tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76548703201274853572024-03-14T09:13:02.821-07:00Bulls EyeWill Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-29705648538722306452011-03-02T10:12:00.000-08:002011-03-02T10:12:57.482-08:00Who's the Beast of the East?Check out this TrueHoops video production:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1920026655"> http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/3457/video-who-is-the-beast-of-the-east</a><br />
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To even be in the conversation as a contender in the East is a major accomplishment for Da Bulls. Big ups to Tom Thibodeau, the lock-- sparing a few votes for Doug Collins in Philly (after a 3-17 start, now 30-29)-- for NBA Coach of the Year award. <br />
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And with Kieth Bogans' sorry ass as the starting SG, who can argue against Derrick Rose for MVP? After all, this is the first full month of the entire season in which he has a healthy lineup (Noah & Boozer have exchanged injury for injury). And despite all the adversity, Da Bulls are thriving.<br />
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Yes, people, after a sight face-lift and a domain change, <b><i>Bulls Eye </i></b>is backWill Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-90149763380257608362010-11-03T09:59:00.000-07:002010-11-03T09:59:56.236-07:00"Where Amazing Happens"It's official. When it comes to marketing and commercials, the NBA blows the competition out of the water. Everyone has seen the new Lebron "Just Do It" Nike commercial, but that's just one of plenty advertisements featuring big names that has surfaced this season. Dwayne Wade, Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Brandon Jennings and many more have collaborated effective commercials that are generating a lot of noise around the league. But I want to know if we're going to see another chapter in the infamous, "Where Will Amazing Happen This Year?" series. Here's what I'm talking about:<br />
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<div style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLOFLoMfhfY">The NBA: Where Amazing Happens</a></div>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-6232277035917236472010-11-02T14:38:00.000-07:002010-11-02T14:38:38.505-07:00Deng Thriving Under Thibbodeau<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFegLkkRTp9nicfSxquXZbShWEqLDFLfyg9hjdgt4RVxQ32jJr9tpix-_dliGNtw5zJ534K6abQPqwRys5Pjba0QWo2ORfaeU5wqtqX8_BaPxEs4CqP0DgHPdsRvWCWrylSjAqNq1shDju/s1600/luol_deng.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>Bulls fans, myself included, have been waiting a long time for the emergence of Luol Deng. Not to label him as an underachiever, but it's reasonable to say the 6'7 veteran out of Duke University hasn't quite maxed out his potential in his first six seasons in the NBA.<br />
Is it all Dengs' fault? Maybe not. Chicago's two previous coaches, Scott Skiles and Vinny Del Negro, who have split time on the Bulls sideline the past 7 years, ran the type of offense that crippled Deng's abilities. Deng gave hint to this matter in his postgame interview after dropping a career-high 40 points on the 3-1 Portland Trail Blazers last night in Chicago. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFegLkkRTp9nicfSxquXZbShWEqLDFLfyg9hjdgt4RVxQ32jJr9tpix-_dliGNtw5zJ534K6abQPqwRys5Pjba0QWo2ORfaeU5wqtqX8_BaPxEs4CqP0DgHPdsRvWCWrylSjAqNq1shDju/s1600/luol_deng.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deng is averaging 21.2 points on the 2010 season</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Deng's previous high, 38, came against the same Trail Blazers back in 2007. <br />
“I think it's just a coincidence,” he said about the two Portland career-high performances. “We just shot the ball well. We moved it and shot it well. You're going to get shots in different places (in our offense), so you've got to be ready.”<br />
That offense Deng is speaking is transforming him as a player and targeting a different skill set.<br />
In the previous two offenses Deng has ran in his career in Chicago, he was limited. As the wing man, Deng's role had him running the baseline, keeping him close to the basket throughout most of every game. The proof is in the pudding. Before this season, Deng averaged almost 7 rebounds a game to go along with 15.3 points a game. This season however Deng's rebounding has declined to just above two boards a game. The upside is that he's on pace to average over 20 points a game for the first time in his career.<br />
The underlying factor in Deng's transformation is Thibbodeau's offense. Deng explained after last nights 110-98 win over Portland that Thib's wants to keep Deng at the top of the key and around the perimeter, allowing him to take more jump shots and strong drives to the basket. Was it the right move? Deng thinks so, and who could argue after watching him go 14-19 from the floor (3-4 from long range) and 9-11 from the free throw strike.<br />
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Basically, Thibbodeau's adjustments have done two things:<br />
1) Allow Deng more space on the floor to move more without the ball and get open shots<br />
2)By getting the ball away from the basket, Deng is creating off the dribble and getting to line efficiently where he is shooting 81% on the season.<br />
