Official Bulls-vs-Pacers Game 1 Discussion Thread

[Lex L.]

NBA at it's finest. The best players in the big markets are giving every chance imaginable. The fact that DRose shot more free throws (21) then the entire Pacers team (17) is a joke.

It was legit. Rose was aggressive and is one of the best perimeter players in the league finishing in the paint. There should have actually been a couple of flagrants.

 

[Lex L.]

Im a little worried about the Bulls being too tight. I really hope that goes away the next game. Several players were passing up shots that they normally take and make.

 

[zack54attack]

The Pacers aren't going to play as good as they did today, and the Bulls aren't going to play as bad as they did today..

 

[sach1]

too big
too strong
too fast
too good

 

[Uman85]

Im a little worried about the Bulls being too tight. I really hope that goes away the next game. Several players were passing up shots that they normally take and make.

I think you could chalk it up to play-off jitters. Being the 1 seed brings a lot of expectations and pressure with it. I look for them to play a lot looser now that they've got a win under their belt. Especially a comeback win like this one.

 

[Lex L.]

I think you could chalk it up to play-off jitters. Being the 1 seed brings a lot of expectations and pressure with it. I look for them to play a lot looser now that they've got a win under their belt. Especially a comeback win like this one.

I hope you're right. I hope we shoot a little better from 3 and I really hope they dont continue to shoot >50% from 3.

 

[bobferg]

NBA at it's finest. The best players in the big markets are giving every chance imaginable. The fact that DRose shot more free throws (21) then the entire Pacers team (17) is a joke.

"Total FT attempts today with all 4 teams playing equally hard: 71 (Miami/Chicago), 32 (Indy/Philly). That's embarrassing."- Bill Simmons

 

[pinkizdead]

The Pacers aren't going to play as good as they did today, and the Bulls aren't going to play as bad as they did today..

i don't think anyone's worried about the pacers. i'm not. we are worried about the bulls poor performance today. More importantly, we're worried about how the bulls poor performance will translate against playing the magic/hawks.

 

[Lex L.]

i don't think anyone's worried about the pacers. i'm not. we are worried about the bulls poor performance today. More importantly, we're worried about how the bulls poor performance will translate against playing the magic/hawks.

It wasn't all bad. People need to realize that the Pacers are capable of playing well. They killed the Lakers at one point this season. Today we saw their A game and still won. They shot over 50% from 3 while Chicago shot 30% from three.

The good news is that Noah came up big today. It seems like you never have to worry about that guy showing up in the playoffs. I hope playing next to Rose and Noah will rub off on Boozer.

 

[Scoot26]

It wasn't all bad. People need to realize that the Pacers are capable of playing well. They killed the Lakers at one point this season. Today we saw their A game and still won. They shot over 50% from 3 while Chicago shot 30% from three.

The good news is that Noah came up big today. It seems like you never have to worry about that guy showing up in the playoffs. I hope playing next to Rose and Noah will rub off on Boozer.

Boozer to me is the big problem. A termite can play better defense than he does. And that turnover that he allowed Hansborough to get was just pathetic.

 

[Uman85]

Boozer to me is the big problem. A termite can play better defense than he does. And that turnover that he allowed Hansborough to get was just pathetic.

Beyond pathetic. Anytime I see that d-bag Hansbrough running down the court, I want someone to give him a clothesline.

 

[BigP50]

1-0.

15 More Games

 

[zack54attack]

Boozer to me is the big problem. A termite can play better defense than he does. And that turnover that he allowed Hansborough to get was just pathetic.

And he fouled him pretty much after he made the dunk. If your going to foul a guy, make sure he isn't going to dunk it.

 

[Scoot26]

Beyond pathetic. Anytime I see that d-bag Hansbrough running down the court, I want someone to give him a clothesline.

Yes, I have a big hate for Hansborough too. I'm probably more pissed off at the fact he's not the worst player in the NBA right now more so than what he did today. I hated him at UNC, and I still hate him today. I figure many people feel the same way towards Noah though. (I hated Noah in college)

And he fouled him pretty much after he made the dunk. If your going to foul a guy, make sure he isn't going to dunk it.

