 Back End In the Windy City After being justifiably showered with boos last night in a half-empty Wachovia Center, maybe getting away for a game is just what the doctor ordered for this lost Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers team. Maybe this trip to Chicago, as the decided underdog against a team that seems to be lost as well will be the wake-up call we've all been hoping for. Preview after the jump.
The Bulls are playing disturbingly bad offensive basketball, and have been all season long. They're a team of jump shooters whose shots simply aren't falling. John Salmons, coming off a career year, is shooting 30.6% from the floor, 26.2% from three, and he's attempting over 5 threes a game. Kirk Hinrich is even worse from distance at 6/27 (22%). Derrick Rose hasn't hit a three yet this season. Their only reliable offense has Luol Deng's mid-range game, which seems to be back to pre-injury levels. The Bulls have no interior offense outside of Joakim Noah picking up garbage off the offensive glass. Put it this way, the Sixers look like the Magic compared to the Bulls as far as offensive statistics are concerned. One concept the Bulls do seem to have grasped, however, is that defense is an important aspect of playing basketball in the NBA. They realize their offense isn't clicking, so they've dramatically slowed to the pace of games and they've been stifling teams on the defense end. The net result is a 4-4 record, and a pretty interesting matchup of differing coaching styles. So who will win out, the jump-shooting team that can't hit a jumper, or the team that can't spell defense? Your guess is as good as mine, but let's take a look at a couple matchups that could help decide this one. Deng vs. Thad - Deng is the only offensive weapon that's been even mildly productive so far this season. If Thad loses track of him, it won't be threes that he's burying (he's only attempted 4 on the season), but long twos. Still, those will add up. Thad has a quickness advantage on the offensive end, and he's definitely been more determined to go to the hoop over the past two games. If the Sixers can get a wash from these two players, maybe 20 points each way, I think they'll be in good position to win the game. Brand vs. Taj Gibson - A rookie on Elton Brand. This should be the mismatch the Sixers expose, but I doubt they will. Brand played with a mean streak until he was benched for good in the third quarter last night. He needs to come out playing exactly like he was for that stretch last night and punish the rook. On defense, Gibson is not a four who's going to spread the floor. He does his work in and around the paint, which is an added bonus for Brand. The Sixers must win this matchup. AI9 vs. Salmons - I'm not sure if this will be the matchup. Last night, in a pitiful effort to stop the bleeding, Iguodala had to switch onto Eric Maynor to stop the dribble penetration that was killing the Sixers defense. Lou Williams couldn't even come close to handling Eric Maynor's dribble penetration. Jordan is stubborn, so I expect it will take some time before Iguodala is shifted over onto Rose, but Salmons will probably cover Iguodala throughout the game. This isn't as big of a mismatch as most SGs trying to guard Andre, but it's still a mismatch, and one the Sixers need to win if they have any shot. Lou vs. Rose - The only thing I can say about this mismatch when the Bulls have the ball is that Lou has no prayer. Absolutely none. Even if Rose is a bit hobbled, he's going to have his way with Lou. Like I said above, the Sixers only chance of stopping Rose is to put Iguodala on him, which will probably lead to defensive breakdowns elsewhere, but at least the shot clock will wind down before the open shot happens. Speights vs. Brad Miller - This could be the matchup that defines the game. Miller is precisely the type of big who gives the Sixers fits. Not only can he step out on the floor, that's his entire game. He works from the top of the key, is perfectly capable of hitting that jumper and/or finding his teammates for open looks. Defensively, Speights is going to have stay in his jock to take the open jumpers away and make his backdoor passes harder to throw. He's going to have to show and recover quickly when the Bulls put Miller in multiple P&R's (which they will), and most of all, Speights needs to take advantage of Miller's lack of quickness when the Sixers have the ball. In today's inspiring confidence section, here's a tweet from Lou Williams: People tryna (sic) give me advise (sic) about something they have never experienced or ever done at a high level that i do everyday ..#weoffthat Last night Lou complained that people were being mean to him on Twitter. This particular post leaves me a little lost. If people are trying to give him advice about playing defense, then this makes no sense because defense is absolutely not something he has ever experienced, nor done at a high level every day. Maybe people are trying to give him advice about jumping in the air to make a pass. He definitely does that every day. Or maybe the advice was about taking bad threes, he's got experience there too. A win today and the Sixers are back at .500. If they play well and win, then maybe things start to look up, maybe they get over whatever imaginary hump they've been up against all year. A loss...well. I'm not sure how much lower I can get as a fan, but I'm pretty sure the team can go lower. Right now, Elton Brand is probably on the verge of checking out. Andre Iguodala is literally killing himself to make up for the team's deficiencies (check out his defensive rebounding numbers, an SG shouldn't NEED to contribute that much on the defensive glass). This team is like a powdered keg right now, something has to give. Key to the Game: Rose's damage on Lou. If ______________ the Sixers will win: The Sixers grab 75% of their defensive rebounds. This is your game thread. I'll be here throughout, come share my pain. (Thanks to Rob for the photo from last night's game) 
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If you don't hate Joakim Noah already, just wait until this game is over. He's so good. He'll have you swearing in front of the kids after five minutes. Noah is on fire right now.
