Pop vs. Thibs on ESPN

Here's the link.  But it's insider, so I'll give you a few of the notable quotes and make this a fanpost for YFBB's sake.

Broussard takes the pro-Thibodeau side and quickly loses the last semblances of respect I had for him:

Outside of Boozer, they added Kyle Korver, Keith Bogans, Kurt Thomas and Omer Asik -- good role players who combine to average 20 points and 14 rebounds a game. But last season they had John Salmons (15 ppg), Kirk Hinrich (11 ppg), Tyrus Thomas (9 ppg, 6 rpg) Brad Miller (9 ppg, 5 rpg) and Jannero Pargo (5 ppg). Salmons and Hinrich are better than Korver and Bogans, and Thomas and Miller are at least even with Kurt and Asik. Not to mention the contributions of a solid Pargo. I'd say last season's role players are better than this season's.

And then he tries to win it back:

I agree that the addition of Boozer gives the Bulls an overall better team. BUT, with Boozer and Noah missing 54 games combined, Chicago hasn't enjoyed the full benefit of that improvement. Yet despite the injuries, Thibodeau has the Bulls atop the East -- ahead of more talented Boston and Miami teams. That's COY material.

Bucher responds:

Kurt Thomas is vastly more efficient than Brad Miller as both a scorer and rebounder. Kyle Korver is a vastly better 3-point shooter than anybody the Bulls had last season. Ronnie Brewer and Keith Bogans are vastly more productive, if you combine their defense with their offense, than Salmons and Flip Murray. The Bulls, collectively, are scoring more points while taking fewer shots. Even without Boozer, the Bulls are a significantly better team this season.

Broussard then quotes various PERs of players and acts as if that's conclusive evidence that the Bulls had better role players last year.  Bucher points this out and says a bunch of other stuff that isn't particularly interesting.  Broussard points out that the Bulls were actually outscoring opponents by a pretty decent margin even when Rose is on the bench.  The rest is pretty much Bucher talking about Pop.