10 games over .500?

by paxson43 on Jan 4, 2007 1:53 PM CST

A couple weeks back, Skiles and company were talking about getting to and staying at 10 games over .500. An article on CBS Sportsline seems to echo similar sentiment.

As things stand now, Chicago is the deepest, most talented team in the conference. Most important, among the East's top contenders, the Bulls are by far the healthiest.

The Bulls are currently six games over .500 with the third best record in the Eastern Conference (behind Cleveland and Detroit). What will it take for the Bulls to reach their stated goal? The return of Kirk? Continued strong play from Deng and Gordon? More production from our post guys? A blockbuster trade?

FanPosts are user-created posts from the BlogABull community, and are to be treated as the opinions and views of that particular user, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I know, I know!

Four more games.

by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Jan 4, 2007 1:59 PM CST reply actions

I vote for A, B, and C, but not D.

The farther we get into the season, the more I want to see all these guys play it out together. Well, I don't have really strong feelings on the end of the bench guys, but since that probably wouldn't be much of a trade...

Assuming Kirk gets back, I think they go 6-2 over the next 2 weeks and get to 10 over by the Milwaukie game on the 17th.

by wjb1492 on Jan 4, 2007 2:08 PM CST reply actions

Bulls currently on pace to go 49-33

So 10 games over .500 is pretty meaningless (unless it's by the All Star break or something). 20 games over for the season has got to be the minimum goal.

by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Jan 4, 2007 2:24 PM CST reply actions

eye on the prize

Even if we win the East can out current roster compete with teams from the West in the finals. The West is loaded with big time 4s like Dirk, Amare, Duncan, Garnett just to name a few and I don't think we have an answer for any of them right now.

by Zac23 on Jan 4, 2007 3:22 PM CST reply actions

Chill on that

I say we cross that bridge when we get to it. Garnett isn't making the finals unless he gets traded. For the other guys, clearly they present matchup problems, but if we can get through the East and make the Finals, we'll come up with some sort of gameplan.

If we lose 4-2 in the NBA Finals because we can't cover Nowitzki, would you be upset? Gives us a lot to build on for the next season...

Deng 4 MVP, 2008!

by corey williams corey benjamin on Jan 4, 2007 3:48 PM CST up reply actions

I think East title is goal

Bulls have not yet even won a playoff series with current roster, I think just making it to the finals would be huge accomplishment. West will be heavily favored against East in any case.

Unless Bulls can improve drastically without losing too much I think they should stand pat and see what they can do once draft / free agent time comes around.

by NY Chicago Fan on Jan 4, 2007 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

And maybe East title helps us hold onto guys...

As Sam mentioned in his mailbag today, making the finals might be the only way to keep all our young guys on board because they'd be willing to take less pay to compete for a championship. Plus, that would have to help in signing free agents who are hungry for a title.

Then, going into next season, we can retain this core, add the NY draft pick and probably pick up a solid vet or two. Sounds good to me.

by paxson43 on Jan 4, 2007 4:04 PM CST reply actions

Nocioni is the only player that I really see going

The Bulls can and will go over the cap to resign Deng and Gordon, if that's even necessary considering how few bad contracts they have. I do see Nocioni getting a big offer and leaving, with Thomas taking over, maybe another big from the draft if the Bulls don't move the pick. He's the only one of the "core" than can leave this year anyway.

No matter how well things go this year, you can't expect anyone to sign for much less than market value.

by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Jan 4, 2007 4:26 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

Nocioni could be an intriguing player for GM's looking to put their team over the top, and go over the salary cap. I think he's an adequate stop-gap at power forward this season, but certainly not the player that the Bulls would want or need to fill that position in the future. I'll quote our host and basketball mind god on Nocioni's status as a "luxury on a championship team," but not someone to build around. It would be great to have him back as a sixth man, but matching or exceeding a big offer from another team would handicap the Bulls' chances of filling the 4 with a better player in the future.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Jan 4, 2007 4:35 PM CST up reply actions

DIS-Agreed

This is all easy to say when Chapu is busted up with a hamstring problem. There are very few players like him in all of basketball.. He is 100% hustle and 100% heart... for a total of 200%. Thats how crazy he is. Plus he can shoot the lights out.

