Home Page  
 Home | News | Weather | Programming | Sports | Station Info | Employment | Contact Us | Contests
BullsEye Blog: November 2007 Archives

« October 2007 | Main | December 2007 »

November 30, 2007

Game Notes For Saturday vs. Bobcats

p>


* Charlotte is 3-8 all-time against Chicago, although the Bobcats have split the last six meetings with the Bulls.
* During their current four-game losing skid, the Bobcats are giving up 22.5 points per contest off of turnovers.
* Raymond Felton is averaging 18.0 points and 9.3 assists in his last six games.
* After going just 3-10 to open this season, the Bulls are hoping for a repeat of 2006-07, when they rebounded from a poor month of November (4-9) to go 14-3 in December.
* Chicago is shooting a woeful 38.6% from the field this season. The last team to shoot below 39% in a season was the 1959-60 Minneapolis Lakers (.384).
* In his two games since returning from a lower back injury, Luol Deng is averaging 21.5 points and 9 rebounds.

Copyright 2007 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 5:01 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 27, 2007

Game Notes For Tuesday vs. Hawks

p>


* The Bulls have beaten the Hawks the last 11 times the teams have met. Atlanta’s last win against Chicago was on April 9, 2004 in Chicago.
* Only the SuperSonics (46.3) are allowing more points in the paint per game than the Hawks (45.5) are this year.
* No teams in the league are shooting a lower percentage from three-point range than the Bulls (28.3%) and the Hawks (29.6%) are this season.
* Chicago is averaging a league-low 86.5 pointers per game and it is shooting a league-worst 38.5% from the field.
* Josh Smith is averaging 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks over his last five games against the Bulls.
* Al Horford is leading all rookies this season in rebounding, averaging 9.8 boards per game.
* After missing three games with a sore lower back, Luol Deng returned to Chicago’s lineup on Sunday, scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
* Over his last seven games against the Hawks, Kirk Hinrich is averaging 18.7 points and is shooting 60.0% from three-point range.

Copyright 2007 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 4:37 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 26, 2007

Welcome Home

So the Road trip did not go as planned, as the 1 and 5 record would indicate. When a team is in a slump, winning on the road can be quite the task. There is light at the end of the tunnel, however. The Bulls will play their next three games at the United Center. The first two games they will face Atlanta and Charlotte and maybe they will be just what this struggling Bulls team needs. Last season the Bulls dominated at home behind some of loudest fans in the NBA at the almost always sold out UC.

Red

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:17 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 25, 2007

A Cup of Joe

Posted by WGN Sports at 8:55 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Payback in Toronto??

The "Circus Trip" ends today with a game in Toronto against the Raptors, a team that beat the Bulls by 30 points in the last game at the United Center before this extended road trip began.
Certainly the Bulls would like to respond to the beating they took in that game on November 10th.
Hopefully, Luol Deng returns to the line-up in Toronto. But handling Toronto will not be easy, especially for a team like the Bulls that is struggling with confidence and continuity.
I saw more of the Bulls' team in the 4th quarter of Saturday's game that I know will be there before the season is out.

Posted by WGN Sports at 7:11 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 24, 2007

Disappointment and Encouragement

These 2 teams came into Madison Square Garden on Saturday, both struggling and both looking for a win...and both thought they had a chance to win a game in a bad stretch. The Bulls got down by 13 early and down by 14 early in the 3rd quarter. One difference in this one was that they made a comeback. They trimmed the deficit to 11 by the end of the 3rd and then tied the game several times in the 4th. Some positives in the comeback - Kirk Hinrich finding his shot, Andres Nocioni played well all day and Ben Wallace was tremendous all day with 12 rebounds, a block, 3 steals and 6 points. When the Bulls got transition offense, they did so off Ben Wallace's defense on the other end of the floor.

Posted by WGN Sports at 3:21 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Game Notes For Saturday @ The Garden

* The Knicks won the last time they played the Bulls at Madison Square Garden, but Chicago has won five of the last six meetings overall. * The Bulls have been off since last Tuesday when they lost at Denver. At 2-8, they are off to their worst start since beginning the 2004-05 season by losing nine of their first 10 games. * New York has lost eight straight, tying it with Seattle for the NBA's longest losing streak this season. * Luol Deng has missed the last two games with a sore back. The team’s second-leading scorer at 14.6 points a game, Deng started all 82 games last season and the first eight this season. * Stephon Marbury is shooting 38.2 percent this season. Only once in his career has he failed to shot at least 41.0 percent for a season and that was his rookie season with the Timberwolves.


Copyright 2007 STATS LLC


Posted by WGN Sports at 10:02 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 20, 2007

Game Notes For Tuesday @ Denver

* The Bulls have lost seven of the last eight games they have played in Denver against the Nuggets. * The Nuggets are averaging a league-high 109.0 points per game this year. * Chicago is shooting a league-low 38.8% from the field and a league-low 27.0% from three-point range this season. * Over his last five games against the Bulls, Carmelo Anthony is averaging 31.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and is shooting 47.2% from the field. * Only Chris Paul of the Hornets (3.2) and Ronnie Brewer of the Jazz (2.7) are averaging more steals per game this year than Allen Iverson (2.6) is. * Kirk Hinrich has scored 20+ points against the Nuggets in four of the last five games he has played against them. In these five games Hinrich is averaging 20.2 points and 7.0 assists. * Over his last five games against the Nuggets, Ben Wallace is averaging 10.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks.