Yeah, I hate him already. At this point, I'm hoping for a fight in tonight's game. That would at least be a sign of life from someone on the Sixers. Noah seems like the kind of guy that could annoy you into punching him in the mouth.
if jrue holiday gets into this game and isn't spectacular he might as well sock noah in the mouth. he won't be seeing the court for however many games anyway.
Did you see Ty Lawson dunk. Or Maynor toast us for 11 assists. Or.....Oh I give up. Lou can't shoot. The end. He's had 5 years to try and learn to stop shooting line drives. Not going so well. We could have Lawson at or Maynor at 1, Lou et al at 2, Iggy where he belongs, and a combo of thad, brand, speights, smith and dalambert getting the bigs minutes....Stefanski and Jordan look really lousy right now. This WAS NOT a team to be rebuilt.
To be fair, if you gave Jrue 30 minutes with Lou guarding him, he'd abuse Lou as well.
This WAS NOT a team to be rebuilt.
Then you don't draft lawson or maynor either...all rookies, if you ain't rebuilding you trade the pick.
And yes it is a team that needs to be rebuilt, sadly neither Billy King or Stefanski ever saw that...this team continues to be the island of misfit toys...still starting two guys who are bench players, a bench full of guys who shouldn't be in the league on any team that contends, and no defense....
This team is no better or worse than when Ayers or O'brien or Mo or DiLeo coached the team, it just seems like Jordan (right now) is the worst coach since Ayers
"Then you don't draft lawson or maynor either...all rookies, if you ain't rebuilding you trade the pick."
No wait, that's retarded. The only team that routinely trades picks away is the Suns, and look where it got them. (Well, they're playing well now.) Aging core, no infusion of fresh cheap talent. A large part of San An's success is their drafting of quality role players. Denver wasn't rebuilding; should they have traded Lawson? What the guy you replied to means is that we didn't need someone who may take 3 years to come along. Lawson is really ready now. I mean, really ready. He could come in here and start at the point for us easily. Now, Holliday may become a better player, I think that's very possible, but what that guy is saying is that we should be trying to contend right now. I don't actually agree because I think it'll be a couple years before Thad and Speights are quite good enough for us to do that, but I would've taken Lawson too just because he looked like such a sure thing (and currently that looks right), whereas Holliday is more of a high risk high reward guy.
What evidence could you possibly have that Lawson wouldn't be getting the same treatment as Holiday if he was on the Sixers? Conversely, how can you say that Holiday wouldn't be tearing it up if he was seeing minutes with Denver's second unit?
More importantly - who thinks that with 'consistent' minutes that Holliday is going to take 3 years to mature? I don't.
Jrue Holiday will be better than both of those players
I wrote "#fireeddiejordan" on twitter and Lou tweeted me saying that's a dumbass trending topic. i said that might be true but this team is getting killed on D with the same people it has to be on coaching. told him to prove me wrong, D up the bulls and Lou tells me the Sixers don't have to prove anything to me. Not exactly the attitude I was hoping this team would have coming into this game.
A. You aren't the first one to start that trending topic.
B. I find it aggravating that Lou would even respond, don't read the media, don't listen to the fans, that's like pro sports athlete one on one.
it's harder to ignore the media in this generation with everything that's circulating over the internet. this is a reason why it's not that great of an idea for athletes to use media like twitter to interact with fans. when things are going well it's fine but when the going gets tough things can get ugly.
It's easy to ignore, Lou's response just shows his immaturity and need to grow up - both on and off the court.
I've decided to keep watching for as long as U can take it.
but I'm going to ignore the rotations and coaching decisions. Just going to focus on individual play and look to see which players compete or show signs of promise.
