Full Court Press

I want the Big Headed 7 footer from Georgtown.

I suppose whom ever the Bulls draft will give some indication on what direction the team is looking to take regarding the restricted free agency of Gordon and Deng. Gordon I believe will be the subject of a sign and trade deal. But the big question still remains who will be the Head Coach? Someone mentioned Larry Byrd. Larry coached an Indiana team for three years that was a contender wit Mark Jackson, the Davis boys, Rick Smits and Reggie why would he want to coach Ben(gimme the ball so I can get trapped and turn it over) Gordon, Kirk(no it's my turn to dribble for 19 seconds before turning it over) Hinrich, and Andres(what? who me? what'd I do?) Nocioni.

Tournament's stars...tomorrow's Bull malcontent.

The last thing the Bulls need right now is another basket case, and Mayo has "WARNING" written all over his forehead. There are too many disciplined, fine athletes out there to even consider this runaway train. Too disruptive, sorry Ricky, bad choice.

Abrams and Augustin are nails tough Texas boys I wouldn't mind seeing, and Brook Lopez has the mean streak every N.B.A. player should possess.

Warm on a few of the others, but there are some decent players out there.

Derrick Rose: Being a Chicago boy myself, I would love to see Rose flourish, but his hesitance lately has me shaking my head. I think one more year of leadership will open him up a little. He may sit on someones bench with a poor shooting and free throw percentage to start in the Pros, and that's what I'm foreseeing.

DeAndre Jordan: Still too soft. Needs to work on his hands and upper body. Good footwork though.

Eric Gordon: Reminds me of Doc Rivers, A LOT. He'll be better at the next level because his prima-dona approach will not be tolerated and he'll only improve. I like him.

Westbrook and Love: Inconsistent and Slow. I'll pass.

A few players that were intriguing from what I've seen are:

Josh Duncan, Xavier: If somebody worked this guy in a boxing ring for a few months, he'd be awesome. Inside/outside game, size, footwork, rebounding, passing. Would love to see what he could do in a pro system. Just needs that 'grit of the teeth' attitude a little more, but possesses excellent tools for a guy his size.

Jerel McNeal, Marquette: Nice size and has a solid game; could surprise.

Stephen Curry, Davidson: Other than playing on the smartest team in the tournament, this silky smoothe babyface has some game. Don't know how he'd fare against bigger, stronger bodies, but you can't teach his God-given abilities and technology and age will beef him up.

Scottie Reynolds, Villanova: A natural born leader with the speed to keep up with the other Jack-rabbits. Poor mans Chris Paul.

Bill Walker, Kansas State: Tough, creative, BASKETBALL PLAYER. 'D' is suspect, but reminds me of a junk-yard dog Earl Monroe.

Joe Alexander, West Virginia: This kid could use a kick in the ass, but his game skills can only improve what is already a solid game.

Michael Beasley: This kid breathes basketball. Couple that with the greatest talent potential, and you have the NUMBER 1 PICK. No bout adout it!

Personally, I'd take a speedy assist man who LOVES to play DEFENSE. That is the key missing link, other than the SUPERSTAR of course, in the Bulls system. This particular type of player would have made a possible 10 game difference this year. That's a 37-32 record to date, and seeing what Lebron has done for Cleveland, I'd take it.

Then again, at this time, I'd take anything other than the headache this current team dishes out every other night!

yeah..that's just what DaBulls need...more college all americans...just...load up the whole team with 'em

Who is that Lamar Odom type dude for Tennessee?

Transfer from Arizona?

He is sick...

Ricky responds: Tyler Smith maybe? He's a transfer from Iowa though and isn't quite as tall as Odom. He is awesome though.

If I were in their shoes ... considering the present coaching situation, and the fact that there's been no discussion from the front office as to who the next coach might possibly be, I'd be hoping and praying that the Bulls didn't select me.

They're a mess.

