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2015 Bulls Enter Preseason

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Pau, Jimmy, and Taj

Jimmy ButlerDunleavy, Rose, and Noah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the Bulls hear into a new season, they truly are looking for a “fresh start.” With the hiring of a new coach in Fred Hoiberg and the return of healthier versions of Taj Gibson, Derrick Rose (in a couple weeks), and Joakim Noah, the club hopes to forget their playoff woes brought to them from that team from Ohio.

Below, I have listed the comprehensive total of story lines to watch as this season progresses before the Bulls enter preseason action.

The (yet again) injured DRose
Granted, this is supposed to resolve itself fairly quickly, as Hoiberg and the Bulls hope to have him for the season opener on the 27th at home when they host the Cavs, but a fractured orbital bone in the first practice this year is something that could only happen to Derrick Rose.  The unfortunate reality is that due to Derrick’s laundry list of unfortunate injuries, he has played just over a hundred games since his MVP season, five years ago.  Thus, fans, with an attitude of “what have you done for me lately,” are growing tired, justly or otherwise of not seeing their marquee player on the floor.  This season will be very telling (as the last one was supposed to be) as to whether or not Derick Rose is a child of misfortune or truly has the power to ascend to a player who go leaps and bounds for his team and bring them to the top.

The Derrick Rose off-court scandal
This is something to follow but there is little information.  It was alleged that Derrick Rose took part in sexually assaulting a former girlfriend.  The accusations and allegations were made in a very delayed fashion, two years following the supposed incident.  Derrick Rose seems positive he will be proven innocent and the organization stands behind him fully, with Gar Forman calling him “family.”

Mike Dunleavy coming back from back surgery (and how Doug McDermott fits)
Adamantly stating that he would not be returning prior to be fully healed, regardless of the 8-10 week timeline provided.  The consistent and fundamentally sound veteran are bigger shoes to fill than people often realize, as was proven during his first significant injury last season, when he missed good amounts of time with ankle problems. Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic will likely pick up the minutes left behind by Dunleavy, and Hoiberg indicated that the preseason would be a trial run for figuring out lineups.  He said, referring to McDermott, “he’ll get a lot of time, especially with mike out, early in this preseason to play with this first group a lot.”  This should quell fans last year who were begging for Doug to see more floor time, despite Tom Thibodeau’s aversion to giving rookies decent tick.  Speaking of old Tom…

Whether or not Hoiberg’s skill set really does “translate to the NBA”
Hoiberg is in many ways, the antithesis to Tom Thibodeau.  He is a youthful, spry young man who if offensively minded, despite his claim that the team has “worked more on defensive than on offense” so far.  He praises the versatility and flexibility in the offense, something that every coach longs for, but Hoiberg hopes to do more with the roster.  Derrick Rose called him “more relaxed,” and cited that such a quality should  not be taken for granted by himself and his teammates moving forward.  It will be interesting to see where Hoiberg’s flexibility starts and stops, and whether or not he can use it effectively or if, in the long-run, it will be what fans will cite in calling for his head  in 4 years after not winning a championship.

Are Taj and Noah back to being Taj and Noah?
These two guys were something else two years ago while Derrick Rose was rehabbing for the second season.  Noah got MVP votes, religiously dropped double-doubles, and even a couple triple-doubles along the way.  Taj was a sixth-man of the year candidate.  And boom, they got bounced by the Wizards round one in the playoffs.  Can these two, after rough seasons in 2014/2015, come back and be the forceful tandem of old, despite contributing, talented additions like Nikola Mirotic, Pau Gasol, and Bobby Portis? If they can, holy cow, watch out, this is the most stacked and deep team in the NBA.  If they can’t, there might be some serious changing of the guard here.

Jimmy G Buckets-who will he be?
The 2014/2015 all-star is the new golden boy in town.  Which is probably why there were rumors of the older, golder, boy, Derrick Rose, and Jimmy Butler bumping elbows a little bit towards the end of the season last year.  Jimmy’s growth into a player on both sides of the floor made him the next man up, everywhere it seemed, last season, so some fans decided that he should be looked to instead of Rose in tough times, simply because he was there more often.  The navigation of such waters are tedious and should be done with care to hurt no one’s potential or mentality throughout the season, as the team already has enough physical injury to worry about, and isn’t needing relational or mental injury in addition.  To be sure, Butler is expected to be good, really good.  When asked about his off-season work, Butler stated that he is working especially hard on defense, “to be honest.”

