Chicago Bulls Thread

[benji]

Last year Gooden was the best forward in the East at the time of the All-Star game, this year he's not playing AS good but Sheed, West and Frye have joined the top guys. He's still a top 15 power forward and I doubt anyone's giving him more than the mid-level which would make him a nice addition like Donyell Marshall was.

If the Bulls strike out this offseason they do get a do-over in 2007 provided they don't max out someone or sign too many guys to big long term deals. The Spurs struck out in 2003 and it turned out better for them in 2004.

Do FAs want to go to Chicago though is a big question...if they do the Bulls can get in position to get some guys coming off rookie contracts in 2007.

I'm an optimist on building teams because it's the only way you can do it, you can't build a team looking at it and saying "there's nothing we can do" of course as most people know I'm also a scorched earth, scrap everything and start over kinda guy.

I just like the Bulls chances more than a few teams because they have a solid foundation + cap space + two picks this year. Those are pieces you can use to turn teams around in a jiffy.

[air gordon]

Last year Gooden was the best forward in the East at the time of the All-Star game, this year he's not playing AS good but Sheed, West and Frye have joined the top guys. He's still a top 15 power forward and I doubt anyone's giving him more than the mid-level which would make him a nice addition like Donyell Marshall was.

Gooden's only 25 and iirc is coming off a rookie contract. His agent should be fired if he can only get Gooden the MLE. Nevermind Cleveland would resign/match offers on Gooden if thats his market value

Do FAs want to go to Chicago though is a big question...

No more Jerry Krause in Chicago

I just like the Bulls chances more than a few teams because they have a solid foundation + cap space + two picks this year. Those are pieces you can use to turn teams around in a jiffy.

yeh I agree that Paxson has put the team financial/talent-wise in a decent position. Just seems like dumb luck they have lots of cap in an offseason where there aren't any big "impact" FA's... have 2 first round picks in a draft that doesn't have a sure fire franchise player

[Andrew]

Another loss today. Really starting to cut it close now.

[air gordon]

stick a fork in them. they couldn't gain any ground on philly while Iverson was out!

season's over. time to start reading draftexpress and follow the NCaa tourney (specifically Aldridge) more closely

[Andrew]

Figures it would happen the year I buy a season ticket.

[Drex]

The jinxing powers are back, Andrew?

[Fenix]

Although Gooden is one of the few available big men out there, Bulls shouldn't go after him. He's soft as a pillow and can't defend a wall. They'd be better off drafting some good PF/C prospects. Aldridge sounds good, although I have an unusually strong feeling that his career will be riddled with injuries. I've seen one LSU game and I can only say that Tyrus Thomas is a monster. I haven't seen a PF so quick and athletic since young Kemp. I only hope that he'll measure out at 6'10 with shoes (his most frequent comparison, Stromile Swift is 6'11 with shoes on). He looks taller than Sheldon Williams. He has a great motor, feel for the game and his ceiling is off the charts.

That god that McRoberts is staying at Duke. And Sheldon Williams will be a great role player in NBA, probably a 12/9/2 guy, which is great if you already have a star at C and not so great if you have someone who brings you exactly the same on the table - Tyson Chandler. But then again, if they pick him with their second #1, I wouldn't be dissapointed. Draft Rudy Gay, Chicago (and hope that Tyrus Thomas is available with their second pick). I have a good feeling about him.

[Andrew]

The jinxing powers are back, Andrew?

Looks like they're back, for the Bulls at least.

[Andrew]

Bulls take the game against the Hornets, Skiles rewarding his pets and putting Gordon back on the bench...I suppose it was only a matter of time. Fortunately Gordon scores 25 points and gives them a boost in the fourth. I guess that will earn him three minutes off the bench in the next game.

I'd like to think there's still a slim chance but if the door is still open it's only ajar the slightest crack.

[air gordon]

i wouldnt say he was rewarding his pets. nevermind sweetney isn't a skiles fav hehe

the team had been in a funk and he thought a lineup change was in order. glad it worked

big games coming up against the celts and later philly twice

[Andrew]

True, I did skim over Sweetney in that assertion. At any rate, so long as the players who are playing well get minutes I guess it doesn't matter who starts, though I do believe in putting your best unit out there to start the game lest you dig a huge hole for yourself.

