It's Time for Carlos Boozer to Go

The relationship between Bulls fans and Carlos Boozer has been mostly terrible. Upon arrival, Boozer immediately looked like an overpaid player. He was lazy on defense, making t-rex swats at the ball handler, while falling in love with long jumpers on the other end of the court. Boozer's lost playing time to the much studlier Taj Gibson, and it is clear Boozer has lost a step or two. He no longer has the explosiveness that made him a perennial 20 point scorer in Utah.

Fans have wanted Boozer amnestied since the lockout, and I think it's clear Boozer feels the same way.

Boozer finally complained about his lack of fourth quarter minutes:

"I think I should be out there," said Boozer, who is in the midst of his worst season as a Bull. "But it's [Thibodeau's] choice. He makes the decisions out there, so I play. I don't coach. He coaches. So he decides that.
"But honestly, he's been doing that a lot since I've been here, not putting me in in the fourth quarter. Sometimes we win; more times than not, we don't. But that's his choice."

"Super tough," Boozer said. "It's very frustrating, especially when I've got a great game going or what have you. Obviously as a competitor, you want to be out there to help your team win and especially when the game is close. You can do things that can help your team win. Not being out there, all you could do is really cheer them on. But that's [Thibodeau's] choice."

Ouch. Boozer wants to play, as anyone would in his situation, but it's completely his fault. Defense is [mostly] an effort issue, and Boozer has never showed interest in becoming an elite defender in the same way Gibson has. Boozer has approximately 40 lbs on Gibson, yet Taj does not allow himself to get bullied in the post. Boozer does. 

I was particularly shocked to hear Boozer say more times than not, the Bulls don't win. My quick calculation would suggest that the Bulls have won 68% of their games with Boozer on the roster.

Realistically, I'm sure Boozer is frustrated like everyone else, and more importantly, he wants to get paid an exceptional amount of money to not play for the Bulls next year. Nonsensical commentary like this will ensure that his dream comes true.

Luol Deng Happenings

Just a moment for our lost hero, Luol Deng. He hates the Cavs' culture, which includes Dion Waiters and Kyrie Irving bullying coach Mike Brown. There was a great story in the New York Daily News about the Cavs' situation, and if you love Lu, I highly recommend checking it out.  

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The Bulls Trade Luol Deng to the Cavs for Basically Nothing

So I misworded it. According to the Bulls, the team conveyed the contract of Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers who in turn conveyed the the contract of Andrew Bynum to the Bulls, along with a few picks with a few stipulations. I'm not sure exactly why, but the wording of the press releases really bothers me. I've never seen anyone word a trade press release like that before.

Bynum will be waived immediately, so don't get any dreams of the "Twin Towers" of Bynum and Joakim Noah. Cutting Bynum saves the Bulls $6 million in salary, but more importantly, $15 million in luxury tax money. Fans are always really concerned about saving Jerry Reinsdorf and Co money, but I'd hate to admit that I don't really care. I understand the rules of the salary cap, but the deal doesn't change the Bulls cap position much had the team allowed Deng to walk in free agency.

Why Wouldn't Deng Resign?

Word on Twitter from Bulls' beat reporter KC Johnson is that the Bulls offered 3 years/$30 million and 4 years/$40 million, though Deng is apparently looking for $14-$15 million a year. The Bulls weren't going to pay him what he wanted, and I have little doubt that some GM will come along with the offer Deng's looking for. You should totally understand that if you were in the same situation, you would want to maximize your earnings too.

We also must not forget management's handling of Deng's injury and sickness issues. You may recall that during the 2013 playoffs, Deng received a spinal tap and the poor guy nearly died. However, before that, the Bulls told Deng to get surgery on his injured wrist and not play in the Olympics--a once in a lifetime opportunity for one of professional sports' most global citizens. Deng may even sign for $10 million in the offseason, but it has been made pretty clear that he did not like how he was treated by management.

Deng's been one of my favorite players, and I've loved watching him play. His loss is devastating not only for his on-court efforts, but also because he's genuinely a great person. Character can often be tossed aside in the NBA, but Deng certainly isn't lacking it.

What did the Bulls really Get?

