khandor’s sports blog

What you see right here:

is one of the all-time great sports quotations, from Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith.

Amen, on all accounts.

As was mentioned in this space on Monday …

The adjustments which Miami needed to make in order to win their series with Chicago included:

1. Giving increased playing time to [A] Mike Miller/SF, [B] Zydrunas Ilgauskas/C, [C] Eddie House/OG and [D] Udonis Haslem/PF];

2. Reducing the playing time of [A] Mike Bibby [PG] and [B] Jamaal Magloire [C]; and,

3. Having Dwayne Wade [OG] check Derrick Rose [PG].

Given the result of last night’s Game 2, it is now fair to say that a main reason this series is tied, 1-1, is because Erik Spoelstra [Head Coach] actually implemented several of the “strategic” adjustments which were recommend, in advance, right here.

For example:

#3) For significant stretches of the 4th quarter, Miami used the following 5-man unit with the associated Individual Match-ups:

PG, Dwayne Wade [vs D-Rose]
OG, Mike Miller [vs Keith Bogans or Kyle Korver]
SF, LeBron James [vs Luol Deng or Ronnie Brewer]
PF, Udonis Haslem [vs Carlos Boozer or Taj Gibson] 
C, Chris Bosh [vs Joakim Noah or Omer Asik]

#2.B) Jamaal Magloire was used for only 5 minutes.

#1.A) Mike Miller was used for 18 minutes.

#1.D) Udonis Haslem was used for 23 minutes.

If Coach Spoelstra wants to ensure that the Heat will win this series … by an ever-widening margin, then … all he really needs to do is implement the remaining “strategic” adjustments which were listed here on Monday that he chose to disregard in Game 2, i.e. 2.A, 1.B, and 1.C.

————————————————————————-

PS. Last night, actually Coach Spoestra did a solid job of earning his salary. Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said for Coach Thibodeau … especially, when he fell asleep at the switch, and was much too slow in substituting Ronnie Brewer back into the game, in the latter stages of the 4th quarter, after Coach Spoelstra showed that he was going to milk the “3-1 Pick-and-Pop” – with LeBron James as Miami’s primary ball-handler, since Kyle Korver/OG was still in the game and being used to check Mike Bibby/PG

PPS. BTW … For those who still believe that Chris Bosh is incapable of playing Center for a title-winning team in the NBA, last night’s game serves as Exhibit A for how exactly this young man can best be used by an organization that is being run by a GM who really does know what he is doing when it comes to being able to win it all.

At the end of the 2008-2009 regular season, the main pieces for the Raptors and the Bulls, respectively, looked like this:

Toronto at Chicago [April 15, 2009]

When you then look at the main pieces for these same two teams when they played each other at the end of the 2009-2010 regular season, what you see is the following:

Chicago at Toronto [April 11, 2010]

When you then look at the main pieces for these same two teams when they played each other at the end of the just completed regular season, what you see is the following:

Toronto at Chicago [April 2, 2011]

Key differences and similarities?

1. Lead Executives, at the time:

2008-2009
CHICAGO, John Paxson
TORONTO, Bryan Colangelo and Maurizio Gherardini

2009-2010
CHICAGO, John Paxson and Gar Forman
TORONTO, Bryan Colangelo and Maurizio Gherardini

2010-2011
CHICAGO, John Paxson and Gar Forman
TORONTO, Bryan Colangelo and Maurizio Gherardini

2. Head Coaches, at the time:

2008-2009
CHICAGO, Vinnie Del Negro
TORONTO, Jay Triano

2009-2010
CHICAGO, Vinnie Del Negro
TORONTO, Jay Triano

2010-2011
CHICAGO, Tom Thibodeau
TORONTO, Jay Triano

3. Key Players, at the time:

2008-2009
CHICAGO
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng [DNP-injury], Ben Gordon, John Salmons, Tyrus Thomas, Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller and Tim Thomas

TORONTO
Chris Bosh, Shawn Marion, Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker and Andrea Bargnani [DNP-injury]

2009-2010
CHICAGO
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich and Brad Miller