3)By keeping him away from the basket as much, Deng's rebounding numbers have dropped significantly. No matter. Joakim Noah has emerged as one of the best centers in the Eastern Conference averaging over 15 rebounds a game so far this season. And with Carlos Boozer expected back in a couple of weeks, Thibbodeau isn't too worried about giving up second-chance opportunities.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-13082130920621361122010-10-27T21:08:00.000-07:002010-10-27T21:09:24.426-07:00Rose, Bulls Struggle Late, Fall To Thunder In Season Opener<div style="color: red;"><b>How it happened:</b> <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3456">Derrick Rose</a> dominated at times during the first half racking up 20 points while shooting 8-for-15 from the line. He struggled with foul trouble throughout the game and couldn't regain his shooting touch once he came back into the game in the fourth quarter. Yes, he finished with 28 points, but any time Rose is taking more than 30 shots in a game it's going to be a major problem for the Bulls this season. Tom Thibodeau's club held its own throughout most of the game, but they withered late. When they needed to make crucial shots down the stretch, and Rose couldn't make things happen, they didn't have another answer.</div><div style="color: red;"><br />
<b>What it means:</b> We knew the Bulls were going to struggle without <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1703">Carlos Boozer</a>, and for the most part they handled their own against a very tough Thunder team, but it was painfully obvious that they don't have another consistent option to go to when Rose struggles. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3224">Joakim Noah</a> and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=3986">Taj Gibson</a> had great games, but neither one is a threat at the offensive end. Thibodeau has to find a way to shore up his team's defense if it can't find a Robin to Rose's Batman while Boozer remains on the bench.</div><div style="color: red;"><br />
<b>What’s next:</b> The Bulls have their home opener Saturday night when <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=2381">Ben Gordon</a> and the Pistons come to town. If they want to win that game they've got to do two things much better than they did on Wednesday night. They've got to get to the foul line more often and they have to find a way to space the floor better. They were just 2-for-14 from behind the arc.</div><div style="color: red;"><br />
<b>Stat of the night:</b> The Thunder had 47 free-throw attempts while the Bulls had just 22.</div>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-91285837424708138722010-10-25T18:07:00.000-07:002010-10-25T18:07:19.421-07:00Where There's Thunder, There's LightningTIP OFF COUNTDOWN: 22 HOURS AND 53 MINUTES<br />
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BULLS TIP OFF THEIR 2010-11 SEASON IN OKLAHOMA TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8:00. AND WITHOUT ANY DEBATE, AROUND 7:30 TOMORROW EVENING, LIGHTNING WILL APPEAR IN THE SKY AND FORCE ME TO CALL THE FALL BALL GAME I AM SCHEDULED TO OFFICIATE EARLY.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-45951520752035661962010-10-22T14:31:00.000-07:002010-10-22T14:31:56.300-07:00Who's It Gonna Be?There are four things about Tom Thibbodeau's player rotation we know for sure. Derrick Rose will run point, Luol Deng will be the swing man, Taj Gibson will start at power forward (until the ailing Carlos Boozer returns from a fractured wrist), and Joakim Noah will finish out the front court. But Thib's (yes, the nickname is catching on) has yet to declare who will be the starting shooting guard opening night.<br />
As of now, it remains a toss-up between Ronnie Brewer or Keith Bogans. To me Brewer is the clear-cut choice, but that's why I'm writing this and not holding practice at the United Center (for now, at least....wink wink). Bogans is a seven year veteran who has never really proved to be anything more than a reserve off the bench. Brewer saw plenty of minutes, including a starting role, in Utah and is an excellent on-ball defender. For a guy who's niche is defense, it makes one wonder what Bogans must be showing off in practice (because he sure hasn't shown anything in the preseason).<br />
We'll see Tuesday night when the pulls tip off the season versus the Thunder of Oklahoma City. MLB playoffs & the NBA. Best time of the year. I cannot wait.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-12480839711756722322010-10-19T20:49:00.000-07:002010-10-19T20:49:16.297-07:00Bulls Fans Weigh-In With Season PredictionsOne year after coming 1-game away from upsetting the defending-champion Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, the new-look Bulls are generating plenty of support from hometown fans. While there is no such thing as too much support, Bulls fans are obviously sold on what first-year coach Tom Thiboddeau is putting together. <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/1894/video-bulls-fans-make-predictions" style="color: blue;">WATCH</a>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-12763703027602463102010-10-17T21:32:00.000-07:002010-10-17T21:32:55.933-07:00A Call To Order: *#@! Marc Stein AND Scottie Pippen<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEKTl_rL3bfAYC3AONIJu8mzT9OAup-44pUDg8HjO3XadeP43wfe8QcC1tIMNUe9N1kQt4faHY5OYr_fa7-Gjle27Fzh5n4_dHThCm-PDijmd5qxc2kAdMaj-Q5TG8NxzCRTz2C_waSXQ/s320/MarcStein.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This man is out of his damn mind," -Michael Jordan, I'm guessing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEKTl_rL3bfAYC3AONIJu8mzT9OAup-44pUDg8HjO3XadeP43wfe8QcC1tIMNUe9N1kQt4faHY5OYr_fa7-Gjle27Fzh5n4_dHThCm-PDijmd5qxc2kAdMaj-Q5TG8NxzCRTz2C_waSXQ/s1600/MarcStein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Marc Stein gave us a little insight that will forever tarnish his credibility and respect, in my book at least. While discussing the future and possibilities of how good Kevin Durant can/will be, Jordan came into the discussion (It was actually more of an argument at this point because apparently J.A. Adande feels that Durant doesn't deserve to be on same stage as Lebron James; yet). As usual, when Jordan jargon is being thrown around, I'm all ears. Brace yourself for this one.....Ready? In the always painful, squeaky Marc Stein voice, "Lebron having Dwayne Wade, and vice versa, doesn't even compare to the luxury of having a Scottie Pippen like Mike did." Here's the killer: SCOTTIE PIPPEN IS ONE OF THE 10, 15 BEST PLAYERS THIS LEAGUE HAS EVER SEEN. Now, while I go puke and ponder painful hate threats to email Mr. Stein, I will also be putting together all my thoughts for the ultimate Scottie Pippen column. It WILL be epic. This topic (Scottie Pippen to MJ) makes up probably 3/4's of my bar discussions and I'm finally going to bring it all together. Because there is one Top 10 list Pippen ranks pretty high on. MOST OVERRATED, HYPED UP TALENTS OF ALL TIME.<br />