On top of saving the Bulls corporation significant cash payments, the trade netted the Bulls a few picks. The Bulls received a protected first round pick via the Sacramento Kings. The pick is top 12 protected this year, and top 10 protected until 2017. If the Kings remain miserable, then the Bulls will receive a 2017 2nd round pick. The Bulls also received 2 second round picks, one in 2015 and one in 2016 from the Portland Trail Blazers. With the Blazers off to an amazing start and wielding a young core that includes LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Nic Batum, and Wesley Matthews, I don't like the odds of that pick being located near the beginning of the 2nd round. Still, things can change rapidly in the NBA, so you never know.

It's tough to speculate, but I don't like the odds of the Bulls ever getting a first rounder out of this. Sacremento is a terrible team in an extremely difficult conference. Demarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay are some of the most selfish players in the history of the NBA, and, in typical NBA fashion, the team didn't allow hedge fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to buy the team to move it to Seattle and ball out. Maybe the Kings will get an unlucky bounce and be out of the top 10 within the next three years, but the odds are not great.

The Bulls can also swap picks with the Cavs after next season, assuming the Cavs don't resign LeBron James and begin stacking championship trophies. Heck, the Cavs might be better than the Bulls next season without LeBron, but this essentially gives the Bulls unlimited upside with no downside risk. 

There's no need to turn this trade into anything other than it is: a money saver. Sure, maybe it helps the Bulls to lose their best player and any chance at winning. Maybe the Bulls fall into the lottery, but even if they do not, the Bulls will have a better pick without Deng than with him.

Ultimately, I cannot help but think that the Bulls could have received something better. I know this post-lockout NBA has become much wiser in terms of signing players to outlandish deals (Drew Gooden) as well as in terms of acquiring assets. Nevertheless, I think the Bulls could have waited and received a guaranteed first round pick or at least a young asset for the future. Aside from the financial gain, this was a very risky trade.

I've loved every moment of Deng's career, and it sucks to see him go. I loved him paired with Ben Gordon, and I loved watching him bust his ass no matter how injured he was. The Bulls are officially in tank mode, but they may also be in "make life so unbearable for Tom Thibodeau that he quits" mode. We'll see what happens, but it will be a long season.

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Game Preview: Bulls Vs Grizzlies

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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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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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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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?

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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Bonus

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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Game Recap: The Bulls fall to the Nuggets

There are things I hate doing in life, and then there is addressing the issue of a Bulls' loss. This marks the 7th consecutive time the Bulls have fallen to the Nuggets in Denver, though for 2 3/4 quarters this game looked like it was in hand.

What went wrong?

It wasn't rebounding. The Bulls out rebounded Denver 58-48 while grabbing a whopping 22 offensive boards. Unfortunately, these second chance opportunities didn't matter as the Bulls shot just 38.8% from the field. The Nuggets' defensive wasn't necessarily lockdown, but the Bulls simply aren't a great shooting team, and the Nuggets' limited the Bulls post game in the second half, making scoring nearly impossible.

Carlos Boozer got off to a great start in the first quarter, but he couldn't help himself from broadcasting his shot. Thus, he finished with just 15 points on 7/18 shooting.

Deng was horrible offensively. He also began the game with a corner snipe, but he missed nearly every shot thereafter, shooting 3/18 on the night for 6 points. If you didn't notice there's a trend developing here--the Bulls can't score.

How about Derrick Rose? The star point guard scored 17 points in the first half, and for the first time all season, he looked comfortable every time he took the ball to the rim. Rose only had 2 turnovers, one of which was inexplicably thrown up the court and easily intercepted by Kenneth Faried.

In the second half, Rose mostly settled for jumpers, and things got ugly quickly. It's easy to see that Rose's jumper looks NOTHING like should. For some reason, not only are his feet staggered, but he is clearly not shooting at the peak of his jump, making him push the ball towards the rim. It was my understanding that Rose spent his time off honing his jumper, but as of right now, it looks uglier than it did in high school. He seems able to take threes, but any other jumper is a huge concern. I expect teams will start to sag off until he proves he can shoot.

Nasty Nate

Nate Robinson ignited a crucial 7-0 rally by himself last night, and Bulls fans across the world collectively cursed GarPax for not keeping him. Even in his post-game interview with Rachel Nichols, Robinson sounded devastated about his departure. Robinson only shot 3/13 from the field, but it was enough to spark solid play from Darrell Arthur and 17 points from Jordan Hamilton.

It hurts to see Nate do what he did best for the Bulls for the Nuggets, but it pains me even more to know that the Bulls do not have a comparable presence off the bench. Yes, Tom Thibodeau coined the good Nate/bad Nate moniker, and we know he hates players who don't play great defense (Nate tries!). However, it is easy for me to see the value of a high volume, irrational confidence scorer who can come off the bench and spark the offense. And Nate did just that for the Nuggets: Wilson Chandler was scoreless, Randy Foye and Ty Lawson weren't scoring much either.

