Tonight, your 11-17 Chicago Bulls take on the 13-16 Memphis Grizzlies down in Tennessee. People from Chicago love Nashville, so I assume they like Memphis too.
Regardless, the Grizzlies have definitely struggled this year after losing Marc Gasol to injury and eradicating head coach Lionel Hollins. Tom Thibodeau's dad's funeral was earlier today, but he is expected back at game time. I feel so sorry for Coach Thibodeau, and though he's acting brave, he should feel free to take time for himself if he so desires. There's always a little extra incentive when one of your teammates, or in this case, your coach, is experiencing emotional duress. The Bulls should respond accordingly tonight.
Trade rumors are now swirling about the Bulls trading Luol Deng to the Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum and perhaps a first rounder. Don't get too excited: the Cavs want to trade Bynum because he's a jerk who doesn't care much about basketball or teamwork. The Bulls would acquire him, buy him out, and subsequently move under the luxury tax threshold.
I'm not crazy about this idea. For one, the Bulls are the most profitable team in the NBA. Reinsdorf and Co. can afford to fork over a few million dollars. More importantly, trading Deng all but ensures that there's no chance he returns to the Bulls. Unless the Bulls are 100% sure they want to be done with Deng, there's no reason to trade him and burn bridges.
As for tonight...
Without Gasol, the Grizzlies do not score enough, nor are they a dominant defensive squad. Mike Conley and Zach Randolph average 17 points per game, but outside of Jerryd Bayless, the Grizzlies don't have any other scorers. And it shows. The Grizz average just 94.8 points per game, good for 25th overall.
I love watching both of these teams play, but without their respective stars, this game could be ugly. Look for the Bulls to keep it close, if not steal this game.
Final Score: Bulls 91 Grizz 87
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Monday, December 30, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
All I Want for Christmas is D.Rose
The last few days in Bulls basketball have been relatively solid. After a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bulls bounced back with a big win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, highlighted by a double double from D.J. Augustin and fantastic shooting from Tony Snell. I love Jimmy Butler as much as the next guy, but Snell has easily outplayed him this season, and I think Tom Thibodeau may experiment with moving Butler to the bench for a while.
We can talk about fundamental performance, Luol Deng's contract, and the draft all year--but today is two days before Christmas, so I wanted to touch on the importance of empathy.
I linked to Dan Bernstein's article about Derrick Rose last week, not because I agreed with everything, but because it is definitely an important story within the realm of sports fandom. Major market sports fans are notoriously terrible. I say that as someone who has been around Chicago his whole life. Let's admit it: Chicago sports fans can be miserable. Philly, New York, LA, Boston -- you name a large market, and it probably has a lot of miserable fans. I'm not precisely sure about why this happens, but it probably has a bit to do with living in a city where you can get everything you want with little effort, cynicism, and "unbiased" sports columnists and radio hosts who spew negativity at every turn.
We don't all suck. There are folks in Chicago who are like Packers fans and support players no matter what. The boldest of us believe the Bulls are championship contenders (OK, I'm not quite that bold), while others remain fixated on the offseason, draft, free agency, and insane trades. Most of my professional life, I've worked extensively with forecasting. It's great to have an eye on the future, but I think many times, sports fans think too much about the future and not enough about the beautiful games we all love and enjoy.
To quote a Chicagoland hero:
I write about the future too, and I understand how interesting it can be. The future is full of hope, optimism, possibility, agony, suffering, and incompetence. It is a dramatic place to be and writing and talking about the future can be as fun as writing a movie. Plus, from experience, people don't remember your predictions well enough, so if you were wrong, you can just never mention it, but if you were right, you become an "expert."
As great as the future is, I think I've had enough of the future. I can reflect easily on when the future didn't mean a lot to me. During my senior year of high school, I did not play on our team, but two of my best friends did. I went to damn near every game, and I loved watching them play. Our team had a great season, but my friends' playing time was not what it should have been, and I would give up that success to have seen my friends getting significant playing time.
Still, I watched every game intently, and I loved it. Some players grew on you when you noticed that little things they did on the court, others continually disappointed you, but at the end of the day, they won ball games. It was about watching a team grow and mature more than caring about "will XYZ sophmore be the guy who takes them to the state finals."
Basketball isn't a boring game about stats and playing time, it's a dynamic journey between teammates and coaches that rarely ends in championships, but often ends with fantastic life experiences. Almost all of my favorite childhood memories are sports-related, but it might not be the time I hit a homerun, but rather hanging out with a bunch of guys all the time.
This is why I feel so bad for Derrick Rose. He's not old--25--in fact, he's the same age as I am. Our high school team was a game away from playing him, and as a diehard high school basketball fan (from 03-07), I've known about Rose for a long time. More than any NBA basketball player ever, he's a person to me. Michael Jordan was one of my childhood heroes, and I still consider myself inspired by his drive to compete. Rose is not someone I idolize. Heck, he doesn't even live that far from me, and I know people in his social circles. He's a guy that's amazing at basketball and makes a lot of money, not my hero.
The hardest thing for me as a Bulls fan isn't the loss of championship title contention (I watched the Baby Bulls religiously), but rather a human being suffering a terrible setback on his life journey. You can say he might make $30 million this year, but I don't think that matters. He's from Englewood, and assuming he manages it even somewhat responsibly, he's set for life. Money doesn't matter for him at this point. It's about realizing his goals in life, which I'm sure include championships, the Hall of Fame, and a terrific legacy. All three of these look to be in jeopardy. If it hurts me not to see him grow and achieve his goals on the court, I can only imagine the pain he feels on a daily basis.
Instead of worrying about the Bulls lack of championship potential this season, I'm going to enjoy Tony Snell finding his way in the NBA, achieving a lifelong dream as he's thrust into action. I'm going to watch a savvy veteran like Mike Dunleavy bust his ass coming around screens and working every day to become a better defender. I'm going to enjoy the 2013-14 Bulls like I have every other Bulls team: by watching them and enjoying good people try to accomplish goals.
So next time you think about ripping on Luol Deng for not being better than LeBron James, or you think about "tanking," consider what it would mean if people were rooting for you to fail at your job so you could be fired to find another replacement. Next time you want to call Derrick Rose soft or "unmotivated," think about what would happen if you had your dream job or you owned your own company, only to have it taken away by a freak accident.
All I want for Christmas is a healthy D.Rose.
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We can talk about fundamental performance, Luol Deng's contract, and the draft all year--but today is two days before Christmas, so I wanted to touch on the importance of empathy.
I linked to Dan Bernstein's article about Derrick Rose last week, not because I agreed with everything, but because it is definitely an important story within the realm of sports fandom. Major market sports fans are notoriously terrible. I say that as someone who has been around Chicago his whole life. Let's admit it: Chicago sports fans can be miserable. Philly, New York, LA, Boston -- you name a large market, and it probably has a lot of miserable fans. I'm not precisely sure about why this happens, but it probably has a bit to do with living in a city where you can get everything you want with little effort, cynicism, and "unbiased" sports columnists and radio hosts who spew negativity at every turn.
We don't all suck. There are folks in Chicago who are like Packers fans and support players no matter what. The boldest of us believe the Bulls are championship contenders (OK, I'm not quite that bold), while others remain fixated on the offseason, draft, free agency, and insane trades. Most of my professional life, I've worked extensively with forecasting. It's great to have an eye on the future, but I think many times, sports fans think too much about the future and not enough about the beautiful games we all love and enjoy.
To quote a Chicagoland hero:
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
I write about the future too, and I understand how interesting it can be. The future is full of hope, optimism, possibility, agony, suffering, and incompetence. It is a dramatic place to be and writing and talking about the future can be as fun as writing a movie. Plus, from experience, people don't remember your predictions well enough, so if you were wrong, you can just never mention it, but if you were right, you become an "expert."
As great as the future is, I think I've had enough of the future. I can reflect easily on when the future didn't mean a lot to me. During my senior year of high school, I did not play on our team, but two of my best friends did. I went to damn near every game, and I loved watching them play. Our team had a great season, but my friends' playing time was not what it should have been, and I would give up that success to have seen my friends getting significant playing time.
Still, I watched every game intently, and I loved it. Some players grew on you when you noticed that little things they did on the court, others continually disappointed you, but at the end of the day, they won ball games. It was about watching a team grow and mature more than caring about "will XYZ sophmore be the guy who takes them to the state finals."
Basketball isn't a boring game about stats and playing time, it's a dynamic journey between teammates and coaches that rarely ends in championships, but often ends with fantastic life experiences. Almost all of my favorite childhood memories are sports-related, but it might not be the time I hit a homerun, but rather hanging out with a bunch of guys all the time.
This is why I feel so bad for Derrick Rose. He's not old--25--in fact, he's the same age as I am. Our high school team was a game away from playing him, and as a diehard high school basketball fan (from 03-07), I've known about Rose for a long time. More than any NBA basketball player ever, he's a person to me. Michael Jordan was one of my childhood heroes, and I still consider myself inspired by his drive to compete. Rose is not someone I idolize. Heck, he doesn't even live that far from me, and I know people in his social circles. He's a guy that's amazing at basketball and makes a lot of money, not my hero.
The hardest thing for me as a Bulls fan isn't the loss of championship title contention (I watched the Baby Bulls religiously), but rather a human being suffering a terrible setback on his life journey. You can say he might make $30 million this year, but I don't think that matters. He's from Englewood, and assuming he manages it even somewhat responsibly, he's set for life. Money doesn't matter for him at this point. It's about realizing his goals in life, which I'm sure include championships, the Hall of Fame, and a terrific legacy. All three of these look to be in jeopardy. If it hurts me not to see him grow and achieve his goals on the court, I can only imagine the pain he feels on a daily basis.
Instead of worrying about the Bulls lack of championship potential this season, I'm going to enjoy Tony Snell finding his way in the NBA, achieving a lifelong dream as he's thrust into action. I'm going to watch a savvy veteran like Mike Dunleavy bust his ass coming around screens and working every day to become a better defender. I'm going to enjoy the 2013-14 Bulls like I have every other Bulls team: by watching them and enjoying good people try to accomplish goals.
So next time you think about ripping on Luol Deng for not being better than LeBron James, or you think about "tanking," consider what it would mean if people were rooting for you to fail at your job so you could be fired to find another replacement. Next time you want to call Derrick Rose soft or "unmotivated," think about what would happen if you had your dream job or you owned your own company, only to have it taken away by a freak accident.
"The journey is the reward."
All I want for Christmas is a healthy D.Rose.
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Thursday, December 19, 2013
Thursday's Top NBA Reads
I'll cover the devastating loss to the Rockets later today, but for now, I have some awesome NBA stories you need to read.
LeBron Flips Out on Mario Chalmers
It's always nice to see LeBron James show some emotion, particularly when it's at the expense of Mario Chalmers' feelings.
Dan Bernstein on Derrick Rose
This is really the first time I've ever seen a Chicago journalist viciously attack Derrick Rose. There are some great points brought up about Reggie Rose and BJ Armstrong. By no means am I saying I agree with everything Bernstein wrote, but it's a fascinating perspective on Chicago's hometown hero.
Life Beyond the Arc
Grantland's Zach Lowe analyzes the role of the three pointer, and it's future in the NBA. I try to avoid too much basketball sabermetrician magic in my blog, but it is pretty much undeniable that the corner three is the NBA's free lunch. I'm not a believer in sabermetrics for basketball as much as I am for baseball, but the efficiency of the corner three and ideas to get players the ball in their respective hotspots are incredible revelations that Bulls' management has thus far ignored.
