Thursday, January 6, 2011
Gotta look Big Picture
The Bulls lost last night to the 10-25 New Jersey Nets. I didn't see much of the game (was working) but listened to the last 8 minutes on the radio during the drive home. The last thing you ever want to do in sports is make judgements after one game, but there's been a clear lingering problem with the Bulls for most of the season - outside shooting. The Bulls have one true jump shooter: Kyle Korver. Rose and Deng are improved but still not great outside shooters. In a way, this leads indirectly to another major Bulls flaw - free throw shooting. The Bulls are 28 out of 30 in team free throw shooting %. In the playoffs this will be fatal, for sure. While the Bulls have managed to rattle of a fantastic winning percentage in the last month, they haven't looked great for most of it. Shaky defense, lack of energy and scoring droughts have been all to common. The Bulls are in a tough spot right now. Can they blame these deficiencies on missing either Noah or Boozer for essentially the entire season? Maybe. But maybe they're missing something. When you're winning, even if it's not pretty, it's hard to rationalize roster changes. So maybe, in the long run, would it be beneficial for the Bulls to lose a few games to make it easier for management to make a move? Not sure. I see them standing pat and hoping that once they get Boozer AND Noah playing together it will be good enough. Just don't be fooled into thinking that "a win is a win". In the playoffs we're not going to be able to feast on the Cavs, Raptors, Pistons, and Wizards.
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Nice post. Not sure if you saw the Philly game as well, but the lack of outside shooting has become as much of a staple of Bulls teams since 1999 as the Duncan Donuts race is at games. While Rose has improved, he isn't the deadly shooter yet that can consistently make those contested jumpers that a Wade/Kobe/LeBron/Pierce can. Also, with Deng/Brewer/Bogans at the wing, you have three guys that other teams will gladly let fire away from 18 feet. However, that doesn't mean that the Bulls should trade the Charlotte pick and/or Taj just to get Stephen Jackson or Rudy Fernandez. This team is built on transition scoring, 2nd chance points and Rose creating. As long as the Bulls have Rose and Noah, that will be the team's strength. They can win against good teams by doing this (see: Boston Saturday night). Basically, try harder than the other team, and the Bulls will win.
ReplyDeleteI think GarPax will do the right thing. They shouldn't mortgage the future adding overpaid pieces, wait and make the right move without locking yourself into mediocrity.
Yes!! welcome to bri blog...
ReplyDeleteI agree. As frustrating as it is to watch the Bulls be sooo close to being a dominant team with the addition of a top SG, there isn't one available right now. They can't panic. But I also don't want them making the same mistake they made with the Eddy Curry/Ben Gordon/Hinrich teams - convincing themseles that the team is good enough to win a championship when they clearly aren't. This current team is obviously much better than that team ever was but the point remains. The goal is to win a championship and right now I'm not sure if they're good enough. Next year? maybe. Joakim adds so much including increasing fast break points and second chance points as you alluded to, which takes pressure off them scoring in half court.