Nate came in off the bench, took a lot of shots and gave the Nuggets are comfortable lead that boosted the confidence of everyone around him. The Bulls could use a guy like that, but they simply do not have one at this juncture. My hope is a Ben Gordon reunion next season but that seems like a pipe dream at best.

The Nuggets game was difficult, but I'm more upset from seeing the value of Nate Robinson than anything else. Perhaps the Bulls will find an irrational confidence guy at some point, but it probably will not happen this season.  

As a side note, I loved watching Taj Gibson and Thibs show emotion, even if it resulted in technical fouls. I do not like to see the Bulls go down silently.

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Game Recap: Bulls send the Raptors to Jurrasic Park

I'm not really sure if that title makes a lick of sense, but either way, the Chicago Bulls easily defeated the Toronto Raptors last night, 96-80. With Derrick Rose out with his injured hamstring, the Bulls received a great all-around performance from the starting lineup, as every starter notched double figures in scoring.

DeMar DeRozan exploded for 37 points, but the Raptors couldn't buy a bucket outside of him and Rudy Gay. The Bulls rotated extremely well defensively, interrupting all of the Raptors' outside attempts.

Taj Gibson Impressed

Taj Gibson continues to impress me this season. He was off last year, perhaps due to the pressure of a new contract, and some injuries. Whatever the reason, it looked like letting Omer Asik walk was a terrible decision, and I completely hated the decision at the time.

Flash forward to 2013, and Gibson looks like the player who impressed during his first three years in the league. While he hasn't added the 3-point shot he's talked about since his rookie season, Taj has looked explosive and done a fantastic job defensively, less a weak performance against David West. Last night Taj played just 21 minutes, but managed to chip in 6 points, 6 boards, and 2 blocks. Plus, Taj does a great job closing out and altering shots in the Bulls' rotation heavy defense.

Deng is so good

Though Rudy Gay was a little more efficient that I predicted, scoring 20 points on 7-15 shooting, Luol Deng did a masterful job grabbing rebounds and scoring an efficient 19 points. Deng never does anything flashy, and he still isn't a great ball handler, but the Bulls were +24 with him on the court. He doesn't necessarily fill up a stat sheet like you'd think an all-star would, but make no doubt about it, Deng is an elite small forward. He's going to get paid in the offseason.

Strong Three Point Shooting 

The Bulls were 7-16 from the three point line last night, and I was encouraged to see Jimmy Butler nail a pair of triples. Hinrich missed 5 threes, many of which were wide open, but overall, he did an admirable job filing in for Derrick Rose.

This is a short recap, but my beloved Blue Demons played today, and I've got to knock out a preview for tonight's huge matchup.

Let's go Bulls.

An Ugly First Half, but the Bulls Win!

It looked ugly there for a minute: the Bulls and Jazz were both running down the court, throwing ugly passes, and missing wide open shots. The first half was a high school basketball game played by the most ridiculous athletes in the world.

However, the Bulls ultimately overcame a terrible first half to easily discharge the Jazz, 97-73. The victory was quite impressive, especially while the Bulls registered 21 turnovers (the Jazz had 17).

What I loved

Luol Deng came to play, as he does every single game. He might be the single hardest working regular season player in the NBA, somehow grinding out 38 minutes in what should have been a massive blowout.

Deng just missed a triple double, shooting 7-9 from the field for 19 points, with 11 boards, and 9 assists. Deng also had 5 steals and 5 turnovers, so he really wasn't THAT far from a quintuple double.

I remain extremely optimistic about Deng's performance for the rest of the year. Even a hardworking, charitable citizen like Deng is motivated in a contract year. Whether or not the Bulls pay him, Deng will get at least $50 million this offseason, and performances like last night reinforce what an excellent player he is. Although a faction of Bulls fans think Deng isn't good enough of a player to contribute to a championship, I can see Deng singing this song, foreshadowing when the Bulls lose him in the offseason and LeBron drops 40 points.

Mike Dunleavy also finally hit some shots. He did look a bit hesitant in spite of having some wide open looks, but I was pleased to see Dunleavy take 7 shots in 21 minutes without once turning over the ball. While it can be easy to get down on a "blockbuster" offseason move who struggles at the beginning of the year, it looks like Dunleavy will eventually settle in and start becoming the a serious deep threat.

