Chicago Bulls Thread

[Andrew]

Yeah, hopefully there aren't too many more 7/25 performances on the horizon, but at least he got going in the fourth. Eight assists with only one turnover is nice, though. Particularly this one:

phpBB [video]

[Moz]

Derrick seems forgetting that the Advocate Center is already finish and the Bulls doesn't need any bricks anymore... I reckon he should stop those leaning jumpers since from what I observed the trajectory of those, compared to his set shots, were flat and it fires short most of the time (probably because he uses more wrist to it than elbow aside the fact that most of them are contested)... Fortunately, Brooks delivered again in time and I'll echo what I've said earlier about Pau... Nico's a full on 3 at this game and from what I saw the offensive advantages overshadowed the defensive disadvantages... Escaping this one without 2 of their starters and avoiding themselves from embarrassment of losing to a team that just lost their floor leader is a relief...

[Andrew]

I thought Rose took some good shots - at least compared to earlier in the season - but they just aren't falling right now. The execution is good, going to the rim and all, but it's a case of "everything but the result". Hopefully, that won't last much longer. Pau continues to impress as you said. Noteworthy stat of the night: in just 31 games, Pau has already equalled Carlos Boozer's total blocks in his four seasons with the Bulls.

Third in the East, not far behind Atlanta and Toronto.

[air gordon]

You got your wish of niko at the 3. I thought an uber athletic player like green would carve him up. I didn't see the entire game but I saw the Bulls do a lot switching instead of the "ice" on bostons pick n roll

Along the lines of stepping up, Noah was solid. I think there's a lot of adjustment for him on offense- gasols addition and no longer having the offense running through him.

As long as gasol continues to drink from the fountain of youth and butler asserts himself as an all star, just have to keep on rolling with the lack of firepower rose is bringing. I feel like Gasol's production is like playing with the house money. I don't think anyone thought this Gasol would show up. It's key for the rest of his front court mates to stay healthy so he can be saved for the playoffs

Does anyone miss boozer other then using him as a punchline? Do any of his teammates miss him?

[Andrew]

Can't say that I do. I don't bear him any ill-will, but the time had come to move on, and the guy who replaced him looks rejuvenated and is playing at an All-Star level. Again, no animosity towards Booz, but I don't miss seeing him in a Bulls uniform.

As for the Bulls themselves, perhaps they miss having him around from a personal standpoint. With the way Gasol is playing and the wins are starting to pile up though, I'd say they're probably not wishing things were the way they used to be.

[Moz]

I thought Rose took some good shots - at least compared to earlier in the season - but they just aren't falling right now. The execution is good, going to the rim and all...

Not just talking about this particular game (been noticing it since the USA team games) and neither I'm suggesting that in regularity he's taking his shots with that faulty shooting form that I've mentioned... It's just that I prefer his form on those set shots trajectory-wise...

You got your wish of niko at the 3. I thought an uber athletic player like green would carve him up. I didn't see the entire game but I saw the Bulls do a lot switching instead of the "ice" on bostons pick n roll

That's essential if they want to play Nico at the 3 and also they should stick with Taj at the 4 so they can at least cover the perimeter if those switches happen...

Does anyone miss boozer other then using him as a punchline? Do any of his teammates miss him?

I bet they do since Pau is not a cheerleader and not as hyper though I can say that those post shots yelling kinda reminds me of Booze...

[allnickstaken]

Bulls at offense are terrible. Why they can't get 2 easy victories?
In my opinion Rose lately is more concentrated in his stats than making good things for the team.

[Moz]

I thought Jimmy will have a bad game but he pulled it in crunch time and Niko proved again that he can be a great contributor at the 3... By the way, isn't it amazing that despite the Bulls were 62-20 in 2011 they managed to get both Jimmy and Niko (though via trade) in the draft? And also forgot to tell this the last time but at the player's introduction, Hinrich was introduced with his hometown instead of his college just like how they do it on Derrick for some time now...

[Andrew]

No doubt, they were great selections/acquisitions. Jimmy certainly did come through in crunch time, at both ends of the floor. Rose had another off night, but he was making some good passes. Speaking of passing though, how about Niko? He's doing a little bit of everything for them, but his passing is just very slick. Gasol meanwhile just keeps doing his thing.

It's still relatively early, but how far do you think they can go, if they stay healthy? At this point, I think anything less than the Eastern Conference Finals would be a tremendous disappointment. There are a few teams playing reasonably well in the East this year, but the Conference still seems up for grabs. I expect the Bulls to be in the thick of things.

[Kevin]

Rose is....wilting. He's shooting percentage is still dropping while doing the same thing over and over again.

*calls for a pick*
*drives to the lane*
*floater/runner*
*misses*

Good thing Jimmy's carrying them on offense.

[Moz]

Speaking of passing though, how about Niko? He's doing a little bit of everything for them, but his passing is just very slick.

His all around play and quick development is indeed a pleasant sight and there are some people hyping him already to be better than Toni Kukoc (though I reckon Toni is still the superior player)...

It's still relatively early, but how far do you think they can go, if they stay healthy? At this point, I think anything less than the Eastern Conference Finals would be a tremendous disappointment.

Same here although one main thing to consider also is their defense... they're having some defensive lapses this season though fortunately enough their reinforced offense help them get away with it...

[air gordon]

Niko at the 3 at the end of games is a surprise. I am impressed the "rookie" is able to grasp both sf&pf spots. Those 2 have very different roles in Thibs defensive scheme. Kudos to Thibs too. It is unusual for him to have this amount of trust on a rookie.