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Coming soon. Viewer discretion is advised. Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-77961284384895976492010-10-14T09:29:00.000-07:002010-10-14T09:29:20.480-07:00Top 10 Crossovers of All-Time Jim,<br />
You asked for the A.I. on Jordan, and that's in here. Along with some of my other favorites. Steve Francis' #1 is absolutely ridiculous. Enjoy<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXPvrUKK0VU">Top 10 NBA Crossovers of All-Time</a>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-49688566434512479962010-10-13T09:21:00.000-07:002010-10-13T09:21:00.421-07:00Boozer, Bulls take a SpillThe Bulls have a lot to be excited about this upcoming season. The new look team out of Chicago consisting of a new coach and big name free agents have made a lot of noise in the Eastern Conference. Much of that noise has been muffled by Miami's superstar trio, but the Bulls are picked by most to finish top 4 in the East.<br />
Hold the predictions, because the Bulls biggest new acquisition, F Carlos Boozer, apparently can't hold his balance walking down the stairs. The 6'8 275 pound low post presence fell answering the doorbell last week; but this wasn't your typical spill. On the way down, Boozer managed to fracture his left hand and put two cuts in the back of his head, all of which will sideline the superstar for the first two months of the regular season. What a start. The Bulls are currently looking to find their identity during the preseason, and you can bet every member of the organization wishes Boozer could be apart of the process. He's the most important part of their roster outside of Derrick Rose and now he'll have to wait until late December/early January to mesh with his teammates on the court. Awesome.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-91203720660997855192010-10-13T09:10:00.000-07:002010-10-13T09:10:13.023-07:00Let's Talk MoneySometime last winter I wrote a column for The Rotunda (Longwood University's campus press) about how paying athletes overly-comfortable salaries-I think I set the mark at around $50,000-always turns out more negative than positive. I had comments blasting me about how my thoughts were naive and uninformative. Well the truth has come out as of late more than ever. Someone's oppositional argument was A-Rod. Do you think the Steinbrenner family has gotten the $150,000 a year performance they paid for? Absolutely not. Once championship doesnt mean squat when you take into account all of the baggage. All of the steroid allegations and investigations were a huge distraction in the locker room and whole city for that matter.Besides, it's the yankees we're talking about here. They would have found some way (or someone else to pay) to get them their anyway.<br />
Money doesn't bring results, performance and statistics. It brings too much fame, immense amounts of pressure, and money-grubbing women. Cough, Cough......Tiger Woods.<br />
A perfect example is Gilbert Arenas. After signing that ridiculous &100,000 contract his numbers we're down noticeably, and no one needs to be reminded about the infamous gun-in-the-locker-room incident that placed him ineligible for an entire season. Now he's fighting just for a starting job.<br />
This may seem like a lost argument but do you want more examples? OK America, or Redskins fans. How about Albert Haynesworth? Daniel Snyder is the richest owner in the NFL. How well has he fared?<br />
In college, take Lane Kiffin. He's the biggest idiot on the national stage and somehow he lands big money contracts at the biggest schools. All because he talks a big talk. The only problem is that he hasn't walked 2-steps forwards yet. Soon enough he'll be exposed.<br />
One of the biggest problems I have with the NFL is that the players who have the most to prove make the big bucks. How the hell does a rookie quarterback, who has never taken ONE professional snap behind center, earn more in his first year than most veterans? It's criminal! Few actually live up to their hype. But as long as their drafted in the first round, their guaranteed a lump sum of cash. Hey Jamarcus Russell, how's life these days? You've lost your job in Oakland and will probably never play in the NFL ever again, but no matter. You've got more money than 3/4's of the league and deserve about, well, none of it.<br />
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Here's a few more guys that could fit into this category:<br />
Ryan Leaf<br />
Plaxico Burress<br />
Micheal Vick<br />
every NBA rookieWill Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-29867811481092924172010-09-29T10:28:00.000-07:002010-09-29T10:28:54.234-07:00"Noah Stays" Holds Strong MessageOutside of Boston, the Chicago Bulls and New York Knick organizations are arguably the two most iconic NBA franchises. Although each bring high expectations and a demand of success with each season, they also sport entirely different approaches to building and unifying their systems.<br />
