Disgruntled Christmas thread

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 23, 2005 8:01 AM CST in News

They've lost 2 in a row, both at home, both winnable games. After the complete throttling of Boston on Saturday, I was expecting big things on this homestand, but right now this has to be the low point of the season for the Bulls. I doubt going to Memphis this Friday night will make things any better. Here's hoping it is the low point of the season, because this really isn't the team to have 2 bad efforts in a row, let alone 3.

I'm not going to overreact. I had them pegged at around 43 wins, basically a .500 team. They've basically been....a .500 team. So it's not entirely surprising.

But In honor of their recent bad play, use this commenting thread to bring up who's been disappointing, who needs to be traded, who the Bulls should target both this season and in the offseason. Basically, in the spirit of the season lets ask Paxson Claus for a gift. I think we've been good enough to deserve one.

Oh, and Happy Holidays all the readers out there :-)

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One guy who shouldn't be traded. . .

Is Deng. When he was on Lebron last night, he did about as good a job as humanly possible.

by Big D on Dec 23, 2005 10:47 AM CST reply actions

the future?

deng and hinrich are the only untouchables. as for the rest, will anyone really want them? chandler has definitely been the biggest disappointment. it would have been foolish to expect an offensive game from him, but he has dropped off in every category since last year. gordon is still a work in progress. with this current core, i can't really see a deep playoff run in our future.

let's just hope we can get a stud with the knick's pick. aldridge is a monster and i am intrigued by the italian who is being called the next dirk. nbadraft.net projects us to get bargnani and josh boone... that's not a bad draft.

by smegmatic on Dec 23, 2005 12:18 PM CST reply actions

Untouchables

I agree that Deng is untouchable, but if the idea is to get a taller two guard, then the question is who is the best point guard? In my opinion it is Duhon. I admire Heinrich's attitude and work ethic. There is no question he could start as a point guard on most teams in the NBA. But the fact is Duhon is the best point guard on this team. Hinrich is well respected around the league and maybe we should put him in a position where he could play his natural position and we could get some much needed help.

by Incognito on Dec 30, 2005 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

Tyson - you get a lump of coal!

There is a SERIOUS regression going on with him. He looks like a rookie all over again. Again, how has he not learned how to shoot, dribble, pass, or not foul out in 4 years?

Some of this has got to be on the shoulders of the Bulls coaches as well - what are you guys teaching him?

by Jobu on Dec 23, 2005 1:35 PM CST reply actions

it's pressure

I think he's an emotional guy who's feeling the massive pressure of living up to that 60 mil contract. Now he lacks confidence and he's probably a bit depressed. Not good when your main strength is energy.

by CRG on Dec 23, 2005 1:45 PM CST up reply actions

and tragically small hands

fumbling that 1st half inside pass from gordon out of bounds said it all.

by CRG on Dec 23, 2005 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

Pressure?

I think he has had it easy his entire life and the only time he ever gave an all out effort was the season of his contract year. I don't think he is a bad guy but I think his height and the early media attention ruined him. He dosen't seem to have the ambition and work ethic to become a great player.

by Incognito on Dec 23, 2005 5:42 PM CST up reply actions

Tyson's problem

It's the beard. Seriously, Tyson. Shave. Please.

by Mike Aparicio on Dec 29, 2005 11:37 PM CST up reply actions

oh Ben

you are in the category of "disappointing". See, your first half against the Cavs was making me giddy--you had 18 points, and for the most part you were taking open shots or making ridiculously difficult jumpers over significantly taller people. Then 4 points in the 2nd half? What the?! Your lack of consistency is killing us. I want to see you shoot every open shot you get. Seriously! Like Kobe or AI, except you still have to learn how to finish your drive!

Somebody has to step up...might as well be one of the best pure shooters in the league, right?

by CRG on Dec 23, 2005 1:50 PM CST reply actions

The good news. . .

Is that we're in the East. There's only 9 or 10 teams that have a legit shot at the playoffs (depending on whether you count Boston). As a result, we should end up fighting with the second place team in the Atlantic (probably Philly) and Washington for the last two playoff spots.

by Big D on Dec 23, 2005 3:09 PM CST reply actions

Hinrich

does everything great but shoot. How can a guy who just can't shoot worth a damn be untouchable? I can't remember ever seeing one player miss so many wide open threes. Bulls are going to need some monster forwards or a scoring center in the future if they expect to keep carrying a two guard that shoots under 40%.

Chandler has the hands of a recent burn victim. There is no pass he seems capable of catching. With his money he could build his own gym and take hook shots and twelve foot jumpers all summer. There is no excuse for this guy to be no further along offensively than the day he arrived in Chicago. Pitiful.