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LeBron Flips Out on Mario Chalmers
It's always nice to see LeBron James show some emotion, particularly when it's at the expense of Mario Chalmers' feelings.
Dan Bernstein on Derrick Rose
This is really the first time I've ever seen a Chicago journalist viciously attack Derrick Rose. There are some great points brought up about Reggie Rose and BJ Armstrong. By no means am I saying I agree with everything Bernstein wrote, but it's a fascinating perspective on Chicago's hometown hero.
Life Beyond the Arc
Grantland's Zach Lowe analyzes the role of the three pointer, and it's future in the NBA. I try to avoid too much basketball sabermetrician magic in my blog, but it is pretty much undeniable that the corner three is the NBA's free lunch. I'm not a believer in sabermetrics for basketball as much as I am for baseball, but the efficiency of the corner three and ideas to get players the ball in their respective hotspots are incredible revelations that Bulls' management has thus far ignored.
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Bulls Vs Rockets: Primetime Game
You can tell the powers that be at ESPN and TNT (not related to the powers that be from Angel) assumed the 2013-14 season was going to be a striking success for the Chicago Bulls. I'm not going to go through the schedule, but the Bulls have played a considerable amount of games on national TV, and tonight is no different, as the Bulls take on the Rockets at 8:30 on ESPN.
I see no-need to sugar-coat it: the Bulls are probably going to get killed tonight. While the Bulls generally exert far more effort against great teams, the Rockets are really really good. The Rockets have a flurry of weapons with James Harden, Dwight Howard, Chandler Parsons, and Jeremy Lin--not to mention wonderful role players like Patrick Beverly and Terrence Jones. How the Bulls will defend this run 'n gun bunch without meaningfully improving closeouts is beyond me.
The Rockets are a really fun team to watch, though the Bulls could easily stymie Harden with the defensive combo of Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler. However, the Bulls MUST close out on the shooter! It's really not a hard concept. The Bulls have historically thrived on interrupting shooters. This season has been different, with lazy closeouts and sloppy defensive rotations leaving teams wide open behind the arc. That's not cool against Harden, Parsons, Lin, or Beverly.
The good news: I'm not sure Omer Asik plays, so the Bulls Taj Gibson/Carlos Boozer should be able to get on the floor when Howard's sitting on the bench. Still, given Gibson's poor play as of late, I'm not expecting him to dominate the way I would have just a week ago.
Tonight will be an embarrassing blowout on national TV.
Rockets 103 Bulls 85
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I see no-need to sugar-coat it: the Bulls are probably going to get killed tonight. While the Bulls generally exert far more effort against great teams, the Rockets are really really good. The Rockets have a flurry of weapons with James Harden, Dwight Howard, Chandler Parsons, and Jeremy Lin--not to mention wonderful role players like Patrick Beverly and Terrence Jones. How the Bulls will defend this run 'n gun bunch without meaningfully improving closeouts is beyond me.
The Rockets are a really fun team to watch, though the Bulls could easily stymie Harden with the defensive combo of Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler. However, the Bulls MUST close out on the shooter! It's really not a hard concept. The Bulls have historically thrived on interrupting shooters. This season has been different, with lazy closeouts and sloppy defensive rotations leaving teams wide open behind the arc. That's not cool against Harden, Parsons, Lin, or Beverly.
The good news: I'm not sure Omer Asik plays, so the Bulls Taj Gibson/Carlos Boozer should be able to get on the floor when Howard's sitting on the bench. Still, given Gibson's poor play as of late, I'm not expecting him to dominate the way I would have just a week ago.
Tonight will be an embarrassing blowout on national TV.
Rockets 103 Bulls 85
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Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Positives from the Bulls Loss to the Magic
It's been a very tough few days. Not only did it take the Bulls a last second shot to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, but now the Bulls have dropped consecutive games to the lowly Raptors and the mediocre Magic.
Even worse, Taj Gibson is back to earth, no longer looking like an all-star power forward. Jimmy Butler capped off his return by shooting 1-11 last night. Marquis Teague looks like his time with the Bulls is dwindling, and Carlos Boozer scored just 6 points on 3-10 shooting. Tony Snell, who had shown some promise, played just 5 minutes, shooting just one time.
So what the heck went right?
D.J. Augustin
D.J. Augustin is the Bulls backup point guard of the future. For now, he'll log 37 minutes per night and make the Bulls wish they never waived Mike James. Augustin isn't a great shooter by any means, but he can at least occasionally hit open jumpshots, and he is a fantastic passer. He almost always makes the right pass, and he's shown the ability to make things happen off the dribble. He's quickly becoming a valuable member of the rotation, and while he doesn't quite score as easily as Nate Robinson, he's the best playmaker this side of Derrick Rose.
Mike Dunleavy
Mike Dunleavy has emerged as a very valuable scorer. He's no stranger to being featured; in fact, he spent much of his early career as a featured scorer for the Golden State Warriors. Dunleavy isn't he best three point specialist ever, but he does a great job of getting open off screens, and he definitely has the range to create ideal spacing on the floor.
Dunleavy's now scored in the double digits for 6 straight games, and he's shown that he doesn't mind being the man on offense. Believe it or not, that's a huge problem for the Bulls, and it's borderline embarrassing to see Dunleavy and Luol Deng have to shoulder the burden as the ONLY confident offensive weapons.
With the team struggling, it appears Derrick Rose is unhappy. Allegedly, Rose thinks the Bulls are going to start tanking and embark on a massive rebuilding effort. We all know Rose "just wants to win." But, what we don't know, is why Rose would complain so much about the release of Mike James. In reality, that's the only change this team has made. Deng, Boozer, Noah, and Butler all remain under contract, though a Deng contract extension is a matter of the salary cap. Management recently met with Nikola Mirotic and seem excited to get the ball rolling with him.
Rose might be more upset that the Bulls are tanking (unintentionally) and may be poised to acquire another star. It is overwhelmingly clear that Rose doesn't care about recruiting any friends or stars to this team. He wants to win a championship "on his own."
He might feel threatened by the arrival of another elite NBA player, perhaps even feeling expendable. We all know that's not the case. Rose is the face of the Bulls and Chicago sports. While I think he makes a 100% recovery, it's just smart business to diversify into less risky assets. If I'm Michael Reinsdorf, I want a team that's competitive without Rose and a team that can crush the Heat with him.
I understand why Rose may be upset, but he shouldn't be. His job is safer than Jay Cutler's.
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Even worse, Taj Gibson is back to earth, no longer looking like an all-star power forward. Jimmy Butler capped off his return by shooting 1-11 last night. Marquis Teague looks like his time with the Bulls is dwindling, and Carlos Boozer scored just 6 points on 3-10 shooting. Tony Snell, who had shown some promise, played just 5 minutes, shooting just one time.
So what the heck went right?
D.J. Augustin
D.J. Augustin is the Bulls backup point guard of the future. For now, he'll log 37 minutes per night and make the Bulls wish they never waived Mike James. Augustin isn't a great shooter by any means, but he can at least occasionally hit open jumpshots, and he is a fantastic passer. He almost always makes the right pass, and he's shown the ability to make things happen off the dribble. He's quickly becoming a valuable member of the rotation, and while he doesn't quite score as easily as Nate Robinson, he's the best playmaker this side of Derrick Rose.
Mike Dunleavy
Mike Dunleavy has emerged as a very valuable scorer. He's no stranger to being featured; in fact, he spent much of his early career as a featured scorer for the Golden State Warriors. Dunleavy isn't he best three point specialist ever, but he does a great job of getting open off screens, and he definitely has the range to create ideal spacing on the floor.
Dunleavy's now scored in the double digits for 6 straight games, and he's shown that he doesn't mind being the man on offense. Believe it or not, that's a huge problem for the Bulls, and it's borderline embarrassing to see Dunleavy and Luol Deng have to shoulder the burden as the ONLY confident offensive weapons.
With the team struggling, it appears Derrick Rose is unhappy. Allegedly, Rose thinks the Bulls are going to start tanking and embark on a massive rebuilding effort. We all know Rose "just wants to win." But, what we don't know, is why Rose would complain so much about the release of Mike James. In reality, that's the only change this team has made. Deng, Boozer, Noah, and Butler all remain under contract, though a Deng contract extension is a matter of the salary cap. Management recently met with Nikola Mirotic and seem excited to get the ball rolling with him.
Rose might be more upset that the Bulls are tanking (unintentionally) and may be poised to acquire another star. It is overwhelmingly clear that Rose doesn't care about recruiting any friends or stars to this team. He wants to win a championship "on his own."
He might feel threatened by the arrival of another elite NBA player, perhaps even feeling expendable. We all know that's not the case. Rose is the face of the Bulls and Chicago sports. While I think he makes a 100% recovery, it's just smart business to diversify into less risky assets. If I'm Michael Reinsdorf, I want a team that's competitive without Rose and a team that can crush the Heat with him.
I understand why Rose may be upset, but he shouldn't be. His job is safer than Jay Cutler's.
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Monday, December 16, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
5 NBA Stories You Need to Read
I'm not sure it's even worth previewing tonight's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Just know that the Bulls have looked awful recently.
The Bulls sign D.J. Augustin
I think this will be a great signing, though it may take him a while to get some playing time. Welcome DJ!
The New Pippen
Jonathan Lowe over at Grantland does an excellent job profiling Andre Iguodala. I have a new found respect for AI 2.0, and I'd love to see him win a ship with Golden State this year.
Is Anyone Willing to Pay for Omer Asik?
We know the answer is yes, but will the rest of the league agree? Him going to OKC is actually quite scary for the rest of the NBA, in my opinion.
Gilbert Arenas: #TheReturn
Gil was one of the most exciting players to watch in the early 2000's, but I personally think his career is over. Still, it'd be fun to watch him gun up shots off the bench for a contender.
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The Bulls sign D.J. Augustin
I think this will be a great signing, though it may take him a while to get some playing time. Welcome DJ!
The New Pippen
Jonathan Lowe over at Grantland does an excellent job profiling Andre Iguodala. I have a new found respect for AI 2.0, and I'd love to see him win a ship with Golden State this year.
Is Anyone Willing to Pay for Omer Asik?
We know the answer is yes, but will the rest of the league agree? Him going to OKC is actually quite scary for the rest of the NBA, in my opinion.
Gilbert Arenas: #TheReturn
Gil was one of the most exciting players to watch in the early 2000's, but I personally think his career is over. Still, it'd be fun to watch him gun up shots off the bench for a contender.
Lakeview Man's 'Legendarily Awful' Fantasy Football Score Nearly Impossible
This has nothing to do with the NBA, but I can't help but laugh at this ridiculous story.
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Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Why Luol Deng is the Bulls' MVP
I could end this post by just saying "see last night's game," but I owe to Luol Deng to elaborate. With Derrick Rose injured, Deng is by far the most important player on the Bulls. Here are my top 3 reasons why.
#1 - Deng Creates Shots
Every Bulls fan knows that Luol isn't a great dribbler. This is a function of both his long, awkward body, but also, he simply isn't a great ball handler. However, Luol slashes to the basket extremely well, can move off screens, and although it's usually pretty ugly, he uses his athleticism to get some easy dribble drive buckets.