The Knicks are a much different organization now than they were in the 80's and 90's. Why? Desperation. In modern day sports, coaches in any sport at any level are pressured to win more than ever before. It is why we see so many traditional programs struggling to regain their dominance. College football has a mere perfect example in Notre Dame. The most historic college football program has failed to reach expectations for nearly a decade. And their only response has been to panic. As a coach, you get four, five years max and if you don't win, your out. The Knicks are the same way in the NBA, and not just with personnel but with their players. Outlandish free agent signings, unthinkable trades and questionable draft picks have been the resume for Knicks since the new millenium (65% of which we can credit to Isiah Thomas. He has royally screwed that organization into never-expiring contracts and world of debt. It's almost comical.). Each year they go out and throw millions of dollars at whoever is available, and often at guys who never live up to their pay (Bulls fans, say it together: 1, 2, 3, EDDDIIIEEEE CUUUUURRRRYYYY).<br />
The Bulls do things a little different in Chicago. Last year, every starter (Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Kibson and Noah) was drafted by the organization. Even guys like Tyrus Thomas and...gulp...Aron Gray who got solid minutes off the bench were at one time rookies with the Bulls. They believe in a system and go out and get the guys that fit it. Granted this past offseason was an exception because Lebron James in the type of guy you change your system, coach, president, mascot, arena etc. to attract.<br />
But that's. The Bulls were front runners to land Nuggets G/F Carmelo Anthony but refused to include Joakim Noah in a package to land a top 5 star in the NBA. You don't see that too much in this day an age of sports. Franchises will throw and arm and a leg to get someone like 'Melo who would boost not just wins, but revenue and sales alike.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPaHDfbAzcWgEaKghuJHk3gd2t1eSGSe1erB0t6sZbkz5vaGzyqF7j6cE0dHCb9tMy00b_m-M0gyzMHIDq27BlNseiG4y-_ODMjO-vajBwpTI_miuPE2Y5Pso8eaIMd4tGbh89BygQ-5N/s1600/joakim-noah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPaHDfbAzcWgEaKghuJHk3gd2t1eSGSe1erB0t6sZbkz5vaGzyqF7j6cE0dHCb9tMy00b_m-M0gyzMHIDq27BlNseiG4y-_ODMjO-vajBwpTI_miuPE2Y5Pso8eaIMd4tGbh89BygQ-5N/s320/joakim-noah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The message this sends to fans is that they should believe in the vision. The Bulls believe that they solidified themselves as Eastern Conference contenders with the Carlos Boozer signing this offseason and they don't want to change the game plan. The opening game roster will most likely include a Derrick Rose/Ronnie Brewer back court, Luol Deng as the wing man, and an impressive front court of Noah and Boozer. What does a Bulls roster look like with Anthony and no Noah? 'Melo replaces Deng and Brian Scalabrini alongside Boozer? Kurt Thomas? .......The Bulls like their chances, as do I. Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-55937502089815497932010-09-13T19:31:00.000-07:002010-09-13T19:31:59.139-07:00Don't Count on MeloIt can't be said for sure that trade talks between the Bulls and the Denver Nuggets regarding phenom Carmelo Anthony will no longer continue. The discussions heated up early last week, but no progress has been made for several days. Here are a few things that ARE certainty's however:<br />
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1. In terms of being dealt, C Joakim Noah is not in the cards. Of course Bulls front office personnel will flirt around with idea because of the potential impact a player like 'Melo can have, but ESPNChicago.com reported recently that GM John Paxson has said he will not deal the rising star who is a cornerstone (along with Derrick Rose and Luol Deng) of the Bulls franchise that is finally being pieced together.<br />
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2. The Bulls don't have many other trade pieces that interest the Nuggets. It's highly doubtful that Denver would be comfortable dealing Anthony for a package consisting of either Deng, Taj Gobson, James Johnson, a draft pick or cash. Bottom line is the Bulls have been building this team for years and don't want to give up one of their key guys. And after that, there is just not enough talent or money to bring in a player of Anthony's caliber.<br />
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<br />
ESPNChicago.com's Bull's blogger Nick Friedel breaks the entire situation down. <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bulls/post/_/id/1583/dont-count-on-seeing-carmelo-as-a-bull">Story</a>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-16177475665542330002010-09-08T21:42:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:43:54.127-07:00What We've Been MissingIt's good to be back. A new computer and updated Windows version later, and it's time to talk Bulls again. Since the off season acquisitions of nearly the entire Utah Jazz roster ( F Carlos Boozer, G Ronnie Brewer, G/F Kyle Korver & veteran G Keith Bogans), the Bulls have kept pretty quiet.<br />
The biggest news for the franchise since mid-June has been Scottie Pippen's induction to the Hall of Fame. And rightly so, MJ presented him the award (Pippen's choice of course). After all, he owes "his airness" his entire career, but we'll save that debate for another time.<br />
But as far as current events go, Reinsdorf and Paxon have been pretty silent over the past month and a half. There really isn't much work for the men upstairs as the Bulls roster looks ready and prepared for pre season conditioning and work outs. The only question remaining is who new head coach Tom Thibodeau will go with alongside Derrick Rose in the Bulls back court come season tip off. The likely candidate is Ronnie Brewer who brings and all around efficient style of basketball and is great on ball defender. But the Bulls still need another scorer alongside Rose who has been leading the USA so far in the FIBA World Championships. Contract negotiations with Tracy Mcrady nullified after the veteran didn't raise any eye brows in his work out in front of team officials in early August. Although many experts have predicted the Bulls to finish top 3 in the Eastern Conference this season, they're going to need another guy who wants and can handle the ball in the fourth quarter if they want to compete with the likes of Miami and Boston. No offense to Jannero Pargo, but his return to Chi-town will be short lived and unappreciated. Fans always booed the guard who put up shot after shot and shot 29% during his 3-year stint with the team.<br />
