czman
Well-known member
- Joined:
- May 7, 2013
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The Bulls are 4th in the east at 27-14. Right now they would play the Bucks if the season ended today. I think they need to avoid the Cavaliers in the first round. The Cavs have not played well, but does anyone think Lebron James is going out in the first round? I am not a conspiracy theorist. The Refs are people though and they know what round it is. James is going to get to the line and the Cavs—even though they have not played well—have a very talented team that can live at the line and get players in foul trouble for an entire series.
Derrick Rose: has been very up and down this season. 30% from 3 and 34% in the midrange game is not good. In fact for a point guard it is actually pretty bad. Teams have started going under the screen and daring him to shoot. When he makes the shots the Bulls are in decent shape. He has missed a lot recently. I am not sure the Bulls can beat a quality team in a 7 game series if he is not hitting open jump shots.
Jimmy Butler: Has been up early and down more recently. I said early on that the way he was playing was not sustainable. I do mean that. I don’t think he, or anyone, can play 40 minutes a game, take the beating he takes and get to the line like he has. His shooting has been sliding. 34% from 3 and 41% in the midrange. This is not good; probably a little below average for a starting SG.
I want to elaborate on the unsustainable comment. Maybe he can find away to normalize out and do this for entire season. Maybe he can do it through the playoffs. How long can he keep it up though…… 2 maybe 3 years. After that he is going to be ground into the court. The Bulls need to think about decreasing his role. He is a long term asset and right now, they are burning his candle at both ends.
His defense has not been good this season. The Bulls are actually 5.5 points better on D when he is not on the court per 100 possessions.
Mike Dunleavy: Has proven to be very important. His floor spacing is critical to this team. Right now the Bulls have few players who can space the floor and we see what happens when he misses time.
Joakim Noah: has really fallen off. Am not sure if it is his knee or he may be run into the ground after playing under Thibs for years. Last season the Bulls were a +7.5 per 100 possessions when he was on the floor, this year they are a-5 as opposed to when he is off the floor.
I have to think that is due to injury. I do wonder what he has left though long term and if the Bulls might be better off thinking about moving him and his contract at some point. The Bulls do not have a lot of contracts to move, and his is large, and he still has value. If he can recover and return to form the Bulls will be in great shape.
On offense he is killing the Bulls. I know last year the high post was the best of a serious of bad options for one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Right now he should be standing on the weakside going for offensive boards and only moving above the FT line to do high low passes to the post.
Nikola Mirotic: The most intriguing player on the Bulls. When he is on the court the team is better on both offense and defense. His defense at SF, small smaple siz, has been the best on the team. I think the Bulls should look at this more. Outside of the Cavs and Raptors who has 2 wings that scare you. I think He can defend Pierce. Korver or Carroll??? Giannas does not scare me. I think if the Bulls make it to the Finals there are a lot of bad matchups, but in the East there are really only 2 teams that make Mirotic at SF a problem.
Lastly he can really shoot. 36%from 3. 50% in the midrange game. That is huge. He might be the best shooter on the Bulls right now. More playing time. More time at the SF.
Team:
Gibson has not shot nearly as well this season. Not sure why.
Brooks has been huge. His defense will probably limit his playoff minutes. I know we all joke about the small PG resurrection the Bulls have done, but I don’t think it should be dismissed at how lucky the Bulls have been when it comes to getting great value at a low price.
McDermott: Complete incomplete.
Gasol: has been great. Needs more time in the pick and pop. Needs more jump shots.
Snell: I don’t know even know what to say.
Thibs: I think the Bulls have at best, started to attempt to normalize for Thibs or at worst started to tune him out. They are not playing as hard this season. The Bulls may be just trying to save themselves since Thibs won’t. I think the fact that Tibs does all of the scouting, practices, meetings; while other teams rotate that between the coaches and assistant coaches, has started to dull his message. I also think having only one perspective has made the Bulls slow to react and change.
I want to also say that I question if Thibs is doing right by the team. He ran Deng into the ground. He looks to have ran Noah into the ground. He is artificially building Butler’s value while at the same time hindering Butler’s ability to be productive long term. He may force the Bulls into a 5 year huge deal where Butler will be a shell of himself in the last year or two.
