by --- on Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:07 am
Good to see the forum still going strong. Looks like you're right, I haven't seen the game in stores here anywhere and when I asked they had no idea it was on PC. I'll have to check out the postage costs, etc... but it'd be cool to get the game a few games into the regular season and kinda play along with the real season. I haven't read much about the game at all so all the features will be new to me (only played 2K8 a few times).
I agree with you on the need for Ben to start on this team. It's even more enforced now that we have VDN running things, and his offence (or Del Harris?) leaves features alot of open threes - something Noc has thrived off, and Ben would make an absolute killing off being one of the very best jumpshooters in the league. I see no reason to start Kirk - he slows the game down and looks very awkward out there at SG. It's like when he gets the ball, he reverts back to a PG and starts dribbling around. At SG next to Derrick, you have to get open and attack. He hasn't done that at all.
Then again, Larry is out with that shoulder injury and Thabo has been terrible in the preseason - so the choice is really only between Ben and Kirk. I can see where Kirk has the obvious edge - in that Ben, while he played very well, only played one preseason game and has missed alot of practice time. Not to mention something could be brewing with JR meeting with him yesterday. Alot of uncertainty at the two guard right now.
From the outside looking in, Ben should definitely be the starter, but obviously we don't know how practice goes or if certain people have issues, so I can accept Kirk starting. That said, if Ben is around for the longhaul, it's time to end this sixth man experiment. The guy is a starter in this league and will only reinforce that playing next to a great playmaker in Derrick. His lack of defensive ability is completely overblown in my opinion, especially since Kirk looked the most ineffective at that end of the court in his entire career last year.
I do think Derrick will make up somewhat for the lowpost issue. I don't think it would be an issue at all of Tyrus finished those shots he generates downlow so often, but there have been no signs of improvement thus far - although other parts of his game look better and his overall demeanor on the court looks alot more mature and under control. Also we ill have a full season of Drew Gooden, who despite his incredible defensive shortcomings is a solid option downlow and fully capable of putting up 15 points a night if he gets the shots. I don't think he will, but he is certainly capable of it.
I'm really looking forward to this season, we have alot of guys with things to prove. I'd say the Bulls are one of, if not the biggest question mark team in the league. The team completely fell flat on their faces last year, made no roster changes during the offseason after adding the number one overall pick who's strengths are something that haven't been seen on this team in years.
I think if we can move Kirk and resign Ben this offseason we have a good looking core. Derrick looks like a superstar come a few years time. Ben is a perfect fit offensively, and a guy like Luol Deng is a great fit next to those two guys feeding off all the attention they'll get. Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes will leave when their contracts expire and open up minutes for Tyrus Thomas - who could really be a 17/10 player in the NBA - and a potential Bruce Bowen/Shane Battier type roleplayer in Thabo Sefolosha. Joakim Noah if he adds the muscle will be a nice defensive 7 footer downlow who can run the floor, pass, rebound, block shots and finish around the rim. no doubt this team has a good foundation - it's all a question of the young guys meeting their potential and management making the right moves.
Obviously other than Derrick, Tyrus is the guy who needs to meet that immense potential he has. We have a 6-9 power forward who is one of the most athletic players in the league. I can probably count on one hand the number of PF's that can stick with him. He looks to have the jumpshot out to about 17 down somewhat consistently, enough to demand respect from the defence so they can't just sag off him. He's been somewhat of a blackhole offensively lately - most likely due to frustration and wanting to make a point, but he's also had alot of nice creative passes over his career that show he has good enough vision to make the right play. His ballhandling is great for a power forward, and when you combine that with his athletic ability and quickness he is a huge matchup problem downlow... he almost looks like a perimeter player at times.
Defensively we all know he can swat shots with the best of them, and is a very good rebounder who, if he gets the minutes, is a legit double-double threat. He does need some work on his man defence, but overall he is pretty good. Defensively speaking he's a gem.
He get's to the line quite alot for a PF, and knocks it down at a good rate. Especially this preseason, where I believe he has shot over 90%, which is unheard of from a PF. It wasn't from a small amount of freethrows either... he probably shot about 40 FT's over the preseason.
Yet why, in reality, is he a 7/5 bench player? Why hasn't he put it all together?
In my opinion his one huge issue is finishing around the basket. He's got the jumpshot. He can get to the rim anytime he wants. He can get to the line and knock it down. It just seems that unless it's a dunk or he's bailed out by the refs, he can't finish. He throws up some wild shots that have little chance of going in. If he plays 30 minutes a game this year like he should and gets a good 12-13 shots off, finishing becomes crucial.
If you look at his stats on 82games.com, it's really telling. I mean, it's obvious in games that he can't finish almost anything around the rim if it isn't a dunk, but the numbers really reinforce that.
Close range (non dunks):
LaMarcus Aldridge takes 25% of his shots from close range and shoots 52.5% from there.
Amare Stoudemire takes 26% of his shots from close range and shoots 62.1% from there.
Kevin Garnett shoots 19% of his shots from close range and shoots 59.9% from there.
Tim Duncan? 63.1%
Pau Gasol? 57.4%
Andrew Bynum? 54.9%
Carlos Boozer? 64.3%
I mean, these guys are good players, but I personally would expect a star post player to shoot up around 60% from close range. I think most people would expect that, and the numbers show that it should be.
Then we get to Tyrus Thomas.
36% of his shots come this way. That's a third of his offence.
And guess what? He only shoots 33.8%. I mean, that's terrible for a PF. Terrible.
To make matters worse, he gets blocked almost a quarter of that time.
If he can get his 13 shots a game, continue taking about a third of them in that manner... and hit them at a rate similar a guy like Pau Gasol? The skys the limit.
He can prove he can get to the line, he can get the offensive boards, he can get to the rim... he just needs to be able to finish. If he ever does... look out. A Derrick Rose/Tyrus Thomas combo would be nasty.