What the Bulls can do to weather the storm
In an effort to build further on a specific request which was made of yours truly this past weekend …
This is the recap which Kelly Dwyer [BDL] posted concerning Saturday’s Chicago Bulls/Boston Celtics game:
Behind the Box Score, where the C’s outclassed the Bulls
This is the specific comment [#9] which yours truly then contributed:
KD,
PART ONE
When I was an active contributor to the Blog-a-Bull comment section 2 seasons ago, I did my best to inform the regulars there that Chicago’s problems at that time were NOT rooted in the poor [shot-happy] play of one Ben Gordon and that, instead, what the Bulls needed to do was:
1. Use Ben Gordon as their Starting Point Guard;
2. Use Thabo Sefolosha as their Starting Off Guard;
3. Use Luol Deng as their Starting Small Forward;
4. Use Tyrus Thomas as their Starting Power Forward;
5. Use Joakim Noah as their Starting Center; and,
6. Trade Kirk Hinrich, in return for either: A. The Scoring Player they needed to bring off their bench; or, B. An Interior Scoring Center.
Unfortunately …
7. Most Bulls fans were under the delusional impression that Captain Kirk was a better NBA player than Gentle Ben;
8. Ben Gordon was incapable of succeeding as a Prime-time PG, in the NBA, and was the player who Chicago needed to trade, in order to improve their prospects for the future.
If the Bulls would have done what I suggested and then Derrick Rose fell into their lap in the 2008 NBA Draft, they would not be where they are today.
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PART TWO
How to fix the Bulls’ problems right now?
1. Cut Lindsey Hunter
2. Sign Von Wafer.
3. Scale back Derrick Rose’s MPG to 32.
4. Increase Pargo’s MPG to 16, as the Primary Back-up PG.
5. Sign a post-up Guard-Forward like, Bonzi Wells.
6. Use Aaron Gray as their Starting Center [until Tyrus is healthy].
7. Use Joakim Noah as their Starting Power Forward [until Tyrus is healthy].
8. Use the following rotation:
STARTERS
Rose + Wafer + Deng + Noah + Gray
KEY SUBS
Pargo + Hinrich + Salmons + Gibson + Miller
RESERVES
Wells + Johnson
That 12 man team, right there, would be good enough to make the playoffs in the EC this season.
Cheers
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Then, this is the follow-up comment [#13] submitted by Keith Singer:
Hi Khandor,
You’ve done an excellent job of analyzing the Bull’s problems and made intelligent suggestions. Here are a few thoughts for you. Please respond on the forum or via e-mail, your choice (ksinger@kasesq.com).
1. Ben Gordon- Bulls management may have undervalued the contributions of Ben Gordon or they may have recognized his talents but decided that the asking price was too high. They probably felt that Gordon was too small to guard some 2’s and his defense was sub-par. They obviously thought that Salmons would step in and continue his production of last year. Personally, I felt Salmons would drop off closer to his career numbers. His defense was expected to be better than Gordon’s but that D has been disappointing. They probably felt that the cap space saved would be better spent on a free agent in 2010 than on Gordon. We won’t be able to assess the wisdom of their choice until the summer.
2. Derrick Rose- I think they expected a big season from Rose; they couldn’t have known that he would experience an ankle injury. Part of the failure of the current team is the sub-par year that Rose has experienced, thus far.
3. Tyrus Thomas- They couldn’t have anticipated the injury to Tyrus Thomas. I think they believed that Thomas would have been the starting PF all year. Yes, Taj Gibson is a rookie and looked good but Bulls Management expected a career year from Thomas. When Noah is out of position trying to block a shot or overmatched in girth, Thomas could double team or grab a rebound for which Noah would be out of position.
4. Aaron Gray- I think your point about Gray is interesting. I am not sure if Gray is as good as you think. Although I agree with you that he is on the roster and large enough to keep the larger centers out of the lane. We have not seen him play enough but giving him a chance is not a bad idea. Look at the Dallas Mavericks, they are utilizing a platoon system with Dampier and Drew Gooden. That could work with Noah and Gray as well.
5. Kirk Hinrich- I agree that Kirk Hinrich is overrated. He has had a sub-par season thus far. He was touted for his shooting and defense; both aspects of his game have been missing. The Bulls did sign a back up in Pargo, however he is a scorer more than a pass first point guard.
6. Von Wafer- It is tantalizing to think about his potential and how he could help the Bulls or any other team for that matter. However, you must remember the problems that Rick Adelman had with him. Adelman has proven that he is a fantastic coach but could not get Wafer to listen and learn his system. Other point guards are available like Brevin Knight who was a pass first point guard. I don’t know about his conditioning and ability to play today.
7. Bonzi Wells- An inside scorer would help the Bulls but Bonzi Wells caused trouble wherever he went. They would be better served looking for a post up player in 2010 free agency.
I think you make some good points and the Bulls certainly have their work to do the rest of the year and over the summer to improve. They are definitely not playing at the same level as the Celtics; but remember the Celtics are an older team. They Bulls should be building a younger team that will compete for a championship in future when the Celtics are rebuilding. Regarding the article by Kelly Dwyer, I couldn’t agree more. Luol Deng played well while the rest of the team was not as talented and not as well prepared as the Celtics. The Bulls do have their work to do but they do have cap money to spend in 2010.
Best regards,
Keith Singer, Esq.
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Hopefully, Keith [and KD] won’t mind too much if we shift the discussion over to this location … i.e. to allow it room to grow in a place where it will be easier to moderate and ensure that other interested parties can have direct access to it without first having to sort through a series of unrelated comments.
Keith,
The answers to your specific questions are as follows:
1. Chicago’s management … and a great many of the Bulls fans … have been wrong about the specific skill-set which Ben Gordon brings to the table in the NBA game.
Yes, Ben Gordon is a shorter Off Guard, when it comes to checking some of the taller #2/3’s in the NBA.
However …
I. Ben Gordon is not considered a shorter player when he’s used defensively to check the Point Guard position. If he’s allowed to use his height/size to advantage … i.e. by gapping … and not required by his coach to apply “turn-the-screws” defensive pressure at all times, Ben Gordon is a capable defender at the PG position.
II. If/when Ben Gordon plays beside Derrick Rose, they become almost inter-changeable, at the PG and OG positions, minimizing any height advantage an opponent’s taller OG might have … due to the fact that the opponent’s guard tandem would then have to:
i. Cope with the Bulls’ ad hoc ”Switchability”, on defense, while still maintaining a physically solid player [Gordon/6-3, 200; Rose/6-3, 190] against their scoring/shooting guard [e.g. Ray Allen/6-5, 205; or, Kobe Bryant/6-6, 205]; and,
ii. Cope with the Bulls’ ad hoc “ability to generate high percentage shots which stem from dribble penetration” by either Rose or Gordon, for both [A] themselves and/or [B] their less dynamic teammates.
iii. Cope with the Bull’s ensuing height/size advantage at the Point Guard position, while attempting to Rebound and Defend against Rose and Gordon.
On Offense, Gordon’s specific skill-set [i.e. his ability to create his own shot and stretch the defense with long range 3's] is a terrific pairing with Rose’s ability to dribble penetrate.
III. On offense, when Derrick Rose is out of the game …
If Ben Gordon is used at the PG position, what’s required is:
* 1st, to get the ball out of his hands
[e.g. with a simple pass to either wing]
* 2nd, to get the ball back into his hands, in a scoring position, from a designated action which also allows his teammates to touch the ball
[e.g. with a simple UCLA cut/back screen to the block; and a straight-forward "Single-Double" action, Ben Gordon becomes a devastating scoring Combo Guard, in the mode of Vinny "The Microwave" Johnson.]
Used in this fashion, Ben Gordon is a High Level NBA player … who is worth every penny of a large, long term contract.
Chicago made a BIG MISTAKE in letting him go this past summer.
[Please Note: While there's a great deal to like about the specific skill-set which John Salmons has, as a Big Guard, when the starting SF on your team is Luol Deng ... who specializes in the mid-range game, as well, without really being able to stretch the D with the 3, or slash to the hoop in a first-class way ... then, it is simply not a good fit using him for major minutes beside a PG like Derrick Rose, who struggles with his perimeter jump-shot and a Center like Joakim Noah, who is not a high precentage back-to-the-basket scorer, or an efficient mid-range jump-shooter.]
2. Yes, Derrick Rose’s ankle injury has significantly reduced his overall effectiveness, so far this season … but, primarily it’s because Chicago has not yet replaced Ben Gordon’s ability to stretch the defense with long range 3’s and create open shots for himself and/or his teammates. If Rose still had this type of player beside him in the line-up for major minutes, his limited agility/mobility/explosiveness/etc. would not be such a detriment to the Bulls.
3. Yes, losing an athletic, energetic and exuberant Power Forward like Tyrus Thomas, for a major stretch of games, has been a huge factor in the Bulls’ poor play this season. In partnership with terrific overall athletes like Rose, Gordon and Noah [i.e shot-blocker #1A], last season Thomas [i.e. shot-blocker #1] gave Chicago 4 starting players who were each capable of Rebounding and Defending multiple positions on the floor during any given possession … which is a major advantage for a team.
4. It’s a total fallacy that a player needs to have a high degree of “NBA talent” in order to play effectively at the Center position. What matters most is:
- Does a player have the speed and quickness and stamina required to run the floor consistently in transition?
- Does a player have a solid frame with adequate size [i.e. some combination of girth, strength and length]?
- Does a player have a solid aptitude for the game [i.e. the ability to read the game and play with/off his teammates]?
- Does a player have solid eam attitude [i.e. unselfishness]?
- Does a player have a specific type of shot which he can make on a consistent basis [i.e. Catch & Shoot mid-range jump-shot; Drop-step power lay-up; Turn-around jump-shot; etc.]
- Does a player have the ability to pass the ball with his back to the basket?
If the answers to these questions are, “Yes”, then the player can succeed playing the Center position in the NBA.
The two simple equations look like this:
OPTION #1. The less “NBA athletic” talent a player has at the C position the more “NBA athletic” talent his 4 teammates must be.
OPTION #2. The more “NBA athletic” talent a player has at the C position the less “NBA athletic” talent his 4 teammates can be.
Aaron Gray [C, 7-0, 270] is plenty “good enough” to be used for spot minutes in the NBA.
5. Kirk Hinrich simply hasn’t been the same player since he lost his spot with the USA National Team.
IMO, no other player who participated with the USA national teams that failed to win Gold Medals at the 2002 and 2006 World Championships, and the 2004 Olympic Games, has been [psycho-emotionally] “damaged” more by those specific losses … and the impression which they created across the NBA … than Captain Kirk. It’s a real shame, too, as prior to his experience with that team … where his confidence was shot … he was on track to have an outstanding pro career, as a highly versatile Combo Guard, who could do a little bit of everything fairly well without excelling at any specific aspect of the game.
6. Von Wafer can be a difficult player to handle … but, only if your roster is filled with other players who are just as good or better than he is, as an explosive scorer at the wing position. This is not the situation with the Bulls current line-up.
7. Bonzi Wells … signed to a 1-yr, NBA veteran’s minimum contract … would not be a difficult player for the Bulls’ to incorporate at this time. When he knows his role, and is actually used in that role, exclusively, he becomes a very valuable post-up scorer for a team like Chicago, without a high percentage post-up player on its current roster. To get the Bulls to next season, without being totally embarrassed this year, he becomes a decent, inexpensive add that effectively addresses a specific short term need.
Thanks for your feedback! 
