Top 5 problems the Bulls need to fix.

by DaBears33 on Feb 3, 2012 6:42 PM CST

So the Bulls have started off to a great start. Of course they have hit some rough patches, some really bad and some not so bad. But right now the Bulls are showing that they are a force to be reckoned with. Every team has some kind of weakness but it doesn't mean the problem can't be fixed. So that's why I'm here, I'm here to point out these weaknesses and maybe, just maybe Tom Thibodeau might listen to what I have to say.

Improved Rebounding:

If you watch the Orlando Magic and you actually watch them rebound everyone knows who is going to go up for that ball. Unlike the Magic, the Bulls have three different guys going up and all three have fingers on the ball and it ends up into the opponents hands. The Bulls need to figure out who there main rebounder is going to be. The best rebounder is Joakim Noah which means he needs to be the main guy going after the ball. If Noah isn't near the ball then Boozer needs to go up and so on and so forth. Overall the Bulls have some great rebounding guys within their roster and they really cannot contribute until some kind of order is in place.

Noah needs more time with the ball on offense:

I am personally a Joakim Noah fan. I love everything about the guy including his determination and energy he brings. That being said you often see him just running around asking for the ball. It is not like he is a bad shooter, in fact he is actually an underrated shooter and often is disrespected when it comes to shooting. The Bulls need to realize the opponents take off the player that is covering Noah and they put him on either Rose or Deng to double team them. With that being done Noah is left on an island where he can in fact make a shot with ease. The Bulls do not take advantage of that and really only use Noah for passing and threading the needle around the hoop (If you want an example CLICK HERE). The Bulls need to have Noah more involved on the offensive side of the ball. He is to good of a basketball player to just have him for defense, of course I won't protest because he is a great defensive player

Noah and Boozer need a relationship class:

These two guys haven't shown great chemistry. That is due to so much injury that had overridden them last season. Now that they have had more time this season these two need to bond a little bit more. The Center and the Power Forward need to have some kind of relationship together. Without that relationship the defense and the rebounding will not be as good as it should. So how about these two take a day off, go to a spa or somewhere relaxing and just talk and get to know each other. Of course these are NBA players so, I suppose a nice little stroll down a beach would suffice.

Incorporate the “White Mamba” into the rotation:

Before Taj Gibson had became injured I thought Scalabrine was just a bench warmer that really didn't have much skill. But in reality the “White Mamba” has some skills. This guy deserves a little bit more playing time then what he had before Gibson had gotten injured. Also check out his twitter, he is a pretty good trash talker.

Hamilton needs to be healthy:

Rip Hamilton has done a lot for the Bulls while he is healthy. Of course Hamilton has only played in a total of eleven games and have missed fourteen. The Bulls really need to keep Hamilton healthy for the remainder of the season. Hamilton will give the Bulls them easy two and three pointers due to his great agility and speed.

I hope you all enjoy my article. My original article of this was, in my opinion better. But unfortunately I accidentally deleted it. But I hope you all like this article. I am a passionate fan of the Bulls and these are the main problems I see within the Bulls. If you see any other problems within the Bulls write it in the comments below. Also don't forget to answer the pull.

-Via DA BULLS #1 FAN

Poll

What do the Bulls need to fix the most?

FanPosts are user-created posts from the BlogABull community, and are to be treated as the opinions and views of that particular user, not that of the blogger or blog community as a whole.

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Deng's health is more important than Hamilton's.

And please, no White Mamba. Don’t let low expectations fool you, he’s horrible.

by Tim S. on Feb 3, 2012 10:19 PM CST reply actions 4 recs

Don't sleep on the 'White Mamba' Tim S.!!!

That’s when he STRIKES!

Get ready for that 7th banner Chicago...it's '90-'91 all over again!

by kingles on Feb 4, 2012 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

Noah needs to take that jumper from the elbow

Last season before he had the thumb injury he was confident in taking and making that shot. Now if the Bulls run a set and he gets the ball at the elbow after the other options have been denied he hesitates on pulling the trigger and often passes it up to dribble it into traffic. If he makes that shot a legit weapon he opens up room for Boozer and defenders have to rotate out to him which opens up driving lanes and space for cutters.

They can save the world if they don't kill each other first.

by squadron supreme on Feb 3, 2012 11:46 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Yes, and because he's so quick with the ball it would also open up driving lanes for him.

I don’t think any center can guard Noah on the perimeter. If he won’t shoot though, they don’t have to.

Get ready for that 7th banner Chicago...it's '90-'91 all over again!

by kingles on Feb 4, 2012 1:14 PM CST up reply actions

you just said the Bulls need to give Scalabrine more playing time

by kpd on Feb 4, 2012 12:05 AM CST reply actions 3 recs

agree, disagree, disagree, strongly disagree, agree

1.the bulls do need to improve their rebounding if they want to win a championship. Our rebounding is one of thing that is supposed to separate us from Miami. Really none of our guys on the frontline have been doing a good enough job.

2. Noah does not need the ball more on offense. He needs to concentrate on the aforementioned rebounding and also defending the opposing teams best big man better.

