The 2006-2007 Chicago Bulls Thread

[Garwilly]

Well I was hoping for a Saturday night game.

 

I now have Cards @ Cubs tickets on Saturday as well as Heat @ Bulls. Opinions?

[Derwood]

I'm far more concerned about having dropped to 10th in the draft than I am about the Heat.

 

Bring 'em on.

 

Eh? Don't we need to do a ping pong ball blower-thingy first before we know that?

 

We were tied for 5th (or was it 6th?) yesterday. Worst case scenario was we'd wind up at 10th, and we did. Knicks won and everyone else lost.

 

As for the ping pong balls, we know have a lot fewer ping bong balls to be blown... If I understand it correctly, it's either get incredibly lucky and land in the top 3... or wind up 10th (or worse, if a later picking lottery team gets lucky with the ping pong balls).

 

i still think the draft lottery is a sham until they actual draw the ping pong balls live. All this secret drawing, envelope nonsense is crap

 

Wait... you think the idea of Stern telling the refs to call the games in favor of the Heat is ludicrous yet you think the draft lotto is fixed? Seems contradictory to me.

 

Frankly, I think both conspiracy theories are ludicrous.

 

Okay, sham is the wrong word. But there is no reason to hide the drawing. In fact, I think it would be more exciting to see the ping pong balls come out then the super boring envelope reveal

[Soriano12]

Well I was hoping for a Saturday night game.

 

I now have Cards @ Cubs tickets on Saturday as well as Heat @ Bulls. Opinions?

 

 

300+ million underachieving group of losers, or hard working playoff basketball team...I'd go with the Bulls game.

[David]

Well I was hoping for a Saturday night game.

 

I now have Cards @ Cubs tickets on Saturday as well as Heat @ Bulls. Opinions?

 

 

300+ million underachieving group of losers, or hard working playoff basketball team...I'd go with the Bulls game.

 

Christ...now the fans are citing this stupid $300 million thing, too?

[David]

I'm far more concerned about having dropped to 10th in the draft than I am about the Heat.

 

Bring 'em on.

 

Eh? Don't we need to do a ping pong ball blower-thingy first before we know that?

 

We were tied for 5th (or was it 6th?) yesterday. Worst case scenario was we'd wind up at 10th, and we did. Knicks won and everyone else lost.

 

As for the ping pong balls, we know have a lot fewer ping bong balls to be blown... If I understand it correctly, it's either get incredibly lucky and land in the top 3... or wind up 10th (or worse, if a later picking lottery team gets lucky with the ping pong balls).

 

i still think the draft lottery is a sham until they actual draw the ping pong balls live. All this secret drawing, envelope nonsense is crap

 

Wait... you think the idea of Stern telling the refs to call the games in favor of the Heat is ludicrous yet you think the draft lotto is fixed? Seems contradictory to me.

 

Frankly, I think both conspiracy theories are ludicrous.

 

Okay, sham is the wrong word. But there is no reason to hide the drawing. In fact, I think it would be more exciting to see the ping pong balls come out then the super boring envelope reveal

 

That I can agree with.

[Exile on Waveland]

Pacer fan here, so take this FWIW.

 

Dropping to 10th (before the lotto balls are drawn, of course) is a big blow. At fifth or sixth, Al Horford or Brandon Wright (if/when he declares) were pretty likely. A 10th, it's going to be a lesser player. This is a good draft, so the Bulls should still get someone good but those four or five spots could be huge. Of course, the Bulls still could wind up in the top-3.

 

I think last night's loss was huge. I had the Bulls penciled into the Eastern Conference Finals, now I think a first round loss is the most likely result. The Heat are the champs and they'll get every break (Wade, who I like, is easily the most protected player in the NBA now). This is likely to be a seven game series so the Bulls have an excellent shot -- it wouldn't really surprise me if they won -- but the Pistons would await. It would surprise me if the Bulls beat the Heat and then the Pistons.

[Derwood]

i think Nocioni may be an X factor again. He has stepped it up 2 years in a row in the post season, and his defensive energy is contagious. If he can cover Walker while Wallace/Brown/Thomas take their lumps with Shaq, then Wade is the biggest threat. I think it's going to be a very entertaining series. Too bad I'll miss Game 1 (as well as Games 3-5 as i'll be out of the country)

[USSoccer]

I would also add that Ben Wallace is going to have to earn his money, and Scott Skiles is going to have to get over his fear of playing Tyrus and Thabo in the playoffs.

