Chicago Bulls Thread

[Andrew]

Great news for Curry, personally and professionally. And great news for the Bulls and us fans as well.

[Andrew]

Thought I'd resurrect and rename this thread for the 2005/2006 season, in the hopes that last year's success would continue.

Logged onto NBA.com at work today and was kind of dismayed at the halftime score. Next time I looked it up, it was just before the run when they were down 25. Next thing I know, they're trailing by six with about 40 seconds left. And what do you know? They complete the amazing comeback in OT, with some big baskets by Songaila and Chandler. Wish I could have been watching it somehow, I did subscribe to a season ticket with PonTel so I'll probably get to see it sometime. I'm getting two DVDs with Bulls games per week, I imagine that one will be in the first pack.

Amazing performance by Chris Duhon with his first career triple double, but the loss of Hinrich has me a bit worried, hope he's not out too long. I know they came back from 0-9 last year but after a game like this, I'd love to see the Bulls get out to a good start. Gordon's FG% wasn't too hot but 14, 3 and 3 with a couple of steals is solid off the bench for a supposedly one-dimensional player.

Nets are next, they proved troublesome last year. Here's hoping the collapse against the Bucks will shake them up for a few games.

[Sac-1]

OMG i couldn't beleive it, Charlotte had an 8 point lead with 1 minute left(which was at 25 at one point) and then next thing i see Chicago ties it up and goes into OT and beats them.
Spectacular playing by the Bulls

[air gordon]

good grave digging...

yep, great finish for the team. lol you'll only want to watch the 4th quarter, andrew. i even started to flip to other games, this one was pretty unbearable

they really gutted that one out. PIKE had a bunch of big shots

the nets wingmen always give the team trouble...

[air gordon]

i just wanted to point out that out of all the players, it was chris duhon that got this season's first triple double

[Andrew]

Shame about the finish vs the Nets. I don't know which is more disheartening to see; a blowout loss or a close loss like that. I guess at the end of the day, a loss is a loss and no one likes to see their favourite team lose. Anyway, he's hoping they can rebound from losses this year as well as they did last year.

[air gordon]

seems like the nets have the bulls number. i can't remember the last time they beat the nets- maybe when jay williams had that triple double?

there still are some positives:
-hinrich shot well again and played well in the clutch
-duhon had another double double & shot well
-gordon had a good all around game. he was attacking the basket and setting up his teammates

[Andrew]

Shame about the OT in the Spurs game, though it's good to see them hang with the defending champs and force the extra period. Obviously I'm making my assumptions from live scores since I didn't see this one (and might not, depends on PonTel's selection of the two best Bulls games of the week), but the way they were able to keep coming back in the fourth when the Spurs were going up by a few baskets is encouraging, perhaps a sign they're starting to really figure this winning games thing out. No shame in losing to a more experienced team with explosive players, especially the defending champs, I thought they were going to pull if off for a while there though.

[Andrew]

Make it two straight with a 103-98 win over Utah. For a change of pace, I listened to this one on NBA.com, which proved a little more entertaining that watching stats...but still less enjoyable than actually watching a game. 52 points off the bench for the Bulls to 39 for the Jazz, Deng with 21 and Gordon with 17 (7/10 from the field), Hinrich had 19 points and 11 assist and shot well (6/12 FG including 3/5 3PT, 4/5 FT) and Nocioni had his best game of the young campaign with 15 and 6. Even Harrington had 8 points off the bench (4/4 FG) in 16 minutes.

Not all great news though. Songaila started, played around 12 minutes and contributed very little. Admittedly I haven't seen him play yet, but it's strange that he continues to start ahead of Deng who's been playing well, leading the team in scoring a couple of times so far and putting up solid numbers in around 30 minutes per game.

It's hard to argue in favour of changing the lineup when having Gordon and Deng off the bench as a boost seems to be working, but sometimes you need to have your best lineup on the floor at the beginning of the game as much as you need your top players to be contributing throughout the game and delivering in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Chicago's had some success so far this year playing catchup (notably the opener against Charlotte) and it worked last year too, but it's not a wise strategy against the better teams and it's still risky against the middle-of-the-pack and less talented teams as well.

It would probably be for the best to leave either Gordon or Deng on the bench so the second unit has some firepower, but I think one of them should be in the starting five to add a little more scoring punch. With Duhon being solid and Gordon being so capable off the bench, the more likely candidate is Deng. If Songaila is going to play limited minutes and not really do much, he'd be better off on the bench where he was decent for the Kings last year.

[maes]

Unbelievable, 3 injuries in one game for Utah, 2 on the same guy.

I'm starting to think AK might be one of those guys who has a ton of talent but doesn't have the hardiness necessary...like Penny Hardaway.

Didn't he have a major injury last season, come back, and break his wrist on just a routine fall to the ground?

Someone get a decent trainer in Utah.

[Balla69]

wow andrew, thats a lot of posts

you must really miss Jordan huh

Go LuvaBulls!

[air gordon]

him landing on a foot was completely randomn thing, but i also am beginning to question's AK's durabiltiy. in the past 2 season's where he logging major minutes, he's missed time due to injuries

first time in a while the bulls are over .500 heading into the circus trip, including a matchup with the lakers.

what's up with hinrich and duhon shooting 48% & 47% from the field respectively

maybe the team should trade hinrich while his trade value is at it's highest. say something involving iguodala

[Andrew]

Perhaps not such a bad option, if Gordon picks up some of the scoring slack and Duhon can be just as solid distributing the ball and continuing to put up around 10-12 points per game. Certainly would give the Bulls more size than the Hinrich/Duhon, Gordon/Duhon or Gordon/Hinrich backcourt.

