OK. It’s a bit of hyperbole—but this is the time to ponder the impossible. Actually, the impossible just became the improbable.
It’s sort of like the meager anticipation Michael Bluth had in Arrested Development when he was watching his father’s real estate firm be torn to shreds by none other than CNBC’s Mad Money guru Jim Cramer: finally raising the company’s stock from a “sell” to a “don’t buy!”
Bluth, knowing his family’s company is as hollow as a stage prop, couldn’t help but celebrate. “Alright, this calls for a celebration!”
And there I was Tuesday night celebrating every Ray Allen three-pointer or Big Baby Davis putback.
This was one of the most interesting blowouts I can remember. Even with five or six minutes left in the third, and the Celtics up by 22, I still didn’t believe Boston had this one. LeBron had to put it into overdrive and get to the foul line. Throw down one of those yet-to-be-named-violent dunks down and jump-start an arena like they were spraying Red Bull and cocaine from the ceiling.
Never happened.
Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson were heaving up 27-footers throughout the fourth quarter and Shaq was their best player—evidently that’s a symptom of a loss these days.
LeBron was so bad—3 for 14 with two of them dunks—that it’s impossible not to think about that elbow. Of course, this was a concern a few games back when he off 40-something points and 13 assists on Boston in Boston. And, to tell you the truth, I can still see him doing the same—for two games, taking at least 35 shots in both contests.
Cleveland, despite the addition of Antawn Jamison, couldn’t do anything without LeBron. It is based entirely on his ability to drive and kick, get to the free throw line or isolate on the perimeter and get easy shots on rotations after the defense attempts to close out or trap him.
They played dead Tuesday. No they played Randy-Parker-from-the-Christmas-Story-dead, deferring to a fetal position in the snow while bullies lurked.
For LeBron, this may be the worst way to go out: An injury saddling him, a broken and depleted roster with a bunch of old guys and tweeners who wouldn’t be of much use on other rosters throughout the league. If you're a Cleveland fan, what would be the use?
"Hey, at least we've got Luol Deng!....oh (*slumping into chair*)."
If he goes out, and if you remember this was the only way I believed LeBron would leave in case of an early upset, the talk of LA, New York and Chicago will never die out for two months until LeBron re-signs with Cleveland.
We have to wonder: Can he leave a city that hasn’t had a championship since 1964?
• Can he leave his hometown and the franchise that has done nearly everything but provide an-onsite brothel near the practice facility to keep James?
• Is he too sensitive, as in not wanting to leave the portly, plain-Jane girlfriend that he’s been dating for years and hurt her feelings? Or does he have the Kobe-like tolerance of being the villain and being booed every time he sets food in Cleveland?
• That, and the inevitable, LeBron will never be Michael Jordan-Kobe-Bryant-or-Magic-Johnson rhetoric.
• Take all that, and the fact that LeBron is heading into his prime (and possible elbow surgery) at 26, he may, very well, as reports show, have no fucking idea what he’s going to do.
Would you?
Well, you’re not 6’9, 280 pounds with 8 percent body fat, can leap 42 inches in the air, run the 40 in 4.4 and can shoot half-court threes like your were setting up from the free throw line. But, you’ve spent the night in a Holiday Inn (aaaaay-ohhhhhh! Zing!). Imagine for a moment that you’re the most gifted basketball player the world has just about ever seen next to Wilt Chamberlain and it’s 2010 where Twitter gives everyone an outlet for opinion.
Your legend hangs in the balance of winning a title, not maxing a six-year-deal with Cleveland instead of a five-year-deal with Chicago. What would you do?
The most logical, on paper, are the L.A. Clippers. They have Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Blake Griffin and a vacancy at small forward. They also have the second largest basketball market in the country without a football team and a franchise that is a woeful as any in the history of American professional sports. He would be a savior.
It makes sense. But Kobe Bryant is on the Lakers, and would LeBron want to be in his town? I’d say maybe. That roster would scare the shit out of everyone in the NBA, particularly if Blake Griffin is the player we saw in college.
He’s got Baron Davis—who would surely be interested in basketball again—to run the point, Eric Gordon to space the floor with his shooting ability, Blake Griffin to be the slashing, punishing, shot-blocking, power forward and Kaman to be the spazzy, hard-working center who plays unselfishly.
Secondly, on paper, the Bulls make sense. Derrick Rose will be the best point guard in the NBA and can provide the kind of explosiveness and open-court ability that would fit LeBron James on the break (it’s always confused me why the Cavs don’t play an up-tempo game with James unparallel ability to run). He’s also the kind of player that can take over at the end of games and take the pressure of LeBron.
Joakim Noah is Anderson Varejao-but-actually-good. Luol Deng would be shipped. Kirk Hinrich gives them a defensive dimension but also would probably be shipped and Taj Gibson would be the beneficiary of many, many, many easy assists as the defense collapses on James.
The Bulls may try to go after another free agent if Hinrich and Deng are shipped as they’ll definitely need a shooter, but they are legitimate contenders for James with the big city, one that James likes and have a ready-to-win roster.
The only other two that can factor into LeBron-or-bust sweepstakes are New York and New Jersey. New York, forget it. Their roster is worse than the Cavs and bringing in Bosh doesn’t figure in as well either.
New Jersey has a good chance at John Wall or Evan Turner, they have Book Lopez and Devin Harris and that Russian guy.
For me, and this is as dispassionate as possible, I’d consider the Clippers first and the Bulls second. But I’m not LeBron James, but I did spend the night at a Holiday Inn once.
Contact Mike Mitchell at michaelkennethmitchell@gmail.com
With Rose a Star, It’s Now Time to Change the Chicago Bulls' Entrance Theme
“From North Carolina…a 6’6 guard… ”
Late June in what felt like every year we heard Alan Parsons Project being muffled by 20,000 drunks on Madison Avenue. Yes, before there was Hulk Hogan, there was Michael Jordan marching out to a raucous home crowd, ready to face off with the likes of Reggie Miller or Patrick Ewing.
Exciting, yes. But does the theme still have that same punch? It didn’t take a while for the mighty entrance theme to lose its chutzpah when we hear Chris Duhon be named the anchor of the lineup.
Yes foes, that Chris Duhon—the one who had bottle service at the night before. Get some.
But on Thursday when Derrick Rose was officially named to the 2010 All-Star team, a new era had begun—one that was disconnected from a decade of misery and mediocrity. Rose had been redeemed with his first of many all-star bids and was putting the Chicago Bulls back on the NBA’s consciousness again.
No more Baby Bulls. No more you-got-to-love-their-hustle-type-guys. No more young potential stereotypes and certainly no more mentioning of Ben Gordon. No more clips of a skinny Horace Grant or a flailing Dennis Rodman.
Sports fans are nostalgic types, which is why we have so many traditions—good or stupid. Throwing back the ball after the opposition hits a home run in Wrigley Field ranks among the all-time stupid, along with college students who paint rocks in the middle of campus on the eve of a football game or college coaches who have extramarital affairs and leave their institution after one year of service.
Yet, there are great sports traditions (particularly in college), which is why it’s so difficult to part from these rites of escapism. Think about it: Is there any other reason to like the month of March in the Midwest other than the temptation to call in sick or “work from home” and watch the first weekend of the NCAA tourney?
And I do like the Chicago Bulls’ entrance theme, but isn’t it time to celebrate a new era now that the team has a bona-fide star? And maybe more importantly, this isn’t a fringe star like Lamar Odom or a C-level all star like Caron Butler; Derrick Rose is likely to be a top 10 or top five player in the NBA and possibly the league’s best at the point guard position.
He’s 21 and is improving before our eyes.
Yes, there’s a lot of optimism to go around these days, and shouldn’t there be after the Bulls have surprisingly put together their best run of the season on this road trip? The trading deadline is nearing and the Bulls have to be a major player.
There’ve been enough rumors swirling about them being interested in Amare Stoudemire and Chris Bosh in the last month to give us reason to believe a three-way swap may be nearing.
We know that those two are changing uniforms. We just don’t know with whom.
And given the way Tyrus Thomas has played this season (terrible), it’s going to be interesting to see how Chicago packages a deal for either of the two—and it’s not like they’re going to be alone since we’ll see as much action this trade deadline as any recent memory since the recession has made some stadiums look as dormant as Bingo halls and several are clearing room for free agency.
But, now they know they can play with an unselfish star in Rose who is getting better in the league’s third biggest market, Chicago just became more relevant again. Boy, wouldn’t Joe Smith look good in Chicago next Amare Stoudemire?
The problem is that Stoudemire wants a max contract and is he really a max player? Is Joe Johnson? What do you do when Rose nears his third contract?
We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But the hype remains: Has there been a more exciting time for this franchise since His Airness left? Really, we can talk about a few playoff match-ups that were fun while they lasted but only revealed how far away this team is from winning a championship.
In order to win it all, you need stars—and the Bulls now have one. And in a few days, we’ll know if they’re on the path sooner than we expected…
But back to less important matters. It wasn’t too long ago that the Chicago Wolves were as popular as the Chicago Blackhawks. There were myriad reasons for this:
The Blackhawks sucked.
The owner wouldn’t allow networks to broadcast home games.
The league lacked stars and compounded their ineptitude with a strike that cost them an entire season.
The organization was thoroughly unlikable with management and a front office that was so distant from fans, that it was impossible to root for this team if you were anything but a die-hard hockey and Blackhawks fan. It was twice declared the worst franchise in pro sports.
Now they are the darling of Chicago, and the turnaround began when they drafted Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, their owner died (yaay!) and home games went back on TV (welcome to America) and management did a complete cultural overhaul.
It’s too simplistic to suggest that the Bulls are in the midst of a complete turnaround but it’s interesting to note that the impossible occurred when the team landed the first pick in the draft with a 1.7 percent chance of doing it.
Rose was the start; Joakim Noah will win the league’s most improved player award and free agency nears.
Once they get a bona fide coach, we’ll see if Rose’s defense progresses.
But in the short, we can change the intro theme. Here’s a quick refresher for the old theme with the legends.
Here are new the nominees (ripping virtual envelope):
Oh yeah, quick rule: Close your eyes while listening to any song here.
1. I know it’s a little clubbish but Alan Parsons Project was a little ‘80s-ish, so allow me to modernize the theme a little with Daft Punk.
2. I love rap, but most songs today are too slow so I'll lean toward some Hip Hop themes. This one by Kanye West has got some swagger, but you know how quickly this will turn off..ahem..the older customers. It's thoroughly Chicago, remember.
3. Timbaland's cut may be a bit too mainstream, but it's got entrance song written all over it.
4. 50 Cent's Patiently Waiting is rugged but a little harsh for some fans.
5. My pick is probably Daft Punk's remix from selection no. 1 or Black Eyed Peas' Boom, Boom Pow because they're packed with energy.
"From Chicago...a 6'3 guard...!"
I can see it, can you?
Post your recommendations below. What's your replacement theme?
Derrick Rose: All Star
Maybe I’ve been meaning to write this column for a while.
And maybe you’ve been wanting to read one.
We knew when the lottery balls bounced in the Chicago Bulls favor in 2008, they were likely to get a franchise player. The vast majority of Chicagoans wanted Derrick Rose because they saw something special; the rest wanted Michael Beasley because he fit on the team better, because he was supposed to be a low-post option (but few people pay attention to college basketball all season outside of those who decide to bet on the NCAA tournament).
But it was Wednesday night when Derrick Rose finished off the Oklahoma Thunder for the team’s fourth straight road victory in what is becoming the turning point for this team, and maybe more importantly, the turning point for a franchise that has floundered for a decade.
We watched Michael and company dominate a decade, and we heard about the next one that had something to do with Eddie Curry and Jay Williams. The sport became largely irrelevant in a sports-obsessed city. It’s a town that is frozen in January and just got to know this game known as hockey in the last two years, saw a mildly successful Bears team for a few years and witnessed two baseball teams with varying success.
Underneath it all, there were the Chicago Bulls. Irrelevant. Bad. Going nowhere.
And—gulp—boring.
It’s mid January 2010 and the Bulls finally have an all star again in Derrick Rose, who put together—dare I say it—a quiet 26 points, seven assists and a handful of rebounds against a good team on Wednesday, hours before the backups for the 2010 all-star game would be announced.
There’s little doubt that Rose will be announced as a member of the team this year, since the offense operates entirely through him. He’s a star, and he’s still rising.
This trip brought something out of Rose. Something clicked; the same way it had for Joakim Noah in last season’s playoff series with the Boston Celtics. As I’ve written before, it’s a movie cliché: The inspirational quote or the down-trodden moment that gets to someone, irks them so badly, tests their deepest desires that they feel compelled to do something.
Rose is as confident as I’ve seen him. His shot is true, he’s fighting over screens, is being more creative on the pick and roll and is showing instinct for knowing when to attack late in games.
It can’t be a coincidence that this team is playing better than they have all season when their franchise player is playing the best ball of his NBA career. Yes, stars matter in the NBA and the Bulls—as I feel—are closer to a championship today.
This season was about Derrick Rose’s development, a competent team that could make a playoff run that would prove free agents they were on the cusp of being better, clearing cap space, Tyrus Thomas showing maturity and Vinny DelNegro showing a thorough understanding of the game.
We’ve learned that Thomas will probably be playing in Greece in three years and still would make an all-world volley ball player but can’t crack the lineup on an average to bad team.
DelNegro has been at his best when he stays out of the way, and it looks like the Bulls are headed for another one-and-done in the playoffs.
But, I’ll take the first one, and we add in Noah’s brilliance this season, the 22-22 record looks a little better. And by the way, can you remember a more tumultuous season? Losing to the Nets who are on pace to set a record for least wins a year, losing after holding a 35-point lead to Sacramento Kings, losing by 40 points to the Toronto Raptors with players tying their shoes during play and even losing to the Golden State Warriors who fielded a mere four NBA players this month?
And even Rose looks like a microcosm for the 2009-2010 season. He started the year so woefully average and passive, it was impossible to not be discouraged about his progress from the previous season. This was, after all, a 20-year-old Rookie-of-the-Year who is as reputed for his work ethic as his athleticism. There were little signs that his jump shot was any better, his defense looked to be the same or worse, his explosiveness was definitely not on display and it looked like Ben Gordon was sorely going to be missed.
Not in January. Rose has looked like the star we envisioned, and for a specimen as gifted as this one at the point guard position, we begin to see someone who can truly be the league’s best at the position. Yes, Derrick Rose can be a top five player if this keeps up.
And, yes, it’s just a stupid exhibition game, one where super stars will lob alley-oops to themselves off the backboard on two-on-one fastbreaks. The game doesn’t matter. In fact, don’t watch it. Do something productive like rearranging the plate ware in your cabinets—it’ll probably turn your wife on or something.
My wife: "What are going to do this afternoon?"
Me: "Oh, reading…and um, I’ll be reading…and I’ve got to do something for work (thinking about video games or looking at YouTube highlights) and I think I’ll probably work out."
My wife: "Oh, well you might have free time today so you might want to consider putting the cabinets in order."
(Translation: Do it , or else I’m going to do it myself and talk about it all week, giving me absolute leverage in every disagreement we have, so it’s really your loss.)
Me: (Thinking I’ll probably just do it and reference it forever.) “I’ll do it…yes!”
So, yes, the game doesn’t really matter but Rose’s status does. This Bulls team has increasingly become relevant again in very short time. It was something I didn’t see coming.
But maybe, after 10 years, the day had to come: The Bulls have a star again, and it feels damn good.
Contact Mike Mitchell at michaelkennethmitchell@gmail.com
Bulls Top Spurs; Derrick Rose Steps in for Aaron Gray, May Have Taken Next Step
I’ll write it: Derrick Rose has improved—vastly.
He can shoot, and yes, it was a game when he was feeling confident in his shot but this has been part of an ongoing trend on the West coast trip as defenders opt to slip under the screen, Rose is punishing them with a quick jumper.
While he’s been streaky this year, many times he was unable to connect because he shoots with too low of an arc. That, as they say, is not a shooter’s touch. But on Monday, we saw a softer release with a much higher arc on the ball.
At one point with the 24-second shot clock running out, Rose stepped into a three-pointer and drained it over George Hill, who was closing on him. And despite fighting the flu, Rose was brilliant. Which is why it was all the more puzzling when Vinny DelNegro took him out in the second when every ball was going in.
Sure, you have to protect your players, but you have to know when someone has the hot hand, and Rose did. Ride them out until they can’t shoot no more.
It looked like it was going to be one of those games when Rose was about to go off for 40 points. He ended up with 27 points, six assists and a couple of rebounds. He also drained a critical shot with less than 50 seconds left in the game and then beat a double team to have a layup roll off the basket that led to a putback by Joakim Noah.
Noah, also battling plantar fasciatis, sunk the final five points for the Bulls Monday, giving them their third consecutive victory in one of the stranger road trips I can remember. First they lose to the Golden State Warriors who field a team of four or five D-Leaguers and then they follow that up with a loss to a disinterested L.A. Clippers.
Now, they've beaten three quality teams in a row, ending up just a game under .500 (21-22).
But when the shots are falling, you’re going to win some games that you probably shouldn’t. The shots were falling on Monday as Kirk Hinrich joined the party as well. Hinrich, as we’ve seen, is a critical part of the Bulls’ success since the team doesn’t shoot nor defend on the perimeter very well without him.
He hasn’t exactly played up to par so far, but the last three games he has been more than capable. And unlike John Salmons, Hinrich likes to move the ball and can shoot off curls.
But this game was about Rose who is competing for a roster spot on the Eastern All-Star team, a squad that is fielding Allen Iverson as its starter. And yes, you’ve heard me bitch before—and who hasn’t?—about a voting system that should charge voters for every vote (forward the donations to a charity) if they still want a say in who starts in the game. But Derrick Rose is clearly a star in this league, and we need to consider that the offense goes entirely through him. He’s the focal point and doesn’t have as many shooters (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett) as Rajon Rondo would have at his disposal.
And if coaches appoint the surly Vince Carter as a backup in the game, then we can all do the collective head-slap. It means they don’t watch much TV because he’s been disappointing at best.
Sure, it’s always been a popularity contest, but it shouldn’t be when it comes to the backups, and the coaches should know better. Anyone who has watched Rose this year has seen a player fight off injuries to carrying an offense, to carrying a team in key situations. If you were to define a star in this league, would those descriptions fit? Doesn’t Rose epitomize what teams want in their star?
