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Post by EzE on Jun 29, 2006 10:26:47 GMT -6
What a jip! Etienne Nelson wasn't drafted!!!
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Post by Big D on Jun 29, 2006 11:12:08 GMT -6
I really like how the Bulls' draft worked out. It's nice to see Pax make trades which seem to better the team as opposed to Krause trading proven talent (Elton Brand) for high-schoolers with potential (Chandler).
I thought I read Sefolosha was going to be in the summer league....maybe Banks will get to play him...
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Post by UICJohn on Jun 29, 2006 13:29:07 GMT -6
I think that the Bulls had a great draft. They got their guy in Tyrus Thomas who I am thrilled over getting. He'll take a year or two to reach his full potential, but he has a ton of it. He should be able to contribute at least defensively right away. He has a pretty good shot for a guy his size. And the guy from Switzerland I can't really say I know much about. But he's a big guard at 6'6", supposedly very energetic and good defensive player who some guys said they wouldn't be too surprised if he turned out to be the best guard out of the draft.
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Post by EzE on Jun 29, 2006 14:17:14 GMT -6
I don't know much about the Swiss guy. Thomas has definite upside. I was excited about Aldridge, but considering we got a 2 for 1 deal here with the Ukranian guy...it might not be bad.
Anybody know anything about the other guy we got in the Thomas trade?
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Post by Big D on Jul 3, 2006 22:10:52 GMT -6
Well, the Bulls have now apparently agreed on a contract with Ben Wallace. This is a great addition even if Wallace is 32 years old. He's hard working and will bring some serious toughness inside.
Will this be the end for Chandler? I'd like to see him stick around with Wallace winding down over the next couple of years.
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Post by UICJohn on Jul 3, 2006 22:44:30 GMT -6
Ben Wallace is a huge signing. Not only does it take alot away from a team that was in front of us in the East, but it gives us the Defensive Player of the Year, a guy with attitude, tough, push people around. His work ethic is second to none in the NBA now. He brings intangibles as well as his on the court presence. When it comes to Chandler, who knows. The rumors were that if we got Big Ben, Chandler was out of the door. There was a rumor earlier today that he was going to New Orleans for PJ Brown which would be good even if only because Brown is in the last year of his deal. In fact, as I type this, ESPN is reporting the Bulls are actually very close to trading Chandler to NO for PJ Brown and JR Smith. So maybe even by morning we'll see.
And I hate, I mean I hate looking ahead, but the Knicks are looking worse and worse and swapping picks with them next year looks so good!
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Post by Chuck A on Jul 5, 2006 12:49:17 GMT -6
Sportscenter had Greg Anthony on to give his take on the shift of power in the East. He had his top 5 and it went:
1. Miami
2. Chicago
3. Cleveland
4. Washington
5. Detroit
He also applauded the Bulls on their draft and said that maybe they're still a player away from the NBA Finals. Considering the Bulls played the Heat really well in the first round without a Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefalosha and an ineffective Luol Deng, the upcoming season looks quite promising.
The number one defense in Field Goal percentage just got that much better!
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Post by UICJohn on Jul 5, 2006 13:54:30 GMT -6
I'm not sure if the Bulls are still a player away but I'm also not sure if they're NBA Finals ready. I think they have all the players, but it's still hard to remember that they're all so young. However, I don't care what anyone says, defense still wins in the NBA and the Bulls did have the best defense last two years in the NBA (Field Goal % speaking) and they just added arguably the best defensive player in the NBA. How will other teams score?  It looks as though Chandler is gone. I think the key for this upcoming season, or at least one of them, is Andres Nocioni finally making a step to coming a star player. He has shown up for the playoffs, but he needs to bring that to a full season and consistantly put up 20 point 10 rebound games. Our guards like Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich have to consistanly find ways to get points without hitting their shots, meaning find ways to get to the basket and if not get the lay up, then get to the line. Another guy who has to become more consistant is Luol Deng. Although he hasn't shown the star power as often as Andres Nocioni, he has shown flashes and there is really no arguing that he has what it takes. Thabo and Thomas should be able to contribute immediately, at least defensively. I think that some are underestimating the offense that Thomas could bring to the team, even in this upcoming season. And as far as those standings goes, I really don't think that the Heat are the best team. I mean, perhaps he put them there just because they're the defending champions, I don't know. But I just have a hard time really believing that. Believing that Shaq can take another full season? That their supporting cast is really Champion material? And Dwaye Wade is a fine NBA player. His shot is underrated. But with some of those calls he was getting in the playoffs, come on. When he scores 40 points and 24 of them come from the line, and he shoots 30% or so from the field, it's hard to think he's the next coming. |
