Bulls suck balls

[IcemanCometh]

They haven't won a road game vs a western conference team since 1997.

352 losses since they fired MJ, good job Jabba the Krause.

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/media/nba/2002/0519/photo/a_krause_i.jpg

[ALVAREZ6]

yeah, but they're young....theyre basically all rookies and sophomores, at least the starters...what do you expect..Theyre also very inconsistent.


But they have Chapu...and hes a beast!

[atlfan25]

it's nice how they've stayed young for like 6 years now. krause clearly does such a good job. he should just step away and realize he got lucky getting jordan and pippen, and lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

They haven't won a road game vs a western conference team since 1997.



Holy shit! Is that true?

Damn, they do suck.

[baseline bum]

The Bulls also have a long annual roadtrip similar to the Spurs when the circus comes to town, in which they are now 0-37 on since Jordan left.

[jalbre6]

Wow, I've never heard of that. Googled : http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-041115bulls,0,3324222.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines

Bulls hope to end 'circus trip' woes
For 32 games over five seasons, the Bulls have made way for the circus and really stunk it up

By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter

November 15, 2004, 11:09 PM CST


You've got to hand it to Luol Deng.

Asked his thoughts about the Bulls' annual extended November trip, the rookie forward mastered what countless players and coaches—young and old, good and bad—have tried before him.





He offered a fine mix of bravado and cliché that boldly flies in the face of history.

"We can't worry about the past," Deng said. "This is our team and our time."

Maybe Deng meant to say it's about time because it certainly is time for the Bulls to end a losing streak that has taken on bizarre, almost surreal proportions.

Over the last five seasons, a span of 32 games, the Bulls have failed to win on the "circus trip," which, surprisingly, does not owe its name to their tendency to play like clowns.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus takes over the United Center, which sends the Bulls on a season-long, seven-game trip beginning Tuesday night in Sacramento.

Deng stopped short of guaranteeing a victory, which is a good thing considering those 32 losses have been by an average of 14.9 points.

But twice in the last week, coach Scott Skiles has offered his strong belief that the Bulls will halt the streak, words also spoken by predecessors Tim Floyd and Bill Cartwright.

Cartwright didn't survive last season's trip, getting fired by general manager John Paxson with two of the five games remaining. Skiles took over after interim coach Pete Myers did his best Texas two-step, presiding over losses in Dallas and San Antonio by a combined 37 points.

The Bulls avoid those powerhouses on this season's trip. Their seven opponents have a combined record of 23-26.

Here's a look at the Bulls' prospects in each game, in order of the trip:

Sacramento

Arco Arena is one of the league's toughest venues for visitors, with loud fans right on top of the court and the Kings averaging 33.4 home victories over the last five seasons.

This isn't the same Sacramento team that has steamrolled through previous regular seasons, but the starting lineup still features three All-Stars in Peja Stojakovic, Chris Webber and Brad Miller.

The Bulls have trouble with defensive rotations against teams that pass well. The Kings are one of the best in that department.

Golden State

On paper, this appears to be the Bulls' best chance to snag a victory. The Warriors are off to a 1-7 start and play a small lineup with 6-foot-10-inch veteran Cliff Robinson at center.

That means Eddy Curry is looking at a potentially big night and the Bulls have an opportunity to play the smaller lineups that have been effective in stretches.

But the Bulls haven't come within 10 points in their last four tries in Oakland, and will be playing the second of a back-to-back set of games. Plus, who's going to guard Jason Richardson?

Denver

The Nuggets are another small team that has Marcus Camby at center and likes to play up-tempo. Given that they're used to the altitude and the Bulls aren't, Curry's panting is guaranteed, even if a victory isn't.

Andres Nocioni's physical defense against Carmelo Anthony will be interesting to watch.

Los Angeles Lakers

Even when the Bulls have been really bad—OK, the last six seasons—they have played the Lakers tough.

But Caron Butler and Lamar Odom used to kill the Bulls when they were with Miami. And like many teams, the Bulls have nobody to match up with Kobe Bryant.

The Bulls' best chance might be to avoid double teams, let Bryant take, say, 40 shots and hope to lock down Odom and Butler.

Phoenix

Forget trying for a victory. How about trying to stop Amare Stoudemire from dunking through Curry?

That's what the physical Suns phenom did in a 20-point victory at the United Center on Nov. 9. Stoudemire had more points and rebounds than Curry and Tyson Chandler combined.

The Suns offer wacky matchup problems with a small, fast lineup, and there are few better in the open court than Steve Nash.

Utah

Like Sacramento's arena, the Delta Center has boisterous fans right on top of visiting teams. Like the Kings, Utah passes the ball very well, a tough assignment for a young Bulls defense.

The Bulls have lost their last five games here by an average of 24 points.

Uh, next.

Cleveland

The Bulls fly home for Thanksgiving Day and a practice day and then burn off their turkey and stuffing by watching LeBron James dunk.

If Curry can guard Zydrunas Ilgauskas, this is a winnable game.

"I'm excited because I know we'll get one on the trip," Chandler said. "That will be a big lift."

You'd think Chandler, a veteran of the circus trip, would know better than to echo Skiles' and Deng's optimism.

Then again, the streak has to end sometime. Doesn't it?

[baseline bum]

Lousy LA times... they said 36 a couple of days ago and then they dropped the game at Staples.


Ooops... I just noticed the article is a week and a half old.

[T Park]

Whatever,

streaks are over.

The road streak and the loosing streak.


Big win in Utah tonight.


Utah seems to be coming back to the pack a little.