Bulls 09-10

[Dan Michler]

This Bulls team has really stepped up their play in the playoffs the last 2 years.  Cleveland has dominated .500 teams all year and they have really had their hands full all series long.  Bulls were tied in the 4th qtr in Game 2 in Cleveland and we come away with a big W tonight.  Very happy with the effort.  You can tell they really believe they have a chance.  Perhaps D Wade will take notice??  I almost hope the Heat go down in flames despite my hatred for the Celts just to give Wade extra motivation to leave town.

[Mike Clark]

I am impressed with the way the young core has stepped up in the playoffs. Deng has started to play a little tougher. I thought he was a lost cause. Noah has stepped up big time. Rose just continues to get more impressive every game. I really hope the top free agents are watching the Bulls/Cavs series. The Bulls are 1 top scorer away from being a serious contender in the league. I am looking forward to seeing Bosh on this team next year.

[Dan Michler]

I'm bummed there are no more games this season. It was a fun season to watch other than that 10 game losing streak with Rose, Deng, Hinrich, and Noah on the bench.  They really played the Cavs tough, coming back from 9 down with 3 min to play.  A couple bounces our way and we win that game and force a game 6 in Chicago.  Gotta give the Bulls credit for the determination to keep coming back against a superior team on the road.

Looking forward to next season....

[pdga#7648]

they need to make some kind of move this offseason, like you said before. If they could get Wade, they will win a playoff series next year. But yes, all in all, it was a great season. 2 years back 2 back playoffs is a step in the right direction for these youngsters.
Keep your heads up Chicago fans. Rose will have this team clicking plenty of years to come!

[Mike Clark]

I hope all Bulls fans are pulling for the Celtics tonight.

If the Cavs lose tonight I think there is a 75% chance that LeBron is leaving Cleveland.

If LeBron leaves Cleveland I think the Bulls are the front runners to get him.

1. Best supporting cast available. Rose, Noah, Deng, Gibson. Plus enough money to put together a really good bench.
2. Best sports market in the country. Jordan proved that.
3. He grew up a Bulls fan.
4. He plans on changing his jersey number from 23 in honor of Jordan or is it because that number will not be available when he comes to the Bulls.
5. He wants Jordan's number retired trough out the league.
6. He wants to win more championships than Jordan did. What better place to do it than his childhood team?

In my mind if LeBron leaves Cleveland it is a done deal. Now hopefully it will happen in reality.

Support the cause. Check out http://sendlebrontochicago.com/

[Dan Michler]

Don't you have some serious question marks about LeBron's desire to win?  He really hasn't seemed all that bothered by the loss in Game 5 and wasn't at all bothered by the blowout in Game 1.  His comment after his abysmal Game 5 performance, "I've spoiled people with my play.  When you only have 3 bad games in 6 years, they are easy to point out."  Seriously LeBron?  Can you imagine Michael Jordan saying that?  I remember situations like this with Jordan's Bulls and Jordan would flat out say the team sucked and we need to play better the next game or we're going home.  I remember Larry Bird calling his teammates a bunch of girls after an embarrassing playoff defeat.  There was no question how bothered Bird or Jordan were by losing and there was no question about how far they would go to win.  There is definitely questions about LeBron.  Perhaps once it settles in that his 'image' is going to ultimately be tarnished if he can't get it done in the playoffs, then he'll step up.  He's only 25 and might undergo some personality changes in the coming years, but the guy is definitely motivated by different things than a Jordan, Bird, Tim Duncan, or Steve Nash.

That being said....PLEASE come to Chicago LeBron!!!!!!!!!!!   Tonight is a big moment in the career and legacy of LeBron James.  It'll be interesting to see which way this thing goes.

[pdga#7648]

LeBron a Bull?  Man would that be an exciting lift to that franchise. Can he and Rose play together is my only question.
Calipari coming to be the head coach? He coached Rose at Memphis, and has a great relationship with LeBron. This is shaping up to be the best early Christmas present Chicago fans have ever seen.  Is it to good to be true though? All the talk has Chicago the front runner to land him. 