Bulls blogger Sam Smith will release an interview tomorrow with coach Thibodeau on his thoughts regarding his expectations and predictions. Stay tuned.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-20522215575703880482010-07-25T19:16:00.000-07:002010-07-25T19:17:56.021-07:00T-Mac closer to signing with Bulls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyvnKFo1z8qA1_TtQEmVk6rC-IzvcsJQlvUGVGJfvKTDJQLmvP1nXtovDMtQ-SPBcWyyqQFxt8OGdpzheusR4p_c9quvJvNiifMGwiaX1edJZ4i_pDwjBLYFi8ku7sX5Jsu1zOIBA1dJb/s1600/mcgrady_100104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyvnKFo1z8qA1_TtQEmVk6rC-IzvcsJQlvUGVGJfvKTDJQLmvP1nXtovDMtQ-SPBcWyyqQFxt8OGdpzheusR4p_c9quvJvNiifMGwiaX1edJZ4i_pDwjBLYFi8ku7sX5Jsu1zOIBA1dJb/s200/mcgrady_100104.jpg" width="200" /></a>ESPN's Marc Stein reports today that the Bulls have agreed to sign Knicks G/F Tracy McGrady pending a few circumstances, the first being a workout he will perform Monday (tomorrow) afternoon. The other may be the more relevant issue however. Mcgrady has floated around a bit towards the end of his career, and has had problems with playing time and how many shots he gets; most recently playing under Mike D'tanoni's run and gun offensive style in the garden. The seven-time all star still believes he can return to his elite form, but he will have to convince the Bulls that he is OK with accepting a role off the bench.<br />
McGrady has "tweeted" his interest in going to the windy city and it appears he may be getting that chance. Stein's source states that he believes a deal will be set by the end of the week.<br />
Mcgrady fits well into Chicago's offense, and although the Bulls are asking him to be 'OK' with coming off the bench, he still could land the starting spot at two guard if he impresses enough. He showed signs of the old T-Mac, who was a childhood favorite of Bulls PG Derrick Rose, while playing in New York but a 9.3 ppg average won't cut it if McGrady wants to have the ball in his hands.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-90183363105259176902010-07-20T14:21:00.000-07:002010-07-20T14:21:06.754-07:00Leaving 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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.<br />
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.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-70454586493599061742010-07-08T10:19:00.000-07:002010-07-08T10:20:22.940-07:00Stranger Than FictionEarlier this morning I was at a car wash applying for this summer-job gig, and espn was on the TV hanging from the ceiling. Of course, the focus was on Lebron James and the "special edition" sportscenter that will air tonight at 9 o clock dedicated solely to James and his decision on where to play next season. I started to think to myself and put myself in his and other big name free agent's shoes. Most people, like myself, have to go out looking for jobs and fill out application after application in order to become employed. Even some guys in the NBA who have to work themselves in developmental leagues and can't afford big agents have to go out looking sometimes. And many people sympathize with James and others saying this whole process is so stressful and what not; but how bad can it really be?<br />
None of them (James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, and many many more) have to look or do anything really. All they have to do is think. Think about which city would be more fun to live in and what team has the best pieces to win a championship. Damn, I can't even imagine the stress levels. In all seriousness though, if having every media outlet suffocate you for a week and a half on what your next move will be is just too much to handle, I would think that one could find some comfort in knowing that your about to get paid hundreds of millions of dollars and that every team with deep enough pockets are fighting like dogs over scraps for you.<br />
Me, I don't sympathize with them for a second. I envy them. The world can be a cold, cruel place and luckily enough for select individuals they will never be able to remove their heads out of the fame, fortune; the clouds.<br />
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espn.com's Bill Simmons wrote an interesting column this morning on why this summer's epic free agent period has somewhat of a <i>fake</i> ring to it, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100708"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">check it out</span></a>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-79893635844369399792010-07-07T16:26:00.000-07:002010-07-07T16:29:27.819-07:00Boozer a Bull?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bustedknees.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/carlos-boozer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://bustedknees.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/carlos-boozer1.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>Chris Broussard and other members of the espn insider crew have been busy guys for the last week and a half. And sleepless nights and excessive cell phone minutes are only the beginning.<br />
Earlier this evening, Broussard reported that the Chicago Bulls have agreed to terms of around 5 years with free agent forward Carlos Boozer. Boozer, a 8-year veteran who has played his entire career so far in Utah, is clearly the Bulls final push to land Lebron James, who will announce his decision tomorrow night at 9pm on his very own 1-hour special edition of sportscenter. <br />
