Random Bulls/Pistons Notes.
Don’t worry, I didn’t track every miss. But I DO talk about the Bulls. Again.
by Russ Bengtson
• I’m cool with the whole retro uniforms thing. Always have been (although I have no idea what year these Pistons unis are from—I’d have to look it up). That said, it’s a little odd that the Bulls are wearing the pinstriped alternates from all the way back in 1996. I mean, guys in tonight’s game were in the League then. Shoulda broken out the screen-printed ’91 joints.
• The Bulls are undersized, scrappy, fundamentally sound and focused on defense and shooting. Shouldn’t their next coach be Norman Dale?
• Just looked, and the Pistons are wearing their ’57-58 home jerseys. No one in tonight’s game was playing then, except for maybe Ben Wallace. This is part of adidas/NBA Heritage Week—nine teams (the others are the Warriors, Lakers, Knicks, Rockets, Celtics, Sixers and Heat) are in throwback gear, as well as jackets that show their championship banners. More than a couple teams (the Rockets, in particular) should go back to the old unis on a full-time basis.
• Jeff Van Gundy doesn’t see Luol Deng as being the best player on a championship-level team, and quite frankly, neither do I. It doesn’t make me feel any better. He would, however, be a perfect SECOND-best player on a championship-level team, which is something, I guess. Here’s what I don’t get about the Bulls (um, not that I haven’t written enough on the subject already): If the goal is to win NOW, which the addition of Wallace certainly implies, why not trade ALL the youngsters? Or at least four of the following six: Noah, Thomas, Sefolosha, Aaron Gray, Demetris Nichols (where did he come from?), JamesOn Curry. Viktor Khyrapa, too. Those are rebuilding guys, and you’re not rebuilding, right? The Bulls are like someone at a poker table who isn’t willing to abandon a would-be straight OR a would-be flush because, hey, BOTH of them look possible. Know what happens then? You wind up with a hand full of nothin’. MAKE UP YOUR MINDS.
• When the Bulls offense is clicking, it looks so good that you can’t help but fall in love with it. You can understand why Pax built the team the way he did, why Skiles runs the offense the way he does, why the players all get along. That said, if they don’t have a true low-post threat by the trade deadline, they’re all a bunch of morons.
• Oh well, at least the Bulls can beat the Pistons. If I had to pick one—and only one—team the Bulls would have success against, the Pistons would be it. So I’ve got that going for me. Which is nice.
• It’s so fun watching opposing teams/fans/announcers get mad at Andres Nocioni (who is one hell of a flopper). Not as much fun as watching Rasheed Wallace, but what is? TNT and ESPN should definitely have dedicated Rasheed-Cams for their Piston broadcasts. And he should ALWAYS be miked up.
30 Responses to “Random Bulls/Pistons Notes.”
Dec.8 at 8:43 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Rasheed miked up would be the most amazing thing to ever come out of the NBA. Seriously, I would pay good money to see/hear what comes out of his mouth through the course of a game. I love these Bulls thoughts, Russ. Keep them coming.
Dec.8 at 8:51 pm
Ken says:
I would kill to have Sheed mic’ed up.
Dec.8 at 8:51 pm
white hot eboy says:
At least they’ve won a few games.
Dec.8 at 8:58 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
not to change the subject, but has anyone else mentioned the poll that was on ESPN, asking what people would like to happen to Boston sports franchises and one of the options was Garnett blowing out his knee. so not cool. I can’t even handle people joking about stuff like that. It has me fired up tonight!
Dec.8 at 8:59 pm
TADOne says:
Being a Pistons fan, I just cannot understand why we can’t beat the Bulls so far this season. It seems like the Bulls always ‘get up’ for us.
Dec.8 at 9:01 pm
TADOne says:
Wow, didn’t see that Holly. ESPN is becoming a caricature of itself.
Dec.8 at 9:03 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
It was intended as a joke about people being frustrated with the success of Boston sports franchises, but it really bothered me. When they mentioned it to KG last night he was shocked and called it very distasteful. By late last night when I re-checked the poll was gone. I just can’t believe it was even approved in the first place.
