It's been so long since I've posted anything on here. Lots of stuff happening right now in Chicago sports, so let's get started.
I am very excited about the start of the new NBA season. The NBA is coming off of one of their best seasons since the Jordan era ended in Chicago, and it would have been horrible for the league to cancel the full season due to the lockout. Thankfully, there is a new deal in place, and we can forget about the lockout and concentrate on actual games.
The Bulls had the best regular season record last year, but struggled really throughout the whole playoffs. The five game series loss to the Heat made it perfectly clear that the Bulls needed a scoring wing-man to help Derrick Rose. Enter Richard Hamilton. The Bulls almost picked up Hamilton last season, but that deal fell through. Now he joins the Bulls on a 2 year deal, and is expected to start in place of Keith Bogans. Hamilton is an immediate upgrade on the offensive end. He has a better than average jump shot, can shoot from 3-point range, posts up on shorter defenders and can create his own shot when called upon. The best thing about Hamilton on the offensive end, at least in my opinion, is how he plays without the basketball. Hamilton is kind of like Ray Allen without the ball. He's always running the baseline, coming off of screens, and when he does catch the ball, he doesn't stop the offense. If he doesn't have a good shot, he passes the ball and continues to move. That is exactly the type of offensive threat they need. Somebody who can play without the basketball so that Rose can have it. A perfect fit in my book.
Hamilton will fit in on the defensive side of the ball as well. He may not be the on-ball defender that Bogans is, but he does give a great effort, and plays good team defense, which is what coach Thibodeau is all about. The way I see it, the Bulls aren't losing much defensively, and are gaining an extra 10-15 points per game on the offensive side of the ball. It will be exciting to see just how much Hamilton can do. He's averaged about 18 points per game over his career, and does have an NBA championship ring, so he brings a great deal of success and experience with him. In my opinion, this was a great pick up, and I think the Bulls did a great job in bringing him on board.
With Hamilton in the fold, the roster for the coming season should look something like this:
Starters:
PG- Derrick Rose
SG- Rip Hamilton
SF- Luol Deng
PF- Carlos Boozer
C- Joakim Noah
Bench:
PG- CJ Watson
SG- Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver
SF- Jimmy Butler
PF- Taj Gibson, Joel Pryzbilla
C- Omer Asik
I think the Bulls will probably miss Kurt Thomas, who ended up signing with the Portland Trailblazers. He was great last season when Noah was injured, and gave the Bulls a tough, veteran presence off the bench. Just looking at that starting lineup though, it looks impressive on paper. You have to believe that Derrick Rose will continue to grow and get better, which is scary for the rest of the league since he is coming off an MVP season. Hamilton gives the Bulls a fourth scoring threat in the lineup, as Deng and Boozer are both capable scorers, if not dynamic scorers at times. Another great thing for the Bulls this offseason is that they kept their bench in tact. One of the big advantages they had over many teams last season was their depth. They went 9-10 players deep on their bench on a nightly basis, where most teams only go 7 or 8 deep. Their deep bench should be a great advantage again, especially in a season with a condensed schedule. It will be exciting to see the Bulls get back to basketball though. I'm looking forward to a great season.
The hockey season is rolling along, as are the Blackhawks as well. They've won three straight games, all in overtime or shootout, and they've also won five straight on the road, which is always a characteristic of championship contenders. The win last night in Minnesota was especially important. Knocking off the top team in the league on the road is always a big win. Plus, we got to see Patrick Kane juke Wild goalie Nick Backstrom out of his pads in the shootout. That was one of the better moves you'll ever see in the shootout, and it actually made number 1 on Sportscenter's Top Plays. That is impressive considering that ESPN doesn't often show hockey highlights.
The most impressive part of this year's Hawks team is their offensive fire power. Jonathan Toews is having his best season so far, which is saying something because he has been great since he came into the league. Toews is tied for second in the league with 18 goals, and is third in points with 34. Sharp has 16 goals and 32 points, Hossa has 13 goals and 32 points, and Kane has 31 points, although only 8 of those are goals. For a while, the Hawks had 4 players in the top ten in scoring in the league. They need all of that scoring because their defense has been suspect at times this year, as well as the goaltending. Lately the Hawks' D has been a little bit better, and Ray Emery has replaced Crawford for the time being. He's played really well too, and I think the Hawks need to continue playing Emery while he's going good. Hopefully Crawford finds his game soon, because I think ultimately he will be the guy in net down the stretch.
The Hawks have a good stretch of games coming up where they should be able to pile up some points. Home games against the last place Ducks and Calgary Flames this weekend, then a road tilt against the Penguins on Tuesday (no Crosby for the Pens, which is horrible for the league). Then they come back home on Wednesday to play the Montreal Canadiens before having a few days off for Christmas. They play the day after Christmas at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets. That's five straight games that the Hawks should be favored in, and it is extremely important that they put up alot of standings points over this stretch.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
It's Been A While...
I just realized that it has been over 2 months since I have made an entry on my sports blog. That just means there is alot to talk about in Chicago sports.
The baseball season has not gone very well for either Chicago team. The Cubs are currently 47-65, which is only good enough for fifth place in the NL Central because the Houston Astros are just awful. Even with the Cubs' poor record this season, they are still 9.5 games up on Houston, which is really the only positive about this season for the North Siders. Just about everything has gone wrong this season, starting with their pitching staff. Zambrano has been up and down again, and I think it's safe to say that his days of being an ace starter are over. Dempster hasn't been any better. Lately, Matt Garza has pitched extremely well, however, he only has 5 wins on the year because when he pitches he doesn't get any run support. The back end of the rotation, which looked promising at the beginning of the season, has been a mess. Cashner has only pitched one game due to injury, and Randy Wells is terrible and needs to go. The bullpen has been poor as well. Marmol was replaced as closer for a few games after stumbling coming out of the all-star break. Marshall and Samardzija have been the most consistent pitchers for the Cubs on the season out of the pen, but their middle relief is bad. James Russell has gotten better out of the bullpen, but John Grabow is not worth anywhere near what his contract is, and the stable of aging right handers (Lopez, Ortiz) that the Cubs have tried throughout the season has just been embarassing.
The Cubs' offense has seen its ups and downs throughout the season as well. Castro seems to hit all the time, and Ramirez kicked it up a notch once the weather warmed up, but by then it was way too late. The team seems to lack the "clutch gene" as Skip Bayless would call it. They routinely leave runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs, and can't seem to string together enough hits to put up big innings when they have the chance. There have been bright spots though. Castro and Barney are really good, young middle infielders who the Cubs can build around for the future. That, and Marlon Byrd has been worth every penny of his contract. While the Cubs haven't played well this season, they have been winning recently. The are currently on a five game winning streak, which is the longest they've had this season. Hopefully they can keep it rolling.
Over on the south side, the White Sox have been extremely disappointing. There were several analysts at the beginning of the season that picked the White Sox to not only win the division, but go to the World Series on the strength of their offense. Their offense has been weak, and you can look no further than the free agent acquisition of Adam Dunn. Dunn was signed in the off-season to be the DH, and it looked like a good pick up at the time. A homerun hitting player in a homerun hitters park seemed to make good sense for both sides. It hasn't worked out that way. Dunn is hitting in the .160's, and only has 10 homeruns. He has definitely been the bust of this year's free agent class. The White Sox do have a better record than the Cubs (52-58), but they have played well below their expectations this season. It has definitely been a season to forget for both sides in Chicago baseball.
The Blackhawks have done some interesting things this off-season. It was obvious in the playoffs that the Hawks lacked toughness and depth of front. In fact, the only time that they could really keep the Canucks from taking the body on the superstar players was when John Scott (professional goon) was in the lineup. However, it was pain-stakingly obvious to everybody that John Scott should not have been on the ice due to his general lack of hockey skills, such as skating, passing, receiving the puck, shooting, and defense. So, the Hawks made several signings and trades in order to add that toughness. Dan Carcillo, Andrew Brunette, Jamal Mayers, and Sean O'Donnell all signed one year deals, and all should see a decent amount of playing time on the fourth line (or 3rd D-pairing in O'Donnell's case). I really like the Brunette signing. He is capable of scoring 20 goals, which gives the Hawks more depth and secondary scoring. He also is a big body, and plays physical, so I would expect to see him get a chance with Kane and Toews on the top line at some point during the season. The Hawks also made a couple of trades on draft night. They sent Brian Campbell to the Florida Panthers for Rostislav Olesz, a 25 year old winger who hasn't lived up to expectations thus far in his career. This move was basically a salary dump, which was important for the Hawks. They needed to get under that cap to be able to sign the depth and role players necessary to compete with the elite teams. The Hawks also traded Troy Brouwer to the Washington Capitals for draft picks, and also acquired defenseman Steve Montador from the Buffalo Sabres. Montador signed a 4 year deal after the trade as well. To me, the biggest signings were re-signings. I love the fact that Patrick Sharp got a 5 year extension, and Frolik and Crawford are back for 3 more years as well. Viktor Stalberg is back on a 2 year contract.