I am really starting to question if the Bulls can win a championship under Thibs. I know there are people who think Thibs can do no wrong. In general NBA coaches like Thibs burn their teams out and people tire of the message.
Thoughts?
Derrick Rose: has been very up and down this season. 30% from 3 and 34% in the midrange game is not good. In fact for a point guard it is actually pretty bad. Teams have started going under the screen and daring him to shoot. When he makes the shots the Bulls are in decent shape. He has missed a lot recently. I am not sure the Bulls can beat a quality team in a 7 game series if he is not hitting open jump shots.
Jimmy Butler: Has been up early and down more recently. I said early on that the way he was playing was not sustainable. I do mean that. I don’t think he, or anyone, can play 40 minutes a game, take the beating he takes and get to the line like he has. His shooting has been sliding. 34% from 3 and 41% in the midrange. This is not good; probably a little below average for a starting SG.
I want to elaborate on the unsustainable comment. Maybe he can find away to normalize out and do this for entire season. Maybe he can do it through the playoffs. How long can he keep it up though…… 2 maybe 3 years. After that he is going to be ground into the court. The Bulls need to think about decreasing his role. He is a long term asset and right now, they are burning his candle at both ends.
His defense has not been good this season. The Bulls are actually 5.5 points better on D when he is not on the court per 100 possessions.
Mike Dunleavy: Has proven to be very important. His floor spacing is critical to this team. Right now the Bulls have few players who can space the floor and we see what happens when he misses time.
Joakim Noah: has really fallen off. Am not sure if it is his knee or he may be run into the ground after playing under Thibs for years. Last season the Bulls were a +7.5 per 100 possessions when he was on the floor, this year they are a-5 as opposed to when he is off the floor.
I have to think that is due to injury. I do wonder what he has left though long term and if the Bulls might be better off thinking about moving him and his contract at some point. The Bulls do not have a lot of contracts to move, and his is large, and he still has value. If he can recover and return to form the Bulls will be in great shape.
On offense he is killing the Bulls. I know last year the high post was the best of a serious of bad options for one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Right now he should be standing on the weakside going for offensive boards and only moving above the FT line to do high low passes to the post.
Nikola Mirotic: The most intriguing player on the Bulls. When he is on the court the team is better on both offense and defense. His defense at SF, small smaple siz, has been the best on the team. I think the Bulls should look at this more. Outside of the Cavs and Raptors who has 2 wings that scare you. I think He can defend Pierce. Korver or Carroll??? Giannas does not scare me. I think if the Bulls make it to the Finals there are a lot of bad matchups, but in the East there are really only 2 teams that make Mirotic at SF a problem.
Lastly he can really shoot. 36%from 3. 50% in the midrange game. That is huge. He might be the best shooter on the Bulls right now. More playing time. More time at the SF.
Team:
Gibson has not shot nearly as well this season. Not sure why.
Brooks has been huge. His defense will probably limit his playoff minutes. I know we all joke about the small PG resurrection the Bulls have done, but I don’t think it should be dismissed at how lucky the Bulls have been when it comes to getting great value at a low price.
McDermott: Complete incomplete.
Gasol: has been great. Needs more time in the pick and pop. Needs more jump shots.
Snell: I don’t know even know what to say.
Thibs: I think the Bulls have at best, started to attempt to normalize for Thibs or at worst started to tune him out. They are not playing as hard this season. The Bulls may be just trying to save themselves since Thibs won’t. I think the fact that Tibs does all of the scouting, practices, meetings; while other teams rotate that between the coaches and assistant coaches, has started to dull his message. I also think having only one perspective has made the Bulls slow to react and change.
I want to also say that I question if Thibs is doing right by the team. He ran Deng into the ground. He looks to have ran Noah into the ground. He is artificially building Butler’s value while at the same time hindering Butler’s ability to be productive long term. He may force the Bulls into a 5 year huge deal where Butler will be a shell of himself in the last year or two.
I am really starting to question if the Bulls can win a championship under Thibs. I know there are people who think Thibs can do no wrong. In general NBA coaches like Thibs burn their teams out and people tire of the message.
Thoughts?