Where does Nikola fit? Into the lineup and into the plans of the future?
He is perfect for who Fred Hoiberg is supposed to be as a coach and what he is supposed to run.  Though he clearly needs to work on the defensive side of the ball, Niko was electrifying to watch last year, going off in the second half of the season and garnering some rookie of the year votes.  The question again becomes, a good for Hoiberg to deal with, where the hell are he, and all the rest of these really good players going to find minutes?  The good news is, for all those upset about Thibodeau’s unwillingness to utilize the practice of preventative maintenance and rest, Hoiberg has the depth to do it.  Furthermore, if any injuries, significant, or otherwise, arrive, he should also have sufficient reinforcements, at least on paper, to get it done.  Niko’s best asset, according to Hoiberg is his versatility, and thus one can safely assume that Hoiberg will attempt in this preseason and subsequently, to use Niko in a variety of situations and positions according to the needs just listed.  Most Bulls fans though, wanting their cake and to eat it too, would likely want to see Niko playing a more significant role going forward.

Pau- Older and Golder?
Pau Gasol had one of his best regular seasons ever last year, both according to the eye test and the stat sheet. In his sage wisdom though, he is reserving judgement on Hoiberg, simply stating that they are “all good right now.”  As Pau enters the 35 mark though, fans eyes will pay close attention to whether or not Pau has still got it.

Hinrich retirement?
We all know Kirk was Thibs’s guy, even when he looked….very not-great last year.  Moving forward, a big question will be as to how many good years the veteran, beloved-Bull has left.

Bobby Portis and Cristiano Felicio
The development of these two rookie forwards under the run-n-gun Hoiberg will be a good story line to watch, as no one has really seen Hoiberg develop players at the professional level yet.  The stacking of big men as well could also signify changing of the guard or potential trade bait to lottery hungry teams down the road.

Cavs Eliminate Bulls, Blackhawks Face Ducks

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derrick-roseon the Weekend Sports Report with Packer Dave and Steve Leventhal

…Jeff Rich joins us to break down how the Cleveland Cavs were able to eliminate the Chicago Bulls in game 6 at the United Center. John Poulter previews the Blackhawks – Ducks and Rangers-Tampa Bay NHL conference finals. He also offers his thoughts on the American League East and NL Central races at this time.

Hear post game comments from Dave Blatt of Cleveland, and Tom Thibodeau, who may have coached his last game for the Bulls. Plus thoughts on Tom Brady’s suspension, and the last two weeks of the English soccer season.

Don’t miss a cameo from sportscaster Brent Musburger.

Headline: Cavs eliminate Bulls

Grizzlies Top Bulls in Battle of Brothers

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Gasol

Like most brothers, Pau and Marc Gasol like to compete against one another. After all they have been competing against each other since they can remember and even became the first brothers to start opposite each other in an All Star Game last month.

“ We’re always competitive, we always compete” Pau would add after the game. The Bulls forward would score 13 points on 6-14 shooting from the field while grabbing 11 rebounds to record his 43rd double-double of the season. Pau has been fantastic for Chicago this season while leading the NBA in double-double’s and already trying his career high as well.

Marc would get the best of his brother on Monday night however, when the Grizzlies topped the Bulls 101-91. Marc scored 23 points and added 4 rebounds and 4 assists to guide Memphis to their 21st road victory of the year.

”My teammates found me at the elbows and in the post, and I was able to make some shots,” the Grizzlies big man told the media. ”That makes their bigs come out and pick up their coverage a bit more. You get confidence. You get in a rhythm.”

And as for his thoughts on competing against his younger brother? “It is an honor honestly,” Marc said. The two brothers had lunch early Monday before competing for the second time this season.

With the loss, the Bulls tied their season-long losing streak (three games) and continued to rely on their young core to find scoring in the fourth quarter.

Nikola Mirotic scored 18 points of the bench and added 12 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Mirotic has quickly become a fan favorite in Chicago and is becoming a reliable option in only his first season. Mirotic scored in double figures for the sixth straight game and is averaging 20.8 points and 8.0 rebounds during that stretch.

Tony Snell would do his best to bring the Bulls back in the fourth quarter with the Bulls trailing by 13 points. Snell scored 11 of his 21 points in the final period and shot 4-7 from the field in his highest scoring effort since February 12th against Cleveland.

While the Bulls (39-26) would get a boost from their young players,they struggled to find scoring late in the paint. Gasol would admit to being frustrated after being hit with two early fouls and Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau would touch on that in his post game presser as well.

“I thought he got a tough whistle, I really did” Thibodeau said. “It was his second foul and Marc is a physical player. I just didn’t like the consistency, so sometimes it goes your way sometimes it doesn’t.”

Memphis (45-18) would receive a big third quarter from Zach Randolph who finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds and Jeff Green who finished with 19 points on 7-11 shooting from the floor, including 3-4 from the three point line. With Mondays victory the Grizzlies tied their season series with the Bulls. The road team in the series has now won each of the last five games.

“We have a good group of guys. We all feel like we have a chance to do something special this year,” Grizzlies coach David Joerger said. “You try to take care of your body, whether that be nutrition or sleep or staying in at night.”

The Bulls will not practice Tuesday morning and will take a much-needed day of rest before traveling to Philadelphia on Wednesday to take on the 76ers. (14-49)

Click below for Post-Game Audio

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Rose Leads Struggling Bulls to Big Win

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Thibs
Derrick Rose came ready to play on Thursday night and prove to the national audience watching on television that he is still one of the best point guards in the league.

Entering Thursdays matchup against the San Antonio Spurs Rose had averaged 24.0 ppg on .484 shooting in his previous six games. The Bulls on the other hand were not playing so hot-losing six of their last eight. However,Thursday night just may have been the breakout game Chicago needed, and the proof that Rose can still lead a team that the critics needed to see.

Rose led the Bulls with 22 points on 9-15 shooting and ignited the early spark by getting to the rim, rather than settling for jump shots in the first half. The result? The Bulls beat the defending champion, San Antonio Spurs (27-17) 104-81 and played arguably their best game of the season.

The win could not have come at a better time for Chicago (28-16), who lost on Monday night in Cleveland, which resulted in Rose calling out his team, and a player-coach-meeting with Tom Thibodeau.

“I said what I had to say, and I think my teammates took it to heart” Rose said after Thursday nights win. “That was my first time ever doing that, and it showed tonight that guys were a little bit composed.”

It was not only Rose who came to compete against San Antonio. All five starters would score in double figures and Aaron Brooks came off the bench to score 15 points in 24 minutes. While it was a nice win- to get the Bulls back on track, coach Thibodeau still had to address the rumors of being on the “hot seat” after the Bulls recent struggles, and reports he may have lost the locker room.

“As I told you yesterday, I could care less, couldn’t care less, and I don’t think our team couldn’t care less about that stuff,” Thibs said.

Well, maybe Thibodeau did not have much to say about the issue, but Rose stuck up for his coach after the game.

“This don’t have anything to do with Thibs at all,” Rose said. “The way that we’ve been playing don’t have anything to do with Thibs. He’s preparing us right. He’s doing everything and did everything possible to prepare us as a coach. It is up to the players to give that effort.”

Even Spurs head coach Greg Popovich had to answer questions about Thibodeau.

“He’s not gonna lose any team,” Popovich said before the game. “I think you guys just have to have stories. So somebody loses a few games, there’s got to be a reason. I guess that’s the one that was picked. Sometimes players listen to me. Timmy stopped listening to me a long time ago. I don’t even coach him. You guys think I’m kidding. He just plays. I talk to him once in a while, but sometimes some guys don’t want to hear it”

Popovich clearly did not want to talk about problems in Chicago when he has his own team to deal with and a NBA Title to defend this season. Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 16 points but was held scoreless in the second half. Leonard also had the tough task of guarding a focused Derrick Rose and struggled to keep up with the former MVP who would score 14 of his 22 points in the paint.

Jimmy Butler also had a nice bounce back game after a two week slump, scoring 17 points and Pau Gasol— who was named a starter on the Eastern Conference All Star Team added 12 points and 16 rebounds. The Bulls will travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks Friday night.

Post Game Audio below.

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Gasol leads Bulls to Overtime Win

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Gasol

The Chicago Bulls came into Saturdays home matchup against the Boston Celtics short handed and uncertain on who would be in the starting five. Wings Mike Dunleavy and Jimmy Butler both missed Saturdays game but lucky for Chicago, Pau Gasol showed up as usual.

Gasol scored 29 points and added 16 rebounds and 5 blocked shots and reserve forward Nikola Mirotic chipped in ten points and 8 rebounds to help the Bulls escape the Celtics 109-104 in overtime.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau would not name the Bulls starters until about an hour before tipoff and when he finally did it was announced Mirotic would be making his first start at the small forward position.

” I thought overall ( Mirotic) did very well. Thibodeau said after the game. ” He didnt shoot the ball great, but he made alot of great plays. He spaced the floor well. He has been working hard in practice and has been developing confidence there. I thought he made alot of good plays to get Pau going too which helped us get established inside.”

