The 2006-2007 Chicago Bulls Thread

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Two calls—one made for Toronto, one not made for the Bulls—and a clock discrepancy left the Bulls hopping mad for reasons beyond seeing their 15-game winning streak over the Raptors snapped after the 112-111 heartbreaker.

 

Chris Bosh's two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining provided the winning points, scored after Tyrus Thomas blocked T.J. Ford's shot and then fouled Bosh.

 

Official Greg Willard made the call after Bosh's shot fell off the rim, and his whistle failed to stop the clock, as is standard practice. Coach Scott Skiles pleaded his case to fellow official Jason Phillips for more time—at least a half-second ticked off—to no avail.

 

The Bulls plan to send film of the discrepancy to the league office.

 

Still, Ben Gordon got a good look at a potential game-winner at the buzzer, shooting an air ball short as he tried to draw contact from Ford.

 

Kirk Hinrich walked off the court arguing with Willard, trying to defend Gordon's second air ball at the buzzer in three games.

 

"Absolutely," Gordon said, when asked if he had been fouled. "But we didn't get the call. I don't know why. I thought they got a lucky one on the other end."

 

Not only did Skiles disagree that Gordon should have been awarded free throws, he applauded the call—if not the clock discrepancy—on Thomas' foul on Bosh.

 

"I like the fact that call was made if it's a foul," Skiles said. "And I thought it was. Too many times guys hold the whistle at that point. Why have the game be 48 minutes long then?"

[CubColtPacer]

Two calls—one made for Toronto, one not made for the Bulls—and a clock discrepancy left the Bulls hopping mad for reasons beyond seeing their 15-game winning streak over the Raptors snapped after the 112-111 heartbreaker.

 

Chris Bosh's two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining provided the winning points, scored after Tyrus Thomas blocked T.J. Ford's shot and then fouled Bosh.

 

Official Greg Willard made the call after Bosh's shot fell off the rim, and his whistle failed to stop the clock, as is standard practice. Coach Scott Skiles pleaded his case to fellow official Jason Phillips for more time—at least a half-second ticked off—to no avail.

 

The Bulls plan to send film of the discrepancy to the league office.

 

Still, Ben Gordon got a good look at a potential game-winner at the buzzer, shooting an air ball short as he tried to draw contact from Ford.

 

Kirk Hinrich walked off the court arguing with Willard, trying to defend Gordon's second air ball at the buzzer in three games.

 

"Absolutely," Gordon said, when asked if he had been fouled. "But we didn't get the call. I don't know why. I thought they got a lucky one on the other end."

 

Not only did Skiles disagree that Gordon should have been awarded free throws, he applauded the call—if not the clock discrepancy—on Thomas' foul on Bosh.

 

"I like the fact that call was made if it's a foul," Skiles said. "And I thought it was. Too many times guys hold the whistle at that point. Why have the game be 48 minutes long then?"

 

By watching the higlights (and watching them 3-4 times to make sure I got everything)-it certainly looked like Toronto was the benefit of some favorable calls on the foul plus the time being as low as it was. Although, at the same time I thought the foul on Toronto on Gordon's drive was ridiculous-at the worst it was a no-call, and it could have been an offensive foul as well. It's hard to say if Toronto ended up getting more benefit in the last 12 seconds or if the benefits equaled out.

[Soul]

I know the Raptors have been playing well, but I'm looking at this Bulls team and seeing an early exit.

 

We need something. Obviously a big man who can score would be nice. How about a commitment to playing 48 minutes per game at 100%?

 

Something's not right here. I feel we should be better than this, even without the big man.

[Andy]

I totally agree with Skiles in principle that fouls should be called late in the game if they're committed. Too often refs swallow it to keep from "deciding" the game, inadvertently deciding the game anyway. At the same time, Gordon was fouled on the other end as well.

 

(And I totally agree that we got a break at the other end to start. I said at the time it looked like he pulled off a little MJ-type nudge to force the call.)

[UMFan83]

Kidds not going to play in the ASG, but Joe Johnson was selected to replace him and not Gordon.

[BigSlick]

We're friggin losing to the Bobcats.

 

God damn this team sometimes.

[Flames24Rulz]

We're friggin losing to the Bobcats.

 

God damn this team sometimes.

 

This team needs a shakeup.

[illiniguy]

We're friggin losing to the Bobcats.

 

God damn this team sometimes.

 

This team needs a shakeup.

This team just isn't all that great. Oh and its coach sucks.

[Soriano12]

ha...the freakin Bobcats.

 

Make a move Pax, this team will get tranced in the playoffs again.

[Guest]

We're friggin losing to the Bobcats.

 

God damn this team sometimes.

 

This team needs a shakeup.

This team just isn't all that great. Oh and its coach sucks.

 

The coach is fine, the players aren't playing.

[illiniguy]

We're friggin losing to the Bobcats.

 

God damn this team sometimes.

 

This team needs a shakeup.

This team just isn't all that great. Oh and its coach sucks.

 

The coach is fine, the players aren't playing.

He isn't fine. Thomas doesn't play near enough. He took what 2 and a half years to start Ben Gordon?

[ChiCubsFan]

We're friggin losing to the Bobcats.

 

God damn this team sometimes.

 

This team needs a shakeup.

This team just isn't all that great. Oh and its coach sucks.

