Enjoy! Nikola Mirotic is pretty good at this game. I hope the Bulls find a way to make it work.
Tweet
Thursday, December 5, 2013
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.
Tweet
More Bulls of the Day
 |
| 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.
Tweet
More Bulls of the Day
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.
Bonus
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.
Tweet
More Bulls of the Day
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.
Tweet
More Bulls of the Day
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.
Tweet
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.
Tweet
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)