Game One Pep-talk
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Oct 28, 2008 5:40 PM CDT
Email
Print
While the starting of Thabo (which is official, btw) is a worrying (and continuing) indicator that the Bulls don't know what the heck to do with their roster, I'm still excited for this opening game. Especially if Gordon plays a lot, Gray plays a little...heck extra-especially if Thabo plays like he hasn't the entire preseason and majority of his career. That'll be nice, if unexpected.
I've been excited to start seasons before. Sometimes it was met with a crushing thud, like in 2003 when they got clobbered a home against the Wiz. Sometimes with exuberance, like the complete dismantling of the defending champs in 2006. And sometimes with a should've-been-worried-but-wasn't-at-time nonchalance, like after they let a lead get away in New Jersey to start last season.
But this is an extra-special beginning since it's the start of the Derrick Rose era. I don't know how it's possible not to get excited about that. And this is only heightened by a preseason show that let us (and an apparently surprised management) know that Rose is ready, right now, to be very good.
That's the number one story of the season, but it's also about so much more: Can Tyrus Thomas make the leap? How will Ben Gordon and the Bulls handle their one-year tenuous relationship? Can Luol Deng regain his form? Is the VDN administration truly a commitment to player development?
But on that last one: despite what Drew Gooden says, the Bulls are not rebuilding. They have to first figure out who they can get rid of before getting to that point (maybe that's what Gooden is gearing for?). And even better news: they're too good of a roster to not go for the playoffs. I think there's no better way for Derrick Rose to start his career than giving him the chance to lead a team to the playoffs.
It's a nice situation: their best players happen to be young. So if you play them, you'll win and develop at the same time. Find out who fits best with Rose, get rid of the rest. It should be a lot more fun than the slash/burn rebuilding efforts commonplace in the league.
But that's mostly because of that 1.8% chance. The Bulls are a rare team that's good enough to be a fringe playoff team (that's young!), while also having a new young star in their midst. So I will not accept excuses and incompetence if they're not doing their best to win right now. It works for all parties: Rose, the non-Roses, playoff revenues, and me.
77 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
btw, this is not the game thread. It'll be up 'round gametime. :)
management sez: recommend fanposts/fanshots/comments! Click 'reply' when replying to a comment! Flag jerkfaces! Be a 'Nazi' when it comes to thread duplication!
by your friendly BullsBlogger on Oct 28, 2008 5:41 PM CDT reply actions
The first day
of the rest of our lives as Bulls fans. We finally, finally have a superstar to build around, every game that is played will mark progress, and there is something to look forward to each game. I don’t take this for granted. I plan to savor it, to celebrate the highs, but not to bemoan the lows. It is rare that one gets the opportunity to watch a legitimate franchise player, a superstar, a future Hall of Famer perhaps, and hopefully a champion, grow over the course of their career. We were fortunate to witness this with Jordan and now we get to do it again with Rose.
by messwiththebull on Oct 28, 2008 6:01 PM CDT reply actions
I think it's early to call Rose a superstar
Despite how many nice things people around the League have said about One Dot, I’m going to hold off calling him a star for at least a little while.
One dot?
Is this his nickname? I don’t really see the need…I mean, the dude’s name is Rose.
The poster formerly known as Freethefro.
I've been pushing One Dot since the summer
As in “1.8% chance.”
It’s always fun to use nicknames… people will inevitably get stuck on D. Rose, but variety is the spice of life.
aaaaaaaah
that’s pretty cool.
The poster formerly known as Freethefro.
Also
Can Joakim Noah make the leap?
If they allow him to. Seems as if they’re already favoring Gooden and Gray over Joakim.
Not right.
Can Deng take it to the hoop?
and stop playing like a pussy? hmmm
I miss Skiles . . . or at least his quotes.
“It’s one game, we’re 1-0, yippee,” coach Scott Skiles said. “This is an unrelenting league. We move on.”
i don't miss anything about skiles
never has a more overrated coach been crowned
Never? Really?
There has been some stinkers.
Everything I post is speculation. I have no insider information nor ideas deemed concrete enough by those who are self-elected to regulate post content.
i guess i meant overrated
i consider Boylan and Skiles to be linked so he doesn’t count. Floyd was no doubt a worse coach, but that was a joke hire when it was made and everyone knew it.
Skiles gets his players to play well for a couple seasons, and than they turn on him. He has a problem treating people like adults. That is why no veteran team can stand him. I watched him wear out his welcome in Chicago and Phoenix and its the same story – lack of player development, horrible offense, diminishing returns.
