Change of pace, anyone?

by California Al on Oct 5, 2008 1:46 PM CDT Comment 19 comments

It's been a long offseason of bashing each other's opinions about the draft, trade proposals, and the BG's economics. I'd really like to hear some thoughts on how the Bulls can make us smile again.

My hope would be for them to win 23-25 games in the second half and establish a game we'll look forward to next year. Any thoughts on how VDN ought to approach this team? I'm tired of hearing about how to improve with players on other teams. Duh. I like this group and want to know how to make them play their best. Assuming we have everything go right and have to face Boston in the first round, where would you like the Bulls to be, and how would you go about getting there?

My only thoughts are that I hope they've settled TT and Thabo's 2009 and beyond roles by January, and that Noah's been channeled into what direction his NBA career has to go. Maybe BG is the most complementary 2g we have; maybe Thabo out on the break or helping with the d boards is better. Is TT going to learn that Skiles was right about getting up the court faster, or even the necessity of being where he should within the offense?

How would you run this team (from the bench, not the front office)?

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My kind-of post California Al

We have many possible positive surprises that can occur. Please keep in mind we need only a couple of these to come to fruition for us to have a fun year. Here are potential pleasant surprises to look forward to:

More likely
1- TT becomes a star
2- Thabo becomes a major contributor
3- Deng becomes a go-to-end-of-the-game finisher
4- D Rose develops quicker than most experts think is possible.
5- Hinrich and Gordon find new life with D Rose running the show
6- We regain our defensive MoJo
7- D Rose helps Noah get easy points
8- Gooden gets easy points as he is ignored as the other team focuses on Rose
9- Gordon finds himself without three defenders around him and has a breakout season deserving of more than the Bulls have offered
10- BlogaBullers have a big smile in April
11- VDN wins coach of the year

Less likely
1- A Gray becomes a contributing inside presence
2- Hughes contributes in an up tempo offense
3- Hughes is traded for something useful
4- No controversies on BlogaBull

by chgobr on Oct 5, 2008 2:19 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I'd like to echo chgobr's sentiment--nice post.

I especially like how you’ve injected a sense of realism into our musings; you’ve allowed for half a season of everyone simply getting acclimated. And if the Bulls are over .500 in the second half, that’s definitely something to build on.

I’d look for the Bulls to really take their time to figure out the system while maximizing the learning opportunities for (in order):

Rose
Tyrus
Noah
Thabo
Gooden and Deng (to get used to playing with Rose)
Gray (to get used to staying in shape, so that he gets playing time in the 2nd half of the season)
Kirk (to the extent he becomes a spot-up shooter rather than primary ball handler)
and Hughes (to really un-learn some of his bad habits, and learn to take better shots).

I’d also hope that VDN comes through on his stated intent to play up-tempo.

Finally, although I know you’re asking about coaching and not front-office, but I’m really hoping that Paxson isn’t afraid to pull the trigger mid-season with any of the guys in the above list, except for Rose and Deng. Specifically, if TT just refuses to develop here, a la Tyson Chandler, then Pax needs to pull the trigger on a trade. Same for Thabo. And same for Gooden, if we get good value in return.

"It’d be ridiculous to hate someone for simply what they say in a sports blog. But I greatly dislike every syllable of your angst-filled, smarmy, nondescript, half-assed, elitist-garbage responses." –Rogerspark Kris

by bullhockey on Oct 5, 2008 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree 100%

that’s why I’m willing to showcase TT and Thabo early at the risk of losing a few games. I’d like VDN and Pax to be in agreement by Christmas on their future here so we don’t end up going into next summer sending the same “we kind of want to keep you, but not too much” signals that we did w Gordon and Deng.
The team now has a focal point, and it should be much easier to develop a scheme and give roles to the rest. And really, I believe it has its center and SF. I like BG off the bench, so TT and Thabo are the 2 x factors in my mind, and they both can make it big or become lingering shadows on the team’s development.

by California Al on Oct 6, 2008 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd expect

TT would be a regular part of our line up anyway. Thabo is the odd one out. I am more for them using the players correctly than showcasing them just to see what might happen in 30+ minutes. Put Thabo in and give him an assignment he can succeed at. That isn’t really a time limit, but I’d rather he’d have successful times on the floor than a frustrating one. And looking at the teams we will be playing frustration will be hard to avoid. Putting him in bad situations or having him cause Rose to be in a bad situation by playing him with Thabo against these good teams early on isn’t good for development either. I’d still put Rose’s development over Thabo’s.

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.

by cranscape on Oct 6, 2008 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, except

I’d use the same strategy with Tyrus. Give him a limited assignment so he can be brought back to the bench for feedback, and keep expanding his role. Possibly 5 minute stints each quarter with specific goals; 2-3 plays per night is probably enough. I’m guessing he was handed a playbook last year and didn’t digest it well.

by California Al on Oct 7, 2008 1:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

gross!

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 7, 2008 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

brilliant!

by California Al on Oct 7, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tyrus needs

to have goals and a lot more positive interaction with the coaching staff during the game as well, but I think expectations for him are higher and there is less standing in his way of playing time. He should play a lot. As a team we can’t afford to not have him out there because we only have three guys between the 4/5 position (Gooden/Noah/Thomas) and because playing time seems to be the only thing standing in his way. Especially after hearing about how prepared he is for this season. He is a potential starter that they said early on would take a while to develop. Three years in and I think now is the time to show if he stepped up or not.