TORONTO
Chris Bosh [DNP-injury], Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, Hedo Turkoglu, Amir Johnson, Sonny Weems, DeMar DeRozan and Reggie Evans

2010-2011
CHICAGO
Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer, CJ Watson, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, Kurt Thomas, Omir Asik and Rasual Butler

TORONTO
Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson, Ed Davis, Jerryd Bayless, James Johnson, Leandro Barbosa, Sonny Weems, Linas Kleiza and Reggie Evans

4. Won-Loss Records, at the time

2008-2009
CHICAGO, 41-41
TORONTO, 33-49

2009-2010
CHICAGO, 39-41 [similar]
TORONTO, 38-42 [slightly better]

2010-2011
CHICAGO, 56-20 [significantly better]
TORONTO, 20-55 [significantly worse]

Since their introduction to the NBA, 16 years ago, what the Toronto Raptors have displayed is: [1] A remarkable inability to hold onto their “best” players from previous seasons who have solid upside and were actually selected by the team in the annual Draft; and, [2] A disturbing penchant for selecting the “wrong” players in the annual Draft who have limited upside and then remain fixtures with the team for far too many years without becoming very productive overall … unlike the Chicago Bulls.

Until the Raptors properly address the deficiencies which exist for their franchise at the Executive level, the Head Coach level, and the Marquee Player level, what position they select in any given NBA Draft Lottery is quite immaterial … if the long term goal is eventually being able to win a League Championship.

It is simply astounding that a nonsensical perspective like this one:

—————————————————–

Vote Derrick Rose for love of the game

Players like Derrick Rose should be rewarded.

So, you MVP voters, if you just want to say that the Bulls are the best team in the NBA, and you love Derrick Rose and that’s that, I’m cool with it. Vote for the dude. To me, that’s a good enough rationale.

However, one little thing: Do not tell me that the reason you’re voting for him is because without him the Bulls would be a disaster.

That’s misguided and insulting. It’s a little insulting to Dwight Howard, who is the only candidate if that’s the rationale. (Even James is a stronger candidate by this measure.)

But mainly, it’s entirely insulting to everyone else who works for the Bulls.

The Bulls are a hot story today because they manhandled the Boston Celtics last night and are on track to finish at the top of the East. They didn’t beat the Celtics, though, because of Rose’s memorable pull-up 3s off the dribble. (Monta Ellis can do that too, and it doesn’t lead to all that many wins.)

They beat them because Paul Pierce and Ray Allen could barely get a shot off. The Celtics’ big four finished 15-of-43, and it’s not like they were missing bunnies.

Steals, shot-clock violations, fumbled passes, broken plays. The Celtics’ offense, last night, was complete and total mush — 38 percent from the floor — and that was no accident. That’s why they lost, and that’s not some gift Derrick Rose gave the Bulls.

That was because the Bulls knew exactly what to do. They do it to everybody. Tom Thibodeau took the ideas and direction that once made Boston the NBA’s best defense, and, against long odds, transported them to a new roster, where the players have bought in, in no small part because of Rose.

Defense is half the game, and at that, Thibodeau, is a wrecking crew.

—————————————————–

concerning the specific role which Derrick Rose has played this season for the Chicago Bulls …

should receive such widespread attention.

In review:

- The Chicago Bulls are the best team in the East, so far, this season. [Yes]

- Derrick Rose is the best player on the Bulls this season. [Yes]

- The Bulls have several other good-to-very-good players on their current roster. [Yes]

- The Bulls have the best Defensive team in the East this season. [Yes]

- Tom Thibodeau is a terrific defensive coach who has proved his mettle with the Bulls and the Boston Celtics [former Assistant Coach]. [Yes]

- The play of Derrick Rose has, somehow, NOT contributed to the Bulls’ top-rated Defensive performance this season. [Are you kidding?]