[pdga#7648]

The latest talk making the rounds regarding Chicago is that the Bulls could be the best fit because they already have a top-tier point guard in Derrick Rose and an athletic big man in Joakim Noah, plus they have a coaching vacancy that could conceivably end up being filled by John Calipari, who is extremely close to both Rose and James confidante William Wesley. The Bulls did make a head-scratcher of a trade when they gave away John Salmons and their No. 1 pick to Milwaukee at the trading deadline, but the deal gave them the flexibility to have max money available this summer. Yes, James would have to play the next several years in the shadow of Michael Jordan, but the generation that is as old or younger than James (25) has more vivid memories of Jordan as a Wizard, or as owner of the Bobcats, than they do of him winning six titles for the Bulls

[tacimala]

I hope LeBron goes to NYC or the Clippers only so I can get back to watching good basketball without the sound of the announcers trying to blow LeBron every time he touches the basketball.

[pdga#7648]

are you sure about that Taylor? I sure you would sing a different tune if he was to sign in Detroit 

[tacimala]

Nope, I've said for years I wouldn't want that to happen. I honestly prefer team basketball much more so than stardom. Big dunks and pats on the back from refs are fun to watch if that's your team, sure, but it's much more exciting when the little guys on a team are making the star plays simply because they executed well. The Pistons team that won the championship in 2004 and continued to play together over the next few years is arguably the best TEAM in NBA history. (Yes, I know my opinion is worth about as much as anyone else's and just as biased as anyone else's) The Bulls when they went 72-10 is definitely a big part of that argument and tough to compare on some levels.

[Chainmeister]

Tayor, no question that 2004 team played outstanding team ball and had no true superstar. They have a handful of selfless stars.  However, the 1980's Celtics, or any of the Russell led Celtics from the 60's would be the template for team ball.  The boring but perennial Spurs teams led by Duncan were a great team. They are still a pretty good team. The Knicks teams w/Walt Fraizer were a great example of team ball.  The Bulls team that never got to the top with Van Lier and Sloan et all played great team ball.  They had no superstar but a roster of team oriented stars.

[pdga#7648]

I see your point. I really don't know if LeBron knows what a team game is. In high school he was the Stud, and that has carried over to the NBA. That is why I originally asked, can he and Rose play together?? Your taking Rose's game away from him if LeBron comes to Chicago. And Rose is why the Bulls have made the playoffs 2 years in a row. Maybe LeBron takes them to the next level, but then again maybe not. But to see him in a Bulls uniform would almost for sure make them a higher seed in the playoffs than an 8 seed. But until he does learn, that you need a team to win championships, he will struggle at persuing his ultimate goal. MJ had Pippen, Paxson, Grant Cartwright, Rodman, Lakers had Magic, Kareem, Worthy, McAdoo, Celtics had too many to name, Pistons had Thomas, Dumars ,Laimbeer, Rodman. 1 guy wont win a title.

But to argue your point...... 72-10 says it all Sir! Pretty sure they never lost back to back games that year.    

[Dan Michler]

This is an interesting argument.  I advise you to read The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons.  Came out last year and much of the book is spent discussing this exact topic as it releates to the history of the NBA.

The formula for winning multiple titles.  You need 1 dude that is your unquestioned alpha dog.  For the Bulls it was Jordan, the Pistons had Isiah, Bird and Bill Russell with the Celts, Magic with the Lakers, etc.....

You fill in around that guy with with at least 1 other all-star caliber scorer/defender and other players who are committed to the team  (especially to playing defense!) and understand who the alpha dog is.  That doesn't mean you can't have all-stars/hall of famers as your supporting players (Pippen, Worthy, McHale, Parish for example), but there can be no question as to who the alpha dog is.

Perfect example:  Shaq was the unquestioned alpha dog of the Lakers in the early part of the last decade.  The team looked capable of winning 8 consecutive titles if they stuck to what worked.  Of course, this did not sit well with Kobe.  As we all know, LA had to ditch Shaq to keep Kobe who wanted to be the unquestioned hero of the Lakers, which ended that dynasty.

I have no clue where LeBron is going and quite frankly have grown completely weary of hearing about it.  If he does come to Chicago, I don't forsee friction between Rose and James at this point in Rose's career.  Rose would be the all-star caliber support (Mo Williams is a long way from being Derrick Rose) currently does not have.  I see that team meshing quite well at first.  That doesn't mean that after experiencing success there wouldn't be some yearning for more stardom that could lead to team strife as in the Shaq/Kobe Lakers situation.  If say, D Wade and LeBron hooked up on a team (2 alpha dogs), I would put serious question marks on how long that situation would stay healthy.  I'd predict 1 title followed by trade demands and team feuds.