What I liked

Unfortunately, Derrick Rose is not yet Derrick Rose, yet every game he shows some flashes of returning to his MVP form. Rose passed the ball a little bit better and actually registered 5 free throw attempts.

Still, Rose turned the ball over far too much (4 times) and struggled to attack against the inferior defenders that guarded him. The last part of Rose's rehab is to return to game play, so let's just think of his current performance as part of his rehab program. I think we'll see him return to dominance by mid-December.

Defensively, the Bulls looked like a shutdown team, though that may have been a product of the pathetic Jazz offense. The blueprint for stopping the Jazz wasn't rocket science, but the Bulls executed perfectly, holding the team to 29% shooting. Bravo defense, bravo.

What I hated

This team is still missing a lot in terms of both effort and discipline. Lazy passes,  only 8 three-point attempts, and 21 turnovers are not positive, particularly against semi-decent teams that can capitalize. I hope that Thibs hasn't worn this team out the way Scott Skiles did in the mid-2000's. Thibs is a fantastic coach, but so is Skiles--but only for a few years at a time.

Additionally, Jimmy Butler continues to look completely lost on offense, with practically no confidence in open shots. I've seen some folks appropriately dub him Jimmy Pump Fakes, since he refuses to quickly pull the trigger on wide open threes. Butler needs confidence, so ideally, I'd like to see him take the next few open threes he gets without hesitation. As the great Colin Keeley says, great shooters shoot through adversity. If Jimmy can become a knockdown shooter, then the Bulls offense becomes significantly more dangerous.

Bottom line...it was an ok win

The Bulls need to win easy games to ensure a higher seed in the playoffs. Frankly, Bulls teams in the post-Jordan era have been notoriously sloppy against bad teams, so the weak first half performance against the Jazz comes as no surprise. Bulls by the Horns provides a more positive assessment of the game for those who do not share my frustration.

Anthony Bennett: Ready to miss some shots

The Cleveland Cavaliers come to town Monday with perhaps the worst #1 overall pick since Michael Olowkandi and a struggling Kyrie Irving.

I'll write a full preview, but at the moment, I think it's safe to say another victory is in the cards.

As always, Let's Go Bulls!

Bulls (1-2) Vs. Pacers (4-0)

It's going to be a battle tonight at the stadium formerly known as Conseco Fieldhouse.

Let's take a look at some of our Central Division Foes' top players.

Paul George: The Leap

If you follow the writing of Bill Simmons or any of the excellent stable of Grantland NBA writers, then you are aware of the well-documented "leap." The leap happens when a player takes his game to the next level.

Honestly, I wasn't THAT impressed by the Pacers coming into this season, even after the team picked up Luis Scola and CJ Watson in the off-season. A great bench is a luxury, but at the end of the day, only 5 players play at a time, hence why the Miami Heat continue to win championships without a talented front court. However, if Paul George maintains his current pace, the Pacers are a real threat in the East.

His numbers thus far are insanely good: 27 points per game, 8.8 boards, and 4.3 assists. Even more impressively, George is shooting 53% from the field while connecting on 45% of his threes.

Now, his shooting percentages simply aren't sustainable. George has shot 43% from the field through his first three years while hitting 36% of his shots from downtown. Still, as we saw in the 2013 NBA playoffs, there's no question that George is a superior player with the potential to takeover a game.

The Butler/Deng duo should stifle him a bit early on, but even if Paul gets frustrated, he can still materially impact the game on the defensive end. He's an ok shot blocker, but he uses his length to grab tons of boards and can disturb passing lanes. I'm officially all-in on the Paul George superstar designation, but this will be the hardest match-up he's faced this year.

Same Old Roy?

I was once banned from sitting in the student section at DePaul basketball games for telling John Paxson (who was sitting a few rows in front of me) to draft Roy. He dominated my pathetic Blue Demons, but the Bulls surprisingly received the #1 pick that year, rendering Mr. Hibbert obsolete.

Remember that Roy Hibbert last year who DOMINATED that pathetically weak Miami Heat inside? Well, thus far he's resorted to his regular season form, averaging about 8 points and 8 boards. However, he's averaging an insane 5.3 blocks per game, so we could see the Bulls getting swatted in the paint.

