Bulls 10-11

[Dan Michler]

Just to change things up. I can't take talking about the conference finals anymore. It has been disappointing on so many levels. Even if the Bulls lose tonight it has been a good season. More than I had expected when it started.

Looking into the future. The Bulls have no cap room to sign anyone significant in the off season. After the lockout the cap will shrink.

Would you trade Noah, Gibson, and the pick from Charlotte for Dwight Howard?

Thats an easy one.  Yes, obviously.  I love Noah, but if you have the chance to trade 4 quarters for a dollar bill, you take it every time.

I agree, there isn't likely to be a bigtime pickup at the 2 guard this offseason.  I think the Bulls come back with essentially the same team.  Its a team that won 62 games and was 1 free throw from being tied up 2-2 in the ECF, so I'm not too upset about that. 

We'll see how the salary cap situation shakes out, but the Bulls are paying Boozer $15M/year through 2015, Deng $13M/year through 2014, Noah $13M/year through 2016, and we'll have to start paying Rose max money starting 2013.  So, barring a trade of Noah or Deng, a major acquisition of a 2 guard is not likely.  Bottom line:  I'm committed to rooting for this core of players for the forseeable future.  Considering the depths we went to after 1998, it could be a lot worse. 

[Dan Michler]

That was a kick to the groin to end the year.  Felt like I got punched in the stomach.  With Deng, Noah, and Boozer all collecting their 4th fouls mid-way through the 3rd quarter, I was waiting for the Heat run that finally did come.

The Bulls will be back and they will be better and more experienced.  While everyone was talking about the time it would take for the Heat to gel as a team, nobody seemed to realize the Bulls had just acquired pretty much the entire team in the offseason, other than Rose/Noah/Deng.  Throw in the fact that Noah and Boozer were barely on the floor together until the postseason because of injuries.  I think the turf toe took alot away from Boozer the last month.

Rose is 22, Deng 26, Noah 26, Boozer 29.  This team has what it takes.  It would've been great to win it all in the 1st season with this team.  It didn't happen, but they got close enough to taste it.  I can't wait for next season.

[pdga#7648]

Dallas in 6!

[Dan Michler]

Dallas in 6!

You think so?  Like most of America, I would love to see that.  Should be interesting.  If Dallas can keep shooting the ball the way they have been, Miami is going to have to score to win.  If they let Bosh cover Dirk alone, Dirk should have his way.  I would assume Dirk will see a lot of double teams though, which should leave a lot of 3 pt opportunites for Terry, Kidd, and company. 

Miami won't see anything like the defense they just played against with Chicago.  Points will be easier to come by.  A lot of intersting matchups in this series.  Both teams riding a major high coming in.

[pdga#7648]

I have said before the Bulls/Miami series started that both those teams wouldn't beat Dallas. And yes, I still think that way.
Dirk is determined to win his 1st title. He has a team around him to help support him. Bulls really didn't have anyone to step up when Rose was down, other than Deng. Like you said, Dirk will see alot of double teams, which means open 3's for a good 3 shooting team.

Miami will get titles, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it is going to be this year. But who knows? I thought the Bulls would handle them this year!

[Dan Michler]

Just read this article on ESPN, with Kareem giving his analysis of the greatest of all-time in response to Pippen stating LeBron might take the crown from Jordan.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6613625

I get so annoyed at stuff like this.  Kareem is such an idiot!  He suggested Wilt is the greatest scorer of all-time and Russell the greatest player of all-time. 

Wilt averaged 50 pts and 25 rebounds in 1962.  Pretty amazing right!  Well yeah, but not nearly as amazing as Kareem seems to think.  Consider that Wilt's Warriors averaged around 140-150 possessions (they scored 125 ppg and gave up 123 ppg) per game at that time.  Today's game features around 95 possessions per game.  Thats 50% more chances to score and grab rebounds!  Wilt took 40 shots a game that year!  And lets not even begin to talk about his 100 point game where his team spent the final 18 minutes fouling the other team to make sure they could get the ball back as quickly as possible to get Wilt his 100 points.  Any stats from this era (such as Oscar Robertson averaging a triple double) need to be taken with a giant grain of salt.

[Tom McManus]

I am glad I stayed up late and watched the end of that game last night.

[pdga#7648]

pre mature celebration from LeBron & Wade!   outscored 22-5 down the stretch.

I LOVED IT!

[Dan Michler]

Note to Coach Thibodeau:

Double LeBron on the perimeter and try to deny him any involvement in the offense.  This is what teams do to Rose to make things tough on the Bulls.  Make D.Wade beat you.  Thats how you beat the Heat.  Wade is a great scorer, but he is not the creator that LeBron is.  Last night the Heat jacked up 30 pt attempts because of their stale half-court offense.  In the Bulls series, the Heat never attempted more than 15 in any of the 5 games. 

In each the Heat wins, LeBron was huge, not only scoring but getting their whole team involved.  He makes the game easier for everyone when he has the ball in his hands.  The Bulls solo covered LeBron with Deng all series until LeBron was in the paint, allowing him to create offense.   Deng did a commendable job, but this isn't a winning strategy. 