Basically going to pretend like I'm a Pittsburgh Pirate fan who wants to try and enjoy a game without being reminded of how hopeless his teams long term situation is.
Maybe that way I can enjoy at least some of the game- because I've not really enjoyed even the wins thus far.
Meant as long as I can take it, but maybe the other way makes sense... doubt many of you can take this team or all of the complaining surrounding it (from myself and others) for much longer :)
I get you. I am hoping that once the Eds go, the young nucleus might be in shape to start making a run. It is all about the progress of the core group for me, here on out. Just a game of Survivor, seeing who is going to be a keeper.
For now: Dala, Thad, Jrue & Speights with Smith as a rotation guy. Carney is a maybe. The rest of them can go. Lou's attitude is aggravating, especially for someone who has not done anything. Since he doesn't have a commitment to playing D, he should become Barbosa II.
You may have made a wise decision in ignoring the rotations and coaching decisions. Because both of those are directly affected by, ironically, individual and not team play, and lack of the will to compete. Of all the wills involved in basketball, that one should be the easiest. It isn't hard at all to compete, really.
I wonder if the lack of compete comes from lack of belief in the coaching staff? Of all the problems the team had under Mo, passion really wasn't one of them. And this is pretty much the same group.
It very well could be, but you are some spoiled brats if you haven't even given yourself a chance to believe what the guy is selling. They couldn't stop singing EJ's praises before fall camp and throughout it. So now that a little adversity has set in they just have tucked their tails and ran?
I don't care if they don't believe in the coaching staff. That is NO excuse to not compete and give your best effort. Absolutely no excuse. You just don't do that if you are any kind of a professional.
You're right that players shouldn't just cash in their chips after 9 games, and I don't think that's happened, yet. But if you wanted to write a "Losing Your Team For Dummies" manual, it would go something like this:
1. Play favorites, despite performance.
2. Throw your team under the bus.
3. Preach about accountability to the press, then only hold certain players accountable for their play.
4. Don't define roles on your roster.
The players should absolutely have more pride than they're showing, but what's changed on this roster from the past two seasons? It's the same team, and these aren't a bunch of whiny, obstinate kids, or at least they weren't under DiLeo and Cheeks. If anything, these are the kind of kids who would've run through a brick wall for each other. Something has happened to this roster between last season and the first 9 games of this year. If it's not on the coach, I'd love another theory on what happened to them.
Exactly. That is some of my feeling as well. I also think that EJ's offense-1st & 2nd approach might not be agreeable with Brand or Dala, given that they are more defensive minded in personality
Since we've already made up our minds about the guy after 10 games then let's look at just one game, last nights':
1. Play favorites, despite performance.
-- I really don't see any favorites with how inconsistent the rotations have been and minutes have been doled out so far. When you change as much as he has, how can there be any favs? Willie G stunk it up last night and he didn't come off the pine in the 2nd half, fan favorite Jrue got his run instead and looked every bit as bad as Willie G. He doesn't have too many options, remember?
2. Throw your team under the bus.
-- I don't see how you throw them under the bus when you told nothing but the naked truth. If your team had gotten run off the floor by an undermanned Utah squad what would you go public and say? In that game, some guys came as close to can be in showing quit. As a coach, you've ripped them in the lockerroom and in practice and in huddles, so what else is left besides to go forward and let the emotions and reality you are wearing on your sleeve come out immediately after probably the worst showiwng of effort and execution you have ever seen while coaching?
3. Preach about accountability to the press, then only hold certain players accountable for their play.
-- Who is not being held accountable? Not one player on this team (maybe Dala) has distinguished themselves as consistent on a nightly basis. Once again, when you look down the bench and see the sad-sack of choices you have to send in a game and the majority of those choices haven't been accountable even to themselves - you have to call someone's name, you know. This seems to be more about personal likes and dislikes of particular players than a true indictment of the coach.
4. Don't define roles on your roster.
-- So you would have set-in-stone rotations and defined roles after only 10 games in your first season with a team? How can the guy define any roles when he is getting piss-poor effort and lackadiasical execution from a collection of low IQ players possessing miniscule amounts of heart?
And I disagree about this bunch not being a whiny, obstinate one. Dala has his questinable quotes from time to time, Sam is the definition of whiny and obstinate, and EB doesn't whine per se but you can read between the lines and see he is not accepting of his possible diminished skills or this new offense. It only takes one apple to upset the cart.