Boozer brings the low-post threat the Bulls have longed for, and adds to the already strong core of the teams' current active roster that includes Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. Hopefully (not for me at least, but for Bulls management) that Boozer makes the Bulls roster that much more appealing, and a deciding incentive to choose Chi-town as his future home.Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-76487290881017266262010-07-07T10:39:00.000-07:002010-07-07T10:39:58.207-07:00Crunch TimeThe deadline is approaching. You know, the pre-set deadline Lebron James made last week. He promised that his decision would not come until after his 3-day Nike Basketball Skills Challenge camp ended, and apparently he's a man of his word.<br />
The camp will conclude later this evening, and James has teamed-up with espn for a "special" sportscenter at 9pm tomorrow night solely dedicated to "Decision 2010." It was originally predicted that James would be the first to sign, and that his decision would go far in determining where other notable free agents like Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Carlos Boozer and David Lee would end up. However, this morning espn's Chris Broussard reported that Wade will remain in Miami, and that all-star forward/center Bosh would be joining him. They even already have a dual-press conference set up for this afternoon @ 3pm.<br />
So what does that mean for the Bulls? Well, once again, the guys upstairs did a piss-poor job. It's pathetic and frustrating for the fans. The Bulls were pretty much penciled in to land Bosh, and they even had Dwayne Wade coming back several times for meetings about playing in his hometown. But apparently they didn't do enough. Heck, Wade even said one of the biggest factors for him was the current custody case he's battling with his ex-wife. The funny thing about it is that his kids are in Chicago. Once again, the Bulls flopped. Horribly. Landing a duo of Bosh and Wade would be epic. They would automatically be contenders and maybe even favorites to win the east. They were supposedly the team that was suppose to come out on top of every other organization with enough dough to land top names, and already, 3 out of the top 4 have either committed or signed (Amare Stoudemire/Knicks, Wade & Bosh/Miami).<br />
For the last decade or so, the Bulls have been experts at this. By <i>this</i> I mean off-season flops. Whether it's draft picks (up until the last 4 years at least), or free agent signings (Jalen Rose in '06, Malik Rose & Ben Wallace in '07), the Bulls front office has been down right awful. Even the coaching decisions have been less than par. Nobody wanted to see Scott Skiles go, and it happened at the most random time possible. Look what he's now done in Milwaukee.<br />
The bottom line is that the Bulls need to get on their grind. They've just gone along with the idea that, "oh, this is Chicago, somebody will pick to come play here," instead of actually pulling up their sleeves and making players like Bosh and Wade feel wanted or desired.<br />
Lebron could still pick Chicago, yes. But he won't. He'll make the smartest decision of his career and stay in Cleveland. Heck, maybe the Bulls will even help them out and let Carlos Boozer slip away too and go to Cleveland which would surely please the coined king.<br />
Personally I haven't wanted James to go to Chicago the whole time, but I also predicted that he would remain in Cleveland. And now only time will tell. Let the countdown begin I guess. I plan on just sleeping until 5pm so that I don't have to sit throughout the day dreading "Decision 2010."Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-53104752350937565952010-07-01T12:27:00.000-07:002010-07-01T12:27:14.788-07:00I, I Get It....<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLOzGfCun9l_C34fQkeYx8S41RVQdHgT5kSaiufx3Qz4Ui6NKndlpGHPGqNBFOd2DcAs79YGGLGFDZLabAqJLo7Zt6a0Xxr8jbR93yA6sSH9OG61Wi-3IFwGqEYDDtHSCNR_cEFQpI9j5/s1600/queen+lebrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLOzGfCun9l_C34fQkeYx8S41RVQdHgT5kSaiufx3Qz4Ui6NKndlpGHPGqNBFOd2DcAs79YGGLGFDZLabAqJLo7Zt6a0Xxr8jbR93yA6sSH9OG61Wi-3IFwGqEYDDtHSCNR_cEFQpI9j5/s320/queen+lebrick.jpg" /></a>First, listen to this song that as of July 5th (according to his own personal-set deadline), will officially be Lebron James' theme song. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBuHZn-3XXE"><span style="color: blue;">I, I GET IT</span></a><span style="color: blue;">.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>When LBJ can officially ink a new era and chapter in NBA's history and sign with a team on July 8th, his revenue will expand beyond the insane endorsement checks and a max contract that will be tops in the league.<br />
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What James is currently going through is something he can finally say he conquered that neither MJ or Kobe Bryant could. He is more than wanted in every city. He's coveted. Has the NBA ever had a player like this before? One that is more influential and has a bigger impact than a governor? Heck, even state politicians and mayors have jumped in the 'Lebron Sweepstakes' and made attempts to lure the phenom to their city. There have been rap songs released where the most popular artists from different cities like Chicago, New York, L.A., etc. where they are trying to convince 'the king' to join their team. Don't believe me? <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtjPN-IOcs">LISTEN</a><br />
The man is a giant. He will shatter a collection of NBA records while at the same time be transforming into the most expensive individual on the planet. <br />
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He hasn't even one a championship yet. is going to climb. Hopefully he makes the right decision and does it for the city of Cleveland where he started. It will only make him look better and the whole town might actually get him a crown and bow at his feet. At least in my book, going to Miami in a package with Chris Bosh is a cop-out. Who wouldn't expect the best player on the planet to win several championships on a team that includes Dwayne Wade (arguably the second-best on the planet) and a perrenial all-star in Bosh?<br />