Copyright 2007 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 1:05 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 19, 2007

Going to get better

I look at this team and I see basically the same team as last year, besides adding a couple of rookies.
I don't understand why they have started out slow year after year. But as past seasons have shown this team will get better as the season continues. Hopefully this road trip will be when the better begins.

Red Kerr

Posted by WGN Sports at 11:35 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 15, 2007

Game Notes For Wednesday @ Suns

* The Bulls have lost 12 of the last 15 games they have played in Phoenix against the Suns. * Chicago is shooting a league-low 38.1% from the field this season and is averaging just 86.5 points per game, which is the second lowest average in the league this year (Miami Heat, 84.8). * The Bulls are playing for the first time since their 101-71 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. It was Chicago’s first 30+ point loss at home since it lost to the Rockets 119-89 on March 1, 2005. * Phoenix is currently the only team in the league with six different players averaging in double-figures in points (min. 5 games played per player). * The Suns are 6-0 this season when they score at least 100 points and they are 0-2 this year when they score less than 100 points. * Ben Gordon is averaging 35.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and is shooting 54.0% from the field over his last three games against the Suns. * In his last five games against the Bulls, Amare Stoudemire is averaging 23.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and is shooting 54.7% from the field.


Copyright 2007 STATS LLC


Posted by WGN Sports at 1:12 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 12, 2007

The Answer Men

Posted by WGN Sports at 9:58 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 10, 2007

Never Too Early for Big Mo'

You've gotta build some momentum going into the road trip. Doug Collins said on TNT the other night that it can be really hard to get the first win after losing 4 straight to start the season. Winning against Detroit, no matter how pretty it looked or otherwise, is huge.
Following that up to get 2 wins in a row going into the road trip would be a big step. Can they build off of that tight win over Detroit with another superlative effort against a team that won the Atlantic Division a year ago? That's really the test for tonight.

The test continues next week, beginning on the road in Phoenix, where the Bulls did win last season...then the Bulls go to LA for back-to-back games at the Staples Center. The Clippers just won at the United Center this week...and the Lakers will be waiting on Sunday. Then it's off to Denver - who knows what they have - they just got blasted by the Celtics the other night.

A brief break for Thanksgiving, the games at New York and Toronto to finish up, so it's a bear of a schedule, no doubt about it.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:20 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Game Notes For Saturday vs. Raptors

* Chicago has won 15 of the last 17 meetings between these clubs, although they split the season series in 2006-07 (2-2).
* Opposing teams are averaging just 28.0 points per game in the paint against Chicago this season. That is seven points per game below what the Bulls allowed in the paint last season (35.1).
* Bulls’ starting guards Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon continue to struggle with their shots. On the season, their combined field goal percentage is just 34.9% (52-for-149).
* Tyrus Thomas has two double-doubles in the Bulls’ first five games this season. That equals his season total from his rookie campaign.

Copyright 2007 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 11:14 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 9, 2007

The Big Top

Well, the Bulls last home game for a while didn't go so well, but they sort of get a break on their annual, often-dreaded November road trip this year. It's not as long as past seasons, so that's one positive, and while the trip starts off tough with Phoenix, the good news is that they'll get a chance to settle down a bit when they get to Los Angeles, playing back-to-back games at the Staples Center-- Saturday against the Clippers (WGN Superstation at 9:30 CT) and Sunday against the Lakers. Following the game Tuesday night in Denver, the Bulls will get the luxury of coming back home, practicing in Chicago, and then spending Thanksgiving with their families, before heading back out to New York to play the Knicks on Saturday (WGN Noon CT), and crossing the border to Canada for their second meeting of the month with the Raptors Sunday (11 AM CT). Not having to spend the holiday in a hotel is sure to help, at least mentally, especially for some of the younger players on the team.

So, you see, despite playing away from the UC until the game against Atlanta on the 27th, this year's "circus trip" shouldn't be such a circus!

Red

Posted by WGN Sports at 9:52 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Building on Big First Win

Getting that first "W" is always a big one, but when it comes against a team like one of the league's best in the Detroit Pistons, it can really be a sign of good things to come. For really the first time all season, the shots seemed to find their way in Thursday night--especially early-- and it helped build some confidence that the Bulls have seemed to lack up to this point. It didn't surprise me to see the Bulls come out and play a good game against the Pistons, 3-0 coming in. For one, they always seem to "play up to the competition." The United Center was packed, and the Bulls came out and looked like the team everyone expected all along: energetic on both ends, confident, and into every possesion. Coach Skiles' Bulls match-up pretty well against Detroit, and found a way to overcome Rasheed Wallace's 36 points.

Positives: Tyrus Thomas 19 points, 14 rebounds and two big defensive stands against Rasheed Wallace late.