 

The sad thing is I don't really think Miami is all that good of a team. They have an injured Wade, an old Shaq, and a motley collection of garbage basketball players. Their reputation, defending champion status and big names are going to buy them a lot of slack. The best thing they have going for them is a coach that knows how to take a undertalented team with a couple good players, ugly up the game, and win.

[Exile on Waveland]

I would also add that Ben Wallace is going to have to earn his money, and Scott Skiles is going to have to get over his fear of playing Tyrus and Thabo in the playoffs.

 

The sad thing is I don't really think Miami is all that good of a team. They have an injured Wade, an old Shaq, and a motley collection of garbage basketball players. Their reputation, defending champion status and big names are going to buy them a lot of slack. The best thing they have going for them is a coach that knows how to take a undertalented team with a couple good players, ugly up the game, and win.

 

I still don't think Miami was that good of a team last year.

[Mark_R]

Make Wade feel that shoulder all series. All fouls should be in that direction. And they should be hard fouls. Think of it like a modern day "Jordan Rules."

[bukie]

So wait, you mean the world didn't end last night?

 

It's the Heat, folks. They played well for about 3 weeks the whole year, and their two best players are slowed. They aren't the best team in the NBA, or the East, or in their first round series this year. If the Bulls take care of business at home, it'll be over in 5.

[illiniguy]

if everyone already believes that David Stern has sat down with the refs and told them to let the Heat win, well I don't know what to add to this thread anymore. That's completely ludicrous

 

I don't necessarily think that, but the NBA has shown a tendency to put poorer officials in a position to have to call a pivotal game for a team on the road. Bad officials tend to be swayed by home crowds.

 

And if you don't think the officials-whether by league mandate or not-call a different game for certain players, I don't know what to tell you.

 

sure they do. We benefited from that for a dozen years with jordan, who comitted offensive fouls almost every time he scored and never got called. I just grow weary of the knee-jerk "the refs lost us the game" excuse every game.

Seriously, you never have played a second of organized basketball, have you? Just because his signature shot is one where he pushed off, doesn't mean he was charging/pushing off all the time. Sure he got the call if a guy breathed on him, but to say his scoring was because of being allowed to push off is ridiculous.

[Andy]

'Chicago feels like they can beat us,'' said Wade, who sat out Wednesday's finale along with O'Neal and James Posey. ``Kirk Hinrich came out and said it. We'll find out.

 

``It would be a great matchup. They have the opportunity now to be at home. They feel that's the only reason we won last year, because we had home-court advantage. So the only thing you can do is throw the ball up and play.''

 

After his team's shootaround Wednesday, O'Neal offered a similar sentiment.

 

''I don't care who they are or what they say, nobody wants to play us in a seven-game series,'' O'Neal said. ``And if they do, we're coming.''

 

Added Mourning: ``Be careful what you wish for.''

 

We're screwed

What you WISH for? Are the Heat players really stupid enough to believe we'd rather play them than NJ or Washington or Orlando?

 

God I hate them.

[Andy]

The winner of Game 1 will win this series, by the way. It's a mortal lock. We HAVE HAVE HAVE to hold serve at home to have a good chance.

[gflore34]

I'm somewhat relieved they're playing Miami over NJ, freak game by Mikki Moore aside; the Nets present bigger match-up problems than the Heat. The Bulls can't stop Carter or Jefferson nor keep Kidd from doing what he wants.

This is not to say they'll beat the Heat but, I'm fairly certain the Nets would have won a first series vs. the Bulls.

 

By the way, I'm certain the Bulls would have lost but, I thought the Nets got away with numerous hacks last night. Kidd' steal of the ball from TT under the hoop was far from clean as Walton&Co. gushed, the only thing clean was Kidd cleanly hitting TT on the arms.

[bukie]

The winner of Game 1 will win this series, by the way. It's a mortal lock. We HAVE HAVE HAVE to hold serve at home to have a good chance.

 

Technically, if they hold serve at home, the Heat have no chance.

[CubColtPacer]

I'm far more concerned about having dropped to 10th in the draft than I am about the Heat.

 

Bring 'em on.

 

Eh? Don't we need to do a ping pong ball blower-thingy first before we know that?

 

We were tied for 5th (or was it 6th?) yesterday. Worst case scenario was we'd wind up at 10th, and we did. Knicks won and everyone else lost.

