Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Bobcats 12/05

[CaptainCrunch]

Chicago Bulls (4-11) at Charlotte Bobcats (6-10) 12/05
http://www.neonclocksusa.com/photos/G6213NC-1.jpg at http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/bobcats.jpg

Game time: 7:00 p.m. Bobcats Arena
http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/charlottebob/Bobcatsarena.jpg

Probable Starting Lineups:
PG Kirk Hinrich 10.7 ppg v.s. Raymond Felton 15.0 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/12KirkHinrich.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001ray.jpg
SG Ben Gordon 18.6 ppg v.s. Jason Richardson 16.9 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/7BenGordon.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/jasonrichardson.jpg
SF Tyrus Thomas 6.7 ppg 16.0 v.s. Gerald Wallace 18.4 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/24TyrusThomas.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001gerald.jpg
PF Loul Deng 16.7 ppg v.s. Emeka Okafor 13.1 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/9LoulDeng.jpg v.s. http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001emeka.jpg
C Ben Wallace 4.9 ppg v.s. Jared Dudley 5.4 ppg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/3BenWallace.jpg v.s.http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/dudley.jpg

Chicago Bench: Thabo Sefolosha, Joe Smith, Andres Nocioni, Joakim Noah, Chris Duhon, Aaron Gray, and Adrian Griffin
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/2ThaboSefolosha.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/32JoeSmith.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/5AndresNocioni.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/13JoakimNoah.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/21ChrisDuhon.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/34AaronGray.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/44AdrainGriffin.jpg

Charlotte Bench: Jeff McInnis, Walter Herrmann, Matt Carroll, Jermareo Davidson, Othella Harrington, Derek Anderson, and Primoz Brezec
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001jeff.jpg http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001walt.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001carroll.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/jermareo_davidson.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001harrington.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001derek.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001primoz.jpg

Chicago Head Coach: Scott Skiles
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/ScottSkiles-1.jpg

Charlotte Head Coach: Sam Vincent
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/SamVincent.jpg

Chicago last 5 games:
11/24 @NYK 78-85 L
11/25 @TOR 78-93 L
11/27 ATL 90-78 W
12/01 CHA 111-95 W
12/03 DAL 98-103 L

Charlotte last 5 games:
11/23 @ORL 92-105 L
11/24 BOS 95-96 L
11/27 @MIA 90-110 L
12/01 @CHI 95-111
12/03 @TOR 79-98

Chicago inactive list: JamesOn Curry, Thomas Gardner, and Viktor Khryapa
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/20JamesOnCurry.gifhttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/31ThomasGardner.gifhttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/38ViktorKhryapa.jpg

Charlotte inactive list: Seam May, Adam Morrison, Derek Anderson, and Ryan Hollins
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/001sean.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/0001morrison.jpghttp://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/MullikinUSC/hollins.jpg

[CaptainCrunch]

alright we need a win badly. lets break this losing streak tonight. roll call who all is going? I will be there +1 other

[davcbow]

At least we are playing at home tonight, maybe we can win this one..... :g:

[Dead_Real]

The last few games have been very hard to watch hopefully the Cats have revenge on their mind going into this game tonight because we need a W BAD tonight.

[Muttley]

To all those going, yell your ass off and let them know that the fans want them to not give up. Keep fighting. We can win this. Go Cats!

[ALong13]

Man the ESPN gamecast sucks tonight, one minute we have 36 points, then we go down to 34, then the boxscore has us with 33, then I refresh and we are at 31, and then we are back at 35? So not sure if I can trust it, but if DA's stats are true and he is really 0/4 then he needs to be taken out...

[Dead_Real]

Good first half for us not to many negatives a few missed jumpers from Dudley, J-Rich and Ray are feeling it so far hopefully that will continue after the half, Wallace is active getting rebounds going for steals etc. Also it was good seeing Fabio get some burn off the bench he looked pretty good.

[Dead_Real]

Damn 4 fouls on Crash.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Herrmann is doing pretty well and Primo looks...good.

I feel dirty after saying that last part. :-\

[dvdbumpus]

Do i see a WALTER SHOWING???

Amazing. I'm also seeing some hammer and DA....what's going on here?

[dvdbumpus]

Also, will J-rich please just drive the ball instead of taking these ludicrous 30 footers?

