Chicago Bulls Thread

[air gordon]

Undecided. I don't think he's had enough time. What can you blame him for? What has he done to deserve a firing? What gives you the impression he won't be a good coach?

[Andrew]

In all fairness, blame has to be shared around, and it's possible Hoiberg is receiving too much of it. I do feel a bit pessimistic about him though, as this is essentially the same team that won 50 games last season, and was projected to fare about the same this year. Instead, they've taken a step backwards as they've gotten worse defensively, and the improvements that were supposed to come offensively haven't happened. If it's because Hoiberg doesn't have the right personnel, then I have to ask, was he the right person to bring in? Are they truly great offensive ideas if they have such specific requirements that they can't be tailored to fit different squads?

I look back at Thibs, and I have to think that with all the injury woes the Bulls have had in recent years, he was able to do more with less. The same goes for a couple of those Scott Skiles-led teams about ten years ago. I get the whole "you're only as good as your record" deal, and it's not like the roster itself doesn't have problems, but comparing them to the overachieving squads of the past, I don't know that Hoiberg got the most out of them that he could. Taking into account Butler's criticisms of the team not being pushed or held accountable for their shortcomings, I'm left wondering whether he has the right mentality to lead an NBA team from the sidelines.

It's possible that he just needs some better assistants on his staff, though he does have Jim Boylen as his associate head coach, who most recently worked under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio before joining the Bulls this past year. If Hoiberg is let go, I'd be inclined to promote from within, and give him the job. It's probably only fair to give him a little longer - like I said, I'm not reaching for my torch and pitchfork just yet - but I just don't feel too optimistic about him. Maybe it's just an incorrect hunch born of higher expectations and disappointment, but I don't think he's lived up to the hype.

[air gordon]

then I have to ask, was he the right person to bring in?

good question. this is Forman's handpicked guy who was given a 5 year contract

Are they truly great offensive ideas if they have such specific requirements that they can't be tailored to fit different squads?

tell me if i'm wrong on this- the impression i get of hoi-ball is high pace, ball movement, 3pt shooting. the bulls best players are anti hoi-ball players: iso heavy and can't make 3's. Gasol, Rose and Butler all want their touches. it's been a struggle for hoiberg to get the best players to buy into his system

to his credit, hoiberg has shown flexibility in changing up his lineups and even runs some of thibs offensive sets. i was always pro-Thibs but Thibs was stubborn as an ox when it came to making changes.

Butler's criticisms of the team not being pushed or held accountable for their shortcomings

this is an interesting point. if Rose doesn't constantly push the pace, should he get benched? If Butler holds the ball for most of the possession leading to a bail out iso, should he get benched? and Pau's horrific pick and roll defense? how about just listen to the coach!

i think this is a leadership issue. someone on this team needs to step up. this roster is full of seasoned veterans unlike the early Thibs and Skiles coached teams. noah was already ostracized once he was benched and then when his shoulder injury happened, any hope of leadership was gone.

i don't think Hoiberg is per say a bad coach. it's the management who left the same flawed roster alone and thought hoiberg would magically fix it.

it's really the management you shouldn't feel optimistic about

[Andrew]

If leadership isn't going to come from a taskmaster on the sidelines, someone on the floor definitely needs to step up. If Butler is truly the guy to build around, it should probably be largely him.

The five year deal suggests that Hoiberg isn't going anywhere for at least half of another disappointing season. I guess he's got to be given a bit more of a chance. And yeah, I'm not overly optimistic about management either, but what else is new when it comes to the Bulls?

[air gordon]

it should be Butler. i think he's trying but i don't think everyone is sold on his leadership. such a dysfunctional bunch.

Gibson credited a team meeting Sunday with helping the Bulls find their sense of urgency. The players aired their thoughts, then delivered a better effort in a home loss Monday to the Atlanta Hawks before beating the Pacers and Rockets.

Although he is out for the season with a shoulder injury, center Joakim Noah played a large role in the meeting, Gibson said.

‘‘It helped the meeting out a lot, having Jo be that voice and speaking out,’’ Gibson said. ‘‘Guys [were] laying it out, telling how they feel. You can tell the difference in how guys are playing. The big difference you’re seeing is that guys are pushing through a whole bunch of injuries, trying to get wins. Everybody’s feeling it’s us against the world right now.’’