Deng is going to be a hell of a player both offensively and defensively. He's the only untouchable as far as I can see. Gordon could be a great offensive player. Hit countless big shots in his rookie year for a playoff team. Not many rookies do that. I'd probably hang on to him too.

If you could make a good trade involving anyone but Deng, I'd do it. I know a face transplant took place in France. If they come up with a hand transplant I'd buy Chandler a ticket to Paris on the next available flight.

by TR on Dec 23, 2005 4:29 PM CST reply actions

Chandler

"Chandler has the hands of a recent burn victim. There is no pass he seems capable of catching."

that's funny. LOL funny. strong work.

Dalibor and Dragan

by FAQ on Dec 23, 2005 5:11 PM CST up reply actions

Haiku for Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler dreams:
Even cranes with tiny feet
Return from winter.

by CRG on Dec 23, 2005 5:45 PM CST reply actions

posted wrong version of haiku--anyways--

Tyson Chandler dreams:
Whooping cranes with tiny feet
Return from winter.

by CRG on Dec 23, 2005 5:54 PM CST reply actions

Frustrations as of late...

Kirk seems to have gotten lost lately.
Tyson misses EC and AD, badly.
Ben has no second half touch this year.
Sweetney, although he has nice post moves, is still a poor, poor man's EC; no strength, no hops.
The outside game is missing the complementary inside game.
Really, the only bright spot as of late has Luol Deng and even he doesn't quite have that killer instinct yet.
One other defensive observation, the Bulls seem to be running way to many people at shooters opening up of.rebs for the other team. I wonder if maybe they shouldn't help as much as they do. It might leave people at home to get long boards, something the Bulls repeatedly get burned on.

Kidd2323

by james@lifeinthecell on Dec 23, 2005 9:07 PM CST reply actions

Hinrich's value

let's remember that Hinrich is not a 2-guard... ..at least, he shouldn't be. If he was maning the point, it would be easy to consider him untouchable: he plays solid d, runs the offense well, can penetrate, etc.. Not to mention what he contributes in terms of work-ethic and attitude. He's not a player that takes losses sitting down (cough, crawford, cough, curry). Give us a decent two and Hinrich would be able to show his TRUE value.
Personally, I'd say that Deng and Hinrich are untouchable. I'm sure I'm alone in thinking this, but Nocioni has done pretty well too. Every good team needs a blue-collar player or too and Andres will never, EVER, be a big money player. Having an affordable and capable defender that brings the lunchbox every day is a good thing. Personally, I say we ship Gordon for a taller two. His value is still really high and some idiot would be willing to ship him. There's tons of two's on the higher side of 6' 5'' that can score, we just need one.

by CookDing on Dec 27, 2005 7:57 AM CST reply actions

iguodala

i bet you wish we drafted iguodala instead of gordon..

by smegmatic on Dec 27, 2005 9:53 AM CST up reply actions

pick your poison

iguodola's good, for sure. i'm still happy with the pick of gordon though. i just think that we can get a great amount of value for gordon and that his role with the team is not as vital as some other pieces. if we were able to deal gordon AND duhon, i imagine we could get something really nice in return. Throw in the second of our first round picks and we might be able to swing a decent big man and a marquis daniels-type swing man. nothing fancy, just someone taller that can move hinrich back. who knows?
regardless, i don't want to sound like i'm down on gordon, i'm just saying moving him could (i don't use that word loosely) pay dividends.

by CookDing on Dec 27, 2005 1:14 PM CST up reply actions

Untouchable

Although I would consider Deng and Duhon my "untouchables" at this point, the fact is I would trade them both right now for Lebron so I suppose that in fact no one is untouchable. Assuming Cleveland wants to keep Lebron, then I would certainly consider Deng and Duhon the backbone of my team. I love Hinrich, but he is not better than Duhon and he is not a long term two guard.

by Incognito on Dec 30, 2005 12:44 PM CST reply actions

Duhon?

Duhon is not better than Hinrich, at anything. I'm glad he's at least developed a slightly better 3-point shot but Duhon is still a handicap on offense. And yes nobody is untouchable when you're talking about trading for a top-5 talent like KG or something.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 30, 2005 1:05 PM CST up reply actions

Duhon vs Hinrich

I submit a quote made by Scott Skiles last year "Chris Duhon is playing the point guard position better than anybody on our team right now" My point is not that Duhon is a better basketball player. It is that he seems to handle the ball better and get the team into the offense better. With the addition of his three point shot, I think he is the best option at point guard and then the question is who is the best two guard. Hinrich just dosen't have the height and his trade value is strong enough to get something very valuable in return.

by Incognito on Jan 1, 2006 11:10 AM CST up reply actions