[ALong13]

8 minutes to go and the score is only 66-65? And Wallace has 5 fouls...not good at all...Nice to see JRich, Wallace, and Felts doing pretty good...

[dvdbumpus]

J-rich has 4 fouls....is he gonna come out or stay in?

[dvdbumpus]

Stop shooting 3's crash!!!

Give the ball to Matt and Walter!

Honestly, does he think he's a go to guy for shooting 3's? Is he fucking serious? I've seen 3 three point attempts that were wasted because crash took the shot....and where were our 3 point experts in this?

Stay in the paint, Crash.

[Dead_Real]

wow the Bobcats just gave up the win tonight very disappointing 7th lost.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

We did good when we were rotating players ona regular basis. Then all we did was keep are starters in the whole time...

[ALong13]

Dudley looked very bad tonight, and so did DA...They should have played Jermareo Davidson in some, when Okafor was struggling. Crash needed to take less threes and let Carroll and Herrmann get in on it...overall disappointing makes me rethink about our playoff hopes..

[ziggy]

What in the Hell does Emeka have to do to convince the guards to work the ball inside? Tonight he gets 7 shots while the perimeter guys are out there jacking up off balance threes.

The last quarter of this game was a train wreck.

[davcbow]

It was a good game played pretty well until the 4th quarter. I think we were plain and simply out coached in the 4th quarter. Chaulk it up for experience I guess is all anyone can do. I also noticed that J-Rich cooled off from his 1st half numbers. I think alot of whats going on is the guys all know what our weaknesses are and are over compensating and when things dont work out it gets into their heads and just makes things worse. Having a good big would help tremendously and bring everyone back into their game. I hope management dosent stop looking for a big even if it may require a trade of some sort, if not then we better just take a breathe and wait for next season..... :g:

[MattD]

Sorry Emeka is our only big but he is not worth anything near a max deal, its the unrecorded stats that hurt him the most, he gets a rebound but gets it ripped and theres a jump ball which he loses... hes not in position, a ball wizzes by his head, (a recorded he throws the ball without looking)... he makes to many mistakes and isnt consistant enough to be worth anything close to 10-13 mill. He cannot finish

[ziggy]

I'll take my chances with Emeka taking a shot in the paint versus our other guys jacking up 27 footers 7 out of 7 days a week.

[Wallace15]

We allow 53pts in the first 3 quarters but then allow 38 in the 4th? WOW, how does that happen?

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Good job Vincent, When Herrmann is doing well, take him out. When Carrol is doing well, take him out. When, for once Primo is rebounding and playing D, let's also take him out.

[WarioVsMooChicken]

DAMMIT BOBCAT MANAGEMENT, JUST MAKE ME COACH AND BACK UP C ALREADY! I DONT CARE IF IM 5 FOOT 6 INCHES, I'LL TAKE THEM ALL ON!!! GRRRRRRRR

[ohara831]

Goodness. The streak is at 7, and the next 3 look like sure losses barring a miracle. We are going down like the Titanic. Right now, we have the 8th worst record. After the next 3, likely the 5th. Man, all the promise this season held just a brief 6 weeks ago.

[timang]

DAMMIT BOBCAT MANAGEMENT, JUST MAKE ME COACH AND BACK UP C ALREADY! I DONT CARE IF IM 5 FOOT 6 INCHES, I'LL TAKE THEM ALL ON!!! GRRRRRRRR


easy man. but at this stage any change would surely look good.


and oh btw, we have the longest losing streak in the NBA as of the moment. :banghead:

[davcbow]

I hope we dont end up breaking our record of 13 from the 2nd season.... :banghead:

[dvdbumpus]

We allow 53pts in the first 3 quarters but then allow 38 in the 4th? WOW, how does that happen?


I know! WTF!

