2008-2009 Bulls

[Dan Michler]

What a promising start to the season!

Rose looked solid for a rookie in his 1st game, 11 pts 9 ast.

6 guys in double digits and Tyrus Thomas looks like he might come into his own this year.

I like Hinrich/Gordon coming off the bench.  And the best stat was 44 free throws attempted.  Way too much jump shooting last year, if we can get to the line like that consistently, we can compete in the East.

Thank god we didn't get Oden!

[Dan Michler]

So Taylor,

What do you think of this Iverson trade?  If I were you I'd be pissed.  Billups is way too valuable to the Pistons.  They are panicking and trying to replicate what the Celtics did last year by bringing in an aging superstar.  This is a mistake.  It also breaks up the core of a team that has totally dominated the East for the entire decade.

[tacimala]

I'm not sure about it either. I was out of town all day today, just getting back and about to watch the game that just started. We'll see how they do tonight without Billups, Dyess and AI. It sounds like McDyess will be coming back to the Pistons in 30 days, so that makes me feel a little better.

I think that as long as AI can fit into the Detroit mentality of playing as a team and can still be the solid producer that he is, that this will be a good trade. Unfortunately the time has run out for the core of the team we have seen over the past 6 years. It does suck because it was great while it lasted but it can't last forever and I think that Joe D is trying to put them in a position to win this year (just like the last time he made a big trade...Sheed) before some more rebuilding starts.

[tacimala]

Well, after watching last night I think this will work out well. If the Pistons can put up 100 with a limited roster and look as good as they did, adding a proficient scorer like Iverson is only going to make it better. Chauncey was a great leader though, which is hard to lose, but AI has even more experience and can hopefully provide the same.

My opinion that the Central conference is already locked up hasn't changed, but after watching them last night, I think they will have the best record in the east. The playoffs are always a different story for any team, but they look really good.

[dana]

So Taylor,

What do you think of this Iverson trade?  If I were you I'd be pissed.  Billups is way too valuable to the Pistons.  They are panicking and trying to replicate what the Celtics did last year by bringing in an aging superstar.  This is a mistake.  It also breaks up the core of a team that has totally dominated the East for the entire decade.

They are making salary cap room for when Lebron becomes a free agent. 

[tacimala]

Yes, but I bet not for him.

[dana]

Oh really, who they making room for?

[Dan Michler]

I think D-Wade, Dirk, Amare and Yao are free agents in 2010 as well.

I can't see LeBron wanting to play for Detroit, but who knows.

Derrick Rose off to a surprisingly good start.  Just need Deng to start living up to his potential and maybe we can do something.

[tacimala]

Not trying to take over the thread with my pro-Pistons agenda, but to answer your question Dana - if I had to guess at one player becoming available that year I would say Chris Bosh. Move forward another year (I think only one year) and you have Dwight Howard. I disagree with Dan that LeBron wouldn't want to play for Detroit because he definitely wants to play for a team oriented club, but as long as he can still remain the focal point. He definitely has the focal point in Cleveland, but far from having a team. His top 3 teammates are the referees week after week, maybe Daniel Gibson rounds out the squad.

Rose definitely has looked pretty good, but the team has been fairly flat so far. Chicago should make the playoffs this year, but will want to be in the 4-6 slot range to have a shot.

[Dan Michler]

I think LeBron will be more interested in getting out of the Midwest completely and the defensive-oriented style of play.  I see him somewhere out West, unless he wants to go to a big market to maximize his earning potential, in which case maybe he goes to New York.

I don't think he has to worry about being the focal point anywhere he goes unless he teams up with Kobe.

[Dan Michler]

Bulls in the playoffs starting tomorrow at 11:30.  Maybe losing that last game to Toronto to fall to the 7 seed was a blessing.  No Garnett may give the Bulls a fighting chance against the Celts.  At the very least I think we can win a couple games and build confidence for next season.

