Even though Gooden is our best big, (although that isn’t saying much) he should be traded immediately so VDN can’t play him at center for over half the game. Even though Gooden is not in the Bulls longterm plans, I could live with him starting at power forward and playing power forward only. Noah and Gray should be the only guys playing center, with Noah getting at least 30-36 minutes per. I am convinced that Noah would get his game together with consistent minutes,(a double/double at least). Gray can hold his own, especially against real centers for a few minutes per half. Gooden cannot play center, especially defensively.

Gooden’s presence is killing our development/evaluation of Thomas and Noah. We need to know about Thomas before this season is over. Nocioni is clearly our best option as a backup power forward. Thomas has not shown any sign that he is ready to be a starter. So if we keep Gooden Thomas doesn’t play at all. If we trade Gooden we don’t have a true starter at power forward, or we have to sacrifice the season to give Thomas a shot to prove or most likely disprove himself.

Again, since Gooden is not getting a longterm extension from the Bulls after this season, every minute that he plays is a waste of time. We aren’t winning anything this season anyway, so get rid of Gooden and Hughes and suffer the growing pains with our young guys and find out for sure what we have and who ultimately fits with Rose.

Personally, I think that Noah is a keeper, although ultimately probably not a full time starter. He is also a center, not a power forward, so VDN having him gurad troy Murphy out at the 3 point line, while Gooden gets creamed inside by Rasto is beyond stupid, even for a rookie coach, and especially for one who has spent the last 30 years in the sport.

I keep praying that the light bulb in Thomas’s head will finally click. However, I am afraid that there is no lightbulb to click, but we have to give, and I mean give him the minutes to absolutely find out this year.

I think that Thabo is a servicable/valuable piece as a backup at both the shooting guard and small forward positions, in fact I think that he is more effective as a small forward.

We have no answer at starting shooting guard, Gordon is not and will never be the answer as a starter. Hughes is the Gooden of the 2 guards and should be shipped out with Gooden, he is just waisting minutes. The real queation is do you prefer Hinrich or Gordon or neither. Hinrich being out is not helping the evaluation. Personally, I think that neither is the answer, but that Hinrich is a better overall option than Gordon. In either case the Bulls would be better served with either as a third guard/combo guard, which Hinrich is definately better suited to.

I believe that it is painfully obviously that we need to acquire a starting caliber power forward(someone in the Boozer/Brand class) and shooting guard(someone in the Joe Johnson class), both of whom need to have the classic size and abilities requisite for these positions. The only 2 starting caliber players that we have are Rose and Deng, who barely qualifies, despite his bulging wallet. If we were to acquire these players Noah and Gray would suffice at center, and Thabo, Nocioni, and either Hinrich or Gordon as our primary bench players would be a solid/contending/watchable team.

I suggested, in another post, that Thomas lacks the necessary understanding
of the game and had a below average basketball IQ and my post was annihilated
I was badly flamed by one the regulars who’s been drinking too much of the Kool-Aid.

But, hey, you nailed it man… “It is time to accpet what Tyrus Thomas is and move on”

Hallelujah! I am glad some people here are actually WATCHING the damn games and
the players, Because if someone IS really watching carefully, and in an unbiased
manner, then what other conclusion can be drawn of a guy shooting under 30%,
but, who is actually supposed to be getting a lot of high percentage shots – dunks,
but is such a poor finisher at the rim, that, well, the percentage ain’t my opinion,
it is what he is shooting. Reality.

Thanks for your refreshing candor. I realize we are all Bulls fans, but I won’t be a “homer”.
It is the very fact that I DO have the team’s best interests at heart, that I strongly urge
the Bulls NOT to depend on Mr. Thomas in their long-range plans at Forward, either as starter,
or as as a back up.

I would like to see this recapped as flash back post in 2 years, and where Mr. Thomas is
employed and to what end? I have a guess…

Lastly, WHAT is Tyrus Thomas?
A PF? Like, a banger, a back to the basket, post-up, double figure rebounds every night. high FG% type?
Nope
A SF? Huh? Yeah, right. A SF who shoots under 30%. Clang!
Nope.

A Tweener? Seems so. Not a PF and not a SF…. A tweener…

“I knew Charles Barkley, and you Sir, are not Charles Barkley!”

The weird thing is, though, that even knowing full well that Tyrus can be so frustrating to watch due to his inconsistency and low basketball IQ, I still for some reason prefer him playing over Gooden because when he does play well, he can make some spectacular plays. I think that has more to do with the relative lack of athleticism of the Bulls’ front court, though. Unfortunately, Tyrus doesn’t seem to learn from his mistakes and I’m resolved to the fact that he’ll either be a career back-up for us or a gamble for another team.

Didn’t he start at QB for the KC chiefs this year?

:-)

that “Basketball Guru” aka Doug “The Dufus” Thonus figured to be Rose’s ceiling before the season started and wanted the Bulls to draft Beasley?…

That’s just hilarious if I remember correctly. :D

if he stopped jumping on EVERY shot-fake and kept his feet on the ground and just and arm up…. The 13-16 year olds that I’ve coached have all managed to do this after at most a couple of months…

It also buggs me to no end that he lets people drive by him trying to go for the block. SOOOO bad defence! Gah!

Kobe won’t try to run over whoever the Bulls put on him early, and that the Lakers will continue to focus on their new zone d. Therefore, essentially, the d that the Bulls have to worry about playing is when they’re on offense. The lane will be clogged with more size than the Bulls can handle, and the wings will be sniping the passing lanes. They need to move the ball around a lot and carefully, and then hit some shots. BG’s got to start and get the bulk of the minutes.
   Rose is going to get a good test from Farmar, who’s amazed me in his ability to muscle up a bit and retain his quickness and hops; kudos to Phil for playing him so much his first 2 years. If VDN comes up with any ideas on how to match up with Gasol and Bynum, he should get early HOF consideration. Deng’s gonna get tested big time by Ariza, Kobe and Sasha.
   I’d say give it a shot early, and if the Lakers show up tonight, it’s a good learning opportunity…, not just for Naoh and TT, for Pax and the staff! Gasol would be a great opportunity experience for Noah, but it won’t be pretty. Maybe try to match Gooden up with Bynum and see if he can knock down some jumpers while Bynum’s trying to stay home.
   I wouldn’t obsess with winning this game; if the Lakers play well at all, it’s a poor matchup game. Good time to work on some things with the young-uns.

differently if they were drafted during the championship years. I know its just speculation, but I bet that a few of the players on those teams would have held them more accountable for their mistakes and made pretty damned sure that they either learned to play smart basketball or didn’t play.

knowing that I have that to look forward to. I thought that I was the only one cursed the homer announcers. Our homer announcers notwithstanding.

I’ve got Portland friends coming over to watch the game. I should start drinking now. This is gonna be painful.

I think it helps that Thanksgiving is so late this year. Have we ever played 10 games before the circus trip?