Hmmm …

As of Sat-Apr-09-2011, the IPR for Derrick Rose, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard looks like this:

1. LeBron James, +31.48

2. Dwight Howard, +28.39

3. Derrick Rose, +27.44

IPR = Individual Player Rating [i.e. kPER + TWLC]
kPER = Pts – [FGA-FGM] – [FTA-FTM] + Reb + Ast + St + Bl – TO – PF]/GP
TWLC = MPG/240 * [Team Wins - Team Losses]

The fact is:

- Statistically, LeBron James [SF, Miami Heat] has made the greatest contribution to the performance of his team this season, in comparison with the contributions of Dwight Howard [C, Orlando Magic] and Derrick Rose [PG, Chicago Bulls]

- Statistical production, in isolation, is not an accurate reflection of a single player’s contribution to the performance of his team in a given season.

When you examine each of the following rosters:

		Miami Heat		Orlando Magic		Chicago Bulls
STARTERS
1	PG	Mike Bibby	PG	Jameer Nelson *	PG	???
2	OG	Dwyane Wade *	OG	Jason Richardson *	OG	Keith Bogans
3	SF	???	SF	Hedo Turkoglu *	SF	Luol Deng
4	PF	Chris Bosh *	PG	Brandon Bass	PF	Carlos Boozer *
5	C	Zydrunas Ilgauskas	C	???	C	Joakim Noah
KEY SUBS
6	PG	Mario Chalmers	PG	Gilbert Arenas	PG	CJ Watson
7	OG	James Jones	OG	JJ Redick	OG	Kyle Korver
8	SF	Mike Miller	SF	Quentin Richardson	SF	Ronnie Brewer
9	PF	Joel Anthony	PF-C	Ryan Anderson	PF	Taj Gibson
10	C	Erick Dampier	PF-C	Earl Clark/Malik Allen	C	Kirk Thomas
RESERVES
11	OG-PG	Eddie House	PG	Chris Duhon	OG	Rasual Butler
12	PF	Juwon Howard	PF-C	Malik Allen/Earl Clark	C	Omer Asik
EXTRAS/OUTS
13	PF	Udonis Haslem	C	Daniel Orton	PG	John Lucas III
14	C	Dexter Pittman			PG	Jannero Pargo
15	C	Jamaal Magloire			PF-C	Brian Scalabrine
LEGEND: * - High end player who is capable of stepping up to carry the load for his team, in the absence of Player ???.

and consider:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Chicago Bulls, 59-20/.747

2-3 Miami Heat, 55-24/.696

4 Orlando Magic, 50-29/.633

A. Where each team will finish in the League Standings;

B. The games missed this season by Carlos Boozer [23] and Joakim Noah [34];

and,

C. Which OTHER players on each roster have the capacity to step up to replace the “contribution” made to their team this season by LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Derrick Rose, should they each have been removed from their respective rosters this year, then, it is fairly clear-cut who should be named the Most “Valuable” Player for 2010-2011.

——————————————————

Instead of wasting time and energy saying that Derrick Rose should not get the NBA’s MVP Award this season because of the outstanding work done by Tom Thibodeau and Gar Forman [and John Paxson], or because his simple game stats have been surpassed by LeBron James and Dwight Howard …

The Main Reason Derrick Rose SHOULD win the NBA’s MVP Award this season

- Without the way Derrick Rose has played, this version of the Bulls would, in all likelihood, have finished somewhere in the middle-of-the-pack in the East.

- However, with the way Derrick Rose has played, the Bulls are going to finish as the No. 1 team in the East.

The Main Reason Tom Thibodeau SHOULD win the NBA’s COTY Award this season

- Without the way Tom Thibodeau has coached, this version of the Bulls would, in all likelihood, have finished somewhere in the middle-of-the-pack in the East.

- However, with the way Tom Thibodeau has coached, the Bulls are going to finish as the No. 1 team in the East.

The Main Reason Gar Forman [and John Paxson] SHOULD win the NBA’s EOTY Award this season

- Without the way Gar Forman has GMed, this version of the Bulls would, in all likelihood, have finished somewhere in the middle-of-the-pack in the East.

- However, with the way Gar Forman has GMed, the Bulls are going to finish as the No. 1 team in the East.

Unfortunately …

The on-line hoops community today is strife with the sort of non-basketball ‘pseudo basketball analysis’ that does not really succeed in advancing a better understanding of how the game is actually played best, in the NBA. 