We really need to improve defensively for next season.  Rose and Gordon are both minuses defensively in the backcourt, maybe its time to consider trading Gordon?  Rose will develop into an all around stud once he gets more experience and becomes a more intelligent player.  Liking Miller and Salmons.  Noah and Hinrich are good defensive role players.  We don't need Deng.  Thomas is a defensive presence inside (just PLEASE stop shooting 17 foot jumpers!).  I'd try to move Deng and Gordon and acquire a shooting guard who can defend next year.  Rose and Salmons can provide enough offense on a nightly basis if we can get our avg. points against down under 100.

[jack]

Gordon is a free agent after the season. He sought big money last year and didn't get it, eventually re-signing a 1-year deal. Couple the fact that half the teams in the NBA are borrowing money from the league due to the state of the economy with the fact that not a lot of teams (any team?) will be willing to commit a big-money long-term contract to an undersized shooting guard who CANNOT play the point, especially with the 2010 free-agent class on the horizon, and you're looking at Ben Gordon signing a mid-level exception and coming back next year. While his defense and ball handling leave much to be desired, he can provide instant offense. I'm not his biggest fan, but I wouldn't mind him coming off the bench when the Bulls go small. He's proven he can give you 20 points a game.

Sadly, the Bulls are stuck with Deng. Again, with the economy, you're not going to find anyone in the league willing to take on his contract. If he comes back healthy next year (big if), I think My Coach Vinny will move Salmons to the 2 and start Deng at 3. Thomas and Noah are showing signs of getting it, but I'm not sold on either one of them. Above all, I'd like to see the Bulls clear cap space next year and sign Bosh. He's widely regarded as being the most likely of the 2010 free agents to jump ship and he would provide the post presence the Bulls need.

As for the Bu'-Celtic tilt, Rondo, Allen, and Pierce are going to have a field day. The Bulls guards will have windburn by halftime. KG is a big loss, but it shouldn't matter in this series. Celts in 5.

[Dan Michler]

Good points.  Bosh would be a good fit.  Thomas at the 4 and Bosh at the 5 would alter alot of shots inside.  There wouldn't be playing time for both Noah and Miller.  If we could somehow get D Wade in 2010 and add him to our current team, I think we're an instant championship contender.

[tacimala]

Neither Bosh nor D Wade will be in Chicago in the "2010 draft".

Paxson should call up the Lakers to see about getting that Deng + Thomas trade for Kobe again. I'm sure the Lakers are still holding out for that one. I mean, the Bulls have had some great years with the Jordan era and what not, but I can't think of too many more GM's outside of Isiah Thomas that have made more bad decisions than Paxson, Kerr and Jordan since then.

[jdunk]

OVERTIME

[Dan Michler]

1-0!  i don't have my hopes too high, but thats a big win on the road.

[stpitner]

that was a fun 2nd period to watch - shamwow!

[dana]

I caught the end of the 4th and most of OT during my lunch break today, what a game!  Obviously Rose wowed us all, but Tire Russ (That is how they spelled his name when the captions were on) stepped it up big today.

[jack]

I can't think of too many more GM's outside of Isiah Thomas that have made more bad decisions than Paxson, Kerr and Jordan since then.

C'mon! The NBA is full of bad execs, bad deals, and bad draft picks. Paxson has had his share of them, but has every other GM. How'd that Billups for A.I. deal work out? Or drafting Darko in front of Anthony, Wade, Bosh, et al?

I'd say Kevin McHale (Garnett for Al Jefferson and some NBA retreds, OJ Mayo for Kevin Love) and Mark Cuban (Devin Harris for a washed-up Jason Kidd, being a general pain in the bum) are worse than Paxson. Ugh, not that I'm apologizing for Pax, he's done his fair share of bad deals, but turning Noc' into Brad Miller and John Salmons isn't one of them.

Am I the only one who thinks Vinny Del Negro looks like Luke Wilson? Come to think of it, Wilson might be the better basketball coach.

[tacimala]

Yes, those were great moves for sure, but more so speaking of the big picture here. Right now stock in Paxson is on the rise for sure. AI for Chauncey was a bum deal, but you don't make the Eastern Conference finals 6 straight years, playoffs 8 straight and win a championship under a bad GM. Dumars would probably be awarded the best GM for the past decade. The Darko pick will always be looked at as a bad pick, but not because the Pistons were bad, but more so because they could have been amazing instead of habitual finalists.