Sam Smith on Boozer

Agreed. Sam's usually all hyperbole,

but this was a good article.

by The90sBullsRevival on Jan 18, 2012 11:26 PM CST reply actions

Great article. I didn't really take into account the spacing that Okur provided for Boozer

and Derron Williams to run the pick and roll. With our offense and Joakim’s lack of range, the pick n roll usually ends up with an offensive charge or a turnover. I think that’s a major reason for the pick and pop approach they’re employing.

On the J.R. Smith bandwagon until otherwise advised.

by BlackStar on Jan 18, 2012 11:45 PM CST reply actions

Smith's wrong

Boozer is not the same player he’s always been. This season, Boozer’s averaging 3.1 attempts/game at the rim. Last year, he averaged 6.0 attempts/game at the rim. His attempts/game from 3-9 feet are down from 2.9 to 1.9. His FTAs/game are down from 4.1 to 2.0. On the other hand, his shots from 16-23 feet are up from 3.0/game to 4.9/game. Simply put, he’s settling for jumpers more and attacking the rim less.

I was one of Boozer’s biggest defenders last year, because last year, he actually did play like he did in Utah and was the second option that the Bulls needed. This year is a completely different story. Hopefully, his performance against Phoenix is a sign of things to come, because if he continues to play like he did prior to that game, the Bulls are gonna have a tough time winning a championship.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 18, 2012 11:57 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

did you not read the about why he used to drive in Utah

and why he doesn’t drive as much in Chicago? or did you miss that part.

by MartyMondays on Jan 19, 2012 12:01 AM CST up reply actions

No I read that part, which is why I specifically chose to compare his performance this year to his performance last year

He managed to attack the rim last year, even without Okur and DWill. So that’s no excuse for him.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 19, 2012 12:18 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

but he's lost a lot of lift since then

he always gets his shot blocked when he goes straight in now

by MartyMondays on Jan 19, 2012 12:20 AM CST up reply actions

Okay fine

But then don’t tell me he’s the same player he’s always been. If he’s lost a lot of his lift, then he’s not as good as he used to be.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 19, 2012 12:32 AM CST up reply actions 3 recs

Been saying since this since last season but

he really needs to make use of the PUMP FAKE. I never really see him do it.

Also, from Steve Aschburner’s article from a couple days ago:

A year ago, Chicago was 24-5 when the two players started together. But that meant Chicago played 53 games in which one or the other (or both) were not in the starting lineup. First Boozer missed all of November after breaking his wrist in training camp. Then Noah lost the middle third of his season to hand surgery. By the end, the two had started together for two nine-game stretches, a five-gamer and then the season’s final half-dozen games. That was it.

In the games they started together, Noah averaged 9.4 points with 9.2 rebounds, and Boozer had 15.0 and 8.7. But in the games they didn’t, Noah’s numbers were 15.2 and 12.2. Boozer’s were 20.0 and 10.5.

http://www.nba.com/2012/news/features/steve_aschburner/01/17/bulls-big-men/index.html

"Before the game, we all thought he’d get 20 (points)," Chicago’s Kyle Korver said. "We didn’t know he’d shoot 28." - speaking about JLIII

by chicity773 on Jan 19, 2012 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

he played most of last season with noah injured

and kurt thomas was able space the floor out for him. obviously not as much as okur would but its still a major improvement than what noah can

You always were second best! And in this business, Bub, second best don't *cut* it!

by Yibs on Jan 19, 2012 7:43 AM CST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs

This is true. Even last year, Joakim and Booze played best when they were on the floor at different times.

The Elbow Extended

"If you have a hero, look again; you have diminished yourself in some way."

by fundamentallysound on Jan 19, 2012 9:29 AM CST up reply actions

True!

I was just about to say this.

by Slick Ric on Jan 19, 2012 10:28 AM CST up reply actions

I'm really skeptical of the notion that Kurt Thomas's shooting ability had such a dramatic impact

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 19, 2012 10:47 AM CST up reply actions

Let me put it this way

If having a big man with range really has that dramatic an impact, then fuck Dwight Howard, we should offer everything but the kitchen sink for Ryan Anderson. Also, Mirotic goes from being one of the greatest draft picks ever to the greatest draft pick ever.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 19, 2012 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

Thats exactly the point...

Except you need to look at it from the type of player and not straight position. In Orlando Dwight is better working in the post with guys like Anderson and Bass, cause they space the floor for him. If we had Dwight and Noah playing at the same time, then there would be less space for Dwight to operate with Noah in the pain also.

You always were second best! And in this business, Bub, second best don't *cut* it!

by Yibs on Jan 19, 2012 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

I think you're making a mistake in underrating the impact of spacing the floor. Every thing I've read

about plus-minus numbers shows that there’s an almost intangible effect for good spacing that isn’t captured by just looking at a guy’s boxscore numbers. It’s part of the reason Nash has been such an amazing +/- wonder and why three point shooters generally have an impact that is outsize to their statistical production (see e.g. Kyle Korver’s impact on late game offensive rosters). Spacing really, really matters. Kurt Thomas was automatic on the pick and pop with Rose last year and it made Boozer’s life on the block a LOT easier. Noah’s inability to shoot really hurts Boozer’s game. Ironically, this is why it might make some sense to play Taj with Boozer more. Of course then you have the problem of Asik and Noah playing together, which could be a potential disaster offensively, but it would be pretty fun defensively.