Yep, need a point guard first and then a another front line big. But, really we need to change this team by losing Thomas and Gordon. The 4th quarter at Indiana saw the Pacers pick on Gordon EVERYTIME down the court unless there was a breakdown. The Bulls did everything to cover him up and it just didn't work. The third quarter was masterful for the Bulls except for some defensive breakdowns on rebounds. We were who I thought we were......

Point Guard from the Draft. Make a run at Agent Zero. Deal Deng, Gordon, Thomas, Hinrich. Any two or even three. GET ZERO, draft a point guard who will be available. Doenst matter.

It's pretty sad that we're yet discussing about the draft lottery and possible draft picks again. Like we didn't learn our lesson already about this season. I've been saying in earlier blogs since New Years that the Bulls should have concentrated on developing the younger players and should have shut down the season for the core guys (Hinrich, Deng, Nocioni and Gordon), but nooooo, the majority wanted to continue trying to make the playoffs with these guys. The worst part of it all is that we're still not out of the playoff hunt! Therefore, clueless Jim Boylan continues to place his trust on these same goofs instead of focusing on the development of the younger players. the worst thing that could happen to the Bulls this season has happened... we can't even play ourselves OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS because the Eastern Conference overall is so bad!

Forget the NBA Draft lottery. Even if we drafted OJ Mayo or Beasley or Rose, etc., who in our current coaching staff can we trust to properly develop these prospects into legit NBA superstars?? Right now, no one. Until Paxson or Reindsdork, whoever is the real decision maker on this team, open up their pocketbooks and quit whining about having to dip into luxury tax territory, a legitimate NBA coach must be hired first in the offseason to handle this team. After that is settled, then and only then can we start talking about draft picks and making changes in our roster via trades, cuts, extensions, etc. Yes, I wouldn't mind someone like Agent Zero and Elton Brand back on the team, but we need to settle the coaching matter first and overhaul the ENTIRE coaching staff, not just Jim Boylan.

Everyone wants to talk about keeping 'the next Steve Nash' Hinrich, 'mr. clutch' Ben Gordon, 'the next great NBA superstar' Luol Deng blah blah blah.... they all have regressed so much in their game this season that I don't even care if they get traded to another team and they become superstars elsewhere. They all disappointed me so much this season that I honestly don't want them on the team anymore, but obviously we're stuck with most of them unless we can trigger a trade. The team is a total mess. That's my opinion. No superstar on the team, not even an all-star, no true NBA coaching, Mike Brown is our big man coach, no leaders, too many players who think they're better than they really are (Deng, Gordon) so they end up pouting about their contracts and their game suffers, lying GM's who say that they plan to give more minutes to younger players and never follow through.... I could go on and on. Basketball is my favorite sport and sad to say, there's not 1 college or professional basketball team to look up to in the entire state of Illinois! Sad, very sad.

Just came from ESPNs Lottery Machine. They have the Bulls taking Oklahomas' Blake Griffin. Almost forgot about this guy. TREMENDOUS footwork and moves around the basket. Adonis frame puts this guy in a catagory with Beasley. Only saw two games with Oklahoma but he scraped EVERYTHING within 8 feet off the boards and muscled in every layup. Didn't see much of a jumper and he's foul prone, but definitely intriguing. Still, without a point guard, even Blake's a mute point.

Keith;

Sounds like a plan, except that I'm not quite ready to give up on Thomas. Not just yet.

But I've already seen enough of Hinrich, Deng, Gordon, and Duhon, thank you, and won't miss them in the least.

Getting a legitimate point guard that can dribble, pass, shoot, and hang onto the ball, while also staying out of foul trouble would go a long way towards curing what ails this team.

"I want the Big Headed 7 footer from Georgtown"

You mean the same one who went scoreless in one of the Big East tournament games? He'll fit right in...

Ricky responds: Hibbert is basically Aaron Gray with cooler sideburns.