Watching Jamal Crawford handle the ball like an extension of his body is super entertaining, but Deng gets the job too--just in a less sexy fashion. While Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson can both dazzle with post moves, neither can create off the dribble like Deng. Frankly, with Deng, Rose, and Jimmy Butler all injured, the Bulls don't have a single creator available.
#2 - Deng Shuts Down Offensive Stars
This is so obvious that it almost doesn't warrant a mention. If he played against the New York Knicks tonight, I'm quite certain Carmelo Anthony would have one of his worst games of the year. Deng doesn't look as jacked as a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, but he is very strong, very physical, and he's not soft. It takes a different kind of personality to like getting beat up and pushing back, and Deng has it.
#3 - Marquis Teague Doesn't Have to Play
After watching last night's debacle against Milwaukee, I think we can all agree that playing Marquis Teague should be considered tanking. I'm sure Teague is a great guy, works very hard, and he's probably even good in practice. However, he can't shoot, he can't finish, he's weak, he doesn't defend very well, and he truly has no NBA-quality skills at this point.
Teague presents so many problems for the Bulls at the moment. He's afraid to drive, so his defender can sit on his heels and wait for Teague to pass the ball. He also can't shoot, so teams are easily able to sag off and double on other players. Other than the Bulls' refusal to run plays through Taj Gibson frequently, the other major problem with the offense right now is spacing. The Bulls quality bigs face constant doubles and clogged paints because there's virtually no reason to defend the perimeter.
When Deng is playing, the Bulls can minimize Teague's playing time. True, he will have to log some minutes as long as Mike James is out and DJ Augustin isn't signed. But, with Deng in the lineup, the Bulls can minimize the Teague/Kirk Hinrich backcourt which looked so pathetic last night. Deng can play the 2, 3, or 4, making him incredibly valuable when other players are injured.
At this point, I'm not really sure how the Bulls keep Deng going forward, but I think management should at least try. If the Reinsdorf family is interested, I'll happily deal with the issue if they would like to pay me to be a consultant. As a humble fan and blogger, I'm not really sure what to do. The decision is probably very much predicated on how good they think Nikola Mirotic can be.
Tonight's game...
The Knicks are absolutely terrible. The Bulls are terrible without Rose, Butler, Deng, and Joakim Noah. But the Knicks are really really bad and have no solid big men to speak off.
Final Score:
Bulls 87 Knicks 80
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#1 - Deng Creates Shots
Every Bulls fan knows that Luol isn't a great dribbler. This is a function of both his long, awkward body, but also, he simply isn't a great ball handler. However, Luol slashes to the basket extremely well, can move off screens, and although it's usually pretty ugly, he uses his athleticism to get some easy dribble drive buckets.
Watching Jamal Crawford handle the ball like an extension of his body is super entertaining, but Deng gets the job too--just in a less sexy fashion. While Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson can both dazzle with post moves, neither can create off the dribble like Deng. Frankly, with Deng, Rose, and Jimmy Butler all injured, the Bulls don't have a single creator available.
#2 - Deng Shuts Down Offensive Stars
This is so obvious that it almost doesn't warrant a mention. If he played against the New York Knicks tonight, I'm quite certain Carmelo Anthony would have one of his worst games of the year. Deng doesn't look as jacked as a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant, but he is very strong, very physical, and he's not soft. It takes a different kind of personality to like getting beat up and pushing back, and Deng has it.
#3 - Marquis Teague Doesn't Have to Play
After watching last night's debacle against Milwaukee, I think we can all agree that playing Marquis Teague should be considered tanking. I'm sure Teague is a great guy, works very hard, and he's probably even good in practice. However, he can't shoot, he can't finish, he's weak, he doesn't defend very well, and he truly has no NBA-quality skills at this point.
Teague presents so many problems for the Bulls at the moment. He's afraid to drive, so his defender can sit on his heels and wait for Teague to pass the ball. He also can't shoot, so teams are easily able to sag off and double on other players. Other than the Bulls' refusal to run plays through Taj Gibson frequently, the other major problem with the offense right now is spacing. The Bulls quality bigs face constant doubles and clogged paints because there's virtually no reason to defend the perimeter.
When Deng is playing, the Bulls can minimize Teague's playing time. True, he will have to log some minutes as long as Mike James is out and DJ Augustin isn't signed. But, with Deng in the lineup, the Bulls can minimize the Teague/Kirk Hinrich backcourt which looked so pathetic last night. Deng can play the 2, 3, or 4, making him incredibly valuable when other players are injured.
At this point, I'm not really sure how the Bulls keep Deng going forward, but I think management should at least try. If the Reinsdorf family is interested, I'll happily deal with the issue if they would like to pay me to be a consultant. As a humble fan and blogger, I'm not really sure what to do. The decision is probably very much predicated on how good they think Nikola Mirotic can be.
Tonight's game...
The Knicks are absolutely terrible. The Bulls are terrible without Rose, Butler, Deng, and Joakim Noah. But the Knicks are really really bad and have no solid big men to speak off.
Final Score:
Bulls 87 Knicks 80
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Tuesday, December 10, 2013
DJ Augustin to the Bulls?
Now that the Toronto Raptors have kinda sorta broken up their team, former Derrick Rose torcher D.J. Augustin has been released. Rumor has it he'll be coming to the Bulls when he clears waviers.
This is actually a sneaky good signing for the Bulls. Obviously a released journeyman point guard won't cost anything, so that's a huge win for the Bulls. More importantly, I think D.J. can be the Bulls' Josh McCown.
Let's take a look at McCown: he was a journeyman quarterback for over 10 years until he found Marc Trestman and a system that perfectly utilized his skillset. I don't think McCown became great overnight, and it's even likely that he had enough talent all along. However, McCown was on some pathetic teams. His "best team" featured a 35 year old Emmitt Smith, a 21 year old rookie in Larry Fitzgerald, and other great receiving options like the legendary Bryant Johnson and Freddie Jones. Anquan Boldin missed half of that season with injury.
Or was it his 2007 season with the Oakland Raiders, in a system designed for two guys with cannons: JaMarcus Russell and Daunte Culpepper. He was accompanied by a great two headed monster of Justin Fargas and Lamont Jordan, with Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry Split out at wide receiver.
Augustin has suffered a similar fate. After showing flashes as a rookie, most memorably for torching Derrick Rose (who cannot guard him), the Bobcats neglected to develop the double-digit scorer, instead focusing on making the playoffs by giving Flip Murray heavy minutes.
Augustin was named the starter the following season, surrounded by an over-the-hill Stephen Jackson, a terrible shooter in Gerald Wallace, and an obese Boris Diaw. Augustin didn't have a chance.
After making stops in Indiana and Toronto, Augustin probably realizes this could be his last chance in an NBA flush with solid point guards. This might be the best situation for Augustin to succeed because he will be given ample minutes, he doesn't turn the ball over much, and most importantly, he has several great players around him to make him look good. Aside from his rookie year, Augustin has been a mediocre three point shooter, but he should get far more open looks than he has in other cities.
If Augustin succeeds, I expect to hear the common Chicago sports fan praise him and suggest the Bulls dump Rose.
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This is actually a sneaky good signing for the Bulls. Obviously a released journeyman point guard won't cost anything, so that's a huge win for the Bulls. More importantly, I think D.J. can be the Bulls' Josh McCown.
Let's take a look at McCown: he was a journeyman quarterback for over 10 years until he found Marc Trestman and a system that perfectly utilized his skillset. I don't think McCown became great overnight, and it's even likely that he had enough talent all along. However, McCown was on some pathetic teams. His "best team" featured a 35 year old Emmitt Smith, a 21 year old rookie in Larry Fitzgerald, and other great receiving options like the legendary Bryant Johnson and Freddie Jones. Anquan Boldin missed half of that season with injury.
Or was it his 2007 season with the Oakland Raiders, in a system designed for two guys with cannons: JaMarcus Russell and Daunte Culpepper. He was accompanied by a great two headed monster of Justin Fargas and Lamont Jordan, with Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry Split out at wide receiver.
Augustin has suffered a similar fate. After showing flashes as a rookie, most memorably for torching Derrick Rose (who cannot guard him), the Bobcats neglected to develop the double-digit scorer, instead focusing on making the playoffs by giving Flip Murray heavy minutes.
Augustin was named the starter the following season, surrounded by an over-the-hill Stephen Jackson, a terrible shooter in Gerald Wallace, and an obese Boris Diaw. Augustin didn't have a chance.
After making stops in Indiana and Toronto, Augustin probably realizes this could be his last chance in an NBA flush with solid point guards. This might be the best situation for Augustin to succeed because he will be given ample minutes, he doesn't turn the ball over much, and most importantly, he has several great players around him to make him look good. Aside from his rookie year, Augustin has been a mediocre three point shooter, but he should get far more open looks than he has in other cities.
If Augustin succeeds, I expect to hear the common Chicago sports fan praise him and suggest the Bulls dump Rose.
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Monday, December 9, 2013
Bull of the Day: Toni Kukoc
The original foreign star, Toni Kukoc came to the Bulls after the third title of the first three-peat. His arrival was actually pretty controversial. Hated general manager Jerry Krause was known to be partial to Kukoc, and it was often speculated that he planned on bringing Kukoc over to get rid of Scottie Pippen.
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen took a great deal of offense to these rumors, and they decided to absolutely embarrass Kukoc in the 1992 Olympics. Kukoc definitely wasn't on the same caliber as the NBA's elite, and the '92 Olympics proved it. He was a skilled offensive player, but damn, was he weak. Sounds a lot like our savior Nikola Mirotic.
Still, Kukoc was an excellent offensive player who could light up the scoreboard, and his talents were highly necessary during the 1997-98 season when Pippen missed much of the year due to back problems. Kukoc wasn't much of a defensive player, and for a guy who was 6'10, he was a terrible shot blocker. Nevertheless, he came to play in the '98 championship, averaging about 15 points per game during the finals, and I'll always remember that he was basically the only other guy who scored during MJ's Game 6 45-point finale.
Kukoc thrived tertiary offensive option, so when he became "the guy" in 1999, it became readily apparent that he couldn't shoulder the load as a number one scored. Poor Toni was traded to Philadelphia in a three team deal that netted the Bulls John Starks (sickening), Bruce Bowen, and a 1st round pick. Bowen and Starks were both fairly promptly released, and I can't even blame Krause for doing that: Bowen wasn't good at the time and Starks was the number one adversary of the Bulls for the better part of a decade.
After Philly, Kukoc made stops in Atlanta and Milwaukee, finally retiring at the age of 37.
Toni was well-known for his giant pregame meals (as well as a giant penis).
These days, Toni plays golf every day and splits his time between Highland Park and Croatia. I wouldn't mind running into him some day, as long as he's wearing some pants.
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Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen took a great deal of offense to these rumors, and they decided to absolutely embarrass Kukoc in the 1992 Olympics. Kukoc definitely wasn't on the same caliber as the NBA's elite, and the '92 Olympics proved it. He was a skilled offensive player, but damn, was he weak. Sounds a lot like our savior Nikola Mirotic.
Still, Kukoc was an excellent offensive player who could light up the scoreboard, and his talents were highly necessary during the 1997-98 season when Pippen missed much of the year due to back problems. Kukoc wasn't much of a defensive player, and for a guy who was 6'10, he was a terrible shot blocker. Nevertheless, he came to play in the '98 championship, averaging about 15 points per game during the finals, and I'll always remember that he was basically the only other guy who scored during MJ's Game 6 45-point finale.