While Rose isn’t getting to the foul line like I’ve hoped, he’s realizing how to attack defenses and still involve his teammates. Not an easy chore.
Why would Rose making the all-star team matter in the big picture, you ask? To me, it’s easier to make the first round of the playoffs in the NBA then find legitimate front-line talent that you can trust and build your franchise around. Free agents are going to have their choice as to which team they want to play for. Rose and Noah would be a start.
But just in case they need a reference, I submit this bit of evidence for resume purposes.
Contact Mike Mitchell at michaelkennethmitchell@gmail.comhttp://www.
Vinny's Takes the Stage Over LeBron
This is the night for stars: LeBron James and Vinny DelNegro.
Of course, it's only a matter of time that the two would collide early in the season, pitting ungodly atheleticism versus red ties and inexplicable time outs.
More seriously, the Chicago Bulls finally take the national stage with an injured Derrick Rose who looks more pedestrian than ever in his early career versus the Anderson Varejao-led Cavs.
The Bulls did not fare well in national games last season, and they'll need to shoot well early if they want to stay in this game. Frankly, I can see Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson getting into foul trouble early with Shaq and company down low.
LeBron will likely put it into overdrive in the second half.
That's the way superstars tend to do it. That's what bothers me at times with Rose. Points don't look like they come easy to him. Of course, it's not fair to compare the two, but LeBron can have a quiet 28 points.
Rose's regular-season career high is 27 points. He rarely racks up double-digit assists and doesn't attack offensive rebounds the way he should (see Rajon Rondo).
It's easy to blame the coach at this point - which I've been zealous to do because he looks like a doofus - but great players can excel in spite of their team.
Secondary stars tend to languish (see Pau Gasol's Memphis Grizzlies' career).
Of course, this is also supposed to be Luol Deng's coming out party after a career night with 24 points and 20 rebounds on Tuesday against the Bucks. But that was the Bucks, and he'll have a heftier chore guarding the guy who is built like an SUV but moves like a Testarossa.
I don't suspect the Bulls will win, but they do tend to keep these games close when playing against good teams. Believe or not, Tyrus Thomas would help this team tonight, but it's still moot.
He's at home with the flu (insert sick pun, go for it, use it....nah, too predictable).
Hopefully he watches the game, learns a thing or two because it's obvious that he never listens to his coach. But then again, LeBron rarely pays attention to Cavs Coach Mike Brown and for good reason.
Let's only hope Derrick can learn the same lesson tonight.
Is this Bulls Team for Real, or was I Drinking Again?
It’s bizarre.
The Chicago Bulls looked like a real team Thursday night,
particularly against another real one that could potentially contend for
another title in June.
What was remarkable was the rebounding effort throughout the
entire team.
Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah did exactly what they were
supposed to do in the 92-85 win. Both helped out on the weak side defense while never
giving up on an offensive rebound, and for a jump shooting team, this is
critical.
The Bulls are going to need second- and third-chance points
this year if they want to make a playoff run.
Derrick Rose was better than I thought he would be with a
sore ankle while trying to guard Tony Parker. He pitched in 13 points, seven
rebounds and seven assists. But what didn’t show up in the box score was fluid
and how controlled he looked.
He looked like an NBA point guard who wants the ball at all
times. He looked like a leader. These characteristics usually come off as silly
or trite, but there is something to be said about Rose’s court presence in the
first game of the season. As his ankle heals, and he gets into game-shape, I
suspect we’ll see a more aggressive Rose attacking the rim and taking jump
shots off the pick and roll.
The Bulls are crossing their fingers that he can find a
consistent jumper with three-point range along with his blazing speed and
strength. His form still looks a bit mechanical, however. Ben Gordon is no longer in
the stretch.
My favorite play of the game: Brad Miller faking a 3-point
attempt and zipping the ball down to a wide open Thomas who flushed the ball in
as if he were playing on a Nerf hoop. As defenders closed in, he picked up an
easy foul. It’s astounding what can happen when a player is in the right place
at the right time.
I don’t suspect Thomas is a much better player than last
year, simply because he doesn’t let the game come to him. He is a remarkably
athletic player with no forte other than shot-blocking. If he can do what he
did in the second half of last night’s game, the Bulls are going to be a good
team.
Then again, we’ve been reading that line for three seasons
now.
My favorite did I just see that moment: Luol Deng draining
eight of 13 shots. He’s off to a good start and it’s needed considering he’s a
sensitive player that doesn’t play well when he’s lacking confidence. More
importantly, he was aggressive without going outside of his game or putting the
ball on the floor.
My wait and see before I get excited player: Joakim Noah.
While Noah has clearly turned the corner, I’m not sure how good he’ll be in the
league. Nevertheless, his length and athleticism, combined with his
relentlessness, are a good fit for any NBA team. But I wonder how good he’ll
really be as a center?
The Chicago Bulls May Be Good...Maybe...Um, Yeah, Maybe
The Bulls are going to run the Wildcat to generate some
offense against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday for the team’s 2010 season
opener.
OK, maybe not.
But you get the point. Football teams use the Wildcat to
throw off the defense while compensating for the deficiencies of their offense.
It’s about covering up the lack of talent a team has.
For the Bulls, it doesn’t appear that they have a
catch-and-shoot man on the roster. Ben Gordon is gone, and he takes his
sharp-shooting with him—a knack, I argued for years, was among the league’s
best.
Not that the Bulls shouldn’t have let him go (salary cap,
2010, etc.) but there will be some growing pains on this team. John Salmons is
more of a three, who can put the ball on the floor and create off the dribble.
He is not the ideal fit, since he has a slow release and doesn’t take advantage of a point-guard oriented offense with a catch-and-shoot approach off curls and screens. He likes to take a step toward the basket and create a little space from the defender. That’s also going to lessen Derrick
Rose’s assist totals, by the way.
- For now, we’ll see if the Bulls can merely make it a game
with the San Antonio Spurs. They walked all over the New Orleans Hornets on
Wednesday—as they should—and showed a tremendous amount of depth and offensive
fire power with the addition of Richard Jefferson, a healthy Manu Ginobili,
guard George Hill in his second year and even the undersized fire plug Dejuan
Blair that many Bulls clamored for in the previous draft.
Vinny DelNegro will also have to show that his campaign to
make this team into a defensive juggernaut was not just lip service.
And by game time, we’ll discover if he and Tyrus Thomas had
kissed and made up after the coach opted to start the rookie Taj Gibson in a
preseason game, of which Thomas was not pleased with.
This game arrives at precisely the right time for Chicago
Bear fans who have endured a summer-less summer (60 degrees in July?) on the
heels of the franchise’s biggest acquisition in its history (Jay Cutler) only
to have much of the excitement foiled by witnessing the worst offensive line in
two decades (try me, what was worse?).
We’ll soon see if Luol Deng really is an NBA player or just
a guy who had a nice season at the right time and was left open for 14-foot
jump shots. He’s not exactly demanded double teams in the preseason and my
suspicion is that Deng with continue to struggle as it appears he is trying to
prove his worth on this team that has clearly moved on without him.
He’s arguably the fourth best player on an average team.
And for Joakim Noah, will we see a player on the rise, a
bona fide offensive rebounder and shot-blocker who makes good decisions? Can he
stay out of early foul trouble?
Can Tyrus Thomas do anything against decent competition like
Tim Duncan or Antonio McDyess?
Is Rose up for meeting with Tony Parker with a gimpy ankle?
Will Aaron Gray go for the sport jacket and jeans look circa
1990s or will he go for the traditional dress down attire?
The questions loom but it appears that Vinny is not in
denial about this team. Here’s what he told ESPN 1000 earlier in the week about
the team: “..do you think we're ready to win a championship with all these
young guys?"
Maybe not, but the question of how soon begins tonight.
10 Things to Look for in the Best NBA Season in a Decade
The NFL is undoubtedly the hallmark of American sports today-from Tom Brady, fantasy football, $1 billion TVs to concussions and God-awful parity that separates a handful of teams from the pack of mediocrity.
Just ask Tennessee Titan fans how their season is going.
And while I think Sunday is a day of rest, prayer, football, beer and pasta, this NBA season is setting up to be one of the best ever.
Unlike the NFL, there is dominance in the NBA and the 2009-2010 season will pit some of the deepest rosters in ages against one another.
Yes, even better than Michael Jordan's years.
The Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Magic and Cleveland will have as many as five potential stars on each team in what has been a very active off-season.
The Lakers are clearly the favorites to take the West with the addition of Ron Artest, as well as Lamar Odom returning (how many teams can say they have a Lamar Odom coming off their bench when he'd be the second or third best player on most teams in the league?).
- The Celtics added Rasheed Wallace and are returning Kevin Garnett.
- The Magic added Vince Carter to an already athletic and large lineup and are returning Jameer Nelson.
- The Spurs added an athletic wing in Richard Jefferson who can also defend as well as get to the cup, along with the smart and capable Antonio McDyess.
Cleveland has LeBron and that bears mentioning even though they've added this cartoonish character who can share khakis with Robert Traylor and Oliver Miller. And here's the problem: LeBron is undoubtedly great enough to carry this sluggish team through the season again but is facing better competition than ever.
With the looming 2010 free agency coming up and a strong chance that they'll be eliminated again in the playoffs by an improved Celtics and Magic team, how can LeBron look at this roster and believe they're on the cusp of something special as he enters his prime.