Besides Mirotic moving over from his original power forward position to make an impact saturday, Gasol was his usual self, playing 38 minutes and shooting 9-16 from the floor.

” ( Pau) is unbelievable. We see it night after night” Thobodeau added. “All the things he does on both sides of the court. He had a 9 blocked shot game, then to follow it up with a 5 blocked shot game. He got many rebounds, and got to the free throw line. The way he plays it gives your team alot of confidence”.

In what was a sloppy game by both teams, The Celtics hung around late in the fourth quarter thanks to Chicago native, Evan Turners game high 28 points on 12-20 shooting— including 4-5 from 3 point land. After trading buckets, the Celtics would tie the game at 99 with 2.6 seconds to play off a Jared Sullinger ( 16 points, 13 rebounds) put-back basket. Chicago would call a timeout and draw up a perfectly executed open shot for Aaron Brooks, that would fall just short. Despite the hot shooting of Turner, the Celtics (11-20) would not be able to hang with the Bulls in the extra period.

” We left too many situation points on the floor. We got out-rebounded and I made a mistake and threw the ball away” Turner said when asked what went wrong in overtime. I misjudged Green and Hinrich ran right past it. It was my fault. ”

Despite the loss, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens liked what he saw from Turner and the effort his young team put up against one of the Eastern Conferences powerhouse units.

” The best part of ( Turners) game was that he did not have a good first half and he had a great second half” Stevens said in his post game press confrence. ” He put us on his backs for a little bit in the second half”

Speaking of putting his team on his back, Gasol, who was once again brillant— has not only become a force on the court, but in the locker room as well. Thibodeau said after the game that Gasol’s ” actions speak louder than words”

” Pau has been great” Joakim Noah added on saturday. ” He has been huge for us all season. He is one of the constants every-night. His offensive game is really big for us.”

Through 31 games, Gasol is averaging 18 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks and the Bulls are 24-10 and in first place in the Central. However this season the Bulls have their sights on more than just regular season accolades.

Notes from Saturday nights game…

– Jimmy Butler ( bereavement leave) and Mike Dunleavy ( right ankle) sat out

– Aaron Brooks scored 19 points of the bench. He has now scored in double figures eight of his last ten games.

– With Saturdays win, the Bulls have now won nine of their last 10 overall and eight of their last nine home games.

– Chicago pulled down a season high 24 offensive rebounds and out rebounded the Celtics 59-45.

Mavs edge Bulls in 2OT, 132 – 129

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Pau Gasol talks to the media after the loss
Pau Gasol talks to the media after the loss

The highest scoring team in the NBA, the Dallas Mavericks, were the spoilers for the Bulls homecoming after a 4 – 3 circus trip.

The Mavs (13-5) and Bulls (11-6) were evenly matched as they played like playoff bound teams from their respective conferences.

The first quarter flew by with each team shooting 20+ shots and over 40% from downtown and when the dust settle the Bulls had a 26 – 25 lead going into the 2nd quarter.

The ex-Wisconsin star came into the game only shooting 32.7% from three but looked like Ray Allen tonight, going 6 – 6. Harris’s performance helped the Mavs take a 59 – 47 lead going into half time.

The most entertaining matchup of the evening was watching rookie Nikola Mirotic guard his childhood hero Dirk Nowitzki. Mirotic was compared to Dirk coming out of the draft and was impressive in the loss, scoring 15 while adding 4 rebounds and 3 assist. While Dirk was held in check all night, going 8 for 22 and scoring 22 points.

Monta Ellis is a shooter. An “ I don’t care if I am open or if we have 22 seconds left on the shot clock” shooter who was feeling it against the Bulls. Ellis finished with 38, on 16 – 35 shots.

The Bulls were able to cut the deficit to 6 going into the 4th thanks to a 9 – 0 run to start the 3rd quarter. The Bulls also have their best defensive quarter, only giving up 21 points and scoring 8 points off of 5 Dallas turnovers.

Derrick Rose after 132-129 loss to Dallas
Derrick Rose after 132-129 loss to Dallas

The Bulls depth kept them in the game even without the services of Taj Gibson or Doug McDermott. Hinrich (27), Mirotic (26) and Brooks (15) minutes were able to give Rose, Noah and Butler rest for the fourth quarter.

The 4th got exciting down the stretch as the Bulls took a 4 point lead with just over 3 minutes left but were not able to close out the Mavs in regulation. With a 3 point lead, Hinrich fouled Monta Ellis with 1.2 seconds left, sending the 79% FT shooter to the line for 3 attempts. Ellis hit all three FT to tie the game at ­­­­­­­108.

Rose was unable to make his 3 point attempt as time expired.

Rose 0 – 1 at the buzzer.

Dallas controlled the tempo for the first OT as they built a 3 point lead with 7.2 seconds left at 121 – 118. Rose found himself with the ball after a broken play and heaved up a floater from the top of the key and banked it in as time expired.

Rose 1 – 2 at the buzzer.

The Bulls were never able to get any momentum in either of the overtime periods and it cost them. Outscored 11 – 8 in the 2nd OT, the Bulls and Rose’s final shot came up short in the end.

Rose 1 – 3 at the buzzer.

Dallas 132, Bulls 129

Rose and Thibs talk about the Mavericks Bulls game and the status of the team

@WesEvans24

 

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Celtics vs Bulls

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Gibson talking to the media about the slow start to the Celtics game
Gibson talking to the media about the slow start to the Celtics game

This was a tired Bulls team after their 118 – 115 victory over the 76ers last night in Philly, as every starter played over 31 minutes. A rested player would have been a nice reinforcement for the Bulls but Derrick Rose sat for the 2nd straight game with two sprained ankles. The Celtics also had there star point guard sitting, as Rajon Rondo didn’t suit up due to his hand injury.

The Bulls got blitzed in the first 4 minutes on the 2nd night of a back-back by the Boston Celtics, as the Celtics took a quick 10 – 2 lead before a Tom Thibodeau timeout. The Bulls were able to rally as they took a 25 – 20 lead after the 1st quarter. Mike Dunleavy continued his hot shooting as he went 3 for 5 from beyond the arch and led all scorers with 9 points.

Then the wheels came off.

The Bulls only managed 16 points in the 2nd quarter as the entire team went cold. Shooting 33% and turning the ball over 4 times, the Bulls showed no life on both ends of the court.

In turn, the Celtics found their groove as they shot 56% from the field and out rebounded the Bulls 14 – 7. Emotions were running high as the usually calm Pau Gasol emphatically screamed the F-word due to a no call by the refs but the refs let it slide.

Thibs
Thibs frustrated with the lack of rebounding by the Bulls

Exploding for 36 points in the second quarter, the Celtics took a commanding 56 – 41 lead into halftime.

The 3rd quarter the Bulls were able to keep pace with the red hot Celtics who shot 60% from the field which kept the Bulls from making any kind of run. Still down by double digits, Thibs kept his starters in with Butler and Gasol playing the whole quarter and Dunleavy playing just under 10 minutes. Emotions got the best of Aaron Brooks, as he was called for a technical at the end of the 3rd quarter because he thought he was fouled going to the hoop as time expired.

Entering the 4th quarter, the Bulls had two options being down 16… Fold up and call it a night or continue playing like it was game 7 of the conference final.

If you know anything about the Bulls, you know that coach Thibs chose the latter.

Brooks led the 4th quarter charge, scoring 19 points and pulling the Bulls within 2 points with only 22 seconds left. The Celtics converted their free throw attempts to seal the deal which left the United Center faithful irritable as they filed out of the building.

It was a valiant effort by a tired team but the Bulls did not have enough in the tank to complete the improbable comeback.

All eyes will now turn to Rose and the status of his ankles.

The Bulls get a day off as they await the arrival of the 2 – 3 Pistons, who are led by Greg Monroe and Josh Smith on Monday.

Tom Thibodeau, Aaron Brooks and Taj Gibson talk about the Celtics vs Bulls game

@WesEvans24

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Bulls 2014-15 Season

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Derrick RoseIt’s hard to describe the feelings I have when talking about this upcoming Bulls season.

I would compare them to a first date… with a girl you have known for a while but have never had the stones to ask out. You two have flirted off and on for years, but have never given a real relationship a try. When she was single, you had a girlfriend and vice versa. A dating opportunity has never presented itself… until now.

It is time.

Time to see what you are made of and if this relationship could really work. Your friends have been bugging you to ask her out because you guys “are made for each other.” The anxious excitement of a genuine relationship, with a person you WANT to be with, is the same way I feel about this 2014-15 Bulls season.

I WANT this season to be exactly what everyone is predicting.

Since the Bulls drafted Derrick Rose with the 1st overall pick in the 2008, the thought of winning an NBA title was more of a fantasy then a reality. The fantasy being, a young Rose without a supporting cast or respectable head coach, beating LeBron James and the Cavaliers/Heat to get to the NBA Finals.Tom Thib

The respectable coach, Tom Thibodeau, was paired up with Rose in 2010 and since that time they have accrued 1 conference finals appearance and an MVP trophy. Thibodeau has a .657 (205-107) winning percentages in 4 season as head coach and has won the Coach of the Year award once in 2011.

Thibodeau has been criticized regarding his minute distribution for his all-stars, but that shouldn’t be an issue this season with Rose and Noah coming off knee injuries. I would expect Rose to be in the low 30’s for most of the season, with Noah’s minutes being more sporadic based on the status of his knee. It will take some time of Thibs to conjure up a rotation, but expect a more evenly distributed minute chart in 2014-15.

Excluding Jimmy Butler.

With the 2 injury plagued season for Rose in the rearview, the anticipation for this upcoming season is second to none, with the additions of Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott. Arguably the deepest team under Tom Thibodeau, this Bulls team will rely on team defense and ball movement on the offensive end of the floor.

The Bulls still have not acquired that 2nd scorer fans have been waiting for, but expect a team centric approach to scoring with flashes of MVP Rose sprinkled into the mix. Players like Dunleavy, Mirotic and McDermott will be expected to hit their open shots when called upon, due to the attention Rose will receive attacking the basket.

Mirotic & GasolPau Gasol will add a legitimate low post threat with exceptional passing skills that will complement Thibodeau’s offense. Taj Gibson will bring his workman like attitude in order to defend like the Bulls are used to seeing. Gibson has spent his summer expanding his offensive game, but will still be the defensive replacement for Gasol when the Bulls need a stop. Fans should expect to see the same “try hard” Bulls they have fallen in love with, but with more fire power on the offensive side of the court.

The possibility of something great coming out of a first date keeps single people on the market. That same possibility, will keep me intrigued for this Bulls team, barring any injuries, this year could be the “one”.

Record: 55 – 27 (2nd in the Central)

@WesEvans24

 

Bulls Welcome Mirotic and Gasol (Full Audio)

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Gasol

The Chicago Bulls came into this summer’s blockbuster free agency period with one big target on their minds, unfortunately for them, they came away with a “Plan B operation.” While it was disappointing not to land one of the most proficient scorers of the past decade, it may go down as the best alternate plan in Chicago basketball history.

The Bulls challenged Carmelo Anthony to turn down more money than most of us will ever see in our lives for the opportunity to contend for a championship with a former MVP, the 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year, and a top five head coach. New York Knicks president Phil Jackson challenged Anthony to return to New York where he will play on a brutal team, BUT, with a nice fat paycheck coming his way.

Most realistic fans and analysts knew the chances of Anthony coming to Chicago were slim, however some thought maybe, just maybe, there was a possibility Melo wanted to silence his critics who say, “he will never be the best player on a championship team.”
However, it was not meant to be, and Anthony returned to the Knicks with a five-year, $124 million deal, which left Bulls fans wondering why [the Bulls] aren’t able to land the big free agents.

A valid question when you consider the front office’s failures throughout the last decade to lure top free agents to Chicago, instead settling for consolation prizes such as Eddie Robinson, Ron Mercer, and most recently Carlos Boozer.

So, with Melo following the money back to New York, what would the Bulls do next? What was their plan B? In the time it took for Anthony to make his decision most of the smaller fish free agents were already scooped up.

The Bulls decided to move on to their alternate plan, which included the 34-year old, 7-foot Spanish Forward, Pau Gasol. Gasol, a four time All-Star, had spent the last 6 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and won two championships with the team, while also becoming one of Kobe Bryant’s all-time favorite teammates. Rumors of mutual interest between him and the Bulls had been swirling for about five years.

On Friday, the Bulls officially welcomed Gasol to Chicago with a press conference where he discussed how excited he is to compete for a championship in the new look Eastern Conference.

“It was a gut feeling. I thought Chicago was going to be the best fit for me,” said Gasol. “It’s a great challenge, but I’m driven by challenge. I look forward to it.”

While it was a solid pickup for the Bulls, would it be enough to make them the favorites in the new look East?

The Bulls, even without former MVP Derrick Rose, managed to win 48 games and make the playoffs for a sixth straight season last year. However, they once again struggled to find scoring at the end of games which was made loud and clear in their playoff series loss in 5 games to the Washington Wizards.

The good news for Bulls fans is that Gasol is an upgrade over Carlos Boozer. When the Bulls signed Boozer away from the Utah Jazz they had expected him to be a force, executing the pick-and-roll with Rose, much like he had been in Utah with then Jazz point guard, Derron Williams, running the show. The problem with that was Boozer had gotten older, lost a step, and instead settled for 16-18 foot jumpers.

With Gasol, the Bulls will not have to worry about finishing at the rim. Gasol is 3-inches taller, so he will be able to finish against bigger and stronger defenders, something Boozer struggled to do in Chicago. Gasol can also knock down mid-range jumpers and is able to keep defenders honest.

The Bulls are also excited about Gasol’s passing game. While Boozer and Bulls’ center Joakim Noah worked well together down low, Boozer averaged 2.9 assists per 100 possesions, Gasol averaged 5.2 and has not dipped below 3.0 since the 2003-04 season.

So, why were so many fans upset? Well, first of all Gasol is not really a guy who can create his own shot, and he is not going to average 28 points per game, even in his prime that would be unrealistic. Gasol is also 34 years old, and is coming off a season in which he battled foot injuries throughout the year. Also, while Gasol is a force defending under the rim (1,1484 career blocks), you would still figure it would be Taj Gibson and Noah closing out games at the 4 and 5, because they are tremendous defenders and work well together as rim protectors. But, the players who start and finish the game are the least of the veteran’s worries.

“I don’t know how it’s going to unfold,” Gasol said, “you know, who will be the starter, who’s finishing? Maybe we change as we go. We’re going to see once we get everyone out there together. We’re always going to do what’s best for the team.”

Bulls head coach, Tom Thibodeau, was not ready to discuss minutes just yet either. “It should be good,” Thibodeau said. “Pau is conflicted. One minute he wants short minutes, one minute he wants long minutes. We’ll find the right amount.”

The Bulls did not find their shot creator, so instead they have attempted to build a team similar to this seasons NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs beat the Miami Heat and LeBron James without having a “Melo” type player. They won with floor spacing, ball movement, and surrounding point guard, Tony Parker, with great three-point shooters.

With a healthy Derrick Rose playing the part of Parker, the possible return of sharp-shooter Mike Dunleavy, (at this time he is still with the team), second-year player Tony Snell, (who struggled at times last season, but has been looking improved in summer league), and the rookie, Doug McDermott, the Bulls hope to be a mirror image of last years Spurs team and improve on last seasons .348 three-point shooting percentage which was the worst in the league.

To add to the lineup they have been preparing, the Bulls also introduced European star, Nikola Mirotic, on Friday. Mirotic, (who was acquired by the team in a draft-day deal in 2011 from the Houston Rockets), signed a three-year, $18 million deal to play with the Bulls. Since it has been three years since he has been drafted, he does not have any obligations to a rookie contract.

While it is unclear how long it will take for Mirotic to pick up the NBA game and earn Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeaus trust, Bulls management is very confident in his ability to space the floor and knock down shots from the perimeter as a “stretch four”. On Friday, Thibodeau acknowledged Mirotic as being a real fit for the Bulls.

“He’s a big who is extremely skilled,” Thibodeau said. “He’s a spacing 4 who shoots the 3 very well. He’s versatile in that he can play inside or outside. He has a high basketball IQ and a good motor.” Last season, Mirotic shot 50.8% from the field and 46.1% from three-point range in 31 games with Real Madrid of the Lega ACB last season.

The Bulls offseason may not have gone exactly the way their managment and fans had hoped, but the team will still begin the 2014-2015 campaign as one of the favorites to come out of the East. While the Bulls will be much improved this season it will all come down to Derrick Rose staying healthy, and if he stay healthy throughout the season and be prepared for the playoffs, the Bulls will go as far as he will take them.

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5 NBA Trade Deadline Deals That Would Impact the League

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Oklahoma City is potentially one piece away from a title.
Oklahoma City is potentially one piece away from a title.

It’s one of my favorite times of the year- NBA trade deadline season! A time when unsubstantiated rumors are thrown around like insults at a roast. As a future NBA GM, I have spent countless hours on the ESPN Trade Machine figuring out ways to manipulate rosters to address team needs. This season, I have crafted five trades that would impact the NBA landscape. These trades comply with salary cap regulations as well as rules regarding trading draft picks. More importantly, I believe these trades to be mutually beneficial for the teams involved and interesting for the league. Without further ado, here are my big deals.

