Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Leaving the Desert For Warmer Weather?

What do Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer all have in common? Besides the fact they each are now members of the Chicago Bulls organization, all three were teammates last season in Utah wearing Jazz uniforms.
In the '08 playoffs, under the reigns of Jerry Sloan, the Jazz  made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before being bounced by the soon-to-be champion (now repeat champions) Los Angeles Lakers. And throughout the Jazz' impressive run, in which they defeated heavier favored contenders such as the Suns and Spurs, Boozer, Korver and Brewer were all solid contributors on a nightly basis. Boozer was a 20/10 star alongside PG Deron Williams, the 3-point specialist Korver hit big shot after big shot, and Brewer was the team's best defender who was in charge of containing guys like Ginobli and Bryant.
Apparently, all three like their chances elsewhere after several years of falling short of their and every other team's goal; winning an NBA championship.  In adddition, they all are sticking together and as of last week, all three will be wearing a Bulls uniform for the 2010-11 season.
Some may see it as a tough decision leaving a team coached by future hall of famer Jerry Sloan that makes the playoffs year in and year out in a much tougher and more competitive Western Conference for a team like the Bulls who have struggled to find their identity and are somewhere in between that rebuilding and "we can compete" stage.
Whatever the reason, the Bulls have improved this off-season. Yes, Lebron and Bosh were first priority but  you cant count out what Gar Forman, John Paxson and Jerry Reinsdorf have put together. It may not have been ideal free-agency period of a lifetime, but they did what every team seeks to do. Improve.

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