[Thanks to wjb1492 for today's game preview -ed.]

Ladies, gentlemen, and other BaB posters, welcome to the first payback game of the young season - the 6 and 5 Bulls (2 and 4 away) at the 8 and 4 Nuggets (4 and 0 home).  Undoubtedly, you all also remember Brad's last second shot that was ruled just a little too last second, leaving the Bulls with a 1-point loss instead of a 1-point victory when the teams first matched up less than 2 weeks ago.  Whether you think the refs got the call right or wrong, to come so close to a win and not get it still hurt.  And I'm not usually one for bulletin board material, but Chauncey Billups' post-game quote forever cemented him as a first-grade ass in my mind. 

Chauncey Billups sat and laughed, figuring the Denver Nuggets would celebrate soon enough. In the meantime, the Chicago Bulls were having their moment.
...
“As soon as I saw the flight of the ball, I knew it was good,” Billups said. “Then, I was sitting and laughing. Not so much about the shot, but looking at their reaction. They were dancing and jumping around like they had just made the Sweet 16. The longer it took, the better I felt. It was a great ending.”

(OK, to be honest, he was already cemented there, but it did remind me that I can't stand him, going all the way back to college.)

Since that game, our Bulls are 2 and 2, with wins over Philly and Sacramento and losses to Toronto and the Lakers.  Since that time, Denver is also 2 and 2 - ironically with absolutely dominant wins over Toronto and the Lakers, but with losses to Milwaukee and the Clippers.  That loss to the Clippers came just last night, so the glass-half-full types will undoubtedly focus on the second night of a back-to-back aspect of this, while the glass-half-empty types are sure the Nuggets will come out focused and full of fire after an embarrassing loss.  I'm not sure which way I lean, to be honest.  This will be Denver's 5th back-to-back, and they're 2-2 in the first four so it's not as if they never win on the second night.  Plus the game's in their building, where they have yet to lose this season.  On the other hand, Melo, Nene, and K-Mart all played big minutes last night trying to avoid that loss, so no matter how focused they come out there's at least a decent possibility they wear down by the end of the game.

Denver is 4th in offensive efficiency compared to Chicago's 27th, but 17th in defensive efficiency compared to Chicago's 5th. The Nuggets are led by Carmelo Anthony, currently averaging over 30 points per game, Nene with almost 9 rebounds a game, and Evil Billups with just under 6 assists per game.  They have been held under 100 points only 4 times this season, but one of those games was the 90-point effort against the Bulls, Denver's second lowest point total of the season in which they collectively shot only 41.7%, 31.3% from 3, well under their season averages.  If the Bulls can have another solid defensive effort tonight, they'll have a good shot at coming away with a win.

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otably in last night's loss to the Lakers were two missing aspects of a winning basketball team; two aspects that (I believe) it is unreasonable to expect these Bulls to upon improve internally:

The first is a reliable perimeter scorer, especially from long range. John Salmons has played better lately at the 2 spot, but he's not the answer there. His shots are best taken 10-15 feet out, off screens, in isolation, or on transition drives to the hoop. He can't be a reliable first option b/c he's never met a shot he didn't like. The man doesn't move the rock.

Derrick Rose is struggling mightily to create his own shot, and (as Marv Albert and Doug Collins pointed out a number of times during last night's game ) one problem Rose faces is a lack of a consistent perimeter option to keep opposing defenses honest. Last year Ben Gordon, as one dimensional as his game tends to be, was a consistent threat from beyond the arc. Salmons (or better yet, a healthy Luol Deng) could be relied upon as a third option to score on midrange j's and/or off screens. The 09-10 Bulls lack any consistent three point shooting threat. Shoot, Hinrich is shooting 26% from downtown, and he's prolly this teams best option there.

The second is a reliable post up option in the painted area or just outside.  Duh--we've lacked this since Elton Brand was shipped out (unless you count Eddy Curry on a good day with the wind at his back). Many of us on BaB have hoped that Deng could begin to fill this role, but so far has not been up to the task (though he's arguably this team's best player 11 games in) Other than his shooting form, Noah's play has been a thing of beauty. He's leading the freakin' league in rebounds, he's gotten more aggressive on offense, but he's only ever going to be so-so as a scorer. Brad Miller can shoot a little, pass a lot, and occasionally create his own shot in the post. But he's not a post player per se. Tyrus, Taj, JJ...works in progress all, jump shooters, and none project as reliable post up scorers.

