Holding pattern

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 17, 2007 10:55 PM CST in News Comment 44 comments

I'm still in wait-and-be-pissed mode with this team. Nothing inspiring coming from that game against the Knicks, except perhaps some giggling at Eddy Curry's expense. (His contract is uninsured, you nits, nobody's trading for it.)

So not much for news, the Bulls are doing just enough to preserve Skiles' job, yet not nearly enough to give the fanbase (unless you're really reaching) any confidence. December 15th came and went, so now the entire roster is eligible to be traded. But major upgrades won't be available yet, and that's the only type of deal Paxson should consider (although here's a non-major trade that's my new pet idea: half-year rental of Corey Maggette).

There is also the continuing story that Thomas and Noah will never see the court together. Not 'stabilizing' enough (also stable: a toilet before flushing). Just the kind of demoralizing talk that has me expecting some spot minutes with Griffin guarding Kobe Bryant Tuesday night.

Griffin's calming influence will then cause jerkos to chant for Bryant, and Jay Mariotti to not be able to stand up for a few minutes afterwards.

(I'll be much sunnier if they win, promise)

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I'll be much sunnier if they win, promise

I'd be sunny if they'd just get out of whatever this funk is that they're in and win a streak of 4 or 5 games....give us SOME reason for optimism...

Would it help if I asked for Christmas?

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 18, 2007 12:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Griffin guarding Kobe

Ugh...
I'm only hoping that because you mentioned it Matt, it'll have reverse effect and that WON'T happen.
How Griffin is on this team ahead of ANYONE Pax that let go is dumb-founding...

Is it spring training yet?

by Bluelou on Dec 18, 2007 12:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you know me, you knew this was coming....

If kirk hinrich gets another tripple double tomaro, even if the bulls lose, is that a sign of encouragement????

im trying hard to become the next kirk hinrich, therefore im doing nothing more than being the next chris duhon.

by piccolomair on Dec 18, 2007 1:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

...perhaps some giggling at Eddy Curry's expense.

You say expense. I say expanse.

Ita est, ita sit. ("It is what it is." c1650--Arnold Geulincx)

by alec on Dec 18, 2007 8:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Eddy's new theme song

by Hiryu on Dec 18, 2007 9:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For some reason

this really made me laugh.

by Jaina on Dec 18, 2007 5:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

December 15th

Did come and go, didn't it?

by Option27 on Dec 18, 2007 9:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hey...

i did not pay $220 to go watch AG guard Kobe and get smoked...they better win tonight! And i swear i am starting t think that giving Gray some of Wallaces minutes can not harm the team. Since BW is pretty dead on offense, and nowdays on D too, u might as well put Gray in and get at least some offensive productivity if nothing else!

by Gogiman on Dec 18, 2007 10:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thabo ?

Is he still on the team? If he really is a SF, I don't see him getting much playing time with this roster. Two many guys can play SF, some better than others, (deng, noc,thomas, ag, viktor,nichols).

Bulls might as well cuts this loss and trade him for a draft pick or something?

by exult463 on Dec 18, 2007 10:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

or package him in a deal for Maggette

(I'm trying to say it enough until it winds up in a Sam Smith column)

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 18, 2007 10:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thabo will push Ross for minutes

The least exciting playing time competition of all time.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 18, 2007 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

I like the idea ..

"pet idea: half-year rental of Corey Maggette"

He can slash, one more slasher and finisher would help. Hopefully he could help draw defenders inside for this strong emphasis Bulls shooting team.

by exult463 on Dec 18, 2007 10:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, doesn't he get to the line

like crazy? Another element just absent from this Bulls team generally.

"Duhon, don't make that garbage-time jumper... Save it for the next game!"

by bullhockey on Dec 18, 2007 1:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i honestly forgot

that viktor was on the team...he's absolutely buried over there. Oh well.

Just because the 15th has come and gone doesn't mean that nothing will get done...it's only the 18th. It's not like it was the trade deadline. I think the thought of the so-called brain trust is to wait and see how they finish out December and possibly early Jan.

If they still stink by early Jan something would obviously have to be done.

Apparently, Lu just passed Ben for team scoring lead...so I expect Skiles to pull a dumb move sooner or later with regards to Ben.

by ScottieCartwright on Dec 18, 2007 11:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Can't we

pull off a trade for someone better then Corey Meggette? He's a bit too inconsistent for me and we already have that in Gordon.

