To some, the Bulls 102-87 Game 4 victory against the Pistons was meaningless. After playing their little hearts out to avoid the sweep, the Bulls are still down 3-1 in the series and will have to accomplish something no NBA team has ever done if they want to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, come back to a win a series after going down three games to none. While the victory prolonged a series the Bulls probably won’t win a little longer, not everyone is satisfied.
Why in the name of Grant Park would anyone feel good about holding on for dear life in a sweep situation?
Well let me tell you, Jay. Had the Bulls been swept, it would have erased all the positive momentum this season created: the most wins for a post-MJ team, watching the maturation of Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich, and sweeping the defending champions out of the playoffs in the first round. Yes, being swept by the Pistons would have far overshadowed all of that and made the offseason one of discontent instead of looking at all the things that went right this year. Avoiding the sweep at the hands of Detroit proves that the Bulls have a little pride in them, not bowing down to a clearly superior team even though their ultimate goal presently looks so unattainable. Had the Bulls been swept, the offseason would have been filled with columns about how Paxson needs break up his young nucleus, how Skiles should be fired, how the Bulls still need a dominant player, and how this team just isn’t ready to compete yet. Luckily, yesterday’s win spared everyone of that rushed nonsense, at least for the time being.
Though it has never been his calling card, GM John Paxson may have succumb to all the negative press and made an irrational move had Detroit ended the series in only four games. Can you believe there are still people that think the Bulls should have parted with Luol Deng to get Pau Gasol at trade deadline? I was vehemently against such a deal at the time and now it would seem downright stupid. At 22, Deng has the most potential of a team full of it; parting with him would have certainly been a deathblow to the future of the franchise, especially for someone like Gasol. We’re not talking about Kevin Garnett here people, this is Pau Gasol. While he would fill the need for a low post scoring presence, Gasol is not a superstar. Would anyone place him among the 20 best players in the league? And just how much better is Gasol right now then Deng, never mind the fact that Luol is six years younger? And of course Paxson tried to get a deal done without including Deng and Ben Gordon, Memphis just wouldn’t do it. If there was anyone way for Paxson to pull off the deal without giving up Deng, Gordon, Hinrich, or Wallace, the trade would have gone through. People who think Jerry West would have parted with his large Spaniard for only the Knicks lottery pick, PJ Brown, and Tyrus Thomas are just plain dumb. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have made that deal either. Getting swept by the Pistons would have opened up all avenues of talk once again, a road Paxson doesn’t want to head back down.
From now on, every game the Bulls play year is a must win and it begins in Detroit tomorrow. While the Bulls almost certainly won’t win this series, I bet they win Game 5, bringing the series back to Chicago and forcing the Pistons to worry just a little bit more. A win in Detroit would show everyone that this Bulls team is fine just the way it is, besides for a few tweaks here and there, and that nothing irrational has to be done right away.
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Comments
First of all, Jammal Crawford is a bum, Gordo is much better, much more clutch.
The problem with trading Gordon is that the Bulls rely on his offense so much. Without him, they would need another perimeter player to be a gunner, something Hinrich isn't and neither is Luol. Both get their points in the flow of the offense.
I really think this series says more about detroit then the Bulls, I think the Bulls would probably school the Cavs or Nets, those teams aren't good. Though the Bulls do inexplicably struggle in New Jersey which makes no sense.
The Bulls struggles against the Nets during the regular season makes sense - they both play a similar style of ball (perimeter oriented), same as Dallas.
Most teams don't play purely perimeter-oriented teams on a day-in, day-out basis - that's why almost every team (even the Warriors, in Biedrins) has a center, even if they aren't part of the offense, right? Because you have to guard the other team's bigs, their Boozer or Duncan.
But not if you play the Bulls or the Nets (this season, minus Nenad). So during the season most teams don't really change their lineup or strategy to adapt to that, and instead play normal. But in the postseason you have teams play to take advantage of other team's weaknesses, and hence the Pistons took care of the Bulls. The Cavs and Nets would have beat ya'll, too.
I don't see how, if you had a low post presence like Gasol, you would need "another gunner" to replace Gordon... any SG with a decent jumper (like the kind that you can find in the draft at the #15-25 range) would suffice. Plus you have Deng (the slasher) and Hinrich (the mid-range jumper).
If I was the Bulls, I would trade Gordon, Thomas and the #1 for Gasol (or KG, but that might not work). Overpaying, yes, but who cares if it makes the team better. Then I would trade PJ Brown's expiring contract (too late now, but who knows) for a late #1, like the #22 pick or something. Draft a SG with good range. Or trade for Salim Stoudemire. Something like that.
Go with Wallace, Gasol, Deng, Hinrich and a scrubby SG with range. Your bench is still Nocioni, Thabo, Duhon. Yes, the SG is the weak spot, but the team is better overall - interior defense is great, solid rebounding, solid offense. Add a mid-level exemption for a PF, like a Walter Hermann type (or a Mikki Moore, or Jamaal Magliore), and that is a legit contender. No?
Sometimes you gotta have gotta have a little patience, bro. Gasol is good but not a star, Tyrus is gonna be unreal, Gordo is the man, Deng is too valuable. You can't sacrifice the long term for the short term, sometimes you just end up screwing yourself over in the process.
I agree that Deng is as good, or pretty close to Gasol. Though I think you are underrating Gasol - he's also a top defensive player, too.
Which is why I think you are overrating Ben Gordon, Hinrich and Wallace. Not that Memphis would want Wallace, but if Memphis would take one of those players, plus the pick and Thomas, the Bulls should do it. Gordon is just an overrated shooter with okay %; I don't see him as any better than Jamal Crawford (whom you already got rid off)... he's not that hard to replace.
Wallace is fading and overpaid. And one-dimensional. Gasol can block and rebound, adding a decent PF type to replace Brown, and you have a better team.
Hinrich is the toughest one to give up. He's a solid point, with a good jumper and solid defense. But he's not great - his rebounding and passing numbers are okay for a point. He doesn't exactly lead a high-octane offense. The Bulls could pull off a replacement via trade (for example, maybe they could get Andre Miller from rebuilding Philly, or one of Portland's points, or even Calderon from Toronto).
Bottom line: Do you think the Bulls, as currently constructed, can really make it out of the second round (or really a first round series against a tough team)? I think that unless the Knicks pick turns out to be a top-3 pick, the Bulls need to make a move to improve their team....