Chicago Bulls Thread

[rise]

lol Im pretty sure Stephen Graham had a stint in Chicago in one of my Live franchises. I remember quite distinctly a certain #23 on Bulls stinking up every game in the playoffs.

[Andrew]

Looking at badreligionau's Live '10 dynasty, I was inclined to believe that J-Rich would be allowed to wear #23 in Chicago

Not to mention #34 being up for grabs in Houston.

Hoping they show Bulls-Lakers here on Christmas Day (well, Boxing Day our time). Bynum will be out that game due to his suspension for the flagrant foul on Barea.

[The X]

Andrew, I'm just going to firstrowsports.tv it all Boxing Day. I just need to get myself a TV that has wifi and internet capability so I can watch through that

[Andrew]

I just remembered I'll be catching up with friends on Boxing Day starting at 11 AM. Guess I'll have to catch the game later in the day.

[Andrew]

Season preview, pre-offseason moves:

phpBB [video]

Not much to say, spot on take in my view. Now it's just a matter of getting that consistent outside shooter to replace Bogans in the starting lineup. As I've said before, I like Korver coming off the bench but he wasn't impressive as the Playoffs wore on last season and I'm not keen on him being the starter.

[air gordon]

Best news of the day- Bogans pulled out of practice!

in all likelihood there will be new a starting SG! Surprised that Pax-For are already revealing this so soon without any other move made yet

latest speculation being reported around here is the Bulls being interested in the recently bought out R.Hamilton... or a possible sign and trade for Jamal Crawford.

i think acquiring one of those guys is a realistic scenario.. RIP being the more likley to happen.

i'm not sure what incentive ATL has to trade Crawford to the bulls unless they get back the Bobcat's 1st round pick in return. I'd be much happier to get Crawford back (big surprise). Another shooter/ball handler is needed.

if the Bulls land neither... i say take a chance on Josh Howard

[Andrew]

Read the Hamilton rumour a little while ago. I like the idea, he's not a long term solution whereas there'd likely get more mileage out of Crawford but it'd be a solid move. An upgrade on Bogans, even at this stage of his career.

[George7]

If the Bulls sign both players ,this would be a great thing. Getting two legitimate shooters will only benefit the team.
I think,as from what i've read these last hours,that Bulls might sign RIP to the Vet's minimum,and then trade Bogans,Korver and possibly another player or a pick for Crawford. Despite I like Korver,I think that, if these combined moves are feasible, the Bulls have made a strong push for the ring this year!

Also,what about signing both Carter and Hamilton using the exception on VC,or both on Minimum?? Isn't that move feasible?

[air gordon]

If the Bulls sign both players ,this would be a great thing. Getting two legitimate shooters will only benefit the team.
I think,as from what i've read these last hours,that Bulls might sign RIP to the Vet's minimum,and then trade Bogans,Korver and possibly another player or a pick for Crawford. Despite I like Korver,I think that, if these combined moves are feasible, the Bulls have made a strong push for the ring this year!

Also,what about signing both Carter and Hamilton using the exception on VC,or both on Minimum?? Isn't that move feasible?

Carter to Dallas sounds like its already a done deal.

I don't think Crawford's coming here. The Bulls can only offer the full MLE to Crawford and I'm sure Crawford wants more then that- especially after seeing the deals Butler and Thornton inked.

Only other way would be sign and trade but the bulls can't take on the salary and management does not want to pay the luxury tax :/

The latest speculation is the bulls will offer RIP 2yrs of the full MLE.

[Andrew]

For what it's worth, Jason Richardson is off the table as he's expected to re-sign with the Magic for four years. Probably not the move the Magic needed to make but in any case, strike him off the list.

It is sounding like Hamilton to Chicago is all but a done deal.

[air gordon]

so what do you guys think about RIP on the Bulls?

looking at what's happened so far- i think they are lucky to get Hamilton

Richardson, C Butler, and most likely Crawford & Afflalo were out of their price range. JR Smith is stuck in China

if Hamilton wasn't bought out- the pick of the litter was Vince Carter, Josh Howard, Delonte West amongst others. im probably missing a few...

I don't think Hamilton fills the need for 3pt shooting/another playmaker. at least he can and is willing to put the ball in the basket... something Bogans couldn't be relied on. Having Wade chasing Rip around screens instead of playing off Bogans is always a plus....

there are some concerns about Hamilton's age and the incident where he lead the revolt against Kuester. i'll chalk it up to that Pistons team and coach being shitty. numbers wise his per 36 were on par.

[shadowgrin]

RIP is better than the Bulls last option (if reports are true): Mike Miller (if the Heat let him go).

[George7]

RIP is a must have assett for this Bulls team. It is the best choice concerning the price/value factor among the other FAs,even if he's going to be offered the MLE. His talents are well known. He can be a costant shooting threat,he can create his own shots,he's quick,he can akso defend and of course he never hd any serious injury problem.

Also,I think that the revolt last year was mostly because of Kuester's inability to manage the team,not cause of RIP's character,concerning that half of the team was into this movement and that all these years, Hamilton's attitude was never a problem.

Now if only they can pair him with another decent shooter or another SG better than Bogans, using the Vet's minimum or making a smart trade,I would be even more satisfied.

[Dan's Brain]

It's good enough, to be honest. Rip probably wouldn't have made my top 5 of Shooting Guard replacement candidates, but his strengths do combat an area of weakness with the Bulls. In any case, he's 4th in the offensive pecking order behind Rose and Boozer/Deng, and possibly even behind Noah. 2 years at 5 mil is fine. There is a 2 year window here before we see Booz's game drop off significantly, and the Rose/Mirotic era begins, so the next 2 seasons have to be considered as "win-now" years.

Getting Rip is a good "Beat the Heat" move. He provides the additional weapon that was missing in May, and like AG said, he can run Wade ragged.

EDIT: Also looks like Kurt Thomas is headed to Portland. That's a shame. I have total faith in Asik as a backup Centre, but it would have been nice to have that extra insurance in the event of another Noah injury.

[Andrew]

I'm with you guys. Midrange is more his specialty but he's at least got three point range, good for 1.3 threes per game per 36 last season at a respectable 38% clip. The Bulls still have Korver who's a much better shooter than his ECF performance would suggest, on the whole I think Rip's offensive game will be an asset. Long term they're going to have to look elsewhere but hopefully Rose's jumper will continue to improve, Boozer will stay healthy, Deng will continue to be as dependable as he was most of last season and they can find a replacement for Rip when the time comes.

Agreed that it's a shame to see Thomas moving on, he was really solid for them last year when called upon. Hopefully Asik continues to improve and Noah - like Boozer - can also stay healthy. A third centre on the roster wouldn't go astray.

[benji]

Rip can shoot the three just fine, it's just not his best scoring option. He's too easy to guard if he's not in motion.

he can create his own shots

Just not good ones.

he can akso defend

Theoretically.

and of course he never hd any serious injury problem.

Except for the last three seasons.

Rip has suffered the last three seasons because Billups was gone. Billups could hit Rip on the far cut for a long jumper or fakes that led to short cuts which got Rip to the basket. Stuckey couldn't do this. Combined with the injuries and shitty everything Curry and Kuester did the offense stagnated and so Rip went from getting a quarter of his shots in the paint to basically only jacking bad jumpers trying to create shots.

This isn't a problem with Rose and Boozer.

Flip had this play where Sheed (usually, sometimes McDyess) would pick and roll on the wing with Billups which was mostly a fake for a cutting up the middle Rip. Billups could hold it to where the defense thought it was a play for him to drive or him and Sheed to take a three, then hit Rip perfectly for a quick layup as he cut. It was hard to guard because Billups or Sheed could easily take the three. Couldn't do this with Stuckey at all.

Rose isn't the shooter Billups is and Boozer certainly doesn't have three range, but you could run something similar with them. A better Flip option to copy might be where they would post Sheed, then run both Billups and Rip on cuts around him, he'd dump off to Billups who could then drive, shoot, hit Rip in the corner or re-enter to Boozer. That you could easily run with Rose and Boozer, the Celtics do it with Rondo/Allen/KG.

[air gordon]

EDIT: Also looks like Kurt Thomas is headed to Portland. That's a shame. I have total faith in Asik as a backup Centre, but it would have been nice to have that extra insurance in the event of another Noah injury.

KC johnson says "don't be surprised if the bulls go after Joel Przybilla"... but yes i agree- time to take the training wheels off of Asik.

That you could easily run with Rose and Boozer, the Celtics do it with Rondo/Allen/KG.

Thibbs ran a few of these sets where they start boozer/noah in the high post and ran dives and weak side cuts... almost like a variation of the triangle offense.

Another thing that should be discussed is the rotation and how Hamilton affects it.

last year Bogans would play his courtesy 8-9 minutes in the 1st and 3rd qtrs and that's all you would see of him. Deng would run with the 2nd unit (aka the most efficient defensive 5 in the league ) and in the 4th it was sometimes Brewer but mostly Korver playing SG late in games.

I think this year: Thibbs will limit Deng's minutes with Hamilton and Brewer splitting them. And there are a few questions marks with the frontcourt rotation as well. How much of Boozer's crapiness can be attributed to his various injuries? Bulls are definitely a better defense team with Noah/Gibson or even Noah/Asik out there...

[shadowgrin]

Injury or no injury Boozer is crappy on D. Not Bosh flopping crappy but still crappy.

[RedPhazon8]

I think Rip would be a nice piece for a small amount of time, and the Bulls seem to be in the middle of the Dwight talks. I'm thinking it will end up like how the LBJ/Wade FA talks went. Everyone will talk about it, but it won't happen... If Boozer expects to stay in Chicago, he's gotta start scoring points, and maybe up the defense...Tib is a big defensive guy, he probably dislikes Boozer for it, but this season is the proving point.

[Andrew]

I think this year: Thibbs will limit Deng's minutes with Hamilton and Brewer splitting them. And there are a few questions marks with the frontcourt rotation as well. How much of Boozer's crapiness can be attributed to his various injuries? Bulls are definitely a better defense team with Noah/Gibson or even Noah/Asik out there...

Assuming it did come down to his injuries and he can be productive offensively, I think there are times when they'll just have to live with his ordinary defense and rely on Noah to bail him out somewhat. Healthy and on top of his game he's going to pack more of a scoring punch than Gibson,though Gibson is at least competent in that department.

Meanwhile, the season is saved.

[air gordon]

AT least Boozer set the bar pretty damn low...

looks like Brewer wants to be the SG this year
link
good for him. he never got fair shot at starting last year. even when he was over his hamstring injury and clearly outplaying Bogans, Thibbs kept with the same starters.

[Andrew]

Agreed, you have to like that kind of competitiveness. The only drawback with Brewer is his outside shooting, otherwise he's pretty solid all around.

[RedPhazon8]

Seems like the Bulls can't get anyone to join their team... they have a great team, but no one wants to sign with them... Kinda disappointing...

[rise]

Seems like the Bulls can't get anyone to join their team... they have a great team, but no one wants to sign with them... Kinda disappointing...

What? The B-Scal re-signing isn't enough?

[shadowgrin]

RedPhazon is still right though, you think Scal signed with the Bulls to play with the team, heck no. The Bulls organization signed with Scal so the team could play with him.
B-Scal doesn't play for the team, the team plays for B-Scal.