Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play tonight!!!!!

[engies]

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/gordon_090428.html

"Ben Gordon stated more than once following Sunday’s Game 4 victory that despite his left hamstring strain, he expects to play in Game 5.

On Tuesday morning following shootaround, however, Gordon didn’t sound as optimistic.

While Gordon wouldn’t put a percentage on the chances he’ll play in Boston tonight, he acknowledged the distinct option of not suiting up and labeled himself a game-time decision.

Gordon added that he’s never dealt with anything like this injury before and wasn’t sure what to expect. He attended the team’s Tuesday morning shootaround, but did not participate after having a tough time running and jumping at the level he wanted."

more at the link above

I hoped it would've been a bit better after a days rest. I pray he can some how overcome this and play we need him. If not Hinrich, Rose & co better step up!

 

[RC_Skinny22]

I think Gordon can play, but he will not be a starter. Maybe he will get some minutes.

So who should start for him? I would say Hinrich:

PG Rose
SG Hinrich
SF Salmons
PF Ty. Thomas
C Noah

The thing is that Hinrich should be the backup for Rose. So when Rose is in foul trouble Hinrich can be exhausted because he already played.

This would be a great time to have Deng back.

 

[sephcast]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

This is a perfect storyline.

Ben Gordon will play through the pain and lead the bulls to a shocking win.

OR

Kirk Hinrich will play brilliantly in Gordon's place. Lindsey Hunter will be a great surprise with a couple key three pointers.

 

[??? ??????]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

If Ben Gordon isn't playing, I think you have to slide John Salmons down to shooting guard and start Tim Thomas at small forward.

The game shall forever be known the "Tim Thomas Game", where Tim Thomas leads the Bulls over the Celtics in Boston, followed by Ben Gordon coming back injured to lead the Bulls over the Celtics in game 6.

 

[Newskoolbulls]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

Oh he is playing, they want the Celtics to be unsure.

 

[??? ??????]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

Crap, Gordon tore his hamstring. That's not good. I think he will still play, but Vinny better be coming up with some defensive schemes to cover for Gordon on defense.

 

[Basghetti80]

We need Gordon even in a limited capacity to play tonight. If he does not play at all then you have to start Hinrich so he can match up with Allen and Salmons can stay on Pierce. Then obviously one of Johnson or Tim Thomas must give us 10 minutes or so. Hunter would also play 10 minutes or so.


Rose 38 minutes Hunter 10 minutes
Hinrich 38 minutes Salmons 10 minutes
Salmons 30 minutes Johnson 10 minutes Tyrus 8 minutes
Tyrus 26 minutes Noah 22 minutes
Noah 16 minutes Miller 32 minutes

Not pretty but a huge scoring game from Rose would be necessary in order to pull off a win.

 

[cool007]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

This could get ugly real fast.

Bulls lose by 26.

 

[charity stripe]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

??? ?????? wrote:

Crap, Gordon tore his hamstring. That's not good. I think he will still play, but Vinny better be coming up with some defensive schemes to cover for Gordon on defense.

He tore it? All the reports say that its just a strain.

 

[RPK]

This game could conceivably be what governs BG's big payday.

If the Bulls lose (especially by a large margin) and BG doesn't play, then it will prove that Gordon's scoring is something that the Bulls can't be successful without having.

If the Bulls win, and they prove that a Rose/Hinrich/Salmons has enough scoring to go with their defensive improvements, then it's pretty much a done deal that Gordon will be looking for a new team in the off season.

At the least it should help resolve the never ending battle between the Pro-Hinrich/Anti-Gordon supporters vrs. the Pro-Gordon/Anti-Hinrich movement.

 

[dougthonus]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

??? ?????? wrote:

Crap, Gordon tore his hamstring. That's not good. I think he will still play, but Vinny better be coming up with some defensive schemes to cover for Gordon on defense.

Where does it say Gordon tore his hamstring? Everything I read said it was a hamstring strain.

 

[dougthonus]

RPK wrote:

This game could conceivably be what governs BG's big payday.

If the Bulls lose (especially by a large margin) and BG doesn't play, then it will prove that Gordon's scoring is something that the Bulls can't be successful without having.

If the Bulls win, and they prove that a Rose/Hinrich/Salmons has enough scoring to go with their defensive improvements, then it's pretty much a done deal that Gordon will be looking for a new team in the off season.

At the least it should help govern the never ending battle of the Pro-Hinrich/Anti-Gordon supporters vrs. the Pro-Gordon/Anti-Hinrich movement.

I don't think so that much.

Next season, in theory, we'll have Luol Deng. If Gordon doesn't play tonight then you'll have Lindsay Hunter or Linton Johnson, and hate on Deng as much as you want, but he's a hell of a lot better than Johnson/Hunter.

We're basically playing a seven man rotation, if you take out any one of those seven men it's going to hurt the team an absolute ton.

If Gordon doesn't play, we're going to need Hinrich, Rose, and Salmons to play almost wire to wire to have any kind of chance at all. If any of them have foul trouble then we'll have basically no chance whatsoever, and even if they do play all 45+ minutes we'll still have little chance.