Kukoc thrived tertiary offensive option, so when he became "the guy" in 1999, it became readily apparent that he couldn't shoulder the load as a number one scored. Poor Toni was traded to Philadelphia in a three team deal that netted the Bulls John Starks (sickening), Bruce Bowen, and a 1st round pick. Bowen and Starks were both fairly promptly released, and I can't even blame Krause for doing that: Bowen wasn't good at the time and Starks was the number one adversary of the Bulls for the better part of a decade.
After Philly, Kukoc made stops in Atlanta and Milwaukee, finally retiring at the age of 37.
Toni was well-known for his giant pregame meals (as well as a giant penis).
These days, Toni plays golf every day and splits his time between Highland Park and Croatia. I wouldn't mind running into him some day, as long as he's wearing some pants.
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Friday, December 6, 2013
Beating the Heat: December 2013 Edition
In case you missed it, cancelled your cable subscription, stopped looking at social media sites, or completely avoided anyone remotely interested in Chicago sports today, the Bulls dismantled the Miami Heat last night, winning 107-87. LeBron James scored just 21 points, and the Heat were never really close to matching the Bulls' intensity or effort.
Just a quick reminder: don't get carried away. This doesn't mean the Heat suck, or that the Heat won't ever compete again, or that LeBron sucks. Great teams lose all the time. It's a strange phenomenon, sure, but the Heat CAN lose to a battered Bulls team and still be a top contender for the NBA title.
Ok, one more thing: The Wall Street Journal and ESPN picked-up on LeBron not wearing his new shoes yesterday. A month late my friends.
Now that I've got that out of the way, let's relish in last night's beautiful victory. Hustle and energy were the two key factors for the Bulls last night. As is always the case when these two teams compete, the Bulls made the Heat earn every bucket. And with Dwyane Wade absent from the lineup, getting open shots was no easy task for Miami. The Bulls hilariously outrebounded the Heat 49-27.
Taj Gibson the MVP
I speak with my closest Bulls confidant about this all the time: where the heck did Taj come from? After a few years as a middling offensive player, Gibson clearly put in some work in the offseason to become an unstoppable post force. He bullied the Heat last night for 19 points on 8-12 shooting. Carlos Boozer did score 27 points and grab 9 boards, but it is certainly time to question if the Bulls are starting the right guy at power forward. Taj's superior defensive game makes him a better canidate for 32 minutes + per game, but I doubt that happens this year. Still, Taj has made Boozer completely expendable.
My one concern about Taj? The Bulls don't run nearly enough plays for him. When he's putting up prolific scoring efforts, the Bulls often do not go to him in the fourth quarter. With Derrick Rose out of the lineup, I see no reason why the Bulls couldn't work the offense through Taj, who almost needs to be doubled every time at this point.
The Return... Of Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah admittedly lit up the box score against the Pelicans, but I didn't see the confidence from Noah that I saw last night. For the first time all season, Noah looked in command of his destiny offensively, while looking like the high energy defensive player that opposing fans love to hate. Noah also made an inspiring speech about rallying around Rose after the game.
If this Joakim Noah is here to stay, fans are in for a real treat this season (and 5th seed).
Let's not get carried away, it was one game, and the Heat were missing Dwyane Wade and Birdman. I don't think the Bulls can beat the Heat in a 7 game series right now, but they might be able to with Derrick Rose.
Unlike last year, players have taken on scoring roles. I think the main difference from this team compared to last year is the sense of identity. It certainly took a while, and the Bulls hit the skids after Rose left the lineup. However, this team knows that they all must contribute offensively, something I think was distinctly missing from last year's team.
Last year: late Nate takeover.
This year: Taj, Luol Deng, and even Kirk Hinrich all know that they MUST step up and assume scoring roles. Luol and Kirk may be more comfortable as secondary scoring options, but both have shown remarkable progress on the offensive end this season, particularly in terms of confidence and assertiveness. Veterans, just like younger players, can learn new things.
I was wrong about breaking up this team...I think.
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Just a quick reminder: don't get carried away. This doesn't mean the Heat suck, or that the Heat won't ever compete again, or that LeBron sucks. Great teams lose all the time. It's a strange phenomenon, sure, but the Heat CAN lose to a battered Bulls team and still be a top contender for the NBA title.
Ok, one more thing: The Wall Street Journal and ESPN picked-up on LeBron not wearing his new shoes yesterday. A month late my friends.
Now that I've got that out of the way, let's relish in last night's beautiful victory. Hustle and energy were the two key factors for the Bulls last night. As is always the case when these two teams compete, the Bulls made the Heat earn every bucket. And with Dwyane Wade absent from the lineup, getting open shots was no easy task for Miami. The Bulls hilariously outrebounded the Heat 49-27.
Taj Gibson the MVP
I speak with my closest Bulls confidant about this all the time: where the heck did Taj come from? After a few years as a middling offensive player, Gibson clearly put in some work in the offseason to become an unstoppable post force. He bullied the Heat last night for 19 points on 8-12 shooting. Carlos Boozer did score 27 points and grab 9 boards, but it is certainly time to question if the Bulls are starting the right guy at power forward. Taj's superior defensive game makes him a better canidate for 32 minutes + per game, but I doubt that happens this year. Still, Taj has made Boozer completely expendable.
My one concern about Taj? The Bulls don't run nearly enough plays for him. When he's putting up prolific scoring efforts, the Bulls often do not go to him in the fourth quarter. With Derrick Rose out of the lineup, I see no reason why the Bulls couldn't work the offense through Taj, who almost needs to be doubled every time at this point.
The Return... Of Joakim Noah
Joakim Noah admittedly lit up the box score against the Pelicans, but I didn't see the confidence from Noah that I saw last night. For the first time all season, Noah looked in command of his destiny offensively, while looking like the high energy defensive player that opposing fans love to hate. Noah also made an inspiring speech about rallying around Rose after the game.
If this Joakim Noah is here to stay, fans are in for a real treat this season (and 5th seed).
Let's not get carried away, it was one game, and the Heat were missing Dwyane Wade and Birdman. I don't think the Bulls can beat the Heat in a 7 game series right now, but they might be able to with Derrick Rose.
Unlike last year, players have taken on scoring roles. I think the main difference from this team compared to last year is the sense of identity. It certainly took a while, and the Bulls hit the skids after Rose left the lineup. However, this team knows that they all must contribute offensively, something I think was distinctly missing from last year's team.
Last year: late Nate takeover.
This year: Taj, Luol Deng, and even Kirk Hinrich all know that they MUST step up and assume scoring roles. Luol and Kirk may be more comfortable as secondary scoring options, but both have shown remarkable progress on the offensive end this season, particularly in terms of confidence and assertiveness. Veterans, just like younger players, can learn new things.
I was wrong about breaking up this team...I think.
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Thursday, December 5, 2013
Game Preview: Bulls (7-9) Vs Heat (14-4)
Live from Chicago tonight at 8:30PM, the Bulls will take on the hated Miami Heat. The Heat may be without the Birdman (personal reasons/getting tatted up) and Dwyane Wade, who will be icing his knees for the next 4 days and tending to the sale of his River West condo. Still, the Heat have the best player on earth in LeBron James as well as a rejuvenated Michael Beasley and future Hall of Famer Ray Allen.
As a quick side note: watch this video on Nikola Mirtoic. You won't be disappointed.
It's quite popular for Chicagoans to hate on LeBron James or try to position him against Michael Jordan. LeBron is one of my favorite players, but more importantly, it doesn't matter that he's not as good as Michael Jordan. Jordan hates the Bulls organization, and his relative skill set has nothing to do with tonight's game.
What's relevant for tonight is that LeBron is SHOOTING 59.5% from the FIELD. He also happens to be connecting on 47.4% of three pointers, on his way to averaging 26 points per game. Wow. So, LeBron doesn't miss. We can only hope that he actually wears his new shoes, which will cause his feet to ache.
Luckily, Luol Deng is the best LeBron stopper in the league at this point. Without Dwyane Wade, expect the Bulls to clog the paint and force LeBron to become primarily a passer tonight. Unfortunately, we all know LeBron's an elite passer. Crap.
The Bulls Will Make Miami Earn EVERY POINT
I was at the Bulls-Heat game last season where the Bulls ruined Miami's huge winning streak. This is one of those things that doesn't show up on paper, but the Bulls play the Heat extremely well. I think Taj Gibson will absolutely abuse whoever Miami tries to throw at him in the post, and the Bulls might be able to pair him with Carlos Boozer against the undersized Heat front court.
The Bulls lack of energy on defense this year does scare me quite a bit, especially because the Bulls haven't closed out on three point shooters. And the Heat have a lot of capable three point shooters (Ray Allen, James Jones, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Beasley sort of). Still, expect the Heat to EARN every damn basket.
Miami is a defensive juggernaut itself, and the stalling Bulls offense could struggle mightily. I'm already scared about every minute Marquis Teague has to play with Mike James out due to injury. Look for the Heat to go on huge runs whenever Kirk Hinrich is out.
It should be a great game tonight. We know Miami is the superior team at this point, though I'm not sure that's the case with Derrick Rose healthy. Regardless, the Bulls will give the Heat everything they can handle on both ends of the ball. Taj and Boozer are the keys to tonight's game.
Without Wade, the Heat lose a scoring punch, but I think they pull out this game.
Final Score: Heat 98 Bulls 93
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As a quick side note: watch this video on Nikola Mirtoic. You won't be disappointed.
It's quite popular for Chicagoans to hate on LeBron James or try to position him against Michael Jordan. LeBron is one of my favorite players, but more importantly, it doesn't matter that he's not as good as Michael Jordan. Jordan hates the Bulls organization, and his relative skill set has nothing to do with tonight's game.
What's relevant for tonight is that LeBron is SHOOTING 59.5% from the FIELD. He also happens to be connecting on 47.4% of three pointers, on his way to averaging 26 points per game. Wow. So, LeBron doesn't miss. We can only hope that he actually wears his new shoes, which will cause his feet to ache.
Luckily, Luol Deng is the best LeBron stopper in the league at this point. Without Dwyane Wade, expect the Bulls to clog the paint and force LeBron to become primarily a passer tonight. Unfortunately, we all know LeBron's an elite passer. Crap.
The Bulls Will Make Miami Earn EVERY POINT
I was at the Bulls-Heat game last season where the Bulls ruined Miami's huge winning streak. This is one of those things that doesn't show up on paper, but the Bulls play the Heat extremely well. I think Taj Gibson will absolutely abuse whoever Miami tries to throw at him in the post, and the Bulls might be able to pair him with Carlos Boozer against the undersized Heat front court.
The Bulls lack of energy on defense this year does scare me quite a bit, especially because the Bulls haven't closed out on three point shooters. And the Heat have a lot of capable three point shooters (Ray Allen, James Jones, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole, Beasley sort of). Still, expect the Heat to EARN every damn basket.
Miami is a defensive juggernaut itself, and the stalling Bulls offense could struggle mightily. I'm already scared about every minute Marquis Teague has to play with Mike James out due to injury. Look for the Heat to go on huge runs whenever Kirk Hinrich is out.
It should be a great game tonight. We know Miami is the superior team at this point, though I'm not sure that's the case with Derrick Rose healthy. Regardless, the Bulls will give the Heat everything they can handle on both ends of the ball. Taj and Boozer are the keys to tonight's game.
Without Wade, the Heat lose a scoring punch, but I think they pull out this game.