I'd be much more optimistic about this match-up if Joakim Noah played extensively in the preseason, but thus far, Noah's looked a little sluggish and unbalanced. Maybe a few days off have given him time to get into top-notch shape, but even if he struggles, Gibson simply isn't big enough to counter the 7'2 Hibbert.

If Butler and Deng smother George, watch out for a nice hi-lo game between Hibbert and David West to become the go-to offensive option.

That being said...I'm picking the Bulls

The Bulls can't lose this game, but the Pacers are equally motivated to win this game to show that they are the Heat's primary competition in the Eastern Conference. Still, I think Rose comes to play tonight, and I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for 35 on his home court.

Final Score: Bulls 102 Pacers 95

What's Going on with Derrick Rose?

The last time this Bulls blogger was able to write consistently, Derrick Rose won the MVP, and then faced a year riddled by injuries.

Flash forward to 2013: Rose is perfectly healthy, except for a sore neck, which has lead to some Kerry Walsh-inspired athletic tape.

After a dominant preseason, Rose has certainly stalled out during the first few games. To start the season, the former MVP has averaged 14.3 ppg on a disgusting 28.8% shooting. The second figure literally causes me to vomit.

Offensively, this phenomenon can best be described as rust. His shot is flat, he's having a hard time beating the first defender, and his famous ability to split double teams has been non-existent.



On the plus side, he definitely did not lose any jumping ability; in fact, Rose asserted that his vertical is 5 INCHES higher now at 43 inches. The athleticism is there, the confidence to split double teams and hit deep shots is not.

It may take a while, but he will be the Rose of old, and if his preseason jumper provides any insight into the future, it suggests he will be shooting at a higher percentage than ever. I expect a 45-47% shooting percentage to become the norm when he's healed, and if he can learn how to get LeBron/MJ calls, we could see that number move over 50%.

Once Rose is back, the offense will look brand new. 

Let's face it: the Bulls don't have another creator on the roster sans Rose. Jimmy has occasional flashes, but he's much better as a corner three point shooter who runs the court for easy buckets. Carlos can do some wonderful things in the post, and frankly, he looks better than he has at any point during his Bulls tenure.

But Dunleavy, Deng, Noah, Taj, Kirk and co. do not create opportunities for themselves. Unless the departed Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli were on the court last year, watching the Bulls play offense was an exercise in torture.

This year's offense looks familiar, but once Rose starts beating the first defender, defenses will collapse, corner three pointers will be open, and opposing defenses will have to choose between closing out on shooters and letting Rose drive, or stopping Rose and letting shooters go wild like they do in Miami. Here's a great story from SB Nation that explains why I love corner three's so much.

By no means is Mike Dunleavy quite the shooter that Ray Allen is (ok, he's the best shooter ever), but he will thrive when he gets open shots.

Patience is in order when it comes to this Bulls team. However, a championship is definitely not out of the question.

Tuesday's Game Reinforces Bulls' Chances

With tickets available for about $30 (thirty bucks!), myself and a few friends head over to the UC on Tuesday. The buzz in the crowd was noteworthy; I thought it was the "cool" thing to hate on the Bulls right now. Sam Smith touches on the issue nicely, but it seems to me like the typical negativity and pessimism of Chicago fans.

Perhaps the best part of the game was booing Evan Turner. I've never seen a hometown player garner as much hate, even more than Dwyane Wade post-Heat forming the super villains. I saw his family after the game and was surprised to see them hanging out after the game. Ballsy, but I guess his brother or something was about 6'8.

Nevertheless, the game reinforced what we already knew: Philadelphia is not good at all. We stopped Spencer Hawes and LaVoooooooooy Allen (future Hall-of-famer based on this series), and made their guards beat us. Personally, I enjoy seeing Andre Iguodala taking three's, fadeaways, and, well, anything that isn't a fastbreak dunk. The decimated Bulls are better than this Philly squad, even with Asik not running back on defense.

I suspect tonight will be more of the same suffocating defense and struggling offense. Let's just hope Luol remembers who to play like its 2005 again. As always, #freemikejames, but I think we might also want to #stoplavoy.

Talking Knicks and Linsanity, victory over the Heat

There was a great article in the New York Times about the end of Linsanity, and talked a bit with a friend/reader about the Melo- D'antoni feud. As much as I loathe the Knicks, this is a great story, with a bevy of opinions.

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I've never been a buyer of Jeremy Lin. I watched him play pretty well, lighting up mediocre point guards, and taking more shots than Allen Iverson. The flaws in his game were clear as day: he can't go left, he can't really handle the ball, and he makes a lot of unforced turnovers.

