The mind-boggling reign of tiny-ball
You may think I'm going to have a full bitch session over Duhon playing the entire 4th quarter.
Eh, close. With Hinrich playing like garbage there are worse things than having Duhon take over. But going with the 3-guard lineup of Duhon/Hinrich/Duhon for the final 7 and a half minutes was completely infuriating.
What's the benefit of having Duhon out there with the starting backcourt? The stock answer is to limit turnovers (I think), but when you have three guys under 6'3" the offense needs more movement and passing to execute. And in a slowed-down half-court situation that dominates the end of NBA games, this reliance can lead to more turnovers, not less. They had 3 TOs and a 24-second violation.
And needless to say, it kills the defense. Luckily Hedo Turkoglu is awful so having Duhon on him wasn't a catastrophe like it was the day before when he guarded Tayshaun Prince. But then it's a big goddamned surprise that the Bulls give up offensive rebounds, or are overmatched and have to foul to save a basket.
Will we hear it's because of 'poise', or because they're young? How about because they're short?!?
Was Luol Deng overpowered by Dwight Howard on a couple late possessions because the Bulls can't 'close games out'? or maybe it's because Deng shouldn't be guarding Dwight Howard, ever?
Seeing this makes this whole past offseason seem a big waste. You bring in bigger, athletic players, yet the same old Bulls routine of tiny-ball (yes, beyond small-ball) remains. The gimmick works when you're up 20 and want to keep the clock going with better ballhandlers, or down 20 and want to chuck some threes. Not in a close game against a big team like Orlando.
I hate this tiny-ball lineup not just because of Duhon, it's more because it screams of conceding a talent gap that does not exist. For once, I'd like to see the Bulls win because they're better. That can be achieved by playing...their better players. Playing guys in their right positions. Instead we get this garbage about having to out-execute teams, out-work teams, out-hustle teams....how about just being the better team? They're better than the Magic, and instead try and resort to this tired-ass gimmick to win a game.
And the worst part is I don't see things changing in the future, if anything it'll get worse. Games will be more important, meaning these half-pints will have to be out there more to 'settle things down', or 'keep the team even-keeled'. Meanwhile instead of opening up big leads they're letting opponents keep it close, and instead of winning games they're losing them.
Skiles has got to stop this crap.
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I concur
Obviously this 3-guard lineup is not benefitting the team with wins. Beyond that, I don't see it doing the individual players any good confidence-wise or stats-wise - I don't see how Kirk or Du or even Deng are better off trying to guard a complete mismatch on the defensive end while still trying to score on the other end. And the bigs the Bills do have aren't gaining any confidence or experience when they sit on the bench knowing Skiles would rather play a small guard than them. If it were an occasional thing where the guys on the floor just lacked energy and Skiles was trying to shake it up I could maybe understand, but this is turning into an every game strategy.
by wjb1492 on Feb 26, 2007 11:34 PM CST 0 recs
Oops - Bulls, not Bills, obviously
by wjb1492 on
Feb 26, 2007 11:37 PM CST
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development too
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 26, 2007 11:37 PM CST
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Duhon could start
Sam Smith could solve all these problems if he would just register for a blogspot account.
by Paxson Jackson on
Feb 26, 2007 11:41 PM CST
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agreed on that last point
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 26, 2007 11:43 PM CST
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I don't think
by Paxson Jackson on
Feb 26, 2007 11:51 PM CST
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i wish that were true
by Rick S on
Feb 27, 2007 1:31 AM CST
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also
(because he's fat)
(get it?)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 26, 2007 11:44 PM CST
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Sorry, I mean Ha!
by ChrisRobin on
Feb 27, 2007 2:22 AM CST
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At least we've got PJ Brown's expiring contract
by Big D on Feb 26, 2007 11:50 PM CST 0 recs
or
teams going nowhere
duhon sbhould take over hinrichs starting job anyday now...
by Sambossanova on
Feb 27, 2007 12:29 AM CST
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some teams, not others.
by chicago-homesick-blues on Feb 27, 2007 12:23 AM CST 0 recs
my point is
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 9:23 AM CST
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but but but
by theundergroundman on Feb 27, 2007 1:03 AM CST 0 recs
I want to see
why is he always on the bench, hes good damn it!!! HES GOLD>>>AND GET THABO MIN< I dislike him looking so damn nervous, ure in the nba, u dont get nervous after the all star break, u get understood at what ure position on the team is....oh wait, skiles doesnt let anyone do that
by piccolomair on Feb 27, 2007 1:04 AM CST 0 recs
FUCKING SKILES!
by Goostafer on Feb 27, 2007 1:36 AM CST 0 recs
The bigger players
by rednomore on Feb 27, 2007 8:53 AM CST 0 recs
There is an I in insane
But please help me get into practices, it sounds like you pretty good access.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 9:22 AM CST
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Sweetney
by olds1962 on Feb 27, 2007 9:10 AM CST 0 recs
Problems with that
- Sweets is dead after 4 minutes.