Final Score: Heat 98 Bulls 93
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Nikola Mirotic Scouting Video
Enjoy! Nikola Mirotic is pretty good at this game. I hope the Bulls find a way to make it work.
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Bull of the Day: Tyrus Thomas
There's nothing more rare on Bulls Passion than negative commentary from me regarding a Bulls' player. Even Corie Blount's drug trafficking charges aren't enough for me to dislike him. However, there's one Bull who I don't appreciate, and that is Tyrus Thomas.
For some reason Tyrus Thomas always reminded me of Pharrell, though on further investigation, they don't really look alike at all. Similar facial features aside, I'd say that's one of the worst celebrity comparisons I've held in my head.
There are many reasons to hate Tyrus Thomas. For one, he cost the Bulls LaMarcus Aldridge. In the 2006 NBA draft the Bulls held the #2 pick and originally selected Aldridge-- a no-brainer productive NBA player. The Bulls (apparently) were worried about his chicken legs. No body likes chicken legs. So they traded him for Tyrus Thomas because he was just skinny all over.
How the hell did the Bulls decide to make that deal? I'm pretty sure management fell in-love with his insane athleticism, length, and age (he was 19!). Unfortunately Paxson & Co. couldn't figure out that Thomas had zero offensive game, a terrible work ethic, and an unabashed love for taking bad jumpers.
Good old Tyrus added maybe 1lb of muscle during his tenure from the Bulls, and I never saw much in terms of developing an NBA skillset. But, boy, could he jump! To put his career in perspective, his numbers during his best years were only SLIGHTLY better than Dickey Simpkins. Tyrus sucked.
The one good thing about Tyrus is that the Bulls were able to con a 1st round pick out of the Bobcats for him. This is THE first round pick that analysts and such have been talking about since 2009, and it could finally come to the Bulls this season.
Not surprisingly, sensing his career was nearing an end, Tyrus played very well in limited minutes for the Bobcats, prompting MJ to sign him to a 5 year, $40 million contract extension. Tyrus was subsequently amnesited, and he now spends his time getting tattoos and tweeting at @IamT_Time . I think it's safe to call him the worst Bulls' first round pick of my lifetime.
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| Way off here |
For some reason Tyrus Thomas always reminded me of Pharrell, though on further investigation, they don't really look alike at all. Similar facial features aside, I'd say that's one of the worst celebrity comparisons I've held in my head.
There are many reasons to hate Tyrus Thomas. For one, he cost the Bulls LaMarcus Aldridge. In the 2006 NBA draft the Bulls held the #2 pick and originally selected Aldridge-- a no-brainer productive NBA player. The Bulls (apparently) were worried about his chicken legs. No body likes chicken legs. So they traded him for Tyrus Thomas because he was just skinny all over.
How the hell did the Bulls decide to make that deal? I'm pretty sure management fell in-love with his insane athleticism, length, and age (he was 19!). Unfortunately Paxson & Co. couldn't figure out that Thomas had zero offensive game, a terrible work ethic, and an unabashed love for taking bad jumpers.
Good old Tyrus added maybe 1lb of muscle during his tenure from the Bulls, and I never saw much in terms of developing an NBA skillset. But, boy, could he jump! To put his career in perspective, his numbers during his best years were only SLIGHTLY better than Dickey Simpkins. Tyrus sucked.
The one good thing about Tyrus is that the Bulls were able to con a 1st round pick out of the Bobcats for him. This is THE first round pick that analysts and such have been talking about since 2009, and it could finally come to the Bulls this season.
Not surprisingly, sensing his career was nearing an end, Tyrus played very well in limited minutes for the Bobcats, prompting MJ to sign him to a 5 year, $40 million contract extension. Tyrus was subsequently amnesited, and he now spends his time getting tattoos and tweeting at @IamT_Time . I think it's safe to call him the worst Bulls' first round pick of my lifetime.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Courtside Bulls Recap
It's not often that I sit courtside at basketball games. During middle school I always had a great view from the bench, and during high school I often sat behind the Stevenson bench--but courtside at an NBA game is something else. I'd like to say it matched my expectations, but as a 300 level dweller, it FAR exceeded anything I thought possible. If you do have the means, I highly recommend checking it out. I don't have the means, but I was fortunate enough to have received them.
I'm sure many have sat courtside before, but it really is an amazing experience. More than anything, it reminded me that at the end of the day, this is still the game I play all the time with my friends. Only these players are approximately 1,000,000x better. It's easy to say a guy sucks when you look at his numbers, but when you see them play that close, you realize just how insanely talented every single player in the league is. A few times I caught myself thinking about how badly Eric Gordon would cross me up if I had to guard him in a Chicago Sport and Social game.
Courtside experience aside, what an incredible game! Three overtimes between two completely evenly matched teams. I feel a little cheated that Anthony Davis couldn't play, but it was great seeing Jason Smith and his eye popping athleticism. I know the New Orleans Pelicans aren't seen as a great team, but the team has several offensive options who can score in a variety of ways.
I admit I had no idea how much a stretch four like Ryan Anderson impacts the game. The Bulls, who rely heavily on switching and other zone elements to pack the lane, did not close out on Anderson in time to affect his shots. He nailed 7 of 11 three pointers, finishing the game with 36 points.
The trio of Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, and Eric Gordon is strangely effective. The Pelicans struggle mightily with the three on the court at the same time, but as a Bulls fan, I envy having three solid playmakers on the same roster--something the Bulls haven't had the luxury of having since the days of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Toni Kukoc.
Although the last play was heartbreaking, the Bulls played a very solid game, but the Pelicans undoubtedly played equally as well.
Taj Gibson: Superstar
Since Derrick Rose's gruesome injury, most news surrounding the Bulls has been negative. I'm guilty of it too, believing that it might be time to breakup this team. However, Taj Gibson has emerged not as an offensive threat, but as a dominant two-way player. Taj abused the Pelicans on both ends of the court, highlighted by Ryan Anderson's desperation tackles in the fourth quarter and beyond.
Gibson unleashed a stunning array of post moves that make his $8 million salary look like a bargain. It also makes the departure of Carlos Boozer, via in-season trade, or, more likely, an amnesty release, feasible. Taj is ready to become a full-time starter and a focal point of the Bulls offense.
Should he stay or should he go?
I'm sure many have sat courtside before, but it really is an amazing experience. More than anything, it reminded me that at the end of the day, this is still the game I play all the time with my friends. Only these players are approximately 1,000,000x better. It's easy to say a guy sucks when you look at his numbers, but when you see them play that close, you realize just how insanely talented every single player in the league is. A few times I caught myself thinking about how badly Eric Gordon would cross me up if I had to guard him in a Chicago Sport and Social game.
Courtside experience aside, what an incredible game! Three overtimes between two completely evenly matched teams. I feel a little cheated that Anthony Davis couldn't play, but it was great seeing Jason Smith and his eye popping athleticism. I know the New Orleans Pelicans aren't seen as a great team, but the team has several offensive options who can score in a variety of ways.
I admit I had no idea how much a stretch four like Ryan Anderson impacts the game. The Bulls, who rely heavily on switching and other zone elements to pack the lane, did not close out on Anderson in time to affect his shots. He nailed 7 of 11 three pointers, finishing the game with 36 points.
The trio of Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday, and Eric Gordon is strangely effective. The Pelicans struggle mightily with the three on the court at the same time, but as a Bulls fan, I envy having three solid playmakers on the same roster--something the Bulls haven't had the luxury of having since the days of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Toni Kukoc.
Although the last play was heartbreaking, the Bulls played a very solid game, but the Pelicans undoubtedly played equally as well.
Taj Gibson: Superstar
Since Derrick Rose's gruesome injury, most news surrounding the Bulls has been negative. I'm guilty of it too, believing that it might be time to breakup this team. However, Taj Gibson has emerged not as an offensive threat, but as a dominant two-way player. Taj abused the Pelicans on both ends of the court, highlighted by Ryan Anderson's desperation tackles in the fourth quarter and beyond.
Gibson unleashed a stunning array of post moves that make his $8 million salary look like a bargain. It also makes the departure of Carlos Boozer, via in-season trade, or, more likely, an amnesty release, feasible. Taj is ready to become a full-time starter and a focal point of the Bulls offense.
Should he stay or should he go?
Luol Deng provides the Bulls with a difficult dilemma. Do the Bulls risk losing Deng, an elite defender with solid offensive skills in search of something better?
I doubt the Bulls find something better right now, or even in the near-future. I hear fans talk every day about acquiring Jabari Parker in the draft, but let's face it, that is not happening. Parker will be a top 4 pick, and the Bulls are simply too good to get a lottery pick. Heck, even if the Bulls traded Deng, I'm not sure they miss the playoffs.
The only problem with Deng is that he's too good to keep at a reasonable price. Yes, the Bulls have his Bird Rights, which allow them to pay the man pretty much whatever he wants. However, assuming Boozer is amnestied, the Bulls will have little left to sign Nikola Mirotic in the offseason. Mirotic looks like a Euro League MVP, and he will probably demand more than the Mid-Level Exception. If the Bulls sign Deng to a contract in excess of $10 million per year, bringing in Mirotic will be difficult, if not impossible.
Frankly, I'm glad I'm not in GarPax's shoes right now. I'm not exactly sure whether or not Deng needs to stay, but I love him, and he's an extremely valuable member of this organization.
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Monday, December 2, 2013
Bull of the Day: Dickey Simpkins
When it comes to NBA players with funny names, Dickey Simpkins always comes to mind. Simpkins was a late first round pick of the Chicago Bulls in the 1994 NBA draft. Speaking of which, the 1994 draft was semi-loaded, with a top three of Glenn Robinson, Jason Kidd, and Grant Hill, followed by the likes of Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, and Brian Grant.
In hindsight, the Bulls may have been slightly better off with Wesley Person or Charlie Ward, but Simpkins wasn't a bad pick. He didn't ever need to play behind the Bulls' readily established front court of Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman, Bill Wennington, Brian Williams, and Toni Kukoc. However, the Bulls liked Simpkins enough to bring him back after trading him to the Golden State Warriors for Stormin Normin-fave Scott Burrell at the start of the 1997-98 season.
After the Bulls' dynasty was disassembled, Simpkins slid into to start as an undersized center alongside the prolific Mark Bryant or the remarkably washed-up Andrew Lang. Believe it or not, as a young Bulls fan I was uber excited for the arrival of Andrew Lang. I vividly remember thinking that Lang COULD push the Bulls into playoff contention. Boy was I off.
Either way, Simpkins put up a decent stat line (about 9 points/7 boards), but the Bulls were easily the worst team in the NBA, if not the worst team ever assembled not named the Bobcats. The Bulls led the league in attendance, but Simpkins' 46% shooting was not strong enough to cement him as the starter last season. Though he started 49 games, Rookie of the Year Elton Brand was a much more natural fit at power forward, so the Bulls paired Brand with Chris Anstey and Will Perdue. The Bulls finished 17-65 that year, and bid goodbye to Simpkins.
Simpkins made a brief comeback for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2001-02 season, but unfortunately for Dickey, the comeback lasted just 3 minutes. According to his website, Simpkins went on to become an international all-star, and even won a title.
These days it seems that Simpkins lives in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, running a basketball training program. He's doing something right--top recruit Jalen Brunson plays for his AAU team, although for some reason he is pictured in a Mac Irvin Fire jersey in the same article.