So going into next season, the Blackhawks have locked up all of their core players, and have added some good depth on one year contracts while they wait for their younger players to develop. They do have a great collection of young talent in the minor leagues too (Beach, Lalonde, Kruger, the Hayes brothers, McNeil, Saad, Danault are all great looking prospects who should all see time in the NHL soon). I am pretty excited about the moves the Hawks made. I think they should be right back in contention for a top 4 spot out west once the season begins.
The football season is right around the corner, thanks to the players and owners agreeing to a new CBA just before the preseason. The Bears had a fantastic year last year, which nobody expected. 11-5, and hosting the NFC title game is a great season, regardless of how it ended. However, they had too many question marks leaving that game. The offensive line was brutal the whole season, and eventually it did effect Jay Cutler, who had to leave that NFC title game with an apparent knee injury. That injury caused everybody to question his toughness, so Cutler has alot to prove going into the season. The Bears have made a couple of moves to try to improve the O-line (drafting T Gabe Carimi, and signing C Chris Spencer), but they released Olin Kreutz, who was their best and most consistent lineman for the past 13 years. He was also a leader in the locker room, so he should be sorely missed. The Bears also brought in a trio of former Cowboys (WR Roy Williams and Sam Hurd, and RB Marion Barber), while bringing in d-line help as well (DE Vernon Gholston, and DT Amobi Okoye). You know that the Bears' defense is the strength of the team, and has been for years. As long as they stay healthy they should be a top 5 defense again. However, the offense seems to be in a make or break year. Cutler needs to have a big season to justify the trade, and the Bears are obviously bringing in alot of new players to try to revamp the offense. Heck, they even traded away their best receiver (Greg Olsen) because they didn't believe he fit with their offensive philosophy. Hopefully they can put the offense together in time for the regular season, which opens with a gauntlet of tough games (vs. Falcons, at Saints, vs. Packers). There are an awful lot of new players learning a new and tougher system with a short training camp and no off-season activities to fall back on. I think the Bears are expecting alot from their offense this season, but it wouldn't surprise me to see them fall short of expectations again.
What do you guys think? What are your thoughts or predictions for any of Chicago's sports teams? Let me know what you think, and thanks for reading.
The baseball season has not gone very well for either Chicago team. The Cubs are currently 47-65, which is only good enough for fifth place in the NL Central because the Houston Astros are just awful. Even with the Cubs' poor record this season, they are still 9.5 games up on Houston, which is really the only positive about this season for the North Siders. Just about everything has gone wrong this season, starting with their pitching staff. Zambrano has been up and down again, and I think it's safe to say that his days of being an ace starter are over. Dempster hasn't been any better. Lately, Matt Garza has pitched extremely well, however, he only has 5 wins on the year because when he pitches he doesn't get any run support. The back end of the rotation, which looked promising at the beginning of the season, has been a mess. Cashner has only pitched one game due to injury, and Randy Wells is terrible and needs to go. The bullpen has been poor as well. Marmol was replaced as closer for a few games after stumbling coming out of the all-star break. Marshall and Samardzija have been the most consistent pitchers for the Cubs on the season out of the pen, but their middle relief is bad. James Russell has gotten better out of the bullpen, but John Grabow is not worth anywhere near what his contract is, and the stable of aging right handers (Lopez, Ortiz) that the Cubs have tried throughout the season has just been embarassing.
The Cubs' offense has seen its ups and downs throughout the season as well. Castro seems to hit all the time, and Ramirez kicked it up a notch once the weather warmed up, but by then it was way too late. The team seems to lack the "clutch gene" as Skip Bayless would call it. They routinely leave runners in scoring position with less than 2 outs, and can't seem to string together enough hits to put up big innings when they have the chance. There have been bright spots though. Castro and Barney are really good, young middle infielders who the Cubs can build around for the future. That, and Marlon Byrd has been worth every penny of his contract. While the Cubs haven't played well this season, they have been winning recently. The are currently on a five game winning streak, which is the longest they've had this season. Hopefully they can keep it rolling.
Over on the south side, the White Sox have been extremely disappointing. There were several analysts at the beginning of the season that picked the White Sox to not only win the division, but go to the World Series on the strength of their offense. Their offense has been weak, and you can look no further than the free agent acquisition of Adam Dunn. Dunn was signed in the off-season to be the DH, and it looked like a good pick up at the time. A homerun hitting player in a homerun hitters park seemed to make good sense for both sides. It hasn't worked out that way. Dunn is hitting in the .160's, and only has 10 homeruns. He has definitely been the bust of this year's free agent class. The White Sox do have a better record than the Cubs (52-58), but they have played well below their expectations this season. It has definitely been a season to forget for both sides in Chicago baseball.
The Blackhawks have done some interesting things this off-season. It was obvious in the playoffs that the Hawks lacked toughness and depth of front. In fact, the only time that they could really keep the Canucks from taking the body on the superstar players was when John Scott (professional goon) was in the lineup. However, it was pain-stakingly obvious to everybody that John Scott should not have been on the ice due to his general lack of hockey skills, such as skating, passing, receiving the puck, shooting, and defense. So, the Hawks made several signings and trades in order to add that toughness. Dan Carcillo, Andrew Brunette, Jamal Mayers, and Sean O'Donnell all signed one year deals, and all should see a decent amount of playing time on the fourth line (or 3rd D-pairing in O'Donnell's case). I really like the Brunette signing. He is capable of scoring 20 goals, which gives the Hawks more depth and secondary scoring. He also is a big body, and plays physical, so I would expect to see him get a chance with Kane and Toews on the top line at some point during the season. The Hawks also made a couple of trades on draft night. They sent Brian Campbell to the Florida Panthers for Rostislav Olesz, a 25 year old winger who hasn't lived up to expectations thus far in his career. This move was basically a salary dump, which was important for the Hawks. They needed to get under that cap to be able to sign the depth and role players necessary to compete with the elite teams. The Hawks also traded Troy Brouwer to the Washington Capitals for draft picks, and also acquired defenseman Steve Montador from the Buffalo Sabres. Montador signed a 4 year deal after the trade as well. To me, the biggest signings were re-signings. I love the fact that Patrick Sharp got a 5 year extension, and Frolik and Crawford are back for 3 more years as well. Viktor Stalberg is back on a 2 year contract.
So going into next season, the Blackhawks have locked up all of their core players, and have added some good depth on one year contracts while they wait for their younger players to develop. They do have a great collection of young talent in the minor leagues too (Beach, Lalonde, Kruger, the Hayes brothers, McNeil, Saad, Danault are all great looking prospects who should all see time in the NHL soon). I am pretty excited about the moves the Hawks made. I think they should be right back in contention for a top 4 spot out west once the season begins.
The football season is right around the corner, thanks to the players and owners agreeing to a new CBA just before the preseason. The Bears had a fantastic year last year, which nobody expected. 11-5, and hosting the NFC title game is a great season, regardless of how it ended. However, they had too many question marks leaving that game. The offensive line was brutal the whole season, and eventually it did effect Jay Cutler, who had to leave that NFC title game with an apparent knee injury. That injury caused everybody to question his toughness, so Cutler has alot to prove going into the season. The Bears have made a couple of moves to try to improve the O-line (drafting T Gabe Carimi, and signing C Chris Spencer), but they released Olin Kreutz, who was their best and most consistent lineman for the past 13 years. He was also a leader in the locker room, so he should be sorely missed. The Bears also brought in a trio of former Cowboys (WR Roy Williams and Sam Hurd, and RB Marion Barber), while bringing in d-line help as well (DE Vernon Gholston, and DT Amobi Okoye). You know that the Bears' defense is the strength of the team, and has been for years. As long as they stay healthy they should be a top 5 defense again. However, the offense seems to be in a make or break year. Cutler needs to have a big season to justify the trade, and the Bears are obviously bringing in alot of new players to try to revamp the offense. Heck, they even traded away their best receiver (Greg Olsen) because they didn't believe he fit with their offensive philosophy. Hopefully they can put the offense together in time for the regular season, which opens with a gauntlet of tough games (vs. Falcons, at Saints, vs. Packers). There are an awful lot of new players learning a new and tougher system with a short training camp and no off-season activities to fall back on. I think the Bears are expecting alot from their offense this season, but it wouldn't surprise me to see them fall short of expectations again.