Dec.8 at 9:14 pm
TADOne says:
Regardless of the ‘joke’ intention, it definitely went to far. Of course, being ESPN, there will be no recourse for them. But I’m sure if someone like Fox Sports did it, ESPN would rip them to no end.
Dec.8 at 9:20 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
ESPN is so big that they can’t see what’s right or wrong anymore. It’s sad. As a side note, words cannot express how happy I am that I didn’t go to the Garden tonight. Even if Reggie Evans did grab 10 rebounds in the first quarter. Oh, and speaking of tasteless, MSG cut away from the moment of silence for Mr. Marbury to get to a Michelob ad. GET THAT MONEY, JIMMY.
Dec.8 at 9:24 pm
TADOne says:
Hey Russ, that is why they are the #1 most profitable franchise. I guess they need to hold on to being #1 in something.
Dec.8 at 9:28 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
If they keep playing like this, Dolan should start selling commercial time during active play.
Dec.8 at 9:41 pm
TADOne says:
LOL @ Russ. How about them Blue Hens, Russ?
Dec.8 at 9:42 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
49-37 Sixers at the half. I repeat, the Knicks have THIRTY-SEVEN points and are down 12 to the SIXERS at HOME at the half.
Dec.8 at 9:42 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
And I haven’t been following Delaware at all. Should I be? I’ll do some looking around now.
Dec.8 at 9:49 pm
TADOne says:
Stefanski already making hiw presence felt. And Russ, I was talking about their football team. They won today and will play Appalachian State for the championship.
Dec.8 at 9:49 pm
TADOne says:
*his
Dec.8 at 9:50 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Oh word. They were a pretty good AA football team even when I was there back in the Stone Age.
Dec.8 at 10:05 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
59-40, Sixers.
Dec.8 at 10:29 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Start of the 4th, Sixers by 21.
Dec.8 at 10:32 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
26.
Dec.8 at 10:34 pm
Tariq says:
If KG did blow out his knee, ESPN would probably blame it on his “checkered past”.
Dec.8 at 11:16 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Sixers win by 28. Hey look, another new low!
Dec.9 at 1:12 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
Minny takes out Phoenix.. Al Jefferson with a big game! Isiah talking at the press conference just makes me sad. I just see defeat and misery wrapped in a cheshire cat smile.
Dec.9 at 2:04 am
Russ Bengtson says:
Holly! Where’s your faith? Isiah says everything’s OK and they just need some time for things to come together. Don’t you believe him?
Dec.9 at 3:36 am
Holly MacKenzie says:
I’m ticked I missed the Mavs game and Josh Howard’s 47 point night as well as Deron’s 41 point effort. Where the heck was my head?!
Dec.9 at 4:42 am
Lieutenant Shinysides says:
big al was destroying the suns, those bitches.
Dec.9 at 12:04 pm
H to the izzo says:
Russ,Demetrius Nichols played for Syracuse,did pretty well,got drafted late,signed with the Knicks,got waived by the Knicks and was signed by the Bulls which I didn’t know about
Dec.9 at 12:41 pm
Jack says:
Nichols got drafted 53 I think by Portland, Knicks traded 2nd rounder for him and took him to summer league and training camp, couldn’t get rid of Jerome James or Malik Rose to keep him on the roster, so cut him. Signed by Cleveland, played 3 games, 14 minutes, scored 2 points and got 1 rebound. Got cut to make way for Varejao and then the Bulls cut Gardner I think to sign him. He’s a shooter who thinks very highly of himself and isn’t much use on defense or anywhere else other than behind the 3 point line. Just what the Bulls needed.
Dec.9 at 3:11 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Um, I knew Demetris Nichols’s life story, thanks, I just didn’t know how he became a Bull. Apparently they signed him Friday, right before the game. Doesn’t make much sense to me, either.
Dec.10 at 1:23 am
Mayor Adam West says:
damn you noids