Skiles is a good coach.
He’s a poor man’s Larry Brown. Comes in, teaches some fundamentals, preaches defense and intensity, improves his teams until he wears out his welcome, then moves on. He’s not great, but I’d take him over many current and former coaches. (That is, if I’m a young team where he hasn’t coached before.)
I'm excited for the season
Let’s not forget this team won 49 games 2 years ago with basically the same squad minus an aging Wallace. This team has upgraded the PG position who has shown he is a game changer right from the start. This team can be a winning team if put in situations whcih they will succeed.
GO BULLS!!
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith
Channel?
Everywhere on the internet says WGN, but Comcast’s Guide has 90210 and Priviledged on WGN tonight…WTF?
Sweet, COMCAST didn't update it...
they moved 90210 and Privileged to 1030 and 1130, watching VDN interview now…ahhhh, much better
wow
they just showed the Noc-Jefferson hard foul, I hadn’t seen it before and I am glad to see Hinrich sticking up for his teammate
I vote for Thomas to play, play more and play regularly.-Sam Smith
CHEERS
We won’t see Duhon & Kirk in the game at the same time tonight!
But, unfortunately we might see Rose-Hinrich
"You ain’t as hot as I is / all of these false prophets is not messiahs /
You don’t know how high the sky is / the square mileage of earth or what pi is." - Nas
I missed the elusive
Gordon-Rose Preseason game…. I really want to see what Rose does with a money jump shooter to dish to.
They didn't play all that many minutes together, iirc
Ben played point most of the 4th, and did most of his scoring damage that quarter.
Man-slave, bring me my PB&J!
for out of marketers like me...
league pass is free for the first week! rejoice!
Anyone else been watching TNT?
I just saw that they allow the fans to vote on which games they wanna watch next week between 3 choices.
FInally! A genius breakthrough in sports television!
Let the fans pick what they wanna see!
brilliant,
I agree.
The poster formerly known as Freethefro.
I only get WGN America
and it definitely isn’t on there. (stab)
Everything I post is speculation. I have no insider information nor ideas deemed concrete enough by those who are self-elected to regulate post content.
Nope. Sadly not.
It was either good internet or bad cable. And I picked good internet. Which is nice most of the time.
Everything I post is speculation. I have no insider information nor ideas deemed concrete enough by those who are self-elected to regulate post content.
thanks a lot Sue!
Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.
-- Scottie Pippen
by Orlando Woolridge on Oct 28, 2008 7:30 PM CDT up reply actions
My neighbors have a freaking dish and it's blacked out on every channel
When I watch NBA games I often call the fouls before the referees do. Sometimes it’s a gift. Most of the time it's troublesome. - NBA Observer
Ch. 443 on Comcast
Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.
-- Scottie Pippen
by Orlando Woolridge on Oct 28, 2008 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Thabo starting...
may be a good thing. The Bulls need to move Hughes and/or Hinrich. Hinrich doesn’t flow well at all with Rose. That’s why he is not starting.
I’d also like to give the coaches the benefit of the doubt for game 1.
Pax:
“With Larry out, we’re going to start Thabo.”
Wow is all I can say
They really must not plan on having Ben around next year.
Once Hughes returns,
the bench will officially be better than the starters.
What is that on KC Johnson's head?
Is that some kind of dead animal? Or is that actually his hair?
You can find it toward the top of the list here.
Everything I post is speculation. I have no insider information nor ideas deemed concrete enough by those who are self-elected to regulate post content.
What the fuck? I only have WGN America and shit isn't on
When I watch NBA games I often call the fouls before the referees do. Sometimes it’s a gift. Most of the time it's troublesome. - NBA Observer
League pass is free for the first week
my WGN is not picking it up either. I going to suck it up and just get league pass.
Homecoming
Man, I'm really dejected right now :(
When I watch NBA games I often call the fouls before the referees do. Sometimes it’s a gift. Most of the time it's troublesome. - NBA Observer
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Roy Hibbert wants to play for Team USA, seeks release from Jamaican national team
- Bucks forward Jon Brockman loves wearing adult onesies
- Andrew Bynum after 9-0 Thunder run beats Lakers: ‘We’re better than Santa Claus’
- Walter McCarty, former Celtics forward and Pacers coach, takes to the music industry
- Paul Pierce dunks early, attacks often to set pace in Celtics’ Game 3 win (VIDEOS)