Either way, Bulls fans would be crazy not to want James right now.  He is completely self-absorbed and annoys the hell out of me, but I could learn to like the guy if he's winning titles in Chicago.  Say what you want, he's the best player in the NBA.

Now lets wait til July 1st before we continue this speculation game.

[pdga#7648]

well put Dan, but I would like to say this before July 1st.
LeBron the best player in the NBA?? Seriously?? Okay maybe all together player, cause he scores, rebounds, and has the assists, but KOBE is a true WINNER. Put the game in his hands, and 9/10 times he will win that game. Clutch player as well as they come. LeBron can't say that, yet! Or he would still be in the playoffs. LeBron could be the next MJ, but for now, the titles speak very loud, he has to get better than Kobe to be like Mike!

[tacimala]

LeBron after 7 years is a better overall team value than Kobe after 7 years. Kobe has taken his team and his attitude to a new level in the past 3-4, so with the added experience it's a tough argument (and not even comparable). If LeBron can take a cue from Kobe and improve his team's confidence and competitiveness in the next 6, Kobe's stats will be a shadow in comparison. All except for the championships stat. Let's face it, Kobe made Luke Walton even look like he could play basketball (sometimes). That's saying something!

[Mike Clark]

I agree with everything Dan said except that LeBron is the best player.

LeBron and Rose would get along fine for at least a few years. Just like Shaq and Kobe did. It might only last until Rose is up for his first big contract but that is long enough to win a title or two.

The NBA is a star driven league. Even San Antonio and Detriot had their alpha-dog. They may not have stood out as much but they were there. I do not think to many players crossed Tim Duncan or Chauncy Billups.

I think the Mavericks and Suns are really good examples of teams that have not won championships because they do not have "THE GUY". A ton of talent but never could get over the hump. Seriously who would be intimidated by Dirk Nowitzki or Steve Nash. They are really good players, maybe great. But they do not have what it takes to get it done in the NBA.

IMO

LeBron is the most talented player in the NBA with the most potential. He is not a proven winner. He can carry a team to the finals. But has not carried them to a title.

Kobe is the best player in the league at the moment. He has the best combination of talent and winning. He can carry a team to a title and has.

To be the best in professional basketball you must win championships. In Baseball and Football you can find players that are the best at their position and play for really horrible teams most of their careers. Basketball not so much. Free agency has change that a bit for all sports but it still holds true for the most part. It is much easier to build a winning team in Basketball once you have a proven star than any other sport. The Celtics did it in 1 year with Garnett, Allen, and Pierce. If the Bulls sign LeBron and pull off a sign and trade for either Wade or Bosch they will be in the same position but a lot younger. Even if they just sign LeBron they are instant contenders for a title.

[tacimala]

http://wcwpsports.blogspot.com/2010/05/west-sleeping-with-lebrons-mom-reason.html

Hilarious if true!

[Dan Michler]

Thanks for the link Taylor.  Thats some good stuff.  LeBron's mom did have him when she was a teen, so she's probably perfect for the cougar hunting West....unreal.

I can't believe you guys are dragging me into this Kobe or LeBron argument.

As far as Payne's argument that Kobe is the best at the end of games.  Click on this link for production in clutch time and show me where Kobe was better than LeBron.  http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM 

As far as Kobe's titles go, give the Cavs Pau Gasol on a platter, throw in Bynum and Artest and LeBron would be winning titles too.  As for Kobe's first 3 titles....Shaq was the alpha dog.  Remember the Lakers post-Shaq and pre-Gasol?  They were not close to LeBron's Cavs.

I'm not a Kobe hater, he is the greatest scoring and defending 2 guard in the history of the game besides Jordan.  His best days are behind him.  The Lakers beat OK City despite Kobe's less than stellar performances.  In 2010, 25 year old LeBron is just plain better.

That being said, I'm pulling hard for the Suns since the Bulls were eliminated.  I love watching Nash.  I went to a Suns game in Phoenix in March.  You'd be hard pressed to find a fan base in any sport that is more behind a player.  I'm very jealous of Phoenix that they have gotten to watch a guy like that for the better part of a decade.  Hopeully Rose will develop into something similar.  Fingers crossed...........

[Dan Michler]

pretty good article here on this exact topic.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100514&sportCat=nba