Your repeated mentions of this is the same team continues to increase on the hyperbole meter. You took away the straw that stirred the drink and the glue that held everything together in Andre Miller. You changed coaching staffs and systems on both ends. Your all important lockerroom vets are gone in Theo and Donyell. The names on the back of the jerseys may look the same but those are only individual. They don't constitute a team and the meaning of team. So no, this is far from the same teams of Mo or DiLeo.
Over and under for Rose tonight, 45 pts.They physically beat us up last night, plain and simple;Marreese got thrown around by Boozer, a good learning experience. I may be crazy, but I am feeling better about Elton and he and Jrue, defensively, may get us out of this fiasco by the 2nd half of the year if Jrue keeps hitting shots, that is the only way he gets 20 minutes or more a night for this coach. That is as much optimism as I can muster.
All I ever really cared about this season was development of players - i didn't expect much more - though Jordan is making it harder to follow that since 2:02 is ridiculous
The Grizz signed Tinsley? WTF is going on down there? I guess it could be worse for us..
Intros are over, including a ridiculous animated running of the Bulls through Chicago. Tip coming now, Eddie Jordan inspiring confidence in the team huddle.
There's EB's token play in the post to start the game.
If they continue to use him like this, and he continues to hit those shots, things could be brighter for this team.
Yup, absolutely.
Looking good early, attacking the rim. Lou actually just played a good possession of defense.
2 on Taj Gibson, Miller in the game early. This is a big lineup for the Bulls. Wonder who guards whom on the front line.
11-2 with 9:02 left in the first quarter. Timeout, Bulls.
EB looking good early. 5 points in the first 5 minutes. Jumper is falling. Dalembert is bitching Noah.
Lou should've made the pass to Iguodala on that last drive. Brand made the right play backing rose down, just didn't need to give him the shoulder.
Rose is heating up now.
20-10 w/ 3:19 left in the first. They look better in that they're active, I guess. Rose had a couple of clean drives to the hoop and Brand lost Brad Miller for a wide-open 20-footer. Offense is clicking, the only jumper they've taken was a wide-open three by Thad (that he hit) when Brand worked the high-post then kicked to him.
OK, now they're doubling Brand with Noah, this is when you get Sam out and put Speights in at the five so they're punished if they continue to do that.
Nothing but jumpers now, tie ball game.
The Bulls went on a 12-0 run after Willie was inserted. Iguodala hit a 40-footer at the buzzer to reclaim the lead for the Sixers, 23-22, after one.
The offense died before Willie came in and the defense was starting to suffer as well. Speights came in and suddenly the bulls big men had it pretty easy offensively.
17 points @ 6 minutes - end the qtr with 23 b/c of a heave by Iguodala
Spent the last 6 minutes shooting nothing but bad jumpers. Oh, and turning the ball over.
Sadly I'm watching so I saw it all come apart
Wowzers. Terrific prayer. Brand doesn't look so bad when he gets touches low and minutes.
we'll see Brand for about 3 minutes in the second quarter, then 1 run in the third. Then nothing.
I'm seeing a continuous bad trend with this team....they get lost on their offensive sets, settle for crappy jumpers and then don't get back defensively in time.
I don't see how EJ loves Willie so much. Hinrich has gottne by him twice and he as already taken 1 contested 22 ft jumper
Willie Green should never take a 3. Ever
Green should not play...ever
Speighs can defend neither Miller nor Noah
One-point game, looks like Sam is coming back in. Is Jordan going to extend the starters' minutes tonight?
Speights terrible defense might have something to do with it?
Course he left Speights in and took out Brand...
Brand hadn't rested yet. At least he didn't go small. Way too much of Willie here.
There really are no other options, right?
Sadly, no.
Keep one of either Brand or Sam in at all times. I won't complain about the front court rotation if he does that.
Could. He bit on a pump fake by Noah at 18 feet.
& Miller abuses him every time too...but he put Sam in for Brand...
Bulls pretty cold in the second qtr as well
The Bulls are a horrible offensive team right now. Del Negro should realize his guards can just drive right to the hole, luckily he hasn't yet. Three by Lou, awesome. (No, he didn't make it)
Lou actually drives to the hoop. Something good happens. Shocking, right?