So what to do (this season or this next off season?). I think the smart play is to balls out aggressively court FAs at either the 2 or the 4 spot, perhaps both if a trade or sign and trade can be worked out. Here are the 2010 FA options (and potential options)

 

 

SG: The Best:

 

Kobe

DWade

Joe Johnson

 

I'm thinkin' maybe we could get Wade if Miami doesn't get Bosh or James, but I'm not at all convinced. If we fail to sign a superstar FA at SG, here are some lower cost options (some FAs, mostly trades), but all could be had whether their current team sucks (Mayo), or they aren't getting burn (Fernandez).

 

SG: The Rest, in alphabetical order:

 

Marco Bellinelli -- Toronto

Age: 23

Pts per 40 min: 18.9

FG/3PT%: .492/ .500

09-10 Salary: $1.5M

 

Chris Douglas-Roberts -- NJN

Age: 22

Pts per 40 min: 17.4

FG/3PT%: .467/.429

09-10 Salary: $740K

 

Rudy Fernandez – PRTLND

Age: 24

Pts per 40 min: 15.2

FG/3PT%: .457/.442

09-10 Salary:$1.2M

 

O.J. Mayo -- MEMPHIS

Age: 22

Pts per 40 min: 19.7

FG/3PT%: .455/.351

 09-10 Salary: $4.15M

 

Anthony Morrow – Golden State

Age: 24

Pts per 40 min: 15.6

FG/3PT%: .514/.533

09-10 Salary: $740K

 

Martell Webster – PRTLND

Age: 22

Pts per 40 min: 14.2

FG/3PT%: .514/.533

09-10 Salary: $740K

 

Anthony Morrow is currently the best 3 point shooter percentage-wise in the league. He's an FA this off season, and he's pretty cheap. Talent wise, if we could work a trade for Fernandez or (less likely) Mayo, we should consider it. A reliable three point shooter gets us the good old ROY D-Rose back, making a post scorer less necessary.

 

Not that we couldn't use a decent post scorer....

 

PF: The Best. All of the following are (or potentially are) FA's in 2010.

 

Chris Bosh

Amare Stoudemire

Carlos Boozer

 

Boozer might be a nice complement to Noah in the paint, given his scoring, but his attitude and injury history are concerns. Injury wise, STAT is also a liability, though you can't deny his talent. Bosh would be good in a motion offense as his shooting can spread the floor.

PF: The Rest

 

 

Ryan Anderson--ORLND

Age: 21

Pts per 40: 24.3

Rbs per 40: 7.8

Blks per 40: .23

FG%: .474 (3P .429)

09-10 Salary: $1.3M

 

Micheal Beasley

Age: 20

Pts per 40: 17.2

Rbs per 40: 7.8

Blks per 40: .88

FG%: .404

09-10 Salary:$4.6M

 

Age: DeJuan Blair

Pts per 40: 15.1

Rbs per 40:13.75

Blks per 40: 1

FG% .600

09-10 Salary: $850,000

 

Andray Blatche

Age: 23

Pts per 40: 18.7

Rbs per 40: 9.3

Blks per 40: 2.2

FG%: .519

09-10 Salary: $3M

 

Kevin Love

Age: 21

Pts per 40: 17.5

Rbs per 40: 14.3

Blks per 40: .67

FG%: .459

09-10 Salary: $3.4M

 

Carl Landry

Age: 26

Pts per 40: 23.1

Rbs per 40:9.1

Blks per 40: 1.78

FG% .545

09-10 Salary: $3M

 

Anthony Randolph

Age:

Pts per 40: 22.6

Rbs per 40: 13.2

Blks per 40: 1.5

FG% .422

09-10 Salary $1.8M

 

Randolph, Blatche, Landry, Love put up impressive #s. Could possibly be had in a sign and trade as all but Landry are on shitty teams.

 

Just a thought....

We've spent months debating the plausibility of the 2010 plan, and it seems the general opinion around here is that it's a pie in the sky. We probably don't even have the cap space to sign a max free agent, the assets to facilitate a sign-and-trade, and even if we did the big names will likely either stay put or team up together in Miami or New York.

 

That being said, I propose a new plan.

 

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yf7ay73

(Looks like link didn't work: NYK give Curry, Hughes, Hill; Bulls give Thomas, James, Miller, Johnson)

 

When you consider it, this should be a no brainer for both teams.

For the Knicks it achieves everything they need to give themselves a real shot at making a 2010 splash. Not only are they shedding $25 million in guaranteed salaries, but they get back a raw, potential-filled young player on his rookie deal who has the tools to eventually blossom in D'Antoni's system (Johnson), and a second young player entering restricted free agency whose rights they could renounce to free up more cap space or resign as a fall back if they fail to sign two max free agents (Thomas).

On the Bull's side of things it's a little more complicated. Key to this deal is the fact that Eddy is back. Check out the line from his first game this year: 12 minutes, 10 points on .75 fg% and 4 rebounds. Extrapolate that over 36 minutes and that's an absurd 30ppg with 12 rebounds! He's the type of low post scorer this team has been lacking, well, since the last time he was on the team. Opposite Noah, Curry brings a valuable balance to our frontline. And when you consider that we'd also be getting back a top ten pick in Hill, the Bulls suddenly have one of the deepest and most versatile frontlines in the league.

Getting Hughes back is similarly valuable. Say what you want about the guy, but check out these stats: 14ppg on .45 fg%, 4.3 reb, 4.6 ast., and 2.2 steals? Those are the types of numbers we dreamed about Salmons from the 2-guard spot. And suddenly our back court is actually deep again. Plus, no more Pargo!!!

And all the Bull's need to do is change a single number in their memos! Durant becomes the target in an off season that will feature significantly less competition than this one, and with no suitors likely to have the combination of money and promise as the Bulls.

And face it, it'll be good to see these familiar faces again. We'll pair up the original Hometown Hero with his successor, Hughes will shine every 6 games, and the Bulls might even make a run for the second round. Most importantly, we can finally dust off those old jerseys in the back of our closets.

             

 

 

via graphics2.jsonline.com

 

via images.dailyradar.com

[Thanks to Prevenge for today's game preview. -ed.]

Or, as it is otherwise known, "The Return of Crazy Pills".

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Sam Smith wrote a blog Is Derrick Rose jinxed or just a sophomore?

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Would you guys like a trade for Ellis and Randolph for a Kirk and a tyrus once he comes back? Would that work cap wise?

Bulls

Rose - Ellis

Salmons - Ellis

Deng-Salmons-Randolph

Randolph-TAJ-JJ(lol)

Super Noah( I like that as his nickname too like super nova)-B52

Granted We lose Kirk's D put we get a more consistent shooter in Ellis who wants out of GS and that transition scorer that will take tons of pressure of Rose scoring wise he could fit similar to how Crawford's playing in ATL and better yet which is more the bulls style when it comes to trades, is Ellis gives a some relief if we don't get a Wade or Johnson and allows us to focus on a BIG MAN and if we do get a wade bosh our guards would be considered at least the Fastest in the league, and randolph as you guy wrote earlier solves the TT cap issues this offseason and plays very similar to TT, It also takes away the possibility of Salmons opting out and us not have a 2 guard.

Also think that move makes us more attractive to a up tempo pf like Bosh.

Let me know what you guys think and also if that trade heads up doesn't let me know some of the combinations that would.

PS I think GS would like this trade because Kirk would help curry and let curry play more off ball and TT and A Randolph are similar. Better yet kirk won't complain even in Nellie ball

I was read this article by KC Johnson tonight about Derrick Rose and I started to think damn it Derrick! Stop that! Stop taking questions about struggling. Next question. 

I personally think the older you get in the game of basketball the more you need to know yourself. Sometimes when your struggling in life the best thing you can do is get back to work and get it out of your mind. Maybe thats what Derrick needs to do. Just stop thinking and play basketball. 

Go back to basics. He needs to stop putting this pressure on himself and just go to work and not think about yesterday. 

That is what he will figure out in due time that he's not always going to play like game one in Boston. Derrick you just need to believe in yourself and ignore what people are saying. 

I thought this was a very telling quote... 

"(My friends) are just telling me to go out there and play. They said it seems like I'm not happy out there. I'm definitely happy we're winning. But they said it doesn't seem like me out there."

So in other words you're happy the team is winning but your not happy by how you're playing? I wish KC would have followed up and dug deeper. Why isn't Rose happy? I have noticed the same things during games. That he seems disconnected or like his mind is in another place. Maybe this is Derrick when he frustrated? He hides his emotions and I don't think thats good for the young fellow. Is it just the ankle thats holding Rose back or is it his mind? Is he getting into his own head? Maybe he's not gelling with his teammates? I feel like he built this image of himself that maybe isn't seen behind closed doors. I feel like there is something more to the story than just Derrick Rose's ankle and conditioning. 

Sometimes the biggest battle is inside your own mind. Lets hope thats all it is. 

So i just typed this big long msg about what i'd do as the bulls GM but i LOST IT and i'm pissed so i'm just going to give my ideas...

1. Sign Iverson.  Need scoring.  only a 1 year, league min contract. 

2. Trade Ty Thomas, Jerome James, + unprotected pick for David West.  Need a solid PF that can play in pick and roll with d-rose.  decreasing contract only 8.2 next year. 

Lineup:

PG - Rose

SG - Iverson

SF - Deng

PF - West

C - Noah

Bench - Hinrich (PG, SG), Salmons (SG, SF), Miller (C), Gibson (PF), Pargo (only foul trouble).

with iverson, salmons (if he opts out), hunter, pargo, gray, and miller coming off the books they will still have like 20 mil to sign player. 

what do u think? 

Poll

Would you want Allen Iverson on the Bulls?

• Yes
• No

  88 votes | Results

The main concerns over Rose last season was that he was not getting to the line enough and his midrange game was weak.  The midrange game was going to be a concern coming in, since this was not his strong suit at Memphis.

This year, the big concern currently is lack of attacking the rim and consequently not getting to the line enough.  The midrange game seems to have improved.  I am hoping I can ease everyone's concerns a bit, although probably not entirely.

All stats were taken from draftexpress.com and are the per-40 minutes pace adjusted stats, just so everything is as equal as we can get it.

Let's look at Wade.  In his final year at Marquette, Wade averaged 9.2 FTA (again, per 40, pace adjusted).  His first year in the NBA, he averaged only 6 (still good), but every year after that has been right at or even well above 10FTA!  My contention is that he was not getting the calls his rookie year and once he started getting the calls, his FTA were much closer to his college stats.

Again, let's look at Devin Harris.  His last year at Wisconsin he averaged 8.2FTA.  Harris rookie year in the NBA was nowhere near this, but he is now up in the 9 to 10 FTA range!  Again, it took him some time to figure out how to draw fouls in the NBA.

Rose was only at 6.7 FTA at Memphis, but this is still much higher than where he is now.  I believe Rose will learn how to get to the line, it just takes time.  Once his ankle heals, I think we will begin to see the improvements seen in many other NBA players.  He is still young and still learning.

[Thanks to enemy combatant pookeyguru for today's game preview. I'm not sure yet how the 9pm CST start times will throw off my recappin' game, but it likely will somewhat. -ed.]

Tonight is a battle of 2 teams at different paths in their journey. The Kings started out 1-3 before Kevin Martin was sidelined with a fractured left wrist, and subsequently had surgery, before winning the last 4 games to end up at 5-4. (None of this mentions that Francisco Garcia fractured his shooting wrist lifting weights on a physioball.) The Bulls have had their own fun share with injuries (Tyrus Thomas) so far, but have managed their own 5-4 start. I was told I could not make fun of Brad Miller writing this preview. (Boo!) However, it's clear Miller is happier in Chicago than he was in Sacramento at the end of his stay, and the early returns of Andres Nocioni in Sacramento have worked out pretty well all told. The stars of the Kings team are Tyreke Evans and Jason Thompson (especially since Kevin Martin went down), which makes this matchup more intriguing.

 

If I haven't lost you by now, see you after the jump. Also, I apologize for the length of this in advance.

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