Yet, there's no doubt he can play. Is he a top 5 point guard as many speculated? Not by a long shot..

1. Derrick Rose
2. Deron Williams
3. Chris Paul
4. Russell Westbrook
5. Steve Nash
6. Rajon Rondo
7. Kyrie Irving (I'm going to regret putting him behind Rondo)
8. Tony Parker
9. Ricky Rubio (can't shoot, but neither can Rondo)
10. Kyle Lawry

And you can argue that CJ Watson, Eric Bledsoe, Darren Collison, Andre Miller, Brandon Knight, Ty Lawson, Mike Conley, Jeff Teague and John Wall are on another level above Lin. So, yeah, he's basically a league average guard playing in New York.

So if Linsanity is over, I wouldn't worry about it. There are at least 15-20 better point guards in the league (and a few are back-ups!).

When did Linsanity die for me? Not surprisingly, against Los Bulls, earlier this week. In the 4th quarter we saw Carmelo Anthony, one of the best half-court scorers in the NBA, calling for the ball against a combination of ROOKIE Jimmy Butler and Ronnie Brewer. Now, both are excellent defenders, but still, Carmelo is one of the best scorers in the game. He should be getting the ball in the 4th quarter.

Nope, Lin waves him off. Possession after possession, Lin seems to give the ball to anyone but Carmelo, until he demands the rock within the last 2 minutes (and puts up a few moments of epic chucking).

Frankly, I don't give a damn how good Lin thinks he is. He's still a 2nd year player refusing to defer to one of the best scorers in the game. And D'Antoni didn't care.

This begs the question, who's more important: Carmelo Anthony or Jeremy Lin?

In my eyes, that's a no brainer...it's probably the guy you traded several starters for. Probably one of the best scorers in the game, a guy who is considered the 3rd best small forward in the NBA.

And since D'Antoni has tried to force his run n' gun, open court style of basketball on a team built around a dominant isolation player, we've seen Carmelo go into hiding. New York fans seem to forget that Melo is awesome. He's a fantastic, top 10 NBA player who should be celebrated a  lot more than a league-average point guard. Maybe this is crazy, but I think this team is better without D'Antoni and without a Lin/Melo feud.


Talking Wednesday's game against the Heat...


John Lucas III is one of my favorite players, mainly because he might even be a little shorter than me and posts hilarious shit on Twitter. He came to play, scoring efficiently, lighting up LeBron and not really turning the ball over. I'm so impressed...to the point where I might end up ordering my Lucas jersey.

Of course, Deng is clearly more hurt than he's let on. He played alright, but a healthy Deng doesn't let LeBron score at will.

Boozer looked ineffective, as is the norm for him against the Heat. He had TWO points. I'm not sure what it is, but I'll give him a pass since he's looked like Utah Boozer the last few weeks. We might actually need him in the Eastern Conference Finals, though. So Carlos, come to play.

As for the enemy... I will admit, I still love LeBron. He's one of my favorite players, and as a former headcase athlete, I genuinely feel sorry for him. He's usually the best player on the court, but once that 4th quarter comes, or something throws him off, he's not what he should be. I'd love to beat the Heat with a beasting LeBron, but that might not happen.

Dwyane Wade on the other hand went nuts in the 4th quarter. He almost single-handedly won the game and looked like an MVP out there. Let's rejoice in victory and not think about what could have happened.

And now...

BEAT THE BLA (uh, what the hell did they do at the deadline?)... I guess this is the Blazers!

Bulls dominate Pacers (in the 2nd half)

I was lucky enough to be in attendance last night for one of the weirdest Bulls' games I've seen in a while. It ended in a 92-72 victory over the Pacers, highlighted by a buzzer beater by Scal with about 25 seconds remaining.

The first half was a sleepy daze. The Bulls came out lethargic and disinterested, but luckily Indiana did the same. Generally the Bulls only take the first half off against crappy teams like the Bucks and Bobcats, but the usual intensity was just not there.

Derrick was 1/9 from the field with just 2 points in the first half after his eruption just a day before against Philly for 35. Boozer and Deng also only hit one shot. Frankly, it was unbelievable the score was so close at half.

On another note, Paul George is a VERY solid NBA player. He's got decent size and strength, plays aggressive d, and can actually get to the rack a bit. Indiana has a great core with him, Granger, and Hibbert. Honestly, they're probably the 3rd best team in the East. They'll give the Bulls or Miami a headache in the playoffs.