"If you have a hero, look again; you have diminished yourself in some way."

by fundamentallysound on Jan 19, 2012 11:46 AM CST up reply actions

Although I definitely side with Poloplaya re Boozer's struggles

there is something to the floor spacing argument. In fact, Pruiti had a post at Grantland about the effect of Chandler on Amar’e’s struggles this season, and it’s all about Amar’e now having to work in a more crowded space.

Here’s an excerpt (link above):

Stoudemire went from playing 49 percent of the Knicks’ center minutes last year to playing 16 percent of them this season, according to 82games.com. With another big — newly acquired Tyson Chandler, most of the time — on the floor, the lane is more crowded than before. This has caused Stoudemire to drive less and settle for jumpers more often when he isolates against his defender.

by bryield on Jan 19, 2012 12:26 PM CST up reply actions

Ugh - posted to soon.

My point is, the same kind of problem could be causing Boozer to settle for jumpers more when Noah/Asik is in the game.

I remember Boozer playing a some minutes at C with Gibson or Deng at PF, and I wondered what the five-man floor stats were with those lineups. I checked 82games.com, but I couldn’t find anything, presumably because the number of minutes played is pretty small.

My expectation is that Boozer may have performed better around the rim, though that could also be due to the other team’s small lineup.

by bryield on Jan 19, 2012 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

If that's the case

Then we should absolutely be looking to get a shooting big man on this team.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 19, 2012 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

Only if your focus is on Boozer's numbers

and not how the team is doing as a whole. I don’t think it matters if we maximize Boozer’s numbers or not if the team is better than the competition on a nightly basis. Thibs has options like the Boozer/Taj lineup that he’s went to a little more. If Boozer and Noah will keep playing hard with reduced numbers and minutes, I don’t feel pressure to replace either of them.

by runningman on Jan 19, 2012 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

It's not only Boozer's numbers

If having a shooting big has that big an impact on Boozer’s production, it only stands to reason that it would dramatically help Rose, Deng and Rip score as well. Right now, Noah’s not doing enough defensively to justify his minimal offensive production.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 19, 2012 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

I would be very pained

but: Noah for Anderson?

Rose decides not to go 1-on-2 and I was thinking, "what are you doing?! You've got the numbers!" -Zach Harper, Daily Dime Live

by Prevenge on Jan 20, 2012 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

That's true, and there's no doubt he's taken more jumpers

But it is still somewhat early in the season, and he’s played less minutes, so that could have some effect on those numbers as well

And imo, him getting points in the paint is a bit overrated. If he’s hitting those elbow jumpers, and spacing the floor, and we’re getting paint points as a team, it really doesn’t matter all that much. This isn’t like the Skiles days where we were a jump shooting team and desperate for someone to get easy baskets. The fact that our offense can look so good at times (notably when everyone is healthy) is something that he should get some credit for.

Just like how Rip isn’t the most efficient scorer, but the offense can look better because of everything that he provides, I think Carlos is the same. He’s a good overall offensive player. Then when you add on to that being our best defensive rebounder, it makes him a very solid addition, just not spectacular

Sadly, my self worth is almost entirely based upon the outcome of the previous night's Bulls game.

by Juiceboxjerry on Jan 19, 2012 1:16 AM CST up reply actions

exactly

I think the chemistry between Rose and Booz is evolving this season. I like the stat that Booz is changing his game (by taking less shots at the rim) because this isn’t Utah, and it shows that Booz is adapting his game to suit his current point guard. I’ve also noticed this season that Rose has been getting Booz more looks on the elbow where he loves taking his jumper which is another sign that Rose and Booz are starting to gel better.

by straylan on Jan 19, 2012 6:19 AM CST up reply actions

great write up

it made me think of it in a slightly different way

by MartyMondays on Jan 18, 2012 11:57 PM CST reply actions

Boozer used to be able to jump higher

I know that much!

8tracks/Tumblr

by Option27 on Jan 19, 2012 2:36 AM CST reply actions

This is definitely true, but he's never been particularly explosive. He needs to use more upfakes, for sure.

"If you have a hero, look again; you have diminished yourself in some way."

by fundamentallysound on Jan 19, 2012 11:56 AM CST up reply actions

that's an excellent article

it provides a couple of different perspectiives that i’m sure most people hadn’t thought of and I especially like the quote where Booz is taking us through his thoughts when popping. He knows his role come playoff time is to hit those jumpshots and if the defense recovers to him I’ll back his excellent passing and offensive iq to make the right play. Now fingers crossed he can stay healthy and keep hitting that jumper

by straylan on Jan 19, 2012 6:11 AM CST reply actions