Shaq continues to steal headlines, even appearing on Sports Illustrated's NBA season preview, giving gullible writers the impression that Shaq still matters.
He doesn't-at least in a good way. He's a zero on defense, can't play in the fourth quarter, needs to touch the ball on offense to remain interested and doesn't exactly know how to play pick and roll with the most dynamic slasher of all time.
And how many blue-chip, hall of famers have been on five teams?
I didn't buy into the whole LeBron's leaving for Jay-Z thing in 2010 for two years, but after The King marched off the court when eliminated by the Magic in last year's playoffs, I'm thinking that Anderson Varejao and Delonte West are not enough to make him stay.
With all this at stake and what could potentially determine the fate of the NBA for the next decade as LeBron (maybe the greatest player to ever play the game) entertains free agency, this is going to be the most important and entertaining season in more than 10 years.
Here are 10 storylines to watch for the coming year:
- The Boston Celtics: If the San Antonio Spurs have won on great defense, execution and balance, then the Celtics are the Spurs 2.0. Rajon Rondo is emerging as an elite point guard and Kevin Garnett returns as the most talented defender in the game, but it will be the supporting cast of Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace and Paul Pierce that determine whether this team can grab another title.
- The Memphis Grizzlies: Americans love dysfunction. It's why Jerry Springer continues to exist and Rod Blagojevich has thrived in Illinois politics (He said he would lower taxes and improve healthcare...why not?). So, for some reason, the Grizzlies acquired Zach Randolph with a bloated contract to play with ball-dependent young stars Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. Add in Allen Iverson, who has a reputation for eating tacos during weight-lifting sessions, and we've got a Bret-Michaels-esque freak show.
- Ron Artest: For all the obvious reasons, he's playing with the best team he's ever been on and with the best player. Can he co-exist and when will be the first time he walks around nude during post-game interviews to make his critics even less comfortable?
- Derrick Rose: Bulls' fans have one shot at becoming a title contender in the next decade and this would be the start of it. Does he take the next step, bringing the team to another playoff appearance and luring an all-star free agent to the team? We'll know by the end of July 2010 how good this team was if Gar Foreman is pictured with Channing Frye and Joel Przybilla in a press conference holding red jerseys.
- Kevin Durant: Young teams don't win in the NBA. It's a man's league, and Kevin Durant is a mere 21 years old. He's as thin as a beanpole and he hasn't added much muscle at all, heading into his third year in the NBA. But, it's possible that Durant is not meant to hold a lot of muscle on his frame and he's not that explosive. At 6'10, with long arms, Durant is undoubtedly one of the most gifted scorers in the NBA, but will he emerge as a bona fide top 5 talent?
- Danny Granger, Eric Gordon, D.J. Augustin, Rudy Fernandez: You don't know much about these players because they're either on a bad team or being underused. Granger, an all-star, is the best of the bunch but with the addition of the great white hope in Tyler Hansbrough (thank God, he's not a Bull) this team is going nowhere fast. The rest should emerge as players in the NBA and you shouldn't forget them.
- The Portland Trailblazers: I don't know what this team is. They're talented, sure. Young, also. But its biggest problem is that they're only good enough. Brandon Roy is fabulous, but he's not Dwayne Wade, LaMarcus Aldridge is a nice player but not an all-star and Greg Oden is still trying to fit into the NBA (he's not Dwight Howard or Bill Russell).
- Danillo Gallinari: Who? That's right. A one-dimensional 6'10, soft Italian-league player who can't beat anyone off the dribble and is supposed to fit into Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense but is not known for finishing. Is he young, sure? But I ask you: What is the upside of such a player? Andrea Bargnani or Yi Jianlian? Good luck filling the arena as this team will be finished about 20 games in.
- Yi Jianlian: Actually, no one cares about Yi. I just think he's a metaphor for foreign players who think they're actually better than they really are and want to undermine the NBA draft system by demanding which team controls them. It's the same approach that Ricky Rubio has taken with Minnesota, effectively making the Timberwolves one of the dumbest most-confusing franchises in the NBA. The worst part of it: These softer international players think their games translate to the NBA and they're going to be the sensations they were in their native leagues. I mean, who does Rubio think he is? He would be guarding strong and athletic points like Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose. This should be a lesson for both parties: "We've be ‘Yi-ed' and we're looking for alternatives."
- Dwayne Wade: See above about LeBron James. After Michael Beasley was found lying around beer bottles post rehab, you have to wonder if Wade is shopping the market for a team that doesn't employ Jeremy Shockey as their power forward.
Victoria's Secret, Derrick Rose and the Things I Know about the Bulls
And this is what they mean by being a professional athlete.
You get compliments from Victoria Secret super model Marissa Miller, instead of restraining orders and blasts to the jaw from her Michael Duncan-sized security guard.
I’m speaking of Derrick Rose, of course, who was recently named Chicago’s sexiest athlete (take that, Aaron Gray).
Miller said Rose had “long eyelashes and gorgeous eyes.”
Rose, with all his humility, said she looked good too. According to most Google searches, it appears Rose is telling the truth.
Nevertheless, the point of the story is: It’s good to be good at what you do for a living…particularly when you play in the NBA. And we see that’s Rose’s celebrity is growing.
While it’s doubtful that Miller knew who Rose prior to this contest, it’s clear that national media is taking him more seriously. The bigger higher-minded question is whether they’ll take the Bulls more seriously.
(Searching on Google right now....and…no).
There are so many questions than answers, nevertheless, here are few lessons I’ve learned from the preseason:
1. Vinny DelNegro needs a new haircut: I think Pat Riley and Rick Pitino have the market cornered on slick-hairdos and it just doesn’t work for Vinny. I’m thinking something short cropped, understated and modest.
2. Joakim Noah definitely lifted weights this year: No, seriously he did. He looks the part with thicker arms, chest and shoulders. More importantly, he’ll need to show that his lower body strength has improved where he’ll have to hold his ground when boxing out. He got pushed around a lot by Dwight Howard in the recent game against Orlando (who doesn’t) but if Noah wants to take that next step, this season looks like it will be the one.
3. Noah is a far better basketball player than Tyrus Thomas: It needs to be said. Remember when these two clowns would do nothing but compliment each other and bob around aimlessly on the court, ignoring Jim Boylan? I do. And one of them apparently knows their place on the court.
4. We deserve a healthy year from Derrick Rose: We have been deprived of seeing his maturation this preseason and we’ll continue to watch a careful Rose in the coming weeks as he fights this nagging injury. One thing is certain, if he’s hurt all year, coming on and off IR, than this team will be near unwatchable.
5. They have no true offensive threat. John Salmons is not a prototypical two guard, and while I like his ability off the dribble, this offensive is structured around Rose off the pick and roll.
6. Taj Gibson and James Johnson are going to matter this year: I thought it was a waste of a draft pick on Gibson last June, but the preseason has proved me wrong. Gibson has a smooth jump shot that’s reminiscent of a young Joe Smith. He’ll need to put on weight to compete at the power forward in the NBA. James Johnson looks like the better talent but you can tell he’s not sure what his role is in this offense and where he should be standing on the court. It looks like he lost weight since the Bulls drafted him.
The season starts in the week, and maybe we’ll feel better about the outlook of the season.
For now, Marissa Miller remains the highlight of the preseason.
You get compliments from Victoria Secret super model Marissa Miller, instead of restraining orders and blasts to the jaw from her Michael Duncan-sized security guard.
I’m speaking of Derrick Rose, of course, who was recently named Chicago’s sexiest athlete (take that, Aaron Gray).
Miller said Rose had “long eyelashes and gorgeous eyes.”
Rose, with all his humility, said she looked good too. According to most Google searches, it appears Rose is telling the truth.
Nevertheless, the point of the story is: It’s good to be good at what you do for a living…particularly when you play in the NBA. And we see that’s Rose’s celebrity is growing.
While it’s doubtful that Miller knew who Rose prior to this contest, it’s clear that national media is taking him more seriously. The bigger higher-minded question is whether they’ll take the Bulls more seriously.
(Searching on Google right now....and…no).
There are so many questions than answers, nevertheless, here are few lessons I’ve learned from the preseason:
1. Vinny DelNegro needs a new haircut: I think Pat Riley and Rick Pitino have the market cornered on slick-hairdos and it just doesn’t work for Vinny. I’m thinking something short cropped, understated and modest.
2. Joakim Noah definitely lifted weights this year: No, seriously he did. He looks the part with thicker arms, chest and shoulders. More importantly, he’ll need to show that his lower body strength has improved where he’ll have to hold his ground when boxing out. He got pushed around a lot by Dwight Howard in the recent game against Orlando (who doesn’t) but if Noah wants to take that next step, this season looks like it will be the one.
3. Noah is a far better basketball player than Tyrus Thomas: It needs to be said. Remember when these two clowns would do nothing but compliment each other and bob around aimlessly on the court, ignoring Jim Boylan? I do. And one of them apparently knows their place on the court.
4. We deserve a healthy year from Derrick Rose: We have been deprived of seeing his maturation this preseason and we’ll continue to watch a careful Rose in the coming weeks as he fights this nagging injury. One thing is certain, if he’s hurt all year, coming on and off IR, than this team will be near unwatchable.
5. They have no true offensive threat. John Salmons is not a prototypical two guard, and while I like his ability off the dribble, this offensive is structured around Rose off the pick and roll.
