Mike C. — Heh, I swear I hadn’t even read your comment when I mentioned that Brad was gassed. But he was. Miller’s been at his best with the Bulls when pulling backup duty. Like I said, in theory I understand Vinny’s desire to go with Brad down the stretch, due to his experience and what not. But considering that, even if the Bulls managed to win this series, they’re unlikely to advance deep into the playoffs, it seems like it would be more worthwhile to get Ty some burn rather than to rely too heavily on a guy who might not (or even probably won’t) be here past next season.

Raleigh St. Clair — Thanks. But I’d hesitate in saying “better”…I’d prefer to think that By The Horns and Blogabull are just two different flavors.

NotaBullsFan — I hear you. It was an atrocious call. That said, there was a lot of game played after that point, and it’s hard to tell how things would have turned out even if that shot would have counted. I was more annoyed at when Ray Allen yanked Miller around for an offensive board but Brad got tagged with the personal. It had the sour smell of some home cookery, but I’m trying to fool myself into believing officiating doesn’t decide games.

It’s a fix.

(Regarding Rondo: My opinion of his swings back and forth a lot, but he’s one heck of a talent. He has almost a Jason Kidd-like talent to pile up points, assists AND rebounds. 7 offensive boards. Damn it.)

margolis — Thanks!

Nate — Nate — I understand what you’re saying about guard rebounding, and I agree to a point. I believe that this happens in part because the Bulls have become a running team and the guards and John Salmons tend to leak out after opponents shoot to begin the transition game. Howwever, that said, Kendrick Perkins and Big Baby combined for 11 offensive rebounds, and quite a few of those were not of the “long rebound” variety. Rondo’s 7 O-boards, on the other hand, are of much greater concern…

As for “If you try to lightly tap it, you reduce your chance of actually making the block,” please see the collected works of Kevin McHale. He was a master of this, proving that it can be done by even by non-super atheltic types.

Felix — 6’3″ with shoes on…only if he has a couple decks of cards in those shoes. Although you don’t have to be bigger than your man to block out effectively. Just ask Dennis Rodman, who was able to control behemoths like Karl Malone and Shaq on the boards.

As for shot-blocking, everyone always says that big guys have to “learn to control their blocks.” If you try to lightly tap it, you reduce your chance of actually making the block. To increase the chance of a block once the ball has left the offensive player’s hand, a defensive player needs to move his arm in an arc really quickly to cover the greatest possible area in the shortest amount of time. If you try to tap by definition your arm has to be moving slowly, and you can’t get the arm up in time before the ball is past. People say Bill Russell was supposedly so good at this, but he was a 6’9″ jumping jack playing against a bunch of 6’1″ white guys who hadn’t even heard of a double pump.