BullsEye Blog

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Posted by Diane Yamazaki at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The key to beating the Celtics is to push the ball and get out and run. It's been proven by the Atlanta Hawks that if you have some athleticism and are able to get out in transition and not allow them to set up defensively in their halfcourt game, which they are one of the best if not the best in halfcourt defense, they can be beat. The Bulls tonight will have to get out and run and will have to get at least 20 to 25 points on the fastbreak. Chicago must also limit their turnovers, they can not turn the ball over against this team. The Bulls have been blown out when they turn the ball over against the Celtics. That is all set up by Boston's halfcourt defense because they are able to load up and cut down the driving lanes.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Life on the scorer's table is a big party, hanging out with my partner Neil Funk. I am having the best time since I have been able to do this. He makes it alot of fun, we give each other the business here and there. I think that it adds to the broadcast that the fans know that we have a sense of humor but we are also serious and passionate about the game. I am learning alot. Neil is a seasoned pro. I have learned more from him this year than I had in all of the past. It is like having an old library next to you, like having access to old books from the Revolutionary and Civil wars. It has been blast.

Posted by WGN Sports at 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With Luol out another two weeks guys are going to have to step up. John Salmons needs to keep playing well. Kirk Hinrich is banged up a little bit but he is going to have to continue to play, his presence is needed. The Bulls' will need the bench to elevate it's level of play. Brad Miller has played well, but everybody is going to need to contribute. Not just one or two individuals but the entire team. The defense will need to improve. If they do all of the above then the Bulls should make the playoffs.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brad Miller gives the Bulls some different options. He gives them a legitimate center who can play against other big guys. When we had Drew Gooden, he was a natural power forward who had to play against bigger guys, which put the Bulls at a disadvantage on a lot of nights. Brad Miller gives you a legitimate 5 that can truly guard bigger guys. Also, Brad plays the pick and roll like Gooden did.

You might have given up some quickness but the Bulls gained size.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

John Salmons is a good player...young and athletic. He gives the Bulls great versatility and is a great team guy to build the future around.

Brad Miller is one of the best big-man passers in the game. He gives the Bulls a legitimate center. He'll make Derrick Rose a better player. He has a decent shot from the arc, but you don't want him taking that shot.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Copyright 2009 STATS LLC

Posted by WGN Sports at 2:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tyrus Thomas' play over the last 3 games has raised hopes that the tremendous talent this young man has is beginning to blossom for the Bulls. He has been consistent and more active and is playing at both ends of the floor. He is learning that he doesn't have to shoot to contribute...he had 8 blocks against Minnesota and a double-double against Washington.

Tyrus gets frustrated that the NBA game isn't as easy for him as it was in college, but he understands that being aggressive at both ends of the floor opens up opportunities for him to impact the game in positive ways.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Atlanta Hawks finished strong last season, taking the Boston Celtics to 7 games in the first round of the play-offs. They made the post-season as the 8th seed; the Hawks would be a 4th seed at this point in the season.
Atlanta played the Celtics the toughest of all Boston's play-off opponents last season. And that came as a surprise to many fans of the NBA, but I think the Hawks themselves felt they could actually beat Boston.

This season, the Hawks' 3-point shooting is much better. Their overall team chemistry is better - they're playing as a team. Take Joe Johnson; he's not just scoring anymore. He had his first career triple-double against the Thunder the other night. He is learning that he doesn't need to score to contribute to the total team effort.

Posted by WGN Sports at 5:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's pretty difficult to come to the Palace and not remember some of the great battles that we had with the Pistons when I was playing.
I remember when I was a rookie and the 7-game series we had with Detroit in the play-offs. Both teams played well at home, but we lost John Paxson for game 7 and Scottie Pippen was out most of the game with a headache. We were under-manned...BJ Armstrong and I were rookies, and it was really a baptism by fire in that game. After we lost, Michael Jordan told us all in the locker room, "This will NEVER happen again."

