have a nice core of young players. I would hoever try to deal Carney or Young to clear up the sf overload they have.

[NLK]

newskool, I do know that Carney has been disappointing to them this year. They're really high on Young, now that he's come on as of late. However, Iguodala is becoming weary at their losses and at some of the current guys who have been there for a while (i.e. Willie Green's poor shot selection and Dalembert's foul troubles). You're definitely right on regarding the glut at SF. Sixers brass will have to make some decisions from now till the end of the summer. My guess Carney is getting moved, unless Iguodala wants out soon (going to a place with a likelihood of winning).


BTW, if we lose tonight, its time we PUT THE KIBOSH ON JERRY REINSDORF

[newskoolbulls]

Yea Iggy really hasnt stepped up his game like he did last season after the AI trade but that can be because of him not getting an extension (ala Ben and Luol). If they like Carney and Younge than they just might look to sign and trade him. Willie Green has really lost his confidence I believe with the emergence of Williams. I would take a look at Green for our bench if he was availble.

[suckfish]

Interesting fact from 'mybulls' going into tonights game.

Smith has been playing well for Chicago, averaging 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in his last five games.

[Wingy]

Yea Iggy really hasnt stepped up his game like he did last season after the AI trade but that can be because of him not getting an extension (ala Ben and Luol). If they like Carney and Younge than they just might look to sign and trade him. Willie Green has really lost his confidence I believe with the emergence of Williams. I would take a look at Green for our bench if he was availble.

I would also add that teams have had time to prepare now with Iggy being their defensive focus, unlike last year when they weren't quite sure what to expect from the Sixers.

As for us...we need a 4 game win streak right now. If we win 3 of 4, that's ok too...but if we split...I've lost hope for this year.