I wouldnt be surprised to see the Bulls in the finals at all next year. We lack a post player sure, but this offseason we have a very good chance to add someone who can at least put in 10 points in the paint a game and that's all we need to set the tone. The Bulls are a team that play as a team, when one guy has a monster game it seems like everyone plays better. If a guy can come in and consistently bring us those points which we may draft in (Hawes,Wright,Horford,etc.) I think we can get past any team in the east including Detroit and Cleveland. Next season Hinrich,Gordon,Deng, and Noc will all be improved and are already great players and you can expect Gordon and Deng to be in the running for an all-star appearance. If we do make the finals, I think we can do much better then Cleveland did this past season even if we dont add any post players other than who we draft thursday night.
As I said last year, they still need a scorer they can rely on to give them consistent efforts night after night. Gordon is very much a streak scorer, and I don't think Deng can put up the 25PPG a night that I think would be necassary. It doesn't even need to be a post player, just someone who can give them more scoring and on a consistent basis.If that can happen, then this would be the best team in the East (assuming Miami, NJ or Detroit don't make any big trades/signings).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 26 2007, 10:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>As I said last year, they still need a scorer they can rely on to give them consistent efforts night after night. Gordon is very much a streak scorer, and I don't think Deng can put up the 25PPG a night that I think would be necassary. It doesn't even need to be a post player, just someone who can give them more scoring and on a consistent basis.If that can happen, then this would be the best team in the East (assuming Miami, NJ or Detroit don't make any big trades/signings).</div>I think by Next season Deng can be a 25 ppg scorer or at least close. He is only 21 and put up 18 ppg, and he is getting to be more consistent in his great games. He does just about everything well and in the playoffs he showed that night in night out he has the ability to set the tone with scoring. If anyone on the bulls will be an allstar next year I believe it will be him. My prediction for his stats are 23/9/3
I think they can go pretty deep into the playoffs next season, with Deng being capable of putting up a soild 20+ next season along with improved scoring from hinrich and gordan, they also will need a post player who dosen't damand the ball so often because the Bulls basicly play a certain way and they really don't need there post doing all the scoring or it will switch up the Bulls style of play and I don't think they wan't a complete change. I really see the Bulls going far in the next 5 years if Paxon can continue to make the right moves then and for nex year, expect a great season from them next year.
I dont really like Scott Skiles as a coach, I respect him for taking us back to the playoffs but if Phil Jackson ever left the Lakers I would much rather have him as our coach, or Larry Brown. I think Larry Brown could turn our current unit into the best defensive basketball team since the 91' Bulls(who set nearly every defensive record in nba history that season)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 26 2007, 09:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think by Next season Deng can be a 25 ppg scorer or at least close. He is only 21 and put up 18 ppg, and he is getting to be more consistent in his great games. He does just about everything well and in the playoffs he showed that night in night out he has the ability to set the tone with scoring. If anyone on the bulls will be an allstar next year I believe it will be him. My prediction for his stats are 23/9/3</div>I don't really see him being the kind of scorer they need, but his improvement and showing against Miami was impressive. But I just don't see him being the kind of scorer I think the team needs (top tier scorer who is consistent, very few weak areas, dependable, etc...).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 27 2007, 01:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't really see him being the kind of scorer they need, but his improvement and showing against Miami was impressive. But I just don't see him being the kind of scorer I think the team needs (top tier scorer who is consistent, very few weak areas, dependable, etc...).</div>Name one weak point in Luol Dengs game. His offense has improved every season of his career along with his defense and his rebounding. He's everything you'd want in a forward and if he has an all-star year he will be just what we need to reach the next level.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jun 27 2007, 12:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Name one weak point in Luol Dengs game. His offense has improved every season of his career along with his defense and his rebounding. He's everything you'd want in a forward and if he has an all-star year he will be just what we need to reach the next level.</div>He still needs to be consistent, and I'm just not sure he will ever be the kind of top notch scorer the Bulls need. I just got that feeling. He still isn't very polished, doesn't have much of a long range jumpshot, and I am not sure he will be the kind of selfish player to score 25+ as night. Not saying that he won't, but I just got that feeling he will never be much more than a 20PPG or so scorer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jun 27 2007, 01:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He still needs to be consistent, and I'm just not sure he will ever be the kind of top notch scorer the Bulls need. I just got that feeling. He still isn't very polished, doesn't have much of a long range jumpshot, and I am not sure he will be the kind of selfish player to score 25+ as night. Not saying that he won't, but I just got that feeling he will never be much more than a 20PPG or so scorer.</div>That is all very unfounded. If you've watched Deng and seen how far hes come from his rookie season you wouldnt be saying that. Deng may never develop a great 3 point shot but Dwayne Wade doesn't have one either but it doesn't hurt his game does it? 25 PPG has nothing to do with being selfish, Luol Deng very much has the capability to do that. He's 21 and scores 19 PPG so you expect in the next 10 seasons he will max out at 20 ppg?
Yes, it is unfounded, it's just a feeling I have.Look at the top scorers in the league, and they are all selfish in the sense that they want to dominate as scorers and rip your heart out with a 30pt, 40pt, or 50pt game. I used 25PPG as just a measure, but what I am talking about is a scorer like Kobe/T-Mac/Melo/Arenas/Pierce/Iverson/VC/Dirk/Bron/Wade etc... Of course all of these guys are the upper echelon, but I think you get the picture. I am not sure Deng has the ability or the mentality to be a top tier scorer in the league, which the Bulls would need if they don't add another big piece to the puzzle. I'm not saying he won't, be I just don't see it.Elton Brand averaged 20PPG in his first season and averaged over 20.5PPG only once in his career. So no, just because Deng averaged 19PPG in his 3rd year doesn't mean he will put up 25PPG in the next 10 years.And don't use Wade, since Wade is the best in the league at getting into paint and finishing/getting to the line. He also has a good midrange jumper and has the killer instinct to win a game with scoring as many points as needed. I am not so sure about Deng, and he certainly doesn't have any skill which you can call him near best in league at.
Generally guards get higher up in scoring, as alove big men are stagnant....ill put money on Deng being a 25ppg scorer in the next few seasons.