Tags: Aaron Gray, Bonzi Wells, Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, James Johnson, Jannero Pargo, Joakim Noah, John Salmons, Keith Singer, Kelly Dwyer, Kirk Hinrich, Lindsey Hunter, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Von Wafer
December 14th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Interesting that you feel BG is worth that much. Personally, I think he’s a very good player, but ONLY in the context you present above. If used exclusively as a 2, as has been the case of late, I think he’s a pretty good-sized liability because of his disinterested nature on the defensive end coupled with his size disadvantage at that spot. Rose might be one of the very few PGs that would allow BG to play the 2 more often… Although perhaps Stuckey could fit into that role — thoughts?
What’s your thinking on adding Gray as a starter? More interior production? Can’t say I’ve seen enough of him to agree or disagree… though I have to say I never thought of him as more than a 15mpg guy. But perhaps that’s what you had in mind?
And re the Raps, I am SO encouraged by the fact that (a) Wright isn’t playing and (b) Jack was willing to defend a teammate. What’s your opinion on this statement, which seems to be gaining momentum in Raptorland: “Although Jose is a much better player than Jack, sf the best move at this point might not be to move Jose to pick up another asset on the wing?” I’m of the opinion that they need to sit tight and stop rearranging the team so often… but Jack has looked good, and Jose is very tradeable. And, from a leadership perspective, Jack has provided something we’ve sorely needed!
December 14th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Scott G.,
1. I share your opinion of Ben Gordon as straight-up Off Guard.
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2. Since the Pistons signed Gordon, I’ve been an advocate of their team either:
A. Chaining Will Bynum to the bench; or,
B. Trading Will Bynum, in exchange for an interior scoring post presence;
which Detroit needs to regain its perch towards the top of EC,
and going with a rotation that looks like this:
STARTERS
Stuckey/PG + Hamilton/OG + Prince/SF
KEY SUBS
Gordon/PG-OG + Jerebko/SF [or Deron Washington, before they cut him]
RESERVES
Daye/OG-SF and Summers/SF-PF
at the PG, OG and SF positions … so that Stuckey can continue to get the development time he needs to become the outstanding player he is capable of becoming in the NBA.
If the Pistons simply played THAT rotation this season they would be a Top 6 team in the EC, and challenge Atlanta for the No. 4 berth in the playoffs … given how well their bigs can Defend and Rebound the ball.
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3. Aaron Gray c/would easily become the Bulls’ version of Greg Ostertag.
i. IMO, it’s a complete disnomer to believe that a solid NBA team NEEDS to have a scoring player at the Center position in order to succeed and/or play at a high level.
ii. A main benefit of using Gray as a starter would be allowing Noah to shift over to the Power Forward position, thereby removing Gibson/PF from the starting unit and allowing him to play off the bench … where he’s a better fit, at least, right now … beside a wily veteran like Brad Miller/C.
If they added a post-up guard-forward like Bonzi Wells, this would allow the Bulls to “invert” their offense and still keep Gibson and Miller on the perimeter, spotting up for mid-range jumpers, where they are the most effective.
In no way sh/would Gray become a major minute player for the Bulls … but, by using him as a starter, with the other good-very good players that Chicago has at-present, he then becomes a more useful player than he is playing off the bench with their 2nd unit, which is currently devoid of the high quality “NBA talent” it takes to effectively hide his many short-comings.
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4. When Antoine Wright doesn’t get to play a lick … the Raptors chances of winning increase exponentially.
5. Jarrett Jack is a player who I have liked since his days in Portland … but, not as a back-up player off the bench. IMO, JJ is highly serviceable as a starting PG … where his salary and his specific skill-set are a much better fit.
6. Jose Calderon SHOULD NOT BE traded at this time.
I completely agree with your take that says what the Raptors need to do is STOP wheeling and dealing and give their existing players and their current head coach the time it takes to GRADUALLY build a championship calibre organization over a period of years.