Every time Sam touches the ball on offense, an angel dies
So this game has gone steadily downhill since Jordan put Willie in. 9 minutes later, Willie is still in there, having contributed absolutely nothing. 0/4 from the floor, 0/2 from three. Why hasn't he been yanked yet? If Jrue did that, he'd be glued to the bench for a week.
Willie has to have pictures of someone high up. Has to.
Green has yet to do anything productive in this game.
It's not just the long jumpers. Even at the hoop he misses.
Did everyone just see that replay? Lou got burned, when Rose got into the lane there were 4 Sixers in the paint, with Sam standing right in front of the rim. Why are the other three guys in there? Hinrich wide open, hits the three.
How is Kirk Hinrich not starting for another team? Great defender too, he would be great for us.
I believe it has something to do with a lousy shooting pct?
Free throws require perhaps the most skill for any player.....??
I think that's like 8 travels on the Sixers.
Pretty two-man game with Brand and Iggy.
Has Brand looked any better than in this game? I think Iggy has figured that he is stuck with Brand and has to make the most of whatever is left of him in order to help the team.
Hey this is pretty sad....
bench minutes thus far - 22:56
points - 2 on 1/9 shooting
If Holliday played instead of all those willie minutes, it would have been so much worse
Well I think with Rose and Hinrich in there, Jordan is concerned about Jrue needing personal counseling sessions for the next 5 years.
You're right. He would've swatted Speights putback
41-40 at the half. Starter were +14, bench was -13. If Willie gets off the bench in the second half, Eddie Jordan is officially completely full of shit.
He's the only backup point guard who is available - remember?
Nah, he'll go with Ivey for second half minutes.
Well thank goodness Ivey is on the roster...
I am waiting for the day that Jrue sends Lou back to the pine. The starters don't need another slashing creator, they need a defender who can shoot and make plays
He did get 2 rebounds, way more than he can usually manage.
Jordan will play Willie in the second half because he likes his intensity and toughness *licks braces* he likes what he was"doing" out there *looks away from camera* basically he just thinks he's doing a nice job...
John Marzano once accused Bobby abreu of padding his doubles stats. He could tell this b/c he 'watched' the games.
Jordan seems to coach that way...
Damnit, beat me to the punch.
In Jordan's mind did Willie, "Get after it," or was he "Just a gamer," or was he "solid." In that first half. It's one of those three.
Twice Willie could have made the extra pass for a Kapono corner 3, but I guess he feels more qualified!!!
Well, it looks like this one is too close to trust the rookie with minutes. As opposed to the last game, when the Sixers were getting blown out, so sending Jrue in there would've crushed his confidence.
Than go to an Iggy/Carney backcourt.
Nah, Willie needs to be out there. Need to get the important vets reps in the offense.
Alright, if they're going to win this game, the starters need to come out and build a cushion before Jordan can mess things up with unnecessary Willie minutes.
willie green reminds me of a shitty MLB starting pitcher who a team will sign because he's an "innings eater"
So basically Willie Green equals Adam Eaton?
Eaton at one point was a useful MLB pitcher...so, that's being kind to Willie who has never been useful
And yet at the same time it's sad that another professional athlete is less talented than Adam Eaton.
Excuse me, Mr Jordan, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
This team needs an enema
perhaps one of my favorite movie quotes of all time
Mine is I'm bloody Ibitha but because that's a very personal movie to me
Wouldn't want to get Jrue some run against the Bull's veteran PG. Willie will continue to see minutes..
If they really want some asshole with tunnel vision to come in and jack contested 20 ft jumpers, I normally not doing anything after 5 PM and Ill do it for free
I have to say, the humor in these game threads makes these games much more enjoyable.
Wait - you think I'm trying to be funny? I'm being deadly serious at all times.
Remember when Billy King chose Willie Green instead of John Salmons - see how well that worked out?
Come on, don't let Luol Deng look like Dennis Rodman.
9 points, 5 boards for Brand in the first half.
And we're off.
Lou corner three off a great look from Iguodala.
8-0 run.
By the way, how much different does Brand look when that elbow jumper is falling?
Iguodala's jumper looks much improved this year. What's the stats on his long two's through 10 games Brian?
Very strong. I'll put his hot spot chart in the wrap tonight.
is it just me or is lou williams looking a lot more aggressive on the defensive end?
He did early, then faded. Looks like he's trying to pick it up here in the third.
Seriously, shock collar on Sam would come in VERY handy any time he shoots or dribbles or thinks he is useful offensively
Sam padding the o-reb stats.