What do you guys think? What are your thoughts or predictions for any of Chicago's sports teams? Let me know what you think, and thanks for reading.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Bulls Off-Season
Well, I've had a few days to forget about the Bulls' loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. After a terrific regular season, and a wildly unpredictable and poorly played playoff run, the Bulls now look to the off-season, needing to find ways to compete with the Heat. Clearly the Bulls and Heat are in the best position to compete for championships in the Eastern Conference, with many of the other teams having too many questions. The Celtics are too old, and eventually some of their key players will be leaving. The Magic aren't a threat anymore, and their best player (Dwight Howard) is likely to leave through trade or free agency. The Knicks have 2 superstar players, but they are poorly coached, especially on the defensive end. The Hawks are inconsistent, and really don't pose a threat to any of the top teams in the league. Unless those teams make some improvements, the Heat and the Bulls are the best two teams in the East, with the Heat obviously having the advantage going forward.
There are many different opinions out there about what the Bulls should do in the off-season to improve their team. I have heard many analysts say that the Bulls will bring in a more athletic starting shooting guard, somebody like Shannon Brown from the Lakers, who can score on his own and play defense. I've also heard the name Rip Hamilton come up as a possible target for the Bulls, along with Ray Allen and Kirk Hinrich. There are some that want the Bulls to perform some type of miracle to bring in a second superstar, like Dwight Howard. The Bulls will have many options to play with, so let's take a look at what they might be able to do to improve their team in order to compete with the Miami Heat.
Most people believe that the Bulls need to bring in a second perimeter scoring option to help Derrick Rose shoulder the scoring load. Rose has improved every single year, and last year he grew by leaps and bounds. However, we've seen time and time again in the history of the NBA, that one person cannot get it done by themselves, and many times that what the Bulls relied on Rose to do. The problem with bringing in a permeter scorer is that there really aren't any great players out there in free agency. Ray Allen is a catch and shoot guy at this stage of his career, and the same goes for Rip Hamilton. Those are both aging players at the end of their careers, which really isn't what the Bulls should be looking for. The Bulls are one of a few teams in the league that have arrows pointing up for the next ten years (Thunder, Heat also are built for long-term success). Another problem with those players is that they can't really create their own shots. They rely on crisp offensive movement, and cutting off screens, which is necessary, but leaves players worn down.
Shannon Brown is an interesting player that I am sure the Bulls will consider in free agency. He is from Chicago, so I am sure he would love to be able to play on a nightly basis for the team he grew up cheering for. He is also super athletic, and only 25 years old. He has ok size for a 2 guard (6'4"), and is a more than capable defender. He has a good three point shot, although he is not known for his outside shooting ability, which is what the Bulls need. He is a tremendous athlete, and playing with Rose would make for some awesome alley oop and fast break dunks. However, he has been a bench player his entire career, so signing him to start and play starter's minutes might be a little risky.
Kirk Hinrich is another name I've heard mentioned as possibly going back to the Bulls. He would definitely fit in with the defensive minded Tom Thibodeau's system. He can also hit catch and shoot jumpers, and has better than average three-point capabilities. He was a huge fan favorite when he played with the Bulls before, and he is a durable guy, with veteran leadership. He also knows how to play with Derrick Rose, and would be somebody who could defend other proven perimeter scorers, like Wade and Carmello Anthony.
Some analysts have said that JR Smith from Denver should be considered, but I think that would be a huge mistake. Smith was once a part of the Bulls, and before he even played a game with them they traded him because he was a locker room nightmare. For a team with great chemistry, that would not be ideal.
The Bulls could also look to upgrade their perimeter scoring in the draft. They have 2 late first round picks (picks 28 and 30) that they could either package in a deal to acquire a better shooter, or they could use the picks on draft night to grab a scorer, such as Marshon Brooks from Providence, who was the second leading scorer in the country, and also put up 50 points against Notre Dame.
The biggest and most unlikely move the Bulls might be able to pull off is acquiring a second superstar through a trade. The name mentioned by most fans is Dwight Howard. Now don't get me wrong, a Rose/Howard duo would be unbelievable. They would both have career years. Teams would be unable to guard them in the pick and roll. Not only that, but the Bulls would have the best point guard and the best center in the game, and those positions are historically the hardest to find superstar players. Howard is a defensive and rebounding beast, not to mention he added a great post up game to his offense last season. It all sounds great, but it is extremely unlikely for a couple of reasons. First of all, Howard is still under contract with the Magic, and they still believe that they can re-sign him. Secondly, if they do trade him, it will likely be to a team out west. Many analysts have said that Howard would like to play for the Lakers, who could offer up Andrew Bynum in a deal. For the Bulls to get him, it would likely take a great combination of starting talent and draft picks, which as of right now, they have. They have 3 picks in this year's draft, 2 in the first round, and they also have a lottery protected pick from the Charlotte Bobcats in next year's draft. Players that would most likely need to be included in the deal would include the Bulls' big guys. Noah, Boozer, Gibson and Asik would be considered, and Orlando would likely have to take on Boozer in order to make the salaries work. Would the Magic want to take a combination of draft picks and big guys that includes Boozer, and trade the best big man in the league to a conference rival? Probably not.
Obviously the Bulls have to get a player who can put up points, and be the second scoring option that Rose needs. They thought they had it in Boozer, but his first year was up and down, and his playoff performance left alot to be desired. They do have a very young team, and they need to make sure the core of the team stays together. I would like to see the Bulls hang onto the following players: Rose (obviously, they'll lock him up long term very soon), Deng, Noah, Gibson, Brewer, Korver, Watson, and Asik. I still think Boozer is a decent player, but he is not worth the money they paid for him. I doubt anybody will take on his contract, and he'll most likely be a Bull next season, but if they can package him with another player or picks to bring in a superstar, or a second perimeter scoring option, they should do it. I also think the Bulls will move forward without Keith Bogans. He is a great defender, and he showed that in the Heat series by locking down Dwyane Wade. Wade had a hard time getting anything going in those 5 games, and he was frustrated by it. However, the Bulls need to get scoring from their starting 2 guard, and he doesn't have the ability to put up big points game in and game out. I also think that Kurt Thomas and Rasual Butler are likely to move elsewhere, so the Bulls will have some moves to make. It'll be an interesting off-season to say the least. Hopefully the Bulls will take their time and make the right moves to put them in position to not only compete with the Heat, but to put them over the top, and into the NBA Finals.
There are many different opinions out there about what the Bulls should do in the off-season to improve their team. I have heard many analysts say that the Bulls will bring in a more athletic starting shooting guard, somebody like Shannon Brown from the Lakers, who can score on his own and play defense. I've also heard the name Rip Hamilton come up as a possible target for the Bulls, along with Ray Allen and Kirk Hinrich. There are some that want the Bulls to perform some type of miracle to bring in a second superstar, like Dwight Howard. The Bulls will have many options to play with, so let's take a look at what they might be able to do to improve their team in order to compete with the Miami Heat.
Most people believe that the Bulls need to bring in a second perimeter scoring option to help Derrick Rose shoulder the scoring load. Rose has improved every single year, and last year he grew by leaps and bounds. However, we've seen time and time again in the history of the NBA, that one person cannot get it done by themselves, and many times that what the Bulls relied on Rose to do. The problem with bringing in a permeter scorer is that there really aren't any great players out there in free agency. Ray Allen is a catch and shoot guy at this stage of his career, and the same goes for Rip Hamilton. Those are both aging players at the end of their careers, which really isn't what the Bulls should be looking for. The Bulls are one of a few teams in the league that have arrows pointing up for the next ten years (Thunder, Heat also are built for long-term success). Another problem with those players is that they can't really create their own shots. They rely on crisp offensive movement, and cutting off screens, which is necessary, but leaves players worn down.
Shannon Brown is an interesting player that I am sure the Bulls will consider in free agency. He is from Chicago, so I am sure he would love to be able to play on a nightly basis for the team he grew up cheering for. He is also super athletic, and only 25 years old. He has ok size for a 2 guard (6'4"), and is a more than capable defender. He has a good three point shot, although he is not known for his outside shooting ability, which is what the Bulls need. He is a tremendous athlete, and playing with Rose would make for some awesome alley oop and fast break dunks. However, he has been a bench player his entire career, so signing him to start and play starter's minutes might be a little risky.