Yes, that was a terrible decision on his part as well. However, in the moment, you make terrible judgments like that, especially after you just turned the ball over. Boozer wanted to come down court and try to make a play, problem was he should have known he was way too late and had no chance.

 

[Scoot26]

 

[Uman85]

Yes, I have a big hate for Hansborough too. I'm probably more pissed off at the fact he's not the worst player in the NBA right now more so than what he did today. I hated him at UNC, and I still hate him today. I figure many people feel the same way towards Noah though. (I hated Noah in college)



Yes, that was a terrible decision on his part as well. However, in the moment, you make terrible judgments like that, especially after you just turned the ball over. Boozer wanted to come down court and try to make a play, problem was he should have known he was way too late and had no chance.

I hate both in college as well, but Noah being a Bull has alleviated my hatred for him. Can't say the same for Hansbrough. I think I'd hate him even if he were a Bull. Haha

 

[Scoot26]

I hate both in college as well, but Noah being a Bull has alleviated my hatred for him. Can't say the same for Hansbrough. I think I'd hate him even if he were a Bull. Haha

Yeah, I'm sure I only like Noah because he did look like a bust in 2007-08 (And I was beginning to tell people "I told you so"), but then fought his way back in 2008-09 and really brought it in the 1st round series against the Celtics (I think thats where I finally accepted him).

Hansbrough was a guy I was positive Paxson would draft as well...Luckily Bird took him before our pick though that year. I will give him credit for what he's done in Indiana though. I still hate the bastard though.

 

[Lex L.]

rape and ass

It wasn't just a slow first half. it was a slow first 3 and a half quarters. I think part of it was playing kurt thomas significant minutes in the playoffs. he wasn't bad, but we ought to think about playing taj gibson more minutes, so we can run more.
korver, rose, deng and noah are amazing. Brewer and thomas played decently off the bench. Boozer needs to stop hanging out with prince, cause he's in a funk.

This occurred to me as well. It seems like the team was at its best defensively after Boozer was injured by Kwame Brown. They were locking teams down. Taj is just more fluid. He's better at moving his feet and rotating on defense.

 

[Anytime23]

Bulls keep with the slow starts, the Heat will rape em if they play.

Can't keep having mr Rose saving your ass..

Im guessing you didnt watch the Heat game.

 

[Anytime23]

Well i recorded the game and just watched it(stuck at work all day). Man, that game was tough to watch. Ive never been so emotional over a game 1 ever! It was a real ugly win but i honestly dont think the Pacers will play like that again. A loss like that just takes the wind out of a teams sails. They were on such a high. Hansbrough couldnt miss, everyone was draining 3s, they were monsters on the offensive glass. All of the things we did right defensively during the season, we werent doing right today.

Once i saw that Noah and1 on the fastbreak, i knew we were going to win the game. That was just one of those plays that completely kills momentum for the other team and gets the crowd and team alive.

Rose once again late in games showed his clutchness, not only as a scorer but as a facilitator. That Korver 3 had that Jordan to Kerr feel to it. Im still not happy with all of his 3 attempts games after game. What happened to the mid range J? He was money with that shot for like a year and a half. 0-7 from 3 is not going to help us. I say 0-7 because two of them were half court buzzer beater attempts.

Boozer was just plain awful. That foul on Hansbrough late in the game was just plain dumb. He was getting dumped on all game. He has no lift in his step. He just cant put it down anymore. The offensive fouls, the lack of defense and now offensively hes struggling. Im not looking forward to 4 more years of this. I really hope we can move him and someone for Howard(flavor of the month trade hype).

I do love the energy our guys had late in the game. When shots were made it seems like everyone was pumping their fists. Like mentioned, Deng seemed revved up. He needs to play better BTW. My favorite play was probably the 2 Noah blocks to end the game. I loved his reaction when it was all said and done. Brewer went crazy, Deng was fist pumping. I thought it was hilarious that kurt Thomas was holding back Noah. But notice the two players who kept their composure after those blocks? Veteran Kurt Thomas and MVP Derrick Rose.

Happy with a win, not happy with the overall product on the court. Im sure it will get better and that that was a real wake up call for our guys.