[Drex]

Kirk for Iguodala...

[air gordon]

chicago trades: hinrich
philly trades: igoudala, john salmons


Chicago Trade Breakdown
Outgoing

Kirk Hinrich
6-3 SG from Kansas
15.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.4 apg in 36.4 minutes
Incoming

Andre Iguodala
6-6 SG from Arizona
9.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg in 32.8 minutes

John Salmons
6-7 SG from Miami-Fla.
4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg in 17.1 minutes
Change in team outlook: -2.6 ppg, +3.8 rpg, and -1.4 apg.

Philadelphia Trade Breakdown
Outgoing

Andre Iguodala
6-6 SG from Arizona
9.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.0 apg in 32.8 minutes

John Salmons
6-7 SG from Miami-Fla.
4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.0 apg in 17.1 minutes
Incoming

Kirk Hinrich
6-3 SG from Kansas
15.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.4 apg in 36.4 minutes
Change in team outlook: +2.6 ppg, -3.8 rpg, and +1.4 apg.


Successful Scenario
Due to Chicago and Philadelphia being over the cap, the 25% trade rule is invoked. Chicago and Philadelphia had to be no more than 125% plus $100,000 of the salary given out unless trade exceptions were used for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

chicago lineup:
pg-gordon
sg: iguodala
sf: deng
pf: sweentey
c: chandler

bench..
pg duhon, salmons, pargo
sg salmons, pike
sf noce, thomas
pf songalia, allen
c othella

until gordon and iggy develop into full time reliable ball handlers, they both would probably lose to minutes to duhon

but this would be a great deal for the bulls:
-the trade would enable gordon to play his natural role and still be a starter. both he and igguodala would split the ball handling duties
-it would end the undersized backcourt/wingman defense problem and actually turn it intot a strength
-duhon can go back his backup pg role
-give the team more versatility with it's lineups

ah but this is probably pipe dream. even if hinrich could be the white version of eric snow, but a much better scorer, for philly. it's unlikely Paxson would trade the golden boy of chicago.

[maes]

It's hard to tell if a trade would happen because you can't tell if Philly is in a youngster mode (Delambert, Korver, Iggy, Hunter) or veteran playoff mode (Iverson, Webber).

I also wouldn't mind a trade with GSW for Pietrus, who is going to be perpetually on the bench as long as Davis/Richardson/Dunleavy are on the team. Chicago was originally predicted to pick Pietrus with their draft pick because of their need at SG, and they still could use him.

[Dean]

Chicago wont trade Hinrich.

[Andrew]

Hinrich's a good players, he produces, has skills and from all accounts a good attitude, but it's mostly his consistency that makes me wary of a trade. That said, the idea of getting a bigger guard who's already fairly established and able to contribute - like Iggy or Pietrus - is appealing.

Tough loss to Golden State (see Nick, that's why I'm only cautiously optimistic )...again, why start Songaila ahead of Deng or Gordon when he plays sparingly and contributes little? Yes, they're still getting minutes but I still say you need that punch at the beginning of the game too.

[beau_boy04]

I like the idea of having Gordon and igoudala on the same team. Maybe that would translate into Showtime pretty soon

[Drex]

Webber for Gordon

[Balla69]

I remember John Stockton throws elbows out a lot.

it seemed to be out of habit, especially when he drives around screens.

i wonder if he does that now that he is retired and playing pickup games?

would be funny if he elbowed his own son by mistake

[Drex]

That doesn't have anything to do with the Bulls!

[air gordon]

It's hard to tell if a trade would happen because you can't tell if Philly is in a youngster mode (Delambert, Korver, Iggy, Hunter) or veteran playoff mode (Iverson, Webber).

I also wouldn't mind a trade with GSW for Pietrus, who is going to be perpetually on the bench as long as Davis/Richardson/Dunleavy are on the team. Chicago was originally predicted to pick Pietrus with their draft pick because of their need at SG, and they still could use him.

i think philly is in trying to win mode. by adding webber, they are stuck with him, like it or not. and as long as iverson's there, i can't see the team trying to "rebuild". the team doesn't have much depth to begin with, so the younger guys have to play hehe

i'd welcome a trade for pietrus- i like his defense. though i'm not sure i would trade hinrich for him. i dont know what is up with the frenchman, but he's been a ballhog this year. i woudlnt want to pair him next to gordon

andrew-hinrich's consistency? not on offense.. ah well, GSW was only 1 loss. it's going to happen when no one can hit a shot

another pitiful performance by your buddy, songalia. i think depending on the matchup, i think skiles will plug in deng as SF and slide nocioni to PF. lol that would mean tim thomas would be the backup SF

if sweetney was in shape, he probably would be the starting PF. not having antonio davis is really hurting the team


EDIT: Balla69- please stay on topic

[Andrew]

Songaila does it again. I know Sweetney's not in the best shape, but he's really outperforming Songaila in only a few more minutes per game. Seems to me if your starting power forward is going to play sparingly compared to the other starters, it might as well be a guy who can put up 11 and 7 in 20 minutes per game. Or yeah, slide Noce over to power forward and bring Deng into the starting lineup. I'd like to see Gordon playing more than 21 minutes too.

[air gordon]

up next is seattle. i hope skiles isn't stubborn and makes the lineup change

hinrich has played allen well in the past but they'll be playing at seattle. could be a factor