IMO, this would have been an actual “Plan Of Attack” that a player like Chris Bosh … with his strength of character … could have been sold on:
i. Going back 2 seasons, if it would have been enacted after the 2006-2007 campaign, instead of adding an offensive player like Jason Kapono and allowing a solid defensive/rebounding player like Morris Peterson to walk away from the team;
ii. As well as 2 summers ago, when Jermaine was unnecessarily added to the team;
in grandiose efforts to “win right away”.
If the Raptors are going to eventually move Jose Calderon it SHOULD be during the off season.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Lots of great ideas + discussion going on here …
(1) I’d prefer to see the Bulls go smaller and move Luol Deng to the power forward position and slide John Salmons over to small forward. Then have Kirk Hinrich fill in as a two guard. Along with Rose and Noah. I think that should be their primary lineup — maybe, maybe not, their starting lineup, but definitely their most used lineup — while Ty Thomas is out injured.
(2) I think Aaron Gray is a good-to-very good third string center in the NBA. He should be in the league for a long time. However, I would rather start Taj Gibson ahead of him. I think Gray is too limited offensively (passing, jump shooting) to place alongside Joakim Noah + a misfiring group of perimeter players. Gray could be a low level or temporary rotation player if needed but I don’t like his fit on this current team/rotation.
(3) Von Wafer would be a tremendous signing. The Bulls are short a rotation caliber wing (only two on the roster). Von Wafer’s shooting + scoring ability would be a great fit alongside those other players.
If the Bulls did sign Von Wafer, I’d rather start him at the two and keep Hinrich as the team’s sixth man (until Ty Thomas returns). I like that one-two punch from Hinrich and Brad Miller off the bench. Once Thomas returns, the Bulls would have a very effective tight eight man rotation.
(4) I like the Bulls decision to let Ben Gordon leave in free agency. Signing him to that type of money would have forced too many consequential moves (Hinrich + Deng need to be dumped). I think it’s easier for the Bulls to build their team from here on in without Gordon + his paycheck on the books. A lot of risk in keeping Gordon.
(5) The Bulls lack high quality talent. They have only one players of All-Star quality (Deng). They’re not able to ride their top 1-3 players and get victories consistently. They rely on a balanced attack from their top seven players in order to be an above average team. When they lose players to injury (Thomas), to loss of form due to recovery from injury (Rose), and plain poor performances (Hinrich, Salmons) … they’re not able to compete.
It should just be a temporary problem though. It’ll likely fix itself if given time — return for injury + gradual improvement in form from players who are under-performing — that time plus the Bulls poor start will have them fighting with the rest of the pack in the East for one of those final playoff spots though.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
I’d be more interested in the Bulls going bigger with their starting unit (moving Noah to PF) if they had a better defensive option off the bench from their bigs. I just don’t see that as a viable option from Brad Miller, Aaron Gray, Taj Gibson or James Johnson.
That’s why I’d prefer to go with Luol Deng at the PF position where he could do a solid job defensively + allow the Bulls to pick up the pace and get some easy baskets + spread the floor offensively and allow Rose/Salmons/Hinrich more freedom to operate.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Andrea Bargnani - successful center?
- Does a player have the speed and quickness and stamina required to run the floor consistently in transition? - YES
- Does a player have a solid frame with adequate size [i.e. some combination of girth, strength and length]? - YES
- Does a player have a solid aptitude for the game [i.e. the ability to read the game and play with/off his teammates]? - YES ON OFFENCE, NO ON DEFENCE
- Does a player have solid eam attitude [i.e. unselfishness]? - YES
- Does a player have a specific type of shot which he can make on a consistent basis [i.e. Catch & Shoot mid-range jump-shot; Drop-step power lay-up; Turn-around jump-shot; etc.] - YES
- Does a player have the ability to pass the ball with his back to the basket? - YES
December 15th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Dave,
If the Bulls were to sign Wafer and Wells, I’d have no problem whatsoever with them using:
i. Gray as their starting Center; and, then,
ii. The “small” line-ups which you’ve suggested, as their MAJOR MINUTE 5-man units.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Brain,
re: Bargnani/C
Unfortunately, the correct answers to those specific questions would be as follows:
No.
