Chisoxfn

Mirra was one of the originals. Loved watching him tear up the xgames. Can't believe he is only 41. Wonder what drove him to commit suicide.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 10:41 AM) I could be 100% wrong, but I thought I heard that he couldn't get himself worked up due to the pacemaker. So him seeming lax is due to to that. I agree, it's frustrating to watch, but I'd rather him not pass out on the sideline either. That is fair enough and I totally agree. That said, I'm just amazed at how little he seems to speak while on the sidelines (maybe because the only way you can is to shout given how loud it is in various arenas). Oh how I miss Thibs horse voice throughout the telecasts, haha.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 4, 2016 -> 08:19 AM) Thought he had a chance to take a timeout or two to help Rose get some rest in the last few minutes of that game. The Bulls announcers were discussing how gassed Rose was. I will say that the offense looked a lot more fluid and continues to look more "fluid" when one of Rose / Butler is out. They have to figure out a way to get those two to make each other and everyone else on the court better. Bulls are having there worst stretch while Rose is playing much better ball. It makes sense as they haven't had a ton of minutes but I haven't seen much out of Hoiberg to give me faith that he can help tweak the system (especially since they really aren't running anything) that will maximize everyone's strengths. Hopefully Dunleavy helps things out (obviously he won't make an immediate impact given how much time he's missed).

I saw a lot of the same from the Bulls though. Just terrible decision making and practically blowing it again. All the while I look and there is good ole Hoiberg not doing a thing. I missed my telecasts where all I could hear was Thibs yelling at the guys and making sure they knew where they needed to be, etc. Hoiberg seems to be attempting to be Phil, but Phil had a plethora of rings and wasn't that way in his career when he established himself. And by the way, I'm not saying Hoiberg is a bad coach cause he isn't shouting, but jesus, he barely looks like he's ever even talking to anyone. Literally he looks like he doesn't coach. I know that can't be the case but with some of these lapses we've seen from a veteran team, it certainly makes me feel that he has significant issues that he's going to have to figure out. Was he this lax at ISU (I know he is never going to be a shouter and that is fine, but was he so quiet from the perspective that he never talked on the sidelines)?

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 3, 2016 -> 03:17 PM) I was probably 9-10 when it happened. Its kind of fun to re-live as an adult (fun is an odd choice, but you know what I mean). I remember when it happened, I was so pissed that the Simpsons or whatever it was I wanted to watch after school was interrupted by that stupid bronco chase and all of the coverage of the court case.

Tanking in MLB isn't like tanking in the NBA. One player doesn't impact a team like one player does in the NBA. I don't even see why MLB needs to bother this. Too many examples of awful teams who have been awful for forever or who it took 30 years of tanking to become relevant again (and I wouldn't argue they were strategically tanking).

If you can get 5K wiped off (and you are certain of it...I will bold this because you need to be clear you can get that forgiveness without any issue). Calculate whatever your interest cost will be on that amount (I presume much smaller) and make sure 5 years from now you have exactly 5K to get that reduction (I'd also check but I presume that 5K reduction will be taxable unless there is some excemption related to forgiveness of student debt). Oh and just put the extra money into a downpayment for a house account or some other savings account (obviously don't go blow it). But if you truly can get the 5K reduction, my theory is you should take it (it is there for a reason). This is nothing different than a millionaire or a billionaire would do when it came to tax planning strategies, etc. By the way, touche, in general sounds you have been savy with your funds (no debt and working aggressively to pay this down...only thing being, if you can get 5K for free, why not take it).

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 01:28 PM) Sigh, there's no way my wife takes that chance. No sex for 4 months, yay.... Good thing the last four months prepared you, haha.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 10:51 AM) Drops the f***ing mic. Jose Quintana?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 10:42 AM) Between that being Cowley, and the Sun Times, I am not even going to waste a click. Cowley has been more accurate about the Bulls than any other reporter covering them. To be frank, I believed 100% of what he wrote in that article.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 05:59 AM) Trump losing Iowa is news, but to me the fact that Rubio is in a near-tie with him for 2nd is the biggest news here. And allows the GOP to continue having some chance of winning the general. Also... 100%, my man. I am fully on board with Rubio. Really can get excited about him and get behind him. Trump had a big win with his concession speech tonight as well (extremely classy...downright surprised and impressed me). Cruz looked pathetic as the winner. Please let Cruz's momentum slip and let some of the other repubs pull out so Rubio can ideally get a state primary prior to super tuesday (he doesn't just need to keep building momentum leading up to super tuesday, he also to me, needs to get one of the states). And it won't be New Hampshire (I don't think...would seem Trump has that on lockdown and I thought I read where Kasich and Christie were about tied for 2nd.