To wit:

——————————————————————

Exhibit A – A Rose does not Equal Love – Revisited

How did Chicago do this?  The front office essentially followed a very good formula: keep all of the team’s good players from 2009-10 and get most of the good players from Utah. This formula has produced a very good team. 

Unfortunately in the NBA, all of the regular season awards are individual based. This means Derrick Rose will get the credit for what was essentially a team effort. While it is worth virtually nothing, I would like to award the Chicago Bulls with the Most Valuable Team award this season and reiterate that Rose is not the MVP.

One last note…

Some might argue that Chicago’s players are essentially “not bad” because of Rose and/or Coach Thibodeau.  But if we look at the productivity of these players this season and what these veterans did in 2009-10, we see that this team’s results are not surprising.  As the following table indicates (numbers from NerdNumbers), most players on this team are offering essentially the same production seen last year. 

The primary exceptions – Derrick Rose, Ronnie Brewer, and Carlos Boozer – are easy to explain. 

• Rose is young, and young players get better.
• Brewer is essentially offering what he did prior to 2009-10
• And Boozer – who has been hurt – is offering less this year

In sum, we don’t need to argue that this team is succeeding because of its dynamic point guard or amazing coach.  The Bulls story is really about choosing productive players.  And the Bulls – as the study into “bad” players indicates – have been very good at making these choices.    

——————————————————————

The Chicago Bulls are not being propelled to 1st place in the Eastern Conference standings this season because they have the most non-bad basketball players on their roster, in comparison with the other teams in the league.

re: Rose is young, and young players get better.

Do ALL young players get better, according to a simplistic metric like WP?

If not, then, it is simply fallacious to assert that THIS is THE reason for the improvement which Derrick Rose has shown THIS season.

re: Brewer is essentially offering what he did prior to 2009-10

Did the Utah Jazz teams that Ronnie Brewer played for prior to THIS season reach the heights that THIS season’s Chicago Bulls are approaching?

If not, then, it is simply fallacious to assert that THIS is THE reason the Bulls, with Ronnie Brewer on-board, are playing outstanding basketball THIS season.

re: And Boozer – who has been hurt – is offering less this year

It is simply fallacious to assert that THE reason the Bulls are playing outstanding basketball THIS season is because they have kept ALL of their “good” players from last season AND added most of the “good” players from the Jazz – i.e. Boozer, Brewer and Korver – while, SIMULTANEOUSLY, characterizing one of those three key players as, essentially, providing LESS production THIS season than he did last year for Utah.

The fact is …

Part I

This is what the Bulls’ rotation was last season when they were eliminated from the 1st Round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, in Game 5, by the Cleveland Cavaliers:

STARTERS
Rose [PG] + Hinrich [OG] + Deng [SF] + Gibson [PF] + Noah [C]

KEY SUBS
Murray [PG/OG], Warrick [SF/PF] and Miller [C]

HEAD COACH
Vinnie Del Negro

In comparison, this is what the Bulls’ rotation was two nights ago, when they dismantled Kevin Love’s Minnesota Timberwolves:

STARTERS
Rose [PG] + Bogans [OG] + Deng [SF] + Boozer [PF] + Thomas [C]

KEY SUBS
Watson [PG/OG], Korver [OG, Brewer [SF], Gibson [PF] and Asik [C]

… with Joakim Noah [C], Chicago’s 2nd most valuable player sitting out this game …

HEAD COACH
Tom Thibodeau

on their way to winning Game 54 THIS season.

Part II

Keith Bogans [from Orlando] was not obtained from the Utah Jazz.

Kurt Thomas [from the scrap heap] was not obtained from the Utah Jazz.

CJ Watson [from Golden State] was not obtained from the Utah Jazz.

Omer Asik [from the Euroleague] was not obtained from the Utah Jazz.

Tom Thibodeau [from the Boston Celtics] was not obtained from the Utah Jazz.

The Team Defense, and TEAM REBOUNDING, and Team Offense, and TEAM UNITY, and Team CRUNCH TIME Performance, etc. – i.e. Ubuntu! – which the Bulls have shown, thus far, THIS season were not obtained from the Utah Jazz.