[TheBeagle]

Same old, same old. 'Nuff said. :(

[JSS]

Obviously, we need to get the ball more to Emeka in the post. He only had 7 shots I think, which is not enough. Gerald was doing a good job for a little while slashing to the basket and drawing the foul or the and one, but the Bulls started doing a good job of defending the drive in the 4th and he had to pass out to Felton who was shooting horribly. Then any momentum of the third Q was lost when Gerald had to sit with 5 fouls. Herrmann and Carroll should be getting those kick-out shots anyway. I understand that Dudley was trying to shoot through his shooting slump, but it seems like he is 0-8 or so from behind the arc for the entire season and he missed most of his other shots in the game. That is a lot of wasted possessions. He needs to get to the basket or make some good passes as I have seen him do. J-Rich was shooting well in the first half, so it didn't really show, but he needs to stop settling for such long shots, most of which he missed in the 4th Q. They need to run their screens and get more aggressive between the arc and the basket.

I was glad to see Herrmann in the game much more and I love him, but I am starting to see why he has not gotten much playing time. He is a good shooter and an ok rebounder, but he doesn't seem to be much of a defender. His defense is running around crouched wildly waving his arms around, which I guess is supposed to distract the defender into accidentily throwing the ball away or make him stop and laugh long enough for Walter to grab the ball away. Unfortunately, I have not seen it happen yet. He is also good at backdoor cuts to the basket, but that seem to work best in the half court defense that Vincent is trying to get away from.

I hope we get Hollins back soon. He brings some serious energy and aggression in the post.

[dav7z]

OK last game Emeka played just 20 mins . And scored all right in the first half. Last night he had only seven shots and was compleatly for got about in the 4th quarter . He only had one touch a offencive rebound dunk. No were near enough.
Some one tell me why Herrmann gets jrrked out after scoring 4pts 2 boards in about two mins. He was key in extending the lead to ten. Dudley was doing nothing last night any way.
Our coach has a major problem making midgame adjustments.
We taking way to many threes not near enough north and south play. It could be a lack of a big causing a lot of this problem . The defence and offence seemed to flow better with Hollins in the rotation.

[CaptainCrunch]

I went to the game last night and I must say it has to be one of the most disappointing losses I have ever been to (I wasn't at the Celtics game). We have got to do something and stop this losing streak. I guess the injuries to AMMO and May are really starting to catch up to us

[dav7z]

Crunch agreed May and Morrison would be a big help right now.

[ohara831]

I went to the game last night and I must say it has to be one of the most disappointing losses I have ever been to (I wasn't at the Celtics game). We have got to do something and stop this losing streak. I guess the injuries to AMMO and May are really starting to catch up to us
__________________________________________________ ___

I would like to think Ammo would have been a big help, but I did not see enough of him before the injury to know how well his Defense improved.
May, I really do not see back. someone on the Board mentioned they were acquainted with someone who saw the diagnostics on the knee, and said there was literally no cartilage left. He'll never stand the wear and tear of an NBA season again.

[Keetch]

I sit about 6 rows behind Sam. When Okafor put down a slam near the end of the 4th quarter, I yelled out "Remember Him?!" I sure hope he heard me. Okafor was playing against Noah most of the second half for crying out loud.

Thoughts on the game...

We were expecting the Bulls to win the game, but were hoping for a surprise...Chicago has a huge advantage on us in the paint, being so much bigger and deeper with Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Tyrus Thomas, Noah, Nocioni and Luol Deng. That's a tremendous amount of quality depth. We kept saying it was a good thing they didn't know it though, as (except for Nocioni and Deng) they kept playing around the perimeter and mostly missing their shots. We were very thankful that Skiles kept Tyrus Thomas on the bench. I think the guy could have killed us inside. He's pretty much a freak of nature I think.

At halftime, we had an ominous feeling that the Cats would find a way to lose, and it proved true.

I think it started with McInnis in the 3rd Quarter. The offense stalled. Sam was sharp enough to yank him, but unfortunately when Felton came in everything went crazy bad. So Ray gets frustrated; Crash suffers a couple of bad calls and gets frustrated; Emeka doesn't get the ball and gets frustrated; JRich missing his shots and getting frustrated...all we saw in the second half was the development of a loser's mentality to the Bobcats game. It was pretty sorry really.

So last night we decided that this is fundamentally still a lottery team and to reduce our expectations. And to say it one more time, the reason is we have an inexperienced coach who doesn't instill confidence in his team. Maybe he will as the season progresses, or in future seasons; but right now they have a very very long way to go. They'll get their confidence back at times and each of Felton, Rich and Wallace will have some great games; but it will only be fleeting successes for the foreseeable future. Until the coach develops a mentality of confidence and willfulness for the team; there's no real possibility of the playoffs.

