Congratulations to LeBron James for getting engaged. His fiancé now leads the family with 1 ring.
I think the heat are genius. Prentending their guys are injured to rest them during this condensed schedule. gonna pay off come playoff time . they are gonna win it all
more teams should be resting guys during these back to back (and sometimes another back)
10:58 p.m. CST, January 5, 2012
In the 1997-98 season, as Michael Jordan moved from 34 years old to 35 and from five championships to six, he averaged 38.8 minutes per game.
How come nobody questioned the Zen Master about overtaxing his stars?
Phil Jackson leads Tom Thibodeau in coaching championships 11 to one, which Thibodeau earned as an assistant with the Celtics. Those Celtics, it should be noted, played the 31-year-old Paul Pierce and the 33-year-old Ray Allen 35.9 minutes per game en route to the 2008 title.
The point is: Stars get leaned on in the NBA. It's a time-tested practice, used last season by the Mavericks as the 32-year-old Dirk Nowitzki logged 34.3 minutes per game and even the 37-year-old Jason Kidd averaged 33.2.
Derrick Rose is 23 years old. He is averaging 36.9 minutes per game this season and, at age 22 last season, logged 37.4 minutes of playing time. That's less than Jackson played Jordan when Jordan was 12 years older.
Luol Deng is Thibodeau's true ironman, playing an average of 39.1 minutes at age 25 last season. This season, Thibodeau has increased that to 39.4 minutes per game, including a staggering stretch of 39 minutes, 35 seconds consecutively over two games Tuesday and Wednesday.
How does Deng feel about his workload?
"I love it," Deng told the Tribune. "It has helped my game."
For truer comparison's sake, Jordan averaged 40 minutes per game at Rose's age of 23 and 39 minutes at Deng's age of 26.
But this season's compressed 66-game schedule is different, right? Indeed, the Bulls are in a brutal stretch of four games in five nights, seven games in nine nights and nine in 12. Such stretches will challenge every team this season.
And how did the Jeff Van Gundy-led and Thibodeau-assisted Knicks handle the 1998-99 season, the last time a lockout shortened the schedule? The 27-year-old Allan Houston averaged 36.3 minutes in the 50-game season. More tellingly, creaky center Patrick Ewing, at age 36, played 34.2 minutes per game.
The Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals, losing to the Spurs.
Thibodeau isn't going to change. The same style that pleased fans en route to a league-best 62 victories and a surprise trip to the Eastern Conference finals is in place thus far this season. He treats every game the same, as a winnable moment, a chance to play a complete, 48-minute game.
The Bulls are the rare team that goes two deep at each position. And Thibodeau is the rare coach who consistently uses a 10-man rotation. But Rose and Deng are going to play — and play a lot.
"I'm fine with it," Rose said. "I told you, that's why I worked so hard in the offseason. I ran everywhere, worked on my conditioning. I felt a bit beat up at the end of last season, but that's because of the physical demands, not the minutes. I worked hard in the weight room, preparing my body for this season."
The Bulls took Thursday off in Orlando. Even last season, a normal 82-game marathon, Thibodeau rarely practiced on the road and never practiced following back-to-back games. He demands mental preparation and intensity at all times. But you don't sit on NBA benches for 21 seasons without recognizing the physical demands and adjusting accordingly.
"One of the biggest responsibilities as a head coach is knowing how to pace your team," Thibodeau said.
Accordingly, the Bulls will spend as much time in hotel ballrooms this season as a corporate businessmen, staging walkthroughs. They will become almost as bleary-eyed as Thibodeau breaking down game film on off-days.
But one reason Thibodeau can afford to ride his go-to players on game days is because of what he does on off-days.
"The thought that he pushes players too hard is laughable," veteran reserve Brian Scalabrine said. "He has everything planned out."
As for those who say Rose shouldn't have been in the game when he suffered his elbow injury, just ask the Lakers about double-digit leads with four minutes left. On Christmas Day, Mike Brown had three starters, including Kobe Bryant, and two key reserves in when the Lakers led by 11 with 3:44 remaining.
