After the last pre-season game, the Bulls look to the regular season with a number of questions and hopes.
1. Ben Wallace, Joakim Noah, and Tyrus Thomas all suffered injuries against their game with the Bucks. Depending upon the severity, the Bulls will be off to a difficult start to the season with three bigs out. I saw the Wallace injury, and I would say it's a definite sprain. He came down on Dan Gadzuric's foot going for an offensive rebound. This could end up with some serious burn for rookie Aaron Gray.
2. Speaking of Gray--viewers can already see the benefits and deficiencies he'll bring for the rest of his career. Big guy, some fundamentals, can score and pass with skill. I would compare him to a little less athletic Brad Miller. Gray will continually get beat off the dribble by quicker 4's and even some 5's. But he can bring a change of pace of the pine. I would consider him an upgrade over Mike Sweetney for sure.
3. Kirk Hinrich looked refreshed with great legs in his shooting form. I'll go ahead and proclaim that taking the summer off the U.S. National Team was a positive. I believe that Hinrich's numbers and defense will be climb once again this year.
4. Ben Gordon's ankles look A-OK, thank God.
5. Luol Deng=All-Star=Deeper play-off run this year. If he plateau's, Bull's are going to get beat in the 2nd round once again. Betting on his talent and character, we're in for a great season.
6. Sefolosha should come along this year. His defense is already solid, just needs that confidence in his shot. Once that comes into play, he can line up with Kirk, rather than Duhon.
Here's to the new year.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Kobe?
It's been well documented how unhappy Kobe Bryant is. His surrounding cast members doesn't equal a contender, let alone a play-off team in the West.
He has now demanded, or at least that is what we're made to believe, a trade from the team that envisioned him the cornerstone of the franchise.
Well the cornerstone seemingly wants out of the foundation, and frankly it's half his fault. Kobe took Shaq out of the equation, pushed the Zenmaster out for a bit. His attitude was plain--he wanted the spotlight, he wanted to be like Mike. Period.
After the Colorado sex scandal, and gaining years, Kobe understands his time as a prime time player is coming to a close. He wants to play for a winner. Got it.
But, unfortunately, Kobe signed a gigantic contract, making it near impossible for a plethora of trades to even occur. Especially this year.
The Bulls have come up in almost every conversation for the Kobe Trade. He wants to play in a major market, play in the palace MJ built, and the Baby Bulls are now contenders in the weak East.
No way is this happening this year.
The Bulls don't need Kobe. That's right, they don't. The Bulls would have to give up Deng, Gordon, or Hinrich, plus a pick for sure. At least two players and a pick at the least. You could probably throw in Noah or Tyrus Thomas too. By the time the Bulls finished the trade the look would be eerily similar to the current Lakers.
No, what we need is a post scorer, that is it. The Bulls are built for the future, but with a low post threat, title contenders for the better part of five years isn't out of the picture. Kobe couldn't get the Bulls any farther than they would without him, simply the pieces would allow it.
There are definately options out there. You can certainly think of some.
I'd say Pau Gasol.
But I'd love Jermaine O'Neal. Since the KG thing Paxson may have screwed up on. Wait and see for that verdict.
The package that would get most would ideally be--Gordon, a future pick, and Nocioni. Substitute Noc for a couple of other players, maybe including the afore mentioned Thomas and Noah, but the central package would be Gordon, plus one and a pick.
Let's just say the Pacers agree, and the Bulls let go of Gordon, Thomas, and Nocioni. It's win win.
The Pacers get a 20+ scorer in Gordon. A 6th man in Nocioni, maybe even a starter. And Thomas who can come in a play the energizer right away.
So the starting five might look like this--Tinsley, Gordon, Granger, Nocioni, Murphy. With Dunleavy and Thomas first to come off the bench.
For the Bulls--Hinirch, Sefolosha, Deng, O'Neal, and Wallace.
Sefolosha can guard the 2 spot instead of Hinrich constantly being asked to guard the bigger, and usually best player. This will allow Hinrich to focus more on offense as well as using his length to really harass opposing point guards.
There's my thoughts in a nutshell, could change in the coming weeks before the regular season. But what are your suggestions?
He has now demanded, or at least that is what we're made to believe, a trade from the team that envisioned him the cornerstone of the franchise.
Well the cornerstone seemingly wants out of the foundation, and frankly it's half his fault. Kobe took Shaq out of the equation, pushed the Zenmaster out for a bit. His attitude was plain--he wanted the spotlight, he wanted to be like Mike. Period.
After the Colorado sex scandal, and gaining years, Kobe understands his time as a prime time player is coming to a close. He wants to play for a winner. Got it.
But, unfortunately, Kobe signed a gigantic contract, making it near impossible for a plethora of trades to even occur. Especially this year.
The Bulls have come up in almost every conversation for the Kobe Trade. He wants to play in a major market, play in the palace MJ built, and the Baby Bulls are now contenders in the weak East.
No way is this happening this year.
The Bulls don't need Kobe. That's right, they don't. The Bulls would have to give up Deng, Gordon, or Hinrich, plus a pick for sure. At least two players and a pick at the least. You could probably throw in Noah or Tyrus Thomas too. By the time the Bulls finished the trade the look would be eerily similar to the current Lakers.
No, what we need is a post scorer, that is it. The Bulls are built for the future, but with a low post threat, title contenders for the better part of five years isn't out of the picture. Kobe couldn't get the Bulls any farther than they would without him, simply the pieces would allow it.
There are definately options out there. You can certainly think of some.
I'd say Pau Gasol.
But I'd love Jermaine O'Neal. Since the KG thing Paxson may have screwed up on. Wait and see for that verdict.
The package that would get most would ideally be--Gordon, a future pick, and Nocioni. Substitute Noc for a couple of other players, maybe including the afore mentioned Thomas and Noah, but the central package would be Gordon, plus one and a pick.
Let's just say the Pacers agree, and the Bulls let go of Gordon, Thomas, and Nocioni. It's win win.
The Pacers get a 20+ scorer in Gordon. A 6th man in Nocioni, maybe even a starter. And Thomas who can come in a play the energizer right away.
So the starting five might look like this--Tinsley, Gordon, Granger, Nocioni, Murphy. With Dunleavy and Thomas first to come off the bench.
For the Bulls--Hinirch, Sefolosha, Deng, O'Neal, and Wallace.
Sefolosha can guard the 2 spot instead of Hinrich constantly being asked to guard the bigger, and usually best player. This will allow Hinrich to focus more on offense as well as using his length to really harass opposing point guards.
There's my thoughts in a nutshell, could change in the coming weeks before the regular season. But what are your suggestions?
The Rundown
No Bull
This is a blog created to spark conversation and inform fans about the state of the Chicago Bulls. I encourage comments and hopefully we'll come across ideas that conventional news has lost. More people equals more ideas. I hope this is informative, slightly controversial, and entertaining. Thank you. Looking forward to the season.
This is a blog created to spark conversation and inform fans about the state of the Chicago Bulls. I encourage comments and hopefully we'll come across ideas that conventional news has lost. More people equals more ideas. I hope this is informative, slightly controversial, and entertaining. Thank you. Looking forward to the season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