Of course; those things come when you plan sound game strategy, have a knack for inspired situational strategies, develop team chemistry and intelligent player rotations; and are backed by a management group that can provide a balanced roster of talented and skilled players.

For the most part, we have a few pieces for sure; but otherwise we're pretty much failing across the board.

I'm ready for Larry Brown.

[ohara831]

Keetch: I appreciate the insight you provided above. You have a keen eye and think things through thoroughly.

You were at the game. Tell me, do you feel we would have been more solid this year if we had taken Noah with he 8th and let him start with Okafor on our front line. Maybe starting Matt Carroll at the SG instead of having traded for J-Rich? Did you see a talent and energy that led you to believe that he could be a avg. PF in the NBA?

[Keetch]

Ohara: That's funny because I said out loud to my friend at the game "I know this is heresy, but right now I'm thinking we could have used that guy." Speaking of Noah of course.

I'm one who actually likes and enjoys Noah's antics and quirkiness, I think he's probably a nice kid. But his game? Hmmm...not sure. I think "average" C/PF is probably saying it right. He's ok, but I would hope to strive higher, and the JRich deal was one I was completely in favor of; so won't renege now. I think JRich needs better chemistry and better management of the offense around him to succeed; and hopefully that will happen in time. I like JRich and hope for his success here; even though its pretty rocky now.

[ohara831]

Thanks for the insight. I am also having to reconsider my whole idea of the Okafor trade to get Phoenix's Atlanta pick. Atlanta is starting to play too well. They will be late Lottery if Lottery at all. The idea I had was to wait till All Star Break to see where we would be and Atlanta. No way we can do such a deal if the Atlanta pick is outside the Top Ten.

[TheBeagle]

So last night we decided that this is fundamentally still a lottery team and to reduce our expectations. And to say it one more time, the reason is we have an inexperienced coach who doesn't instill confidence in his team. Maybe he will as the season progresses, or in future seasons; but right now they have a very very long way to go. They'll get their confidence back at times and each of Felton, Rich and Wallace will have some great games; but it will only be fleeting successes for the foreseeable future. Until the coach develops a mentality of confidence and willfulness for the team; there's no real possibility of the playoffs.

Of course; those things come when you plan sound game strategy, have a knack for inspired situational strategies, develop team chemistry and intelligent player rotations; and are backed by a management group that can provide a balanced roster of talented and skilled players.

For the most part, we have a few pieces for sure; but otherwise we're pretty much failing across the board.

Yeah, Keetch, it's not easy when the reality of the situation hits you in the face, and the finality of it sets in, as it did for you last night. I'm not sure when it hit me; I'd been feeling it for a while, but I can't say it was the Phoenix/Philly debacle; that's just too early to make any kind of real judgement. I think the Wiz game was the first real sign that things were wrong in bobcatsland, and from there it's really spiraled out of control.

You, me, and ohara all have the same perspective on what kind of team is being put together, and how we'll be very very fortunate to match our win total from last season. That said, you're right, we'll have some bright spots along the way, but they won't last as long as the relative gloom that's going on right now; it's just the whole makeup of the team, the disorganization and confusion and lack of cohesion that make it impossible to generate any significant momentum.

I'm calling for a complete overhaul of the team, or as I called it on another thread, Building the Bobcats: Part II. From the first part of this team, we've managed to get 4 players who can be a solid foundation to build on, and act as a bridge to Part 2 of this franchise's progression: GW, Mek, Matt, and Dudley. The rest of the players are, no offense intended, just purely expendable, and should not be in the plans for Part 2.

The verdict is still out on the coach, but I think this year has proved that MJ's frat-party approach to building the front office has been a disaster. It's time for him to decide if he wants to build a winner, or if this is just something he wants to do between fucking tee-times! We deserve more than having a part-time decision maker!!! He needs to check his ego at the door and go out and hire somebody that has documented success in assessing talent, and let them do their job, as opposed to what he's doing with Higgins.

There are no easy solutions, and success is going to take more time then we thought, but I'm okay with that so long as visible, tangible steps are being taken to improve this team for the long-haul: not some idiotic one-year playoff promise!!!