Chicago Bulls Thread

[erudain]

Bulls got: Tornike Shengelia
Nets got: Marquis Teague

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/bulls-acq ... gelia.html

So, opinions? will he play or he's just a body to get the minimum players while dumping salary at the same time?
Pretty sure is the later and he'll be gone at season end.

[Andrew]

I'm guessing it's merely a salary dump and he won't see much time, ultimately leaving without much fanfare.

[NovU]

Non factor. Something that I really don't care about. Teague showed not much and they acquired Augustin anyway.

Both Tornike Shengelia and Marquis Teague are extremely expandable, like 10 day contract players.

[erudain]

Yes that was my take too....is just a salary dump + body pile up since Teague salary is higher and as a 1st round pick he still has one more guaranteed year.
Shengelia as a 2nd round can be cutted after the season is over.

[Andrew]

I suppose in that respect, it's a decent move from a financial standpoint. Every little bit helps as they trim the payroll and he was obviously expendable. Largely meaningless as far as what happens on the court, though.

[erudain]

Great game from Taj, Mike and DJ taking over in the 4th.
They told in the game broadcast that Jo hurted his shoulder and it kinda showed in the 2nd quarter....but I guess he shook if off later.

And seriously....at the end of the game when Luol went to salute everyone, I really hope Jimmy, Taj or Jo told him "dude...you should have taken those 10m they offered you"

[Andrew]

The Clippers game was shown here today. Tough one to watch, though the effort was there and when this team manages to score 95 points, they've not done too badly. Unfortunately, the Clippers were just on fire, building that big lead in the first half where they were 10/13 from downtown. A team as offensively challenged as this Bulls squad just can't compete with that onslaught. Again, gotta admire the heart and the effort though.

I'll have to once again echo erudain's earlier point about keeping Augustin beyond this season, as I'd like them to at least consider it. Even if Rose is back in his old form as of next season, I like the idea of having Augustin come off the bench to help anchor the second unit.

[Moz]

I like the idea of having Augustin come off the bench to help anchor the second unit.

or just like how they did it with Hinrich earlier this season he can be with Derrick in the backcourt as a decoy... I hope they'll re-sign him and keep Dunleavy (or if they decided to trade him get a player with a similar skill set or get a scorer on the draft) since Butler is acting like a fish in a new aquarium and Snell's inconsistent so far...

[erudain]

Mike still has one more year in his contract....so he's either traded or he'll be with us next season too.
My fear with DJ is that he might be shooting himself out of the Bulls with these performances....even if the Bulls pay him, other team might offer him the chance to start for them

[Andrew]

No doubt. Hopefully, he'll have some interest in sticking around, but one couldn't fault him if there's a bigger offer on the table elsewhere.

[erudain]

Before this season ends we'll have a game with 5 random guys picked from the crowd and thrown in to play, everyone else will be injured or sick.....but that team will also lose due to very "questionable" refs call (to not call it a treacherous steal....)

Brace yourself, ugly games are coming....

Erudain

[benji]

Trouble in paradise:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Carlos Boozer voiced his frustration Monday about his lack of playing time in the fourth quarter for the Chicago Bulls.

The veteran power forward has not played in the fourth quarter in the last two contests and is clearly bothered by what he perceives as a lack of opportunity from coach Tom Thibodeau.

"I think I should be out there," said Boozer, who is in the midst of his worst season as a Bull. "But it's [Thibodeau's] choice. He makes the decisions out there, so I play, I don't coach. He coaches. So he decides that.

"But honestly, he's been doing that a lot since I've been here, not putting me in the fourth quarter. Sometimes we win; more times than not, we don't. But that's his choice.''

[Andrew]

"I think I should be out there," said Boozer, who is in the midst of his worst season as a Bull.

He makes a compelling case! Although, it would be interesting to get the actual statistics on his claim:

Sometimes we win; more times than not, we don't.