Let's work something out for Joe Johnson. Gordon, TT, and Thabo should do it.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 18, 2007 11:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Joe Johnson? jeez...a month ago

some thought that would be enough to get Kobe. Bulls roster sinks lower by the hour.

Ita est, ita sit. ("It is what it is." c1650--Arnold Geulincx)

by alec on Dec 18, 2007 11:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

sure about that?

There are like, salary rules, man.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 18, 2007 11:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

why not give away the whole team for nothing?

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 18, 2007 11:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Considering

Tyrus Thomas will seemingly never get a chance with Scott Skiles to log significant minutes compounded with the fact that Thabo sucks I don't see this is that lop sided a trade. Gordon will most likely command a contract somewhere around 6 million per, unless he signs a one year contract. Regardless, Joe Johnson has 3 years left on his deal at 14 mill per. I definitely see this as financially possible.

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 18, 2007 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

huh?

Then fire the coach. High lottery picks aren't easy to come by. Whistle blowing blowhards are. The trade machine is up and running, and the trade doesn't work (plus the Bulls would be over the cap). Gordon turned down 10 million a year, and even if he doesn't play as well as last season 6 is just way too low.

re: your other bogus point
Maggette and Johnson aren't the same player, but their impact is probably the same. Johnson is more expensive, and doesn't change the jump shooting problem. +/- rating has not been kind to Johnson this season; there are 3 Hawks regulars way ahead of him.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 18, 2007 12:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

For arguements sake

You mentioned the Bulls being over the salary cap.

According to the ESPN draft machine: They need to cut $648,192 from the incoming trade value to make this trade successful.

You're telling me Atlanta couldn't pay that amount of Johnson's salary to make the trade happen?

by RogersPark Kris on Dec 18, 2007 2:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll tell you

they can give the Bulls cash but it doesn't count in the 'trade figure'.

so, no.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 18, 2007 2:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not unless

the NBA suddenly changes the rules about trades.

Money isn't an option. That's baseball.

by CrashDavis on Dec 18, 2007 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

The Hawks need another 6-9 power forward. For sure.

Let us prepare for glory! --Michael Redd

by tyger1147 on Dec 18, 2007 12:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I said as a 'non-upgrade' move

you can go after Maggette.

Meaning he wouldn't (likely) cost anyone of real value (Hinrich/Gordon/Deng/Thomas/Noah), guys that I'd only trade for a much better starting option (I suppose Joe Johnson counts)

something like Thabo/Duh/Veektor. Sign a pg off the street and play Gordon there more. If you want to get creative, work on getting Cassell too.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 18, 2007 12:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey now, no worries.

We picked up Curry again. All of our problems are solved.

by givepaxahug on Dec 18, 2007 11:51 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I hope it doesn't

get ugly for the Bulls.

I really wouldn't mind if they lose but show some semblance of team playing.

If they play horribly bad. Do expect me to start the "we want Kobe" chants in section 214.

by Outsidergua on Dec 18, 2007 12:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Moved Diary

(Moved on grounds of not being especially new ground, or well written.)

Trades, rants and chants
By Thirdrock

The reason we are making these

bogus trade suggestions,

new and improved Kobe chants,

fire skiles rants.....

is because Pax screwed up on a couple deals earlier. I honestly thought (and still do) that we should have kept Chandler. Not only that, but the lack of a scoring PF, would have been handled by keeping LaMarcus Aldridge. If you look at the scoring punch(line)we have with Big Ben, Tyrus, and Noah, you would understand why people are calling for skiles head, or kobe's game, or trading our good players for marginally better, if that, players.

Basically, it is not Skiles' fault this team is underachieving. Blame Pax....

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 18, 2007 1:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hindsight is 20/20

I know that's a big cliche, but it's really appropriate for this post. Where we these complaints last year when the Bulls swept the defending champion Miami Heat out of the playoffs? The moves criticized here looked good 7 months ago.

Also, it's way too early to pick on Noah; I don't recall TT getting as much playing time by this point last year, and he turned in a decent rookie season.

Anyway, the moves are made and can't be taken back - this is water under the bridge. The emphasis should be on what can Pax do going forward to improve the team. Pax should try to acquire a bigger 2 than BG, but most of this awful season is on the players.

Why do we often blame Skiles for not playing Tyrus? Can't we equally blame Tyrus for not doing what he's asked to get the playing time? BG, Hinrich, Big Ben, & Deng started horribly and played well below their career averages.

With a young team such as the Bulls have, improvement of the players should be expected. It simply hasn't happened.