Evan Turner1. Evan Turner to the Bobcats

Bobcats receive: Evan Turner

Sixers receive: Ben Gordon’s expiring contract and Blazers 2014 1st Round Pick

Why it works-

The Bobcats are currently clinging to the eighth seed in the East. After years of ineptitude, the Cats need to give their fans some sense of hope. Turner is a solid all-around player, averaging 17.4 points, 6 rebounds and just under 4 assists per game. The Cats would have the option to insert Turner into the starting small forward spot or use him as their sixth man. Either way, Turner would be an upgrade over Jeff Taylor and Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Rumors are circulating that the Sixers will be active at the trade deadline. With an eye towards the future, GM Sam Hinkie will be looking to bring in draft picks and expiring contracts. Acquiring Ben Gordon’s expiring contract and the Blazers 2014 first round pick will do both of these things. It’s hard to imagine the Sixers giving Evan Turner a long-term deal in the offseason. Thus, it makes sense for Philly to get what they can for him now.

Greg Monroe2. Greg Monroe to the Warriors

Warriors receive: Greg Monroe

Pistons receive: Harrison Barnes

Why it works-

Golden State is one of the most entertaining teams in the league. However, they have had a disappointing season thus far and are only nine games above .500. One of the primary issues for the Warriors has been figuring out who to play in crunch-time. The addition of Andre Iguodala has left Harrison Barnes as the odd man out. As a result, Barnes has become expendable for the Warriors. By trading Barnes to Detroit for Greg Monroe, Golden State could add much needed frontcourt depth and solidfy their crunch-time five. A closing lineup of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee and Monroe would be deadly on the offensive end and big enough to hold their own on the boards.

The Pistons have a logjam in the frontcourt. The experiment of playing Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Josh Smith together has been an epic failure. Not only is Detroit’s offensive spacing terrible when those three are on the floor together, but they are also allowing 108.4 points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com. Bringing in Barnes would give the Pistons a natural small forward who has the potential to grow into a very productive player.

Pau Gasol3. Pau Gasol to the Suns

Suns receive: Pau Gasol

Lakers receive: Emeka Okafor’s expiring contract, Miles Plumlee & Suns 2014 1st Round Pick

Why it works-

Some writers predicted the Suns to be in full tank mode this season (slowly drops his head in shame). Shockingly, the Suns are in playoff position and appear just a piece away from serious contention. Pau Gasol would be a great addition, bringing a reliable low post presence that could take some of the scoring pressure off of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe come playoff time. Gasol would make the Suns a difficult matchup for anybody in the West.

The Lakers are awful and it appears they will be for the near future. The goal for L.A. should be acquiring draft picks and slashing salary. Gasol has never fit in well with Mike D’Antoni’s system and it appears both sides would benefit from a change. The draft pick the Lakers would acquire will not be as valuable as many would have guessed before the season, but in a deep draft, the Lakers could add a nice young piece. Miles Plumlee has shown flashes of competence as a backup center and would be a key sweetener for the Lakers.

Jeff Green4. Jeff Green to the Rockets

Rockets receive: Jeff Green, Phil Pressey & Vitor Faverani

Celtics receive: Omer Asik & Aaron Brooks

Why it works-

The Omer Asik soap opera has to come to an end. The Rockets would do well to bring in Jeff Green, a player who can play the stretch-4 and space the floor for Harden-Howard pick-and-rolls. Green is shooting 36% from three-point range this season. While this is a respectable mark, I would expect this percentage to increase upon arriving in Houston as Green would no longer be the primary offensive focus of the opposing defense.

In Asik, the Celtics would acquire a quality big man who could anchor their defense for years to come (if they choose to re-sign him after next season). Pairing Asik with Jared Sullinger would give the Celtics a talented, young frontcourt pair. In addition, next season the Celtics would have Asik’s expiring contract as a trade chip to utilize in their rebuilding process.

Arron Afflalo5. Arron Afflalo to the Thunder

Thunder receive: Arron Afflalo

Magic receive: Jeremy Lamb, Kendrick Perkins & Mavericks  2014 1st Round Pick

Why it works-

The Thunder are playing excellent basketball this season. An upgrade from Jeremy Lamb to Arron Afflalo would put the Thunder in pole position to capture the NBA title. Afflalo is having a great season for Orlando, averaging 19.4 points per game and shooting 42.7% from three, per NBA.com. Unlike the James Harden trade, the Thunder should focus on the present rather than the future and go all in on a championship run. Adding Afflalo would signal the front office is doing just that.

Orlando is 16-38 with Afflalo. Trading him will only benefit the Magic by ensuring that they will lose more games and get a better chance at a high pick in the draft. What’s more, Afflalo will be 30 years old next season and it is unlikely that he will factor in to the Magic’s long-term rebuild. The Magic would be happy to acquire an additional pick and a potential talent in Jeremy Lamb. Perkins will also be in the last year of his contract next season, making him a possible trade asset.

 

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