Basically, if Duhon could score an efficient 15 ppg, it wouldn't be such a bad idea. I have little doubt that's what they were hoping Sefolosha could do.

So sure, a trade is needed, but in the sense that you'd always like to have better players.  To put it differently, I'm not at all sure the Bulls would be better off with Ricky Davis or Nate Robinson, each of whom could easily put up 15 points in a night.

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I think what's really being masked by the change is the improved play of Hinrich, who has 27 assists to 5 TOs since Boylan took over.  It's only 3 games of course, so we'll see if that trend continues.  I wonder if it's nothing, if it's due to Boylan, or even if it's due to some kind of problem these guys have with Gordon or vice versa.

The last thing asked of Chris Duhon is to score.  His role on this team has always been to slow the opposing offense, hit open three point attempts, and distribute the basketball.  If there is one guy that has performed his role this season it is Chris Duhon.  Is it a contract year again already?

The Magic are better on the road than at home and we pretty much could have taken the 12/31 game.  We cheated down again off three point shooters when it wasn't necessary and it cost us the game.

We did see how vital Ben Wallace is to winning in the the East.  If your front court cannot muscle Dwight Howard on the low block you don't stand a chance against the Magic.  Howard would have had 10 dunks if Ben Wallace didn't play.

My question isn't that we need an improvement but who is this going to be?  Bibby comes to mind but that would be quite a stretch.  I'm open to suggestions.

As far as the original comment on Gordon, I like Gordon's offensive ability, but he he still is a average, to below average ball handler and forces way too many shots. Not to mention a below aberage defender. I wish more of the Bulls players ( deng, not Noc ) had Gordon's fearlessness down the stretch. I can't believe Deng could not wait to pass the ball with Turkoglu guarding him. Take it to the hole on him before he does on you Deng!

Gordon is playing starter minutes, does it really matter that he's not involved in the early stages of the game? The 90's Bulls always started the game feeding Bill Cartwright but that never lasted past the initial 5 minutes. It was always Michael/Scottie when it came to crunch time.

Plus, if Du reverts back to mediocre play, it should open up time for Thabo.  Unfortunately, BG's inability to handle the ball necessitate Du playing at least 20 min/game.

God and Matt know I am normally loathe to read more meaning into a situation than appears on the surface, but just this once I'll attempt to slip slightly beneath.  

Here's what I think really happened in the private meeting between Boylan and Gordon.  Boylan pulled him aside and said, "Listen, Ben, I know this is a contract year for you, and you want to show the world you have a complete game.  You want to show you can take away the perimeter from the big shooting guards; you want to showcase your set-up skills, your no-look, behind-the-back passes; and you want to prove you can play the point, bring the ball up court, beat the press...but you know what?--All I care about is that you score.  I want you to just fire at will.  And to prove I mean it, I'm going to let Duhon and Kirk worry about defending, slowing down and throwing off the opposing guards at the start of the game.  Once those guys have established a defensive structure, I'll bring you in to demoralize them with your offense."

So the `pressure' that Boylan took off Ben was really the pressure Ben was putting on himself to play outside of his comfort zone.

The beneficent by-product of this plan is that it has coincidentally taken the pressure off Kirk to defend both guard spots simultaneously.  Now, he can leave one player in the capable Duhon's defensive hands, and only worry about his assignment.  Consequently, Kirk is playing more relaxed, too, and as a result, his natural game is coming Back to him.  

Nice job, Boylan.          

Or, if they start Duhon for 1 posession (tank the jump ball so it's a defensive one) before bringing in Gordon. That way we successfully tricked Gordon into 'bench player mode' with minimal damage to the team.