Had the Heat offense settled for 3's like that at any point in the Bulls series, we may be discussing Game 2 of Bulls/Mavs right now.

[pdga#7648]

Dallas in 6!

bump

[pdga#7648]

keep shooting like this Mavs bench.  If it ends tonight, I win $100.00

[pdga#7648]

hell yes Dallas.   

[Dan Michler]

Good call on the series Doug.  I'm still sore about the Bulls defeat, but tonight felt good seeing Miami lose.  It was good to see Dallas and Dirk get a title after the controversial '06 Finals defeat and the brutal 1st round exit the year Dirk won MVP and Dallas was the top seed.  Terry won that game for them, that is for sure.  He's the exact type of player the Bulls are missing.

So, what the hell happened to LeBron?  It defies explanation.  Dallas' defense was not THAT good.  If LeBron didn't already have $100M in the bank, you would think he threw the series.  It wasn't so much that he sucked, it was more like he didn't even TRY.  Numerous times he got a head of steam going toward the bucket and then would slow down and look to dump it off.  Rarely did he get to the line.  Other than Game 1, his facial expression was pretty much listless at all times.  He was exactly the opposite of the LeBron who decimated the Chicago Bulls a few weeks ago.  And he was exactly like the LeBron that went down without a fight last year against Boston.  Just a wierd player.  He just put a stamp on his reputation with that performance.  It will take a title and a Finals MVP award to change it.

[pdga#7648]

he is for sure NOT the finisher MJ was or that Kobe is!  he averaged 2.4 points in the 4th quarter of those Finals! piss poor!

[Dan Michler]

Was looking at the list of free agents this offseason.

I know the Bulls don't have a ton of cap room, but I'm wondering if Rodney Stuckey is a realistic option if Detroit doesn't resign him after they just drafted Brandon Knight.  The only thing the Bulls are missing is that 1 extra guy who can create off the dribble and score consistently in isolation.  Stuckey could fill that role and he's still only 25.  I would think he might come at a bargain rate considering the problems he had with coaching/management in Detroit.

The other FA who fits this mold would be Jamal Crawford, but it would be hard to get excited about him.

[pdga#7648]

Monta Ellis. I have heard the Bulls will seek to sign him. He will be a huge plus if DRose was to get hurt. and this dude can drop 30pts. on any given night.

[Dan Michler]

Monta Ellis. I have heard the Bulls will seek to sign him. He will be a huge plus if DRose was to get hurt. and this dude can drop 30pts. on any given night.

Doug, I was getting my list of free agents from here.  http://www.cbssports.com/#!/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/30283991

Monta isn't a free agent, but I have also heard that Golden State is likely to trade either him or Steph Curry, since they both do pretty much the same thing on the floor.  Ellis would be more likely because of his age.  I was thinking more down-to-earth options, but he would be a monster addition to our team if that was possible.  If we could pull that off without giving up Noah, I'd be all for it.

[pdga#7648]

yea, maybe I was reaching way above the bar, but when I heard talk of Ellis as a Bull,I guess I got excited, and didn't really listen(imagine that huh)  But it may take someone like him, to help next year, cause like it or not, Miami will be back and ready next year. I hate em, but they will be the team to beat, besides the Bulls.

[Dan Michler]

yea, maybe I was reaching way above the bar, but when I heard talk of Ellis as a Bull,I guess I got excited, and didn't really listen(imagine that huh)  But it may take someone like him, to help next year, cause like it or not, Miami will be back and ready next year. I hate em, but they will be the team to beat, besides the Bulls.

It might not be that unrealistic.  The problem is that the Bulls major trade assets don't make very much money (Taj, Asik, Brewer), and the guys we'd like to acquire make a lot of money.  I think the money needs to be close to equal in any potential trade for the Bulls to stay under the post-lockout cap.  I don't think anybody is going to be willing to take on Boozer's contract, unless we are getting a bad contract in return (like a Gilbert Arenas).

[Mike Clark]

The Bulls have around 4-5mil under the cap if it stays the same. So that is how much they could absorb in a trade. They are only losing 3 players who did really matter that much. Kurt Thomas being the only one that mattered. So they are in pretty good shape.

No Jason Richardson love? He is the best available free agent shooting guard. I think he would take a mid-level exception, 5.5mil, for a shot to win a title.

Arron Afflalo is another good choice for the Bulls. I think he is going to demand top dollars cause he is so young and has a big upside. I do not think the Bulls can afford him under the cap. But I do not see why Denver would not resign him.

I do not think Monte Ellis is a good fit for this team. He is one of those players who can score on a bad team. He is a ball hog who takes a lot of shots to get his point. Remember when Jalen Rose was a Bull. He is a younger Jalen Rose. Maybe not that bad but Ellis' stats are misleading.

The Bulls didn't want anything to do with JR Smith the first time they had him. But that was with Scott Skiles. I am not a fan but he is a good player. Just has a bad attitude.

The Bulls actually have two very good trade pieces available. The kid they drafted from Spain and the Bobcats protected pick, Tyrus Thomas trade, that is unprotected in 2016. But that does not help them match any dollars.