Wrecked 'em? Damn near killed 'em!

by mdmnd9294 on Dec 18, 2007 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree it is too late to get Chandler back.

However, you would like to learn from your mistakes. Does Skiles do something that makes it hard for young guys to develop? Were we all too critical of Chandler while he was here? I just don't want to make the same mistake with TT, Noah and even Aaron Gray.

by chgobr on Dec 18, 2007 2:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Development under Skiles

Kirk, Deng, Duhon, Nocioni, Gordon

It's entirely phony to suggest that young talent cannot develop under Scott Skiles.

Tyrus can't help this team a lot on offense in half court sets. He must lead the break or spark it with great defense to really contribute offensively.

by NBA Observer on Dec 18, 2007 2:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

kirk, ben, deng, noce and duhon have NOT

Improved seriously. What can kirk do now that he couldn't do at kansas? BG looks a shell of himself from 04. Deng has improved but has not even reached half his potential. He could sink 18 footers coming out of Duke. If BG and Deng work sooo hard during the offseason and not improving whose fault is that. When I watch Caron Butler, Josh Howard, sean williams, brandon roy, and numerous others players improving daily I wonder why TT and Thabo regress. Why Deng or Gordon still can't dribble to save their life and why hinrich hasn't learned how to "foul professionally"? Could it be because skiles/staff aren't teaching effectively.

by Blacknight23 on Dec 18, 2007 3:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

huh?

If BG and Deng work sooo hard during the offseason and not improving whose fault is that.

Their fault. They shoot the basketball. They pass the basketball. They defend the rim.

Funny that you mention Roy since he plays for a coach that was run out of Seattle because of his methods of teaching.

by NBA Observer on Dec 18, 2007 3:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mistakes...

I agree that you must learn from your mistakes, but the only reason these moves look like mistakes is that the players are playing way below their career averages. It's not black and white. When the players acquired were playing as expected last year, and even this year when they match last year's performance, they don't look like mistakes.

(Before the inevitable Wallace comment is made, I'll concede that he is dropping off his averages. This was expected at some point, but I don't think quite so soon. If he can't give you 10 boards per game, he's probably not giving you as many "intagnibles" as he has in the past, which is disappointing.)

In addition to Hinrich, Noce, Deng, Gordon, etc., I don't think Skiles coaching has hurt the development of Noah & Gray (though it is early). I think Noah has been exactly what was expected.

Now, a good surprise would be nice now and then, as in a guy being better than expected.

"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany." - Ron Burgundy

by mdmnd9294 on Dec 18, 2007 3:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Aldridge vs Thomas

It's ironic that Portland is playing so much better with Aldridge injured and Joel Przybilla getting his minutes.

Href="http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-28-404">

That's the same Joel Przybilla that this blog community was universally against signing before we signed Ben Wallace.

Sorry about the lack of a link, but I seem to be doing something wrong.

Ye OldeBull

by OldeBull on Dec 18, 2007 4:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hereya go (be on 'auto format')

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-28-404

Przybilla aint bad when he's healthy. Aldridge seems like a box-score-hero, but I'll wait and see.

I know my usual deflection re: Aldridge is that Skiles wouldn't have played him either, but now we all are learning that Skiles loves jump-shooting big men who don't rebound, so Aldridge would fit right in.

by your friendly BullsBlogger on Dec 18, 2007 4:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In retrospect, we probably should have

know all along. Skiles played Cliff Robinson and Rodney Rodgers as much as he could in Phoenix. I wanted to believe that was just a product of playing the hand he was dealt, but that sure looks like wishful thinking now.

by Scotter on Dec 18, 2007 5:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Skiles managed to get Googs

in the mix too.

Officially a hater on Ballhype!

by hscs on Dec 18, 2007 5:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When he's healthy

is right. He's accident prone. But I wonder what the Bucks would have been like if they kept him and added Bogut.

And, btw, Aldrige is good when he's healthy, too. He and Roy both have foot issues that re-occur.

by KT on Dec 18, 2007 6:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I for one wasn't against signing Przybilla

back then. At the time I was arguing for signing Przybilla to split time with Chandler, instead of trying to throw money at Wallace. And I was upset with the Wallace signing at the time, given the price tag. Then I got over it and focused on the ways Wallace could help the team. I only say this to point out that there wasn't universal opinion back then. I don't really care about rehashing the past or who was right about Chandler or Aldridge or Brewer or even Joel Przybilla.

by Scotter on Dec 18, 2007 4:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs