Jerry Reinsdorf raised some eyebrows this morning when he was on "The Monsters in the Morning" on Comcast SportsNet.
Reinsdorf was adamant in saying the Bulls' problems are not the fault of general manager John Paxson.
"When you have a team that's not performing it's an organization failure," Reinsdorf said. "You win and you lose as an organization. But if there's one person that is not responsible for what's going on right now, it's John Paxson. I have tremendous confidence in John Paxson. He's really one of the best people that I know. He's a great general manager and a great judge of talent. I just worry that he not be too hard on himself. He takes all of this very, very seriously."
The obvious question then is, who's fault is it? Reinsdorf was asked about rookie coach Vinny Del Negro and spoke volumes without saying anything.
"I have a lot of thoughts about that but they're not thoughts that I really can say publicly," Reinsdorf said.
It doesn't take a cynical media type to infer that Reinsdorf is pointing the finger of blame at his rookie coach.
Del Negro responded, but what's he going to say. His boss' boss essentially indicted him for the team's woes this season.
I wonder how much of the blame Reinsdorf puts on himself. Maybe a lot, I don't know. After all, at one point, Mike D'Antoni was ready to commit to the Bulls. Then Reinsdorf goes out for a visit and talks about D'Antoni's defensive philosophy among other things, and D'Antoni immediately accepts the Knicks' offer.
Then Reinsdorf decides Doug Collins isn't the right person for the job.
So Del Negro gets the gig.
And I wonder how much of a role Reinsdorf played in signing Ben Wallace in '06. It's been reported that Wallace was Reinsdorf's idea. That bombed and resulted in trading for Larry Hughes, and that's been a huge problem.
Paxson has made his share of mistakes, and he would be the first one to admit it. In retrospect, LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas was not a good trade. And Joakim Noah looks to be a bust.
Paxson took a horrible team and turned it into a club that made the playoffs and then won a playoff series the next season. There was significant progress.
But the wheels have fallen off, and when things go this bad, someone usually is axed. I wrote earlier this week that Del Negro's fate could be determined by this West Coast trip.
The Bulls beat a lousy Clippers team the other day and play another bad team tonight in Sacramento.
Each game seems to have become even more important to the future of Del Negro.
I believe the Bulls need all new management and coaches. They are confused and lost.
Yup, that's Reinsdorf, arrogance personified. Why anyone would take this guy's word and opinion is beyond me. Of course he's not going to blame Paxson, he has him stringing along perfectly like a a puppet. How many times I've heard this guy speak in banquet dinners, interviews, etc. I can't even type in this blog and tell you exactly how I feel about him and won't lower myself in here to do so like some babbling meathead. Ultimately, he's the biggest tool of them all in the organization because he's the true decisionmaker on trades and personnel, but because he's the Chairman, you can't realistically get rid of him. So for now, this is all on Paxson. Despite Reinsdorf's backing, I still say Pax will get enough sense on his own to resign after this season after intense media and public pressure. Just my prediction.
Reinsdorf is and has always been a complete tool.
Him throwing hugs and kisses to the man who built this mess and saying that he thinks Paxson is a “great general manager and a great judge of talent” is just another pearl in the string of Reinsdorf’s screw ups.
This is the same idiot that was the driving force behind the baseball lockout that killed his own team’s chance of winning a ring.
The same coward behind the "White Flag" trade when his team was in the middle of a pennant race.
The same jerk that treated Carlton Fisk like dirt for who knows what reason.
The same guy who insisted on his poor design input of the new ball park that was paid for by the tax payers who were then told to sit in the infamous upper deck like hobos.
That came after he threatened to move the team to Tampa unless we built him a new stadium.
The same arrogent snob who acted like a drama queen because the city wanted to let some high school players play their championship game at U.S. Cellular as if he paid for the place out of his pocket.
The same guy who could not even acknowledge the White Sox history at Comiskey or the Bulls at the Stadium in some way. Just knock them down and put up a parking lot in both cases. To hell with you fools who supported these teams long before he came to town.
He did not grow up here or live here and he could not care less about your teams past. Give me your money or I will take my ball or go elsewhere.
The same pompous blowhard who could not wait to get rid of Jordan, Pippen and Phil Jackson to usher in the Tim Floyd era.
He and his toady Krause could not take credit for drafting Jordan so he wanted him gone.
Think about that....
The greatest player in the NBA history and this moron wanted him out the door A.S.A.P. because of his bloated ego. Unbelievable!
Paxson is safe and he will continue to botch this because he has been given the nod of approval from the clown behind the curtain.
Unfair to say that Joakim Noah is a bust -- he's had 4 coaches in 2 years, and Vinny still looks like he doesn't know how to be a coach. That said, who else was available for the Bulls with the 9th pick in the 2007 draft? Spencer Hawes, who just got schooled by Noah tonight.
Seriously, not every draft has a LeBron or a Derrick Rose type player throughout the Top 10 picks.
Roman responds: Good point about the '07 Draft. Who would have thought Wilson Chandler would be one of the stars of that class.
Philtration you know you really shouldn't keep emotions bottled up inside, let it out and let us know how you really feel about Reinsdorf ok? LOL
Well I guess I don't need to point out that JR as owner and chairman is most responsible and it's begining to look as though Vinny was set up to be a patsy from the get go. Yet given Vinny's experience, or lack there of, I don't think he's done all that bad with the hand he was dealt.
As fas as the team is concerned Gordon in my opinion is looking more and more like Hughes. Inspite of his 20 points last night he also initiated the Kings runs that cut 20+ point leads to single digits with his one on one play with a full shot clock never even looking to pass the ball then coming up empty.
Uhhhh...and who HIRED a coach with NO experience???
Vinnie is coaching like someone with no experience. Paxson is GMing like someone with no experience (yet it's his 6th year I think). You tell me who's doing the worse job...
They fired Skiles because the players stopped listening. They still don't listen so isn't it quite possible they are under-performing dopes (save 1) drafted by a lame GM?
Roman this indicates that you were right on the money about Vinny. You have some good sources. To Vinny's credit, he did what most would do, he took a chance. And Vinny was wise to point out exactly what he had inhereted from the previous coach - and it was a TOTAL MESS.
That interview was very informative. It makes you wonder how much power Pax really has. But more importantly, it confirmed what I really wanted to know, which is - do they remember. Reinsdorf and Krause ran Phil, Mike and Scottie out of here so fast that I thought they just hated thinking about those days. Success like theirs came with a heavy price and a lot of over-inflated egos were made and bruised. And they all made us fans pay the price. The thought of Mike and Scottie playing for other teams just made me ill. And abandoning Phil and the triangle was just not smart. Isaiah didn't play for another team, neither did Larry or Magic. THIS was the beggining of a new era and I hated it.
I do not believe that Bulls ownership is truly committed to winning a championship. the main goal seems to be generating revenue for the shareholders. the sad truth is we will never know how good or bad Pax is as a GM. the show is run by Reinsdork, as long as he has final say the Bulls are doomed. Reinsdork still doesn't understand, championships are won by teams that have the best players, period. I think Bill Russel said "the best man always wins". coaching is secondary to the players. all of the best coaches in NBA history have had superstar players. Reinsdork quit talking your B.S. and show Chicago that you are committed to winning by getting 2 top level players to compliment Rose. Chicago sports teams ownership in general cannot see the forest beyond the trees. when was the last time a Chicago team brought in the number one free agent player or coach available in any sport? our expectations are so low that free agency is a joke in this town. if Lebron James or Kobe is going to be a free agent why are the Bulls not doing everything they possibly can to get them? the Chicago sports media heaps tons of criticism on players for lack of commitment but is soft on GM's and owners when they show the same lack of commitment by not getting the best talent available to improve their teams.
Like I said before about Noah, you have to be patient with him, but he really has skills and he's a true 7-footer. With experience and as he fills out his body through workouts (it's all up to him), he can develop into a nice high energy role player. He's not going to stay immature forever and he's no Ricky Davis or some of the other tools in the NBA. I just know he gets judged by his appearance a lot, you know it and I know it, I've seen it in the blogs and heard on radio, but he can play.
As for Wilson Chandler, if you watched him play at DePaul, you could see that he had the talent. He just didn't get selected high because the DePaul basketball program as a whole is struggling against the Big East powers.
Phil,
It's very hard to argue with your list. You brought things up that I'd since forgotten. I will say that I think JR is a far better baseball owner than basketball owner. That said, I won't argue with the baseball points you made either. For example, how classless does one have to be to needlessly drag Carlton Fisk, certain Hall-of-Famer and the face of your team over the previous decade-plus, to Cleveland just to slap him with a pink slip. Has he ever formally apologized for that? I don't think he has it in him. He didn't deserve the World Series ball Paul Konerko ceremoniously handed him. Paulie has more class than Jerry does in the finger that dons his '05 ring.
I also readdress that obvious fact that Reinsdorf doesn't care even half as much about the Bulls as he does about the White Sox. He's admitted to that more than once! How he still has this putrified and petrified team after all these dreadful years defies common sense or common cents.
Jerry, please do us all a huge favor and sell the team to someone who truly cares!
I must say, Vinny is not a very good coach at this time. His lack of team defensive intensity and overall chemistry leads me to believe there is something lacking in the locker room, but to lay the load on a rookie N.B.A. coach with no previous experience is total lunacy. The Bulls are not only working with pretty much the same squad as a year ago, but injuries have played a more aggressive role to date.
It's hard to say whether Jerry or John had the upper hand in who's been drafted, but the lack of trades and the obvious misses in talent evaluation gave my overwhelming vote to Mr. John Paxson for the Madison Mess.
They looked decent the last two games, and their three point shooting is being saddled a bit leading to better shot selection. I'd like to see that continue, 10-12 three pointers, more drives, pack in the 'D' just a little more, and if Tyrus, Noah and Noc can cut down their turnovers like they did last night I'd say Vinny is gonna look a lot better in a few months.
As for Pax and Reinsdorf; 'Did you see that?' said the blind man to the deaf man. Doh!!!
Ever since the Tribune company, and Reinsdorf and the McCaskys and the Wirtz's have had the enviable task of being owners, they have screwed up along the way. They pay huge salaries, insuring their names will be contracts, billboards, sports talk shows for decades. They get rid of fan favorites, for the sake of seats sold to the highest bidder. Yet they all gloat and laugh when they win a championship, or a division. I hate the owners of Chicago's sports teams. Get rid of the owners first.
Don't mean to rant but Reinsdorf gets my blood up.
The way he dumps on people that give him 100% and make him lots of money puts him at the top of my "Chicago Sports Turd List"
Just a very arrogant man.
Hey Roman, the Bulls brass are always talking about a players upside, but don't hire coaches to help those players. Orlando hired Patrick Ewing to coach Howard, the Lakers have Kareem coaching Bynum and other teams have former ball players giving their input as coaches. I would like to see the Bulls hire someone Elvin Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon or Karl Malone as coaches or special assitants coaches to work with the Thomas, Gray, Gooden, Noah and Deng to help them Develope a post game and not let that talent go to waste. As we see the players can't peak their skills by themselves without the help of a mentor and Harris and Bickerstaff are not the ones who can do that. I don't think Del Negro is doing a bad job with the cards he was dealt. As for JR, just another ploy to blame someone else for the fine mess his teams are in. He needs to stand in the mirror and point his finger at the person who's really to blame!
Great Great Great Win Last Night.
The Bulls were the better team and looked like they couldve opened it up and blew Phoenix out...if they werent already on game 3 of their west coast road trip.
Ben Gordon is a God. Im sorry, when he is feelin it, there are few better.Rose had glimpses of MJ out there last night, Noah and Gray, shut down Shaq and Amare' and Tyrus was a freak on both ends!
Even Hinrich came in and provided some valuable minutes.
My favorite Bulls team of all time is the 90-91 Bulls. Say what you want about the 95-96 team, regarded as one of the best ever, but that 91 championship team was dope. If it weren't for a Sam Perkins 'fling' we're looking at a possible playoff sweep; and the competition was tougher than the 96 squad faced. That 'Doberman' defense was unmatched. Which leads me to yesterdays game. While the Suns are much like the two previous teams in terms of inferior defense, their offense is veteran and solid, but the Bulls played quick, hustling, switching defense for most of the game. I was impressed at the energy for the third game of a six game swing; not bad, not bad at all. I don't know what button was switched, or what was talked about behind closed doors, but the intensity level was WAY UP yesterday. Even more so than the Clippers and Kings game. The timing of the schedule, and the unexplained new focus couldn't have come at a better time. If we can catch Houston with McGrady BACK in the line-up (Houston is a MUCH tougher team with McGrady out, trust me), and N.O. having three out of their last four losses against Minny, G.S. and the Knicks, I'm guessing a possible 5-1 trip should have Reinsdorf having crow for lunch next weekend. Vinny, for the fans sake, as much as yours, I hope you stay this street and not veer. Three solid games in a row. Who woulda thunk it. Obviously not Jerry.
Then again, knowing Reinsdorf, he'll claim his radio defamation of Vinny and the Bulls was the magic jumpstart.
Timing is everything, even where arrogance awaits.
Tyrus Thomas has put together a consistent run & opposing teams have no answer right now. He's a rare combination of size, strength, & speed & that's why Paxson chose him over Aldridge. He felt Thomas = Rodman + an offensive game, & Thomas of late has shown just that.
If he continues to play well heed my words: the Bulls will not only make the playoffs, but also get to the 2nd round.
Rose, Gordon, Deng, Noce, Hinrich are good enough to keep the Bulls competitive, but Tyrus is the biggest difference between W's & L's. Even Gooden can not bring to the floor what Tyrus can.
If Thomas has trully turned the corner, a winning season is on the horizon for Bulls fans.
The players come out and show some true grit. Looked like the Bulls of old. See that style of play is possible - even with this group. Bulls could have been scared and lost the game, but they did something I no longer thought was possible with this team - THEY GAVE IT THEIR BEST SHOT, and came out victorious. Winning is imposing your will on another team and thats what the Bulls did in Phoenix. Offensively they executed better, and defensively they were energetic and relentless - guarding and on the glass. And coaching-wise, Vinny showed he knew the Sun's weaknesses. Was 3 good wins. I hope its the beginning winning ways. Yes there will be losses, but as long as the Bulls keep fighting with all they have, I will be there cheering them on.
Well of course Vinny knew the Suns’ weaknesses, he used to be their Director of player personnel. Look, I’m happy as heck as a Bulls’ fan that they are on a 3 game winning streak and yes, they’re playing a lot better together as a team (coincidentally all after Noah and Thomas are finally getting the minutes that they should have had earlier in the season), but we’ve seen this before, even under Jim Boylan last year where some spirited play occurred because the hated Skiles was gone, but then the deficiencies caught up to them eventually. Bottom line, I don’t want this current streak to be ANOTHER EXCUSE for Paxson to not pull any triggers on trades and revamping the roster. I still think you have to play it smart and get rid of the bad contracts. Use this stretch of good basketball to ramp up trade value among the original core. Get rid of that Hughes contract somehow, that Hinrich contract, Gooden’s expiring contract, even Nocioni’s contract and package it along with future draft picks to get an impact post player in return. Just get that impact post player that they were supposed to get alongside Ben Wallace a couple of years ago in the first place and then rebuild the roster from there centered around Derrick Rose and I guess Luol Deng since we’re basically stuck with him.
And let me say this about Jerry Reinsdorf, I hated his comment about the Bulls and Sox and the ring, but I believe he realy meant to convey that baseball is simply closer to his heart. There is nothing wrong with that. Jerry has also been maligned as an uninterested uncaring owner. But when he showed up to Comcast to do that interview that showed he DOES care, and he sent a message to the GM, coach and players. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have wasted his time. And he is trully a person who does not have to do a thing. Anyone can mug for the cameras during the championship run, but when you speak to the cameras the way he did last week you have to give the man CREDIT. This guy OPENLY stands behind his GMs. I know he needs to open that checkbook, but hey he showed he is watching and concerned.
Come on Keith, Reinsdorf openly standing behind his GM is like saying Lombardo openly stood behind Calabrese. Just because it's covering a back doesn't make it right, and things are not moving in the front office. We've not had a ground breaking trade since Raquel Welch walked around in a loincloth (OK, so a million years might be a stretch), and other than Rose falling into our laps, the past drafts have been suspect. I give high props to Skiles for making a so-so team competitive early on in his stint, but so-so is becoming 'and so on, and so on, and so on'. Somebody UP THERE is either getting too comfortable with mediocrety or too senile to see his Generals expertise at Stratego doesn't calculate to the N.B.A.
I've just read about the problems in Phoenix, and it's no surprise teams, and their new coaches, players and systems are running into rough terrain. I can't recall a year where so many head coaches felt the axe so swift, but hey, if the shoe don't fit, why wait until the blister bleeds. Unfortunately for Vinny, his Boss and GM bought the poor guy shoes, two sizes too small.
For all it's worth, the main problem, besides lack of talent, is for head coaches to get these faux prima-donas to play some damn 'earn your $26,000 a game' defense. Small task, tall order.
Don't worry Vinny, we got your feet covered!
Well by way of winning 3 games in a row, Vinny has bought himself some time. I don't know if it was Jerry's interview or Vinny's coaching, but I will take it. The compelling part of Bull's basketball is having a chance to win - simply because of effort and mental disclipline. It makes them watchable even in a loss.
I am happy for ALL. I hold no ill will towards Vinny because he inherited a mess. No one is happier than me (diehard fan) that he has found something to hang his hat on. I am happy for Thabo, Thomas and Noah because they are showing GROWTH. And I am VERY happy for Rose because he got a chance to be a POINT GUARD for a change instead of having to put on Jordan's cape! This all effects his growth also.
But as Edgar pointed out above...this just might be fool's gold. Tonight's game vs Houston will be telling. If the Bulls give their very best effort, they can win. And with the Hornets playing poorly, they can win that game also. But even if they don't win either game - what I am watching for is HOW they play. I hope they are back.
Well Keith, the effort was there last night against the Rockets and they didn't win. Unfortunately, it takes more than effort and hustle to be an elite NBA team. The Rockets beat the Bulls simply because they matched up better than us. Their front line of Yao and Scola just pounded the living snot out of our bigs, Aaron Gray included. Tyrus Thomas was all over the place and you can't knock his effort last night, but last night is an example of why Paxson has to pull that trigger on a legit big man bruiser already. A healthy Chris Kaman is the perfect clog down low for this team. I'd even trade for him hurt while his value is down just to wait for him to get healthy on the team. Again, this is all on PaxDorf. If no significant trades are made by the trade deadline, I will be a blog posting nightmare against all the Paxson-Reinsdorf supporters and take on all debates, including you, Keith! ;-)
Edgar I am cracking up!!! But you know what, I thought the Bulls lost that game because we just didn't score the ball. We had more than enough chances. Team played ok, was not the scrap that they could have put up. Noah was valiant with what he was asked to do. I almost choked laughing when Noch was guarding Yao on the baseline and got called for a reach in foul. Um still smirking.
I think they could have gotten that one. I know this might sound unfair, but I think Vinny could have done better. I just did not like the execution of our offense in the 3rd. And someone tell me how the Bulls keep running that play where Thomas is taking that 17 footer!
They have the Hornets with no Chris Paul or Tyson Chandler. Again another chance to get one.
While poor shooting, both at the line and the field, hurt us in the first half, I saw THREE major contributing factors that killed any chance to pull out this victory in the second half;
1) As much as Ben Gordon kept the game close in the third quarter, his relentless shot selection simply zombied the rest of his teammates, resulting in poor play at both ends of the court for a critical stretch in that quarter.
2) Why Gray didn't get the rest of the time leaning up against Yao, as apposed to Noc and Thomas, was baffling.
3) After the third, fourth, or maybe even the fifth layup, you'd think either Rose would have figured it might be better for Brooks to beat him from the outside and drop a bit, or even better for one of the coaches to lend in a helping hand, but NOOOOO, this guy just took him 'til the very end with that one handed layup.
While you can't totally blame a shooter, who's getting you back in the game, to harness it and get others involved, you can take notice to what's taking place on the defensive end and make the proper adjustments; and I blame the two dinosaurs as well as Vinny for those blatant mistakes.
All in all though, the Bulls played valiantly. I still like this picture much more than the previous weeks renditions. Houston's tough and we played to the end.
Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop!
If the Bulls lose tonight against the Hornets without Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler, then no more excuses to blow this roster up. And yes, I agree, Vinny made some mistakes last night, but I expect that from him while he’s still learning the position. You know what though, in addition to the obvious need of a legit big man bruiser, the Bulls also need a deadeye 3 pt. specialist because outside of Ben Gordon and I guess Andres Nocioni (too streaky for my tastes), this is one very poor 3 pt shooting team overall, especially a team with too many guards and full of jump shooters and a lack of a scoring post player. I’m talking a REAL specialist like Ray Allen, Robert Horry, James Posey, Jason Kapono etc. who’s great on the catch-and-pop J. It’s one reason why I am so down on Luol Deng so much is because this really should have been him developed by now. The Bulls are playing a lot better as a team though, they really are, but the glaring weaknesses are still an obvious problem and it won’t be fixed by hustle/effort and coaching improvement overall. This is where Paxson must help Vinny out in tweaking the roster.
And yes, A Nav, I also saw Rose get burned silly by Aaron Brooks during the last minute in the 4th quarter. That was unexcusable (although the help defense wasn't any better I know, but that dribble penetration was too easy!) I said before in another post that defense should be one of Rose’s biggest area of improvement in the offseason. He’s actually being outplayed right now by the other good rookie guards like OJ Mayo and Russell Westbrook and both those guys play much better defense on the ball than Rose.
Go Bulls!! Those bums better win tonight! :)
Edgar I've been saying for sometime now that although Gordon may be the teams leading scorer he also is as much the reason of losses down the stretch because of shot selection and insistance on forcing the issue rather than give up the ball at times.
Last night's win in N.O. hopefully will carry over to Saturday against the Mav's and give them some momentun going into the 2 home games just before the break against Detroit and Miami.
It would seem that the light has finally gone on in Tyrus' head. He's been playing more consistantly of late and shown he is capable of putting togather double doubles consistantly.
What bothers me right now is that the trade deadline is rapidly approaching and there seems to be nothing in the wind. If the Bulls stand pat there is a possibilty they couls sneak into the post season as the seventh or eigth seed but that only insures an early exit. Now is the time to get something for Gordon or lose him for nothing or end up giving him another contract that might be regretable down the road.
Tim, while it may true about Gordons 'hurt more than help' play at times, he is our only true perimeter player and the best streak shooter on the team. Without him any team would have a field day packing it in. It's like having a car with three good tires and one bad tire. You know you need to replace that tire but without it you ain't going nowhere. That fourth tire allows you to at least drive the car until you can replace it with one of the exact same size. Replace that size 14 tire with a size 15 and not only will it not fit but you've just defeated your purpose. You have four tires but only three fit your car. You again are going nowhere. You need to trade a big for a big.
As much as I'd hate to see him go, I think Drew Gooden may be our best trade bait. We've played well without him, he's still young, plays solid, and if we can get a TRUE BIG for him, that is the first step to improvement.
Unless we make a blockbuster, seven man, two team trade, we're going to need that fourth tire.
Until then let's just hope it doesn't get OVERINFLATED too often.
Tim, you are right about Gordon's faults you just don't see how his positives outweight those. Navarro is right. No BEN, NO WIN.
Gordon Negatives: Small, Defensive liability, streak shooter, poor ball-handling at times, wants more money than he's worth.
Gordon Positives: Quick and can create his own shot, Great Shooter most nights, is a legitimate 3 point shooter that can go to the rack, tough in the 4th, can be unstoppable when hot, takes pressure off Rose, IS the Bulls leading scorer since joining the team. IS A POSITVE, durable, clean player who works out and at his game.
Bulls should only trade Gordon for another legitimate scorer and defender. We can give up some of the points, but must make up for it with size and defense. Most teams don't recognize Gordon's value and will probably not give us what he is worth. The only way to make a deal worth it would be to get draft picks with the deal. Not many guys in the league better than Gordon. You would have to be a STAR to be better. Bulls only have one player better than Gordon (for now). And really if you are another team why deal with Pax when he will be free soon?
Navarro, I agree about Gooden. Bulls are going to be interesting when he returns. He's good, but a tweener. Will be a good addition for a contender like Boston or the Magic. I would move him because its clear that Thomas and Noah are the future. I think the next draft is going to be FULL of stars.
Edgar you are correct about getting a shooter, but the thing all the guys you mentioned have in common - is that they are all add ons and the final pieces. We have to get that Center or Shooting guard first, that will help Rose tremendously and help him develop into Chris Paul - with hops!! And I don't want Deng shooting threes, but he should be able to knock them down occasionally. I am just happy that he is slashing to the rim more and making that 10 footer. He is servicable for now. Our bench used to be our strength, but now... What can I really say, I am just glad we are playing better.
Tim, of course I agree about Ben Gordon. This is pretty much what we’ve been pointing out about him for quite a while now going back to last year. Unfortunately though, the suddenly metaphoric Anthony Navarro in recent posts has a point about him being the “4th tire” on the team. Without BG, that leaves a huge void on the team not only from his scoring, but from needed 3 point shooting that we don’t get from our other starters, Rose, Deng and Tyrus. If we’re going to get rid of BG, then we have to at least acquire another sharpshooter in return somehow, whether by trade or through free agency in the offseason. Otherwise, I’d only trade BG right now only if it’s a can’t miss deal involving an impact post player, and then live with Thabo and Nocioni as our defense/outside threat (I’m assuming Hinrich and Hughes will eventually be traded of course) for now and try to make the playoffs from there this season. A part of me wouldn’t mind the Bulls to just continue their up and down season and qualify for the NBA Lottery again in the offseason, but at this point, they’re too good of a team to have a chance at winning the lottery 2 years in a row for someone like Blake Griffin. But obviously as it stands, if you end up trading BG right now and then let’s say, start Thabo at the 2-guard slot, then you have NO 3-pt shooting threat at all from this team, defense or no defense. I don’t care if the Bulls are the best hustling and best coached team, you can’t win in the NBA without at least a 3 point sharpshooter in the starting lineup.
With Jameer Nelson of the Orlando Magic going down this regular season, I can see the Magic inquiring about our surplus of guards, but I’m pretty sure Paxson is trying to dangle Hinrich more than he would BG because really, for BG, the only post guy worth getting in return from that team would be Dwight Howard and you know that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon. Yep, PaxDorf has their work cut out for them with this trading deadline, but they made their own bed, that’s how I see it. If they screw this trade deadline again, then they’ll get the tongue lashing they deserve from fans and I’ll be their leading that charge with pleasure….
And Keith, I don't mean for Deng to all of a sudden just focus on being a 3 pt gunner, but he has to at least add that in his reportoire on offense to add another dimension to his game. At least use the 3 point shot as a bailout on shot clock expiration or simply just making a run during the game when the team is down and in need of explosive offense. That's all I'm saying about Lu. If the entire starting lineup as a whole can't shoot 3's well, that is very easy for the opposing teams to pack it in on D from mid-range down to the low post. It's all about spacing, man. Offense and defense, spacing is key when drawing up plays.
The Boys are starting to Gel....
Still I dont see any real defined Team Identity.....
does anyone else get a feel for what kind of team we can be?
I'm not suggesting Gordon be traded just for the sake of trading him. But he is an unrestricted rree agent at season's end I don't see him returning to Chicago since he couldn't get an extension done after 2 tries. If Pax could package Gordon, Gooden and maybe even Hinrich for a legit big man and a 3 point threat then dump Hughes for a servicable 2 guard and a couple picks I think it would be worth it.
Keith Gordon turns the ball over more times than not when trying to create his own shot. He's most dangerous coming off picks and driving off the pick & roll and it's not unusual for him to be the team scoring leader considering he takes more shots than anyone else does. During the Rockets game I noticed at least 3 different times when Tyrus was wide open at the rim and Gordon continued dribbling only to turn the ball over.The taem as a whole has been much better of late at sharing and moving the ball around. Gordon though tends to forget there are 4 other guys on the floor.
Mr Navarro driving on a bald tire is inviting a blow-out, replace it even if it takes a retread before you find yourself skidding into a ditch.
Culzie, there is no team identity until this roster is tweaked further because we still don't have an offensive post threat and no real commitment at the 2-guard position with Gordon on an expiring contract. It's pretty obvious that the Bulls are looking to find that big man and a superstar sidekick to Rose at the 2-guard position to run that backcourt. Until those 2 slots are resolved, the Bulls won't be able to establish any sort of team identity. If anything, I would say that they are trying to emulate a team like the same NO Hornets from last night, a point guard-led team with a solid front line (West and Chandler) and a plethora of shooter specialists at the 2 and 3 (Mo Pete, Stojakovic, Rasual Butler, etc.), but I know the Bulls are definitely looking for a superstar stud 2-guard to run with Rose which is why I don't see BG in our long term plans.