 

[fola]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

??? ?????? wrote:

Vinny better be coming up with some defensive schemes to cover for Gordon on defense.

Heh... but then he wouldnt be the vinny we all know and love.

 

[J-Mart]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

RPK wrote:

This game could conceivably be what governs BG's big payday.

If the Bulls lose (especially by a large margin) and BG doesn't play, then it will prove that Gordon's scoring is something that the Bulls can't be successful without having.

If the Bulls win, and they prove that a Rose/Hinrich/Salmons has enough scoring to go with their defensive improvements, then it's pretty much a done deal that Gordon will be looking for a new team in the off season.

At the least it should help resolve the never ending battle between the Pro-Hinrich/Anti-Gordon supporters vrs. the Pro-Gordon/Anti-Hinrich movement.

I disagree. We are going to decide this whole argument with one game? The only way we will actually get a true answer is if Gordon leaves and we have a whole season to see how we play without him.

 

[??? ??????]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

dougthonus wrote:

??? ?????? wrote:

Crap, Gordon tore his hamstring. That's not good. I think he will still play, but Vinny better be coming up with some defensive schemes to cover for Gordon on defense.

Where does it say Gordon tore his hamstring? Everything I read said it was a hamstring strain.

It's in the sentence after the quoted part.

But now it appears questionable whether Gordon can play in Game 5 because of the hamstring strain—he said doctors told him it was a mild tear—he sustained early in Game 4.

 

[dougthonus]

Re:Just posted at bulls.com: Ben may not play toni

Oh man, I had to click the link.

Crazy!

 

[Fred]

Our "defensive" lineup was out there (minus Gordon) when Allen hit his game-winning 3 in Game 2, and it was out there when he tied it up in Game 4. So I don't expect Ray Allen to wilt like a flower, now that he will be guarded by the greatest perimeter defender in the history of basketball.

With Gordon out, this is Kirk's chance to shine. Last year, he had his season high with Gordon out against the Pacers. Unfortunately, he also shot 5-17 (1-6 from 3-point range) against a 9-36 Timberwolves team a few days later, sans Gordon, and the Bulls lost 83-67. Which Kirk will show up tonight? I'm hoping and praying for our 10 million man to prove his worth.

If he can somehow hold a guy like Ray Allen to 1-11 shooting, that very well could be the greatest defensive performance in the history of basketball.

 

[??? ??????]

Fred wrote:

Our "defensive" lineup was out there (minus Gordon) when Allen hit his game-winning 3 in Game 2, and it was out there when he tied it up in Game 4. So I don't expect Ray Allen to wilt like a flower, now that he will be guarded by the greatest perimeter defender in the history of basketball.

With Gordon out, this is Kirk's chance to shine. Last year, he had his season high with Gordon out against the Pacers. Unfortunately, he also shot 5-17 (1-6 from 3-point range) against a 9-36 Timberwolves team a few days later, sans Gordon, and the Bulls lost 83-67. Which Kirk will show up tonight? I'm hoping and praying for our 10 million man to prove his worth.

If he can somehow hold a guy like Ray Allen to 1-11 shooting, that very well could be the greatest defensive performance in the history of basketball.

Well maybe the second best defensive performance in NBA history, behind Ben Gordon holding Ray Allen to 1-12 shooting in game 1.

 

[Fred]

??? ?????? wrote:

Fred wrote:

If he can somehow hold a guy like Ray Allen to 1-11 shooting, that very well could be the greatest defensive performance in the history of basketball.

Well maybe the second best defensive performance in NBA history, behind Ben Gordon holding Ray Allen to 1-12 shooting in game 1.

Alley-Oop!

I get the assist on that one Andrew.

 

[dougthonus]

Fred wrote:

Our "defensive" lineup was out there (minus Gordon) when Allen hit his game-winning 3 in Game 2, and it was out there when he tied it up in Game 4. So I don't expect Ray Allen to wilt like a flower, now that he will be guarded by the greatest perimeter defender in the history of basketball.

No, but the Bulls will probably lose by 80 without Ben "2x as good as Jordan" Gordon on the floor.

See how hyperbole lorks both ways?

With Gordon out, this is Kirk's chance to shine. Last year, he had his season high with Gordon out against the Pacers. Unfortunately, he also shot 5-17 (1-6 from 3-point range) against a 9-36 Timberwolves team a few days later, sans Gordon, and the Bulls lost 83-67. Which Kirk will show up tonight? I'm hoping and praying for our 10 million man to prove his worth.

If he can somehow hold a guy like Ray Allen to 1-11 shooting, that very well could be the greatest defensive performance in the history of basketball.

Kirk definitely needs to step up and have a big game if Gordon is limited/out, but we're likely screwed either way. We're running with a 7 man rotation and lost a guy (possibly) who was using 40 of those minutes or so in the series per game. Kirk can play an extra 18 minutes or so and go up to around 40, but it leaves 22 of Gordon's minutes to be replaced by guys like Hunter/Linton Johnson.