Back to the game...The 2nd half was a completely different story. Thibs must have gone nuts in the locker room, and suddenly, the Bulls played like the best defensive team in the NBA; forcing turnovers, running the break, and knocking down lots of open shots. D. Rose exploded, and Deng hit a few bomb three's. Once the newly minted fair weather fans started getting REALLY into the game, the Bulls kept up the intensity and went from trailing to up 20.

Finally, let's give it up to JL3, who actually kept us in the game. He gets a lot of hate for having such unreal confidence, but the guy can really score.

A terribly disappointing Game 1

Back by very little demand, it's time to blog the playoffs. After a several month layoff, I will cater to my original fans that were psyched about my classic posts ripping Asik to shreds (who has turned into a very very decent role player).

The Good:

Well, Derrick Rose. Yes, that's pretty much it. The rest of the team played like complete shit, but Derrick proved, once again, he is the MVP, and currently, the best player on the planet.

39 points, 6 boards, 6 dimes, 3 blocks, and a steal? Pure fire. He reminds me of MJ. I briefly thought the Bulls would lose, but then looked at D.Rose (I swear he looked back) and he said "nah all I wanna do is wiiiin." Watch for those 3's to start falling...

And he was correct. That's about all the positive color I can give to the Bulls. Well, Luol showed up in the 4th quarter.

The Bad:

Where do we start with this? How about Kyle Korver? Great shooter, but perhaps the most un-clutch player in the league. I'm still stunned he even took the wide open three Derrick gave him. I counted 3 passes he made to defer the pressure to others. Not exactly a vote of confidence...

The defense sucked. Terribly. The Bulls strengths tend to be switching and closing out better than anyone this side of Pat Ambrose. I didn't see the energy I expect in the playoffs. I saw lazy, half assed, kind of run at the shooter, but not really defense.

Joakim also didn't provide the stable middle presence I like to see. He didn't roam, nor did he play Roy Hibbert all that tough.

The Ugly:

This goes out to Carlos Boozer. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING?

The laziest, most pathetic display of defense I've ever seen. He took some awful shots and looked half-disabled on the offensive end. He looked like he might enjoy Tyler Hansborough dropping 40 points on him. The energy and lack of enthusiasm Boozer played with does not belong in the playoffs, but it certainly does NOT belong on this Bulls team. It's an insult to everything D. Rose and the bench mob stand for.

With that in mind, Thibs why didn't you play Asik?

Asik would have manned up and got in Hansborough's face, played some awesome, intense off-ball defense, annnnd he would have been the funniest looking white player on the court, exceeding the humorous looks of Mike Dunleavy Jr and the hilariously bald Tyler Hansborough.

Overall Grade: D+

Only because they won. Rose gives them the plus. I'll give them the first game jitters slack, but the Pacers outplayed, out-hustled, and destroyed the Bulls. I have the worst taste in my mouth just thinking about it...

Weekend Wrap Up

I'll have to admit, I missed the Rockets game but it sounded great. But I did watch the entire Celtics game. Disappointment.

It was great to see Boozer work his post moves. He's literally the piece we've been missing since Eddy Curry left. However, he's horrendous defensively and still looks rusty. Basically the Grey Goose to Taj Gibson's Dimitri's.

Though its great to have Booz back, I've noticed a disturbing trend in D. Rose...an unwillingness to drive. Initially, I assumed it was overconfidence in his much-improved jumper, but his face tells a different story. He fears getting clobbered. Now, do I blame him? Not at all. The NBA powers-that-be have failed to identify him as a top 5 star (which he is), and he does not get the protection he deserves. Dwight Howard has been known to nearly murder him underneath the hoop, and Shaq straight up cleared his ass to the ground. What is this?

I'd also like to see some more effort. The Bulls have a terrible habit of forcing themselves to play from big-time behind.


RJ

Deng Solid Number Four, Probably No More

As a long time Bulls fan, like everyone, I have trying to understand the enigma that is Luol Deng. Is he not very good? Is he just overpaid? Maybe his crooked smile hides a tortured soul? Well, maybe not...


In a lot of ways, Luol Deng is the archetype of "well, just not quite there." If you're looking for examples, check out Shia LaBeouf. He's paid like a Brad Pitt type, but he's just not that good. He's okay. He showed some comedic promise on Even Stevens and has since had flashes, but ultimately, he's not what Hollywood wants him to be. It's still too early to write him off, we think, but really, he's pretty much just an average actor. 