I ran into Dickey a few times at my alma mater, and he seems like a great guy. Great Bull? That's for you to decide. I love any Bulls (particularly those from my childhood) more than I love my own family.
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In hindsight, the Bulls may have been slightly better off with Wesley Person or Charlie Ward, but Simpkins wasn't a bad pick. He didn't ever need to play behind the Bulls' readily established front court of Luc Longley, Dennis Rodman, Bill Wennington, Brian Williams, and Toni Kukoc. However, the Bulls liked Simpkins enough to bring him back after trading him to the Golden State Warriors for Stormin Normin-fave Scott Burrell at the start of the 1997-98 season.
After the Bulls' dynasty was disassembled, Simpkins slid into to start as an undersized center alongside the prolific Mark Bryant or the remarkably washed-up Andrew Lang. Believe it or not, as a young Bulls fan I was uber excited for the arrival of Andrew Lang. I vividly remember thinking that Lang COULD push the Bulls into playoff contention. Boy was I off.
Either way, Simpkins put up a decent stat line (about 9 points/7 boards), but the Bulls were easily the worst team in the NBA, if not the worst team ever assembled not named the Bobcats. The Bulls led the league in attendance, but Simpkins' 46% shooting was not strong enough to cement him as the starter last season. Though he started 49 games, Rookie of the Year Elton Brand was a much more natural fit at power forward, so the Bulls paired Brand with Chris Anstey and Will Perdue. The Bulls finished 17-65 that year, and bid goodbye to Simpkins.
Simpkins made a brief comeback for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2001-02 season, but unfortunately for Dickey, the comeback lasted just 3 minutes. According to his website, Simpkins went on to become an international all-star, and even won a title.
These days it seems that Simpkins lives in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, running a basketball training program. He's doing something right--top recruit Jalen Brunson plays for his AAU team, although for some reason he is pictured in a Mac Irvin Fire jersey in the same article.
I ran into Dickey a few times at my alma mater, and he seems like a great guy. Great Bull? That's for you to decide. I love any Bulls (particularly those from my childhood) more than I love my own family.
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Sunday, December 1, 2013
The Demise of Joakim Noah?
Last night's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers could only be toppled by the Chicago Bear's blown game against the Minnesota Vikings earlier this afternoon. What a terrible weekend for Chicago sports.
Last night's game against the Cavaliers wasn't as bad as the records might indicate. Cleveland is a decent team with lots of offensive firepower. Kyrie Irving, though mostly contained, still poured in 19 points and 6 assists. Emerging power forward Tristan Thompson had 14/14, and Dion Waiters did his best Nate Robinson impression, coming in off the bench and taking every shot that came his way en route to 20 points and 0 assists.
However, the big difference maker last night was one Andrew Bynum. The much heavier Bynum dropped in 20 points, grabbed 10 boards, and blocked 5 shots in 30 minutes of action. Bynum absolutely dominated Joakim Noah, which leads me to this question...
Are we experiencing the demise of Joakim Noah?
After posting career highs in scoring, rebounds, and blocked shots last season, Noah has yet to show anything offensively, scoring only 8.8 points per game on 45% shooting from the field. On the defensive end, Noah has not shown his trademark energy to quite the same extent, grabbing only 8 boards per game and not even averaging 1 block per contest.
It goes without saying that, offensively, Noah has zero confidence. His trademark 18 footer isn't there, but even worse, he's scared to death of pulling the trigger. Noah's only shooting 62% from the freet throw line, down 10 percentage points from his career average of 72%. While his hi-low passing remains fantastic, Noah no longer needs to be guarded on the perimeter, allowing teams to clog the paint against slashes from Luol Deng and easily double down on Carlos Boozer or Taj Gibson in the post. This allows a poor defensive team like the Cavaliers to look competent (at times).
On the defensive end, I suspect Noah isn't suffering from a lack of confidence. Rebounds are often as much effort as skill, particularly for Noah. This season, guys like Anderson Varejao and Bynum have pushed him around with little resistance. Because Noah usually plays well at the beginning of games, I'm questioning whether his issue may be conditioning or even the lingering impact of the injuries Noah sustained during the preseason.
A Gibson/Boozer combination is too small to remain on the floor for a sustained period of time, particularly against a dominant post scorer like Andrew Bynum. Noah either needs to sit until he's healthy or figure out what's going on in his head.
If the Bulls want to make it to a second round exit this year, Noah must step up his game. I have a hard time believing his career has peaked, and I am confident that he'll resemble the Joakim Noah of 2012-13 at some point this season. However, this offseason may be the perfect time to start grooming his successor.
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Last night's game against the Cavaliers wasn't as bad as the records might indicate. Cleveland is a decent team with lots of offensive firepower. Kyrie Irving, though mostly contained, still poured in 19 points and 6 assists. Emerging power forward Tristan Thompson had 14/14, and Dion Waiters did his best Nate Robinson impression, coming in off the bench and taking every shot that came his way en route to 20 points and 0 assists.
However, the big difference maker last night was one Andrew Bynum. The much heavier Bynum dropped in 20 points, grabbed 10 boards, and blocked 5 shots in 30 minutes of action. Bynum absolutely dominated Joakim Noah, which leads me to this question...
Are we experiencing the demise of Joakim Noah?
After posting career highs in scoring, rebounds, and blocked shots last season, Noah has yet to show anything offensively, scoring only 8.8 points per game on 45% shooting from the field. On the defensive end, Noah has not shown his trademark energy to quite the same extent, grabbing only 8 boards per game and not even averaging 1 block per contest.
It goes without saying that, offensively, Noah has zero confidence. His trademark 18 footer isn't there, but even worse, he's scared to death of pulling the trigger. Noah's only shooting 62% from the freet throw line, down 10 percentage points from his career average of 72%. While his hi-low passing remains fantastic, Noah no longer needs to be guarded on the perimeter, allowing teams to clog the paint against slashes from Luol Deng and easily double down on Carlos Boozer or Taj Gibson in the post. This allows a poor defensive team like the Cavaliers to look competent (at times).
On the defensive end, I suspect Noah isn't suffering from a lack of confidence. Rebounds are often as much effort as skill, particularly for Noah. This season, guys like Anderson Varejao and Bynum have pushed him around with little resistance. Because Noah usually plays well at the beginning of games, I'm questioning whether his issue may be conditioning or even the lingering impact of the injuries Noah sustained during the preseason.
A Gibson/Boozer combination is too small to remain on the floor for a sustained period of time, particularly against a dominant post scorer like Andrew Bynum. Noah either needs to sit until he's healthy or figure out what's going on in his head.
If the Bulls want to make it to a second round exit this year, Noah must step up his game. I have a hard time believing his career has peaked, and I am confident that he'll resemble the Joakim Noah of 2012-13 at some point this season. However, this offseason may be the perfect time to start grooming his successor.
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Saturday, November 30, 2013
What Should the Bulls do without Derrick Rose?
My initial reaction to Derrick Rose's injury was rash, but certain in its message: blowup the team. However, after further reflection, I think the Bulls have several possible directions to go in the off-season or regular season. Let's take a look at a few possible scenarios.
Rebuild on the Fly
Realistically, the Bulls do not have to break-up the team, even if that is an attractive option. The Bulls have approximately $64.5 million in salary obligations for the 2014-2015 season. Early projections suggest the cap will be about $62.1 million, putting the Bulls slightly over the cap.
With Taj Gibson playing well recently, I think the cries to amnesty Carlos Boozer will finally be met. Let's not forget that this is a real cash expense of $16.8 million, though it will lower the Bulls' cap figure to $47.7 million, freeing up around $14.1 million. In other words, the Bulls will have enough money for good player, but not a superstar.
Pau Gasol
If the Bulls do indeed amnesty Boozer, I think Pau Gasol could be an interesting fit on a two-year deal in the neighborhood of $20 million. The Lakers are armed with tons of cap room, but I am not sure Gasol wants to return to a team that doesn't enjoy using one of the best post scorers in the league.
This idea is far from flawless, as Gasol is going to be 34 years old and his numbers have dropped as he has been plagued by a bad system and injuries. The other problem with this idea is Taj Gibson. His large contract is simply too much for the minutes he plays. I'm a firm believer that most of a team's cap space should be allocated to finishers: those players you want on the court in crunch time. Yes, Gibson often plays down the stretch, but that forces the uber expensive Boozer to ride the pine. I want as much of my cap as possible on the court in the last few minutes, and that simply isn't possible under this arrangement.
Deng/Humph
The Bulls could also opt to amnesty Boozer, resign Luol Deng, and pursue a larger power forward with the mid-level exception/left over cap room. I really don't like this idea because the Bulls will have to rely on Taj Gibson playing heavy minutes and hope they can sign a backup in the ilk of Kris Humphries who can play as a small 5 or averaged sized 4.
Deng/Mirotic
The wild card option remains Nikola Mirotic. The dude is a stud, and he looks like the next Toni Kukoc, except better defensively. However, Mirotic won't be cheap because he's making a run for a second consecutive Euro League MVP trophy. Mirotic will probably want (and earn) at least $7 million per season, so the Bulls will be forced to amnesty Boozer and possibly trade Gibson to free-up some cap space.
To be completely honest, I think this is the ONLY way it makes sense to keep Deng. Deng is a fantastic NBA player, but the Bulls desperately need an offensive creator, and I think Mirotic can be that guy. This team would be scary good offensively with Rose in the fold, and the Bulls could play a fairly small, but deadly, offense that involves Rose/Butler/Deng/Mirotic/Noah. Miortic weighs basically nothing and will have a hard time defending powerful 4s in the mold of Zach Randolph, but this lineup could light up the scoreboard.
Full Rebuild
Let me get this off my chest first and foremost: the Bulls will not tank this season, and unless new commissioner Adam Silver enjoys rigging drafts like David Stern, the Bulls will not be able to acquire the first overall pick/Jabari Parker.
Strong Mid-1st Round Talent
That being said, the 2014 NBA draft class is insanely talented, and the Bulls will be served well if they can utilize 2 1st round picks (one from the Bobcats/Hornets). Even in the middle of the first round, the Bulls might be able to grab Arizona's Aaron Gordon, Kansas' Wayne Selden, Michigan's Glenn Robinson III, or Kentucky's Andrew Harrison. The talent will be there even if the Bulls can't sneak into the lottery.
Interestingly enough, this probably applies to the Bulls in the event of a full rebuild or just a quick retooling. I think the Bulls will have the chance to acquire some strong rotation players regardless of where they land in the draft.
Deng or Boozer for Hardaway/Shumpert/Bargnani
If the Bulls want to fully rebuild, I think the team should acquire some "damaged" goods or make moves for players who may be underutilized in their current situations. I think this would be the perfect opportunity for the Bulls to trade Deng to a team like the New York Knicks who are desperate to compete for a title. Carmelo Anthony could move into the PF role, and the Bulls could give up Deng for Andrea Bargnani (ew), Tim Hardaway Jr., and Iman Shumpert. This would allow Jimmy Butler to move into his more natural role as a small forward, give the Bulls a creative offensive player in Hardaway and a strong defender in Shumpert. It's definitely a risky trade, but the Bulls get younger and deeper.
The Knicks might be hesitant to do it, but I can't imagine another team that would be bold enough to move some young assets for an established all-star in hopes of an NBA title. Deng can defend LeBron James much better than Anthony can, and when Tyson Chandler returns, the Knicks could be a great defensive team. The Knicks could also be interested in taking on Boozer for the same players.
