Chicago Bulls Thread

[Stress Fracture]

Jimmy pls. Picked you up in my fantasy team. Pls

[Moz]

Jimmy pls. Picked you up in my fantasy team. Pls

Joe Johnson's available

[shadowgrin]

Don't know if explosive or just terrible Cavs defense.
Rose looks strong though on those penetrations.

Once the regular season starts the Rose-Westbrook comparisons will be entertaining.

[Mandich]

Once the regular season starts the Rose-Westbrook comparisons will be entertaining.

I was just waiting for someone to notice this.

Well if anything they are obviously the same personalities.

[air gordon]

Well...he's not exactly wrong. Unless you happen to have a Magic Johnson-type talent on your roster, a rookie is probably not going to be a key contributor on a championship team. All the same, it's kind of a stubborn, pig-headed remark to make, especially if they can provide some quality minutes here and there.

If nothing else, it would help keep the core players a bit fresher for the postseason. While we're talking about what you do and don't see on legitimate contenders, perhaps Thibbs would do well to remember that you don't see championship teams where the star players are run into the ground during the regular season because they're playing 45 minutes a game, either.

What should be the playing rotations/minutes??

Did novu pull the previous quote from rotoworld lol

[Andrew]

I think a ten man rotation that avoids having to play Rose, Butler, and Noah 40+ minutes per game would go a long way in keeping everyone's legs fresh for the postseason, and seeing if the rookies are capable of making some solid contributions here and there.

[NovU]

Speaking of minutes, I think at least there will be plenty for bench.

Noah is said to be fine now but is to wear knee braces for entire season. His knee could swell up anytime though requiring rest as season goes on. Rose's minutes probably are capped at 30 for his first season back from the injury. Both Gasol and Dunleavy are 34. Jimmy Butler probably is the only starter that could handle overloaded minutes out of all starters.

I am just not sure if Thibs can play everyone(like Spurs) and still end up with satisfying result at the end of the season. Two questions: (1) quality of depth present? (2) can Thibs do Pop?

[benji]

I obviously can't do McDermott and Mirotic in two seconds, so I'm just going to use Alonzo Gee for them.

Using last year stats, and actual minutes for starters + gibson, then allocating the rest:

Code: Select all

Projection: 45-37
Player   MPG   PPG   RPG   APG
butler,jimmy   38.9   12.7   5.0   2.4
noah,joakim   35.0   12.1   11.2   4.6
dunleavy,mike   31.6   11.0   4.2   2.2
rose,derrick   31.6   15.6   3.3   4.2
gasol,pau   31.6   16.8   9.7   2.9
gibson,taj   29.2   12.8   6.9   1.0
hinrich,kirk   21.9   6.6   2.0   2.8
brooks,aaron   12.2   4.8   1.1   1.9
gee,alonzo   11.2   2.7   1.6   0.5

Using weighted three year:

Code: Select all

Projection: 54-28
Player   MPG   PPG   RPG   APG
butler,jimmy   38.9   12.9   5.1   2.3
noah,joakim   35.0   12.1   11.1   4.3
rose,derrick   31.6   18.5   3.1   5.1
dunleavy,mike   31.6   11.5   4.3   2.2
gasol,pau   31.6   15.3   9.1   3.0
gibson,taj   29.2   12.7   6.9   1.0
hinrich,kirk   21.9   6.3   1.9   3.0
brooks,aaron   12.2   4.9   1.1   1.6
gee,alonzo   11.2   3.1   1.6   0.5

Weighted three year, cutting Butler and Noah's minutes down and swapping Hinrich/Brooks while being more optimistic about Rose:

Code: Select all

Projection: 55-27
Player   MPG   PPG   RPG   APG
rose,derrick   34.0   19.7   3.3   5.4
noah,joakim   34.0   11.6   10.8   4.2
butler,jimmy   34.0   11.2   4.4   2.0
gibson,taj   31.6   13.6   7.5   1.1
dunleavy,mike   31.6   11.3   4.3   2.2
gasol,pau   31.6   15.1   9.1   3.0
brooks,aaron   21.9   8.8   2.0   2.9
hinrich,kirk   14.6   4.1   1.3   2.0
gee,alonzo   9.7   2.7   1.4   0.4

Kick Rose back down to 31.6 and Butler up to 36.5, same 55-27 result.

Range is 53-57 wins on both of the last two. I don't want to redo the first one but it was like 38-46 because of shitty Rose.

Using the worst three year weights for Rose, (i.e. basically double counting last year) drops them to 49-33. With another wild range of 43-51 wins.

[NovU]

I obviously can't do McDermott and Mirotic in two seconds, so I'm just going to use Alonzo Gee for them.

Using last year stats, and actual minutes for starters + gibson, then allocating the rest:

Code: Select all

Projection: 45-37
Player   MPG   PPG   RPG   APG
butler,jimmy   38.9   12.7   5.0   2.4
noah,joakim   35.0   12.1   11.2   4.6
dunleavy,mike   31.6   11.0   4.2   2.2
rose,derrick   31.6   15.6   3.3   4.2
gasol,pau   31.6   16.8   9.7   2.9
gibson,taj   29.2   12.8   6.9   1.0
hinrich,kirk   21.9   6.6   2.0   2.8
brooks,aaron   12.2   4.8   1.1   1.9
gee,alonzo   11.2   2.7   1.6   0.5

What?

