A reader writes to Truehoop on ESPN: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>TrueHoop reader Matt emails: <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I was born, raised, and still live in Chicago. I've loved the Bulls my entire life, yet tonight I'm leaning towards watching the Celts-Pistons game. Is this OK? If the Bulls didn't repeatedly cover my heart in liquid nitrogen then smash it with their turnover hammer I'd definitely watch them. What do you think?</div> I thought for two seconds and decided oh jeez, it's TV, watch whatever you want. It's a free country. But then I thought a little more, and things got kind of heavy. I was thinking things like: * I have to be honest, I would never watch another team if the Blazers were on (except during timeouts, when I would always watch another team). When I was in Charlotte last week, I actually asked around to see if there was a way to watch the Blazer game on TV from the actual arena where an actual NBA game was actually going on in front of my face. (Turned out, I couldn't watch Portland. But I thought about it.) * Matt, sure it's all fun and sexy to flirt with the pretty girls now. But who's going to find your reading glasses for you when you're old, gray, and warty?</div> My first thought on reading this was that when Matt gets old and warty the Bulls would divorce him for PJ Brown. Then I realized they'll trade him now for PJ Brown and then consider luring him back in 50 years when he's old and warty. My next thought was like Matt, I'm losing interest in this team.
Watching Nocioni play is entertaining enough to make up for the rest of the Bulls. He is fun to watch on both ends of the court. From the games I've seen the Bulls just aren't executing wide open looks. In last night's Laker game the Bulls were getting the shots they wanted, but just couldn't cash in from the perimeter. Hinrich missed several wide open shots that would have went in for him last season. I also noticed Ben Gordon and Luol Deng aren't playing well when they're on the court together. One takes away from the other's presence on the court. Last night Deng was having a strong offensive game and Gordon disappeared. Both these guys need to find other ways to contribute when they don't have the rock in their hands. I've only witnessed Ben Wallace play inspired basketball once this entire season and it was against the Clippers when he ripped down 8 offensive rebounds. He was very active throughout the game and went after every loss ball. I'm not sure what's wrong with Big Ben health? moody? complacent after big contract? the coach? whatever it is the Bulls need to find to get him motivated again. On a positive note I like what Aaron Gray was doing on the court last night for the Bulls. He needs to move his feet more on defense, but he was clearing Lakers out with that wide frame of his and does a good job of drawing fouls.
I am a bit frustrated with the way the Bulls have been stinking it up out there, but I am a Bull for life .
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Dec 19 2007, 08:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Watching Nocioni play is entertaining enough to make up for the rest of the Bulls. He is fun to watch on both ends of the court. From the games I've seen the Bulls just aren't executing wide open looks. In last night's Laker game the Bulls were getting the shots they wanted, but just couldn't cash in from the perimeter. Hinrich missed several wide open shots that would have went in for him last season. I also noticed Ben Gordon and Luol Deng aren't playing well when they're on the court together. One takes away from the other's presence on the court. Last night Deng was having a strong offensive game and Gordon disappeared. Both these guys need to find other ways to contribute when they don't have the rock in their hands.</div> Yeah. Those three guys are our biggest problem in a nutshell. Wallace you can at least say he's over the hill, but these guys are supposedly the foundations of the team and they're all significantly worse than they were last year. Kirk and Lou have started coming out of it a bit, but Gordon is pretty much woeful lately. I'm really sick of his inability to finish. If his shot's not falling he's a ghost. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I've only witnessed Ben Wallace play inspired basketball once this entire season and it was against the Clippers when he ripped down 8 offensive rebounds. He was very active throughout the game and went after every loss ball. I'm not sure what's wrong with Big Ben health? moody? complacent after big contract? the coach? whatever it is the Bulls need to find to get him motivated again.</div> All of the above! <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>On a positive note I like what Aaron Gray was doing on the court last night for the Bulls. He needs to move his feet more on defense, but he was clearing Lakers out with that wide frame of his and does a good job of drawing fouls.</div> Agreed, he's at least somewhat useful and he'll get better. He'll definitely stick in the league. I think if he loses another 10-15lbs he'll still be a big strong guy but he'll be quicker. But beyond everything, I just look at this team and it's clear they need some kind of really lucky move (a steal of a trade, lucky lottery bounce, a good player signed for significantly less than he merits, some team doing for us and Ben Wallace what Charlotte just did for Detroit etc) if it's going to become a real contender. Otherwise we're one and done at playoff time, at best.
Always. I had season tickets when Tyson and Eddy were babies and the bulls sucked. No way I'm passing now. I'll watch the Bulls and Bears no matter how horrible they are.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MJordan @ Dec 19 2007, 08:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I am a bit frustrated with the way the Bulls have been stinking it up out there, but I am a Bull for life .</div> I concur.
Well, drat. I had a nice witty reply typed up and for some reason I lost it. Basically: Bulls beat Detroit in semis this year, lose to Boston in ECF. Next year, we beat Boston in the ECF and lose in the Finals. Year after, we win the Finals. And the Bulls stink when I wear Ben Gordon's jersey. That's the gist of it.
This is my 4th decade of being a Bulls fan. I have been through the thin and thick and thin of it, and I never stopped being a fan. The 6 championships were really a different thing for me as a Chicago fan. I'm used to the potential and the near-miss kinds of winning seasons we get from time to time. I'm willing to remain a fan. I really don't know how to dump "my" team and jump on some other team's bandwagon.
