My crystal balls tell me the Bulls will lose by 5 tomorrow. Hinrich and Nocioni will have big games.

On a side note, I would like to see Skiles install the starting lineup suggested by Sam Smith a couple days ago: Hinrich, Deng, Nocioni, Smith, Wallace. While Deng isn't quick enough to guard most 2s, he's still better defensively than Hinrich is and he will pose a matchup problem for the opposition on offense. Smith has been the Bulls' best big man so far this year and should be a starter to compensate for Wallace's ineptitude. I also agree with the idea that Nocioni's outside shooting ability will open things up more for the rest of the offense. Thoughts?

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That line up may be too slow to match up with Phoenix. I think they should go small. I guess it doesn't really make a difference who starts, but they should go small for the majority of the game.
Wallace/Smith, Nocioni, Deng, Gordon, Hinrich

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

Why is Thomas not finding his way into you guys' lineups? If you want to match the speed of the Suns. Ir might be a good idea to have him in the majority of the game. If he doesn't foul out...

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This would also theoretically allow us to see how the starting lineup would flesh out with Gordon, Thomas and Noah gone if a certain trade popped up. Just put Noc on the bench, play Deng in his spot, put Kobe in the 2guard. It would at least give us a glimpse how 4 of them would all play together.

I agree. Regardless, I have a feeling it could get ugly

I don't think the Bulls can match the Suns' quickness. Hinrich and Gordon have been absolutely awful on the break this year. Thomas is also a poor decision-maker, though he, at least, knows how to finish. The best strategy here might be to slow the game down and implement a bigger and/or more physical lineup that can take advantage of superior size in the half court game. I have always advocated the idea that it's better to force opponents to match up with you rather than trying to match up with them.

In any event, I want to see the lineup change for more than just one game. Skiles should play Deng at the 2 for the entire road trip to see if he can handle it.

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Lineup changes won't matter if they don't shoot better. Even if they shoot better tonight, it probably won't matter vs. the Suns, but there are some winnable games on this trip if they get that % up.

Part of the reason the shooting percentage is down may be that teams guard neither Wallace nor Thomas. Nocioni is a good shooter, needs to be guarded, and thus might free up Hinrich and Gordon for more open looks. Gordon, in particular, has been guarded more closely this season than last season.

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I wouldn't be opposed to exploring the lineup change you suggest. I do think, though, that teams might not focus on Gordon as much if he were coming off the bench. Pitting him against backups instead of starters might help get him going.

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I should add, though, that I prefer a Hinrich-Deng backcourt to a Duhon-Gordon pairing because the former should prove much stronger defensively. Further, I also like the potential for mismatches Deng's relocation to the 2 offers.

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Got a bad feeling about tonight, I'm thinking at least a 15 point beat down.

I think it will be close. They'll have a chance to win it down the stretch if they execute.

I think this will be a big night for Tyrus however. Suns spend so much energy running they don't guard much. They figure they can out score the Bulls. I've got Tyrus for 24 points, 14 boards and 4 blocks. He'll have 4 lob dunks and 2 tip back dunks.

Suns 110, Bulls 105

Jeez. When are they gonna tip this fucker? I put the radio on thinking they started but I guess they have to wait for this 1st TNT game to finish.

Bulls get blown out 110 - 76.

It doesn't matter if Gordon sits or not, because Paxson won't pull the trigger anyway.

By the by, the Celtics are 7-0.

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RFDC thinks I'm retarded.

It's fun to watch the Bulls play a team that doesn't give a shit about defense. Noch and Deng are just slashing to the lane with or without the ball and the Suns don't even move. LOL.

We're trying to play D but we just can't stop them.

Like Doug said. We're getting easy shots. We just can't hit shit.

Noch missed two at the rim. Deng missed one. Kirk and Ben are missing easy jumpers.

Where's Thabo and why is Gardener in there?

Big Ben looks terrible.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I hate when the Bulls let these games drift away. Now down 14.

They're getting shots. They miss them. Then they rush their offense and don't get good shots when they easily can get them. Then stupid turnovers.

By the way, why does Kirk suck this year? He hasn't had one good game all god damn year.

They'll get back in this but it shouldn't have gotton this far away from them.

Hey!!!! Doug Collins hair is no longer yellow. He is finally coloring it a normal looking brown. He looks human again.

Hinrich sucks.

Yeah. Skiles should tell Wallace never to take a fucking shot again in his career. Unless it's a god damn put back right at the rim.

I've never seen a guy take a fade away hook shot. Until Wallace just did. I think that's what it was. It was weird. 1st of it's kind in NBA history.

Hey Ben, if it's a hook you don't need to fade.

I thought Tyrus would be good tonight vs a Suns Defense. But Skiles hasn't given him the minutes. I think they can run some shit for him. He's in now and got an easy dunk.

Back door cuts, lobs off penetration, dunks when they over commit. I think it's there cuz they can't play D.

Bulls clawed back in like I thought. But they shouldn't have let this fucker get to 14.

Gordon and Kirk are just horrible at the end of games. They have to turn the ball over more then any other back court in the league in the final 5 minutes.

1:39 Bulls down 106-100, Bulls rbing it down Kirk goes about 2 feet inside of the free throw line extended put up a terrible shot that air balls as he tries to jump into the player

Kirk is looking the best surburban player i have ever seen

I would have traded him last year. I have never seen anything special in his game

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

I think Gordon has been bad at the end of games because opposing teams have figured out the catch-and-shoot plays the Bulls want to run for him in those situations. Opponents are forcing Gordon to shoot off of the dribble (usually with a hand in his face) or to penetrate, and he's not very good at either of those things. In terms of ballhandling, he actually looks like he's regressed from where he finished the season last year.

As for Hinrich, he's never been a great finisher. He's kind of like a white Ron Mercer--he will get penetration, but he'll frequently miss the layup, finger roll, etc. So if his jump shot is off--and it has been for just about the whole season--he's useless.

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Yes, he is a terrible defender and he has taken a step back. The Bulls need to trade either him, Hinrich or both him and Hinrich. How can you have a starting backcourt in which neither of your guards is at least an above average penetrator? Gordon is surprisingly clumsy and careless with the ball, and Hinrich just doesn't have the quickness to consistently scare anyone off the dribble.

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Bulls shoot 42% last night, and the news updates seem to think that's encouraging.

That's horrible.

The Suns are not known for their defense, and the Bulls continue to struggle from the field.

This weekend will be big. They have 2 winnable games, we'll see if this team can start to dig out of this hole.

You're absolutely right. The Bulls missed tons of WIDE open looks last night.

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