-Newcomer Joe Smith had 13 points and 4 rebs... the Bulls and their opponents are beginning to see how useful Joe Smith can be.

Red

Posted by WGN Sports at 12:58 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 8, 2007

Bulls Get First W

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:48 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 6, 2007

Game Notes For Tuesday vs. Clips

* The Clippers have won six of the last seven games they have played against the Bulls in Chicago.
* The Clippers are starting the season 2-0 for just the seventh time in franchise history. With a win tonight, L.A. will begin the season 3-0 for just the fourth time in franchise history (1975-76, 1985-86, 2005-06).
* The Bulls are starting the season 0-3 for just the seventh time in franchise history. With a loss tonight, Chicago will begin the season 0-4 for just the fifth time in franchise history (1967-68, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2004-05).
* Only the Spurs’ bench (49.7) is averaging more points per game this season than the Clippers’ bench (46.5).
* Only the Wizards (35.4%) are shooting a lower percentage from the field than the Bulls are (37.8%) this season.
* Chris Kaman is averaging 18.0 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks over his first two games of the season.
* Over his last three games against the Clippers, Kirk Hinrich is averaging 25.0 points, 5.7 assists, and is shooting 56.4% from the field.

Copyright 2007 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:58 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 3, 2007

Keep the Captain on the Floor

This is a slow start for the Bulls. In the 2 games, they probably played one decent quarter and that was the 3rd quarter in the opener at New Jersey.
They've gotta put it together. What's really hurt them is, in both games, the point guard, Kirk Hinrich, has gotten into foul trouble and missed a lot of playing time. You have to have Kirk in the line-up. That makes Luol Deng better, it makes Tyrus Thomas better and it makes Ben Gordon better.
I think they've gotta keep him out of foul trouble. The Bulls are notoriously slow starters and maybe they can get it started with a win in Milwaukee.

Red

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:46 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Too Early for Doom and Gloom

The club hasn't been able to get off to good starts in both games thus far. They've been out-scored in both 1st quarters and were down big at halftime in New Jersey and weren't quite able to get over the hump, after trailing in the game against Philadelphia. I wouldn't say long term doom and gloom by any stretch of the imagination, but they've gotta bring a little more to the fore early in the game to set a tone.

The Bulls are always battling uphill - never on top of the hill. What they have to do is come out and play on top of the hill and then go from there.

As for Tyrus Thomas and his nice game last night against Philadelphia, the key for a young player is to string together games like his last night. I think he has a chance to do that this year. His mid-range jumper is much improved. He still is an energy player around the basket. I think he is a player who plays on momentum...if he gets off to a good start, he's going to have a good game. The energy around the basket is still there; if he can add the mid-range jumper and play effectively with his back to the basket, then you've got one heck of a talent.

Wayne

Posted by WGN Sports at 4:18 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 2, 2007

Game Notes For Home Opener Vs. 76ers

* The Nets have won 11 straight at home against the Bulls.
* The Nets’ first round victory of the Wizards in last season’s playoffs was their ninth playoff series win in the last six years, second most in the Eastern Conference over that span behind only Detroit.
* Last season, Jason Kidd joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average a triple-double in a single postseason. Kidd averaged 14.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists in his 12 playoff games.
* Vince Carter’s 25.2 points per game last season was his highest average since his career-high average of 25.7 with the Raptors in 1999-2000.
* The Bulls’ first round victory over the Heat last season was their first playoff series win since winning the NBA Championship in 1998.
* The Bulls were second in the NBA last season with a .388 three-point percentage.
* Luol Deng set career-highs in points (18.8), rebounds (7.1) and shooting percentage (.517) last season.
* Chicago won two of their three games against Philadelphia last season, but have gone just 5-11 in their last 16 home games against the 76ers.
* The Bulls went 31-10 at the United Center last season, which was tied for the third-best home record in the league.
* Luol Deng averaged 23.0 points and shot a blistering 66.7% (30-for-45) from the field in three games against the 76ers last season.
* With two three-point field goals in the season opener, Kirk Hinrich passed Michael Jordan to move into 2nd place on the Bulls’ career list (557). The guard, who has made at least 126 three-pointers in all four of his NBA seasons, needs just 108 more to pass Scottie Pippen (664) and become the franchise’s all-time leader.
* Philadelphia lost its season opener despite outscoring Toronto 17-2 in fast break points. The 76ers averaged 14.0 fast break points per game in 2006-07.
* Kyle Korver continues to be a sniper as the Sixers’ Sixth Man, scoring 20 points in the season-opening loss to Toronto. Korver had 15 20+ point games last season – all of them coming off the bench.
* In seven career starts against the Bulls, Andre Iguodala is averaging 13.4 points per game and hitting just 39.1% of his shots. Like Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, fellow members of the 2004 draft class, Iguodala didn’t sign a contract extension before the Oct. 31st deadline, making all of them restricted free agents next summer.

Copyright 2007 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 3:14 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

November 1, 2007

Restraint of Trade

Posted by WGN Sports at 10:12 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Copyright © 2007 Tribune Interactive
By visiting this site, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.