@ CHICAGO BULLS (11-7) @ BOSTON CELTICS (12-9) Game 19, Road Game 9 Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 – 6:00 PM CT TD Garden ESPN / Comcast SportsNet / ESPN 1000 AM / WRTO AM BULLS VS. CELTICS THIS SEASON Dec. 9 @ Boston – Jan. 7 @ Chicago – Jan. 22 @ Boston – BULLS VS. CELTICS ALLTIME RECORD 99-115 BULLS/CELTICS STREAKS BULLS CURRENT STREAK ..... 3 Wins BULLS HOME STREAK .............. 1 Win BULLS ROAD STREAK ............. 3 Wins Game Notes Chicago Bulls (11-7) Home 7-3 Road 4-4 Bulls Preseason Averages: PPG: 98.8 (Opp: 98.3) RPG: 48.3 (Opp: 49.1) APG: 22.8 (Opp: 20.8) SPG: 6.56 (Opp: 7.44) BPG: 6.11 (Opp: 5.78) FG%: .423 (Opp: .414) FT%: .751 (Opp: .706) 3p%: .373 (Opp: .332) Probable Bulls starters Derrick Rose - PG - Jimmy Butler - SG - Tony Snell - SF - Taj Gibson - PF - Pau Gasol - C - Bulls Regular Season Stats Leaders Points: Butler 20.4, Gasol 14.8 Rebounds: Gasol 10.8, Noah 8.5 Assists: Rose 5.9, Noah 3.4 Steals: Butler 1.89, Mirotic 0.83 Blocks: Gasol 2.17, Gibson 0.94 FG%: Portis .538, McDermott .485 FT%: Hinrich .909, Snell .900 3FG%: Hinrich .563, Snell .473 Regular Season Player Highs 2015/2016 Points: Butler 32 Field Goals Made: Rose 12 Field Goals Attempts: Rose 25 Free Throws Made: Butler 12 Free Throws Attempts: Butler 14 3-Point FGM: McDermott 5 3-Point FGA: Mirotic & Mc Dermott 8 Rebounds: Gasol 19 Off. Rebounds: Noah 7 Def. Rebounds: Gasol 17 Assists: Rose 9 Blocks: Gasol 6 Steals: Butler 4 Minutes: Butler 43 Double-Double: Gasol 10 Triple-Double: None Injury report Mike Dunleavy (back) is OUT For a full report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the AthletiCo Injury Report. Boston Celtics (12-9) Home 6-4 Road 6-3 Probable Celtics starters Isaiah Thomas - PG Avery Bradley - SG Jae Crowder - SF Amir Johnson - PF Jared Sullinger - C Injury report Marcus Smart - Out David Lee - Questionable RJ Hunter - Questionable --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season, vs. Charlotte and Phoenix. The Bulls had both their best defensive quarter of the season and their worst on Monday vs. the Suns. In the third quarter of the game, Chicago held Phoenix to a season-low 10 points on 4-for-20 shooting (.200). But in the final frame, the Bulls allowed the Suns to score 42 – an opponent season high for points in a quarter – and shoot 57.7 percent from the field (15-for-26). Also vs. Phoenix on Dec. 7, Chicago posted season highs for points in the paint (52) and opponent total turnovers (19). Pau Gasol has 10 double-doubles this season (including the last four games in a row) which is tied for eighth-most in the NBA. Gasol has also recorded at least three blocks in each of the last four games. It is not only one game away from tying a career-long streak of five such games, but the first time in his career that he’s had a streak of four games that have been double-doubles with 3+ blocks. The longest such streak by any NBA player over the last five seasons is five games (Dwight Howard, twice). The Bulls rank first in the league in rebounds per game with 48.33 and first in defensive boards per game with 38.06.
What happened at noon? Seems like the front office may be doing some meddling. And while I don't dislike the move, I dislike it's timing. It feels reactionary coming after that terrible loss. I hope this isn't GarPax interfering for the worse but I suspect it is.
I would not want to be strangled or smeared 20 games into my first head coaching gig. EDIT: Looks like Gibson is starting. Why is Freddy benching the great Niko and hindering his development? Niko is a trans formative talent! Stretch 4! Stretch 4! I wonder if Dougie will be off the bench too? 20 games in and Dougie and Niko are benched? Gasp! (probably a good idea to showcase Gibson if they are going to trade him)
Youch! Another rough loss. The starting lineup has become a revolving door but nothing seems to work. Another loss. I'm not sure when "Hoiball" is going to kick in. Many were saying last season that this would be a step in the right direction. So far it hasn't been, but there is still time for the Mayor to work his supposed magic.
Among the people who post here, who was expecting Hoiberg to "work his magic?" Remember, that one guy got banned.
Not really directed at anyone in particular. Several people all over the place were clamoring for Hoiberg last season when the Bulls were a whisper away from making it to the NBA Finals. Now that Hoiberg is here, its interesting to see how the expectations have so quickly changed with the same roster. Hoiball is upon us. Many got what they supposedly wanted. Still plenty of time for the rookie coach to learn / get the players to buy in. 20 games is too soon for any real final analysis other than early takes.
Yeah, I think you should be a little more precise if this is aimed at me. I was clamoring for a coaching change, and thought Fred Hoiberg looked like a very solid candidate. That's different than clamoring for Hoiberg to be coach. Yesterday's game felt like a coaching loss to me. I'm still happy with how Fred is allocating minutes. But I don't remember one out-of-timeout call that worked. Every team has scouted the Butler lob by now. That's on Hoiberg, and something he needs to improve upon if the Bulls are going to have any chance. You add up how poorly the Bulls did out of timeouts and how well the Celtics did and I think that's the ballgame.
I wasn't writing towards anyone in particular. There are plusses and minuses to every coach. Many of the complaints that many had last year have been eliminated. Dougie plays now. Mirotic got to start. The coach is in lockstep with the front office. The pace is increased. The starting lineup changes quite a lot now so the rotations are not "set in stone." We'll see how it turns out. Given that Freddie hasn't done this job before I'm pretty sure he's not currently a finished product.
