There’s not a lot of data available for a full preview, but I do have some thoughts / questions for the Bulls’ season opener:
1. How long and (more importantly) how well will Derrick Rose play? Remember, he just wants to be the best at his position.
2. Is really Luol Deng ready to go?
3. Will Tim Duncan eat Tyrus Thomas alive?
4. Will the Spurs be gassed after thrashing the Hornets last night and then travelling to Chicago?
5. Will DeJuan Blair (14 points, 11 boards off the bench against the Hornets) make the Bulls regret not drafting him?
6. Has Vinny Del Negro figured out a rotation? Speaking of which…
7. And the starting lineup is…?
8. How badly — if at all — will the Bulls miss Ben Gordon (who had 22 points off the Pistons bench last night).
9. Will Joakim Noah be able to wreck the world in his battle with Matt Bonner. On that subject…
10. Why oh why did the Aaron Gray injury have to rob the world of a potential Bonner versus Gray matchup?
There are two really interesting questions in there.
In regards to number 4, it’ll be interesting to see who Vinny plays of TD. He’ll obviously give him a lot of different looks, but I think primarily it should be Ty on Duncan, and then Noah giving him the occasional looks. The Spurs are very good at the 4 as well with McDyss, so you can’t exactly help off like you used to be able to with Oberto. I watched the entirety of the game against New Orleans, and these guys are very, very good and basically have no weaknesses except being a little older. And the scariest part: Tim Duncan hasn’t had to play that much at all because they get up early and pull him out, so they’ll be nasty come postseason time.
For number 7, not only did he score 22 pts, he did it in 26 minutes. It was a very efficient scoring night with a typical BG7 line: 22 pts and basically nothing else. Another stat to note: his +/- was a stellar +21, meaning he was doing his thing on the defensive end as well.
For number 10, I petition that Aaron Gray get out there on his crutches or whatever and just play HORSE.
See you guys at the game if you’re going.
Mahmoud
Cannot wait for this season, tonight’s game should be a good opening test too. I want to see DeJuan Blair as well, still surprised that dude went til the 2nd. I really wanted Blair here. ='(
Really want to see how the starters fare – Rose, Salmons, Deng, Thomas and Noah. Gotta assume that’s the 5. And Hinrich…dayum, I guess I just am really pumped for the entire team this year. Rookies included.
Yea! It’s on TNT so I can watch it.
Bonner vs. Gray is not even a contest. Bonner would be glued in place, …hypnotized by how BIG, …how SEXY Gray is.
…OK, LLsmokes, there’s your setup; now bring it home!
gassed are u serious? nobody on the spurs played more than 25 minues tops plus our second unit is way better that your starters.
Hey look, Matt! You have gotten so big that even Spurs fans are reading your blog. Congrats!!!
Sursdude even left us with such gems as: “way better”, and “25 minues”. It seems being the fan of such a winning franchise has fostered utter contempt for things such as grammar and punctuation.
Thanks for the post Spursdude. You represent your team well.
Lol… Soursdude…. Bulls are gonna give everything they have for our first game…. Don’t expect a lot of minutes from DRose… But we will manage to get a WIN!!
sorry for the lousy spelling english teachers. If you were real fans of your team you would read what others are saying about the bulls AND it helps when pounding the rock has a link to whoever the spurs are playing. DUMBASS
Dear spursdude,
Are ya gonna come back and take your pounding? Would you like to take the “out” that Matt offered you? You know, the one about the Spurs playing a back-to-back with travel? Or are you going to stick with your teams subs being “way better” than the Bulls. Stupid, just plain stupid.
On a lighter note. Let me be the first to extend my congrats to both Tyrus and Luol for playing very well. I really DO hope you prove all us haters wrong! Also, did anyone else notice that a certain rookie did not get into the game. Did I just miss it? I suppose the game was too close to put Johnson in, but I sure was looking forward to seeing him play a little.
Only 81 more to go! …and g’night spursdude. (Thats Texan for goodnight.) – Brad S.
#10 took the words right out of my mouth. The season doesn’t really start for me til I see Big Sexy on the court.