The Chicago Bulls announced their preseason and regular season schedules last month, and, with that, there are beat writers and bloggers (not just Bulls ones) everywhere who have written about which games fans should look forward to.
This post has the same intention; however, this is a Kirk Hinrich fan blog, so rather than listing games Bulls fans should definitely watch, the games listed will be chosen from the perspective as merely just a Kirk Hinrich fan.
- October 31: Chicago Bulls versus Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. central
In all honesty, this is a game all basketball fans should tune in to with Derrick Rose returning (yet again) and LeBron James back on his home team. If that's not a good enough reason, then I don't know what is. As a Kirk fan, though, I've looked forward to any and all games in which the Bulls face LeBron's team simply because of this:
Actually stopping LeBron James on a fast break is a rarity, and to see Kirk, of all people (no offense), take him down was quite a sight. What made it even more special was the fact it took place in Bulls' win over Miami on March 27, 2013 — the game that ended the Heat's 27-game winning streak.
This isn't likely to happen again come Halloween, but it's obvious Kirk isn't afraid to take on the best current basketball player in the world, so it's nice knowing that the opportunity may come again when the two match up.
- November 8: Chicago Bulls versus Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. central
For the time being, Rajon Rondo is still a Celtic, but, to me, I'll always remember him as "the one guy who tried to fight Kirk in the 2009 playoffs."
It's been over five years since the incident has occurred, but there are other reasons than that to look forward to such a match-up. In fact,
Rondo has even admitted he likes to go up against Kirk.
"I love playing against Hinrich. He competes. I love playing against guys that compete. Every night he's going to bring it, no matter his matchup or his size. I remember one year in the playoffs, he checked me, Ray (Allen) and Paul (Pierce) in one game. Whatever defense the coach asks of him, he's pretty much going to do it for you."
At 33 years old, Kirk isn't exactly the defender he was back when that fight occurred, let alone the same athlete. But he's still proven that he's up for such a challenge, like defending Rondo, and that he's able to handle it, although it may not also work in his favor. Still, it certainly hasn't stopped me from looking forward to Bulls-Celtics games.
- November 17: Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:30 p.m. central
I like to purposely forget that Kirk ever played on the Washington Wizards, and that's mostly because I was very bitter about him being traded there. I'm still am somewhat, but that's not the point.
If Kirk never would have played for the Wizards, one of my favorite moments of him very well may have never occurred: crossing over J.J. Redick.
That Wizards game was just one of many that happened to occur on an off-day for the Bulls, so I, of course, watched the game despite the pain that was watching my favorite player compete with a horrendous Washington team. But it all became worth it when I saw the moment Kirk crossed J.J. It was great not only because of that, but because of the fact J.J. laughed at himself. Not to mention Jameer Nelson's reenactment of the whole scenario.
- November 30: Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets, 2 p.m. central
In Kirk's first season back in Chicago after being traded, he ended up spending the entire season as the starting point guard — a position he wasn't meant to fulfill. Despite that, his team made it to the playoffs without Derrick Rose playing even a second in the regular season. The Bulls went paired up with the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, and Kirk proved he could hold his ground with five-time All-Star Deron Williams. Kirk not only did his defensive duty of stopping Williams, but also making sure he made Williams respect him offensively.
Williams isn't exactly seen as one of the league's elite point guards anymore with the emergence of so many young, quick point guards (Damian Lillard and John Wall), but he's still a respectable point guard. He should be able to dominate Kirk, but, ever since I saw Kirk step up in that Bulls-Nets series, I can't help but be anxious for his match-ups with Williams, only hoping I can see him do as well against the former Illini guard yet again.
- December 14: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat, 5 p.m. central
I'd like to think this one's obvious. In case it isn't, though, maybe this will help. That's right, Dwyane Wade. His match-ups with Kirk aren't the same as they were previously, as neither of them are quite the player they used to be. That doesn't change their history, though, and each of them are capable of showing flashback to their more dominant selves.
- December 25: Chicago Bulls versus Los Angeles Lakers, 7 p.m. central
During Kirk's first stint in Chicago, he almost always seemed to be involved in trade rumors that would send him off to the Lakers. I, obviously, never really wanted those rumors to become a reality, but I will admit, if he were to have gone to any other team, the Lakers would have been perfectly fine with me.
Of course, though, those trade rumors remained as such despite their consistency, and I'm glad, because, if not, this performance may have never happened.
I like to think of this particular match-up as one between two old, veteran point guards, because it's amusing to do so. And it's true, so I won't deny it. In all seriousness, though, seeing Kirk absolutely dominate a great point guard in Steve Nash like that was great. Let's hope it'll happen again as a Christmas presents for all us Hinrich fans.
- March 5: Chicago Bulls versus Oklahoma City Thunder, 7 p.m. central
This game isn't one to look forward to simply as a Kirk fan, but more so as a Kansas Jayhawks fan or even just as a proud Iowan basketball fan (I'm not from Iowa by the way). I particularly find myself excited for Bulls-Thunder games because it means Kirk gets to go up against his former AAU basketball and Kansas teammate Nick Collison. Of course the two men don't get to actually match up against one another considering they play completely different positions, but, regardless, I always think it's nice to see them on the court together, even if that means they're on opposite sides.
.gif)
No comments:
Post a Comment