6. Taj Gibson and James Johnson are going to matter this year: I thought it was a waste of a draft pick on Gibson last June, but the preseason has proved me wrong. Gibson has a smooth jump shot that’s reminiscent of a young Joe Smith. He’ll need to put on weight to compete at the power forward in the NBA. James Johnson looks like the better talent but you can tell he’s not sure what his role is in this offense and where he should be standing on the court. It looks like he lost weight since the Bulls drafted him.
The season starts in the week, and maybe we’ll feel better about the outlook of the season.
For now, Marissa Miller remains the highlight of the preseason.
Taj, Tyrus, the new Reality Show this Fall
There’s a bizarre lesson to be learned about Tyrus Thomas, Vinny DelNegro and the NBA.
After Thomas was wining about not starting over rookie Taj Gibson in a preseason game, it became clear that the four-year veteran had not grown up…and he still can’t play basketball.
People will remember Thomas for being the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft, his jaw-dropping vertical, occasional volley-ball-like spike/block in a meaningless game and his expressionless expressions after committing a no-no on the court.
He is the classic underachiever in nearly every sense of the label. He has impeccable athletic ability, has grown into a nice power forward body at 6’10, long arms, but lacks strength and any definable offensive basketball move other than dunking.
He seems like a decent guy, but often sulks and most dangerously, thinks he’s much better than he really is. Just look at his most comments about being a starter in the Chicago Tribune:
“I don't even think it should be questionable from what I've contributed to this team last season and what I did throughout camp."
This from a guy who cannot guard anyone one-on-one and has no true offensive game except for put-backs and the occasional foul call.
He sounds like a bitter athlete and you know what that means? He’s ripe for a reality show.
Here’s the idea: Vinny, Taj and Tyrus have to live together in a “Real World”-like setting, with confessionals and odd dinner and breakfast sequences that are usually referring to the night before when things got a little out of control (roll 10-second clip of Tyrus chicken fighting while on Joakim Noah’s shoulders trying to fight off Taj as he sits atop of Vinny’s).
The goal of this series is: At the end of three months of training, living together and socializing, Vinny will give one of these skinny power forwards a rose, which earns him a starting spot on a potential .500 team that will vie for the 8th seed in the NBA playoffs, and likely will be swept in the first-round.
It’s sort of a “Bachelor” meets “Real World” meets “Hard Knox.”
Giddy, are you?
We can see where this is going. Taj will be the prized pupil, the obedient note-taker who seems to do everything right, though nothing spectacular. He follows the recipes, arrives promptly for every meeting and even remembers to bring coffee.
Tyrus, meanwhile, continues to take jump shots in lay-up drills. In one episode, we see a teambuilding event where the two contestants have to make a soufflé.
Taj has his apron tied by Vinny that merits the words: “I Heart Coach.” Vinny playfully smudges some flour on the rookie’s nose.
Tyrus looks over at the other end of the kitchen, deranged and annoyed.
The host, Chuck Swirsky, the wildly enthusiastic play-by-play announcer for the Bulls’ radio broadcasts, would of course narrate each episode as if the legion of Bulls fans were clinging to every scene.
And cue the first confessional:
Tyrus steps into the booth with iPod headphones still draped around his neck, takes a seat and looks into the camera, plainly, as he’s about to say something, then ends up fiddling with his iPod, trying to figure out how to program a playlist.
No luck.
“That’s fine. Coach doesn’t want to play me. I figure with the 2010 free agency coming up, it’s LeBron, Dwayne, me and then Bosh. 2010, here we come.”
(Side note: This may seem like some unrealistic monologue, but what do you think really goes on in Tyrus’ head? Really? Then again, the same can be said about Vinny: Don’t take a time out, don’t take a time out, don’t take a time out…don’t do it—jumps from chair—“Time out!”).
Then, as the show nears the finale, Taj and Tyrus would have to head out on a camping trip in a remote location somewhere in, say, a forest preserve on Chicago’s far south side.
The two would only be issued basic camping gear, with no food and no cell phone. Just the two of them, alone, bonding the way many modern athletes seem to do in today’s “Hard Knox,” behind-the-scenes world.
Tears? Maybe.
And then the rose ceremony. Vinny—looking dapper with extra gel in his slick black hair donning a charcoal suit with a royal blue tie—stares quietly, yet is noticeably nervous.
“Taj, Tyrus—good to see you both.”
Swirsky, affable and eager as always, is standing next to Vinny looking at the two 6’10 power forwards. He then turns to Vinny, “are you ready?”
“I am.”
(Cue piano melody of Alan Parsons Project’s “Eye in the Sky.”)
And the rose goes to…
Back to reality for a moment. The Bulls are probably going nowhere this year. The season is still about Derrick Rose, and whether he can ascend to greatness, to Chris-Paul-ness. Just as it was last year.
Difference is, the Bulls have to prove they’re a viable contender this season with the hope of being attractive for the big free agents, sans Tyrus of course.
A lot of teams are stuck in the same position, since a mere four teams are real contenders this year for the title. It will take a bit of luck for the Bulls to emerge in the picture. OK, a lot.
Back to the ceremony:
“Taj, Tyrus, the rose goes to…”
(Zoom up on Swirsky’s face, Taj, Tyrus and then back to Vinny).
“James Johnson.”
After Thomas was wining about not starting over rookie Taj Gibson in a preseason game, it became clear that the four-year veteran had not grown up…and he still can’t play basketball.
People will remember Thomas for being the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft, his jaw-dropping vertical, occasional volley-ball-like spike/block in a meaningless game and his expressionless expressions after committing a no-no on the court.
He is the classic underachiever in nearly every sense of the label. He has impeccable athletic ability, has grown into a nice power forward body at 6’10, long arms, but lacks strength and any definable offensive basketball move other than dunking.
He seems like a decent guy, but often sulks and most dangerously, thinks he’s much better than he really is. Just look at his most comments about being a starter in the Chicago Tribune:
“I don't even think it should be questionable from what I've contributed to this team last season and what I did throughout camp."
This from a guy who cannot guard anyone one-on-one and has no true offensive game except for put-backs and the occasional foul call.
He sounds like a bitter athlete and you know what that means? He’s ripe for a reality show.
Here’s the idea: Vinny, Taj and Tyrus have to live together in a “Real World”-like setting, with confessionals and odd dinner and breakfast sequences that are usually referring to the night before when things got a little out of control (roll 10-second clip of Tyrus chicken fighting while on Joakim Noah’s shoulders trying to fight off Taj as he sits atop of Vinny’s).
The goal of this series is: At the end of three months of training, living together and socializing, Vinny will give one of these skinny power forwards a rose, which earns him a starting spot on a potential .500 team that will vie for the 8th seed in the NBA playoffs, and likely will be swept in the first-round.
It’s sort of a “Bachelor” meets “Real World” meets “Hard Knox.”
Giddy, are you?
We can see where this is going. Taj will be the prized pupil, the obedient note-taker who seems to do everything right, though nothing spectacular. He follows the recipes, arrives promptly for every meeting and even remembers to bring coffee.
Tyrus, meanwhile, continues to take jump shots in lay-up drills. In one episode, we see a teambuilding event where the two contestants have to make a soufflé.
Taj has his apron tied by Vinny that merits the words: “I Heart Coach.” Vinny playfully smudges some flour on the rookie’s nose.
Tyrus looks over at the other end of the kitchen, deranged and annoyed.
The host, Chuck Swirsky, the wildly enthusiastic play-by-play announcer for the Bulls’ radio broadcasts, would of course narrate each episode as if the legion of Bulls fans were clinging to every scene.
And cue the first confessional:
Tyrus steps into the booth with iPod headphones still draped around his neck, takes a seat and looks into the camera, plainly, as he’s about to say something, then ends up fiddling with his iPod, trying to figure out how to program a playlist.
No luck.
“That’s fine. Coach doesn’t want to play me. I figure with the 2010 free agency coming up, it’s LeBron, Dwayne, me and then Bosh. 2010, here we come.”
(Side note: This may seem like some unrealistic monologue, but what do you think really goes on in Tyrus’ head? Really? Then again, the same can be said about Vinny: Don’t take a time out, don’t take a time out, don’t take a time out…don’t do it—jumps from chair—“Time out!”).
Then, as the show nears the finale, Taj and Tyrus would have to head out on a camping trip in a remote location somewhere in, say, a forest preserve on Chicago’s far south side.
The two would only be issued basic camping gear, with no food and no cell phone. Just the two of them, alone, bonding the way many modern athletes seem to do in today’s “Hard Knox,” behind-the-scenes world.
Tears? Maybe.
And then the rose ceremony. Vinny—looking dapper with extra gel in his slick black hair donning a charcoal suit with a royal blue tie—stares quietly, yet is noticeably nervous.
“Taj, Tyrus—good to see you both.”
Swirsky, affable and eager as always, is standing next to Vinny looking at the two 6’10 power forwards. He then turns to Vinny, “are you ready?”
“I am.”
(Cue piano melody of Alan Parsons Project’s “Eye in the Sky.”)
And the rose goes to…
Back to reality for a moment. The Bulls are probably going nowhere this year. The season is still about Derrick Rose, and whether he can ascend to greatness, to Chris-Paul-ness. Just as it was last year.