‘‘Guys are just playing hard for each other,’’ Gibson said. ‘‘Everybody’s banged up, nicked up, but we feel we can do some damage in the playoffs. We feel we dropped the ball during the year, but this is the best time of year to come together.’’

i'd be surprised if hoiberg is fired halfway through next season. barring some miracle trades, the bulls probably won't make any major moves until 2017 offseason.

[Andrew]

Noah for head coach! I know at least one Forum member who'll enjoy that.

It may be too little too late for the Bulls, even if they're not mathematically out of the postseason yet. If it means some positive changes moving forward though, then that's something to take away from the season at least.

[air gordon]

Loss to the pistons should be the nail in the coffin

My heart goes out to Butler for the hero game vs the bucks

Shut down the injured guys and let felicio and portis dominate

[Andrew]

Yeah, it's going to take a complete collapse by the Pacers or Pistons, we're pretty close to seeing them officially out at this juncture. Well, maybe they can still finish 41-41 or 42-40, and feel kind of good about that, though they probably shouldn't. Bring on the lottery and its slim chances!

[air gordon]

Can't win the lottery if you don't play and the draft is garpax's bread and butter

Haven't paid much attention to the college game. Time to get on the hype train of college prospects

Any early favorites for the bulls to select?

[Andrew]

I don't follow the NCAA closely enough to have a specific suggestion or preference. Are there any promising point guards likely to be available in the middle of the first round, someone who could perhaps take Rose's place in the long run, and be a better distributor alongside Butler?

[air gordon]

The blind leading the blind.

Let's wait for novu and the laker fans to pass along the info

[air gordon]

the nightmare season is almost over. a blowout loss to the grizz in a must win game?! randolph destroys pau, butler plays like a bum

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jimm ... -and-bond/
shots fired, albeit passive aggressively done, by jimmy butler-

“When you’re seeing each other work out and train, you gain a lot of respect for the individual because you see them putting in their time, you know what I mean? I’m not saying that I don’t respect him, but if he sees how much I’m in the gym every day and I see how much he’s in the gym every day, you know that you rhyme with that individual, and I think that’s a very important thing.

sadly this drama may be the only reason to watch this season play out

[Andrew]

Looks like Gasol will be moving on: http://bulls.247sports.com/Bolt/Chicago ... n-44697915

The Chicago Bulls had the opportunity to move All-Star forward/center Pau Gasol at the trade deadline but they elected to hold onto the veteran with the hope that he'd help lead them to success in the postseason.

With Chicago all but eliminated from the playoffs following last night's loss to the Miami Heat, it seems like Gasol's future with the franchise is becoming much clearer.

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, it seems like Gasol and the Bulls will go their separate ways this summer as Pau has the ability to opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent.

[air gordon]

but that conflicts with gar's proclamation of him being part of the core!. should have traded Pau at the trade deadline. another asset lost for nothing. who is being held accountable for this, gar??

[Andrew]

"Well you see, when I said that, what I really meant was..."

[Rolax]

Hey guys, i'm new here, but i've been fan of the bulls since 09-10. I've seen that air gordon has been in this forum since 2002. That's crazy. Respect for you. So I want to know your thoughts about this season. What do you think of DRose,Jimmy and other Bulls? If you ask me i'm all in Rose, he's my MVP. And I do believe he's going to be his MVP form next season.

[Andrew]

I wish I could be that optimistic about Rose, but I feel if he was going to recapture that form, he'd already be back at that level. I feel there's a possibility he could play better than he has the past couple of years, and be a solid contributor if healthy, but it seems like his days as a star are over.

[Andrew]

Thibs still taking the high road: http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/tom-thi ... a-playoffs

Fair points all around I'd say, though again, I'm not as optimistic when it comes to Rose. With the East being a lot stronger, it was definitely a bad year for them to falter. The past couple of seasons, they'd probably have padded their win total a bit with easier competition in the East.

To put a positive spin on things - because they are right on the brink of being eliminated from Playoff contention - maybe this disappointing year can be a catalyst for change. It seems Gasol is gone, Noah's quite possibly gone, and moving Rose might be more realistic, so there's an opportunity and incentive to re-tool.

[air gordon]

thanks, Rolax. there are other members of the nlsc community that have been around longer than me like the the other member posting in this thread haha

i share the same sentiments as Andrew on Rose. he is under contract through next year and it would prolly be best for both sides to play it out

stay classy, thibs. the minnesota job will be yours for the taking.