- He needs 1 qtr to recover from that.
- He gets beat on defense way too much.
by kingj41 on
Feb 27, 2007 9:17 AM CST
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Sweetney
by olds1962 on
Feb 27, 2007 9:25 AM CST
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I know
by kingj41 on
Feb 27, 2007 10:55 AM CST
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Playing Sweetney
Anytime a guard needs a foul all they need to do is drive at Sweetney and he'll bump them.
by OldeBull on
Feb 27, 2007 2:13 PM CST
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Agreed,
by Paxson Jackson on
Feb 27, 2007 9:37 AM CST
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teams always do that
by bullshooter on
Feb 27, 2007 10:46 AM CST
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Never thought I'd write this
Guide to match up with the Bulls. (w/o Noc)
-Put your best wing defender on Gordon.
-Make Kirk shoot more than pass.
-Don't let Deng get direct cuts to the basket and keep a body on him.
-Ask Wallace to shoot 10-15 times a game.
-Don't worry about the 5th player either
It's so frustrating watching this team. When their shot isn't falling they fall apart. They need more points in the paint and easy put-backs.
It sucks when you only see Ben Wallace going after the offensive board while all the other players either A.) retreat on transition defense, or B.) simply watch Ben fight for the rebound as they spot up at the 3-pt line.
Get in there with the trees and get dirty. That's what Noc does. That's what this team is missing.
by kingj41 on Feb 27, 2007 9:12 AM CST 0 recs
so noc gets the tough rebounds
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 9:21 AM CST
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rebounders?
by olds1962 on
Feb 27, 2007 9:47 AM CST
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sigh, you're already on the internet
2006-07
P.J. Brown 10.1 RB/40
Andres Nocioni 8.6 RB/40
by Paxson Jackson on
Feb 27, 2007 9:51 AM CST
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Nocioni 'comes out of nowhere'
I didn't know that the goal was to get the most specatular looking rebounds.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 9:59 AM CST
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Tom Dore calls them
Alright, I really have better things to do.
by Paxson Jackson on
Feb 27, 2007 10:06 AM CST
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rebounding
by olds1962 on
Feb 27, 2007 10:17 AM CST
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that's, uh...not true.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 10:24 AM CST
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poetry
by olds1962 on
Feb 27, 2007 10:53 AM CST
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I'm not personally offended, don't worry
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 10:59 AM CST
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Well yes and no
But, he is a liability on the defensive end because he doesn't box out.
The bottom line is they do need his energy.
However, I would love to see Tyrus get more minutes even if it's just to rebound. Hell, let him foul out crashing the offensive board and blocking shots. I would love to see him at least contributing in that way.
by kingj41 on
Feb 27, 2007 11:03 AM CST
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This post and it's thread...
Tyrus Thomas was one of only two Bulls on the positive side of the +/- at popcorn stats (+3 in a measly 7 minutes). He could have guarded Turkoglu or maybe even Grant Hill.
by james@lifeinthecell on Feb 27, 2007 10:11 AM CST 0 recs
secret's out
Besides, it's easy to write angry.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 10:13 AM CST
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I tried to write angry
by Goostafer on
Feb 27, 2007 10:16 AM CST
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That's not all
by OldeBull on
Feb 27, 2007 4:23 PM CST
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Everybody needs to relax
by bullshooter on Feb 27, 2007 10:17 AM CST 0 recs
I am a little wary of placing primary blame for
For example, last night, Hinrich played like fetid old feces. His defense (if one can call it that) on The Mascara Wonder late in the game was atrocious. He was basically tricked into two avoidable fouls that sealed our fate. Inexcusable for a veteran player.
Similarly, turnovers are the players' responsibility. Skiles doesn't make Hinrich let the ball go through his hands and out of bounds on a key possession. Skiles doesn't tell Gordon to dribble off his toe. Skiles doesn't force the ill advised lob pass that gets picked off in the lane. Skiles doesn't make Sweetney lose a damn jump ball to a much smaller player. Skiles doesn't erase PJ's memory so that he forgets how to block out on a critical jumper.
The Bulls must play with some semblance of killer intinct and confidence down the stretch in close games. Right now, they exude a panic-stricken fear that is palpable from Ketel One Club to the damn standing room only seats.
by 1958ChiTown on Feb 27, 2007 10:38 AM CST 0 recs
The Skiles part of the blame
by james@lifeinthecell on Feb 27, 2007 10:44 AM CST 0 recs
Thabo
by bullshooter on
Feb 27, 2007 10:50 AM CST
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And it is Skiles' fault
by kingj41 on Feb 27, 2007 10:50 AM CST 0 recs
Matt's man Sam agrees with Matt
At this point, I'd say it's definitely worth a try to throw better-on-paper-but-less-proven matchups (Ty, Thabo, especially) out there and see what happens. What's the worst thing that could happen when they're already losing all these tight games anyway?
by wjb1492 on Feb 27, 2007 10:55 AM CST 0 recs
the mostest duhoniest hatingest site on the web
Someone else needs to step up (cliche alert). I think Griffin is playing below his ability this year. Thabo played better earlier in the season, but has seemed a bit lost lately. Skiles has to be scratching his head about why these guys haven't played to their potential.