3. I think there relationship is what it is. Noah and Deng break their back covering for Boozer on defense. On offense, Noah seems the more willing low post player and the more able offensive rebounder while Boozer is the better passer (imo) and jump shooter. High-low with Boozer up top works for me.

4. White Mamba? Are you crazy. He stands no chance against any team that matters.

5. Hamilton being healthy, and health overall, may be the most important thing heading into the playoffs. I think a fully healthy bulls team is better than the Heat at full health. Just my gut.

by Basketball Smurf on Feb 4, 2012 12:26 AM CST reply actions

"Really none of our guys on the frontline have been doing a good enough job."

That’s not quite true. First of all, our offensive rebounding is no. 1 in the league. Our defensive rebounding is the problem; we’re only 17th (down from 2nd last year). Boozer, Noah, and Asik are all doing a fine job on the defensive glass. Taj, on the other hand, is really struggling to pull down boards.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Feb 4, 2012 12:06 PM CST up reply actions

if Boozer, Noah and Asik are doing a fine job

than why are we #17? Taj doesn’t play that many minutes. The Bulls give up to many offensive rebounds – period. We need to dominate the offensive and defensive boards if we want to be a championship team.

by Basketball Smurf on Feb 4, 2012 6:34 PM CST up reply actions

The dropoff from Deng to Korver/Brewer is also pretty drastic

The difference between the top rebounding teams in the league and the mediocre ones isn’t that large (it’s like76% vs. 73%). It only takes one or two guys not doing a good job to see that figure plummet. Taj pulled down 19.4% of all defensive rebounds last year. That’s down to 14.5% this year. That’s a HUGE dropoff, and I just don’t get why he’s struggling so much.

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Feb 4, 2012 6:44 PM CST up reply actions

Also, having Scalabrine out there is pretty detrimental

Pat Riley is the devil.

by Poloplaya14 on Feb 4, 2012 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, Taj's rebounding has been pretty bad

You’re right, the numbers don’t lie. Taj also plays a lot of late game minutes. If he isn’t rebounding its problematic. It seems to me the Bulls are giving up a lot of crucial rebounds at the end of games and Taj may be the biggest part of the problem. However, since his numbers look the same across the board in the other categories, I’m hopeful it reverts back to mean. I’m still hoping to see some Jomer at some point this season.

by Basketball Smurf on Feb 4, 2012 6:49 PM CST up reply actions

I think Noah has excellent high post center skills.

I also think Boozer has much better low post skills than Noah. What’s kind of odd is that they both seem by temperment(or whatever) to want to do what you suggest. Maybe it would help. However, what I think would help more is if Boozer simply got his ass on the block more often, and Noah utilized that ugly but effective elbow jumper to create spacing and open driving lanes.

Get ready for that 7th banner Chicago...it's '90-'91 all over again!

by kingles on Feb 4, 2012 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

I'm with Smurf...

on most of those points.

The “chemistry” issue between Noah and Boozer is a bit puzzling but the thing to remember (at least, this is what I keep telling myself) is that they really haven’t had much time together. Between Boozer’s injury last year, then Noah’s and the shortened camp/pre-season this year the practice time just hasn’t been there for them.

The Bulls schedule has been horrifically brutal even by this season’s standards. A league high 25 games (tied with Detroit). Almost all of the other top teams are at 23 with the Spurs at 24. They’ve also had a league high 15 road games (tied with Indiana and Toronto). Other teams: OKC – 12, MIA – 11, PHI – 8, ATL – 13, DEN – 12, LAC – 7.

I think practices can help improve the way they both play together on the floor, but only slightly. I think they are where they’re going to be and the only change that’s even remotely possible is Noah getting shipped out for Howard.

by CubFan81 on Feb 4, 2012 11:30 AM CST reply actions

You should have deleted...

this one too. Unless you’re kidding about Scalabrine.

by El Toro de Goro on Feb 4, 2012 11:50 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Glad I didn’t have to be the one to say it.
And Noah is not an underrated shooter. He sucks and everyone knows it.
And Dengs health is way more important than Rips.

by metalkiwis on Feb 4, 2012 5:33 PM CST up reply actions

Why would I delete an article because you don't agree with me?

I want to become a great sports writer, which means I have to take critism no matter how bad it is.

"You can’t process me with a normal brain." - Charlie Sheen

by DaBears33 on Feb 5, 2012 8:07 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Sorry

but if you’re going to post on this site you better be prepared for smart-ass comments. The best posts present unusual observations or viewpoints with statistics to support them.
To deal with your points — The Bulls are a very good rebounding team. The reason the Magic has only one guy going for the ball is they only have one good rebounder. The only reason the Bulls wouldn’t want multiple players going for the ball is if it hurt their transition defense which it doesn’t.
Noah has a bad jump shot. He’s much more effective passing out of the high post. I agree he needs to shoot occasionally to keep the defense honest.
Boozer and Noah playing together seems to be improving.
If Scalabrine plays he takes time from either Boozer or Taj. He’s not good and it won’t happen.
Everyone agrees that if the bulls’ top ten players are healthy they are a better team.
Good luck with your next post.

by El Toro de Goro on Feb 10, 2012 3:39 PM CST up reply actions