Thabo was picked later in the draft and mainly needs to solidify himself as a useful guy in the rotation who will be able to expect a certain amount of playing time each game, but not starters minutes. That’s how I understand things. I know people are really hot on Thabo here, but when we picked him I never got the impression we expected him to be more than a contributor from the bench. He’s been screwed around with a lot, but once he gets some consistent time he should level off into that kind of player IMO.

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.

by cranscape on Oct 7, 2008 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

#4 on the less likely

deserves its own category, maybe even a new fanpost :-) Great goals; hope the staff has the ability to communicate and execute these common sense things that last year’s group didn’t have time for.

by California Al on Oct 6, 2008 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with all of this.

Well, except for the less likely, where you break Hughes’ qualities into different useful qualities, and I personally will be surprised of Hughes does anything productive besides riding the pine [yay, addition by gametime subtraction!].
Also, the no controversies thing is completely impossible. Sorry to break it to ya. :P

by Prevenge on Oct 6, 2008 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's gotta begin with Defense...

We have some capable stoppers on our team (assuming Cap’n Kirk reverses course, and I assume he will), but a good fast break offense (unless you have a Kevin Love outlet passer) is predicated on solid team defense.

I’d like to see Noah and T-Time challenging shots.
I’d like to see Deng, Thabo, Noah and Thomas disrupting the passing lanes with their length.
I’d like to see Noah set screens for Deng and let he and Thomas score easy buckets in the painted area (ball movement getting them space not one-on-one moves).
I’d like to see Rose push the ball up and find guys in their sweet spots (as an aside, I remember when Donyell Marshall played for the Jazz and he remarked that the first thing John Stockton said to him was: where do you want the ball? Rose can be that kind of PG)
I’d absolutely love to see Thomas and Rose connect on athletic plays kinda like J-Kidd and K-Mart(when the nets were good), GP and Kemp in 95, or Marion and Nash.
I’d also like to see Gordon signed long term for less than the offered 58/6 (but its pure fantasy)

by Carlitro on Oct 5, 2008 4:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not ruling out Gordon signing with us next year

He garnered very little interest from anyone this year. I do not believe Miami or NY were seriously interested in him except to rid their garbage on us. The key I believe will be how he fits in with Rose in the second half of the season. If Rose frees him up and he is able to blossom Gordon is going to want to stay. I will be surprised, (I always am) if another team is going to pay him 12 mil/year.

It seems like the Bulls are like a bunch of chemicals that require the right reactant to create something special. Many of us are hoping D Rose is that magical elixir.

by chgobr on Oct 5, 2008 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would like

1. Thabo to become a poor man’s Pippen at SG.

2. Noah, Gooden, TT and Rose to develop a killer pick and role game.

3. Trade whomever is left for a front court player if No. 2 doesn’t work.

$. Make a trade with the Clippers for Minny’s 1st round choice.

by hlac on Oct 5, 2008 11:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a plan

Where do you see the offense coming from? I don’t believe Thabo takes us down from “elite” scorer to zip; more like a 4 point fall off which could be made up on the defensive end and boards. I think Noah can be gone to more than last year, and the frontcourt in general can be a lot better than Wallace/Smith/2007-8 Deng. If the fanshot by Dyonisius re the defense is any indication, the staff is changing up the D to the point of confusing vets like Kirk. That sounds like a major overhaul, which seems like a necessity.
Re number $: kaching! We have too many solid players and the Clips are undemanned after Brand and Magette. That pick could be available, but I don’t think it’ll be cheap. After all, they do have a history of marketing their team with lotto picks only to let them go instead of paying them. How much would you pay for it?

by California Al on Oct 7, 2008 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Several comments

How much would I pay? I don’t have any understanding what will be available in 2010, which is the likely year the pick can be exercised. A copout-well yeah. But I would try.

The offense? Better production from Noah, Gooden, TT, and Rose. But I expect victory to come from better efficiency on both ends of the court.

Except that IF this does come to pass, it sounds like it will be a work in progress-at least until after the first of the year.

by hlac on Oct 7, 2008 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No problem

They’re not going to win a title this year, so any plan that starts us into 2009-10 with reason for optimism will make this year a win. We spent the whole summer arguing whether BG is worth $10m or $12m; can’t get worse.

by California Al on Oct 7, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmmm

a starting five of
Gooden
Thomas
Deng
Hinrich or BG, depending on who’s hot beyond the arc
Rose

when are we going to add a 7th championship?

by broseleay301 on Oct 6, 2008 12:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Defense - Defense - Defense

and never try to settle for offensive half court sets. Run, Run and then Run some more. Rotate players in and out of the lineup because they truely have to be winded if we run. Disregard Paxson’s conservatism, regardless if he is now suggesting running. Because Paxson’s version of running is still to slow…

Player will have to make a commitment to defense, and have defensive coaches teaching them the ins-outs of excellent defense! Question? who on staff will teach this defense and defensive pressure? I really don’t care about the starting five, because they all will get plenty of time depending on their conditioning and personal endurance.

by exult463 on Oct 6, 2008 12:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, screw D'Antoni

We can devise a 7 second or less scheme without him, and Lord knows, if we have a strength, it’s that we can run so many young MLE types at you that we can run full out all night. I like the way you’re going with that.

by California Al on Oct 6, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs