The Boozer and Noah tandem seems like a conundrum to me. When they play together, neither one seems to be at their best. But our record when they both start is 21-3. Hot damn. I'm trying to wrap my head around a theory for why team works like this, but I don't like my answers so far. As far as their individual games go, I don't know if it's a matter of them 'working out the kinks' or if their games just don't gel very much. Given our record when they play together, I'm inclined to think it's an issue where the talent level in our lineup requires everyone to do less than what they're statistically capable of to be the most successful, which is why their stats suffer but the team still kicks ass. What do you guys think?
Rather than looking at stats and summising , from watching the games they still haven't figured out a rhythym which is understandable given that they both have missed signficant time with each other. The optimist in me likes the possibility of them being able to develop as a tandem. However here are some more pragmatic thoughts : 1. We're an undersized front court...Noah is an athlete and is quick on his feet when he is healthy , whereas , Boozer is heavy on his feet. This fundametal hardwiring of both players may be an issue. 2. Because Boozer struggles against tall wood and Jo has no outside game ( even hough he has become a lot more effective in around the post ) I think Boozer really misses a stretch big to pair with like Mehmet Okur - and this is when Boozer and Williams ( and that Jazz team ) were at their best. 3. I think both Boozer and Noah need someone bigger or a more physical type of player who can bang and move bodies around so that Boozer isn't as easily ganged up on on the offensive side of the ball , and for Noah , where he has a bit more room to use his quickness to slip through and get a shot up or crash the boards .Both Boozer and Noah are fucking lousy pick setters. Major suckage. I mean , its no co-incidence that both Noah and Boozer have done a lot bettter with Kurt Thomas as their front court partner. So.....there is a remedy to this , which is , 1. Deal Taj Gibson for Nick Collison to replace Kurt Thomas 2. Make Troy Murphy a priority free agent target Which gives us a big man crew of Noah, Boozer, Collison, Asik and Murphy
Haven't seen enough of the Bulls to say definitively but IMO in general in the NBA good teams aren't good because their players are all producing crazy numbers. Usually theres one guy who is the clear onus but a couple other very, very good players who could put up great numbers on a crappy team but put up just good/decent numbers. Theres Kobe in L.A. and then Pau, Bynum, Odom, Artest playing their roles. On other teams where they're a notch higher on the totem pole they could probably put up better numbers. The team wouldn't be as good though. Duncan in SA and then Ginobili, Parker and co. playing their roles. Again though, if those two were top options on a different team they'd probably have career averages over 20 ppg. Ginobili is arguably the second or third best SG of this era and many of his best seasons are 15-17 ppg. The Big Three in Boston all saw their numbers decline (maybe Pierce didn't, not sure) when they got together. Whoever the Magic has around Howard usually puts up modest stats but Stan Van Gundy gets them to play the system and play like winners. The size and talent level of Noah/Boozer makes it seem obvious that the team does well when they're playing. Its one of the top tandems in the league. But just because they aren't dropping crazy numbers doesn't mean they aren't being successful. When you gather up enough talent to become a real contender then very good players need to learn to play roles in order to win. Like I said, I barely watch them but I would guess thats what is happening with these two.
I'd probably then try and follow that up with : 1. Dealing CJ Watson and one of our 1st round picks to Memphis for Shane Battier in a sign and trade ( if Battier was agreeable to come to the Bulls ) 2. Drafting Shelvin Mack ( 1A ) or Nolan Smith ( 1B ) with our other 1st round pick to replace CJ 3. Signing a vet free agent point in the mould of Anthony Johnson. 4. Drafting Bojan Bogdanovic as our 2nd round pick and leave him to develop overseas for a season or two Note that Bogans would need to go with Taj in the deal for Nick Collison So .... Noah Boozer Deng Brewer Rose bench Asik Collison Battier Korver Mack Murphy ( specialist stretch big ) A.Johnson
Both Noah and Boozer seem to be off since their injuries. However, combined they're averaging near 30 points and 20 rebounds. Boozer's not exactly getting starters' minutes at 31/game - that's less than his career average and quite a bit less than the 34+ he got with Utah last season. That's 34+ on a team that also had Paul Millsap to take away some of his minutes. While it looks to me like Boozer has been struggling in the "stand around and watch Rose" offense we play these days, he's been a beast on the defensive boards. Possession after possession, I see him grabbing the uncontested rebound. Those rebounds are not extra chances for the opponents to score, which is a very good thing.
Good points by everyone. I agree that on great teams, everyone but the alpha player usually has to accept a role where they produce less than they're statistically capable of. Denny - You and I seem to be on the same page about our offense. Way too often I see us relying too much on Rose, and I wonder if it will bite our behind in the playoffs. Despite having a a reputation for being a bruiser on offense, I think Boozer works best if he gets the ball on the move and in rhythm, and Deron is better at doing that than Rose. That and a stretch big makes a big difference for a guy like Boozer. As great as Rose is, I don't really think he's a great passer, and he's not a natural at hitting people in their spots. I think Luol Deng is a good example of this point. Deng has to have the ball in his spots to be effective, and it's in their third year playing together that the two really look like they "get it" when playing together.