Difference is, the Bulls have to prove they’re a viable contender this season with the hope of being attractive for the big free agents, sans Tyrus of course.
A lot of teams are stuck in the same position, since a mere four teams are real contenders this year for the title. It will take a bit of luck for the Bulls to emerge in the picture. OK, a lot.
Back to the ceremony:
“Taj, Tyrus, the rose goes to…”
(Zoom up on Swirsky’s face, Taj, Tyrus and then back to Vinny).
“James Johnson.”
Our Franchise Guy Holding Back the Franchise
The definition of a franchise player: A player who the team cannot live without.
At 21-years-old, Derrick Rose is that guy, so his lingering injury that’s supposed to be “day-to-day” may yet define the 2009-2010 season. An inflamed tendon usually doesn’t go away over night.
It’s the type of nagging injury that tends to linger throughout the season, and for a player that depends on his explosive athleticism as much as his technique and instincts, this cannot be a good thing.
When media reports that he may not suit up on opening night, it’s probable that he won’t.
And while the Bulls are clearly not a championship team, we’re anxious to see if Rose is about to take that next step. More than an all-star, more than a team leader, but unequivocally an elite, blue-chip player in the NBA.
Is it that asking too much? UnderVinny DelNegro?
Great players excel no matter the circumstance; they don’t always win championships, but they show their pedigree, their superior ability no matter where they play and for whom.
Can he knock down the 3?
Can he emulate what we consider to be defense?
Can he post up, stand in block and back down other points?
The off-season was supposed to answer these questions. Now, we’ll have to wait longer.
At 21-years-old, Derrick Rose is that guy, so his lingering injury that’s supposed to be “day-to-day” may yet define the 2009-2010 season. An inflamed tendon usually doesn’t go away over night.
It’s the type of nagging injury that tends to linger throughout the season, and for a player that depends on his explosive athleticism as much as his technique and instincts, this cannot be a good thing.
When media reports that he may not suit up on opening night, it’s probable that he won’t.
And while the Bulls are clearly not a championship team, we’re anxious to see if Rose is about to take that next step. More than an all-star, more than a team leader, but unequivocally an elite, blue-chip player in the NBA.
Is it that asking too much? UnderVinny DelNegro?
Great players excel no matter the circumstance; they don’t always win championships, but they show their pedigree, their superior ability no matter where they play and for whom.
Can he knock down the 3?
Can he emulate what we consider to be defense?
Can he post up, stand in block and back down other points?
The off-season was supposed to answer these questions. Now, we’ll have to wait longer.
Tryus Thomas Shows Life and Height
Remember that line from the 1990 blockbuster "Speed" by Keanu Reeves as Dennis Hopper kept beating the ambitious cop's head against a speeding train: "I'm smarter you...because I'm smarter than you"?
Then, Hopper's head is taken off by a light fixture in this tussle.
"Yeah, well at least I'm taller," goes Reeves.
Forgive the metaphor, but Tyrus Thomas is now taller, and maybe even a little better at basketball.
At 6'10 and several pounds heavier, Thomas is beginning to look like an NBA power forward. But will he play like one, is the question?
On Friday night, in a preseason matchup against the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves, Thomas looked the part--jumping, diving, blocking, swatting and smiling.
But that's just the start of it. I don't have high expectations for Thomas this season, and who should?
Yet, the young clueless one gave hope for a better, more mature player that plays within his defined role (and it's not 16-foot jumpshots in overtime).
Perhaps, this is just one of those Tyrus games where he looks good against poor competition. He has done this before.
While the Bulls will talk about Taj Gibson and James Johnson coming into important roles, the team will elevate to a new level by the play of Derrick Rose and Tyrus Thomas.
Two weeks and counting.
Then, Hopper's head is taken off by a light fixture in this tussle.
"Yeah, well at least I'm taller," goes Reeves.
Forgive the metaphor, but Tyrus Thomas is now taller, and maybe even a little better at basketball.
At 6'10 and several pounds heavier, Thomas is beginning to look like an NBA power forward. But will he play like one, is the question?
On Friday night, in a preseason matchup against the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves, Thomas looked the part--jumping, diving, blocking, swatting and smiling.
But that's just the start of it. I don't have high expectations for Thomas this season, and who should?
Yet, the young clueless one gave hope for a better, more mature player that plays within his defined role (and it's not 16-foot jumpshots in overtime).
Perhaps, this is just one of those Tyrus games where he looks good against poor competition. He has done this before.
While the Bulls will talk about Taj Gibson and James Johnson coming into important roles, the team will elevate to a new level by the play of Derrick Rose and Tyrus Thomas.
Two weeks and counting.
An Apology...Just Maybe
Maybe I disappeared near the end of the 2008-2009 Chicago Bulls season, but the important thing to note here, is I'm back.
And what that means, is more reasons to analyze Tyrus Thomas' brain.
(Writer: Scratching the back of his neck right now.)
The point is: I wrote and covered nearly every game last year before a few family tragedies occurred and I frankly couldn't come to cover Joakim Noah's jumpshot any more.
But's good to be back and we've got a lot of crap to cover...
And what that means, is more reasons to analyze Tyrus Thomas' brain.
(Writer: Scratching the back of his neck right now.)
The point is: I wrote and covered nearly every game last year before a few family tragedies occurred and I frankly couldn't come to cover Joakim Noah's jumpshot any more.
But's good to be back and we've got a lot of crap to cover...
Two Chicago Bulls Legends Go That Few will Forget
I remember sitting on the couch with my high school theology homework in my lap, my overweight 130 pound black lab sitting at my father's feet as he rocked in a chair just a few feet away from me.
It was a ritual. In thick and endless Chicago winters this is what we had, we had Bulls basketball--the kind that won, at least. And we rarely missed an appointment.
But like a Martin Scorcese epic, there is so much to a film's gravitas than its main stars. There are the guys in the background making strong-jawed grimmaces and comical quips about police work or running numbers.
These guys, like in Goodfellas and The Departed, were more than fillers. They were necessary elements of a masterpiece. And such as the magical Chicago Bulls of the 1990s--Stormin' Norman Van Lier and Johnny Red Kerr.
One sweet and sour and the other sweet.
They were a vital part of our Bulls lives; my father often looked forward to Van Lier's unapologetic commentary at both half time and the post game show. He'd often blast Longley because he was Longley. But he'd even dare cross the line and get after Michael and Scottie at times.
Yes, while our memories remember nothing but the good times, there were games when the greats were at fault and Norm wasn't afraid to say so. He was Charles Barkley before he became a national basketball pundit and genuine funny fat guy.
I remember a close friend of mine, who is not known for exagerration, told me he actually picked up Van Lier who was looking for a cab on a cold January night a few years back. Both were out drinking and my friend, a complete stranger to the broadcaster, offered to give him a ride home.
Van Lier, as many of us know lived hard and played hard, was a friendly and informal as can be and was overwhelmed of this stranger's kindess. He'd even promised to buy him a drink "next time."
Make no mistake, this man was a Chicago sports icon.
Sadly, Van Lier felt shorted that he was not invited to Johnny Red Kerr's tribute less than a month ago and even said what most men would rarely say in public, he was "hurt."
That was honesty and he was never short of it. It will certainly be missed.
And Kerr's lighthearted quips were just as pleasant in a ironic way. His legend does need to be explained in detail as we remembered the man a very short time ago.
Those glory days have past and like a Scorcese classic, we can always pop in a DVD, but nothing is better than the first time.
It was a ritual. In thick and endless Chicago winters this is what we had, we had Bulls basketball--the kind that won, at least. And we rarely missed an appointment.
- Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Tony Kukoc, Phil Jackson--even dopey Luc Longley. We knew the names, knew the game, knew the scouting reports.
But like a Martin Scorcese epic, there is so much to a film's gravitas than its main stars. There are the guys in the background making strong-jawed grimmaces and comical quips about police work or running numbers.
These guys, like in Goodfellas and The Departed, were more than fillers. They were necessary elements of a masterpiece. And such as the magical Chicago Bulls of the 1990s--Stormin' Norman Van Lier and Johnny Red Kerr.
One sweet and sour and the other sweet.
They were a vital part of our Bulls lives; my father often looked forward to Van Lier's unapologetic commentary at both half time and the post game show. He'd often blast Longley because he was Longley. But he'd even dare cross the line and get after Michael and Scottie at times.
Yes, while our memories remember nothing but the good times, there were games when the greats were at fault and Norm wasn't afraid to say so. He was Charles Barkley before he became a national basketball pundit and genuine funny fat guy.
I remember a close friend of mine, who is not known for exagerration, told me he actually picked up Van Lier who was looking for a cab on a cold January night a few years back. Both were out drinking and my friend, a complete stranger to the broadcaster, offered to give him a ride home.
Van Lier, as many of us know lived hard and played hard, was a friendly and informal as can be and was overwhelmed of this stranger's kindess. He'd even promised to buy him a drink "next time."
Make no mistake, this man was a Chicago sports icon.
Sadly, Van Lier felt shorted that he was not invited to Johnny Red Kerr's tribute less than a month ago and even said what most men would rarely say in public, he was "hurt."
That was honesty and he was never short of it. It will certainly be missed.
And Kerr's lighthearted quips were just as pleasant in a ironic way. His legend does need to be explained in detail as we remembered the man a very short time ago.
