SB Nation User Blog: Goostafer

Game Preview / Open Game Thread #39: Bulls at Toronto Raptors

Goostafer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:27:59 -0000

[Thanks to Goostafer for today's preview -ed.]

Tonight's game with the Toronto Raptors is probably going to frustrate a lot of us here at BlogABull. Recently Andrea Bargnani has been living up to the hype that got him drafted #1 overall just two years ago. Averaging Almost 20 and 7 in his last 8 games since taking over the Center position when Jermaine O'Neal went down. He is taking some of the pressure off of Chris Bosh. This team reminds me slightly of the Chicago Bulls. Two years ago, when the Bulls won 49 games, the Raptors won 47 and were 1st in the Atlantic Division. Then last year they regressed, as did the Bulls, and finished with a 41-41 record. Much better than Chicago's complete 180 of 33-49. Now this year both teams have a virtually identical record with Chicago having just lost one less game. Probably because the Bulls have played one less game. Both teams have new coaches, even though one has actually coached before and the other is busy making pretend to know what he's doing.

I don't want to turn this preview into a trade talk, but tonight the Bulls might be able to "Showcase" Nocioni and maybe even Kirk and Hughes as there have been rumors of an O'Neal for Noc + Fillers Swap. Maybe they'll play well enough for a trade to happen sooner than later....

While the Bulls welcomed back Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich, they will be without Drew Gooden (groin,ankle). Noah will replace him in the starting lineup and will be joined by Luol Deng after just one game back sending Thabo back to the bench, where he belongs. Now that's a lineup I can get used to.

Rose/Gordon/Deng/Tyrus/Noah.

The Raptors will again be without Jose Calderon and Jermaine O'Neal.

And it's good too see that Vinny is focusing on the good news instead of his sucky performance as a coach.

"It's good to have Kirk and Luol back," said Del Negro, now faced with the task of splitting up playing time between 11 healthy players averaging 15 minutes or more. "Now we have to work on our rotation, our minutes and our practice time and get back on track. ... You hope it will affect the team well, but you don't know.

Idiot.

I don't ask for much. Here are a few things I'm hoping to see in tonight's game:

Effort from everyone on the court wearing a Bulls Jersey, win or lose.

Rose taking it to the line.

Deng playing like he's expected to play.

A strong start AND an strong finish.

Jamario Moon not having a career game.

Will Solomon not having a career game.

Tyrus playing at least 30 mins.

And the obligatory – Less Hughes. Less Gray.

Hopefully Kirk and Deng are healthy enough to help this team get out of the nasty funk they are in at the moment. And I think the Raptors are a good help. Although I have a feeling that Bosh and Bargnani will kill our front court.

Enjoy the game!

Go Bulls!

Bulls GM To Team: 'This Is New Head Coach Vinnie Del Negro; He'll Be Staying With Us For A While'

Goostafer — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:52:33 -0000

Bulls GM To Team: 'This Is New Head Coach Vinnie Del Negro; He'll Be Staying With Us For A While'

This is a bit old, but I just ran into it now.

Rookie Photo Shoot: Derrick Rose

Goostafer — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:25:22 -0000

Rookie Photo Shoot: Derrick Rose

This is on Truehoop, not much else. Looks real cool though.

[UPDATE] Fantasy Basketball 07-08

Goostafer — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:55:39 -0000

As mentioned before I have started a Fantasy Basketball League on Yahoo!. So far we have 10 teams signed up. I think 2 or 4 more would be great, but 10 is good too. This is your last chance to sign up. Send me an email (goostafer@gmail.com) and I will send you an invite. I will Stop taking emails next Wednesday Oct 24th. Ok that's it.
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goostafer@gmail.com

Tyrus Thomas... Slam Dunk Champion?

Goostafer — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:33:27 -0000

[From the Diaries. Mostly in a desire to push down that Bears-related post. ::shakes head:: -Matt]

As it turns out, Tyrus Thomas (not Tyrese Thomas, like Reggie Miller likes to call him) will be participating in the Slam Dunk contest.

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2007 - New York's Nate Robinson will defend his crown in the 2007 Sprite Slam Dunk competition to be held on NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by EA SPORTS, Feb. 17 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Robinson will compete against three first-time entrants - Boston's Gerald Green, who is an alumnus of the NBA Development League, Orlando's Dwight Howard and Chicago's Tyrus Thomas - for this year's title.