***the Official Chicago Bulls Thread***

[Suited_Up 2]

Welcome to the 2007 season.I'm looking for big things this year. If Kobe comes over in the next few days, then you all need to be afraid. (Assuming we can keep a few players around him.)

[bigkg 0]

I would love to see Kobe come here, but I wish they would figure it out quickly. I don't think I'm suffering as much as Laker fans, but this is not easy to hear a lot of our best players constantly thrown around in trade rumors. It happens all the time and it gets annoying. Anyways I'll give a little preview of what I think is to come for our team given what we have right now by previewing the starting lineup.Kirk Hinrich- 2nd team all-defensive last year, well deserved too. He is still a little small and gets posted up a lot by bigger guards (Chauncey Billups), but that is about the only weakness I see in his defensive game. He has increased his FG%, 3pt%, and FT% every year he's been in the NBA and I see no reason why this can't continue, if he can just develop a little consistency with his shot. The biggest problem I have with his offensive game though is his inability to break opposing players off the dribble and I feel that if he cannot get better at this he will float around as about the 10th best PG in the league for a while. All around, I expect big things from Hinrich this year and maybe he'll develop into a more true PG along the way.Ben Gordon- Has the ability to take over games with the best of them, he's just as capable of shooting 15-17 as he is shooting 2-17. His obvious glaring weakness is his lack of size, he makes up for it the best he can with his shooting and his strength. He doesn't get into the lane as much as I would like him to (and this is something that Kobe would obviously bring to this team). However, I have a bigger problem with his inability to hit clutch shots down the stretch and his questionable handles, he dribbles the ball to high and too far away from his body and this leads to a lot of unnecessary turnovers. I expect him to put up 20+ ppg again this season, and like Hinrich, if he can develop some consistency in his jump shot he could improve by leaps and bounds this season.Luol Deng- The focus of many trade talks right now and in the past, and for good reason. He has a deadly mid-range jump shot that has been missing from basketball in recent years. He stopped worrying about having to shoot 3-pointers and only attempted 18 of them last year I believe, this led to him shooting 52% from the floor last year. Deng probably has the highest ceiling out of any of our big 3 but if he wants to reach elite status in the NBA he needs to pick it up on the defensive side of the floor which he already has the length to be very good at. If he bulks a little bit and improves his handle he can be very good inside-outside threat in the NBA.Tyrus Thomas- Freak athlete, this sums him pretty much entirely. With this athleticism he was able to bring an energy to the Bulls off the bench that they sorely needed at times last year. With him in the starting lineup this year he will have to improve his jump shot to be any kind of offensive threat and bulk up a little bit. As spectacular as some of his blocks may be, this doesn't make him a good defensive player. He misses his assignment a lot on the floor and is often late in rotating on help defense. He really suffered badly by LSU making him stay under the basket and just block shots. Has a very high ceiling with his athleticism alone but will have to improve a lot of aspects of his game if he wants to reach it. Ben Wallace- Had on off year last season by his standards, hopefully he can get back to his normal self this year and be the anchor on defense that the Bulls need him to be. Obviously very limited offensive game, so we really just need him to able to finish around the basket when he as opportunity to do so, he struggles at this. If he could finish around the basket a little more he will be of great help to this team, he knows he is limited in his game and won't force anything (usually, though sometimes he'll step out and hit a 12-foot jump shot out of nowhere). The Bulls just need him to be a defensive presence, and if he does that well then good job.

[SuitedAces21 2,723]

I dont know what to say really. I want Kobe to stay, but if he is gonna leave after 09, they may as well get something. It just pisses me off that the Lakers ownership/management is so fuckin stupid/.

[tskillz187 0]

starters

I liked the evaluation. What do you think of Nocioni? I love him cuz I'm ghey for Ginobili and all things Argentina, but was wondering what someones that catches all his games thinks.

[Suited_Up 2]

I liked the evaluation. What do you think of Nocioni? I love him cuz I'm ghey for Ginobili and all things Argentina, but was wondering what someones that catches all his games thinks.

I think he's a pretty solid player for sure, but as was the case when he started with the team, every time he touches the ball, he wants to take it himself. I wish he had a lil toni kukoc in him.

[bigkg 0]

I liked the evaluation. What do you think of Nocioni? I love him cuz I'm ghey for Ginobili and all things Argentina, but was wondering what someones that catches all his games thinks.

I've always liked Nocioni for his hustle more than anything, he'll give all of his effort every night. On the skill side he would be a starter on a lot of teams if he wasn't behind a player like Luol Deng. It's hard for me to say he is bad at any one thing, but he isn't great at any one thing either. Like most foreign players he is a solid fundamental player that hustles (and complains and flops ). He is a tough defender and rebounder, which makes up for his lack of size because he also plays the PF at times. He has a solid shot, doesn't have too many unnecessary turnovers, and is a smart player. I would say he is one of the top 5 sixth men in the NBA and a valuable asset to our team.

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

If the Bulls get Kobe after Dec 15 for Gordon Nocioni and whatever young players they throw in, they're winning the championship.

[bigkg 0]

Wow it looks like the Bulls have been absolutely dreadful so far this season, thank god I haven't had a chance to watch them.Game 1 vs NJ: 39.6% FG, 34.8% 3PTGame 2 vs PHI: 38.4% FG, 29.2& 3PTGame 3 vs MIL: 36.0% FG, 22.7% 3PTObviously, they're shooting awful but this can be expected from a team that lives-and-dies by the jump-shot, and hopefully that's all this is. Also, you can't help but think that all the trade talks are getting to the players heads; it looks like Paxson's little dismissal of all trade talks didn't do much to help the psyche of the team.

