Baron Davis and the Los Angeles Clippers will face a changed Chicago Bulls team from when they met on the 20th of January. Los Angeles won that game by seven, but immediately followed that loss, the Bulls railed off five straight against winning teams. Chicago ended their road trip 5-2, with point guard Derrick Rose taking charge throughout the trip, and earning himself a place in the All-Star game later this month.
Bulls center Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson both were effective on the glass, and each game a new Bull stepped up to help bring home the victory.
Los Angeles might be without center Chris Kaman tonight, who is arguably their best player this season. The Clippers are deep up front, so they can still put a highly competitive front-court on the floor. Marcus Camby, Craig Smith and DeAndre Jordan should all be available. Camby is a rebounding machine, especially against the Bulls. Last year he had 27 rebounds against them in one game, and this year one with 25.
Sixth-year forward Luol Deng should have a strong game seing as L.A doesn't have a strong defensive minded forward who can throw him off his game. The 24-year old has found a nice touch from the outside and is currently in the process of expanding his range. Tonight however, the lane should be open for the man from the Sudan.
The Bulls made history after their five game winning streak. They were the first team in history to win five games in a row on the road against teams with a .500 record or better. A somewhat random record, but still impressive.
While John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich have been playing terrific ball for the Bulls over the last few weeks, both are still expected to be shopped heavily before the trading deadline, which is only 16 days away.
Filed under: Game Threads
Tags: chicago bulls, derrick rose, Joakim Noah, Los Angeles Clippers, Luol Deng, marcus camby, Taj Gibson
Ray Allen to the Bulls for Hinrich, Salmons, and Thomas? is this true?
I would be sad to see Kirk go. He has been our longest tenured bull (been here since 03). I know it helps 2010 but I have always been a Kirk homer. If we deal him we take a short term blow but get a long term shot in the arm. As for the game I think we struggle but pull it out in the end. Camby is a great rebounder but against us he plays like greatest rebounder of all time lol.
if kirk's contract was for less money etc, i would laugh at the idea of trading kirk. With 2010 coming up, kirk's contract might be the only reason to trade him.
what are our chance of coming out with a win in this one? Both noah and taj are still injured. I guess noah is the bigger concern for me. I kind of wish asik wasn't always consistently injured/in europe. Hopefully TT and miller give us something amazing off the bench.
if hinrich shuts down gordon, and rose holds his own against davis/plays defense, i think we might be able to come out with a win?
are either, davis or butler doing well in la?
FEBRUARY:
- 14 total games
- 10 games against teams under .500.
- 6 back-to-backs
It's a tricky month, but if the Bulls go out and HANDLE THEIR BUSINESS and BEAT THE TEAMS THEY SHOULD BEAT, then I see no reason why they can't have another 10 WIN MONTH!!!
RE: Ray Allen trade
Show me where to sign.
Devin Brown better play tonight or Im gonna slap somebody!!!!
I can see the old Bulls coming out to play tonight. Hopefully it doesnt happen though and we pull this one out unlike a week or two ago. Bulls need to stop playing at other teams level.
make it 6 in a row!!!!
WTF!!!
Kaman should be arrested after tonights game, he raped us.
lmao and dougy said he wouldnt want him because he has a.d.d.
our trading pieces are hinrich, noah, deng, tyrus, and salmons. Seeing how they have derozen, hedo, and calderon, i dont think they'd be interested in anyone but noah. It'd be sad to see him go, but it loox like we must. I'd trade noah, if we have a good faith promise from bosh to sign with us, or if bosh signs an extension. Can taj and bosh be on the floor together? if not, we better start looking for another center, or maybe we should keep tyrus????
Mike Dunleavy the Clipper's coach is one of those guys that makes his living feeding off the scraps the also rans of the league leave behind: meaning he beats the teams who are vulnerable and weak. The Bulls overall are not a weak team, but they certainly are at times vulnerable.
Last night Dunleavy showed he watched the games of the Bulls road trip where they aggressively doubled down, and shut teams down with a shot blocking, ball stripping attack. So what does Dunleavy do? Simply coaches his players to Wait for the double down, and then dish to somebody(a cutter on the delay etc.) who will be wide open. And that's exactly what they did. Vinny should have seen this early on, and adjusted to an aggressive man to man. He also should have seen that like the ROY award/announcement game, Rose was in a passive funk after his return as "All-Star" complete with video tribute. I'm not saying I know for sure this is why Rose was so passive and lackluster, but it's a hell of a coincidence.
A good coach would have seen the exploitation of the doubling and the ball denial to Rose on inbounds plays. He would have switched the D, and honestly he would have rightfully chewed D-Rose's ass(for his own good) that he's the leader of this team, work it/ stop letting them deny him the ball, and attack. Run everybody out to the three for isos or extend the pick and roll way out again or double screens whatever it takes.
Simply, Derrick has to attack and play offensively at a high level for this team to win, just as other team's all stars do.
Those two things not adjusting to Dunleavy's scheme, and letting Derrick be passive/denied the ball were killer. You also have to blame Derrick, Noah(I know he is injured but..), and Hinrich all who looked totally disinterested. But saying, "Hey these guys are professionals" and that they should have just come out motivated period is not reality. Even most good players need to get put in the right direction aka ass chewing sometimes. But that only works if the coach has the toughness that demands respect and also has solutions. A good coach will make crtical adjustments and kick someone in the ass, especially the leader when he's letting the team down being denied the ball, bascially dominated.
I like Derrick personally. I think he's a great player now on most nights. I can understand him hitting a road block like last night. But he can't have those kind of severe fall offs any more for an entire game/at some point if he's truly the leader of this team as he should be. I just think games like this where Vinny has no reaction, and sits passively have to still leave big question marks about him as the long term guy to coach this team. I know, I know, it's only one game..
Just another reason why the Bulls need to go after Amare this coming deadline. They are shopping him agressively and the Bulls have all the pieces we need to land him. Expirings,Young Talent and draft picks. Rose cant do it by himself...he needs another star next to him. I like Hinrich, but when everyone isnt playing well he cant help you win a game like a star can. I love Taj also but...face it he isnt no Stoudemire. Once the Bulls make this trade...you got money to go after Joe Johnson this summer to add to Amare,Noah and Rose.
Horrid loss. Our starter were putrid and Deng toyed with us emotionally tonight.
It looks to me like DROSE withdrew from the wrong All-Star game.
True All-Stars don't take games off.
oh please. Rose had an off night, cut him some slack. No one had it tonight.
100 bucks says Mr Happy wants to trade rose for nick young because he didnt play well tonight
lmaoo..you win.. =)
chris bosh and marcus banks for joakim noah,kirk hinrich and jerome james.... sounds really interesting for toronto given that they wanna move bargnani into his natural position and get some defense with hinrich and joakim and also rid themselves of banks' contract and get a expiring in jerome james..
rose & bosh
you talk to much shit on here..forreal stick by ya words..one minute rose is great next he shouldve been traded for curry..just stop postings....please..