Kirk Hinrich is another name I've heard mentioned as possibly going back to the Bulls. He would definitely fit in with the defensive minded Tom Thibodeau's system. He can also hit catch and shoot jumpers, and has better than average three-point capabilities. He was a huge fan favorite when he played with the Bulls before, and he is a durable guy, with veteran leadership. He also knows how to play with Derrick Rose, and would be somebody who could defend other proven perimeter scorers, like Wade and Carmello Anthony.
Some analysts have said that JR Smith from Denver should be considered, but I think that would be a huge mistake. Smith was once a part of the Bulls, and before he even played a game with them they traded him because he was a locker room nightmare. For a team with great chemistry, that would not be ideal.
The Bulls could also look to upgrade their perimeter scoring in the draft. They have 2 late first round picks (picks 28 and 30) that they could either package in a deal to acquire a better shooter, or they could use the picks on draft night to grab a scorer, such as Marshon Brooks from Providence, who was the second leading scorer in the country, and also put up 50 points against Notre Dame.
The biggest and most unlikely move the Bulls might be able to pull off is acquiring a second superstar through a trade. The name mentioned by most fans is Dwight Howard. Now don't get me wrong, a Rose/Howard duo would be unbelievable. They would both have career years. Teams would be unable to guard them in the pick and roll. Not only that, but the Bulls would have the best point guard and the best center in the game, and those positions are historically the hardest to find superstar players. Howard is a defensive and rebounding beast, not to mention he added a great post up game to his offense last season. It all sounds great, but it is extremely unlikely for a couple of reasons. First of all, Howard is still under contract with the Magic, and they still believe that they can re-sign him. Secondly, if they do trade him, it will likely be to a team out west. Many analysts have said that Howard would like to play for the Lakers, who could offer up Andrew Bynum in a deal. For the Bulls to get him, it would likely take a great combination of starting talent and draft picks, which as of right now, they have. They have 3 picks in this year's draft, 2 in the first round, and they also have a lottery protected pick from the Charlotte Bobcats in next year's draft. Players that would most likely need to be included in the deal would include the Bulls' big guys. Noah, Boozer, Gibson and Asik would be considered, and Orlando would likely have to take on Boozer in order to make the salaries work. Would the Magic want to take a combination of draft picks and big guys that includes Boozer, and trade the best big man in the league to a conference rival? Probably not.
Obviously the Bulls have to get a player who can put up points, and be the second scoring option that Rose needs. They thought they had it in Boozer, but his first year was up and down, and his playoff performance left alot to be desired. They do have a very young team, and they need to make sure the core of the team stays together. I would like to see the Bulls hang onto the following players: Rose (obviously, they'll lock him up long term very soon), Deng, Noah, Gibson, Brewer, Korver, Watson, and Asik. I still think Boozer is a decent player, but he is not worth the money they paid for him. I doubt anybody will take on his contract, and he'll most likely be a Bull next season, but if they can package him with another player or picks to bring in a superstar, or a second perimeter scoring option, they should do it. I also think the Bulls will move forward without Keith Bogans. He is a great defender, and he showed that in the Heat series by locking down Dwyane Wade. Wade had a hard time getting anything going in those 5 games, and he was frustrated by it. However, the Bulls need to get scoring from their starting 2 guard, and he doesn't have the ability to put up big points game in and game out. I also think that Kurt Thomas and Rasual Butler are likely to move elsewhere, so the Bulls will have some moves to make. It'll be an interesting off-season to say the least. Hopefully the Bulls will take their time and make the right moves to put them in position to not only compete with the Heat, but to put them over the top, and into the NBA Finals.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bulls move on, while Hawks go home
Tuesday night was a big night for Chicago sports fans, and it ended with mixed results. I'll start with the bad news, and end with the good.
The Chicago Blackhawks lost game 7 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks, by a final score of 2-1. They rallied back and fought hard from a 3-0 series deficit, but fell just short. Even in game 7 they showed alot of grit and resiliency, especially from their starting goaltender, Corey Crawford. Crawford allowed only 2 Alex Burrows goals, neither of which were his fault. The first goal of the game resulted from a bad line change, and the Canucks made the Hawks pay. The final goal of the game was due to a terrible turnover in the Hawks' zone, and Burrows didn't make any mistake with the shot. It was a laser right over the shoulder of Crawford that sent the Hawks home for the summer. Crawford stopped 34 of 36 shots, many of them spectacular, ridiculous saves.
The captain, Jonathan Toews, tied the game with just 1:56 left in the third on a short-handed goal. At that point I thought the Hawks might pull it out, and when they were sent on the power play just seconds into the overtime period, I really thought it would happen. Patrick Sharp had a fantastic opportunity to end the Canucks' season, taking a great pass from Toews through the crease and aiming for the top shelf on the short-side of the net. Luongo made a terrific stop, and the Hawks never got close to scoring in the overtime after that. It was a disappointing end to the season, but I was very happy with the effort the defending cup champions showed in the final four games of the series. There is no shame in losing the series the way they eventually did, and Hawks fans should be proud of the effort they showed in the last four games.
The biggest issue for the Hawks this year was that they waited way too long to play anything resembling championship hockey. It is tough to repeat in any sport as champion, and it hasn't happened in 13 years in the NHL, so the Hawks were up against it to begin with. However, they played sluggish and unmotivated all season. They backed into the playoffs on the last day of the season after losing to Detroit, but getting some from the Minnesota Wild, who defeated the Dallas Stars to send the Hawks to the postseason. When I think about it though, they could have easily been in a better position. They lost several games earlier in the season that they had no business losing. Three times they lost to the Colorado Avalanche, who were the second worst team in the Western Conference. They lost twice apiece on home ice to the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets, which just shouldn't happen. They also made it a regular habit to blow multiple goal leads, and leads in the third period, which good hockey teams just don't do. Winning those games earlier in the season would have put the Hawks in a much better playoff position than playing the top-seeded Canucks, who were just a little bit better this season.
On the court, the Chicago Bulls finally did what all of their fans wanted them to do, and they put a whooping on a clearly inferior, although competitive Indiana Pacers squad. I had been talking with a buddy of mine before the game, and we were convinced that if the Bulls could have a good shooting night, they would destroy the Pacers. That is exactly what happened. Rose hit 3 three point shots, Bogans was 5-7 from the three point line, Deng and Korver each knocked in a couple of threes, and the Bulls absolutely ran away from the Pacers in the second half. Joakim Noah had his second straight great game, finishing with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks, not to mention getting in the Pacers' heads. He played physical with Hibbert, Foster, Hansbrough, and McRoberts at times in the Bulls' game 5 116-89 victory over the Pacers. McRoberts was ejected from the game for throwing a forearm punch at Noah during a basket altercation at the end of the third quarter. AJ Price, who really pissed me off in this series with the way he played, was also given a technical foul for trash talking to Noah following another altercation with Tyler Hansbrough. When Noah is going like he was last night, the Bulls feed off of his energy. It was great to see, and the crowd at the United Center was fired up all night.
The glaring weakness coming from this series is obviously the play of Carlos Boozer. The Bulls brought him in to take some of the scoring load off of Derrick Rose, while also grabbing big rebound numbers. Boozer's last two performances in games 4 and 5 of this series were brutal. He scored 2 points and pulled in 5 rebounds last night, and that was it. He routinely missed easy layups and close range shots in this series because he went up soft at the rim. He was constantly in foul trouble, and they were legitimate/stupid fouls. Pushing people in the back on rebound opportunities and lowering his shoulder when driving to the basket are clear-cut fouls, and yet he continues to do those things early and often. If he isn't going to pick his game up in the playoffs, I'd rather see Taj Gibson, who was brilliant last night, get those minutes. He's much better defensively, and isn't too bad offensively either.
I would talk about Derrick Rose, but there really isn't a need. He's been fantastic all season long, and was again last night, going for 25 points and 6 assists. He's clearly the MVP of the season, and as long as he is on the court, the Bulls will have a chance to win any game they play.
So now the Bulls wait for their second round opponent. It will be either the Hawks or the Magic, and I think they can defeat either team in a 7 game series. I think I would rather see the Atlanta Hawks, simply because they don't have the talent to match up with the Bulls. Either way, it'll be great to have NBA Playoff basketball in Chicago in May. Hopefully they can keep it going into late May and June.