I still hope he never gets a ring, but he can at least prove me wrong if he does it in Cleveland. I've said all along he hasn't proven squat and that he won't get a ring without a lot of help. But at the same time, even that might not get him his first ring. <br />
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Imagine if he were to join Wade in Miami along with Bosh. What would people say? It would go down as the team was still Wade's, and that he set the whole thing up. And I think Lebron won't take that chance. He wants to be the man, and they already have one down in the Miami heat. He needs the spotlight and a great portion of it, and he wouldn't get the credit that he wants if he were to succeed in Miami. <br />
Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-55187435979422156672010-06-30T22:41:00.000-07:002010-06-30T22:41:35.228-07:00Daily Dime Live: 2010 Free Agent SummitThe most renown and influential free agency period ever in sports has officially started (as of an hour and a half ago). NBA guru's like Michael Wilbon, Chris Sheridan and Kevin Arnovitz are holding a 'summit' chatroom for all questions & comments: <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dimelive-100630/daily-dime-live" style="color: blue;">CLICK HERE </a><br />
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Also, ESPN Chicago's Bulls blogger Nick Friedel talks points for the Bulls' pitch from the perspectives of Jerry Reinsdorf, Tom Thibodeau and more..... <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/chicagobulls/post/_/id/1119/talking-points-for-the-bulls-meeting-with-lbj" style="color: blue;">READ</a>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-12257209295330327282010-06-30T12:26:00.000-07:002010-06-30T12:26:54.984-07:00Experts Saying Lebron to Chicago 'Probable'The vegas odds place the likelihood of Lebron James going to Chicago at -500. What that basically means is that you have to place <i>at least</i> a $500.00 bet to win $100.00. The next closest odds are James returning to Cleveland at +100. Vegas odds are reliable, but more so are NBA insiders and analysts whose lives the past seven weeks have been nothing but free agency.<br />
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<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=FreeAgency-100630" style="color: blue;">Where are They Going?</a><br />
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espn.com ran an free agency piece this morning regarding all the top free agents and their bets on where they'll end up. ESPN writers such as Bill Simmons, J.A. Adande, Chris Broussard, Ric Bucher and Chad Forde offered their insight, along with other notable NBA analysts like Henry Abbott and Kevin Arnovitz from TrueHoop.<br />
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6 out of the 7 who were polled picked Lebron to land in Chicago. ESPN Insider Chris Sheridan picked the Knicks, but said he wouldn't go higher than a 50-50 chance. Hmmm. In addition to Lebron, all-star Chris Bosh was picked by 4 out of 7 to end up in Chicago by the time free agency ended as well.<br />
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Other players that some guessed would end up in Chi-town were Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer and David Lee. Now whether the Bulls land King James or not, it seems that the team is in prime position to improve somehow, some way. If they did pull off a Lebron-Bosh pairing, their the favorites in the Eastern Conference hands down. But nonetheless, there are other options. Dwayne Wade is from Chicago, but he recently expressed some not-so-kind words about the organization and their faithfulness to retired players.<br />
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Either way, Bulls fans should be tuned in starting @ 11:59 TONIGHT. It's been over a decade since there's been much to really anticipate from the once cornerstone of the entire league. Not only do they have more money to throw around, but they also have more enticing pieces already in play than any other teams looking to score big. They are capable of landing two top free agents, to go along with a core group that gave Lebron James and the Cavaliers an unexpected hard-nose fight in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs this year.<br />
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<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-freeagency-100629/cap-room-summary">Free Agency Dime: How many max players can each team afford?</a>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-6781051729288663462010-06-24T16:50:00.000-07:002010-06-24T16:50:50.270-07:00Farewell Captain Kirk, Thanks for the MemoriesIt has been finalized now that the Bulls are moving guard Kirk Hinrich, along with the 17th pick in tonight's draft, to the Washington Wizards in an obvious move to free up cap space. The move allows the Bulls to potentially land two big name free agents like Lebron and one of three all-star big men, either Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and David Lee.<br />
<a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/steve_aschburner/05/06/feuds/kirk-hinrich-rajon-rondo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/2009/writers/steve_aschburner/05/06/feuds/kirk-hinrich-rajon-rondo.jpg" /></a>In his seven years with the team "Captain Kirk" was a fan favorite and gave everything he had night-in and night-out. He hustled, was a consistent shooter and a great defensive player. He wasn't flashy. Rather, he did all the things that <i>nobody</i> recognized.He did the small things. It's a shame that fundamentals and hinrich's style of play are no longer appreciated in the NBA. Nobody can really say the <i>don't like</i> Hinrich because he was never in the spotlight. He was always under the radar just doing his own thing. But at the same time, he was always a key asset for the team that improved every year since Kirk's '03 rookie season when he was drafted 7th behind the likes of Lebron, Carmello Anthony and several others. Chicago Bulls blogger Sam Smith did a piece this past winter on Hinrich and how he was the catalyst behind the team's success. Every notable offensive category was higher when he was the lineup, and their record was in the ballpark of 18-5 when he started up until that point in the season. He was a team player which in this era of the NBA is sometimes hard to find. <br />