[Moz]

As I've said many times before, he's a defensive liability and I reckon Thibs favors Gibson (beside his defense) because he's aggressive on the post... Of course, being aggressive on the post can give you scoring opportunities thru freethrows and I reckon he's grooming Taj already since everybody knows that Boozer will be amnestied/traded this coming off season/trade deadline...

[NovU]

If he was such a defensive liability, then he should be starting as a reserve and Gibson as a starter, basically needs to switch the role. But he gets like 25-30 min consistently for first 3 quarters and sees none in 4th. It is indeed an odd move and is why I questioned it earlier this season. It's not surprising Boozer finds his role bit awry as well. Thib isn't giving much explanation either, whatever he's doing.

[Moz]

If he was such a defensive liability, then he should be starting as a reserve and Gibson as a starter,

Not necessarily since he's playing along with a fresh Joakim Noah at the frontline...

But he gets like 25-30 min consistently for first 3 quarters and sees none in 4th.

I reckon he's just avoiding Taj to get into foul trouble going into the 4th since he's the superior defender and the more aggressive player between the two...

[NovU]

Of course it could be for a good cause. It's just that it's unusual, for 30 min starters to sit out entire 4th quarter on regular basis. Boozer's not at fault here, hinting his frustration over a small interview(w/ no aggressive attitude). Perhaps it was just little more communication that was needed between Booz and Thib. And Boozer's been shitty but not for entire season. He came into the season ready, in best shape ever, shedding weight and with all muscle. He came in motivated to run in a faster paced offense with healthy Rose. In result, he was red hot in early season.

Anyhoo his complaint seem to have worked wonders for him. Boozer saw good 4th quarter action tonight though it was in a blowout loss.

[Moz]

Thibs' response

http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/bulls-thibodeau-responds-boozers-comments

“Those, they’re tough decisions. I have two guys that are deserving of being starters. Both guys are critical for our team. So I’m asking Taj to sacrifice not starting. In some cases, Carlos has to sacrifice not finishing. For us to achieve what we want to achieve, both guys have to play very well for us. So right now, the way it’s going, the last 10 games or so, Carlos [is] dealing with a calf injury and Taj has really come on. So, I can only base it on performance, so when we’re going down the stretch in the fourth quarter, it’s always going to be the group that gives us a chance to win. Now, part of that is Carlos’ rest time comes at the start of the fourth,”

[Andrew]

Great answer by Thibs. Boozer's frustration is understandable and it's admirable that he wants to be on the floor playing, competing and trying to help the team win, but the gameplan is what it is and Thibs has his (logical) reasons for it.

[NovU]

Shit, what a beautiful response by Thib.

[Moz]

some update on Augustin...

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/25431443-579/scowleys-bulls-likely-to-face-competition-for-dj-augustin-in-free-agency.html

‘I definitely would like to be here [for the] long term, Augustin said. I would love to be a starter again, but I want to be on a winning team, I want to be in a winning organization. Chicago is definitely those two things. When the summertime comes, that’s when I’m going to have to weigh everything.

fingers-crossed that this will not turn into a Nate Robinson deja vu though the article suggest that he's willing to take a discount (though no direct indications on DJ's quoted words, more of an assumption)

[Andrew]

Good to know he's open to the possibility of coming back next year; hopefully, the interest will be mutual. As you noted though, it's a familiar scenario to the one with Nate Robinson last year.

[erudain]

Jo with a triple double, Taj & Jimmy both with a double double, Bulls scoring almost 60 in the first half....that's it, I'm quitting on booze....it's making me see surreal things.

The only downside for the game was again our lack of bench, heavy minutes for everyone thus leading to starters being tired at the end and enabling that final Hawks run.

Erudain

[allnickstaken]

I hope that Thibs gets the team he deserves on next season. He has too much potential as a coach. So sad to think what the team is losing because Rose's injuries.

[Andrew]

Absolutely, I hope management doesn't screw him over and that they're in it together for the long haul. We saw what he and a healthy Bulls team with a good roster was capable of in 2011: a very respectable amount of success and something to build upon. This team has simply had terrible luck with injuries these past couple of years.