So overall, Tuesday was a bittersweet night for Chicago sports fans. The Bulls certainly looked like a team that deserved the number one seed and homecourt throughout the NBA Playoffs. The Blackhawks, while in a losing effort, showed championship heart, and proved that there is still reason to believe they can contend in the NHL for years to come.
The Chicago Blackhawks lost game 7 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks, by a final score of 2-1. They rallied back and fought hard from a 3-0 series deficit, but fell just short. Even in game 7 they showed alot of grit and resiliency, especially from their starting goaltender, Corey Crawford. Crawford allowed only 2 Alex Burrows goals, neither of which were his fault. The first goal of the game resulted from a bad line change, and the Canucks made the Hawks pay. The final goal of the game was due to a terrible turnover in the Hawks' zone, and Burrows didn't make any mistake with the shot. It was a laser right over the shoulder of Crawford that sent the Hawks home for the summer. Crawford stopped 34 of 36 shots, many of them spectacular, ridiculous saves.
The captain, Jonathan Toews, tied the game with just 1:56 left in the third on a short-handed goal. At that point I thought the Hawks might pull it out, and when they were sent on the power play just seconds into the overtime period, I really thought it would happen. Patrick Sharp had a fantastic opportunity to end the Canucks' season, taking a great pass from Toews through the crease and aiming for the top shelf on the short-side of the net. Luongo made a terrific stop, and the Hawks never got close to scoring in the overtime after that. It was a disappointing end to the season, but I was very happy with the effort the defending cup champions showed in the final four games of the series. There is no shame in losing the series the way they eventually did, and Hawks fans should be proud of the effort they showed in the last four games.
The biggest issue for the Hawks this year was that they waited way too long to play anything resembling championship hockey. It is tough to repeat in any sport as champion, and it hasn't happened in 13 years in the NHL, so the Hawks were up against it to begin with. However, they played sluggish and unmotivated all season. They backed into the playoffs on the last day of the season after losing to Detroit, but getting some from the Minnesota Wild, who defeated the Dallas Stars to send the Hawks to the postseason. When I think about it though, they could have easily been in a better position. They lost several games earlier in the season that they had no business losing. Three times they lost to the Colorado Avalanche, who were the second worst team in the Western Conference. They lost twice apiece on home ice to the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets, which just shouldn't happen. They also made it a regular habit to blow multiple goal leads, and leads in the third period, which good hockey teams just don't do. Winning those games earlier in the season would have put the Hawks in a much better playoff position than playing the top-seeded Canucks, who were just a little bit better this season.
On the court, the Chicago Bulls finally did what all of their fans wanted them to do, and they put a whooping on a clearly inferior, although competitive Indiana Pacers squad. I had been talking with a buddy of mine before the game, and we were convinced that if the Bulls could have a good shooting night, they would destroy the Pacers. That is exactly what happened. Rose hit 3 three point shots, Bogans was 5-7 from the three point line, Deng and Korver each knocked in a couple of threes, and the Bulls absolutely ran away from the Pacers in the second half. Joakim Noah had his second straight great game, finishing with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks, not to mention getting in the Pacers' heads. He played physical with Hibbert, Foster, Hansbrough, and McRoberts at times in the Bulls' game 5 116-89 victory over the Pacers. McRoberts was ejected from the game for throwing a forearm punch at Noah during a basket altercation at the end of the third quarter. AJ Price, who really pissed me off in this series with the way he played, was also given a technical foul for trash talking to Noah following another altercation with Tyler Hansbrough. When Noah is going like he was last night, the Bulls feed off of his energy. It was great to see, and the crowd at the United Center was fired up all night.
The glaring weakness coming from this series is obviously the play of Carlos Boozer. The Bulls brought him in to take some of the scoring load off of Derrick Rose, while also grabbing big rebound numbers. Boozer's last two performances in games 4 and 5 of this series were brutal. He scored 2 points and pulled in 5 rebounds last night, and that was it. He routinely missed easy layups and close range shots in this series because he went up soft at the rim. He was constantly in foul trouble, and they were legitimate/stupid fouls. Pushing people in the back on rebound opportunities and lowering his shoulder when driving to the basket are clear-cut fouls, and yet he continues to do those things early and often. If he isn't going to pick his game up in the playoffs, I'd rather see Taj Gibson, who was brilliant last night, get those minutes. He's much better defensively, and isn't too bad offensively either.
I would talk about Derrick Rose, but there really isn't a need. He's been fantastic all season long, and was again last night, going for 25 points and 6 assists. He's clearly the MVP of the season, and as long as he is on the court, the Bulls will have a chance to win any game they play.
So now the Bulls wait for their second round opponent. It will be either the Hawks or the Magic, and I think they can defeat either team in a 7 game series. I think I would rather see the Atlanta Hawks, simply because they don't have the talent to match up with the Bulls. Either way, it'll be great to have NBA Playoff basketball in Chicago in May. Hopefully they can keep it going into late May and June.
So overall, Tuesday was a bittersweet night for Chicago sports fans. The Bulls certainly looked like a team that deserved the number one seed and homecourt throughout the NBA Playoffs. The Blackhawks, while in a losing effort, showed championship heart, and proved that there is still reason to believe they can contend in the NHL for years to come.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Bad Loss for Bulls in Toronto
The Bulls dropped their post All-Star Game opener on the road in Toronto this evening, 118-113. The only bright spot in tonight's game was Derrick Rose, who finished with 32 points and 10 assists, and kept the Bulls in the game in the fourth quarter. It was also Joakim Noah's first game back from injury, which makes the outcome all the more disappointing.
The big problem in the game tonight was the Bulls' defense, or lack there of. Allowing 118 points to a 15 win team is pathetic. You could see it all night too. They gave up easy buckets, were falling for pump-fakes all game long, fouling in stupid situations, and leaving wide open looks to every Toronto shooter all over the floor. The Raptors ended up shooting around 58 percent for the game, which for the Bulls is awful. They pride themselves on playing some of the best defense in the league, and tonight, they just didn't bring it. If you would have told me the Bulls would put up 113 in the game tonight, I would have said they'd win by 20.
The other big let down is that this loss comes on the heels of a pretty tough stretch for the Bulls. They have a home game against the Miami Heat tomorrow night, and then go on the road for 5 straight, against the Bucks, Wizards, Hawks, Magic and Heat. A win tonight was almost a 'must' to start the second half, especially on the heels of the Knicks making a trade for Carmelo Anthony. All of a sudden the Eastern Conference is stacked, and the Bulls need to get wins and fight for playoff positioning.
If the Bulls stand any chance of winning against the Heat tomorrow night, they need to play lights out defensively. They should be ready to go, and a little upset about tonight's performance, which was just pathetic. Toronto doesn't even belong on the same floor with the Bulls, and to lose to them in the first game that they've been completely healthy since early December is extremely disappointing.
Oh well, you can't dwell on the bad losses. The Bulls should learn a lesson from this game, though. You have to be ready to play against every opponent, every single time out. Hopefully we will see an inspired defensive effort before the Bulls go on a tough road trip. They've been one of the best home teams in the league, and having Joakim Noah healthy should be a huge boost, and give the crowd alot of energy. I am excited to see how the Bulls play against the "Big Three".
The big problem in the game tonight was the Bulls' defense, or lack there of. Allowing 118 points to a 15 win team is pathetic. You could see it all night too. They gave up easy buckets, were falling for pump-fakes all game long, fouling in stupid situations, and leaving wide open looks to every Toronto shooter all over the floor. The Raptors ended up shooting around 58 percent for the game, which for the Bulls is awful. They pride themselves on playing some of the best defense in the league, and tonight, they just didn't bring it. If you would have told me the Bulls would put up 113 in the game tonight, I would have said they'd win by 20.
The other big let down is that this loss comes on the heels of a pretty tough stretch for the Bulls. They have a home game against the Miami Heat tomorrow night, and then go on the road for 5 straight, against the Bucks, Wizards, Hawks, Magic and Heat. A win tonight was almost a 'must' to start the second half, especially on the heels of the Knicks making a trade for Carmelo Anthony. All of a sudden the Eastern Conference is stacked, and the Bulls need to get wins and fight for playoff positioning.
If the Bulls stand any chance of winning against the Heat tomorrow night, they need to play lights out defensively. They should be ready to go, and a little upset about tonight's performance, which was just pathetic. Toronto doesn't even belong on the same floor with the Bulls, and to lose to them in the first game that they've been completely healthy since early December is extremely disappointing.