The Bulls won.
Granted, the Bulls' lead stood at 14 points when Rose went down. But the Pistons had been within 12 points 30 seconds before Rose's injury, which marked the first stoppage of play in that span.
It's valid to question why Rose remained in for the 2:23, although obviously athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi cleared him. The only counter to that remains: This is Thibodeau's way.
Last season, LeBron James averaged 38.8 minutes per game, Dwyane Wade logged 37.2 and Chris Bosh checked in at 36.3.
"Hey, Erik Spoelstra. How come you play your stars so much?"
mavericks going to the white house.....except for delonte west. he's banned. probably a good call.
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
so remember Nate Robinson, he has 22 tonight for the Warriors.
Best news of the day was Kobe getting more than 15 in the first half to extend my streak to 10 in ESPN's Streak for the Cash.
Reading 2004
Albany 2006 Camden 2006 E. Rutherford 2, 2006 Inglewood 2006,
Chicago 2007
Camden 2008 MSG 2008 MSG 2008 Hartford 2008.
Seattle 2009 Seattle 2009 Philadelphia 2009,Philadelphia 2009 Philadelphia 2009
Hartford 2010 MSG 2010 MSG 2010
Toronto 2011,Toronto 2011
Wrigley Field 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Philadelphia 2, 2013
Philadelphia 1, 2016 Philadelphia 2 2016 New York 2016 New York 2016 Fenway 1, 2016 Fenway 2, 2018 MSG 2022 St. Paul, 1, St. Paul 2 2023 MSG 2024, MSG 2024 Philadelphia 2024
"I play good, hard-nosed basketball.
Things happen in the game. Nothing you
can do. I don't go and say,
"I'm gonna beat this guy up."
can somebody explain to me, who GS can beat the likes of Miami and Chicago, yet stink up agaist nearly everyone else.
i think you'll see a lot of that ... with back to back to back's and the condensed schedule ... factor in travel and injuries - what you end up getting is a lot more variables determining who will win a game ...
can somebody explain to me, who GS can beat the likes of Miami and Chicago, yet stink up agaist nearly everyone else.
i think you'll see a lot of that ... with back to back to back's and the condensed schedule ... factor in travel and injuries - what you end up getting is a lot more variables determining who will win a game ...
from what i've seen, the back to back stuff is over rated. every body is doing it. and the teams playing the 3rd game in a 3 games in 3 nights stretch have been dominating the win column
from what i've seen, the back to back stuff is over rated. every body is doing it. and the teams playing the 3rd game in a 3 games in 3 nights stretch have been dominating the win column
yeah ... all i'm saying is that there are a lot more variables now ... in the case of GS ... they played chicago on the second of end of a back to back (as was chicago) but they didn't have to travel ... plus, they had curry playing that game ... they also beat miami at home where maybe the cross country flight plus reintegrating wade was a bit of an issue ... all i know is that looking at the team and their records isn't going to predict who wins ... i knew last nite the raps would throw a stinker up and lose to the only winless team ... 2nd of a back to back to back where the guys that are gonna get you wins played big mins the night before and then had to travel going against a young team rested at home desperate for a win ... no brainer there ...
in advance of tonight's game, allow me to say.... FUCK THE LAKERS
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Always good to see the Heat lose. Thank you Clippers!
Shows: 6.27.08 Hartford, CT/5.15.10 Hartford, CT/6.18.2011 Hartford, CT (EV Solo)/10.19.13 Brooklyn/10.25.13 Hartford
"Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
Always good to see the Heat lose. Thank you Clippers!
And in fine fashion too. Always nice to see Lebron brick a go ahead freeby. The Heat are just a really douchey team to watch.
I've always like Magic as a personality but I think he's been on ESPN too long. In the pregame when he was saying everybody needs to get off Lebron's back about the night before. I can remember a few instances where they showed BREAKING NEWS along the bottom line and it's been Magic callin Lebron out about one thing or another.
My colleague at work told me you can by NBA live internet access for one teams games only?
Is this true?