 

As for the ping pong balls, we know have a lot fewer ping bong balls to be blown... If I understand it correctly, it's either get incredibly lucky and land in the top 3... or wind up 10th (or worse, if a later picking lottery team gets lucky with the ping pong balls).

 

i still think the draft lottery is a sham until they actual draw the ping pong balls live. All this secret drawing, envelope nonsense is crap

 

Wait... you think the idea of Stern telling the refs to call the games in favor of the Heat is ludicrous yet you think the draft lotto is fixed? Seems contradictory to me.

 

Frankly, I think both conspiracy theories are ludicrous.

 

Okay, sham is the wrong word. But there is no reason to hide the drawing. In fact, I think it would be more exciting to see the ping pong balls come out then the super boring envelope reveal

 

There is one big reason-it takes forever. They spit out these 4 number combinations, and these combinations coorespond to different teams. It wouldn't be that exciting to see-okay, 0/1/2/1 has come out-that is-----Boston! Plus, let's say the team with the most combinations wins the first pick. When they draw for the second and third pick, they are likely going to pick those combinations multiple times again-so the balls come out, and the people look at it and go-hmm, no that one has already been used, got to pick again. It would be a mess. I would love to figure out how to do it live, but it would have to require significant changes to what they do to make it work.

[Banedon]

I'm far more concerned about having dropped to 10th in the draft than I am about the Heat.

 

Bring 'em on.

 

Eh? Don't we need to do a ping pong ball blower-thingy first before we know that?

 

We were tied for 5th (or was it 6th?) yesterday. Worst case scenario was we'd wind up at 10th, and we did. Knicks won and everyone else lost.

 

As for the ping pong balls, we know have a lot fewer ping bong balls to be blown... If I understand it correctly, it's either get incredibly lucky and land in the top 3... or wind up 10th (or worse, if a later picking lottery team gets lucky with the ping pong balls).

 

i still think the draft lottery is a sham until they actual draw the ping pong balls live. All this secret drawing, envelope nonsense is crap

 

Wait... you think the idea of Stern telling the refs to call the games in favor of the Heat is ludicrous yet you think the draft lotto is fixed? Seems contradictory to me.

 

Frankly, I think both conspiracy theories are ludicrous.

 

Okay, sham is the wrong word. But there is no reason to hide the drawing. In fact, I think it would be more exciting to see the ping pong balls come out then the super boring envelope reveal

 

There is one big reason-it takes forever. They spit out these 4 number combinations, and these combinations coorespond to different teams. It wouldn't be that exciting to see-okay, 0/1/2/1 has come out-that is-----Boston! Plus, let's say the team with the most combinations wins the first pick. When they draw for the second and third pick, they are likely going to pick those combinations multiple times again-so the balls come out, and the people look at it and go-hmm, no that one has already been used, got to pick again. It would be a mess. I would love to figure out how to do it live, but it would have to require significant changes to what they do to make it work.

 

I could see that being a problem if they did ping pong balls for the whole lottery eligible bunch of them, but for only 3 picks? I think people are smart enough to figure this out...

[rawaction]

Last night sucked. I hate to say I told you so, but I knew that game would be trouble.

 

I do like the Bulls chances against the Heat, but probably in 6 or 7. Of course, I think this series hurts the Bulls chances against the Pistons, who should win in 5 at most. I believe they had a much better chance vs. Detroit in the conf. finals with both coming off of 2 series.

 

Bulls can beat the Heat and Pistons. They have shown that. This team has the playoff experience, with the core of Gordon, Hinrich, Deng, Duhon, Noicioni all playing in their 3rd straight playoffs. And obviously, Wallace and Brown have a ton of playoff experience.

 

Here's to a Bulls/Cavs conference final! Just gotta take the hard road.

[jmajew]

'Chicago feels like they can beat us,'' said Wade, who sat out Wednesday's finale along with O'Neal and James Posey. ``Kirk Hinrich came out and said it. We'll find out.

 

``It would be a great matchup. They have the opportunity now to be at home. They feel that's the only reason we won last year, because we had home-court advantage. So the only thing you can do is throw the ball up and play.''

 

After his team's shootaround Wednesday, O'Neal offered a similar sentiment.

 

''I don't care who they are or what they say, nobody wants to play us in a seven-game series,'' O'Neal said. ``And if they do, we're coming.''

 

Added Mourning: ``Be careful what you wish for.''

 

We're screwed

 

Thanks to UMFAN83 I will be attending the Saturday afternoon matchup. Waht a guy!!!!

