Gamethread: 76ers @ Bulls 7pm 04/09 on TNT

[cool007]

vs

Gametime: 7pm CST

TV: TNT

Records:

Philly: 40-37 (LOST 2 in a row)
Chicago: 38-40 (WON 2 in a row)


Probable Starters for Philly:

Probable Starters for Bulls:

Moment(s) to remember vs Philly:

[video type=youtube]uEL3ZkXpl2E[/video]

 

[ryguy24]

Let's see a repeat of that crossover Derrick.

This should be a pretty close game matchup wise, hopefully the homecourt is enough to be a deciding factor. Andre Miller has been tearing it up as of late, so hopefully Derrick will put his defense shoes on and hold him to his averages.

 

[JustinC5]

This is an important game for us - at least if we want to finish up at .500, which would be remarkable. Aside from being crossed over earlier in the year, Andre Miller has killed us this season.

I think the key to this game is not letting the Sixers get confident. Their team is mainly filled with slashers who can get hot and hit a jumper or two. We need to keep them from getting into a rhythm and at least contain Miller.

 

[cool007]

JustinC5 wrote:

This is an important game for us - at least if we want to finish up at .500, which would be remarkable. Aside from being crossed over earlier in the year, Andre Miller has killed us this season.
I think the key to this game is not letting the Sixers get confident. Their team is mainly filled with slashers who can get hot and hit a jumper or two. We need to keep them from getting into a rhythm and at least contain Miller.

I don't agree with that.

Miller has not killed us in any of the games.

He has been shooting like 39% and 33% from 3pt line against us and he had a LOADS of Field goal attemtpts against us.

He did score like 25 against us but on like 24 shots so I wouldn't call that killing us.

I think Iggy getting HOT killed us and us being cold (after a LONG ROAD TRIP and first home game is always tough and we have played pretty bad historically in the first game back after the LONG trip). All those factors killed us - not Miller.

He did have couple of moments where he pump faked and Rose bit on it and Miller got and 1 but other than that, he wasn't all that.

On the flip side:

Iggy is averaging 19ppg on 54% shooting against us.
Young is averagaing 17ppg on 52% shooting against us (thankfully he is out)

 

[cool007]

Edit:

I just looked at the box score and just saw who killed us.

In that loss,

Miller had 26 shots and had 28 points.
Brand had 21/12 game and then 22/14 against us.
Iggy had 25 points on 11-19 shooting.



Also keep in mind, it was in late NOVEMBER, when Noah wasn't playing how he is now. Hinrich was missing, Deng was his pathetic self, Gooden was 0-5 from the field. We also had Suckcioni.

Also, Rose himself is averaging 21ppg 5.7rpg 6apg on 55% Shooting. If anything Rose OWNS Miller.

 

[dougthonus]

Home game = Bulls Win.

Since the trade we've played 24 games. 21 of those games could have been correctly called by giving us a W at home and a L on the road. The only exceptions were Lakers (loss at home), and Wizards and Thunder (wins on the road).

The streak is almost so crazy you'd think it would have to be broken.

 

[cool007]

dougthonus wrote:

Home game = Bulls Win.

I hope so.

One thing I hate it is why the UC crowd is so quiet until 4th qtr when they have jumbotron saying "Make some Noise".

I think crowd needs to be in the playoff mode and go all out and carry this Bulls team. Sometimes players need that boost from crowd to take it to another notch.

I hope they are ready for this next game coz it's a HUGE game if we have any chance to move upto the 6th seed.

 

[dougthonus]

We have no chance to move up to 6th seed really, and even if we could move up to it, it's not advantageous to do so except in some crazy 'woohoo we got the 6th seed there's 2 teams worse than us' kind of way.

 

[TheStig]

dougthonus wrote:

We have no chance to move up to 6th seed really, and even if we could move up to it, it's not advantageous to do so except in some crazy 'woohoo we got the 6th seed there's 2 teams worse than us' kind of way.

I disagree, if we win this game we have a really good chance of taking the sixth seed. Philly's schedule down the stretch has only TOronto as a winnable game and we should hopefully win out or only lose one. I wouldn't be surprised if Philly didn't win any more games this year, look at their remaining schedule.

Thu 09 @ Chicago
Fri 10 vs Cleveland
Sun 12 @ Toronto
Tue 14 vs Boston
Wed 15 @ Cleveland

The sixth seed is for the taking, its just looks hard but how many of those games do you think Philly wins if we beat them?

 

[cool007]

dougthonus wrote:

We have no chance to move up to 6th seed really, and even if we could move up to it, it's not advantageous to do so except in some crazy 'woohoo we got the 6th seed there's 2 teams worse than us' kind of way.

Well, for 2 reasons:

1 - I predicted before the season started that we would be 45 win team (give and take couple of games) and we would be 6th seed team.

