C's Take It Out On Bulls

by Jeff Clark on Dec 21, 2007 8:49 PM EST in Boston Celtics Games

This one was never really close. They built a 20 point first half lead and never really let the Bulls back in it. Some random thoughts from the game:

Could you find two more invisible players than Deng and Hinrich tonight? If you are into the +/- stats, they were -19 and -20. Ouch.
Aaron Gray is a big stiff, but he's a good big stiff. He'll be around for a while.
C's offense kind of had the yips for much of the night, turning the ball over a lot. I don't mind that though because it tells me they are trying to move the ball (perhaps over doing it). Besides, you can't argue with a 20 point lead.
Pollard only gives you about 5 minutes a game, but he uses those fouls and bangs around. I don't mind that one bit.
Seemed like Posey and Pierce couldn't miss tonight.
I remember when I loved Scott Skiles because he got a young team to play tough defense and overachieve on offense. Guess it didn't take long for that same team to tune him out.
I was happy when Tony Allen had a breakaway and simply laid it in. Then again, I was also happy to see him dunk with authority later in the game. He's picking his spots.
25 minutes for KG, 26 for Pierce. Ray Allen had 37, but to be fair he did get to take two games off. Probably was good to keep moving and prevent that ankle from getting stiff.
The Bulls tried picking up full court pressure like the Pistons were able to do, but it just wasn't as effective. With that said, Eddie House is no point guard. They need to work on their press break plays. Posey looks a little awkward as the center court release valve, but maybe with a little practice they'll be more smooth with it.
Nice easy win. Bring on Orlando!

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good game- lots of positives- but i am getting steamed at perk. it’s been over 4 years in the nba and he still pounds the ball down low when he receives it, and if he has someone good on him, he gets stuffed. wake up perk get the wood out of your hands and your brain. keep the ball high and get it off.

by nazzbo on Dec 21, 2007 11:01 PM EST reply actions

Well, as usual I saw the keys to the game a bit differently.

1. Nice to see Pierce recover with a good all around game.
2. So, Luol Deng is the player Paxson refused to give up to get Kobe? Oh dear.
3. Whatever happened to Hinrich? I’ve nver seen him play so passively.
4. Ben Gordon is a an overrated chucker. The Bulls are doomed so long as he remains in the starting lineup.
5. Big Baby played outstanding defense in the second half. Not just good, outstanding.
6. Aaron Gray knows how to play. I thought he looked like another BWS in his senior year at Pitt, but tonight he really showed me something.
7. Both James Posey and Tony Allen were better than any of Chicago’s starters.
8. The real story of the game was the officiating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen worse officiating at any level. The only thing you can says is that both teams were victimized equally by the ridiculous calls.

by Brickowski on Dec 21, 2007 11:13 PM EST reply actions

Kirk Hinrich might be the most overrated player in the history of the NBA. The fact that he was one of the players chosen to represent the US is a reflection of just how terrible a judge of talent coach K really is.

by ucn33 on Dec 21, 2007 11:25 PM EST reply actions

I think we’re all being a little hard on the young guys from the Bulls.

They’re all having bad years and at the same time….how often does that crap happen?

Like never.

The trade rumors had definitely put a black cloud over their franchise from the start of the season and if they don’t actually trade now then they’ll never recover.

by TheReaLPuba on Dec 21, 2007 11:33 PM EST reply actions

But they’re not that young anymore. And they’re just not that good.

In other news, the Pistons were absolutely right in not upping their offer on Ben Wallace. What a horrendous contract that’s turned out to be.

by ucn33 on Dec 22, 2007 12:02 AM EST reply actions

Maybe the Bulls are just too young and even in talent. No one’s so clearly better that he seems to command leadership. Detroit is similarly even in talent, but their guys are much more experienced, and able to function by consensus.

On the ESPN telecast, Hubie Brown was talking about the importance of having a team’s two best players being coachable and putting out in practice. When that happens, “the other guys fall in line.” So perhaps it’s chaotic when it’s uncertain who are the two best players, and different guys have different views on the subject.

by no kidding on Dec 22, 2007 1:15 AM EST reply actions

Did you catch SVG slamming his Orlando team for being soft tonight:

“We’re absolutely frightened of contact — frightened,” Van Gundy said. “We won’t put our body in front of anybody driving the ball to the basket. We don’t screen anybody, we won’t block anybody out. It’s a soft team, and until they change the results won’t change.”
“I feel bad for our fans,” Van Gundy said. “I would have booed a lot louder than that. … And I hope they will, if they put out the same effort the next time we’re here.”

Magic struggling recently. This would be such a simple win if KG just went into the post against Lewis. One thing and this that team falls apart. Please just go into the post for one game. Please! Booz killed them tonight, heck Millsap killed them tonight. Hopefully BBD will take it into the post.

by Who on Dec 22, 2007 1:43 AM EST reply actions

I didn’t watch the Chicago game. I can’t stand blowouts and Chicago never stood a hope.

Such a dull matchup. There’s only one way they can beat us … high screen and rolls from outside the three point line and let Ben/Kirk/Chris go create from there … and they don’t run them. What happened to this team.

Even Luol Deng … I don’t know whether it’s they’re not running the same plays or it’s just the execution but I’m not seeing him get the same looks out of the offense that he got last season. He’s one of the best players in the league at moving without the ball. Where’s the plays for him? How can you not use a weapon like that effectively. All their bigs are good for is setting screens. What’s the problem?

It’s not just when they play us. It’s every freaking game I’ve watched them play this year.

They’re in a horrific place because the team might have tuned Skiles out … yet there isn’t really anyone who’ll do a considerably better job with that unbalanced roster … they can’t make a trade because they value their players too highly and not enough teams want their players (except Luol). Dangerous times for Chicago.

You could see this coming a mile off with Paxson’s decisions (all the trades avoided, Tyrus selection, Ben over Chandler, not taking care of the constant Ben Gordon problems) over the last few years. I just thought they’d get stuck in a bottom seed out East (7/8th playoff seed) when it happened – stuck with nowhere to go. Lottery? Didn’t see that coming.

Haven’t been a fan of Paxson for three years. He had all the options in the world and he turned them all down when he should have been active. This was always coming (but again low playoff team, didn’t expect lottery).

by Who on Dec 22, 2007 1:52 AM EST reply actions