I say more Sweets!!
by GWKD on Feb 27, 2007 11:16 AM CST 0 recs
If you read it
(and, yes, Duhon plays way too much)
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 11:19 AM CST
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Trio of Trashola
Matt great post you pretty much summed up how I felt after the game. I can breath easier now.
by Bulls Mouthpiece on
Feb 27, 2007 1:04 PM CST
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Sweets
by corey williams corey benjamin on
Feb 27, 2007 12:27 PM CST
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Correction
by bullshooter on
Feb 27, 2007 12:55 PM CST
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I don't think we will this year
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 1:01 PM CST
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Duhon could dunk?
by cubbybear on Feb 27, 2007 1:07 PM CST 0 recs
Just once...
by sue369 on Feb 27, 2007 1:29 PM CST 0 recs
Reality is...
Thabo needs to take Duhon's minutes; because he is taller, stronger, faster, smarter, and is superior in every aspect of the game, an outstanding backup guard.
Sweetney is a lazy fatass, that is the reality. Get over it, waive him, and move on. He has had TWO FUCKING YEARS to get his ass in shape. He is a failure. Get rid of him.
Griffin... Griffin.. Griffin. What more is there to say about A-Drain than he is overrated? He is a drain, literally, getting a turnover or a missed layup, it seems like, every other time he touches the ball. Inexcusable.
Now that we've identified the team's "lead-bearers", the guys who produce little but bring everyone else down, like a block of lead, its time to figure out how to get rid of our Du(on't) and Drains. A trade is the only way.
Trade Duhon for a formidable reserve big, like Brain Skiner or Dan Gadzuric, someone who can defend, get 6-8 points and 6-7 boards a night. This big and Thomas will be the forwards who come off the bench, the perfect combo of a freak athlete and a rock solid big.
Sweetney is a bigger problem, as he will be hard to move (literally). My solution is to wave him. He has shown no improvement and does not deserve a spot on the roster. Thomas and the aformentioned big, to be acquiered in a Duhon trade will take his minutes.
That leaves A-Drain, who should also be waived. He is eating up Thomas' minutes and impeding his development. Sure, he may be a good practice player and a "veteran leade" but on the court he is a disaster.
This relatively small roster tweak, trading Duhon for Gadzuric, waiving Sweets, and waiving A-Drain will DRAMATICALLY improve the team. So long stupid turnovers, hello heady play from Thabo. So long missed layups, hello highlight dunks and blocks from Tyrus. So long fatass, hello rock solid post player. This minor change is actually a huge on in terms of improvement. The team could win 55 games next year if this change is made.
by vlad001 on Feb 27, 2007 2:15 PM CST 0 recs
'getting rid'
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 2:22 PM CST
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and on Sweetney
A lot of it is just taking personal offense to a guy who could make millions if he was 'more in shape', which I understand but it still clouds the argument.
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 2:23 PM CST
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Sample size
We've seen the 3-guard lineup repeatedly, and -whether individually we are down on Kirk or Ben or Du - it seems like we can all agree that having the 3 of them out there together for long stretches of time has been proven to not work. Maybe if Skiles puts Sweetney out there he only proves that he is too slow/out of shape/foul prone/etc. to get the job done, but maybe he shows that he can fill a void in the team's overall game. At least it is something other than the 3 small guards.
by wjb1492 on
Feb 27, 2007 2:38 PM CST
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Sweetney
by olds1962 on
Feb 28, 2007 12:08 PM CST
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Du seems
by sue369 on
Feb 28, 2007 1:15 PM CST
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Crawford out for the year
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/sports/basketball/27cnd-knicks.html?hp
by dcarioca on Feb 27, 2007 2:32 PM CST 0 recs
Yeah
by vlad001 on
Feb 27, 2007 2:37 PM CST
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And
by vlad001 on
Feb 27, 2007 2:38 PM CST
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Still
by vlad001 on Feb 27, 2007 2:33 PM CST 0 recs
but
by sue369 on
Feb 27, 2007 2:49 PM CST
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Sue
by corey williams corey benjamin on
Feb 27, 2007 2:52 PM CST
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I changed
by sue369 on
Feb 27, 2007 2:58 PM CST
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if only I took such a stern stance
by your friendly BullsBlogger on
Feb 27, 2007 3:40 PM CST
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