Deng for Waiters/Clark/Gee/1st Rounder
If the Cavs want to go all-in for LeBron James (assuming he opts out of his deal), then they will need some cap space. The Bulls get upside in Dion Waiters and a 1st round pick, a cheap bench player in Alonzo Gee, and a player who can have his contract terminated in Earl Clark. I think the Cavs may be suckered into a rental, particularly if owner Dan Gilbert thinks the Cavs have a legitimate shot at LeBron James. I'm not sure the Bulls would want to acquire such a significant amount of players and contractual obligations, but I think it is an interesting idea worthy of further investigation.
There are several trades and moves the Bulls can make, but they might simply stand pat. The only move I think fans can fully expect is the amnesty of Boozer in the offseason. In fact, the Bulls might be able to vault themselves into championship contenders with the largely the same core (Rose/Butler/Deng/Noah/Gibson) if they are able to sign Mirotic. While I'm not crazy about giving GarPax another shot at building a contender, Bulls fans should be excited about the various possibilities going forward. If the Bulls don't go into full-tank mode, I would love for them to acquire somebody--anybody--that can create shots off the dribble.
If I had to put money on it, I would say the Bulls' starting five next year will be:
Rose
Butler
Deng
Gibson
Noah
With Tony Snell, Nikola Mirotic, Marquis Teague, Mike Dunleavy, and league minimum veterans coming off the bench.
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Rebuild on the Fly
Realistically, the Bulls do not have to break-up the team, even if that is an attractive option. The Bulls have approximately $64.5 million in salary obligations for the 2014-2015 season. Early projections suggest the cap will be about $62.1 million, putting the Bulls slightly over the cap.
With Taj Gibson playing well recently, I think the cries to amnesty Carlos Boozer will finally be met. Let's not forget that this is a real cash expense of $16.8 million, though it will lower the Bulls' cap figure to $47.7 million, freeing up around $14.1 million. In other words, the Bulls will have enough money for good player, but not a superstar.
Pau Gasol
If the Bulls do indeed amnesty Boozer, I think Pau Gasol could be an interesting fit on a two-year deal in the neighborhood of $20 million. The Lakers are armed with tons of cap room, but I am not sure Gasol wants to return to a team that doesn't enjoy using one of the best post scorers in the league.
This idea is far from flawless, as Gasol is going to be 34 years old and his numbers have dropped as he has been plagued by a bad system and injuries. The other problem with this idea is Taj Gibson. His large contract is simply too much for the minutes he plays. I'm a firm believer that most of a team's cap space should be allocated to finishers: those players you want on the court in crunch time. Yes, Gibson often plays down the stretch, but that forces the uber expensive Boozer to ride the pine. I want as much of my cap as possible on the court in the last few minutes, and that simply isn't possible under this arrangement.
Deng/Humph
The Bulls could also opt to amnesty Boozer, resign Luol Deng, and pursue a larger power forward with the mid-level exception/left over cap room. I really don't like this idea because the Bulls will have to rely on Taj Gibson playing heavy minutes and hope they can sign a backup in the ilk of Kris Humphries who can play as a small 5 or averaged sized 4.
Deng/Mirotic
The wild card option remains Nikola Mirotic. The dude is a stud, and he looks like the next Toni Kukoc, except better defensively. However, Mirotic won't be cheap because he's making a run for a second consecutive Euro League MVP trophy. Mirotic will probably want (and earn) at least $7 million per season, so the Bulls will be forced to amnesty Boozer and possibly trade Gibson to free-up some cap space.
To be completely honest, I think this is the ONLY way it makes sense to keep Deng. Deng is a fantastic NBA player, but the Bulls desperately need an offensive creator, and I think Mirotic can be that guy. This team would be scary good offensively with Rose in the fold, and the Bulls could play a fairly small, but deadly, offense that involves Rose/Butler/Deng/Mirotic/Noah. Miortic weighs basically nothing and will have a hard time defending powerful 4s in the mold of Zach Randolph, but this lineup could light up the scoreboard.
Full Rebuild
Let me get this off my chest first and foremost: the Bulls will not tank this season, and unless new commissioner Adam Silver enjoys rigging drafts like David Stern, the Bulls will not be able to acquire the first overall pick/Jabari Parker.
Strong Mid-1st Round Talent
That being said, the 2014 NBA draft class is insanely talented, and the Bulls will be served well if they can utilize 2 1st round picks (one from the Bobcats/Hornets). Even in the middle of the first round, the Bulls might be able to grab Arizona's Aaron Gordon, Kansas' Wayne Selden, Michigan's Glenn Robinson III, or Kentucky's Andrew Harrison. The talent will be there even if the Bulls can't sneak into the lottery.
Interestingly enough, this probably applies to the Bulls in the event of a full rebuild or just a quick retooling. I think the Bulls will have the chance to acquire some strong rotation players regardless of where they land in the draft.
Deng or Boozer for Hardaway/Shumpert/Bargnani
If the Bulls want to fully rebuild, I think the team should acquire some "damaged" goods or make moves for players who may be underutilized in their current situations. I think this would be the perfect opportunity for the Bulls to trade Deng to a team like the New York Knicks who are desperate to compete for a title. Carmelo Anthony could move into the PF role, and the Bulls could give up Deng for Andrea Bargnani (ew), Tim Hardaway Jr., and Iman Shumpert. This would allow Jimmy Butler to move into his more natural role as a small forward, give the Bulls a creative offensive player in Hardaway and a strong defender in Shumpert. It's definitely a risky trade, but the Bulls get younger and deeper.
The Knicks might be hesitant to do it, but I can't imagine another team that would be bold enough to move some young assets for an established all-star in hopes of an NBA title. Deng can defend LeBron James much better than Anthony can, and when Tyson Chandler returns, the Knicks could be a great defensive team. The Knicks could also be interested in taking on Boozer for the same players.
Deng for Waiters/Clark/Gee/1st Rounder
If the Cavs want to go all-in for LeBron James (assuming he opts out of his deal), then they will need some cap space. The Bulls get upside in Dion Waiters and a 1st round pick, a cheap bench player in Alonzo Gee, and a player who can have his contract terminated in Earl Clark. I think the Cavs may be suckered into a rental, particularly if owner Dan Gilbert thinks the Cavs have a legitimate shot at LeBron James. I'm not sure the Bulls would want to acquire such a significant amount of players and contractual obligations, but I think it is an interesting idea worthy of further investigation.
There are several trades and moves the Bulls can make, but they might simply stand pat. The only move I think fans can fully expect is the amnesty of Boozer in the offseason. In fact, the Bulls might be able to vault themselves into championship contenders with the largely the same core (Rose/Butler/Deng/Noah/Gibson) if they are able to sign Mirotic. While I'm not crazy about giving GarPax another shot at building a contender, Bulls fans should be excited about the various possibilities going forward. If the Bulls don't go into full-tank mode, I would love for them to acquire somebody--anybody--that can create shots off the dribble.
If I had to put money on it, I would say the Bulls' starting five next year will be:
Rose
Butler
Deng
Gibson
Noah
With Tony Snell, Nikola Mirotic, Marquis Teague, Mike Dunleavy, and league minimum veterans coming off the bench.
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Bulls (6-7) Vs Pistons (6-8)
Tonight the Chicago Bulls take on the Detroit Pistons in a battle of mediocrity. The Bulls come into tonight's game emotionally defeated after losing to the worst team in the NBA and after losing the last MVP not-named LeBron James for the season.
Tonight will be a tough game for the Bulls as the Pistons feature a trio of strong interior players in Andre Drummond, Josh Smith, and Greg Monroe. Miraculously, former future star Rodney Stuckey leads the team in scoring, while Smith, Drummond, Monroe, and Brandon Jennings all average double digits in scoring.
I'm not really sure what the Pistons are doing with regards to building their team. The Pistons continue to acquire overlapping talent rather than looking for complimentary pieces. This team is built for 40-42 wins and a 1st round exit from the playoffs.
That being said, the Bulls just lost to the worst team in the NBA. I expect one more let down game tonight, and I think the X-factor will be Brandon Jennings. The Bulls held him to a 6 point game last year, but his other performances were far superior, topped off by a 35 point outburst in an 8-point victory last January. I think he goes for 25+ again tonight, especially with the Bulls on the last leg of a 6 game road trip. He should torch an exhausted back court.
Final Score: Pistons 99 Bulls 85
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**Bonus
Here's an uplifting video in light of the Bulls' recent struggles
Tonight will be a tough game for the Bulls as the Pistons feature a trio of strong interior players in Andre Drummond, Josh Smith, and Greg Monroe. Miraculously, former future star Rodney Stuckey leads the team in scoring, while Smith, Drummond, Monroe, and Brandon Jennings all average double digits in scoring.
I'm not really sure what the Pistons are doing with regards to building their team. The Pistons continue to acquire overlapping talent rather than looking for complimentary pieces. This team is built for 40-42 wins and a 1st round exit from the playoffs.
That being said, the Bulls just lost to the worst team in the NBA. I expect one more let down game tonight, and I think the X-factor will be Brandon Jennings. The Bulls held him to a 6 point game last year, but his other performances were far superior, topped off by a 35 point outburst in an 8-point victory last January. I think he goes for 25+ again tonight, especially with the Bulls on the last leg of a 6 game road trip. He should torch an exhausted back court.
Final Score: Pistons 99 Bulls 85
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**Bonus
Here's an uplifting video in light of the Bulls' recent struggles
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Is Adidas to Blame for Derrick Rose's Injury?
It's funny how popular this topic has become, particularly in the shoe world. I'm a sneaker enthusiast myself, and while I lean overwhelmingly Nike, I buy every Derrick Rose signature model. I haven't picked-up the newest pair yet, but that's only because I can't walk thanks to injuries suffered on the basketball court while wearing the Rose 2.5.
Shoes don't make you play basketball any better or any worse, for the most part. If you suck, you suck. If you're good, you're good. Some of the best basketball players I know love knowing about different shoes and care deeply about what they wear, while other dominant basketball players I know couldn't care less about what shoes they wear. However, I am a firm believe that your selection can impact your health.
Take the Rose 2.5 (shown above). The way the midsole is situated is relatively unstable, and the lightweight (cheap) materials don't provide great ankle lockdown. Rose was banged up all season when he wore these, and I went as far as to blame the shoes for some nagging injuries. I stand by that statement, but I do not believe the shoes had anything to do with his ACL.
Nor do I believe the Rose 4 has ANYTHING to do with his torn meniscus. The web's premier footwear reviewer Nightwing2303 noted that the shoes are fantastic and graded them well for support--the area where the 2.5 lacked.
From my experience, the only really impact shoes can have on a player from a pain standpoint are hotspots (areas where the shoe pinches your foot) and cushioning (some make your feet very bruised/painful). Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour like to boast about how their respective patented cushioning system is better for your knees or "disperses impact" evenly. I'm not sure I buy that, particularly in light of Chris McDougall's Born to Run that traces injury not to overuse or to lack of cushion, but rather to the unnatural design of modern running shoes. You should read the book--I named it one of the best books last year--but to make a long story short, modern running shoes force runners to strike with their heels rather than their forefeet, causing injuries. He runs with a tribe of Tarahumara Indians that run hundreds of miles without real shoes or injuries. Maybe Nike could show us some evidence to the contrary, but I doubt it.