What an offseason so far as a fan. My favorite team trades away my favorite player, and are the front-runners to sign my <i>least</i> favorite professional athlete. Despite my personal preference, John Paxson and Jerry Reinsdorf did what they had to do. Ridding Hinrich's 9 million dollar salary put them in prime contention for landing two top name free agents. Where they'll go from here, no one really knows. But the first step is tonight @ 7:30 (exactly nine minutes ago).<br />
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For me personally, the lasting "Hinrich Memory" I'll have is the first round of the '08 playoffs. Rajon Rondo gave Hinrich a shove on a fast-break knocking him hard to the floor, and Kirk shot up and took sprint in revenge of the dirty play. The whole team on the floor was holding him back as his arms and legs flapped around struggling to take revenge. But the best part was Scott Skiles on the sidelines, grinning and looking at the rest of the bench like, "wow, did you guys ever see this coming?" Hinrich had never shown too much emotion or anger on the court, and the fiery-ness sort of surprised everyone. <br />
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<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2010/news/story?id=5324240" style="color: blue;">SOURCES: BULLS TO FREE UP CAP SPACE</a> -ESPNchicago<br />
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</a></div><a href="http://blogs.bulls.com/chicago_bulls_blog/2010/06/bye-bye-kirk-hello-lebron.html" style="color: blue;">BYE-BYE KIRK? HELLO LEBRON?</a> -chicagobulls.com bulls blogger Sam SmithWill Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-7037309306467818722010-06-22T23:02:00.000-07:002010-06-22T23:03:47.444-07:00The End For Two Guys That Took a Similar Path?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slideshows/682/slideshow_68288/display_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slideshows/682/slideshow_68288/display_image.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace share a similar career-journey through the NBA. Each could have also potentially played their last game in game 7 of the NBA Finals. And although Artest's career, which may have been justified with a game-saving performance and Finals championship, and Rasheed "Roscoe" Wallace's, whose reputation dwindled progressively throughout the season may seem as polar opposites, each's final chapter may share a similar conclusion. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>A must read from ESPN columnist Scoop Jackson-<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?page=jackson/100618"><span style="color: blue;">FULL STORY</span></a>Will Armbrusterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488898043252946451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7654870320127485357.post-88165351015049015872010-06-08T14:01:00.000-07:002010-06-08T14:01:44.031-07:00Thibodeau Hiring Getting Positive Reviews; Not A Play For Lebron I have yet to see any negative responses in regards to the Bulls recent hiring of Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau. He's been labeled as an experienced veteran with uncomparable basketball knowledge, as well as the mastermind behind the Celtics defense. <a href="http://www.blogabull.com/2010/6/7/1506098/in-thibodeau-bulls-get-what-they">Bog-A-Bull</a> calls Thibodeau "a bright, work-a-holic teacher and taskmaster."<br />
<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/chicagobulls">ESPN Chicago</a> said Thibodeau was the most underappreciated coach in the league. That's a bold statement for someone who never has held a head coaching job. But, he's got plenty of time to prepare, and if he does things right and lifts the Bulls into contention, the doubts will cease. I don't think it's fair to say that even if the Bulls got Lebron and whoever else they wanted that they immediately become title contenders. But if Thibodeau can just bring some consistency, all should be well in the Windy City. The Bulls put together one of the streakiest seasons I'd ever seen this past season, and still made the playoffs and competed with the heavily favored Cavs. They would win 5 then lose 7 like it was nothing. Hinrich was injured, then Deng and then Noah. They barely squeaked into the playoffs and could have finished way better.<br />
If there is a downside to "Thibodeau Time," (to other Bulls fans that is) it's that reportedly, the move doesn't hold weight on Queen Jame's free agency decision. <br />
According to espn chicago bulls blogger Nick Friedel, <em>"The Bulls were told by a few people close to James that the hiring of Thibodeau would not influence his decision on coming to Chicago one way or the other, and that after reports surfaced that John Calipari might be a candidate for Bulls coach, James let it be known he did not want to be part of those decisions for any prospective team unless it involved someone he really did not like."</em><br />
<em> </em>I guess since I can't really complain about the news, I'll leave it on that note. But gee, if Lebron actually ends up <em>not</em> coming to Chicago, I might run out of things to write about. <br />
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<ul><li><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">Follow "the sports guy" Bill Simmons tonight on espn.com </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">as he'll be courtside at the Garden on a live game-chat </span></strong></li>
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