If so I want to know the price of this, I was told it is cheaper.
I just want to watch Bulls games.
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
My colleague at work told me you can by NBA live internet access for one teams games only?
Is this true?
If so I want to know the price of this, I was told it is cheaper.
I just want to watch Bulls games.
DW found it, still expensive....
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
Comments
the hawks are frauds every year
I think the heat are genius. Prentending their guys are injured to rest them during this condensed schedule. gonna pay off come playoff time . they are gonna win it all
more teams should be resting guys during these back to back (and sometimes another back)
it further proves how bad the nba is, but it's smart as hell. why make your stars play 4-5 meaningless games in a week??
more teams should do this.
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
especially if you are expected to go deep in the playoffs ...
sitting healthy players in jan. is fraudulent. i'd be pissed if i bought bulls tickets and D rose was on teh bench with a fake injury.... :x
i agree ... but it's a fine line ... it's not so much of a fake injury as in ... he's a little banged up - let's not take any chances ...
Yeah, there's going to be a lot that this season with this compressed schedule. Playoff seeding won't mean much...teams just need to get in.
1 sixers
2 heat
3 bulls
4 blazers
5 hawks
6 nuggets
7 spurs
8 lakers
9 thunder
10 clippers
Best news of the day was Kobe getting more than 15 in the first half to extend my streak to 10 in ESPN's Streak for the Cash.
Albany 2006 Camden 2006 E. Rutherford 2, 2006 Inglewood 2006,
Chicago 2007
Camden 2008 MSG 2008 MSG 2008 Hartford 2008.
Seattle 2009 Seattle 2009 Philadelphia 2009,Philadelphia 2009 Philadelphia 2009
Hartford 2010 MSG 2010 MSG 2010
Toronto 2011,Toronto 2011
Wrigley Field 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Brooklyn 2013 Philadelphia 2, 2013
Philadelphia 1, 2016 Philadelphia 2 2016 New York 2016 New York 2016 Fenway 1, 2016
Fenway 2, 2018
MSG 2022
St. Paul, 1, St. Paul 2 2023
MSG 2024, MSG 2024
Philadelphia 2024
"I play good, hard-nosed basketball.
Things happen in the game. Nothing you
can do. I don't go and say,
"I'm gonna beat this guy up."
http://deadspin.com/5875034/a-couple-of ... in-detroit
Tom O.
"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"
-The Writer
awesome.
guy on the right sort of looks like cavstar.
i think you'll see a lot of that ... with back to back to back's and the condensed schedule ... factor in travel and injuries - what you end up getting is a lot more variables determining who will win a game ...
from what i've seen, the back to back stuff is over rated. every body is doing it. and the teams playing the 3rd game in a 3 games in 3 nights stretch have been dominating the win column
This is great, just came to post that.
yeah ... all i'm saying is that there are a lot more variables now ... in the case of GS ... they played chicago on the second of end of a back to back (as was chicago) but they didn't have to travel ... plus, they had curry playing that game ... they also beat miami at home where maybe the cross country flight plus reintegrating wade was a bit of an issue ... all i know is that looking at the team and their records isn't going to predict who wins ... i knew last nite the raps would throw a stinker up and lose to the only winless team ... 2nd of a back to back to back where the guys that are gonna get you wins played big mins the night before and then had to travel going against a young team rested at home desperate for a win ... no brainer there ...
FUCK THE LAKERS
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
:wave:
"Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
And in fine fashion too. Always nice to see Lebron brick a go ahead freeby. The Heat are just a really douchey team to watch.
I've always like Magic as a personality but I think he's been on ESPN too long. In the pregame when he was saying everybody needs to get off Lebron's back about the night before. I can remember a few instances where they showed BREAKING NEWS along the bottom line and it's been Magic callin Lebron out about one thing or another.
Is this true?
If so I want to know the price of this, I was told it is cheaper.
I just want to watch Bulls games.
DW found it, still expensive....
starting...good god. Bulls are down to a 3rd string PG and a 2nd string SG. thank goodness for depth