2010-2011 NBA Thread

[Balta1701]

You do not trade Noah (probably everyone on the Bulls favorite teammate) who is pretty much our only chance at stopping players like Howard, Bosh, Garnett, Perkins, etc.

It's not only that you don't trade him...it's that now, he's a BYC player because he signed a contract extension last year, so you almost can't trade him, unless the Nuggets are willing to take on a ton of extra money.

[southsider2k5]

He wants an extension. The reason he's pushing a trade is so he can sign with the team he wants to now, as opposed to waiting for the collective bargaining agreement. I don't blame him if he doesn't want to go to the Nets.

 

Carmelo has said and done all the right things as far as I'm concerned thus far and I'd love to have him on the Bulls.

 

You'd better believe that whatever team trades for him is going to have an extension as a part of his coming there.

[Jordan4life_2007]

There's not a damn thing we could offer Denver outside of Noah and Rose. This is not even worth wasting a half a second over. We have no draft picks, young players [and when I say young players I mean impact young players] to offer, and no expiring contracts. We are what we are for now. 50-win team who's absolute ceiling is the ECF's.

[southsider2k5]

There's not a damn thing we could offer Denver outside of Noah and Rose. This is not even worth wasting a half a second over. We have no draft picks, young players [and when I say young players I mean impact young players] to offer, and no expiring contracts. We are what we are for now. 50-win team who's absolute ceiling is the ECF's.

 

That's why three way deals are done. A team that comes to mind is Houston who was marketing the expiring deal of Yao.

[Rowand44]

There's not a damn thing we could offer Denver outside of Noah and Rose. This is not even worth wasting a half a second over. We have no draft picks, young players [and when I say young players I mean impact young players] to offer, and no expiring contracts. We are what we are for now. 50-win team who's absolute ceiling is the ECF's.

We appear to be a 50 win team with out one of our all star big men. I agree that we aren't going to get Melo but you need to slow down on declaring the ceiling of this team the ECF.

[Jordan4life_2007]

We appear to be a 50 win team with out one of our all star big men. I agree that we aren't going to get Melo but you need to slow down on declaring the ceiling of this team the ECF.

 

You know I respect your opinion at all times. But I see no scenario outside of Rose going '89 MJ that we could beat a healthy Celtics or Heat team.

[Balta1701]

You know I respect your opinion at all times. But I see no scenario outside of Rose going '89 MJ that we could beat a healthy Celtics or Heat team.

Until I see this team with a healthy Noah and a healthy Boozer...

[knightni]

Blake Griffin: Clipper For Life?

[Balta1701]

Blake Griffin: Clipper For Life?

Quick, someone get Blake Griffin in a celebrity death pool.

[Balta1701]

The Mavericks have quickly received a verbal commitment from the just-released Peja Stojakovic that he intends to sign with Dallas upon clearing waivers, according to sources close to the situation.

 

The Raptors formally waived Stojakovic on Thursday afternoon after completing a buyout of the 33-year-old's $15 million expiring contract.

 

Sources told ESPN.com that the Mavericks, meanwhile, are closing in on a separate trade with Toronto that would send little-used center Alexis Ajinca to the Raptors to create a roster spot for Stojakovic without having to let newcomer Sasha Pavlovic go. A trade call with the league office to secure final approval, originally scheduled for Thursday night, has been pushed back to Friday at the earliest, with Ajinca sent back to the team's hotel in Chicago after initially traveling to the United Center on the team bus for the Mavericks' game against the Bulls.

link

[southsider2k5]

The Bulls are the ultimate "play to your opponents level" team.

[chw42]

The Bulls are the ultimate "play to your opponents level" team.

 

It seems like this happens to all Chicago teams.

[Rowand44]

The Bulls are the ultimate "play to your opponents level" team.

They certainly have been as of late. Very good win tonight. Obviously Dallas isn't the same team with out Caron but beating any quality opponent with out Carlos and Joakim is certainly a plus.