I know Deng and Gordon looks so good right now, its easy to look past Chapu. But when push comes to shove I would find it very hard to beleive that he will be the one left without a chair. I just don't see pax letting another team swoop in and take a guy like him.

The red and white

by Scott 9 on Jan 4, 2007 5:51 PM CST up reply actions

I've been saying

it since before the season even started, and it's not even the most likely scenario. You forgot to add Nocioni's 173% effort he puts forth every game.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Jan 4, 2007 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

And while you may

be blinded by Nocioni's spectacular grit, he doesn't average double-digit rebounds, jump very high, or block shots. That would be more valuable than a flopper who scores a little bit.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Jan 4, 2007 7:00 PM CST up reply actions

Two things

First, Chapu is not a very powerful forward, nor is he exceedingly quick. He is a solid player, but if we are talking about our dream 4, I'll take Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett and let Noc bring his 173% off of the bench for 20-25 min a night.

Second, who is going to offer Noc big (and I mean more than 8-10 mil/year)? The vast majority of teams are over the cap and will have to make major changes to get under the cap. (Anybody know a source for who besides the Bobcats is under the cap for the 07 free agent signing period?)

by bullshooter on Jan 4, 2007 8:29 PM CST up reply actions

Chapu

I think a lot of teams value him and think he's a solid player. But I don't think they realize quite how much he can bring to a team. Toughness, energy, heart, all that stuff is probably not as visible to other GMs as it is to Pax. So that means if you trade him, you are probably not going to get his full value. I'm not saying they shouldn't trade him. For the right deal, you make it happen, but his full worth is hard for outsiders to appreciate.

I do wish he'd quit with the dumb turnovers he's been committing lately, though.

Deng 4 MVP, 2008!

by corey williams corey benjamin on Jan 4, 2007 11:48 PM CST up reply actions

Well, we're not talking about a trade.

Noc is a free agent after this year, so if the Bulls lost him it wouldn't be a trade. I suppose I shouldn't make predictions as to what kind of market value he has, but to me if he gets starter money from some other team then you have to let him walk.

by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Jan 5, 2007 9:12 AM CST up reply actions

obligatory response

"But I don't think they realize quite how much he can bring to a team. Toughness, energy, heart, all that stuff is probably not as visible to other GMs as it is to Pax."

Uh, I'm pretty sure good at basketall is a bigger concern than the above nonsense. You forgot grit too. Grittiness is more important than toughness.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Jan 5, 2007 9:34 AM CST up reply actions

Just to throw one out there

The Bucks look to be under the cap, and considering the money they set on fire for Bobby Simmons, Nocioni could get a big offer (the 8+ million) from them. Is Billups the only veteran unrestricted FA? A weak group of free agents could really inflate offers for the grittiest, hustley, and gritty Nocioni.

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Jan 5, 2007 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

He's grittustley

That's worth a lot.

by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Jan 5, 2007 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

Hansbrough...

Just gonna call it now. If he's on the board when the Bulls draft, they take him. Have you guys seen him play? Have you heard about his work ethic, dedication to nutrition, hustle, etc.? He's totally a Bull if he's available.

(Not that I'm a huge fan of NC or his, for that matter, I Just think he fitts the Bulls perfectly.)

by tyger1147 on Jan 4, 2007 9:39 PM CST reply actions

He's a sharp kid

so it McRoberts.