Noah's quite possibly gone

kc johnson speculates the bulls want to resign noah

so there's an opportunity and incentive to re-tool.

imo it was a great year for them to falter. imagine if gar brought everyone back (pau, noah, and brooks to multiyear contracts) because gar thought they were contenders. what a disaster! them not making the playoffs is indeed the best catalyst for change.

[Andrew]

Oh, I just meant it was bad timing in terms of wanting to be competitive and make the Playoffs. In a weaker Eastern Conference, they could've looked more respectable, padded that win total. Of course, that clearly would've been fool's gold and as you pointed out, potentially disastrous in the long run. This disappointing year may end up being the best thing that could've happened as far as bringing on changes for the better, tough as it was to endure. Here's hoping.

I'm not sure how I feel about them re-signing Noah. His leadership and heart can't be questioned, and he's obviously been a Bull for a long time and a key contributor in the modest success they've had. However, his game has also slipped drastically. Giving Gasol a big contract would have been questionable; doing the same for Noah, even more so. Offering him less is probably going to be a further insult on top of his benching and Hoiberg's less-than-truthful "He offered to come off the bench" remarks, but he's just not worth a big contract. I guess that's tough to gauge the way salaries are shooting up - $10-12 million seems to be the new $5-8 million, for example - but he shouldn't be one of the highest paid players on the team.

Same goes for Rose. Say he does re-invent himself, and becomes a more consistent and valuable contributor again, with Butler as the franchise player. I think in that situation, it's not unreasonable that they give some consideration to re-signing him this time next year, assuming it hasn't opened up a favourable trade opportunity (ie a decent player or two and/or picks they will actually receive, no bad contracts) in the meantime. But if Rose's career with the Bulls was to continue past next year - and I'm not saying it must, mind you - there's no way it should be with a contract that's anywhere near what he's making now. Five years ago, you could justify that kind of investment in Rose and Noah. Not now.

[Andrew]

Bulls are officially out of the Playoffs. If they somehow lucked into a top three pick, that'd be awesome...though, I admit I'd be fearful that GarPax would pull another LaMarcus Aldridge/Tyrus Thomas swap with it. They're difficult to trust, though they do draft better than they trade, you can certainly give them that.

[air gordon]

kc johnson's on the bulls season

i say the bulls resign noah. his defense and leadership were greatly missed this year. the bulls need a defensive anchor as long they continue to give big minutes to minus defenders (Niko, Doug, Rose).

if you don't think the bulls should resign noah, who will be their starting center?

http://hoopshype.com/2016/03/05/nba-fre ... 6-centers/

[NovU]

I am somewhat shocked as I envisioned Bulls to be top 4 Eastern team at the very least this year. I guess the injuries really held them back again, failing to find any consistency throughout the season.

I mean just couple seasons ago this team was pretty solid even with Rose injured, Boozer playing heavy minutes, Deng at the SF, undeveloped Butler.

[Andrew]

kc johnson's on the bulls season

i say the bulls resign noah. his defense and leadership were greatly missed this year. the bulls need a defensive anchor as long they continue to give big minutes to minus defenders (Niko, Doug, Rose).

if you don't think the bulls should resign noah, who will be their starting center?

http://hoopshype.com/2016/03/05/nba-fre ... 6-centers/

Good breakdown by Johnson there.

Yeah, that's a fair point about Noah's replacement. Felicio steps up, I guess?

I mean, Hassan Whiteside would be great as far as his skillset is concerned, though there are questions about his attitude. I'd say they're also highly unlikely to land him in the first place, making it all a moot point anyway. With that in mind, re-signing Noah is perhaps the only realistic option, and if he's healthy, it's not necessarily a bad one. I just hope that it's not for a ridiculous amount, though as I said, it's hard to definitively say what a ridiculous amount is with salaries ballooning the way they are. Whatever qualifies as "All-Star money" these days...definitely less than that.

[air gordon]

I mean just couple seasons ago this team was pretty solid even with Rose injured, Boozer playing heavy minutes, Deng at the SF, undeveloped Butler.

Thibs was a great coach plus Noah was still healthy then

what is a fair annual salary for him? i find it unlikely he gets a big contract given his injury history. hard to predict what the teams with cap will do after they strike out on the big fish though

if noah's asking price is too much/hoiberg's mistake is irreconcilable... not a fan of biyombo or ezeli? or would you prefer they draft their center?

whiteside is the solution but i don't believe the bulls front office can surround him with a good support system to keep him in check.

and how the heck was bairstow ahead of felecio on the depth chart?