[Andrew]

Jeez...they're really teasing us with this apparent last ditch effort. I might even have to eat my words regarding Skiles. But we'll see. No matter what happens, I like that they're prepared to finish the season fighting rather than tanking/cruising. Isiah has handed them a top five pick, they don't move up too much if they just miss out on the playoffs as opposed to making it. So why not build some character and make a run?

Very small gap, no room for second chances at this point but at least we'll have something else apart from the offseason to talk about for a couple more games at least.

[benji]

I watched that Celtics-Bulls game, and I'm sure limp can tell me if this is indicative of the teams usual performance but from what I saw the Bulls would go through stretches where nobody wanted to shoot, and then suddenly everyone would decide to be the man. Almost like they said "well, if they aren't going to shoot, guess I have to." It was why they'd pull even with Boston, then fall back down ten again in that third quarter. They'd pass it around passing up shots they should've taken or moves they should've made. Then after doing that for a few possessions suddenly Deng would start posting up, Hinrich would cut to the basket, Noiconi would fire up threes, etc. And the Bulls would make maybe one pass per possession. Even Gordon was showing passiveness. I don't know if it's Skiles or it was just that game.

At least he's not Doc Rivers. I swear he made a substitution at every dead ball. Then with Pierce and West with hot hands (West had his own 5-0 run, Pierce makes that half court shot) and the Celtics up 12, Rivers replaces them with Scalabrine and Orien Greene. The Bulls thankfully used the opportunity to get back in the game.

[air gordon]

yeh a lot of games are like that- have 2 strong quarters then sleepwalk through another. make a comeback in the 4th but find a way to mess it up

though the celtic game reminded me of the bulls team last year- they were able to hang in there/make the plays when they needed to (well more like Chandler making big blocks/rebounds & Gordon scoring a lot of points in the 4th)

i refused to be teased by this team. though now that my brackets are toast, i'm almost forced to watch the Bulls now. i'll be more then happy to have the team prove me wrong

[Fewrookies-From2kW/Love]

Damn, so much for the playoffs. How the hell can the Bulls let this go? Heartbreaking

[Andrew]

Well, that's extremely disappointing. Leading up to the fourth quarter then getting blown out 24-11 to drop the game to Orlando. The win would've placed them half a game behind the Sixers. Philly plays the Pistons next so the Bulls could catch a break but time is running out.

[air gordon]

what a bunch of pussies

orlando had their 'well we're giving up lineup' in the 4th and they still came back

[Andrew]

As you said earlier, that back-to-back with Philadelphia could end up being the deciding factor. Hopefully they race won't be decided until then, just to keep things interesting.

Apparently ESPN is picking up the Bulls/Wizards game on Friday the 14th of April. Best of all, ESPN Australia will be showing it too! Thank you to whoever made that decision, even if the game is meaningless - and I'm still holding a shred of hope that it will in fact mean something - it's a live Bulls game instead of another Spurs matchup.

[maes]

what a bunch of pussies

orlando had their 'well we're giving up lineup' in the 4th and they still came back

And Darko threw down on the Bulls...the shame.

[Drex]

it will in fact mean something

Yeah, hopefully it means that Philly is in the playoffs

[air gordon]

what a bunch of pussies

orlando had their 'well we're giving up lineup' in the 4th and they still came back

And Darko threw down on the Bulls...the shame.

lol Darko's haircut makes him look like Andrew DeClerq

yeh it was pretty sad. Orlando's tall frontline didn't seem to bother the Bulls for the first 3 quarters- especially in the 1st. then all of sudden, Orlando blocks 1 or 2 shots in the 4th and all of sudden the Bulls got scared shitless

[Andrew]

it will in fact mean something

Yeah, hopefully it means that Philly is in the playoffs

Out.

[Andrew]

Timely win over the Bobcats, good thing they had that big first half though seeing as though they gave up 64 points in the second half (37 in the fourth). Still, it's a win and right now as long as they're ahead by the final buzzer, it helps their cause. It'd be more encouraging if they were solid, impressive wins but right now they just need the victories no matter how they come, if they want to catch Philly.

[air gordon]

no Chicago Bulls lead is safe

for the 2nd game in a row, the team goes through a quarter where they think going inside the 3pt line is like going out of bounds

Deng & Nocioni continue to carry the team

Scottie Pippen said the Bulls have started to dominate

[shadowgrin]

Chicago Bulls Thread aka Andrew & Air Gordon talk Bulls

You two sure have a way of monopolizing a thread.
Andrew and air gordon, me being a 76ers fan, if I showed you my e-middle finger :

..|.

..will I be banned?