Those glory days have past and like a Scorcese classic, we can always pop in a DVD, but nothing is better than the first time.
What's Vinny DelNegro doing?
Never ask a question that can be answered in the same sentence.
Vinny DelNegro doesn't know what he's doing. Placing your franchise player on the bench in crunch time when guys like Brad Miller (who has no future for this team) are taking time. Even worse is that the team is finally starting to play better with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah getting more minutes, and now are spared for Miller and Tim Thomas.
Kirk Hinrich is a nice player and could have stayed in the game while Derrick Rose ran the point, but DelNegro opted for Hinrich over Rose when it mattered.
And they've suffered.
I'll argue that the Indiana Pacers might be the worst team in the NBA right now without their ace Danny Granger and a productive Mike Dunleavy. It's shameful and stupid to think how DelNegro is wasting his ace with ineptitude.
But Rose, clearly, is not. He's learning, but I speculate that Vinny doesn't know defense. Truthfully, how can everyone on this team regress when it comes to defense? They switch on every possession drawing constant mismatches--and fouls.
With quick, undersized athletes, it should be no problem to get back in position. It's why guys like Zach Randolph and Al Jefferson thrive against the Bulls--because they don't aggressively front the defender or stay with their man.
If that's the case, why not stay in a zone? Sure, no team in the NBA runs a pure zone because of the three second rule, but it's also because few teams are comfortable with it because an opponent may have a hot shooting night.
It may go beyond reason at this point to try and fix Vinny's mess, and I'm hoping that the Bulls have the sense to fire him this offseason. DelNegro will soon learn he'll have to bench Tim Thomas because there is simply not enough minutes to go around, Thomas probably doesn't care much anyway.
It's easy for the media and fans to second-guess what coaches do. But it's even more rare that they agree.
And this time, we're all in agreement: Vinny's got to go.
Vinny DelNegro doesn't know what he's doing. Placing your franchise player on the bench in crunch time when guys like Brad Miller (who has no future for this team) are taking time. Even worse is that the team is finally starting to play better with Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah getting more minutes, and now are spared for Miller and Tim Thomas.
Kirk Hinrich is a nice player and could have stayed in the game while Derrick Rose ran the point, but DelNegro opted for Hinrich over Rose when it mattered.
And they've suffered.
I'll argue that the Indiana Pacers might be the worst team in the NBA right now without their ace Danny Granger and a productive Mike Dunleavy. It's shameful and stupid to think how DelNegro is wasting his ace with ineptitude.
- It would be one thing if Rose were this wreckless, volatile type that can hurt a team with his immaturity as we've seen before with Rasheed Wallace, Carmelo Anthony and Baron Davis when they're grumpy.
But Rose, clearly, is not. He's learning, but I speculate that Vinny doesn't know defense. Truthfully, how can everyone on this team regress when it comes to defense? They switch on every possession drawing constant mismatches--and fouls.
With quick, undersized athletes, it should be no problem to get back in position. It's why guys like Zach Randolph and Al Jefferson thrive against the Bulls--because they don't aggressively front the defender or stay with their man.
If that's the case, why not stay in a zone? Sure, no team in the NBA runs a pure zone because of the three second rule, but it's also because few teams are comfortable with it because an opponent may have a hot shooting night.
It may go beyond reason at this point to try and fix Vinny's mess, and I'm hoping that the Bulls have the sense to fire him this offseason. DelNegro will soon learn he'll have to bench Tim Thomas because there is simply not enough minutes to go around, Thomas probably doesn't care much anyway.
It's easy for the media and fans to second-guess what coaches do. But it's even more rare that they agree.
And this time, we're all in agreement: Vinny's got to go.
Bulls Wheelin' and Deelin' for...cap space; Dwyane Wade to Chicago
But that's OK.
This was a good week for John Paxson. It wasn't exactly Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, but it was close...OK, it wasn't even in the same ballpark.
But, let's be fair, Paxson did whatever he could and it was solid. The Bulls got busy shipping away Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha for myriad contracts with some players on them and an even a first-rounder.
I couldn't be more happy with Sefolosha's departure. He seems like an affable and likeable guy, but basketball? Not so much. He's too passive, indecisive and had no real offensive game to speak of. Actually, Thabo was quite overrated as a defender.
He'd make the occasional play but not enough to warrant the title of "lock-down" defender. His best trait, sadly, was rebounding. (You thought I was going to say inbounding, didn't you?)
While the first-round pick will be the lower of Thunder's picks, it still gives the Bulls a bargaining chip in trade talks this summer (paired with Kirk Hinrich?). Who knows what will happen in these coming months.
And while this rookie class looks like the best in a decade--look at San Antonio's George Hill or Golden State's Anthony Randolph for heaven sake--the next draft is rather thin. But that would be the pick where the Bulls can take a project, I said it, or ship away in a package.
Meanwhile, the Bulls have loaded up on expiring contracts that will give them ample room to maneuver around in 2010. My feeling, and fear, is that this team won't land a superstar but simply a star like Joe Johnson instead of Dwyane Wade.
There's nothing wrong with that, but you had better have the parts to build guys like that.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Bulls secure the eighth seed this season, get swept by Cleveland or Boston, Ben Gordon departs in the off-season and fans call for Paxson's head. Well, where did you think this was going?
That's the short-sighted view. Tim Thomas can score, Brad Miller can pass, John Salmons can kind of defend and the Bulls finally have some size.
And finally, fans will have a chance to watch Tyrus Thomas rack up 10 points, nine rebounds and four turnovers from trying to dribble between his legs or spin into a defender in a playoff game.
I'm sure Kevin Garnett is dreading the series-long challenge.
This was a good week for John Paxson. It wasn't exactly Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire, but it was close...OK, it wasn't even in the same ballpark.
But, let's be fair, Paxson did whatever he could and it was solid. The Bulls got busy shipping away Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha for myriad contracts with some players on them and an even a first-rounder.
I couldn't be more happy with Sefolosha's departure. He seems like an affable and likeable guy, but basketball? Not so much. He's too passive, indecisive and had no real offensive game to speak of. Actually, Thabo was quite overrated as a defender.
He'd make the occasional play but not enough to warrant the title of "lock-down" defender. His best trait, sadly, was rebounding. (You thought I was going to say inbounding, didn't you?)
While the first-round pick will be the lower of Thunder's picks, it still gives the Bulls a bargaining chip in trade talks this summer (paired with Kirk Hinrich?). Who knows what will happen in these coming months.
And while this rookie class looks like the best in a decade--look at San Antonio's George Hill or Golden State's Anthony Randolph for heaven sake--the next draft is rather thin. But that would be the pick where the Bulls can take a project, I said it, or ship away in a package.
Meanwhile, the Bulls have loaded up on expiring contracts that will give them ample room to maneuver around in 2010. My feeling, and fear, is that this team won't land a superstar but simply a star like Joe Johnson instead of Dwyane Wade.
There's nothing wrong with that, but you had better have the parts to build guys like that.
- Future-schmuture. Here's the only reason why Bulls' fans should be concerned.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Bulls secure the eighth seed this season, get swept by Cleveland or Boston, Ben Gordon departs in the off-season and fans call for Paxson's head. Well, where did you think this was going?
That's the short-sighted view. Tim Thomas can score, Brad Miller can pass, John Salmons can kind of defend and the Bulls finally have some size.
And finally, fans will have a chance to watch Tyrus Thomas rack up 10 points, nine rebounds and four turnovers from trying to dribble between his legs or spin into a defender in a playoff game.
I'm sure Kevin Garnett is dreading the series-long challenge.
Getting Busy, Getting Confused, Getting Nowhere with Chicago Bulls
The Bulls traded.
And the sad fact is, they did what they could. The Suns pulled Amare Stoudemire off the table, and all their hopes were dashed.
Did anyone watch Tyrus Thomas on Wednesday and think? "Whew. That was close. We almost gave up a future eight-point, seven-rebound, six-turnover and four-goaltend guy."
There have been a flood of callers to WSCR 670 the score, who preach patience for a player that will never get it, and is simply a huge liability on defense. It's amazing. It's very reminiscent of the time when fans were saying they wanted no part of Kobe Bryant, and would not part with Luol Deng.
Remember?
Yippee.
(Picking my teeth right now...now, looking around the room.)
Thankfully Andre Nocioni is gone. For years, fans overvalued his apparent hustle and chop, but didn't know better that he was a terrible defender who gambled, played out of position and couldn't stay with more athletic forwards. He took too many shots and was too short to play against bigs.
In the truest sense, he's a backup. Problem is, the Bulls paid him like a starter.
They've done that with much of the team. (Oh, by the way, the Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104 in a game where Kirk Hinrich went for a season-high 31 points.)
There are oversized contracts to many players in the league. The move makes sense for the Bulls because--as we've learned repeatedly--it allows more money to come off the books for the Bulls to lose the free agency spree of 2010.
Lebron? No. Wade? Probably Not. Bosh? Not without Wade. Amare? Nope.
This was a move the Bulls can be complemented for, but it's really the result of messing up with previous moves. It doesn't make them significantly better but it gives them slack to deal in another year.
How does that sound? Another year?
Sounds like another team in Chicago.
And the sad fact is, they did what they could. The Suns pulled Amare Stoudemire off the table, and all their hopes were dashed.