Boylan thinks he still has a chance at being the Bulls coach next season. That Pax isn't just looking at W's and L's but looking at the developement of the younger players and other area's. Guess what Jim...when you don't play the younger players they don't develope! Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord hit ya on ya way out pal.

I want the Lopez kid from Stanford. He has great skills around the hoop. Derrick Rose would be a blessing. He is a Deron Williams clone. In the dream world that I live in sometimes however, they would trade the pick and a bunch of the roster stiffs and get a superstar guard. The Bulls could be good but they need a solid head coach first. With all of the constant rotations gaffes by this joke Boylan, who would want to be drafted and play here.

By Agent 0 ...do you mean the Guy with the BIGGEST CHIP on his shoulder in the league?

Villano | March 24, 2008 10:06 PM - I agree about Thomas. And once we get a bonefide point guard in here, the game will get all that much easier. Will take time, but thats all we have. That point guard will go well with Thomas. Lets hope that all it will take to get Zero will be Gordon, Deng, Hinrich. Duhon will be released at the end of the season. Its about agent Zero right now though. Teaming him up with Hughes might revitalized that vaunted defense they once had. Those two with Thomas and Thabo would be sick. Excuse me...just teared up.

Biggest need, an Athletic Small forward, that prefers getting to the rim instead of constantly firing and inconsistant jump shot i.e "Loul Deng".

Diddo at the SG position, Gordon lacks the ability to get to the rim and draw fouls, all the top scorers in the league get to the line regulary. My pick, the chicago kid, no not Rose but Jerel McNeal, the kid fits the mode of Dewayne wade exactly. Mcneal is 6'4", like wade, attacks the basket hard with wide range of different moves, and finishes. the biggest thing is Mcneals a junior so he'll better understand, and be more advanced in the skills needed to be a Pro. enough with drafting 3 yrs from now talent and potential.

I also like the tough as nails kid from Pitt, Lavance Fields stock is rising.

Keith;

Thomas need some seriously good coaching.

He needs to be given a chance to show whether or not the physical skills he has can be applied in a professional manner on the court, while playing 30 plus minutes per night.

It's a shot in the dark, and he might be too much of a head case to succeed, but I still want to see if he can do it.

Tyrus is a young man, and his maturity level reflects that, but I'm hoping that he can get a grip on things, and realize his true potential.

He has more spring in his step, and leaping ability than half the players on this woebegone team put together, but it's time for him to step up, and assert himself. I'd bet that Phill Jackson could wring every last ounce of talent out of this young man.

Skiles tuned him out, and Tyrus did likewise with Skiles.

Boylan doesn't seem to be faring any better.

Keith, although I have always liked agent 0's game I'd question his durability after knee surgery.

Villano, the biggest thing wrong with Tyrus is he keeps getting jerked around. Again last night he played 9:35 in the first half and didn't see any time in the second.
Another interesting note...in the +/- column or the stats there were only 2 Bulls in the - ...Gordon and Noce and both were in double figures.

Skiles tuned out Thomas?

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard...

Mark...stop pretending to know stuff...you just sound ridiculous.

Exactly my point earlier this week, Villano. The coaching staff must be addressed first before we can discuss draft picks, trades, free agents, cuts, etc. And I'm talking more than just Jim Boylan because the assistants are very much as important as the head coach in helping develop the players behind the scenes. Think about it, if an overwhelming majority thinks that Boylan is terrible right now, then you have to think about what exactly did he do well as an assistant all these years? And then you have Pete Myers? Come on. Ron Adams? He gets into a heated exchange with our prize rookie this year, Joakim Noah. Mike Brown? Gimme a break and what a joke. One of the worst hiring announcements I have ever heard from the Bulls. That should have been kept quiet from the public for all I care. Mike Wilhelm? How many of you know that he is our Advance Scout? Well, our team hasn't produced any All-Stars in the last 7-8 years. Eric Heiland? Our strength/conditioning coach. Well, looking at Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Thabo Sefalosha, they could sure use more of that!