It truly makes the stomuch turn, over and over again, to read ‘pseudo basketball analysis’ that looks like THIS … which, unfortunately, proliferates the internet today and is, basically, a regurgitation of select stat categories, manipulated to achieve a desired outcome … in place of actual Basketball Analysis which is focused on Individual Match-ups, Coaching, Part and/vs Whole Team Construction, Team Chemistry/Cohesion, Skill Sets, X’s and O’s, Strategies & Tactics, etc.

=====================================

FWIW …

From the perspective of this corner:

* Derrick Rose SHOULD earn his 1st MVP Award THIS season … for THE WAY he has performed on the court WHILE becoming THE unquestioned Leader of the Chicago Bulls, who are currently in 1st Place, in the Eastern Conference; 

* Tom Thibodeau SHOULD earn his 1st COTY Award THIS season … for the fantastic TEAM ETHOS he has instilled in THIS specific collection of players on the Bulls’ roster, and the commitment this team has towards DEFENSE, REBOUNDING and SHARED TEAM OFFENSE;

and,

* The management tandem of Gar Forman + John Paxson SHOULD earn their 1st EOTY Award THIS season … for constructing a REAL TEAM, which plays the game the ‘right way’, courtesy of a series of inter-related – and absolutely terrific – personnel moves, predicated on a highly accurate understanding of what their team’s specific strengths and weaknesses have been for the last several years.

Approximately 13 months ago, the following question was asked in this space, in a poll:

Where will Andrea Bargnani rank in the Eastern Conference next season, as a Center? … You Make The Call

pertaining to the 2009-2010 season.

As the Raptors complete their seemingly annual summer make-over, under the watch of Bryan Colangelo/GM, in preparation for the 2010-2011 campaign, it is interesting to see how the landscape is shaping up in the Eastern Conference, when evaluating the individual players who might be expected to start at the Center position for their respective teams:

PART 1 – Based On Basketball Acumen

Ranking Expected Starting Centers in the Eastern Conference, 2010-2011
LY	TEAM	EXPECTED	OFF	DEF	REB	TOT	Rank
1	Cleveland	Varejao/A	12	10	10	32	12
2	Orlando	Howard/D	3	1	1	5	1
3	Atlanta	Horford/A	8	7	3	18	5
4	Boston	Perkins/K	13	4	7	24	7
5	Miami	Bosh/C	1	8	4	13	2
6	Milwaukee	Bogut/A	4	9	8	21	6
7	Charlotte	Dampier/E	15	5	9	29	10
8	Chicago	Noah/J	10	2	2	14	T-3
9	Toronto	Bargnani/A	7	15	15	37	15
10	Indiana	Hibbert/R	11	11	11	33	13
11	New York	Stoudemire/A	2	14	12	28	9
12	Detroit	Wallace/B	14	6	5	25	8
13	Philadelphia	Speights/M	9	13	14	36	14
14	Washington	Blatche/A	6	12	13	31	11
15	New Jersey	Lopez/B	5	3	6	14	T-3
LEGEND: LY – Last year’s finish in the Final Standings; EXPECTED – Expected Starter in best available line-up; OFF – Offensive rating relative to peers [1.e. #1-15]; DEF – Defensive rating relative to peers [i.e. #1-15]; Rebounding rating relative to peers [i.e. #1-15]; Rank – Overall Ranking relative to peers [i.e. #1-15].

PART 2 - Painting By the Numbers [from hoopdata for the 2009-2010]

