ESPN panel discussion on these points: 1. Fact or Fiction: Derrick Rose will repeat as MVP. 2. Fact or Fiction: Rose should shoot less. 3. Fact or Fiction: Chicago would like a do-over on the Boozer acquisition. 4. Fact or Fiction: Chicago can win a ring with Keith Bogans starting at SG. 5. Fact or Fiction: The Bulls will win the Eastern Conference. Read: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/5-on-5-110822/chicago-bulls-offseason-questions
I think everyone agreed with you from the panel (and everyone should agree with you). The one thing I think is interesting is the thread title, and article title, are different than the question asked. Will the Bulls win the East? Probably not. Can the Bulls win the East? Absolutely. We were spoiled for many years by the complete dominance of the Bulls during the Jordan era. Most years, it seems, there are a number of teams that are in contention and the ultimate winner has a lot to do with who is fresh, injury free, and hot at the right time. No one besides Barkley and Kenny picked the Mavs at the beginning of the season, and really why would you have? The Bulls have the bigs to win a championship and a star to hold it all together. We are right to demand an upgrade at shooting guard. I still think Stephen Jackson could have won a championship for us, this past season. But let's not be too gloom and doom. It's going to be a hell of a season if it doesn't get cancelled. We haven't had this for many, many years and we should remember to enjoy it.
I didn't read the article before I posted. Note that I think the bulls regret signing boozer, but I still like the signing personally.
I think he did fine for most of the season. Was worth every penny. And the alternatives, other than someone like Amare, aren't that good. We'd be talking about needing a PF and a SG right now, without him.
1. fiction 2. fact 3. fact 4. fiction 5. fiction Boozer was the worst signing of the free agent period
I think that's a fair assessment. I have a really hard time enjoying watching Boozer because I just don't like his game and persona that much. But I recognize that my take is flawed. If you're going to take criticize the signing you raise his dismal play in the playoffs, but then he was injured. And I think one of the most common mistakes we make is not recognizing the negative impact an injury can have on even "star" players. I would have loved Amar'e. I've seen a lot of people criticize his defense, but it's not bad, just inconsistent at times. He definitely can play the role of enforcer which is something the Bulls don't really have in the starting lineup. He would be a force in the paint under Thibodeau, and we all know how good his offensive game is. I think you also have to include Dirk on the list of transcendent signings that were available, even though he may never have really been available. Part of the problem with Boozer is that he's one of those non-elite vet acquisitions that are never quite as good as you would hope them to be. We've seen that with Ben Wallace, Jalen Rose and Ron Mercer. People expect for them to shine because of their contract and incoming hype when they're really just players you can win with.
Rose earned his money for 1.5 seasons, but was wasted on a team which was confused about developing young guys (3Cs) and playing vets to try and win games. Rose did a good enough job at getting the young guys involved... As much as people rag on Boozer, consider how awful Noah was in the playoffs, and Rose, too.
Fact Fact. Which is why he will win the MVP award again when he dishes out over 10 dimes per to go with a more efficient 25ppg while shooting over 38% from 3 and being amongst the top 5 guys in the league in getting to the line Fact. But it can be masked via the retention of Taj and Omer , that , with Jo and Booze will provide one of the best 4/5 combos in the league Fiction. The alternate is to start Ronnie Brewer and bring JR Smith in as 6th man Only if #4 occurs
1. Fact or Fiction: Derrick Rose will repeat as MVP. Fiction. It'll be somebody else's turn. 2. Fact or Fiction: Rose should shoot less. Fiction. It means someone else has to shoot more and I'm at a loss as to who. 3. Fact or Fiction: Chicago would like a do-over on the Boozer acquisition. Fiction. Among the alternatives that were available, I suspect that the FO still doesn't see a better way to have spent that money. Neither do I. 4. Fact or Fiction: Chicago can win a ring with Keith Bogans starting at SG. Fact...and they just might've proved it last season if Boozer and Noah were healthy. Bogans is clearly a sub-standard starter at SG, but he wasn't the key reason the team came up short 5. Fact or Fiction: The Bulls will win the Eastern Conference. Fiction. Some team will win the East. I don't know who.
I like this paragraph a lot. Boozer's better than those guys, but at the end of the day, he's still in that group. At the high end of that group at his best, but still a "win with" not "win because of" kind of guy. Oh well. It's what we have. As to the questions: Derrick Rose will in a second MVP I say fiction. While I think the Bulls will have another good year, the stars really aligned for them last season, and the story around Derrick Rose was just right to give him the award. I doubt that happens two years in a row. Derrick Rose should shoot less. Fact, by just a smidge. I think it has more to do with his court awareness than his selfishness, but I think if Derrick started to break the double team with the pass instead of the dribble it'd open up the offense more. The Bulls regret the Carlos Boozer signing. Fiction, but it's a tough call. I'm pretty sure they were fed up with him by the end of the season, but like Transplant said, I'm really not sure who else we could've spent the money on. When healthy he was still good ol' Boozer. The Bulls Can't Win A Championshit with Keith Bogans as starting SG Fiction. Bogans fits in, plays good D, and satisfies the "do no harm" principle very well. We all know what he is, but he won't get in the way if the rest of the team is good. If Boozer and Noah were in their early season form we could've won the championship last year. Bulls will win the eastern conference again Fact. The Bulls are well built to be a successful regular season team year-after-year. Boston's too old and Miami is too dysfunctional. The other teams just aren't good enough. Plus we should have a decent amount of continuity going into next year.
The "t" and "p" are pretty far apart on a QWERTY, so I assume this was intentional or at least Freudian. Wish it provided me with insight into the mind of rosenthall, but my powers of perception seem to be on the blink today. Also, I was all ready to start an argument over your answer on the Bogans question until, while reading your full response, I realized you had flipped the original question.
1. Fiction. It is really hard to repeat as MVP. If he has the same season as last season he won't get it. 2. Fiction. Unless some player takes a big step forward. 3. Fact. 4. Fact. It is possible but everything has to align correctly to do so. 5. Fiction. I don't think they are there yet, unless other teams in the East have another breakdown.
The Bulls didn't win the East. The Heat did. The Bulls were one of three teams to win their division. The Bulls did have the best record in the NBA, thus the East.
Nossem, I think it might just be left over bitterness from the end of the season and that I have little places to exercise my bulls addiction these days.
