Bench Gordon, Thomas

Sam Smith says:</p>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The strength of this Bulls team was supposed to be not only hustle and hard work, but also depth, that second wave of players who come in and overwhelm the opposition's lesser reserves. With Gordon and Thomas on the bench, the Bulls can do that. It doesn't matter whether the starters or reserves outscore the opponents. They only count the final total.</div></p>

He wants to start Noc and Smith, so we go with something like:</p>

1- Hinrich, Duhon
2- Deng, Gordon
3- Nocioni, Deng
4- Smith, Thomas
5- Wallace, Noah</p>

Which, when I think about it, makes pretty good sense. Our starting 5 will be fairly iffy on offense, but we'll be tough. Gordon and Thomas should be able to come in and run and do some damage. I don't dislike the idea at all.</p>

He's also got a lot to say about the Bulls players being complacent and whatnot, which is somewhat disturbing but not that surprising.</p>

 

Gordon off the bench isn't a bad idea at all, but then you might get complaints from him and his agent. The Raptors against the Bulls had Kapono and Delfino off the bench, which killed you guys. So, having Gordon and Thomas, who can both do damage, play a second unit against Boston lets say, they would kill them because it is hard to handle Gordon when he gets going.</p>

 

At this point screw Gordon and his agent and what they think. He's playing bad, this whole team is. He's usually better off the bench anyways.</p>

 

I like this idea asyou'd have length with Deng at shooting guard, whichthat would disrupt the other team's defense since most playersat that position wouldn't be able to guard him correctly. It would force other teams to change their playing style often. I like Thomas lately though and he should be considered for a starting roll at power forward. Just to see how things go as this team can't get any worse then the way they're playing right now.</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

What's the Bulls record with Thomas starting?</p>

MikeDC - Smith's lineup has 4 pretty good offensive players, I think they'd not be so bad.</p>

</div></p>

You're right, mostly. Aside from Deng though, I don't think any of those guys will scare you. I think in that lineup, the onus is really going to be on him to step up and deliver, especially with a high-quality and athletic defender on him.</p>

Kirk is more or less going to be the second option there, and he's going to have to step up too.</p>

Looking at things from a clinical perspective, it makes sense. Looking at thigs from a practical perspective, I'm a little concerned with it. In effect, it's in reality a demotion for the guys who have been our biggest offensive threats (Gordon and Thomas) and somewhat of a promotion for the two guys who have been most disappointing (Deng and Hinrich) since they'll now be options 1 and 2.</p>

I mean, it makes perfect sense to me, but I could also see it going over like a lead balloon and really pissing off Gordon to boot.</p>

</p>

</p>

 

I don't think Gordon is going to get any more pissed off then he already is. You just know everything is sturring.</p>

 

Another factor to consider is the end result of that is you're playing Thomas and Noah together, most likely, and that'll be a super inexperienced frontcourt.</p>

Thomas has been really inconsistent, but he's also shown some promise. Other than as a character building crucible (which has the chance of blowing up in the Bulls' face and discouraging him), I'm not sure I think that's the right thing to do.</p>

Put another way, suppose we played Ben and Tyrus together, and then we played Smith and Noah in the second line. In both cases then, you're matching one vet with a younger guys, and I would think Smith would be a guy who could take advantage of playing with Gordon as well.</p>

I dunno... just thinking about it</p>
<hr>
M Two, I'm not sure the end result will be better for Deng. Other teams are pretty effectively guarding him by putting more athletic players on him. It doesn't help that the Bulls haven't done a lot but have him stand in a corner this year.

 

As of right now, mixing things up could backfire or pay off. Whatever happens thoughit can't get worse then it is getting trashed by the Raptors at home in front of a crowd who could care less for mostof their own players. They struggle at every aspect due to poor morale.</p>

 

We'll trade you Joey Graham and Juan Dixon for Nocione...</p>

 

What good is that going to do us?</p>

 

Is the Kobe offer still on the table?</p>

 

Gordon off the bench wouldnt be too bad of an idea, if things aint working out just play around with the rotation....The Raptors suffered 3 consecutive losses earlier in the week and then adjusted their lineup and made Bargnani come off the bench and now were on a mini 2 game winning streak...and Bargnani still gets his minutes as would Gordon just he wouldnt start the ball game, and we have more firepower when our second unit comes on.</p>

 

Thats a dumb idea. Ben Gordon is the best player right now, and a lot of his struggles come up because the other teams can focus their entire defense on them because guys like Hinrich and Deng can't make a shot. If he's coming off the bench, and guys like Hinrich/Deng aren't even in the game and replaced by even worse offensive players like Duhon and Sefolosha, Gordon is going to struggle even more. Its not like his rookie year, where he could go out there, and torch a guy in single coverage. Torching an entire team is a lot tougher than torching one or two guys.</p>

Hinrich and/or Deng and/or Wallace are the three guys that need to be benched.</p>

 

Gordon and Tyrus will be pretty pissed, I think, if they are benched for Ben Wallace's lack of production. And they are the long-term future of the franchise.</p>

Skiles is in a tough spot. I don't think he logically justify benching anyone besides Wallace because Wallace has been the worst starter by far and everyone knows it. But he can't bench Wallace because his contract is too large and it would be an embarrassment for the franchise. And continuing with this starting lineup will result in more losses and possibly a wasted season.</p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rwj)</div><div class='quotemain'></p>

Gordon and Tyrus will be pretty pissed, I think, if they are benched for Ben Wallace's lack of production. And they are the long-term future of the franchise.</p>

Skiles is in a tough spot. I don't think he logically justify benching anyone besides Wallace because Wallace has been the worst starter by far and everyone knows it. But he can't bench Wallace because his contract is too large and it would be an embarrassment for the franchise. And continuing with this starting lineup will result in more losses and possibly a wasted season.</div></p>

I'm not sure I can buy into this because, as bad as Wallace has been, I don't see that putting Joe Smith or Jo Noah in there is going to make that huge of an improvement. Everyone needs to step up their games.</p>

</p>