Ranking For Expected Starting Centers in the Eastern Conference, 2010-2011
LY	TEAM	EXPECTED	MP	OFFENSE			DEFENSE			REBOUNDING
				PTS	P/MP	Ork	DEF	D/MP	Drk	REB	R/MP	Rrk	TOT	Rank
1	Cleveland	Varejao/A	2164	651	0.301	13	165	0.076	7	578	0.267	7	27	11
2	Orlando	Howard/D	2844	1503	0.528	3	305	0.107	2	1081	0.380	1	6	1
3	Atlanta	Horford/A	2846	1148	0.403	10	157	0.055	14	799	0.281	8	32	14
4	Boston	Perkins/K	2153	791	0.367	11	161	0.075	8	595	0.276	9	28	T-12
5	Miami	Bosh/C	2527	1678	0.664	2	125	0.049	15	759	0.300	6	23	T-6
6	Milwaukee	Bogut/A	2231	1095	0.491	7	264	0.118	1	703	0.315	3	11	2
7	Charlotte	Dampier/E	1280	328	0.256	14	94	0.073	10	400	0.313	4	18	3
8	Chicago	Noah/J	1922	687	0.357	12	144	0.075	8	705	0.367	2	22	5
9	Toronto	Bargnani/A	2801	1376	0.491	7	152	0.054	12	494	0.176	15	34	15
10	Indiana	Hibbert/R	2036	946	0.465	9	180	0.088	4	464	0.228	13	26	T-9
11	New York	Stoudemire/A	2836	1896	0.669	1	153	0.054	12	732	0.258	10	23	T-6
12	Detroit	Wallace/B	1974	381	0.193	15	200	0.101	3	597	0.302	5	23	T-6
13	Philadelphia	Speights/M	1017	532	0.523	4	84	0.083	5	252	0.248	11	20	4
14	Washington	Blatche/A	2254	1143	0.507	6	184	0.082	6	509	0.226	14	26	T-9
15	New Jersey	Lopez/B	3025	1542	0.510	5	203	0.067	11	709	0.234	12	28	T-12
LEGEND: LY – Last year’s finish in the Final Standings; EXPECTED – Expected starter in best available line-up; MP – Total Minutes Played; PTS – Total Points Scored; P/MP – Total Points Scored per Minute Played; Ork – Offensive Ranking; DEF – Total Steals + Blocked Shots +Drawn Charges; D/MP – DEF per Minute Played; Drk – Defensive Ranking; REB – Total Rebounds; R/MP – Total Rebounds per Minute Played; Rrk – Rebounding Ranking; TOT – Ork + Drk + Rrk; Rank – Total Ranking.

From Toronto’s perspective …

The more some things change, the more other things simply stay the same.

While it might be true that Darko Milicic is properly described as being a great many different things … including, possibly, the biggest bust in the last 10 years of the NBA Draft … it should also be duly noted that he is clearly not one of these, as well:

————

For lack of a few crucial stops, Wolves lose 13th straight

Though the Wolves have won only one game since the 7-foot Serbian arrived in mid-February, Rambis said he has seen flashes of a player so promising seven years ago, when he was drafted ahead of [Chris] Bosh, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.

“And I think he can be a lot better,” Rambis said. “As he gets in better shape and gets more comfortable and more confident, you’ll see him stretch his game.”

In fact, he’s already done that offensively. Milicic scored a season-high 16 points against the Lakers last Friday, and appeared to be more confident about taking good shots.

“The guys are learning how to use him,” Rambis said. “I’ve told him, whenever he’s comfortable, I’m OK with him shooting inside, outside, [from the] elbow, long distance. But he has to have the confidence to do that.”

If the following reports are, in fact, to be believed …

Thomas’ Bulls time likely about finished

With Tyrus Thomas it’s personal now

what becomes readily apparent is that

the people charged with running things in Chicago – i.e. Jerry Reinsdorf, John Paxson and Gar Forman - have temporarily lost their mind, if they simply want to ”give away” a player like Tyrus Thomas [23 yrs of age; 4th NBA season], either, now [as the NBA's trade deadline approaches], or at the end of this season. 

When you look at the significant progress which a player like Josh Smith [24 yrs of age; 6th NBA season] has made this season, as a young, unbridled Power Forward, with the world of talent but, also, the need for increased personal discipline in his individual game … it’s extremely short-sighted of Chicago’s current management team to fail to realize exactly what they actually have on their hands in the form of:

* young Mr. Double T

working [and maturing] in conjunction with

* Joakim Noah/C [24 years of age]

* Luol Deng/SF [24 yrs of age]

* John Salmons/OG-SF [30 yrs of age]

* Taj Gibson/PF [24 years of age]

* James Johnson/SF-PF [22 yrs of age]

* Kirk Hinrich/OG-PG [29 years of age], and

* Derrick Rose/PG [21 yrs of age].