[1908]

We lost the season last night, boys and girls.

This seems oddly familiar. Didn't you express something similar back in November when the Bulls were 3-9? Or how about back in February when they struggled a bit heading into the All-Star break? Is this some kind of defense mechanism? Expect the worst and be surprised when things work out kind of thing?

 

No one played better basketball down the stretch than the Bulls in the East. They have the best home record in the East. They have home court in their series against the Heat. I don't understand the pessimism.

[David]

We lost the season last night, boys and girls.

This seems oddly familiar. Didn't you express something similar back in November when the Bulls were 3-9? Or how about back in February when they struggled a bit heading into the All-Star break? Is this some kind of defense mechanism? Expect the worst and be surprised when things work out kind of thing?

 

No one played better basketball down the stretch than the Bulls in the East. They have the best home record in the East. They have home court in their series against the Heat. I don't understand the pessimism.

 

Soul is just pessimistic by nature. He was the same way about the Bears all season. I've learned not to let it annoy me. :)

[Banedon]

I actually feel pretty good about the Bulls going into the playoffs. They've handled Miami and Detroit all season, and I don't see that changing. Not to mention they were a much worse team last year and nearly beat Miami.

 

I would like it if Bill Walton would not announce Bulls games anymore though. Ugh. I think he's gotten worse since the NBA on NBC days when I watched the NBA on a regular basis.

[ChiCubsFan]

'Chicago feels like they can beat us,'' said Wade, who sat out Wednesday's finale along with O'Neal and James Posey. ``Kirk Hinrich came out and said it. We'll find out.

 

``It would be a great matchup. They have the opportunity now to be at home. They feel that's the only reason we won last year, because we had home-court advantage. So the only thing you can do is throw the ball up and play.''

 

After his team's shootaround Wednesday, O'Neal offered a similar sentiment.

 

''I don't care who they are or what they say, nobody wants to play us in a seven-game series,'' O'Neal said. ``And if they do, we're coming.''

 

Added Mourning: ``Be careful what you wish for.''

 

We're screwed

 

Wow, Hinrich, you idiot.

 

Why? Because he supposedly said that they can beat the Heat in a 7 game series? Would you rather him say we have no chance?

 

Besides, it's not like the Heat weren't going to give 100% effort in the series, anyways.

[UMFan83]

'Chicago feels like they can beat us,'' said Wade, who sat out Wednesday's finale along with O'Neal and James Posey. ``Kirk Hinrich came out and said it. We'll find out.

 

``It would be a great matchup. They have the opportunity now to be at home. They feel that's the only reason we won last year, because we had home-court advantage. So the only thing you can do is throw the ball up and play.''

 

After his team's shootaround Wednesday, O'Neal offered a similar sentiment.

 

''I don't care who they are or what they say, nobody wants to play us in a seven-game series,'' O'Neal said. ``And if they do, we're coming.''

 

Added Mourning: ``Be careful what you wish for.''

 

We're screwed

 

Wow, Hinrich, you idiot.

 

Why? Because he supposedly said that they can beat the Heat in a 7 game series? Would you rather him say we have no chance?

 

Besides, it's not like the Heat weren't going to give 100% effort in the series, anyways.

 

Hinrich said his quote before last nights game when the Bulls were locked into the 2 seed. It was kinda weird when I read it, almost like the Bulls were aiming to play the Heat. Well now they have their wish.

 

Some of the quotes:

 

Hinrich:

Guard Kirk Hinrich was even more blunt about the prospect of a rematch with team that eliminated the Bulls four games to two in the first round of the 2006 playoffs.

 

"I don't think we'd be really disappointed if we have to play Miami in the first round, other than losing home-court advantage in the second round [by not getting the second seed]," Hinrich said. "We're very confident against that team."

 

"Everybody knows that with Shaq and Wade, it'd be tough," Hinrich said. "But we think we could beat Miami.

 

"We feel we should've won last year's series, honestly. We felt we should've won Game 5. So we're confident. It's a team we're familiar with."

 

Nocioni:

"So what?" forward Andres Nocioni said. "We'd need to beat Miami, and that's it. It's the playoffs, man. If you want to get something, you need to win tough games."

 

"We don't need to be scared against the Heat," Nocioni said. "It's really difficult to beat them, but I think this year is different. We are playing much, much better than last year. We are playing with a lot of confidence.

 

Remember, these quotes were made before the NJ game.