Here's a question for most of you: Who's the best Bull playing right now? No doubt, it has to be Drew Gooden. I'm sure most of you will agree and he wasn't even a product of our own system! I know a lot of you are surprised and I bet some even believe that he's not as good as he looks. Well, that just goes to show how terrible our core players have been all season long, yet they're still hogging up the minutes. Beating Atlanta last night just fuels another sense of false hope.

It's like everyone has already made up their minds about Tyrus Thomas and want to get rid of him, but he's only in his second year as a Bull and was drafted as a Freshman out of College! Yes, he's immature and he's a head case right now, but good coaching and experience will or should fix that. In the last NBA Draft, there were so many fans and media experts who knocked the Joakim Noah pick saying stupid things about his hair, his draft day suit and his shooting form, but he's now among the top 5 NBA rookies this year based on his nonstop motor and effort alone. Give the young guys a chance, but on top of that, give them a good coaching staff who can properly teach the NBA game to them! You can all dream about Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, Eric Gordon, the Lopez twins, OJ Mayo, Nicolas Batum, etc. -- all moot point if the Bulls make the playoffs that you all so crave for -- but none of them are LeBron/Kobe talents and they will not amount to much under this current coaching staff.

One last time, John Paxson -- PLEASE fix that coaching staff in the offseason! If not, then you will lose an 11-year season ticket holder here and believe me, I intend to persuade other season holders to follow in my footsteps and I know plenty of them in the 100 sections!

One Very Disgruntled Lifelong Bulls Fan

kevin g | March 25, 2008 09:24 PM - EXCELLENT POST! But it would have to be McNeals at 6'3 because we are done with shawtees and people who are not BONEFIDE exceptional point guards.

Culzie I have to agree with Mark, whether he tunned him out or not, there is one thing you cannot deny and that is the results. And the results are in - Tyson Chandler just needed to be on a team with a point-guard who can get him the ball and a coach who understood that. The SAME with Tyrus Thomas who is a better leaper.

Tim Little - I have to agree with the Surgery issue of Zero, but that might be a bargaining chip? I say gamble. Who else can we run at? Brand is also coming off an injury.

Edgar;

Gooden has been playing well, although he had an off night in Philly. I also like Thabo's game alot.

We have a few young, tall, athletic players on this team, and I hope they get a chance to shine.

IMHO, Paxon's original Brat Pack have just about maxed out their potential, and I hope they make a change.

Keith;

I also like Zero, and Brand. Brand has been a top flight player throughout his entire career, and still has some gas left in his tank. The Bulls should have never let him go in the first place.

Isn't it typical Chicago sports to be saying....they should have never let him go..or...it's a shmae they didn't get him 2 years ago when he had something left to give..

what would the Bulls have looked like if they had protected the "core" of Brand, Artest and Miller they way they have Gordon, Deng and Hinrich?

on the bright side I can watch the NCAA tonight and see two good teams on the floor. and tomorrrow evening I'd rather spend watching to see if Davidson can extend their winning streak to 25 against wisconsin than see if the Bulls are going to continue flirting with the eight seed.

Go Tar Heels and Wild Cats!!

I've seen more than enough N.B.A. this year, and Philly has the most athletic first seven in the league. It's a no wonder they've won 23 of their last 34. Iguodala is a SUPERSTAR, and the supporting cast is "faster than a cockroach when the lights come on". Fastbreak points, 34-2, advantage 76ers, THAT'S SICK!!!

I dont agree with Mark, I dont agree with Keith, I kinda agree with Tim, skimmed Edgar and shouldnt Kevin G be resting up after his big win against the Suns last night?

Again, be careful of what you wish for. Everyone wants Agent Zero, Elton Brand, or maybe even an expensive Jermaine O'Neal, but none of these guys are going to express any interest in coming here until they know who the permanent coach will be and if that coach is someone they will even listen to and respect. If Paxson foolishly hires Boylan as the permanent head coach, you really think those guys will campaign to come here? No way. I doubt it. I'm not going to make any name suggestions because I don't want to begin another thread or debate on who should be coach next season, but my point is for Paxson to just get it done as the first item of business in the offseason. I'm uspset at Paxson as many people are as well, but I also realize that he's not going to get fired this year so there's no point in calling him out about his job.