Players get injured all the time--Russ Westbrook torn his meniscus wearing Jordan shoes. Kobe tore his Achilles in Nikes, and Joakim Noah suffered approximately 4 million injuries wearing his French tennis shoes. On top of that, LeBron James has seldom worn his new shoes this year--a Nike product!
You can rip on Adidas for making some of the ugliest shoes I've ever seen, but you can't blame it for Derrick Rose's injury any more than I can blame Adidas for my injury. I landed viciously on someone's foot and rolled off. I would have been injured badly in any shoe, though I admit some shoes would have done a better job than others of protecting my ankle. Rose's meniscus came on a freak play and bad pass from Joakim Noah. Terrible luck yes, the shoes? Not a chance. Rose would have been injured in Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Li Ning, or New Balance.
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| Mmm, now that's healed |
Shoes don't make you play basketball any better or any worse, for the most part. If you suck, you suck. If you're good, you're good. Some of the best basketball players I know love knowing about different shoes and care deeply about what they wear, while other dominant basketball players I know couldn't care less about what shoes they wear. However, I am a firm believe that your selection can impact your health.
 |
| Thanks adidas |
Take the Rose 2.5 (shown above). The way the midsole is situated is relatively unstable, and the lightweight (cheap) materials don't provide great ankle lockdown. Rose was banged up all season when he wore these, and I went as far as to blame the shoes for some nagging injuries. I stand by that statement, but I do not believe the shoes had anything to do with his ACL.
Nor do I believe the Rose 4 has ANYTHING to do with his torn meniscus. The web's premier footwear reviewer Nightwing2303 noted that the shoes are fantastic and graded them well for support--the area where the 2.5 lacked.
From my experience, the only really impact shoes can have on a player from a pain standpoint are hotspots (areas where the shoe pinches your foot) and cushioning (some make your feet very bruised/painful). Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour like to boast about how their respective patented cushioning system is better for your knees or "disperses impact" evenly. I'm not sure I buy that, particularly in light of Chris McDougall's Born to Run that traces injury not to overuse or to lack of cushion, but rather to the unnatural design of modern running shoes. You should read the book--I named it one of the best books last year--but to make a long story short, modern running shoes force runners to strike with their heels rather than their forefeet, causing injuries. He runs with a tribe of Tarahumara Indians that run hundreds of miles without real shoes or injuries. Maybe Nike could show us some evidence to the contrary, but I doubt it.
Players get injured all the time--Russ Westbrook torn his meniscus wearing Jordan shoes. Kobe tore his Achilles in Nikes, and Joakim Noah suffered approximately 4 million injuries wearing his French tennis shoes. On top of that, LeBron James has seldom worn his new shoes this year--a Nike product!
You can rip on Adidas for making some of the ugliest shoes I've ever seen, but you can't blame it for Derrick Rose's injury any more than I can blame Adidas for my injury. I landed viciously on someone's foot and rolled off. I would have been injured badly in any shoe, though I admit some shoes would have done a better job than others of protecting my ankle. Rose's meniscus came on a freak play and bad pass from Joakim Noah. Terrible luck yes, the shoes? Not a chance. Rose would have been injured in Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Li Ning, or New Balance.
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The Bulls Fall to the Jazz
In case you didn't believe that the loss of Derrick Rose was going to ruin the season, the Bulls tried their best to refute that notion, losing in overtime to the pathetic Utah Jazz 89-83. By no means did I think the Bulls would be good, but losing to possibly the worst team in the NBA without Enes Kanter and with Derrick Favors limited to 26 minutes thanks to foul trouble is simply inexcusable.
The Bulls hit 1-13 three pointers to shoot a whopping 7.7%. That simply is inexcusable when the opposing team is trotting out Richard Jefferson, Alec Burks, John Lucas III, and Trey Burke as perimeter defenders.
The Bulls looked fine defensively, forcing Gordon Hayward into terrible drives and even worse jump passes. Though he was occasionally bailed out by the officials, the Bulls did a great job containing Hayward, who I'm convinced has a much lower ceiling than many experts believe.
Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer Audition for the Rest of the League
While we know that Coach Tom Thibodeau was forced to give both Marquis Teague and Tony Snell considerably playing time (we'll get to that in a second), I think it was clear that the Bulls wanted to feature Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng in order to make them more enticing acquisition targets. Deng and Boozer attempted 18 and 23 shots, respectively, and ended with solid games of 24/10 and 26/16. Deng managed to get 13 free throw attempts, and it goes without saying that he will be in high demand throughout the entire league. Because he isn't signed for next season, he may not yield an amazing return, but he will certainly be able to net at least a 1st rounder if he continues to score so efficiently. I still think the perfect fit for him is in Memphis.
As for Boozer, while he experienced his normal defensive lapses, he provided much-needed fire power, showing limitless confidence from everywhere on the floor. Boozer took some terrible shots, but hell, someone needs to shoot. I'm confident Washington would love to add him to the fold. The rumors of his untradeableness are greatly exaggerated, in my opinion, particularly because he only has the rest of this year and next year remaining on his contract. Washington has another year of Nene. The Bulls could also afford to eat Eric Gordon's bad contract, which would happen to fill the Bulls' void at shooting guard.
The Kids Can't Play
Tony Snell and Marquis Teague are not very good--yet. Snell showed some flashes with his beautiful, high-arcing three point shot that should develop into a fantastic weapon in the lower part of the Bulls rotation. Teague is scared to death of Thibs, and frankly, it's time to move him. He's quick and can occasionally get to the rim, but his coach despises him. He will never thrive on the Bulls.
Can We Please Stop the Derrick Rose Hate?
I understand why fans would be frustrated by seeing the Bulls' best player go down for yet another season. However, fans and radio talk show hosts alike need to calm down. It's too early to say that Rose "won't ever be the same player" especially since he's ONLY 25 YEARS OLD. He's not ancient, and he could easily have another decade left in his career. Yes, it hurts to see him miss some of his formative years, but it isn't the end of the world. There is NO REASON to want to trade him, nor is there any reason to believe he won't be a superstar when he returns. Maybe he should have gone to Germany like Kobe Bryant, but in any case, he's still a star point guard who is the heart and soul of the Bulls and Chicago.
If you want to trade Rose or think it's time for him to retire, then you can also denounce your fandom. You think you're frustrated? How do you think Rose feels?
And if you look at his stats and say "he wasn't that great anyways," then you don't know a damn thing about basketball. The Bulls are a great team with him and a bottom of the barrel team without him. Need I say more?
Yes, the Bulls need another superstar, but not to replace Rose, but because you need multiple superstars to win an NBA title. Parker/Duncan, Wade/LeBron, Kobe/Gasol - the list goes on and on. Stars matter more in the NBA than any other sport, but luckily teams are dumb enough to let them go (I'm looking at you OKC). The Bulls will find one, fans simply must be patient. Or, Reinsdorf could fire GarPax and make the process go much quicker.
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The Bulls hit 1-13 three pointers to shoot a whopping 7.7%. That simply is inexcusable when the opposing team is trotting out Richard Jefferson, Alec Burks, John Lucas III, and Trey Burke as perimeter defenders.
The Bulls looked fine defensively, forcing Gordon Hayward into terrible drives and even worse jump passes. Though he was occasionally bailed out by the officials, the Bulls did a great job containing Hayward, who I'm convinced has a much lower ceiling than many experts believe.
Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer Audition for the Rest of the League
While we know that Coach Tom Thibodeau was forced to give both Marquis Teague and Tony Snell considerably playing time (we'll get to that in a second), I think it was clear that the Bulls wanted to feature Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng in order to make them more enticing acquisition targets. Deng and Boozer attempted 18 and 23 shots, respectively, and ended with solid games of 24/10 and 26/16. Deng managed to get 13 free throw attempts, and it goes without saying that he will be in high demand throughout the entire league. Because he isn't signed for next season, he may not yield an amazing return, but he will certainly be able to net at least a 1st rounder if he continues to score so efficiently. I still think the perfect fit for him is in Memphis.
As for Boozer, while he experienced his normal defensive lapses, he provided much-needed fire power, showing limitless confidence from everywhere on the floor. Boozer took some terrible shots, but hell, someone needs to shoot. I'm confident Washington would love to add him to the fold. The rumors of his untradeableness are greatly exaggerated, in my opinion, particularly because he only has the rest of this year and next year remaining on his contract. Washington has another year of Nene. The Bulls could also afford to eat Eric Gordon's bad contract, which would happen to fill the Bulls' void at shooting guard.
The Kids Can't Play
Tony Snell and Marquis Teague are not very good--yet. Snell showed some flashes with his beautiful, high-arcing three point shot that should develop into a fantastic weapon in the lower part of the Bulls rotation. Teague is scared to death of Thibs, and frankly, it's time to move him. He's quick and can occasionally get to the rim, but his coach despises him. He will never thrive on the Bulls.
Can We Please Stop the Derrick Rose Hate?
I understand why fans would be frustrated by seeing the Bulls' best player go down for yet another season. However, fans and radio talk show hosts alike need to calm down. It's too early to say that Rose "won't ever be the same player" especially since he's ONLY 25 YEARS OLD. He's not ancient, and he could easily have another decade left in his career. Yes, it hurts to see him miss some of his formative years, but it isn't the end of the world. There is NO REASON to want to trade him, nor is there any reason to believe he won't be a superstar when he returns. Maybe he should have gone to Germany like Kobe Bryant, but in any case, he's still a star point guard who is the heart and soul of the Bulls and Chicago.
If you want to trade Rose or think it's time for him to retire, then you can also denounce your fandom. You think you're frustrated? How do you think Rose feels?
And if you look at his stats and say "he wasn't that great anyways," then you don't know a damn thing about basketball. The Bulls are a great team with him and a bottom of the barrel team without him. Need I say more?
Yes, the Bulls need another superstar, but not to replace Rose, but because you need multiple superstars to win an NBA title. Parker/Duncan, Wade/LeBron, Kobe/Gasol - the list goes on and on. Stars matter more in the NBA than any other sport, but luckily teams are dumb enough to let them go (I'm looking at you OKC). The Bulls will find one, fans simply must be patient. Or, Reinsdorf could fire GarPax and make the process go much quicker.
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Monday, November 25, 2013
Game Preview: Bulls (6-6) Vs. Jazz (1-14)
This game is going to get ugly tonight, as the Chicago Bulls take on the Utah Jazz without Derrick Rose.
Without question, the Jazz are terrible. Last time I looked at the Jazz, we found out the Jazz are terrible. Even though Rose is out and Kirk Hinrich will start at point guard, the Bulls have a clear advantage. Trey Burke is back, but he's still an inexperienced rookie coming off of injury.
The main reason to watch tonight is to see the final days of this long-time core together. I have little doubt that the Bulls will do what must be done, and blow up the team.
The Jazz did somehow beat the New Orleans Pelicans last week, but we shouldn't anticipate a similar occurrence tonight.
Final Score: Bulls 95 Jazz 86
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Without question, the Jazz are terrible. Last time I looked at the Jazz, we found out the Jazz are terrible. Even though Rose is out and Kirk Hinrich will start at point guard, the Bulls have a clear advantage. Trey Burke is back, but he's still an inexperienced rookie coming off of injury.
The main reason to watch tonight is to see the final days of this long-time core together. I have little doubt that the Bulls will do what must be done, and blow up the team.
The Jazz did somehow beat the New Orleans Pelicans last week, but we shouldn't anticipate a similar occurrence tonight.
Final Score: Bulls 95 Jazz 86
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