"all the girls loved BJ." -sue369

by Colossus @ Blog a Bull on Jan 4, 2007 10:33 PM CST up reply actions

Much as I've come to love the ones we've got,

(well, Lu at least, and appreciate Du for what he could be as a backup), I'm not sure I could cheer for a team with another Dookie on it.

by wjb1492 on Jan 4, 2007 11:42 PM CST up reply actions

McRoberts

is on Chad Ford's "Stock Slipping" list. I haven't seen him play, but this is Ford's take:

Josh McRoberts, F, So., Duke
Most scouts believed that McRoberts, sans J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, would have a monster year at Duke. So far, it hasn't materialized. McRoberts has struggled, especially against top competition. His shooting percentage is way down this season, as are his per-minute numbers.

He still has the talent of a lottery pick, but he's going to have to put together better numbers in the second half (which he's done the last few games) to move back into the high lottery.

by Repeat Threepeat on Jan 5, 2007 7:04 AM CST up reply actions

Same thing with Hansbrough

"However, he's struggled in games against bigger, more athletic power forwards and centers, and that alarms scouts. Hansbrough is already an undersized four who doesn't have particularly long arms and isn't that athletically gifted. He'll face long, athletic players almost every game in the NBA."

Yeah, no thanks. Just because you can play in college doesn't mean you can hack it in the pros.

See Exhibit A) Adam Morrison

Also Exhibit B) J.J. Reddick

by Eddy Currys Broken Heart on Jan 5, 2007 9:04 AM CST up reply actions

Exhibit C)

The Atlanta Hawks

by Paxson Jackson @ Blog a Bull on Jan 5, 2007 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

Well...

I agree. Sort of.

Like I said, I don't necessarily endorse him. But as the Knicks are moving themselves to the bottom of the lottery (or, dare I say, out of it), we have to start looking at guys who are mid-first rounders. I think that fits Hansbrough.

I saw McRoberts play (cuz is a huge Duke fan, saw them in KC this year). He has skills, but... I don't know. He's not a leader-type and his team, witht he departure of Reddick and WIlliams, it doesn't have one. Plus, he whines a lot. If DeMarcus Nelson steps up and becomes a vocal and example leader (huh?) then Duke will continue to play well and McRoberts will rise...

Anyway, I just wanted to make a bold declaration, so that if it comes true (I Mean, when it does), I can say, "I was right." But maybe they'll go somewhere else. Personally, I wouldn't mind Splitter.

by tyger1147 on Jan 6, 2007 1:51 PM CST up reply actions

more Hansbrough

Watch a few minutes of a Tar Heel game and your eyes will be drawn to Brandan Wright, not Hansbrough. Wright is raw, but he's got the goods. Hansbrough reminds me of an Adam Keefe type.

by jamestkirk on Jan 5, 2007 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

The Bulls have a handful of good teams up next

They do look like one of the best if not the best team in the east. But I would still like to see them on the road. The only way to get to the finals is to win on the road.

by JoJoEnglish94bulls4ever on Jan 4, 2007 11:05 PM CST reply actions

Agreed

They proved they can crush miami, they proved they can out play pheonix, they proved that at home they are a team to be reckoned with, but they have yet to prove thier ability on the road. The bulls young core has one huge advantage, an incredible learning curve. Take the wizards who beat the bulls two years ago in the playoffs, since then i think the bulls can destroy the wizards as if they were a weak team. Then we have miami, another team that beat the bulls, and look at how weve wiped the floor with them, no matter what miamis excuse is (and blatantly disregarding thier last comeback) the truth is we can crush miami if we actually tried. I think the bulls can beat pheonix next they play, because the bulls have this incredible coaching staff and young players who are pushing past limits. I think the lack of having that go to superstar is what causes the bulls players to just play with so much intensity, much like miami when they lost wade in that last game, and had to rely on thier bench, the bulls have to learn how to start and end games as if they were wounded, because thats when they play thier best ball. A few wins on the road, and i think the bulls will have a good chance at division champs....thats right i said it...you hear me bulls organization? Its not getting to the second round...thats not our goal.....it is division champs, because the bulls should be nothing less!!!

im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Jan 4, 2007 11:37 PM CST reply actions