Edgar, I've been metaphoric since the second grade, I've just been a two fingered typer since forever. When I go long work weeks, which happens often in my trade, I type short and sweet. As fate has it, I'm home nursing a NASTY groin pull, which means my typing handicap is not a factor.
Tim, that tire still has threads, and as much as I would like to see it changed, it's not in the cards at this moment; and Gordon is most dangerous when he spots up, and the rotation catches him wide open.
Keith, Gordons positives don't outweigh his negatives. If it's not a draw it's close. He's just a matter of necessity; sometimes being at the right place at the right time is convenient for both sides, but don't expect this marriage to last if a shooter comes along in a package.
We need only look at the trade with Cleveland to know any contract can make its way out the door.
It's a comin' Lizabeth, It's a comin'.
Gentlemen I am really enjoying Bulls-blogging with all of you.
Anthony, I love to look at the team when different players are out hurt and see how the team responds. Like Gooden for instance. See with him out, the Bulls struggled....until Noah stepped up. When Deng was out the same thing happened....until Thomas stepped up. And Rose has made us forget about Kirk almost alltogether. And Thabo has serviced quite well in place of Larry Hughes...remember him? LOL!!!
But there is no substitution for Gordon. I have said it many times...No Ben...No Win. And a few turnovers and bad defense does not outweigh your TOP scorer and goto guy. And its not just his scoring, but WHEN he scores and thats down the stretch. I will ask you all, WHO do we bring in to replace 21ppg - CAREER AVERAGE? And what do you pay that guy? Rose is going to be a great goto man, but when Gordon was out, he struggled mightily. Like I have said many times...they compliment eachother and take the pressure off eachother. Besides that, the Bulls need Rose the passer more than Rose the scorer down the line. His development is more important than him taking chances soaring to the rim because we don't have another 4th quarter option. This alone makes Gordon and Noch untouchable for the time being. They both come in games and take the pressure off Rose. And Edgar has pointed out how important 3pt shooting is for spacing. Pargo the 3pt specialist is gone. Hassle the lockdown defender is gone. Malik Allen, PJ Brown and all the weapons we had on that bench. We even had Roger Mason on our bench once. I wish we could get a young Michael Finley type player in here to replace Gordon, but that is going to cost.
Keith, I have only two things to say in response;
1) Why is it so hard for Ben Gordon to stay between his man and the basket? I mean geez, I've seen this man ignore defense more than any other player in some time, and I watch very closely.
2) Why does it take a player or two to go down for someone else to step up? Call me Old School, dedicated, obsessed, a true lover of the game, whatever, but if you take your JOB serious, have any pride, and are making boo-koo bucks to boot, you shouldn't have to wait 'til your family is in the stands; your new Lady shows up; or somebody goes down before you step it up. I know your body doesn't feel the same day after day, but damned if you need an excuse to perform to the best of your abilities. I know I HATED to lose. Took it better later on in life, but HATED to lose. That was incentive enough for me. True not all individuals are born or raised with the same competitive fire, but if you can't justify earning those overblown wages, at least let pride jump in.
Navarro, I teared up and shook my head reading about that "hating to lose". Because I can not stand it!!!! Gone are the days of Jordan when you could foul and folks were diving all over the floor like Worm. I think its a societal thing. We just aren't raising this next generation up right! Ben Gordon wouldn't have made the Bulls team with Michael on it. Mike would probly have broken his will in practice. Could you see Gordon trying to bring the ball up on Pippen....
Ben's defense is mediocre but his D isn't horrible. Most scoring 2 guards are not good defenders. Ray Allen only started playing defense this last year after almost 10 yrs in the league. So I don't see why people pick on Ben. His D is actually much better than what it used to be.
Still he dribbles too much, causing turnovers but he is the only 3pt threat. Nocioni doesn't count. Kirk can hit a few every now and again...but Ben can hit 5 in a game easily.
I wish we kept Duhon as backup PG so we can trade Kirk...he's one of the best assets we have in a trade. Gooden's gotta go too, he is the worst defender on the team and jacks up too many 20 ft jumpers that mess up the flow of the offense. Total space cadet.