 

The coach is fine, the players aren't playing.

He isn't fine. Thomas doesn't play near enough. He took what 2 and a half years to start Ben Gordon?

 

I agree with you on the Tyrus Thomas issue, but disagree about BG. Why does it matter who starts? BG was getting more minutes than Duhon, so it didn't really matter. He tried starting him and he initially played worse than he did when he was coming off the bench. I didn't see it as too big of an issue. TT, on the other hand, should be getting A LOT more minutes.

 

Just looked at the box score. Okafor played like a beast. 21 boards and 6 blocked shots.

[illiniguy]

We're friggin losing to the Bobcats.

 

God damn this team sometimes.

 

This team needs a shakeup.

This team just isn't all that great. Oh and its coach sucks.

 

The coach is fine, the players aren't playing.

He isn't fine. Thomas doesn't play near enough. He took what 2 and a half years to start Ben Gordon?

 

I agree with you on the Tyrus Thomas issue, but disagree about BG. Why does it matter who starts? BG was getting more minutes than Duhon, so it didn't really matter. He tried starting him and he initially played worse than he did when he was coming off the bench. I didn't see it as too big of an issue. TT, on the other hand, should be getting A LOT more minutes.

 

Just looked at the box score. Okafor played like a beast. 21 boards and 6 blocked shots.

I just hate what Pax did to the team this offseason. Wallace was an iffy signing, but then to trade away Chandler and not even keep J.R. Smith the big scorer at the 2 we could use. Especially for P.J. Brown. They are so frustrating.

[Derwood]

I agree that it doesn't matter who starts much. Remember the second three-peat when Harper started every game with Kerr on the bench?

[Soul]

Aren't Chandler and Curry both doing well?

 

Something's wrong here. I suppose the solution is to give away Deng and watch him become an all star somewhere else.

 

I don't know what to do. Maybe fire Skiles. This team should be better, even without a big man. Christ, other teams don't have big men who can score but can still beat the friggin' Bobcats.

[Derwood]

Aren't Chandler and Curry both doing well?

 

Something's wrong here. I suppose the solution is to give away Deng and watch him become an all star somewhere else.

 

I don't know what to do. Maybe fire Skiles. This team should be better, even without a big man. Christ, other teams don't have big men who can score but can still beat the friggin' Bobcats.

 

the Jordan era bulls never had a scoring big guy. That team was all jump shooters and Rodman

[YearofDaCubs]

It's safe to say signing Ben Wallace and trading Chandler for a scrub like PJ Brown was a huge mistake. Terrible moves by Pax. He has done a great job until he made those two moves, you can't win them all but at this point you have to do something with this team.

[Chocolate Milk]

Aren't Chandler and Curry both doing well?

 

Chandler is doing well. Curry is scoring but is a huge creampuff who can't rebound or block shots.

[1908]

The Bulls' schedule after the break gets a lot easier. Assuming a blockbuster trade doesn't happen, I think they'll go 18-10 over the last 28 games and finish the season 47-35. I was hoping for 50 wins, but I won't cry about that record. Should be a fun finish.

[1908]

Aren't Chandler and Curry both doing well?

Chandler is doing well. Curry is scoring but is a huge creampuff who can't rebound or block shots.

Curry's PER is 17.87 to Chandler's 15.37. Eddie's more than holding his own even if you factor in defense.

[Soul]

Aren't Chandler and Curry both doing well?

Chandler is doing well. Curry is scoring but is a huge creampuff who can't rebound or block shots.

Curry's PER is 17.87 to Chandler's 15.37. Eddie's more than holding his own even if you factor in defense.

 

 

Chandler's flourishing away from Chicago. That's absolute damnation for Skiles. I think the bloom is off the rose, gentlemen.

[1908]

Chandler's flourishing away from Chicago.

I wouldn't call a 15.37 PER flourishing. It's significantly better than his 12.23 PER last year, but Tyson produced a 16.47 PER for the Bulls during the 2004-5 season with Skiles as his coach the entire season. Chandler's a bit of a head case in my opinion.

[illiniguy]

Chandler's flourishing away from Chicago.

I wouldn't call a 15.37 PER flourishing. It's significantly better than his 12.23 PER last year, but Tyson produced a 16.47 PER for the Bulls during the 2004-5 season with Skiles as his coach the entire season. Chandler's a bit of a head case in my opinion.

What is JR Smith's per compared to PJ Browns? Or Chandlers vs. Brown? We clearly got the worse end of both of those deals.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Aren't Chandler and Curry both doing well?

 

Something's wrong here. I suppose the solution is to give away Deng and watch him become an all star somewhere else.

 

I don't know what to do. Maybe fire Skiles. This team should be better, even without a big man. Christ, other teams don't have big men who can score but can still beat the friggin' Bobcats.

 

Deng is close to all-star level already.

[1908]

What is JR Smith's per compared to PJ Browns? Or Chandlers vs. Brown? We clearly got the worse end of both of those deals.

Smith's PER is 15.84. A step down from both Gordon's 18.64 and Hinrich's 16.90. The Bulls could've ditched Thabo in favor of Smith, but the kid's got some issues Pax didn't want to deal with. I don't blame him.

 

Brown's value is his expiring contract. When the Bulls resign Deng, Noch and Gordon, or swing a deal for Gasol, the value of that will be made clear.