It was a natural progression back then...Detroit battled the Celtics, then finally won. Then we battled Detroit for 2 or 3 years before we won our first championship. It was a great rivalry and those rivalries where the cities are close together are good for the league. Right now, the Bulls are hopefully on their way up, while the Pistons are trying to remain one of the elite teams in the East. I don't know if this rivalry will ever be as intense as it was, but I'd like to see it heat up again.

Posted by WGN Sports at 8:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The next 3 games are big games for the Bulls. I wrote earlier how the Bulls had 8 games against so-called "weaker" opponents and through the first 5 of those 8 games, the Bulls are 2 and 3. If the Bulls can run the table on the next 3, that will put them at 5 and 3 for those games and a 13 and 12 record overall. That's a lot of numbers to digest, but they are important, because if you look at the schedule starting Friday night, the Bulls play Boston, Utah, Detroit, Miami, Atlanta, New Jersey and Orlando before the year ends.

Realistically, I think the Bulls can win 4 of those 7 games, but it will not be easy. They will need to give their best effort in those games and that gets back to the 3 games they will play starting tonight. The Bulls cannot afford another effort like they had in Memphis on Friday night.

So, look for the Bulls to get on a roll in games against New Jersey, Charlotte and the Clippers in the next 5 days.

Posted by WGN Sports at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When the Bulls go on any kind of extended road trip, like this recent Circus Trip, it is a definitely bonding experience. The Bulls have not had a lot of success in recent years on the West Coast, but what I saw on this last trip was that the players have begun to rely on each other and are starting to come together as a team.
The Bulls finished with a 3-4 record, but could have been 5-2 with a couple of stronger finishes in Denver and San Antonio.

Now that they are back home, the Bulls face a favorable schedule with 8 sub-.500 teams coming up. The Bulls could go 8-0, 6-2 or 5-3 and that would be a real confidence-booster as they will face the Boston Celtics later this month.

Posted by WGN Sports at 7:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Aaron Gray is getting the start in Portland tonight and for my money, he is the Bulls' best option as a low post scorer. He has size and strenght and he has good moves around the basket. All he needs is opportunity, and he is getting it tonight, and a coach to commit to him, to get 20-25 minutes a game. So now Aaron has the opportunity and he has to take advantage of it. He has to score, rebound and defend.
It's up to him to show the coaches that he can be the low post scorer the Bulls would like him to be.

Posted by WGN Sports at 9:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

One thing I see improvement in the Bulls' early games is their ability to get out on the fastbreak and get in transition. The Bulls are using their speed to attack opponents better than they did in the pre-season and in the opening week of the regular season.

The Bulls' half-court game is still not where Vinny Del Negro would like it to be, so they are using the fastbreak and their speed to take advantage of opponents.

This will come into play very well on this upcoming "Circus" road trip in almost every game, but especially against the Lakers...and Portland, who plays with a big front line...and in San Antonio. The Spurs do not like to play up-tempo, but they have size and that is trouble for the Bulls.

So, watch the Bulls get out and run, especially early in the game where they want to get off to good starts.

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What the Bulls want to do tonight against LeBron James is to limit his drives to the basket.
They want to make him shoot jump shots. He's shooting 42% from the floor this season, which is the lowest he has shot since his rookie season.

So, if the Bulls can block his drives to the basket, limit his penetration and make him a perimeter shooter, they might be able to keep him from having another monster game against them.

Stacey

Posted by WGN Sports at 6:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's no surprise everyone will be talking about Derrick Rose today after he got the Bulls off to a good start last night.

One person I think will really benefit from Derrick's arrival is Tyrus Thomas. We've seen what Chris Paul has done for Tyson Chandler's game in New Orleans and I think Derrick can do that for Tyrus. Derrick's teammates know that if you hustle and run down the floor, you'll be rewarded with a great feed.

Stacey

Posted by WGN Sports at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)