Otherwise, I agree with most of the posts by the regulars here like Southside Keith, Mr. Little, Navarro, Villano... even Culzie sometimes when he decides to chime in with an educated post. I know we need a quick and true point guard, a go-to superstar player, taller bodies with physical post skills and a mean streak and just smart players with high basketball IQ and composure (something our core players severely lack). I understand all that. It's bad enough that we have plenty of players on the roster with little trade value, but let's face the facts, no one from our wish lists are coming here until the coaching issue is resolved first. And if you think that NBA coaching is overrated (I know there are some of you out there who think it is), you are sadly mistaken. I'll debate against anyone on that anytime, anyplace and at any forum.

I was working second shift last night so I missed the Bulls game, but those fast break stats are shameful. Is Philly THAT much better, or do the Bulls simply lack heart?

I don't think Boylan is up to the job, but I still can't help wondering if he now regrets having taken it in the first place. This sorry audition certainly won't enhance his resume.

Anthony Navarro | March 27, 2008 09:04 AM - EXCELLENT POST!! I agree with every word. And thats what the Bulls would look like with a Star or Point-guard, of which the 76's have both. Andre Miller is a veteran point guard and Igodala is a straight up beast.

Edgar | March 27, 2008 10:26 AM - No OLD-Neal!

Edgar | March 26, 2008 12:20 PM - I APPRECIATE THIS POST!!! Good laughs and good points. This is what we call on the southside "putting in good work". I feel you. And hang in there my friend. 100 level??? I WISSSHHHH!!!

Boylan is all but done. I like the guy because of his approach. He is also learning on the job and I feel he has the tools to be a good solid coach in the league. I know it gets to people, but I appreciate a good flare up every now and then. It means the players engaged and care. There is a difference between being disrespectful and showing emotion. I like it. Just because a player is quiet, doesnt mean that there are not problems. My pastor always tells a story of a little girl who was told by the teacher to sit down. In protest the little girl told the teacher, "I'm sittting down on the outside, but standing up on the inside". My point here is, you want players not to just obey, but trust. And I guess you are right, gotta have a trustworthy source. We need a solid guy in here, but a teacher.

Good post Edgar, but let me clarify one thing....I don't now, never have or ever will want to see Jermaine O'Neal in a Bulls uniform. In the first place he's injury prone, in the second place he's got a personality as such that if he were a pile of cow dung he couldn't attract flies and he is not a leader which is something sorely need by the Bulls.

Mr. Navarro the cockroach comment has me crackin up but an excellent analogy.

Of the Bulls remaining 11 games 8 are with teams in the top 8 seeds now and 7 of those with teams in the top six of their conference. So it would appear the only question unanswered is how many ping pong balls will have the Bulls logo on them?

I like AMiller and AI2

What about Okefor?

after last night the Bulls are all but eliminated from post season play now. I'll admit I didn't watch any of last night's game because I was too engrossed in the NCAA tourney. Looking at the box score though I see Tyrus is deep in Boylan's doghouse. Just over 3 minutes of play. I hate to say it or see it but looks like Tyrus is on course to follow Chandler into the realm of former Bulls finding success elsewhere while Bulls fans lament what they got in return.

I agree Tim he is still young and talented. If he ever gets with a true point guard...instant stardom. This draft is going to be rich with point guards. Bulls have to remember. Its going to take time to develop one. Even Deron Williams as good as he is, is still developing. Memphis's Rose is going to take the league by storm. He looks like a Dwayne Wade clone. I want a big guard for the Bulls. BIG athlete.

One more topic and this board is gone. Tyrus was good last night. How bout that Tim. Very interesting times for the Bulls. They competed like men.