Oh well, you can't dwell on the bad losses. The Bulls should learn a lesson from this game, though. You have to be ready to play against every opponent, every single time out. Hopefully we will see an inspired defensive effort before the Bulls go on a tough road trip. They've been one of the best home teams in the league, and having Joakim Noah healthy should be a huge boost, and give the crowd alot of energy. I am excited to see how the Bulls play against the "Big Three".
Thursday, January 27, 2011
NBA at Mid-season
We are just over halfway through the NBA regular season, and the playoff picture in both conferences has pretty much taken form, especially in the top half of each conference. While the playoff seeds are still very much up for grabs, the top teams in each conference have clearly separated themselves.
The conference standings as they are right now are as follows:
Eastern Conference:
1. Boston Celtics (34-10)
2. Miami Heat (31-13)
3. Chicago Bulls (31-14)
4. Orlando Magic (30-16)
5. Atlanta Hawks (29-17)
6. New York Knicks (23-21)
7. Philadelphia 76ers (20-25)
8. Charlotte Bobcats (19-25)
9.Milwaukee Bucks (17-26)
10. Indiana Pacers (16-26)
11. Detroit Pistons(17-29)
12. New Jersey Nets (14-32)
13. Washington Wizards (13-31)
14. Toronto Raptors (13-33)
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-37)
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs (39-7)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (33-13)
3. New Orleans Hornets (31-16)
4. Oklahomo City Thunder (29-16)
5. Dallas Mavericks (29-15)
6. Denver Nuggets (27-18)
7. Utah Jazz (27-19)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (25-21)
9. Memphis Grizzlies (22-24)
10. Houston Rockets (22-25)
11. Phoenix Suns (20-24)
12. Golden State Warriors (19-26)
13. Los Angeles Clippers (17-28)
14. Sacramento Kings (10-33)
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-35)
Obviously it's still early in the season, and things are going to change before the playoffs begin. In fact, just after I started this post, the Knicks beat the Heat, allowing the Bulls to jump up to the number 2 spot in the Eastern Conference. The thing that I think is pretty clear by looking at the two conferences is just how tough the Western Conference is. Sure, the Eastern Conference has four very good teams (maybe all four of those teams are elite) in the NBA, but overall, the Western Conference is much tougher.
For this post, I decided to go through the list of teams I think could be championship contenders this season, and predict how the rest of their seasons might go. We'll start in the Eastern Conference.
East:
1. Boston Celtics: This has to be the team to beat in the East. Almost everybody, including myself, had given the conference to the Miami Heat, but after watching them play the first half of the season, it's clear that they have issues that aren't going to be solved easily, if at all before the end of the season. The Celtics, however, only have one major issue to deal with, and that is injuries. Garnett, Shaq, Perkins, Jermaine O'Neal, Rondo, and Delonte West have all missed time with injuries this season. They were still able to post the best record in the East over that span, and now that they are all healthy, they will be scary the rest of the way. They have 3 Hall of Famers in their starting line up, the best pure shooter in the game today in Ray Allen, one of the best players in the clutch in Paul Pierce, and the deepest bench in the league by far. The rarely lose at home, and they should be playing at home throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Prediction: 62-20, and a trip back to the NBA Finals.
2. Miami Heat: The Heat have too much talent not to be considered a title contender this year. Wade and James are the obvious go to guys come playoff time, but they do have some other players on their team that can contribute. James Jones has proven to be an asset from behind the three point line, as has Mike Miller. The problem with the Heat is that they are a finesse team. They like to play "pretty" basketball, running the floor off of turnovers, and scoring alot in the fastbreak. Teams in the playoffs won't allow that. Playoff teams don't turn the ball over nearly as much, and they play tough, physical defense. I know the Heat can't play that style, especially not with Chris Bosh as the big man. Bosh is one of the softest players in the league, and he proved as much with his comments following the Heat's loss to the Bulls, in which he injured his ankle. Prediction: 55-27, and a loss in the Conference Semi-Finals.
3. Chicago Bulls: The Bulls are my favorite team, and I love how they have been playing the first half of the season. They have only played 9 full games with a healthy roster (Boozer and Noah have each missed significant time), and not only have they weathered the storm, they've thrived in it. They went 9-6 without Boozer to start the season, and are 15-6 since Noah went out with an injury. Derrick Rose has emerged as a star in the NBA, and that seems to be one of the characteristics for teams to make a deep playoff run. The thing the Bulls lack though is winning playoff experience. I think this team is built for long term success, and may be a solid shooting guard away from actually competing for a championship. Prediction: 54-28, and most likely a loss in the Conference Semi Finals, although I want to say they'll play the Celtics in the Eastern Finals. That would be a great series.
4. Orlando Magic: I don't like the Magic, and I hated the trade they made earlier this season because of Gilbert Arenas. However, the trade has worked out pretty well so far. Dwight Howard is the best center in the NBA, and it's not even close. His offense is much improved, and his defense is just as good as it has been the past 2 seasons, when he has won the defensive player of the year award. The Magic can spread the floor, and they are averaging a league best 11 made three pointers per game since the trade. One player to watch on this team: Ryan Anderson. The Magic traded away Rashard Lewis, and have improved with Ryan Anderson. He can stretch the floor just as well, and plays decent enough defense, a foreign concept to Lewis. Prediction: 58-24, and a loss in the Conference Finals to the Celtics.
None of the other teams in the East really have a chance. The Hawks and the Knicks are the only other teams with winning records, but I can't see them doing much in the playoffs, depending on who they'll play in the first round. The Knicks just want to get in, and they'll take their chances next year when they are likely to sign Carmelo Anthony.
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs are playing the best team basketball in the league, and that includes the Boston Celtics. The Spurs are just as old as the Celtics, and in much the same way, they depend on evenly spread scoring contributions, and solid team defense. Ginobli, Parker and Duncan are still playing well, although Duncan is on the downhill portion of his career. The window is closing for the Spurs, but I like them in the West this year. Prediction: 65-17, and a trip to the NBA Finals to take on the Celtics.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: L.A. has to be considered a major contender to get back to the Finals this season. They haven't played well, and haven't come close to playing their best basketball, yet they are 20 games over .500, and are second in the conference. Kobe is starting to show his age, but is still one of the best scoring players in the league. It wouldn't shock me to see the Lakers back in the Finals, but I can't stand them, so I won't pick them. Prediction: 60-22, and a loss in the Conference Finals in 7 games.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder will be the team to beat in the West in the next 2 seasons. Durant and Westbrook are the best scoring pair in the league, and the rest of the team fits around them extremely well. They are a young, athletic team, and with some winning experience in the playoffs I can see them taking off in years to come. I like them in the long run, but not for this season. Prediction: 54-28, losing in the Conference Semi Finals to the Lakers. I would love to see them get passed this point, but don't think it happens this year. Watch out for alot of Thunder/Heat or Thunder/Bulls Finals in the next few years though.
I think those are the only realistic contenders this season. I'll admit that the Bulls might be a stretch this season, but they are playing extremely well to this point in the season, and being second in the conference after tonight, you have to throw them in the mix. It should be fun to see how the rest of the season plays out going into the Playoffs.
The conference standings as they are right now are as follows:
Eastern Conference:
1. Boston Celtics (34-10)
2. Miami Heat (31-13)
3. Chicago Bulls (31-14)
4. Orlando Magic (30-16)
5. Atlanta Hawks (29-17)
6. New York Knicks (23-21)
7. Philadelphia 76ers (20-25)
8. Charlotte Bobcats (19-25)
9.Milwaukee Bucks (17-26)
10. Indiana Pacers (16-26)
11. Detroit Pistons(17-29)
12. New Jersey Nets (14-32)
13. Washington Wizards (13-31)
14. Toronto Raptors (13-33)
15. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-37)
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs (39-7)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (33-13)
3. New Orleans Hornets (31-16)
4. Oklahomo City Thunder (29-16)
5. Dallas Mavericks (29-15)
6. Denver Nuggets (27-18)
7. Utah Jazz (27-19)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (25-21)
9. Memphis Grizzlies (22-24)
10. Houston Rockets (22-25)
11. Phoenix Suns (20-24)
12. Golden State Warriors (19-26)
13. Los Angeles Clippers (17-28)
14. Sacramento Kings (10-33)
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-35)
Obviously it's still early in the season, and things are going to change before the playoffs begin. In fact, just after I started this post, the Knicks beat the Heat, allowing the Bulls to jump up to the number 2 spot in the Eastern Conference. The thing that I think is pretty clear by looking at the two conferences is just how tough the Western Conference is. Sure, the Eastern Conference has four very good teams (maybe all four of those teams are elite) in the NBA, but overall, the Western Conference is much tougher.