This brings me back to Luol Deng. Similar career arc. Back in the day, Lu was "raw" and 2nd only to LeBron for professional prospects. He had a decent season at Duke and the Bulls picked him in the first round. Throughout his first several seasons we saw terrible three point shooting, mediocre rebounding, and decent slashing. He wasn't much to think about. 


Then this preseason, I thought I saw someone knew. Lu was knocking down three's, keeping his dribbling to a minimum (which is good for my heart attack count), and playing intense defense.


Now, a month into the season, we have experienced the best of Luol (40 point game), some AWFUL disappearing acts, and terribly unclutch play. He's clanked some crucial layups off THE BACKBOARD! What the hell? He's better than that. 


But not much. Pending Boozer's return (maybe he is the number two we need), the Bulls probably won't win a title until Luol is the fourth best player on this team. Rose might need another a scorer, but the way he's scored at ease this season, I'll assume he doesn't. That leaves Joakim Noah as one hell of a third best player on a great team, and hopefully, Boozer can be that number two. Much like I gave up on Shia after the 1st Transformers movie, it's time to throw in the towel on Lu. 


Don't get me wrong, I love Deng. Great defender, gritty, long. Awesome mid-range shot. 


He's just not the guy. (If Ben Gordon were 6'4 oh boy would he be the guy)


For now, Deng must be our fourth best player, and thrive in that role, bringing his energy and defense to the table. Or, in my ideal scenario, we would use him to pry OJ Mayo from the Grizzlies, who seem to be a little disgruntled with his poor shooting. I love OJ as the third or fourth best player on a great team, and the Bulls are the perfect fit.


As for Deng, I still love him, goofy smile and all, but cannot say I'd rather have him on this team than BG... Only time will tell. 

Circus Trip Wrap Up

Well ladies and gents, the infamous circus trip is over, and I've drawn quite a few conclusions based on what I saw.




1. Obviously, D. Rose is on another level.


Yeah, I probably don't need to say this, but he's shown that he truly isn't a number two. Rose is an alpha, give me the damn ball and watch what I do with it, kinda guy. More impressive than his position as the number two scorer in the league, Rose looks to bIe scoring effortlessly, and continually scoring in spite of not being on his game. Top PG in the league? Everyone says D.Will, but I think so.


2. Thibs still needs to work on his in-game coaching


Nuggets game.


3. An upgrade at shooting guard wouldn't be nice, it's borderline essential.


Yes, Ronnie and Korver have been a solid 1-2 punch, but we need a consistent scorer who can shoot and defend. Rip Hamilton seems like a perfect fit, as would BG if Detroit would rather dump his salary. In my opinion, either one could put this team on another level.


If neither of them, maybe give Vince Carter *don't kill me* a shot. He's been banged up this season, and clearly, the Magic don't really need him. I wouldn't hate the move.


4. CJ Watson is a decent back-up


SN contributor Corey Hickman has ragged on CJ  a lot, and even called for them to bring in anyone to replace him. As much as I love Patrick Beverly, CJ can play, and not half bad at that, when given some time.


5. The Kings are the worst team in the NBA


To see that team quit at the end was downright disgraceful. Paul Westpal should be ashamed of himself, especially considering the insane amount of talent he has in Tyreke Evans and Demarcus Cousins. Cousins is the next Al Jefferson. You can quote me on it.




Stay tuned for my next post breaking down Luol Deng.




Just for fun...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYFlzJyxWlw

A Good Start to the Circus Trip... Bulls 95 Rockets 92

In a lot of ways, this was a really strange game. The first quarter was played fairly tight, but each quarter after that resulted in enormous point differentials and momentum swings...and a lot of strange offensive foul calls. 


The Good:


Derrick Rose: 33 Points, 7 Assists, 3 steals... AND... 4-5 from 3 point range. Yes 4 three's in a single game. And yes, Derrick Rose. So pretty it hurt. 


Ronnie Brewer started to look like an NBA player. That's excellent news. 


The Bad:


Taj Gibson: Luis Scola looked much more like Hakeem out there than himself. Taj also couldn't buy a bucket. 


The Highly Irrelevant:


Omer Asik seems intent on increasing his random two handed power dunk from one to two per game. 


Sadly, there isn't much to say about this game. It was somewhat ugly outside of Rose.