2 - Playing vs Orlando would give us better chance at advancing than against Cavs/Celtics.

 

[cool007]

TheStig wrote:

dougthonus wrote:

We have no chance to move up to 6th seed really, and even if we could move up to it, it's not advantageous to do so except in some crazy 'woohoo we got the 6th seed there's 2 teams worse than us' kind of way.

I disagree, if we win this game we have a really good chance of taking the sixth seed. Philly's schedule down the stretch has only TOronto as a winnable game and we should hopefully win out or only lose one. I wouldn't be surprised if Philly didn't win any more games this year, look at their remaining schedule.

Thu 09 @ Chicago
Fri 10 vs Cleveland
Sun 12 @ Toronto
Tue 14 vs Boston
Wed 15 @ Cleveland

The sixth seed is for the taking, its just looks hard but how many of those games do you think Philly wins if we beat them?

Totally agree. 6th is really attainable. I don't see Philly winning against Both cleveland games (assuming cavs are still fighting for the home court throughout) and vs Boston (assuming Boston is still fighting for 2nd seed).

But in anycase, we have to beat Philly tomorrow to have any chance.

 

[dougthonus]

Cleveland may be resting their guys in both games, and Boston may be in their game as well. Cleveland will almost certainly not play their starters heavy minutes in the finale.

Philly's magic number is 2 to wrap up the 6th seed with 9 games to play between us and them total. So Philly has 5 chances to win and we have 4 chances to lose. It's really hard for me to believe that we win out and Philly finishes 1-4.

 

[TheStig]

dougthonus wrote:

Cleveland may be resting their guys in both games, and Boston may be in their game as well. Cleveland will almost certainly not play their starters heavy minutes in the finale.

Philly's magic number is 2 to wrap up the 6th seed with 9 games to play between us and them total. So Philly has 5 chances to win and we have 4 chances to lose. It's really hard for me to believe that we win out and Philly finishes 1-4.

Doubtful, the cavs need to stay ahead of the lakers for overall hca. Pretty much win out since I doubt the lakers will lose any games. I also think the cavs can easily blow out the sixers and still rest their starters. I know its not probable but I really don't see Philly winning another game this year and I am including the playoffs. They have been terrible of late and have a lot of injuries and its not even like they have any shooters that can get hot, just pack the lane against them. Iggy and Andre Miller aren't enough to beat you.

 

[cool007]

Speaking of Zone:

We should go ZONE on this game a WHOLE Lot.

I believe they will be missing Thad. Young so that's a bonus for us. IMO, just control miller/Iggy and you win easily.

 

[??? ??????]

TheStig wrote:

dougthonus wrote:

Cleveland may be resting their guys in both games, and Boston may be in their game as well. Cleveland will almost certainly not play their starters heavy minutes in the finale.

Philly's magic number is 2 to wrap up the 6th seed with 9 games to play between us and them total. So Philly has 5 chances to win and we have 4 chances to lose. It's really hard for me to believe that we win out and Philly finishes 1-4.

Doubtful, the cavs need to stay ahead of the lakers for overall hca. Pretty much win out since I doubt the lakers will lose any games. I also think the cavs can easily blow out the sixers and still rest their starters. I know its not probable but I really don't see Philly winning another game this year and I am including the playoffs. They have been terrible of late and have a lot of injuries and its not even like they have any shooters that can get hot, just pack the lane against them. Iggy and Andre Miller aren't enough to beat you.

Not only will Cleveland be playing for home court advantage, they will also be playing for tying the best home record in the history of the NBA.

 

[dougthonus]

I forgot about overall home court advantage, if they need to win the games for that then they'll play everyone. I guess it gives us a chance, albeit a small one still.

 

[JustinC5]

cool007 wrote:

Edit:

I just looked at the box score and just saw who killed us.

In that loss,

Miller had 26 shots and had 28 points.
Brand had 21/12 game and then 22/14 against us.
Iggy had 25 points on 11-19 shooting.



Also keep in mind, it was in late NOVEMBER, when Noah wasn't playing how he is now. Hinrich was missing, Deng was his pathetic self, Gooden was 0-5 from the field. We also had Suckcioni.

Also, Rose himself is averaging 21ppg 5.7rpg 6apg on 55% Shooting. If anything Rose OWNS Miller.

Sometimes stats only tell half the story.. though I agree that the team is better at this point, if not from a pure talent standpoint, then definitely from operating as a unit instead of 5 guys out there.

 

[Dpauley23]

Does it matter if we make it to 6th as long as we don't play Boston?

 

[cool007]

Dpauley23 wrote:

Does it matter if we make it to 6th as long as we don't play Boston?

Boston without KG or limited KG, I have no problem.

 

[TyrusRose2425]

Bulls 103 76ers 93