[Dick Allen]

As bad as Luol Deng is according to just about everyone, and as great as Carmelo Anthony is according to just about everyone, its shocking to note Deng actually has a higher FG and 3 pt FG pct this season and averages about 6 points and 2 rebounds less than Anthony.

 

Don't think I don't know Anthony is the better player, but for as much as Deng gets blasted, it would be nice if once in a while, some people realize he really isn't the stiff he's portrayed to be.

[Rowand44]

Don't think I don't know Anthony is the better player, but for as much as Deng gets blasted, it would be nice if once in a while, some people realize he really isn't the stiff he's portrayed to be.

It's the contract that makes everyone jump down Luol's throat. He's still a bit too inconsistent of an offensive player for my liking but he's a very good defensive player and when he decides to show up offensively, the Bulls are tough to beat.

[Dick Allen]

It's the contract that makes everyone jump down Luol's throat. He's still a bit too inconsistent of an offensive player for my liking but he's a very good defensive player and when he decides to show up offensively, the Bulls are tough to beat.

I don't think the contract is really that bad. Other teams won't trade for him, but I think that has more to do with the uncertainty of the collective bargaining agreement and what the cap rules could be moving forward as opposed to a guy who is just vastly overpaid. If the same rules were guaranteed to be in effect the next 4 or 5 years, I don't think the Bulls would have a hard time finding a taker.

[Jordan4life_2007]

I don't think the contract is really that bad. Other teams won't trade for him, but I think that has more to do with the uncertainty of the collective bargaining agreement and what the cap rules could be moving forward as opposed to a guy who is just vastly overpaid. If the same rules were guaranteed to be in effect the next 4 or 5 years, I don't think the Bulls would have a hard time finding a taker.

 

Don't think anybody ever said he was a scrub. But when the 7th overall pick in the draft peaks in his third year, there's going to be criticism. Not to mention his current contract that has him overpaid in money and years. Which goes back to that career 2007 season. He's just never become what many thought he could be.

[Balta1701]

As bad as Luol Deng is according to just about everyone, and as great as Carmelo Anthony is according to just about everyone, its shocking to note Deng actually has a higher FG and 3 pt FG pct this season and averages about 6 points and 2 rebounds less than Anthony.

 

Don't think I don't know Anthony is the better player, but for as much as Deng gets blasted, it would be nice if once in a while, some people realize he really isn't the stiff he's portrayed to be.

Deng is having a remarkable season this year. He's been marginally ineffective the last few years because of injury and because of the fact that the team was totally uncoached. This year, they have a coach who knows how to use his assets on defense.

 

Last night, Deng was guarding Dirk on the outside, which was wonderful since the Bulls were depleted inside. He didn't have a great scoring night personally, but he kept Dirk to 6 of 16 shooting, 19 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and a -19. Deng also hauled in 12 rebounds and once again logged heavy minutes.

 

With the frontcourt injuries this team has had, Deng has done a wonderful job at filling in.

[Steve9347]

The Bulls are the ultimate "play to your opponents level" team.

It's hard to gauge anything without our two best big men.

[Steve9347]

I'd like to say that I think Kurt Thomas was an incredibly underrated budget purchase. He's like the $3 pair of Old Navy flipflops you picked up 4 years ago and realize you wear to the pool like 7 times a year.

[Jordan4life_2007]

It's hard to gauge anything without our two best big men.

 

This seems to be a popular response whenever somebody questions the legitimacy of the Bulls being actual contenders. And I can agree to a certain extent. But honestly, even if healthy, our we any better than the Utah Jazz of the last four years? Rose is Deron. Boozer is, well, Boozer. Noah is Millsap. Then they've had quality players in Okur, AK47, Brewer and Korver. Yet they've never been able to hang with the big boys. Be it the Spurs or the Lakers. We need another impact player to contend with the likes of the Heat, Celtics and probably the Magic. I think it's 50/50 if we even played a team like the Hawks. IMO, there's a mammoth difference between winning 50-55 games and being a true title contender.