Supposed to go @ the bottom
Excuse me, Mr Jordan, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
This team needs an enema
How many offensive rebounds does it take for Sam to make a lay-up?
Dude, Mr Owl can't even answer that question
It's a damn lay-up, it's not like we're asking him to fix a light bulb.
Oh.. erm.. well.. nevermind.
trick question. Sammy can't make layups. I only trust him with dunks.
The movement in this offense is making me dizzy.
Joakim grunts more than a female tennis player
Sixers're making it very easy on the bulls defensively by running crappy set after crappy set
12-1 run for the bulls. Sixers have not made a basket in 5 minutes plus. How they are still in the game is a mystery.
Lots of turnovers and missed free throws and both teams are missing a lot of shots.
Jordan preparing post-game comments right now, "The Bulls are just an excellent defensive team. Nothing you can do about that."
A college team could stop this lot from scoring 100 points, the way they are playing offensively.
that play was beautiful
Timeout at 2:58 to go in the third. Brand done for the night now?
Man, that's just bad coaching when Thad clanks an 19 footer, and Dala gets caught in the lane for a turnover, and Dala misfires badly on a three. Terrible.
And how could he let the guys travel so many times in the first half?
EJ would say.... well, i was keeping everyone 'involved'..... one guy walked, so i figured nothing was wrong with the rest of them joining in...
Humor is subjective
Thad if you want to stop a guy on a fast break...helps to stand in front of him.
Jrue Holiday enters for Lou. Wow.
Who the hell is #11? Did the sixer sign someone new?
Something's wrong w/ my TV. It looks like Jrue is in the game, but that can't be right.
I'm surprised still in the game cause he made a mistake alredy
Is counting to three very hard?
how does an offense predicated on movement generate multiple 3-second violations in a single game?
They don't run the Princeton Offense much...
Crap he just took Elton out for Kapono. I think he's done for the night
Eltons been good & Kapono couldn't guard me
Bulls announcers wondering why the sixesrs offense hasn't really tried to take any advantage of the mismatches...hmmm
OK, Willie was putrid in the first half, Jrue is first guard off the bench in the second. At least that was a good move by Jordan. Credit when it's rarely due.
I expect to see Willie early if not @ the start of the fourth - especially with Rose back in.
Unsixer-related news...sort of..
Miami and Nets are tied with 25 seconds left in the game.
Need Speights to get hot.
Need anyone to get hot...someone
Free throws, turnovers. Ugh.
Kapono's defense. Crappy rebounding
Need more missed free throws
Game. Set. Match.
Down 10.
Shit, looks like EB might be getting more minutes in the next couple weeks. Players limping and grabbing the back of their knee is never good
Who? They cut away on my feed.
Yeah, I wish EJ would show them how to shoot free throws in practice. Retard.
He's too busy not installing any offensive sets.
For Iguodala to be taken seriously by others he has to make his free throws. What's he shooting this season? 65% from the line?
Did Speights get hurt?
No mention on my feed, but Carney & his super socks are in.
Two bulls bench players outscore the entire sixers bench, awesome
You know, I know we're all thinking it. Thank god they fired Mo as it was obvious that all they needed was a real coach
Carney guarding Rose now. Good move, keep Lou off the ball. Don't like the small lineup, though.
at least I can take pleasure in the continued mediocrity of Notre Dame football...
Since the 10 minute mark of the 3rd, this has been a major blowout by the Bulls.
Their production from two bench players (Hinrich and Miller) is outstanding.
Stupid coach. We went in the negative when he brought the rook in. And then you took him out....
Wasn't he suppose to change things?
Friggin' silly rotations.
The only rotational criticism of Jordan tonight is leaving Willie in for so long in the first, and maybe going small here, but the game is over so that's not such a big deal.
Pulling Brand for Kapono wasn't very smart
Yes - the sixers were winning until Holliday was gifted with 4 or 5 minutes of game time...
From Kate Fagan on Twitter:
Speights left court w/ something going on w/ his knee. Looked like he banged it about a minute or two ago.
Hopefully nothing, he was craptastic tonight anyway
They say R knee sprain, out for the game for now.
I know the Bulls are playing small, but when you have a player like EB, when he was playing well, you don't take him out to match up with them. You put his ass in and make the other team match up with you. Am I right?
Nope, Kapono, strong on both ends of floor.
Yeah, but Jordan doesn't put Brand back in games in the second half. It's just his thing.
Being a douchenozzle is his thing?
At least they're going to the hoop now.
Speights with a knee sprain: won't return tonight. not that it matters anymore.
Remember when it was 20-6?
No.
Speights with a knee sprain: won't return tonight. not that it matters anymore.
Brand may as well change into a suit when he comes out in the third quarter.
He yanks Brand out when he's having not-so-good games. Of course he has to take him out when he looks good.
Dalembert has inside position, somehow gets called for the foul for boxing Noah out?
If Sam is intimidated by Joakim - he's a bigger pussy than I thought
I don't know what these guys are talking about, Sam just boxed him out.
get a stop here you have a shot.
Need a three, no sign of Kapono.
Kapono is on a time out
Kapono, Jrue and Elton are probably back in the locker room playing cards. May as well be.
Brezec loves him some spades I'm told
Spades is the king of card games. Probably the best part of being sent to the pokey, I'd gather.
Increasing the lead from 5-6 makes it a 2 possession game...what was it a 5 points?
Heh. So Jordan drew up that play. Sweet.
This offensive-minded coach had a team out there that held their opponent to 63 pts after three quarters. But his troop could only score 59. That's bad shooting (w/o mentioning the sloppy play), not bad coaching.
A coach only has so many options, he has to play bench guys at some point, but we can all see the limited choices he has. Wouldn't you hate to be him and look down the bench and realize you really need to get one of your starters a breather?
He only has 13 remember, and not many of those are held in high regard by even the most prudent of fans. The talent just isn't there, folks..... and that's before you even delve into the effort or cohesion.
I don't care what coach you give this bunch, none of 'em could turn this water into wine.
You're absolutely right. This is not the same group of players that went to the playoffs the past two seasons. This is a group of zombies who suddenly are collectively the worst team in the league.
It sure isn't the same group of players. Because a team is more than your top 5 or 6 or 7.
Theo is not here, Donyell isn't either, no Kyle Korver, no Lou Amundson, no Andre Miller, no Reggie Evans. None of those guys who may have had different levels of contribution to the team. So it's not the same team from the last two years as you say.
And for the life of me I can't understand why the venom is not casted Stefanski's way. He fired the coach who was a family member,.... and rearranged the roster,..... and hired the coach he wanted..... who is critiqued to the nth degree. Where's his bulls-eye?
When I say Fire the Eds, I want a clean sweep. Stefanski's screwed up, because he brought EJ here. They both need to go
Overreaction. It won't be great, but patience, it's still early yet. They will come around, there is no other choice. (the team that is)....
Snider is not going to let either go and still pay them.
That's why they need to stop loafing and apply themselves. Whether it's stop tweeting or watch some game film, trying to be accepting of the new offense and defense, or just flat out ballin' - put the BS aside and gel and execute as a team.
After further review, this team was nothing but a .500 team the last two years when securing those playoff berths - in a not so daunting Eastern conference. I love this team just as much as you all do, but we can't become blinded to the overvaluing of talent of our own players. We all are guilty of it at some point.
This been a team of misfits for some years now, it surely is nothing new. And Ed, not Eddie, contributed greatly and even more to its' demise.
Oh, and Jordan's sick defense allowed the Bulls to score 6 more than their season average. Excellent job.
Rotations, bad offensive sets (do the sixers have any) failure to take advantage of mis matches game after game after game...post game quotes that are downright stupifying...I guess DiLeo is a better coach than Eddie Jordan using your 'logic'?
he has 13 players at his disposal but you don't win games especially with a thin bench playing marginal NBA players like Ivey (he didn't tonight) Jordan has to find his rotation soon. I'd recommend a 9-man rotation with Jrue, Carney, Kapono, and Speights coming in. Especially since we already know he's going to play small-ball.
OK guys, thanks for hanging in there. I don't feel nearly as bad tonight as I did last night. Under the best circumstances, this would've been a tough game. I'll have my wrap later tonight, need to walk the dog and get something to eat.
i can live with this loss. At the very least they showed some fight in them.
EJ - 'well guys we missed 8 free throws tonight and 13 three pointers, but look on the bright side, we only lost by 6.....maybe you guys will help me out next time and not travel with the damn ball so much and just make a wide open shot....geez...'
.......'i'll do my best to coach you better....'
...i would have rather willie's 10:16 of 0-4 and basically shit all of contribution gone to Jrue...