[bigkg 0]

Wow, another loss to a bad team, I don't even know what to say about this team.

[Livaso 0]

They're giving Noah too many minutes. He's a bust everyone knows this. Corey Brewer at least has a good excuse for struggling out of the gate. He's on a bad team but Noah is making his team bad by wasting a 5th position on the court.

[Suited_Up 2]

They're giving Noah too many minutes. He's a bust everyone knows this. Corey Brewer at least has a good excuse for struggling out of the gate. He's on a bad team but Noah is making his team bad by wasting a 5th position on the court.

It was his FIRST game.I hardly think you can say he's getting too many minutes.Also... What do you think Ben Wallace is doing out there? That's mostly a waste too.

[tskillz187 0]

It was his FIRST game.I hardly think you can say he's getting too many minutes.Also... What do you think Ben Wallace is doing out there? That's mostly a waste too.

Meh, they'd look pretty good if they weren't depended on offense at all. They just need Kobe.

[king_tanner 84]

Ben Gordon is playing like s_hit.

[Jadaki 0]

Also... What do you think Ben Wallace is doing out there?

Enjoying his overpriced contract.

[bigkg 0]

Wow couldn't have picked a better team to win our first game against. Solid performance tonight, although there were a few shaky possessions down the stretch. Also, Gordon and Hinrich continued to struggle from the floor, though Hinrich put up 14 assists so that makes up for it somewhat. Thomas impressed me again, he looks better on the defensive end and is getting to his position faster. His offense looks decent, he blew right by Sheed' a few times and is continuing to finish solidly around the basket. Joe Smith also looked good, Wallace still doesn't look good this season. It was good to finally be able to watch a game, and a win against the Pistons nonetheless.

[Cappy37 0]

Tyrus Thomas's ESPN Highlight block was one of those "wow" feats of pure athleticism.Always good to book the first win. The first couple of weeks are always the toughest to get the well oiled machine going.

[Livaso 0]

Having now watched the Kobe chants on TV, I find them to be tasteless and insulting to a very very good young core. None the less 45 points through 3 quarters? sitting both Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon for the entire second half?Scott Skiles doesn't seem to care.

[bigkg 0]

Having now watched the Kobe chants on TV, I find them to be tasteless and insulting to a very very good young core. None the less 45 points through 3 quarters? sitting both Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon for the entire second half?Scott Skiles doesn't seem to care.

I was actually very embarrassed as a Bulls fan hearing about those chants.Yea, there's definitely something off about this team. Hopefully this W over the Pistons can set the on track.

[bigkg 0]

I was actually very embarrassed as a Bulls fan hearing about those chants.Yea, there's definitely something off about this team. Hopefully this W over the Pistons can set the on track.

I was out all night and made this part of my post without seeing the Bulls score, omg we suck.

[bigkg 0]

Another loss, *sigh*, at least we scored some points.

[rookie2619 0]

ah the memories.....

[bigkg 0]

Yay, a win. Looks like the defense played well, and our offense played alright. Hinrich and Deng still struggled with their shooting, but Gordon and Nocioni put up some points to lead the way. We scored a lot in our last game, so maybe we're starting to finally find our groove.

[chgocubs99 0]

Tons of random thoughts:Bulls were 3-9 last year and are 2-10 this year, also started three years ago 0-9. Disturbing trend. Hinrich is playing with no confidence and Deng is banged up. Gordon can't get on track and wide open jumpers seem to never go in this year. They will start. There is clearly a lack of hunger this year though, and some of their players are so putrid offensively (Noah, Wallace, Duhon) that they need, well, a great scorer to make up for this glaring weakness. Joe Smith looks old, but he's always had a pretty jump shot, but again...not falling this year when open. Starting tomorrow, I see the Bulls reeling off about 8 of their next 11 or so. That would put them at 10-14 and back in the race. Is there any way we can possibly get rid of Duhon? For some reason I cannot stand that guy.

[Poppy_Hillis 11]

Starting tomorrow, I see the Bulls reeling off about 8 of their next 11 or so. That would put them at 10-14 and back in the race.

Yikes. That's bad news if you gotta write sentences like that to stay positive.So Deng has back problems? Did you see the NBATV thing on how he worked this summer? I'm thinking it might have to do with him lifting tractor tires and sh.it, I don't think you're not supposed to be doing stuff like that.

[bigkg 0]

I really don't know if I can take the Bulls being bad, almost all my teams suck.My favorite sports teams:1. Indiana Hoosiers2. Chicago Bulls3. Chicago White Sox4. Chicago BearsSo yea, after the Sox and Bears sucked I was banking on the one-two punch of the Hoosiers and the Bulls to lift my spirits. Bulls have sucked and even Indiana has looked shaky.Anyways I saw some mind-blowing statistics today from John Hollinger. Year FG% 3P% TS% PPG PERBen Gordon 2006-07 45.5 41.3 57.2 21.4 18.31 2007-08 36.7 27.3 47.0 18.1 10.59Luol Deng 2006-07 51.7 14.3 56.0 18.8 18.79 2007-08 45.3 75.0 48.9 16.0 15.94Kirk Hinrich 2006-07 44.8 41.5 55.9 16.6 17.09 2007-08 34.6 20.5 41.4 10.4 7.77TS% being True Shooting Percentage, and PER being Player Efficiency RatingThose numbers are insanely bad, especially for Hinrich. The Bulls offense is on pace to be the worst in the history of the NBA (overall efficiency).Hopefully we pick it up, I need it.