Edited January 21, 2011 by Jordan4life

[Rowand44]

This seems to be a popular response whenever somebody questions the legitimacy of the Bulls being actual contenders. And I can agree to a certain extent. But honestly, even if healthy, our we any better than the Utah Jazz of the last four years? Rose is Deron. Boozer is, well, Boozer. Noah is Millsap. Then they've had quality players in Okur, AK47, Brewer and Korver. Yet they've never been able to hang with the big boys. Be it the Spurs or the Lakers. We need another impact player to contend with the likes of the Heat, Celtics and probably the Magic. I think it's 50/50 if we even played a team like the Hawks. IMO, there's a mammoth difference between winning 50-55 games and being a true title contender.

For one, Millsap and Noah is not a good comparison but most importantly, the Bulls are about a million times better defensive team than those Jazz teams and once again that's with out having their best defender for a good part of the season now. And while Deron is a tremendous player, Rose is more of a guy that can just put a team on his shoulders and carry you if he needs to imo. It's obviously a wait and see approach since we haven't been healthy all year but I'll continue to state that I really believe some of you guys are underselling this team quite a bit.

[Jordan4life_2007]

For one, Millsap and Noah is not a good comparison but most importantly, the Bulls are about a million times better defensive team than those Jazz teams and once again that's with out having their best defender for a good part of the season now. And while Deron is a tremendous player, Rose is more of a guy that can just put a team on his shoulders and carry you if he needs to imo. It's obviously a wait and see approach since we haven't been healthy all year but I'll continue to state that I really believe some of you guys are underselling this team quite a bit.

 

I agree that they haven't been a defensive juggernaut. But they've been one of the most efficient offensive teams in basketball over the last 4 years. And that all starts with Deron. I disagree with you when you say Rose can put a team on his back but Deron can't. Rose has exploded this year. Which is saying something considering how good he was the prior two years. But Deron has been doing his thing for the last 4 years or so. I know Noah and Millsap isn't a perfect comparison. But Noah is basically the better rebounder while Millsap is the better offensive player and commands a double team at times. I don't think I'm underselling the team at all. I think we've got a good team and have actually been better than I had anticipated. Which is even more impressive with the injuries. But the NBA is the one sport where talent wins out 9 times out of 10. I simply don't believe we can take Miami or Boston. Probably Orlando as well.

[SoxFan562004]

This seems to be a popular response whenever somebody questions the legitimacy of the Bulls being actual contenders. And I can agree to a certain extent. But honestly, even if healthy, our we any better than the Utah Jazz of the last four years? Rose is Deron. Boozer is, well, Boozer. Noah is Millsap. Then they've had quality players in Okur, AK47, Brewer and Korver. Yet they've never been able to hang with the big boys. Be it the Spurs or the Lakers. We need another impact player to contend with the likes of the Heat, Celtics and probably the Magic. I think it's 50/50 if we even played a team like the Hawks. IMO, there's a mammoth difference between winning 50-55 games and being a true title contender.

the defense as mentioned is better but also, as good as Deron is, Rose is a far more dynamic player he's able to do more than Deron

[Balta1701]

Let's note that J4L is probably right on 1 thing...this Bulls team as it currently stands is not not getting the production it needs out of the SG spot.

 

Between constantly playing down 1 big man and having no starting SG, they're basically playing 3 starters against the other team's starting lineup. Hell, 2 starters this week with both Boozer and Noah out.

 

This not only really hurts the effectiveness of the starters, but it weakens the bench as well; there hasn't been a time all season where there's been a legitimate 2nd unit or where Deng has been able to get a break. That has hurt Deng's effectiveness as well, since he's had to pull so many minutes to fill in on the frontcourt and to guard guys like Nowitzki.

 

With how this season is evolving, so far it looks almost criminal to not make a move to do something about the SG slot before the deadline. Beyond that, if the frontcourt ever gets healthy, Deng should come out more rested and more effective, the starting lineup should get more effective, and the 2nd unit should get stronger.