Yes.
No.
No.
No.
No.
Q1. Can he still get better at several of these?
A1. Yes, he can.
Time will tell if he does.
PS. Btw … LOL, at your decision to include your evaluation of AB in this thread about the Bulls and whether a former No. 1 [overall] Draft Pick … who is set to “earn” a salary of $10.0 M/yr … compares favourably, or not, with a “serviceable” Center like Aaron Gray.
December 15th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I wasn’t comparing him to Gray. You’ve made the point that AB is terrible many, many times in this space so I applied your measure of what a player needs to have a high degree of “NBA talent” in order to play effectively at the Center position.
I disagree with many aspect of your eval and imagine that most would. You seem to have an anti AB bias.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Brain,
LOL,
in a good way.
That’s not my “measure of what a player needs to have a ‘high degree’ of ‘NBA talent’, in order to play effectively at the Center position”.
If anything, it’s the polar opposite … as affirmative answers to those questions may, in fact, qualify as my “measure of what a player needs to have a ‘minimal amount‘ of ‘NBA talent’, in order to play effectively at the Center position”.
re: I disagree with many aspect of your eval and imagine that most would.
No. i.e. Barganani fails to run the floor consistently in defensive transition.
Yes.
No. i.e. Bargnani fails to exhibit a solid aptitude for the defensive side of the game … and defense, at the Center position, outweighs offense.
No. i.e. Bargnani fails to exhibit an unselfish attitude on defense and when rebounding … both of which are more important than offense, at Center.
No. i.e. Bargnani has no “got-to move” at the moment.
No. i.e. Bargnani habitually shoots the ball when he receives a pass in the low-post with his back to the basket [i.e. this is partly due to the fact that his teammates know enough NOT to pass him the ball when he's trying to post-up against a player his own size, since he isn't very good yet at scoring in this situation; consequently, when he does get a pass in the low-post it's because he's in a size mis-match that he SHOULD be able to take advantage of to score the ball himself, rather than pass out of the post to an open teammate].
You [and most others?] are certainly free to disagree with my perspectives on the correct answers to these questions. Whether you [and most others?] are, in fact, right or wrong is a different matter altogether.
re: You seem to have an anti AB bias.
The specific bias which I have is in favour of assessing someone’s strengths and weakness with accuracy.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Follow up questions (feel free to move this to another forum if this is annoying on this bulls comment page):
No. - How much of this is effort and how much bad coaching.
Yes.
No. How much of this is aptitude and how much is a combination of coaching and playing behind Calderon.
No. How is he unselfish as a defender/rebounder.
No. One of your go o moves was catch and shoot. This in particular seems like bias.
No. I understand your comment. I’ve seen him make nice passes from the post but agree that he’s usually a shooter.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Brain,
re: No. - How much of this is effort and how much bad coaching.
Not to be callous, but … It’s irrelevant to this discussion what the actual reason for this is. The fact is that Bargnani fails to do this well right now. That’s all.
re: No. How much of this is aptitude and how much is a combination of coaching and playing behind Calderon.
At this point, it is 100% aptitude.
re: No. How is he unselfish as a defender/rebounder.
What he is … is selfish as a team/help defender, which is reflected in his lack of awareness and inability to move quickly enough in aide of his teammates.
re: No. One of your go to moves was catch and shoot. This in particular seems like bias.
What I wrote was this: “Catch & Shoot mid-range jump-shot;”
Please take note that I did not write:
“Catch & Shoot perimeter jump-shot,” as a specific go-to move for a Center.
re: No. I understand your comment. I’ve seen him make nice passes from the post but agree that he’s usually a shooter.
Good. We’re in agreement, then, about this!