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The Boston game just scared me to death...I couldn't even work up any false hope. The best part about it is that it's in our rearview mirror and everything else looks easier.

The Bulls don't figure to win tonight's game, but if we can make Lebron work hard on both ends, can defensive rebound and then run and maybe like make over 40% of our shots for a change, we've got a puncher's chance.

BL_W_UT

(Buy a vowel)

This game will be over from the 10:00 mark of the second quarter

Bulls 99
Cavs 76

I really wish Tyrus was playing. Last year wasn't it him and Deng that stifled Lebron into an 8 for 28 shooting night? It might have just been Deng, but I do remember Tyrus blocking the ever loving **** out of Lebron.

PippenAintEasy wrote:I really wish Tyrus was playing. Last year wasn't it him and Deng that stifled Lebron into an 8 for 28 shooting night? It might have just been Deng, but I do remember Tyrus blocking the ever loving **** out of Lebron.

There was a time in that game where Tyrus just locked down LeBron for about 5 minutes.

^ It seems every game that we have beat the Cavs and it hasnt been many, Tyrus has played a big part of it.

mlitney01 wrote:Vegas has the total points posted at 187 for this game. I cannot see that happening. It'll probably be more like 98-83, Cavs. Neither team has really good 3-point shooting and the defenses will allow for some long possessions and turnovers.

The Cavs were one of the better 3 shooting teams in the NBA last year and really should have only gotten better with Parker being added (instead of Wally Szczerbiak).

dougthonus wrote:

PippenAintEasy wrote:I really wish Tyrus was playing. Last year wasn't it him and Deng that stifled Lebron into an 8 for 28 shooting night? It might have just been Deng, but I do remember Tyrus blocking the ever loving **** out of Lebron.

There was a time in that game where Tyrus just locked down LeBron for about 5 minutes.

lebron he reallies much on his physical gifts to get by people. When tyrus matched his athleticism it seem to frustrate him. For some reason Tyrus can guard lebron, but Paul Pierce is waaay too crafty for him.

I'm expecting Lebron to make deng his bitch and shaq to make our front court took like babies. Cavs win BIG

mlitney01 wrote:Vegas has the total points posted at 187 for this game. I cannot see that happening.

187
n. a homicide

I'm pretty sure that's what Vegas meant.

dougthonus wrote:

PippenAintEasy wrote:I really wish Tyrus was playing. Last year wasn't it him and Deng that stifled Lebron into an 8 for 28 shooting night? It might have just been Deng, but I do remember Tyrus blocking the ever loving **** out of Lebron.

There was a time in that game where Tyrus just locked down LeBron for about 5 minutes.

Ah yes, that was beautiful. What was even more beautiful was the way Lebron seemingly blamed his game entirely on the flu in the post game interview..dismissing the defense completely. So if the Bulls do lose, and Lebron goes off I to blame the flu (Tyrus) and dismiss Lebron completely.

FWIW - Those wondering about why James Johnson isn't playing, I was told today second-hand from a player who worked out for/with the Bulls this summer that James Johnson was habitually late or missed the player practices that happened before training camp, and was late many more times during training camp practices. I don't know if it is the reason (I think it is probably more a shortening of the rotation if anything) but it might be one of the causes.

The player/source is friendly with many of the Bulls, is a Chicago native, and has played in a couple of the Summer Leagues for the Bulls as well as the mini camps.

This is bad match up for us. LeBron will punk Deng, who is one of the only guys on our team playing well right now. The other has to deal with Shaq who's way too strong for Noah in the paint, while offensively, Noah isn't equipped to make Shaq pay for not coming out to guard him. We're going to need to use a healthy dose of Brad Miller on Shaq.

Hopefully the Bulls come out strong for Charles. I don't fancy our chances, but the Cavs are still new to each other and are not clicking as they probably will be later on in the year. Our only hope is that the Bulls get pumped for the TNT cameras, bring the energy, and the Cavs have an out of sync night.

It can't be any uglier than the C's game, right?

Cliff Levingston wrote:This is bad match up for us. LeBron will punk Deng, who is one of the only guys on our team playing well right now. The other has to deal with Shaq who's way too strong for Noah in the paint, while offensively, Noah isn't equipped to make Shaq pay for not coming out to guard him. We're going to need to use a healthy dose of Brad Miller on Shaq.

Didn't Noah have recent success against Shaq?

sco wrote:

Cliff Levingston wrote:This is bad match up for us. LeBron will punk Deng, who is one of the only guys on our team playing well right now. The other has to deal with Shaq who's way too strong for Noah in the paint, while offensively, Noah isn't equipped to make Shaq pay for not coming out to guard him. We're going to need to use a healthy dose of Brad Miller on Shaq.

Didn't Noah have recent success against Shaq?

Last time we played Shaq, when he was on the Suns of Phoenix his line was 18/8 on 6-11 shooting. However, he did foul out. I would say that's somewhat successful, that's about what he averaged last season. EDIT. Actually he averaged 15.2 and 9.2 last season... so yeah not too bad.

Magilla_Gorilla wrote:FWIW - Those wondering about why James Johnson isn't playing, I was told today second-hand from a player who worked out for/with the Bulls this summer that James Johnson was habitually late or missed the player practices that happened before training camp, and was late many more times during training camp practices. I don't know if it is the reason (I think it is probably more a shortening of the rotation if anything) but it might be one of the causes.

The player/source is friendly with many of the Bulls, is a Chicago native, and has played in a couple of the Summer Leagues for the Bulls as well as the mini camps.

Well, that would explain it. Whatever. I don't think his game is refined enough for significant minutes, anyway.

Always a fun matchup with you guys, although I cant believe how negative this thread is. Chins up fellas, you're still a playoff team at least in my eyes. No Tyrus tonight? Yea, he's a Cav killer, cant say Im too upset about that. Good luck guys.

Hangtime84 wrote:lebron he reallies much on his physical gifts to get by people. When tyrus matched his athleticism it seem to frustrate him. For some reason Tyrus can guard lebron, but Paul Pierce is waaay too crafty for him.

It's because Pierce is a smart fat guy and Lebron is just a bruising ox

ahh what can i say... good luck?

This is just a bad match-up for us. Shaq and Lebron are way too big for anyone on our roster and Kirk's defense isn't its usual strength against quick guards like Mo and Delonte. Rose can guard neither of those guys either. One thing that can be to our benefit, however, is having Taj at the high post to keep Varejao out of the paint. Shaq's defense is atrocious and we can either draw fouls or beat him to the hoop with our guards and slashers.

Magilla_Gorilla wrote:FWIW - Those wondering about why James Johnson isn't playing, I was told today second-hand from a player who worked out for/with the Bulls this summer that James Johnson was habitually late or missed the player practices that happened before training camp, and was late many more times during training camp practices. I don't know if it is the reason (I think it is probably more a shortening of the rotation if anything) but it might be one of the causes.

The player/source is friendly with many of the Bulls, is a Chicago native, and has played in a couple of the Summer Leagues for the Bulls as well as the mini camps.

If thats true its quite dissapointing.

He had so much promise to not be the player that doesnt care and always slacks as so many thought he wasbefore the draft.

And to have that mindset before your rookie year even begins is so sad.