1) With Derrick Rose's usage and efficiency at the time being? LoL He would have been the worst starter at the pace by far. It was Boozer going pleasant bonkers in early season that somewhat offset Rose's ugly games.

2) DJ Augustin played superb for 61 games game, 1857 minutes. You minus that, add Brooks, more Kirk, you lose there.

3) Deng was a-ok player while he was there.



How did you get 45 wins?

[benji]

Did you skip over the seven footer averaging 17/10/3? He offsets the Augustin loss, and that's actually LESS Hinrich. So they drop two wins.

It's also 15 more games of Butler which is probably worth a win or two by itself.

My model also assumes a slight improvement in Rose's efficiency due to Gasol's offensive impact.

[Andrew]

(2) can Thibs do Pop?

Rest starters in a nationally televised game? Play a key player less than 40 minutes a game? Yeah, I'm not sure about that.

Of course, even if Thibbs does change things up a bit this year, no one can out-Pop Pop.

[air gordon]

I think a ten man rotation that avoids having to play Rose, Butler, and Noah 40+ minutes per game would go a long way in keeping everyone's legs fresh for the postseason, and seeing if the rookies are capable of making some solid contributions here and there.

In theory this sounds great. Aside from the Spurs, does any legit team have a ten man rotation?

Here and there is so anti thibs and if you think about it, anti pop.

The great turkish delight, Asik, was as raw as they came and he earned his minutes. He was even in games late over noah during the playoffs.

You can't knock thibs playing rotations for the last 2 seasons. And if butler is leading the minutes in played I don't knock him for that either. GarPax left the current roster without a reserve wing defender. Snell has been a bust. Time to dig up Ronnie brewer

And novU,
What medical background are you basing your evaluation of Noah's knee on?

[shadowgrin]

That's Dr. NovU to you airgordon.

[Moz]

So preseason's over time to evaluate things...

Pros
- Gasol's defense
- Derrick's outside shooting / rhythm
- Jimmy Butler's post up game
- Mirotic's not terrible on defense
- Noah looks fine so far

Cons
- Aaron Brooks' shot selection
- Taj is somewhat a blackhole/trying too hard on some possessions
- Rookies are inconsistent
- Gasol's difficulties scoring at the post
- Tony Snell's shooting
- FT shooting
- still having scoring droughts

[NovU]

Tell him, Velvet Shadley. Dr NovU gets his sources from rotoworld medical site.

Did you skip over the seven footer averaging 17/10/3? He offsets the Augustin loss, and that's actually LESS Hinrich. So they drop two wins.

It's also 15 more games of Butler which is probably worth a win or two by itself.

My model also assumes a slight improvement in Rose's efficiency due to Gasol's offensive impact.

To continue fun Bulls' season projection, here's one from boxscoregeeks.

http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/articles/b ... ls-preview



I could envision this Bulls team winning 50 games but that would be if things go right. I will go with 45-48 mark.

[air gordon]

I like rotoworld. Their coverage is solid. Its one thing to reference a fantasy sports website for medical evaluation. At least read it correctly. You are the one speculating about future swelling.

[Andrew]

Cons
- Aaron Brooks' shot selection

I wish they'd been able to keep DJ Augustin. Here's hoping Brooks does turn out to be this year's solid backup point guard pickup when it's all said and done, as Augustin and Nate Robinson were. Of course, if Rose stays healthy, they won't need Brooks to play as many minutes.

[Moz]

if Rose stays healthy, they won't need Brooks to play as many minutes.

I reckon Thibs should've tried Etwaun Moore also... though did not saw Magic games (unless against the Bulls) , these highlights showed that the kid is athletic, can shoot, and have a size advantage being a point guard...

phpBB [video]

[benji]

To continue fun Bulls' season projection, here's one from boxscoregeeks.

http://www.boxscoregeeks.com/articles/b ... ls-preview

Why would anyone assume Nazr Mohammed is going to play 1100+ minutes at age 38 when he hasn't sniffed a thousand in six years? And that Noah is going to regress that much after the Bulls discovered how to run the offense through him? And that Gasol is done?

[air gordon]

i say 49 wins b cuz some geek told me

[erudain]

Melo after the "surprise sex" he got tonight...

[Andrew]

Season's off to a pretty good start.

[_Steve_]

I was a bit surprised to see both of the Bulls' rookies on the court for such a long time.
Very very solid and promising performance by the Bulls.

[Moz]

I was a bit surprised to see both of the Bulls' rookies on the court for such a long time.

Why not? They're up big in the 2nd half (35 at some point) and Jimmy Butler's not around... Ok perhaps I prematurely judged Brook's point guard skills... he's awesome at this game and seems a great ball contributor and slasher... Pau and McDermott are more aggressive this time also... Dunleavy played shit though...

[air gordon]

Probably was preoccupied with guarding Anthony. Should have made the fast break layup

I'll be a negative Nancy and criticize Rose's defense