QUOTE (ozzfest @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 09:01 AM) Bump. I'm wondering what you guys think after Bulls losing 9 of 13. Are the GarPax apologists still out there? I'm not a Gar apologist.I'm a Paxapologist.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 09:16 AM) McD is in a much better place than he was last year. He isn't great now, but he was lost and had no confidence last year. Snell and Niko on the other hand are clearly behind where they were last year. Niko is another one who just doesn't seem interested in working hard or running a system. He snipes from distance, and that is about it. I agree McD is better than last year. While Hoiberg gets credit for enabling him and helping him with his confidence, I still think most of his issues had nothing to do with Thibs and had everything to do with the fact that he was hurt and as a result fell out of favor. I guarantee he'd have gotten playing time with Thibs this year and probably been as good if not better. Thibs was very good at getting the most out of his guys, imo. And Thibs was behind and on board with drafting Doug (so it isn't like Gar / Pax shoved him down there throats).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 08:42 AM) That's just it. I don't see any coaching. I don't see much effort most nights either, especially if we aren't playing a top team. Offense is the issue and it is a major issue. Defensive intensity has been there (you wouldn't be rated from a metric perspective where they are, without that intensity). Hell, its amazing there defensive metrics are what they are considering the turnover issues they have on the offensive side. Offensively, they look terrible and it has to do with a combo of players we have out there and plays we are running. I don't know what the hell it is, but it ain't offense and its rarely pretty. MJD will solve a lot of spacing issues (if he's healthy) but the real issue is they have to figure out a system which maximizes Rose and Butlers ability to play together.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 08:17 AM) A lot the team defends that way. The effort is way down in too many games. Opp FG % is best in the league. Bulls got torched defensively against Clippers but there issues have been in pace and offensive efficiency. Defense has been there, even with the lousy pick and roll defense. That said, a lot of that was done with Noah around as well.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 07:54 AM) I will say the Bulls team last year had some really bad runs when Dunleavy was out of lineup, much stronger with him in it. He is one of the few players who plays within the flow of an offense. He always makes decisions quickly and keeps things moving. Love him as a player. It isn't that Dunleavy is great, it is that Dunleavy replaces guys who consistently seem to be negative players. So the collective difference essentially rates MJD as a better player than he is. Snell, Niko, and Doug have relatively consistently been awful. They all have had there moments but from a consistent perspetcive, they are consistently poor players. Even Snell, who once plays consistent defense seems to have lost that edge too and when it comes to Niko and Doug, if they aren't scoring, they are worthless cause they are getting torched defensively. And yes, as someone else mentioned, our pick and roll d is bad. That said, our OPP FG % is best in the league (or was...not sure if someone passed us in past couple days).

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 07:45 AM) I haven't been impressed with Hoiberg, but I haven't really seen the Trestman level screw ups either. I think he's a guy that inherited a team with expectations and then immediately got hit with really tough injuries. Not having Dunleavy is a huge missing component to this team. People say he's old, but he's a very smart player, a very good shooter, and a guy that moves without the ball. One of the few on the roster that does that well and that's really what this team is missing. He's also lost Noah and Rose for some games. Moore and Hinrich here and there. And now Mirotic. That's not easy. This team is probably a lost cause, but getting the 3 position solidified with Dunleavy is going to help immensely IMO, assuming he's 100%. That's all that really matters at this point. Either they reach their peak at the end of the year heading into the playoffs, or they continue to play .500 ball and bow out early. No sense in getting all worked up over it before the All-Star break. Good post. My big thing I struggle with is Snell / Niko / Dougie and collectively where they have been this year. Gar deserves a lot of blame and this situation is very difficult for a first year coach and injuries absolutely have played a factor but as I said, I'm confident this would be a better team with Thibs (than again, I'd say that about almost any team in the league cause I think Thibs is the man).