I thought rose had a good floor game. Just waiting for the shots to fall. It is a head scratcher as to why Houston was trapping the pick instead of going under like the Bulls previous opponents. If I were defending the Bulls, id give that rondo treatment until rose can prove he can hit that shot consistently.

They no doubt are a contender. They are still issues to workout- rose getting back to himself, Noah-gasol chemistry, Niko's expanding role, 4th quarter lineups, defensive issues, and getting mcbuckets some confidence.

[Jackal]

Does anyone miss boozer other then using him as a punchline? Do any of his teammates miss him?

Teams should've paid the Bulls to keep him. Smh.

Glad to see the Spaniard doing his thing again.

[shadowgrin]

So Bulls supporters, do you think it would be a good idea to gradually build the team around Jimmy Buckets now instead of Derrick I Want To See My Sons' Graduation Rose?

[air gordon]

from management's POV, the answer is yes. it's somewhat of a small sample size of Butler's improvement. I'd like to see how he does in a 7 game playoff series but in all likelihood he's going to get that max contract. Given there is a scarcity of 2 way players and elite players at his position and considering the amount of good pg's in the league, it is better to invest the money in Butler.

rose no longer is the unicorn or has to be the unicorn. forgive me Bulls fans for saying- but I think the Bulls would be better off with say, Conley as the PG, and the extra cap used on another wing like Afflalo (pipe dream) or even someone like Wesley Johnson. truth be told, with Gasol scoring on the blocks & Butler channeling his inner James Harden from the wing, the bulls need a pg who can distribute, have a respectable outside shot, and defend his position well.

good pg's are a dime a dozen in this league. as mentioned earlier by PhatG, it was coup for the bulls to churn out Butler and Niko from the 2011 draft. if Niko continues at his pace I would build the team around both him and Butler.

but who knows what will happen in the next few months with Rose. maybe Rose discovers himself right around all star break and all the nay sayers, including myself, will eat crow

[Moz]

It's easy to say that since Jimmy is playing like a franchise player nowadays but what if he turns out like Deng after all of this? I can't be arsed if they cut Derrick and go to another direction (just like what you're insinuating) but he is still young so there's still a chance for him to redeem himself after all of the setbacks the last couple of years... perhaps he should go back to that role when Ben Gordon is still around rather than forcing himself to be the go to guy... If Grant Hill (and by that time he's way past his prime) can recover and be a borderline all-star, why not Derrick?

[NovU]

Don't get lazy Phatgeeze. It's about time you replace Derrick with Buckets in your sig.


Kinda amazin how the Bulls management didn't screw up but sent away right players and acquired only the right players. Ben Gord, Luol, Nate Robin, DJ Augus, Asik, and ofc Carl Booze. Some of them are doing good but at their current price tag, the Bulls pulled off the right moves I guess. Only player you can say that should have been kept is probably Kyle Korver.



BTW does Thibs play Mirotic at 3 often? He's one of the Bulls' top 5 players so it'd be cool to see him being able to play 3 as it would allow the Bulls to play their best 5 together consistently and develop chemistry for the playoffs.

[Moz]

Don't get lazy Phatgeeze. It's about time you replace Derrick with Buckets in your sig.

Compromised

[air gordon]

Just the past few games has Niko been at Sf. Not sure if it's due to injury to mjd and mcbuckets plus snell being useless or a stroke of genius by Thibs. I heard Niko did not play any sf during his professional days in Spain.

A few things jimmy buckets has over deng- he is definitely a more fluid athlete than him, he relishes physical play, and can dribble the ball. Very seldom in deng's Bulls days would iso's be drawn up for him. Other than a few random games like the one versus Miami did we see deng completely take over a game

Early on paxson seemed to fall in love with his draft picks. He did overpay Hinrich and Deng but let's not go there lol

[Andrew]

I understand the scepticism when it comes to Rose, but I'm not giving up on him just yet. I'm more thinking about the possibility of him and Jimmy being a star backcourt duo, rather than choosing between the two and anointing Butler the franchise player and Rose expendable.

[Moz]

Just the past few games has Niko been at Sf. Not sure if it's due to injury to mjd and mcbuckets plus snell being useless or a stroke of genius by Thibs.

It began on that time Jimmy went to a funeral and MDJ is injured although Thibs have tried playing Niko at the 3 whenever they have garbage time on blow out games...

A few things jimmy buckets has over deng- he is definitely a more fluid athlete than him, he relishes physical play, and can dribble the ball. Very seldom in deng's Bulls days would iso's be drawn up for him. Other than a few random games like the one versus Miami did we see deng completely take over a game

What I meant was I'm not sure if he's tough enough to get away from injuries with all the minutes he's playing (hence the comparison of his situation to Deng's)

[Andrew]

That comes back to sheer bad luck, though. A lot of stars have played heavy minutes throughout the years, and not suffered a slew of significant injuries, at least in their younger days. Bad luck can strike whether you're playing 30 minutes a game, or 40 minutes a game.

[allnickstaken]

Rose needs psychological help. He's losing himself and his confidence.

[Andrew]

He is? Just seems like a run of the mill shooting slump, to me.

In any case, terrible loss to the Jazz. Just ugly.

[air gordon]

On to the nations capital for a showdown vs the wiz. Let's hope the Bulls continue to play up to their competition