Trading a still-young player with Tyrus Thomas’ physical ability and specific skill-set [i.e. Rebounding, Defense, Shot-blocking and an Increasingly Developed Offensive Repertoire] is one thing …

as long as an organization gets back, in return, an equivalent package of assets, or more …

but, simply giving that player away … for nothing:

——————————— 

Tyrus Thomas can be yours

I can’t think of a single player, with the possible exception of New York’s David Lee, that has been jerked around more than Thomas. And I can’t think of a single player, with no exception, that has acted like more of a prat than Tyrus. A nasty combination.

One doesn’t lead to the other, but it doesn’t help. Thomas was drafted as a project by the Bulls in 2006, but he was never treated like a project. Instead, he was treated like some four-year college starter that had been on CBS too many times to mention, and someone who was used to the grind. Thomas wasn’t used to the grind. He was a basketball scrub until his late teens. He only had one year of slapping the backboards at LSU. He was ready, but he wasn’t ready.

The Bulls not only acted as if he was ready, but he was also added to the Chicago roster at the start of Scott Skiles’ weird passive-aggressive phase. When Skiles – who often seems like a perfect mix of the best qualities of Larry Brown and Don Nelson – started utilizing the worst qualities of Larry Brown and Don Nelson. The strange rotations. The stubbornness. The attention to obsession, rather than detail.          

Thomas played less than a year and a half under Skiles, but it may have well been two years. Because Skiles was replaced on an interim basis by Jim Boylan, a pointless move in retrospect, because Boylan was Skiles’ number two, and he promptly spent the entirety of his obviously-interim gig taking out Skiles’ indirect frustrations with certain players out on the kids who had wronged Boylan’s buddy the most.

So Thomas would leave the game, for long stretches, for no apparent reason. And, just as much, he would stay in the game for no apparent reason. Almost to a night, the good play would go unrewarded, and the bad play would go unacknowledged. How in the hell was this kid, this man, supposed to learn?

Left to his own devices, the project acted like – and I know you’re shocked – a project. Until it was/is time for Chicago to write off another cheapo lottery pick, and take in the savings.

It didn’t have to be like this. And, potential suitors? Thomas doesn’t have to be like this.

———————————

Thomas big help in 109-101 Bulls’ victory

“He’s so athletic that he affects the game when he’s engaged,” John Salmons said. “He gets his hands on balls, rebounds, puts back shots. When he masters that, he really helps us.”

Salmons’ answer proved far more expansive than those from Thomas, who entered just 2:18 after tipoff and played the next 14:46. That’s close Thomas’ playing time from each of his last three games, which led to his frustration and blow-up.

Before the game, Thomas said he had “no regrets” about the incident and “there’s nothing to be frustrated about.” Afterward, he addressed his night, which included him grabbing three rebounds and playing six minutes before his first shot — a strong drive and score after passing up a jumper.

“I felt good,” he said. “I was just playing ball, trying to win, working for the team. I’m always ready to play. The more you’re out there, the more you can do.”

———————————

makes absolutely no sense … except, perhaps, from a $$$ standpoint … if the ultimate goal there is actually trying to win the NBA Championship, again, in the not-too-distant future.

With their current cast of characters, it would be a mistake for the Bulls to think that what their team actually needs to do this summer is add 2 high-priced, free agent signees … when all Chicago really needs is:

1. To add THE right player, and

2. Give their existing collection of players a legitimate chance to grow and develop together, 

3. Under the direction of a truly Top Notch NBA coach.  

————

Update:

Bulls not lacking for Thomas suitors [Feb 11 2010]

Despite what some might have you think …

———————————————

Rose leading charge for Bulls

Derrick Rose may not make the All-Star team, especially since the votes were all in before the Bulls’ win Wednesday night in Oklahoma City, but he’s finally emerging as a star. His impressive performance on the road against the Thunder — 13-of-23 from the floor (56.5 percent), seven assists, just two turnovers — was the latest in a series of virtuoso efforts.