For this post, I decided to go through the list of teams I think could be championship contenders this season, and predict how the rest of their seasons might go. We'll start in the Eastern Conference.
East:
1. Boston Celtics: This has to be the team to beat in the East. Almost everybody, including myself, had given the conference to the Miami Heat, but after watching them play the first half of the season, it's clear that they have issues that aren't going to be solved easily, if at all before the end of the season. The Celtics, however, only have one major issue to deal with, and that is injuries. Garnett, Shaq, Perkins, Jermaine O'Neal, Rondo, and Delonte West have all missed time with injuries this season. They were still able to post the best record in the East over that span, and now that they are all healthy, they will be scary the rest of the way. They have 3 Hall of Famers in their starting line up, the best pure shooter in the game today in Ray Allen, one of the best players in the clutch in Paul Pierce, and the deepest bench in the league by far. The rarely lose at home, and they should be playing at home throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Prediction: 62-20, and a trip back to the NBA Finals.
2. Miami Heat: The Heat have too much talent not to be considered a title contender this year. Wade and James are the obvious go to guys come playoff time, but they do have some other players on their team that can contribute. James Jones has proven to be an asset from behind the three point line, as has Mike Miller. The problem with the Heat is that they are a finesse team. They like to play "pretty" basketball, running the floor off of turnovers, and scoring alot in the fastbreak. Teams in the playoffs won't allow that. Playoff teams don't turn the ball over nearly as much, and they play tough, physical defense. I know the Heat can't play that style, especially not with Chris Bosh as the big man. Bosh is one of the softest players in the league, and he proved as much with his comments following the Heat's loss to the Bulls, in which he injured his ankle. Prediction: 55-27, and a loss in the Conference Semi-Finals.
3. Chicago Bulls: The Bulls are my favorite team, and I love how they have been playing the first half of the season. They have only played 9 full games with a healthy roster (Boozer and Noah have each missed significant time), and not only have they weathered the storm, they've thrived in it. They went 9-6 without Boozer to start the season, and are 15-6 since Noah went out with an injury. Derrick Rose has emerged as a star in the NBA, and that seems to be one of the characteristics for teams to make a deep playoff run. The thing the Bulls lack though is winning playoff experience. I think this team is built for long term success, and may be a solid shooting guard away from actually competing for a championship. Prediction: 54-28, and most likely a loss in the Conference Semi Finals, although I want to say they'll play the Celtics in the Eastern Finals. That would be a great series.
4. Orlando Magic: I don't like the Magic, and I hated the trade they made earlier this season because of Gilbert Arenas. However, the trade has worked out pretty well so far. Dwight Howard is the best center in the NBA, and it's not even close. His offense is much improved, and his defense is just as good as it has been the past 2 seasons, when he has won the defensive player of the year award. The Magic can spread the floor, and they are averaging a league best 11 made three pointers per game since the trade. One player to watch on this team: Ryan Anderson. The Magic traded away Rashard Lewis, and have improved with Ryan Anderson. He can stretch the floor just as well, and plays decent enough defense, a foreign concept to Lewis. Prediction: 58-24, and a loss in the Conference Finals to the Celtics.
None of the other teams in the East really have a chance. The Hawks and the Knicks are the only other teams with winning records, but I can't see them doing much in the playoffs, depending on who they'll play in the first round. The Knicks just want to get in, and they'll take their chances next year when they are likely to sign Carmelo Anthony.
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs are playing the best team basketball in the league, and that includes the Boston Celtics. The Spurs are just as old as the Celtics, and in much the same way, they depend on evenly spread scoring contributions, and solid team defense. Ginobli, Parker and Duncan are still playing well, although Duncan is on the downhill portion of his career. The window is closing for the Spurs, but I like them in the West this year. Prediction: 65-17, and a trip to the NBA Finals to take on the Celtics.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: L.A. has to be considered a major contender to get back to the Finals this season. They haven't played well, and haven't come close to playing their best basketball, yet they are 20 games over .500, and are second in the conference. Kobe is starting to show his age, but is still one of the best scoring players in the league. It wouldn't shock me to see the Lakers back in the Finals, but I can't stand them, so I won't pick them. Prediction: 60-22, and a loss in the Conference Finals in 7 games.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder: The Thunder will be the team to beat in the West in the next 2 seasons. Durant and Westbrook are the best scoring pair in the league, and the rest of the team fits around them extremely well. They are a young, athletic team, and with some winning experience in the playoffs I can see them taking off in years to come. I like them in the long run, but not for this season. Prediction: 54-28, losing in the Conference Semi Finals to the Lakers. I would love to see them get passed this point, but don't think it happens this year. Watch out for alot of Thunder/Heat or Thunder/Bulls Finals in the next few years though.
I think those are the only realistic contenders this season. I'll admit that the Bulls might be a stretch this season, but they are playing extremely well to this point in the season, and being second in the conference after tonight, you have to throw them in the mix. It should be fun to see how the rest of the season plays out going into the Playoffs.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Let's Make a Deal!
There has been alot of trade speculation surrounding the Chicago Bulls since the beginning of the season. They have been loosely linked to Carmelo Anthony, who seems destined to be playing in a new jersey by the end of February. There have also been a plethora of other shooters that have been mentioned as possible names that could be moved by the trading deadline. The Bulls are an improving team, and should be a lock to at least move passed the first round of the playoffs this season. If they want to actually contend, they need to find somebody who can shoot well from the perimeter. So, with that in mind, I decided to take a look at some of the players they currently have on their roster, and possible players they could add.
Untradeable:
Derrick Rose: Nobody in their right mind would trade Rose to another team this early in his career. He is a legit MVP candidate this season, and will be the starting point guard at the all star game this season. He will only get better, and will be the face of the franchise for many seasons.
Joakim Noah: The Bulls just recently locked Noah up with a 5 year deal. Besides that, he is a top 5 rebounder, the second best defensive center in the conference, and his offense has improved alot (it will continue to get better as well).
Carlos Boozer: The only real scoring option the Bulls have in the post. Boozer is a double-double machine, and a legit 20-10 guy. Those are tough to find, and when you get one, you don't trade him.
Good Trade Candidates:
Luol Deng: Deng would look very good to other teams for a trade if he didn't have such a huge contract. He puts up decent numbers (18 points, 6 rebounds per game), but those stats aren't worth the money he makes, which is right around 11 million dollars per season, for the next 2 seasons.
Kyle Korver: I like Korver, especially in the role he plays for the Bulls. He is a three point specialist, and is the only real sharp shooter the Bulls have on their roster. However, if the Bulls are going to acquire a good perimeter shooter, they will likely have to give up a good shooter in the deal, and Korver would likely be the guy.
Ronnie Brewer: I almost put Brewer on the untradeable list, because Brewer is the type of player winning teams have. He comes off the bench, plays spectacular defense, chips in key buckets, and is a great team player. Championship teams have those kinds of players come off their bench. Other teams know that too, and may want Ronnie Brewer if they are to give up a quality shooter.
Taj Gibson: Taj has played unbelievable basketball lately, especially on the defensive end. He has had at least 5 blocks in 3 of the last 5 games, and continues to improve his mid-range jumpshot, along with his post game. I really like him coming off the Bulls' bench, because he would be starting on alot of teams in the league, which gives the Bulls much better depth in the backcourt when they are healthy. Teams around the league especially like Gibson's talent, and he may be a focal point of any deal the Bulls try to make.
CJ Watson: Watson is the only other player the Bulls have that can run the point, although he is more of a combo guard. He can score pretty well too, which is why some teams might request Watson be part of a trade if the Bulls want a quality shooting guard.
Others:
James Johnson: Some teams may take a flier on Johnson, as he has raw talent, but has not developed like a first round pick should. He doesn't get enough minutes to develop, but he really doesn't deserve the minutes either.
Omer Asik: The Bulls wouldn't trade him anyway, and even though other teams around the league might like this guy, he is also pretty raw. He is a defensive machine, and can rebound very well. He also makes alot of hustle plays, which players like Chris Bosh know nothing about. I think the Bulls want to develop Omer's game over the next couple of seasons, and see if they can hang on to him for a great option to replace Noah off the bench.
