Game Thread Blazers at Bulls TNT 7:00ct

[babythug23]

vs

[kulaz3000]

This is going to be a really fun game. On national TV, a young team vs another young team... i can't wait.

[Bluewaterheaven]

Aldridge vs TT

A- 36min 22 points 7 rebounds

TT- DNP

[Red Larrivee]

Oh I can't wait for the numerous Tyrus/Aldridge arguments

[newskoolbulls]

Oh man national TV? That means Barkley. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The Bulls are turrable just turrable lol

[jax98]

I'm so dead-serious about this:

Win. It's a big game, a big test and I think we're up for it. Brandon Roy hasn't been as hot offensively of late and LaMarcus Aldridge will be able to get by off the dribble. Don't hesitate, just drive into him, create contact and go to the line.

Keys to win:

- Shoot a lot of free throws
- Establish Deng early
- Close out on baseline penetration
- Don't leave shooters open in the corner

I would even go as far as saying there's no reason to double-team anybody. Ben Wallace or Joe Smith should do a good enough job on LaMarcus to keep his point total average or below.

I also suggest a minor change to the rotation.

Give Andres Nocioni's minutes to Tyrus. We need athleticism tomorrow against the Blazers.

[Mr. Tibbs]

i've only seen a little bit of portland this year but man they are fun to watch. This will be a good one.

[newskoolbulls]

I am worried about them running all over. Roy and Outlaw are always running full speed and they always seem to make things happen especially with James Jones and Martel Webster always in the corners.

[NLK]

Oh man national TV? That means Barkley.

The Bulls are turrable just turrable lol

You mean this newskool

I see us winning! Just a gut feeling!

I couldn't find any recent MemoraBULL moments vs. the Blazers, except this:
Bulls FANS Yelling post game, last year!

[Mr. Tibbs]

someone post a memorabull moment, and preferrably not the jordan hitting 6 treys..that's a good one but predictable.

[kulaz3000]

I remember the game back in 04 when Gordon came off the bench and just took over the game. Not sure if it was a memorable moment, but it was one of the games that got the ball rolling from the terrible start.

[SportsWorld]

1988 Bulls vs Blazers (MJ 52 pts, 21-34 fg)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GRJBKF2fhyU

[JeffJordan]

The key will be stopping Roy... not sure who we have to do that. If Deng and Gordon are hot we should win but the Blazers are red hot.

I will be at work unfortunately... I actually really look forward to watching TNT games. Barkley is hillarious.

[theanimal23]

I expect the "Aldridge Trade" to be talked about nonstop.

I was just reading an article, and it's very true:

In '07 it was the Chicago Bulls.

In '08 it is the Portland Trailblazers.

They are better than us and have a *much* brighter future. We can still have a good one, but I see them today without Oden being a better team. Outlaw and Webster are solidifying that team behind their two studs.

If there is one fanbase to be jealous of, it is the Blazers. Maybe the Celtics afterward with their Cinderella Rag to Riches story.

[Angry Jimmy]

MemoraBULL moment

December 31st, 2002

CHICAGO (AP) -- Before the game started, Tyson Chandler was pumped up.

"I was pacing back and forth. I really wanted to be on the floor,'' the 20-year-old Chicago Bulls center said.

Once there, Chandler channeled that energy and enthusiasm into his finest performance since he jumped to the NBA right out of high school.

He had 27 points and 18 rebounds -- both career highs -- as the Bulls beat the Portland 102-87 Tuesday night, snapping the Trail Blazers' eight-game winning streak.

Chandler scored the Bulls' first seven points and had 13 in the first quarter, finishing the first half with 20 points and 10 rebounds as Chicago never trailed.

"Tyson really played a complete game. He had great energy, shooting, rebounding. He did it all,'' Bulls coach Bill Cartwright said.

"Chandler played as well as he can. He showed what he's capable of. He dominated the game in the first half,'' Portland coach Maurice Cheeks said.

Chicago led by 16 early in the second quarter before Pippen brought the Blazers back, hitting three jumpers and scoring seven points in a 10-0 run that cut the lead to six. Pippen had 12 points in the first half on 5-of-5 shooting.

Portland was within four with 1:38 left in the half before the Bulls scored the final seven points of the half, including a thunderous slam by Chandler on a break that made it 57-46.

[BULLS4LIFE2]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to watch this game online?

I usually watch them through sopcast, or someone puts up a link on another site i visit but this one being on tnt wont be on sopcast as far as im aware, any place you can watch it online that anyone can assist with?

Would really appreciate if you could let me know, my e-mail is
alan_o_23@hotmail.com

[Mr. Tibbs]

well i've been using sopcast or similar programs the last few games and i've used this site for links.
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?match ... art=sports
I just checked for tomorrow and it says links will appear during the game. I'm not sure if that's reliable or not...if it doesn't work i'm not sure how else to get it i'll probably just search for sopcast links to it anywhere i can.

why can't they sopcast if it's on tnt btw? i'm new to this

[DuckIII]

My thoughts:

(1) Roy is a good matchup for Hinrich. Kirk is usually very good at not biting on "old school" change of pace moves, which are a staple of Roy's game.

(2) Its a back-to-back for both teams tonight, but Portland has younger bigs. Therefore, I think working Noah and Thomas in for fresh legs will be important.

(3) I think this is the type of game where Aaron Gray can have a big impact.

(4) The Bulls will need a big game from Deng, since he's our most obvious superior matchup looking at it position by position.

[DuckIII]

I'm so dead-serious about this:

Win. It's a big game, a big test and I think we're up for it.

Me too. Any time a team rattles off 14 wins in 15 games you have to be impressed with that accomplishment. And I am. But I'm not terribly impressed or even remotely intimidated by Portland (that may change when Oden starts playing).

This is a team the Bulls should beat. I expect Portland to be on the outside of the playoff picture looking in when the season ends.

That 15 game stretch that Portland dominated included 4 impressive wins over Utah and Denver. But the rest of their opponents were dogs, with a couple of average teams like Golden State and Toronto mixed in, and 10 of those games were played in Portland.

They don't scare me at all.

I would even go as far as saying there's no reason to double-team anybody.

I think this is very important and will be a huge key to the game. Portland can kill teams with multiple players camped out at the 3. This has been a particular problem for Chicago. The Bulls need to play disciplined man defense and stick with their assignments. I don't want to see much doubling down.

If Portland wins, my guess is that the open 3 will be the culprit.

Give Andres Nocioni's minutes to Tyrus. We need athleticism tomorrow against the Blazers.

I completely agree. This is a game suited more for Tyrus than Chapu.

[Bulls919823]

Should be a great game vs. a quality Western Conference team. Bulls have chance to get big win under Boylan and boost their record.