<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>But the Bulls have the pieces to make a major move in the winnable Eastern Conference. "We're not young anymore," Gordon said. "If you look at it, the core of this team has been together for three years now, going into our fourth. We're young in terms of age, but we've been through a lot. We've been in the playoffs every year. We know what it takes to win. "This is a huge year for us. We've made steady strides. But we need to make that big push to go all the way." To do so, much of the improvement again must come from within. Deng is coming off what most league observers called a breakout season, placing him on the verge of All-Star status. All his statistics jumped dramatically from his second season to his third. After a busy summer of workouts and dominance for Britain's national team, Deng is confident. "I think the core is more mature," Deng said. "You can already tell and see that just from our off-season workouts." Gordon led the team in scoring last season and in off-season workouts this summer. Cynics might say his and Deng's strong off-seasons coincided with their windows being open until Oct. 31 for contract extensions. But the fourth-year players haven't changed their spots, exhibiting work habits consistent with behavior that attracted Paxson to draft them in the first place. Hinrich signed his extension hours before the deadline last October. Expect the Deng and Gordon talks to intensify in similar fashion. Noah, the team's first-round pick, sat out summer-league action while rehabilitating a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. His shoulder responded to the regimen so well that the team ruled out surgery. That could change, of course, with an unfortunate blow. But the free-agent signing of Smith and the athleticism of Thomas appear to afford the Bulls the opportunity to bring Noah along at whatever pace his play dictates. Then again, the only pace the players envision is all out. "I have big expectations," Gordon said. "We acquired some veteran guys that I think can help. We needed some size in the front court, and we got that with Joe Smith. And I think there is so much room on this team for where Noah can fit and make contributions with his energy and the way he loves to compete and win. "It's up to us now. We've put in the work. Now it's time to get results."</div></p> LINK</p> Ben Gordon, a man on a mission. He will be an allstar for sure, and I think will make an All NBA team (my guess is All NBA 2nd Team). I like Gordon's big talk. He isn't shying away, like a loser like T-Mac not saying Game 7 will be the biggest game of his career. Ben knows what he has to do this season (Take the Bulls to a championship), and he's not shying away from it. If all indications are true, our team (minus Ben Wallace and Joe Smith) will be in some of the best shape in the league. Our players seem to have that killer edge, and the team (outside of Wallace and Smith) all seem to love playing together, even with the new guy (Noah). And thats what really is important, the Duhon/Gordon/Hinrich/Thabo/Deng/Nocioni/Tyrus/Noah core is going to be the foundation of long term success (and short term) not Wallace and Smith.</p> I really don't like that the new guy (Smith) has yet to show up. Come on, get to know you teammates. Wallace isn't a Bull at heart. Hopefully he doesn't get a team captain spot. He doesn't show leadership by not showing up. He can't show up early for camp by even a week? Nocioni lives in Argentina and he showed up. The captains should be Deng, Hinrich, and Gordon, the three on court leaders of the team, and guys that bleed hard work. If you want to add a really vocal leader, make Nocioni (very fitting) or Noah a captain in addition to those three.</p> I wonder if Ben Wallace may find his way to the bench very early this season, and if he does, will he be on the team by the end of the deadline.</p>