It seems that the only thing that was holding him back the first month and a half of the season was the ankle injury he suffered in training camp. Check out his monthly splits:

• November: 16.2 points, 5. 3 assists, 46.4 percent shooting
• December: 20.4 points, 6.1 assists, 45.0 percent shooting
• January: 23.5 points, 6.5 assists, 51.4 percent shooting

Thanks to Rose, the Bulls are 12-5 in their past 17 games, including 10 road games. Out of the blue, Chicago stands in complete control of the No. 8 seed in the East and in position to surge as high as No. 5 by the end of the season.

———————————————

the recently improved performance of the Bulls has not been rooted, soley, in the increased scoring production of their 2nd-yr PG, considering:

I. The shift of Kirk Hinrich into the Starting OG position;

II. The shift of John Salmons into the Sixth Man Role [i.e. coming off the bench];

III. The return of Tyrus Thomas, from the injured list …

Tyrus Thomas Regular Season  - Game Log							FG					3PT						FT					Rebounds					Misc
Oppo	Score	GS	Min		M	A		Pct		M	A		Pct		M	A	Pct			Off	Def	Tot			Ast	TO	Stl		Blk	PF	Pts
@ OKC	W 96-86	0	18:32		6	8		75.0		0	0		N/A		1	1	100.0			3	2	5			1	5	1		2	3	13
@ SAS	W 98-93	0	21:33		1	4		25.0		0	0		N/A		0	0	N/A			2	5	7			0	1	1		2	0	2
@ HOU	W 104-97	0	23:35		3	5		60.0		0	0		N/A		1	2	50.0			0	4	4			1	2	0		6	4	7
@ PHO	W 115-104	0	20:56		1	7		14.3		0	0		N/A		1	2	50.0			0	7	7			2	0	1		2	0	3
@ LAC	L 97-104	0	36:19		8	11		72.7		0	0		N/A		2	4	50.0			0	6	6			1	1	2		3	6	18
@ GSW	L 97-114	0	19:48		2	7		28.6		0	0		N/A		0	0	N/A			1	8	9			0	1	0		1	6	4
WAS	W 121-119	0	27:33		1	1		100.0		0	0		N/A		2	2	100.0			2	2	4			0	0	0		2	3	4
@ BOS	W 96-83	0	17:15		2	8		25.0		0	0		N/A		1	4	25.0			6	1	7			1	1	4		0	3	5
DET	W 120-87	0	26:09		3	6		50.0		0	0		N/A		1	1	100.0			2	4	6			1	0	6		2	1	7
MIN	W 110-96	0	21:42		3	7		42.9		0	0		N/A		3	4	75.0			0	5	5			0	6	2		3	5	9
@ MIL	L 93-96	0	29:19		1	4		25.0		0	0		N/A		2	2	100.0			0	5	5			2	1	1		1	2	4
@ CHA	L 108-113	0	22:48		2	5		40.0		0	0		N/A		2	6	33.3			1	4	5			3	1	1		2	2	6
OKC	L 85-98	0	20:37		3	12		25.0		0	0		N/A		1	1	100.0			3	3	6			2	3	0		1	2	7
ORL	W 101-93	0	14:59		3	7		42.9		0	0		N/A		0	0	N/A			1	4	5			1	2	1		0	4	6
Oppo	Score	GS	Min		M	A		Pct		M	A		Pct		M	A	Pct			Off	Def	Tot			Ast	TO	Stl		Blk	PF	Pts
@ DET	W 98-87	0	27:31		4	6		66.7		0	0		N/A		11	14	78.6			4	3	7			2	3	2		1	1	19
IND	W 104-95	0	31:08		2	10		20.0		0	0		N/A		4	4	100.0			2	13	15			3	5	1		3	1	8
NOR	W 96-85	0	32:15		10	17		58.8		0	1		0.0		1	3	33.3			0	9	9			2	3	1		2	2	21

each of which coincided with the Bulls’ game against New Orleans [Dec 26];

and,

IV. The continued solid play of Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Brad Miller, since the start of the season.

The truth of the matter is that during this specific stretch of games played, the Bulls’ head coach … the once-beleaguerd Vinnie Del Negro … not Derrick Rose [PG], has actually been the person most responsible for Chicago’s improved W-L record.

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.

—————————–

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

——————————————–

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.

——————————————–

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!