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Post by Chuck A on Jul 5, 2006 15:32:16 GMT -6
I'm not sure if the Bulls are still a player away but I'm also not sure if they're NBA Finals ready. I think they have all the players, but it's still hard to remember that they're all so young. However, I don't care what anyone says, defense still wins in the NBA and the Bulls did have the best defense last two years in the NBA (Field Goal % speaking) and they just added arguably the best defensive player in the NBA. How will other teams score? I think that "so young" thing is so overrated at this point. Hinrich is in his 4th year. Deng, Duhon, Nocioni and Gordon are all 3rd year players now. The all have been to two intense playoffs in back to back seasons. If you really think about it you can say they've been to four playoffs. In each of the past two seasons, they've had to really push toward the playoffs, so every game was a dogfight just to make it. Once they got there, the intensity was pretty much the same for them- do or die. It looks as though Chandler is gone. I think the key for this upcoming season, or at least one of them, is Andres Nocioni finally making a step to coming a star player. He has shown up for the playoffs, but he needs to bring that to a full season and consistantly put up 20 point 10 rebound games. Our guards like Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich have to consistanly find ways to get points without hitting their shots, meaning find ways to get to the basket and if not get the lay up, then get to the line. Another guy who has to become more consistant is Luol Deng. Although he hasn't shown the star power as often as Andres Nocioni, he has shown flashes and there is really no arguing that he has what it takes. Thabo and Thomas should be able to contribute immediately, at least defensively. I think that some are underestimating the offense that Thomas could bring to the team, even in this upcoming season. I agree with your assessment and also think that Thomas and Thabo will contribute immediately. I also was telling one of my brothers that I believe Thabo will be starting or at least be in the game at crunch time in the second half of the season once he gets acclimated. And as far as those standings goes, I really don't think that the Heat are the best team. I mean, perhaps he put them there just because they're the defending champions, I don't know. But I just have a hard time really believing that. Believing that Shaq can take another full season? That their supporting cast is really Champion material? And Dwaye Wade is a fine NBA player. His shot is underrated. But with some of those calls he was getting in the playoffs, come on. When he scores 40 points and 24 of them come from the line, and he shoots 30% or so from the field, it's hard to think he's the next coming. You can't really dispute the fact that they won the champioship. So they must have something that we weren't seeing in the regular season. Antoine Walker finally came alive, Pat Riley made the adjustments and D-Wade was actually the one who had the "S" on his chest. As for going to the line, the refs will give you that if they see that you are determined in going to the basket, are at that level (in the Finals) and are a fine NBA citizen (basically a non-complainer about calls). If Dirk Nowitzi had gone to the basket with any authority, he would've wound up with at least 25-30 attempts a game. That's the difference between the great ones and the almost great ones. The great ones realize when there shot is not falling, when they should be passing instead of shooting, when going to the basket is the best course of scoring. It appears that Wade has realized that quicker than most of his counterparts. |
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Post by Big D on Jul 5, 2006 19:23:28 GMT -6
Chandler's out...P.J. Brown's in. I know this will probably help us in the long run (as far as signing our core players), but I must admit, I think Chandler could be a good player. He's gotten the shaft from the refs since he's been in the league. But his defense, despite his slender frame, is pretty awesome. And I like the emotion he plays with...
The Bulls probably played Miami better than any other team in the playoffs. Of course, Miami is going to be the fave just because they are champs. With Wallace and Brown, our defense should be better, and I can only assume that Thabo was drafted for one reason....to play defense against Wade, Lebron, and the like. His height and long arms might be able to slow these guys down because we looked absolutely pitiful against Wade last year.
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Post by UICJohn on Jul 5, 2006 20:03:05 GMT -6
Well, the story on Thabo is that he is a quick learner and that his game has made huge strides in the past year or so. However, he still has some ways to go. He's big for a guard at 6'6", long arms, athletic body, ball handling and passing are his strong points, and is very aggressive on defense. However, he lacks range on his shots and is not the best off of the dribble. But at least for now, what the Bulls are looking for from him is a big guard who can defend the bigger guards around the league (Wade, LeBron, etc, that were mentioned).
As far as Chandler, I feel bad getting rid of him. He was always a good guy on the team, and loved his enthusiasm and just how he gets into the games, running and high fiving fans afterwards, and things like that. But he'll never be what he was supposed to.
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