Did anyone watch Tyrus Thomas on Wednesday and think? "Whew. That was close. We almost gave up a future eight-point, seven-rebound, six-turnover and four-goaltend guy."
There have been a flood of callers to WSCR 670 the score, who preach patience for a player that will never get it, and is simply a huge liability on defense. It's amazing. It's very reminiscent of the time when fans were saying they wanted no part of Kobe Bryant, and would not part with Luol Deng.
Remember?
- Meanwhile the Bulls bring back a capable Brad Miller and a decent scorer in the 6'6' John Salmons. Salmons is averaging a career-high 18 points, but is already 29 and is coming from arguably the worst team in basketball.
Yippee.
(Picking my teeth right now...now, looking around the room.)
Thankfully Andre Nocioni is gone. For years, fans overvalued his apparent hustle and chop, but didn't know better that he was a terrible defender who gambled, played out of position and couldn't stay with more athletic forwards. He took too many shots and was too short to play against bigs.
In the truest sense, he's a backup. Problem is, the Bulls paid him like a starter.
They've done that with much of the team. (Oh, by the way, the Bulls beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104 in a game where Kirk Hinrich went for a season-high 31 points.)
There are oversized contracts to many players in the league. The move makes sense for the Bulls because--as we've learned repeatedly--it allows more money to come off the books for the Bulls to lose the free agency spree of 2010.
Lebron? No. Wade? Probably Not. Bosh? Not without Wade. Amare? Nope.
This was a move the Bulls can be complemented for, but it's really the result of messing up with previous moves. It doesn't make them significantly better but it gives them slack to deal in another year.
How does that sound? Another year?
Sounds like another team in Chicago.
Bosh to Chicago Bulls in three-team swap?
Thursday's trade deadline will be like the finish line for the marathon runner who should have never run in a city-wide event.
They finish four hours after anyone cares, and clean-up crews are already on-hand sweeping the Gatorade cups off the ground. The family went out for waffles, while the amateur Pheidippides tried to blast off those additional 30 pounds in one day.
It's tragic to even watch. It lasts longer than it should, and no one should have to endure that meaningless task.
Now the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Chris Bosh could be headed to Chicago in a three-team swap, with Amare Stoudemire headed to Toronto and the Bulls sending their package of expiring contracts in Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons along with Tyrus Thomas and maybe a first-round pick to Phoenix.
I don't believe it. I doubt many people do.
The Rapters just swapped Jermaine O'Neal and his bloated contract for another one in Shawn Marion last week. The trade implies that the Raptors are still trying to compete, while yes, save money.
That's the name of the game these days. The Bulls are in the blessed position to take in more expensive contracts because they still are in the third largest market with a plump attendance rate.
Point is: This is a trade that ultimately could change the direction of the franchise and put them into contention by 2009. While Bosh could surely bolt on the Bulls by 2010, they need to take some risks.
But why access this trade? Why any?
My guess is that no trade goes down. With the Bulls, it's the one-safe bet this season.
They finish four hours after anyone cares, and clean-up crews are already on-hand sweeping the Gatorade cups off the ground. The family went out for waffles, while the amateur Pheidippides tried to blast off those additional 30 pounds in one day.
It's tragic to even watch. It lasts longer than it should, and no one should have to endure that meaningless task.
- The Bulls are not landing anyone.
Now the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Chris Bosh could be headed to Chicago in a three-team swap, with Amare Stoudemire headed to Toronto and the Bulls sending their package of expiring contracts in Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons along with Tyrus Thomas and maybe a first-round pick to Phoenix.
I don't believe it. I doubt many people do.
The Rapters just swapped Jermaine O'Neal and his bloated contract for another one in Shawn Marion last week. The trade implies that the Raptors are still trying to compete, while yes, save money.
That's the name of the game these days. The Bulls are in the blessed position to take in more expensive contracts because they still are in the third largest market with a plump attendance rate.
Point is: This is a trade that ultimately could change the direction of the franchise and put them into contention by 2009. While Bosh could surely bolt on the Bulls by 2010, they need to take some risks.
But why access this trade? Why any?
My guess is that no trade goes down. With the Bulls, it's the one-safe bet this season.
Bulls GM John Paxson to quit? It's getting interesting
Huh?
Just when things were beginning to get more interesting, the John Paxson is about to head out the door, according to leaguewide reports. Sounds inconsistent.
Even if the former Bull were to head out the door in quick fashion, why would he do it after the trading deadline? Why not wait until the end of the season to not disrupt the team or shower incessant questions on the franchise?
But, these days, teams are hiring a rookie coach for no reason. Just how far have the Bulls fallen? They were the Portland Trailblazers lite in 2007, with young promising talent, defeating the defending champions in the first round of the playoffs.
We know the story now. There's no direction or identity on this team.
Paxson, who has been nationally and locally roasted, is not a terrible gm but not a terribly good one either. He panicked by firing a very good coach in Scott Skiles in 2007 and did little to land anyone via trades.
His biggest move could come in the following days, and who knows if it even involves anyone on the court?
Just when things were beginning to get more interesting, the John Paxson is about to head out the door, according to leaguewide reports. Sounds inconsistent.
Even if the former Bull were to head out the door in quick fashion, why would he do it after the trading deadline? Why not wait until the end of the season to not disrupt the team or shower incessant questions on the franchise?
But, these days, teams are hiring a rookie coach for no reason. Just how far have the Bulls fallen? They were the Portland Trailblazers lite in 2007, with young promising talent, defeating the defending champions in the first round of the playoffs.
We know the story now. There's no direction or identity on this team.
Paxson, who has been nationally and locally roasted, is not a terrible gm but not a terribly good one either. He panicked by firing a very good coach in Scott Skiles in 2007 and did little to land anyone via trades.
His biggest move could come in the following days, and who knows if it even involves anyone on the court?
Bulls Blow...Games
It was like an electronic gift on Christmas morning without batteries. What's the use?
The Chicago Bulls got two gifts at the end of Thursday nationally televised match-up against the Miami Heat. First, Daequan Cook fouls Ben Gordon on a three-point attempt to tie up the game.
Then, with just six seconds left, Miami's Dwyane Wade fumbles an inbound play near the hoop and Kirk Hinrich recovers, calling timeout with just 4.6 seconds left.
Perfect scenario to get a last shot, enough to run a play...perfect for Derrick Rose to drive and pitch.
Instead, Rose sits. Huh?
Thabo Sefolosha gets the call on the inbound. Huh?
And lobs into Wade's arms and he then calls timeout with almost no time ran off the clock. In the next sequence, Wade is used as a decoy and Shawn Marion blazes to the hoop and dunks with a second left.
Game, set, vacation.
Ladies and gentleman, your 2009 Chicago Bulls! If Vinny DelNegro wants to coach in the NBA, he'd better understand matchups. You don't call a last play and put in one offensive threat who stands at 6 feet 1 inch, and can't dribble, and no one else that can create their own shot.
Rose is still the best at drawing contact and the way Miami was defending, it shouldn't have been a problem to get deep into the lane. Things that make you go...what?
Sefolosha's inbound play was among the biggest blunders I've ever seen at the pro level. Hinrich was open at the top of the key, and would have been a safe option. Hell, throwing the ball toward the rim would have been smarter.
And for anyone that thinks Thomas has arrived, just look at the six turnovers he put together mostly on stupid dribbling and holding the ball. Michael Beasley scored 21 off the bench, mostly around the rim, which again, tells us that defense is not Thomas or Noah's forte.
Luol Deng is back to his old self: Bad.
By this time next week, we'll know whether or not this team will have a new identity. Hopefully it will, and hopefully Rose will still be a part of the offense.
The Chicago Bulls got two gifts at the end of Thursday nationally televised match-up against the Miami Heat. First, Daequan Cook fouls Ben Gordon on a three-point attempt to tie up the game.
Then, with just six seconds left, Miami's Dwyane Wade fumbles an inbound play near the hoop and Kirk Hinrich recovers, calling timeout with just 4.6 seconds left.
Perfect scenario to get a last shot, enough to run a play...perfect for Derrick Rose to drive and pitch.
Instead, Rose sits. Huh?
Thabo Sefolosha gets the call on the inbound. Huh?
And lobs into Wade's arms and he then calls timeout with almost no time ran off the clock. In the next sequence, Wade is used as a decoy and Shawn Marion blazes to the hoop and dunks with a second left.
Game, set, vacation.
Ladies and gentleman, your 2009 Chicago Bulls! If Vinny DelNegro wants to coach in the NBA, he'd better understand matchups. You don't call a last play and put in one offensive threat who stands at 6 feet 1 inch, and can't dribble, and no one else that can create their own shot.
Rose is still the best at drawing contact and the way Miami was defending, it shouldn't have been a problem to get deep into the lane. Things that make you go...what?
Sefolosha's inbound play was among the biggest blunders I've ever seen at the pro level. Hinrich was open at the top of the key, and would have been a safe option. Hell, throwing the ball toward the rim would have been smarter.
And for anyone that thinks Thomas has arrived, just look at the six turnovers he put together mostly on stupid dribbling and holding the ball. Michael Beasley scored 21 off the bench, mostly around the rim, which again, tells us that defense is not Thomas or Noah's forte.
Luol Deng is back to his old self: Bad.
By this time next week, we'll know whether or not this team will have a new identity. Hopefully it will, and hopefully Rose will still be a part of the offense.