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 2, 2016 -> 07:44 AM) One thing that seems to be much different to me: -Under Hoiberg, when players have lost confidence, it seems like they are encouraged to go out and try and shoot more and create to get out of the slump. Play more individual. -Under Thibs, if you lost it, you earned your PT by focusing on the little things, playing d and rebounding and playing within your role, to then get time to shoot out of it. I think that plays a part of it. There's a "I need to shoot out of my struggles" we see more on this team, like Jimmy doing stepbacks galore yesterday. Yeah...I am totally sick of Hoiberg. He's young and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but this team looks lost and yes, players should be blamed, and the front office deserves a lot of that blame, but Hoiberg's coaching leaves a lot to be desired. Yesterdays game was just absolutely frustrating to watch. I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the difference of the two players and I look at everyone whose taken steps back and while I'm not blaming Hoiberg entirely for that regression, I do think this team would absolutely be better with Thibs. I will give Pax the benefit of the doubt but Gar is absolutely done. Now I do hope Hoiberg somehow learns and pulls it out (by all accounts he's a good guy and he isn't Trestman...Trestman never played the game and was never near as successful as Hoiberg was). But things are a mess right now and I think Hoiberg's laid back style is hurting things at this point.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-po...-caucuses-work/ Educational piece on what a caucus is and how it works (in relation to Iowa). Some opinion in there as well, but thought some people might find it useful.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 30, 2016 -> 09:44 PM) Looks like it was the right time to sell on Montas. A preseason ranking tells me nothing about the right time to sell on Montas. The key is going to be his production.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 12:49 PM) You don't attack Trump. You just feed the beast. Set him up to sound like a jackass, which he will do for you. That will continue to fire up the base, but equally repel anyone not in that deep base, thus ensuring a Dem victory. I still don't believe Trump wins the nomination anyway. If he wins Iowa, I see him taking the nomination. If he doesn't, than sure, something interesting could happen. Even than, I feel like it is Cruz. The non Cruz / Trump republicans need to figure out which one is going to stay in the race and the rest absolutely need to disappear and fast (presumably the first to win a state's primary of the non Cruz / Trump group will be the one who "stays" in the race).

One other point on yesterday's game. There must have been 7 or 8 situations in the first three quarters (I didn't bother with the 4th quarter) where the Butler was down in the post with Paul on him and the Bulls would swing by ball to the complete opposite side of the court and take an awful shot (often times with a combination of our bench unit out there). Why the hell isn't Butler given the ball every time in that situation. Pretty simple mismatch and yet they don't use it to there advantage. Everything should play off of Butler in that situation. Roster is obviously flawed (magnified from injures to MJD / Noah / Niko), but I also don't exhude confidence from what we are doing on the court, in addition to the development struggles from Niko and Snell (they have both regressed significantly). Doug is playing better but dude was hurt and missed a ton of time last season so I don't think it was hard to say he'd get better.

If you take out the 2 games he left early, Rose has averaged 20.1 ppg on 54.2% TS in his last 13 games. It's certainly his best month scoring-wise since the ACL injury. It seems sustainable, too - it's not like he's been on fire from outside. His turnovers have been ugly but a lot of them have been partly due to him moving much quicker and being more aggressive (which I would hope get cleaned up with time). Very promising as a whole. I'd also argue that he should start to get some more calls (not like normal calls cause Rose has never gotten calls, but this season has been ridiculous on how little calls he gets). The past two weeks has been the best I've seen Rose look (from a consistency perspective as well) since his injury. He still has tons of flaws to correct, but the other big thing is, his game has passed the eye test. He's had a lot of really terrific finishes around the basket and has even started to use his a variation of his jump stop (not near as aggressive / violent as his pre-injury jump stop, but still a jump stop either way). Some of Rose's finishes last night with Jordan in the vicinity were vintage Rose. The real question is whether his health will continue to be a positive and if it is, I see no reason to think Rose won't continue to get better (and I also see no reason that this is a mirage). Everything I've seen thus far during this stretch is sustainable (excluding injuries) and there are quite a few things that could still be better, imo. Now clearly Rose still needs to do more when he doens't have the basket and the offense has to figure s*** out cause it looks so ugly at times, but I'm also more and more convinced that has a lot to do with the fact that we have a lot of really s***ty role players too (the days of this being a deep team are over and it is a myth). On any given night we could have 4 or 5 just horrendous players who get significant minutes (Brooks / Snell / McD / Mirotic / Moore are all so inconsistent that they can all be absolute black hole awful...Hinrich probably should fit in this camp but so little is expected of him and he's still such a stable passer / defender). Prediction: I think the Bulls will hit there best streak of basketball about 3 weeks after Dunleavy is back. I do wonder if they acquire someone like Deng.

My best advice is don't do it (I have no personal experience but I've heard my dad, whose been in the business 40 plus years, echo those sentiments many times). So many potential things that can get you in trouble (that the upside isn't worth it, unless you know exactly what you are doing).

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 1, 2016 -> 08:42 AM) I think Moss was better. Moss was the other guy who even came close in my opinion. I felt like Megatron was more dominant, that said, I underrate Moss to 2nd because I felt like he relied so much on his pure speed vs. Megatron who was just a total monster. Reality is they both had similar chuck the s*** out of the ball QB's to deal with (Daunte & Stafford are pretty similar). I can't argue Moss (as I gave it a lot of thought but than just think of how Calvin was both fast and physical).