and played well in the second, which is a good sign for the future.

Otherwise, looked like 48 minutes of summer league play.

There was some discussion over at the RealGM board that perhaps Deng should be playing the PF (which I think has been bandied about before, before being ultimately deemed silly). I do wonder, though, with the offense that we’re running with the pick and pop if all those open jumpers Tyrus was getting at the 4 earlier wouldn’t be better converted by Deng. If Deng can do the whole David West midrange thing, then I think it’s at least worth thinking about. I just don’t know if he can handle opposing 4’s in the post on defense, but what we’re doing down low isn’t really working anyway, so it’s worth thinking about.

it seems to me that BG isn’t really doing well as a spot-up shooter this year. Rose or somebody else hits him, he’s wide open…and it doesn’t fall. Could just be small sample size, or it could be I’m just imagining it. But I seemed to remember someone suggesting (over the summer) that he was never a natural spot-up shooter to begin with. Can anyone verify this either subjectively or statistically?

We only played eight guys last night, which is about the right number, it may not have been the right eight though. To me Gooden and Hughes pretty much f-up any consistent rotations.

The only way that we can get down to an 8-9 man rotation is to make several 2 o 3 for 1 trades. We need to rid ourselves of Hughes and Gooden first, because they are simply not in our long term plans, and every minute that they play is a wasted minute stolen from a younger player that we need to evaluate.

If Hughes and Gooden were gone we could manage our rotations with the players that we have left, but eventually, either Hinrich or Gordon needs to go, and either Nocioni or Thomas needs to go.

This doesn’t take into account what we get back in trades. Our biggest needs are at 2 guard and center. We need starting quality guys with starter size at both positions.

Eventually, We need a three guard rotation, and a three forward rotation, with 2 guys manning the post. Minus Gooden and Hughes this is what we go with for now;

Guards, Rose, Hinrich or Gordon, and Hunter, with Thabo for spot duty at 2

Forwards, Deng, Thabo, and Thomas or Nocioni

Centers for now Noah, and Gray for spot minutes.

This was a game that was tailor made for both Hughes and Gordon. The other team had no interest in playing defense, just like on the playground. It doesn’t happen every night in the NBA, and it doesn’t ever happen in the playoffs, unless it is that rare year that a Don Nelson team makes the playoffs.

…hasn’t he gotten beaten down on the floor a lot the last few games? If getting back on defense is one of Noah’s current problems, Nellie-ball doesn’t seem like the time to solve it. So Vinnie might’ve played that one well. Still, Noah is supposed to be our “energy” guy with an endless motor—you have to hope he’ll get back into last year’s shape eventually.

some stats I listed in the Thomas post bear repeating. Tyrus logged only 9 minutes against Golden State with Rose on the court. Yes we all I know (+/-) stats can be deceiving, but they showed:
Thomas 17.4 +8
Hunter 16.9 +9
Noce 23.3 +8
Hughes 40.3 +2
Gordon 41.0 0
Gooden 37.3 0
Rose 36.1 +1
Thabo 27.6 -3

These numbers indicate his presence on the floor was a net postive, especially on defense. His mistakes easily stand out because they tend to be glaring, often due to a lack of court awareness or poor decision making, but he also was effective providing help defense and kept some Warriors from finishing due to his pogo stick jumping and shot blocking ability, although he often gets outmuscled by bigger centers and power forwards when posted up. But my point is, he did make a quiet contribution that went almost unnoticed.

Larry Hughes had his best game as a Bull, but was only a +2. Rose completely took over in the 4th quarter but struggled defensively much of the time, resulting in a +1. Thabo looked very good in his stints but was a -3. Noce got burned a few times but rebounded well and was +8.

Is it possible the coaches are so frustrated with TT’s mental errors, their perceptions of his performance get somewhat skewed? It also may be the case with Noah, who seems can do no right in their eyes lately, while Larry the upchucker can do no wrong. Again, his greatest game resulted in a net gain of only 2. How great was that?
Rose was a +20 in the Pacer game by contrast.

My conclusion, more Tyrus, more Noah is needed for the Denver game. Try it Vinnie, you may be surprised by the results.