When I was getting predictions from my writers today, they kept asking: "Is this with or without Kobe?" Looks like it will be without, unless John Paxson changes his mind on Luol Deng.
I'm predicting Bulls win 52 games and make it to the conference finals. I had them losing to Boston, but on second though, I think they'll make it to the NBA Finals and lose to Phoenix.
Nice prediction...
Cubs lose to Dbacks..
Bulls lose to Phx..
....maybe i need to move home...bring some the mojo back!
Bulls will go 17-24 and then trade for Kobe...and finish the season 38-3
Make playoffs...
Lose to Loul Deng led Lakers in Finals!!!!
After watching the Bulls/Milwaukee game and getting three guys hurt it reminded me how fragile we are as a team.
We need a manchild Kobe would be that person.Part with Deng and Gordon and what ever it take to grt Kobe here.
The way the Bears are going it will be a long dull winter,Kobe could bring some fire.
I am willing to swollow his baggage after sunday with the Bears.
Too reliant on jump shots...50 wins and another 2nd round defeat.
With Kobe (and with Deng); Conf champion - losing to Phoenix
Great minds think alike. Almost.
52-30, with or without Kobe (it'll take time for adjustments) and losing in the Finals to San Antonio.
Most energetic team in some time. If we keep injuries and turnovers to a minimum we could squeeze out a few more wins, just not enough to overcome a solid S.A. squad.
Actually, we played well against Phoenix last year. Wouldn't mind that match-up.
Still like Noah over Thomas. Better mop up (role) player.
Barring there are no season ending injuries; the Bulls will win 55 games and will be dispatched out of the playoffs in the second round. They might be strong enough to make it to the conference finals but they will not advance. And as a fan I will be happy if they reach the conf. finals. Team ball - no matter how good is only good enough to get to the conf. finals.
Bulls need a bonefide star and should trade Luol Deng for just that. The secret is both Gordon and Deng are 20 pts a night players. Deng gets the nod because of his size and higher percentage shots. And the sleeper talent on the Bulls is Kirk and Noch. Bulls need to move 2 players to get one star. Deng is the hot commodity and I would move him like a stolen painting.
Getting a star is inevitable. That brings us to Mr. Skiles. Bulls are going to have to move him out. The Baby-Bull-Team-Thing has a one year moratorium before fans and management figures it all out. Then they are going to get smart and get a star and will need a guy that can manage personalities. You have to have a TEAM and at least one STAR to win a championship.
57 wins, home court through the conference finals beating Boston in six and losing to Phoenix in 7 in the finals.
Keith - I think the one-year moratorium was last year.
G 42:40 13-32 1-3 18-27 +3 0 8 8 4 4 4 5 1 3 45
Hey....
who am I...
I ran players and a coache out of town..
I punched my own teamate in practice..
I cheated on my wife...lots of times.
I headbutted a ref...
I gamble with known mafia....
In his own words, I will cheat, steal and do whatever it takes to win.....but i will win!
ummmmmmm......
anyone want to take a crack at who I am talking about??
Roman responds: It was Rodman who headbutted the ref, not the guy you're referring to.
Prediction.....Bulls send Gordon and Deng to LA ...Bulls win it all with Kobe ....and about 4 times
I heard the Arenas as available. If Kobe is not attainable, can we trade Gordon, Noah, and draft picks for Hibachi?
Roman responds: Yeah, Gilbert and Skiles would get along great. At least Kobe has some hardware.
As some others have pointed out, too many jumpers, which will go away in the Playoffs when the pressure is on. Without Kobe, 45 to 50 wins and an early Playoff exit. Pretty much the same as last year.
What Culzie left out was that he did all that while winning 6 titles in a row! Yeah 6 for him. The team kept playing but he didnt. See when you are winning - all of that stuff goes away.
The guy who wants to be like him - hasn't won since he ran the REAL guy off the team. See the REAL guy kept winning.
Since they don't have Kobe this prediction will be without. I see them winning 50 games and losing in the second round. To be honest this team could finish anywhere from 1st to 4th in the conference. That's not saying much as this is still a weak conference. There are some improving teams in the east. Several teams will better like Boston, Orlando, New Jersey (if they can stay healthy) and Toronto. Detroit and Cleveland will be good as well. The bulls would not come close to having home court in the west. They have no chance to win it all without a significant trade. I see them losing in the second round again. They could possible get to the conference finals with some luck, but no further. Ben Gordan and Luol Deng will be better, but Ben Wallace won't. They still have no inside game. I said last year they should have kept LeMarcus Aldridge instead of Tyrus Thomas. He looked pretty good against the Spurs and Tim Duncan on opening night. Does anyone else think they would be a better team with Aldridge and Tyson Chandler up front.
Maybe Deng and Gordon didn't sign extensions to make the Kobe trade easier. That's the only thing I can think of.
See, If Luol Deng is the bright young man people say he is, then he must have reasons to walk away from $10 million a year, guaranteed for 5 seasons.
Frankly, Deng is not a $10 million player. Neither Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili make $10 and they've won 3 NBA Titles. Deng and Gordon haven't done anything, haven't won anything. They're good NBA players, no doubt. Maybe All-Stars. In today's NBA world, 'maybe All-Stars' can make $10 million and they should be happy doing it.
Kobe is a proven winner. He is a Superstar, regardless of other issues. A Superstar is a player so good he can take his team to the playoffs regardless of the roster. David Robinson did it and was soft because Willie Andersons and Vinny Del Negros were manning guard and forward positions. Kobe does it with Kwame Brown in the middle. Talk about not worth $9 million per season, see Kwame Brown.
Just because some guys are overpaid doesn't mean everybody should be. Those are called mistakes, like a Larry Hughes, who makes about $11 per.
Chicago should trade 1 big (Tyrus Thomas) and Deng or Gordon and picks and get a third team involved and land Bryant. It would make Chicago a legitimate title contender. Anything else and they don't have a chance. Young teams do not generally win titles in the NBA. Lebron taking Cleveland to the Finals was an abberration and a statement on just how good he is. Gordon and Deng are not Lebron. Ask yourself this, would Cleveland give you James for both and somebody? Not.
Add to knucklehead move of choosing Tyrus over LaMarcus Aldridge and you have to get Kobe. One note on that. I live in Texas so I saw a lot of UT and LSU. Aldridge was a baller, ever evolving, ever improving. Thomas was an athlete. While Chicago has been really good drafting young talent, keep Noah, that was glaring mistake.
Don't make another one. You've got talent Chicago, you need a Superstar.
I know Paxson has to be sick on his stomach because the Bulls almost fleeced the Lakers! LA was going to get Ben Wallace and Ron Artest for Kobe Bryant and send Ben Gordon to Sacramento! Now that is a deal. Thats one that Paxson has to make happen. What's crazy is that LA would have made a big push with Ron and Wallace. ARTEST can ball and they could have paid him with studio time and gold chains!
I think Gordon sold out that game winner on purpose. Man they are all worried! And Skiles was acting like he is not phased, but he is shakin in his boots! I can see Kobe looking at the plays smirking! And making suggestions that PHIL gave him. All it will take is one diss from Skiles and Kobe will scoop him out like a tootsie roll in the cat litter!
I still won't believe it until it happens. But it appears - KOBE IS COMING! My new prediction - Bulls will win 45 games and exit in the second round.
Let's leave Kobe in L.A.
I have been following the Bulls for the last 3 years. Yeah, I admit I took a break when MJ left, I'm just that kind of fan. The Bulls are a team. And I like that fact. It's like watching a college team. They provide a lot of energy and just play well together. Is it good enough to win a championship? I don't know. They are still very young.
But, the point is, the Bulls have a great team. I root for every guy. The bench players and the hope of NO-CI-ONI being chanted in the rafters of the stadium are welcomed events.
Adding Kobe, what does the do to the 'team' concept? I don't want the Bulls to lose that. Would Kobe work under Skiles? When will Kobe start whining in ChiTown?
Kobe for Gordon and a Draft Pick. That's it. There is too much riding on the team concept that could be ruined with the arrival of Kobe.
Marriotti's constant 'bring Kobe here' should be a clue to everyone to just leave him in L.A.
The Bulls without Kobe will win 49 to 54 games, lose a good deal of the 33 games by 5 points or less and lose to Miami in the Conference semis.
The Bulls with Kobe and Deng will win 60 games, beat Boston in the Conference finals and lose to San Antonio in 6 games in the NBA finals.
Pax has to make this deal. We all saw last night's game. With Kobe, the Bulls would have never fallen behind by 17 points while waiting on Deng and Gordon to heat up. Kobe comes out the locker room on fire. With the Bulls his scoring average will dip, but he'll become a more complete offensive presence ala MJ in his prime with a league tested Pippen. Sure, he'll average 30 points per game but his assist totals will go up. Trade Wallace, Gordon and Noah to the Lakers. Leave Hinrich, Deng, Thomas, Smith, Noc, Thabo, Gray and Duhon. That team is stout defensively and potent offensively. It would be as complete as any team East or West. Pax, get Kobe now!!!!!! If last night doesn't highlight the Bulls deficiencies, then what will it take. 6 out of 7 losses on the dreaded circus trip. We can't afford it.
I would take Arenas over Gordon in a heartbeat. Change of scenery along with the group he'll mold with may change him as a person for the better. The workmanlike personality of the Bulls does rub off. I personally think it may be a very decent option should Kobe not come over.
Now O'Neal, that's a scenario I would hope to avoid.
much has been said about the trade rumors possibly having an effect on last nights Bulls loss in NJ. only the Bulls players can actually answer that and so far they deny it. what is obvious in the loss is this.....the Nets made 11 more free throws than the Bulls even attemped and had a +18 point advantage from the line...four consecutive turn overs late in the second quarter led to a 15 point deficit at the half.....Ben Gordon waited 1 or 2 seconds too long to start his move with the game tied and 19.3 seconds left in regulation which caused him to force a shot that was partialy blocked. even though BG was the spark plug in the Bulls comback from 17 points down he is not the one that should directing that last play. BG's most effective moving without the ball coming off screens. Big Ben missed crucial free throws in the overtime period....would it have been better to have had Gray playing at that time? if Gray had been on the floor for that last play in regulation would he have made the put back on BG's air ball?
what do you think Roman?
Roman responds: I don't have a problem with Skiles' moves yesterday. The Gray scenario is intriguing, though. Ben's FT shooting does make him a liability.
Hopefully we get someone to take Wallace in the Kobe deal. He put up a stellar 38 minute, 7 pt, 5 rb effort while also being unable to make FTs.
That guy totally headbutted a REF and they didnt call it.
I remember it like it was yesterday....
My prediction....
Keith in a Pink hat in
Sec.212 Row 18.Seat 11
Wrigley Field
Culzie in Pink Sox hat at Cubs opener??? You know you want to come home anyway. Be a wonderful kick-off to the Sox return to the world Series.
Dr. Who - Good post! Brought up some glaring concerns. I know Pax is going to get Kobe, but I would be more impressed if we could get Agent Zero or even Ron Artest for Ben Gordon (and keep Ben Wallace). I have maintained all this time that we don't need Kobe. He has more talent than we need and brings along too many ifs. He would easily replace Gordon, but who is going to guard Shaq and Dwight Howard when we lose Ben Wallace?
who is going to guard Shaq and Dwight Howard when we lose Ben Wallace? (keith)
Gray?
I thought it was the snake pit?