Keith Bogans: At this point Bogans continues to start, but he only plays 12-14 minutes per game, and doesn't really contribute much offensively.
Kurt Thomas: Thomas has played extremely well in Noah's absence, and the Bulls should be grateful for the job he has done. I don't think many teams would want him because of his age (38), but he does have an expiring contract, so who knows. Still, I think he stays with the Bulls to finish the season.
Players the Bulls could trade for:
1. Carmelo Anthony: It has been widely reported that Anthony, who is one of the best scorers in the league, only wants to play for the Knicks. If I'm the Bulls' GM, I say let him. Denver is asking way too much in any trade, and earlier this year, when the Bulls asked what it would take to land Anthony, the Nuggets said they would need Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and 2 first round picks. The Bulls answered by giving Noah a massive contract extension. Sounds like a big middle finger to the Nuggets to me.
2. J.R. Smith: Smith is the starting shooting guard for the Denver Nuggets, and plays alongside Carmelo Anthony. He can shoot the ball lights out from distance, but tends to play out of control. He is also wildly inconsistent. He'll score 25 one night, and only score 6 the next night. The Bulls need a consistent shooting guard who can start for them, and I don't know that J.R. Smith is it. Plus, the Bulls had J.R. Smith on their roster a couple of years ago, and they traded him before he ever played a game. I think they knew back then that they didn't want him. Why would they now?
3. O.J. Mayo: Mayo is a player I wouldn't mind having actually. He comes off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies, but that is a gross misuse of a talented player. Mayo would be averaging 20 points per game with alot of different teams in the NBA. He can shoot well from the perimeter, and has the ability to create his own shot. I don't know that he would be the best fit in Chicago, but he is a talented player that I am sure the Bulls are looking at.
4. Andre Iguodala: Iguodala is the most athletic player in this group. He is the starting shooting guard for the 76ers, and is probably the best defender out of this group. However, he is more of a slashing guard, who likes to get to the rim. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but the Bulls need a guy who can spot up and shoot from the perimeter with great consistency, and Iguodala just isn't that type of player.
In my opinion, I don't think the Bulls need to make a trade. They have only had their full complement of players for 9 games this season. Boozer has missed 17 games with injuries, and Noah has been out since mid-December, and isn't expected back until late February. When Noah and Boozer were both in the lineup, the Bulls were 7-2, and were winning games by double digits. Derrick Rose is quickly becoming one of the best players in the NBA, and the last thing the Bulls need to do is bring in a player who is going to take the ball out of his hands. The bench is deep now, and the Bulls should do everything they can to maintain the depth they have. They need to do this if they hope to compete with the Celtics in the next couple of seasons. I think the Bulls should look big picture. They have alot of young players on their team right now, and they will need time to learn how to win playoff games. Let this team take their lumps now. Use your draft picks well, grab a couple of good shooters, and sign a decent free agent if one comes available. But don't trade away good pieces of a good, young, improving team that is just starting to build good chemistry.
Untradeable:
Derrick Rose: Nobody in their right mind would trade Rose to another team this early in his career. He is a legit MVP candidate this season, and will be the starting point guard at the all star game this season. He will only get better, and will be the face of the franchise for many seasons.
Joakim Noah: The Bulls just recently locked Noah up with a 5 year deal. Besides that, he is a top 5 rebounder, the second best defensive center in the conference, and his offense has improved alot (it will continue to get better as well).
Carlos Boozer: The only real scoring option the Bulls have in the post. Boozer is a double-double machine, and a legit 20-10 guy. Those are tough to find, and when you get one, you don't trade him.
Good Trade Candidates:
Luol Deng: Deng would look very good to other teams for a trade if he didn't have such a huge contract. He puts up decent numbers (18 points, 6 rebounds per game), but those stats aren't worth the money he makes, which is right around 11 million dollars per season, for the next 2 seasons.
Kyle Korver: I like Korver, especially in the role he plays for the Bulls. He is a three point specialist, and is the only real sharp shooter the Bulls have on their roster. However, if the Bulls are going to acquire a good perimeter shooter, they will likely have to give up a good shooter in the deal, and Korver would likely be the guy.
Ronnie Brewer: I almost put Brewer on the untradeable list, because Brewer is the type of player winning teams have. He comes off the bench, plays spectacular defense, chips in key buckets, and is a great team player. Championship teams have those kinds of players come off their bench. Other teams know that too, and may want Ronnie Brewer if they are to give up a quality shooter.
Taj Gibson: Taj has played unbelievable basketball lately, especially on the defensive end. He has had at least 5 blocks in 3 of the last 5 games, and continues to improve his mid-range jumpshot, along with his post game. I really like him coming off the Bulls' bench, because he would be starting on alot of teams in the league, which gives the Bulls much better depth in the backcourt when they are healthy. Teams around the league especially like Gibson's talent, and he may be a focal point of any deal the Bulls try to make.
CJ Watson: Watson is the only other player the Bulls have that can run the point, although he is more of a combo guard. He can score pretty well too, which is why some teams might request Watson be part of a trade if the Bulls want a quality shooting guard.
Others:
James Johnson: Some teams may take a flier on Johnson, as he has raw talent, but has not developed like a first round pick should. He doesn't get enough minutes to develop, but he really doesn't deserve the minutes either.
Omer Asik: The Bulls wouldn't trade him anyway, and even though other teams around the league might like this guy, he is also pretty raw. He is a defensive machine, and can rebound very well. He also makes alot of hustle plays, which players like Chris Bosh know nothing about. I think the Bulls want to develop Omer's game over the next couple of seasons, and see if they can hang on to him for a great option to replace Noah off the bench.
Keith Bogans: At this point Bogans continues to start, but he only plays 12-14 minutes per game, and doesn't really contribute much offensively.
Kurt Thomas: Thomas has played extremely well in Noah's absence, and the Bulls should be grateful for the job he has done. I don't think many teams would want him because of his age (38), but he does have an expiring contract, so who knows. Still, I think he stays with the Bulls to finish the season.
Players the Bulls could trade for:
1. Carmelo Anthony: It has been widely reported that Anthony, who is one of the best scorers in the league, only wants to play for the Knicks. If I'm the Bulls' GM, I say let him. Denver is asking way too much in any trade, and earlier this year, when the Bulls asked what it would take to land Anthony, the Nuggets said they would need Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, and 2 first round picks. The Bulls answered by giving Noah a massive contract extension. Sounds like a big middle finger to the Nuggets to me.
2. J.R. Smith: Smith is the starting shooting guard for the Denver Nuggets, and plays alongside Carmelo Anthony. He can shoot the ball lights out from distance, but tends to play out of control. He is also wildly inconsistent. He'll score 25 one night, and only score 6 the next night. The Bulls need a consistent shooting guard who can start for them, and I don't know that J.R. Smith is it. Plus, the Bulls had J.R. Smith on their roster a couple of years ago, and they traded him before he ever played a game. I think they knew back then that they didn't want him. Why would they now?
3. O.J. Mayo: Mayo is a player I wouldn't mind having actually. He comes off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies, but that is a gross misuse of a talented player. Mayo would be averaging 20 points per game with alot of different teams in the NBA. He can shoot well from the perimeter, and has the ability to create his own shot. I don't know that he would be the best fit in Chicago, but he is a talented player that I am sure the Bulls are looking at.
4. Andre Iguodala: Iguodala is the most athletic player in this group. He is the starting shooting guard for the 76ers, and is probably the best defender out of this group. However, he is more of a slashing guard, who likes to get to the rim. There is nothing wrong with that at all, but the Bulls need a guy who can spot up and shoot from the perimeter with great consistency, and Iguodala just isn't that type of player.
In my opinion, I don't think the Bulls need to make a trade. They have only had their full complement of players for 9 games this season. Boozer has missed 17 games with injuries, and Noah has been out since mid-December, and isn't expected back until late February. When Noah and Boozer were both in the lineup, the Bulls were 7-2, and were winning games by double digits. Derrick Rose is quickly becoming one of the best players in the NBA, and the last thing the Bulls need to do is bring in a player who is going to take the ball out of his hands. The bench is deep now, and the Bulls should do everything they can to maintain the depth they have. They need to do this if they hope to compete with the Celtics in the next couple of seasons. I think the Bulls should look big picture. They have alot of young players on their team right now, and they will need time to learn how to win playoff games. Let this team take their lumps now. Use your draft picks well, grab a couple of good shooters, and sign a decent free agent if one comes available. But don't trade away good pieces of a good, young, improving team that is just starting to build good chemistry.
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