by Rickhouse on October 26 at 3:24PM
No player symbolizes this Bulls team quite like Ben Gordon- spectacular at times, but too flawed to ever be considered a star. When Gordon struggled offensively last season, or when he wasn’t on the floor, the Bulls simply couldn’t score. It’s not a matter of talent- Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, and Andres Nocioni all averaged more then 15 points per games last season- it’s a matter of assertiveness. Gordon is the only Bull who can carry a heavy burden or scoring, because, well, that’s all he can really do. If you examine Ben Gordon the way a scout would, you ask, what does he really do for you? Gordon can basically only do one thing: score. He is a great shooter, both from midrange and deep, and has the ability to create his own shot. He’s also a clutch performer who doesn’t mind hoisting up the final jumper as the buzzer sounds. He has just two holes in his scoring repertoire, and fixing one would heal the other. Gordon’s main issue is consistency, even though he averaged over 21 points per game last season, he could hardly be counted on to score 20 every night. Part of the reason, and this is his other flaw, is because he doesn’t get to the free throw line nearly enough. If Gordon can do that this season, the Bulls are one step closer to being the best team in the East.
“The best team in the East” is where the Bulls team wants to be this season. A lot of people are liking their chances, because, while the upper middle half of the conference improved dramatically (the Knicks and Magic got a lot better, I’m the only person in the world who likes ‘Shard, apparently), the top teams really did not. Cleveland isn’t really even that good. The Pistons don’t have Weber any more, their stars find themselves a year older, and they’re relying on big contributions from Amir Johnson (the second son of North Blogmeria, perhaps, only to Gil), and Rodney Stuckey. As for the Celtics, well, how good is Rajon Rondo, because it doesn’t matter if you have three studs if no one can get them the ball. This Bulls squad, no matter how flawed, has to be considered one of the three best teams in the conference before the season starts. They have as good a chance as anyone to reach the Finals.
If they’re going to get there, a few things need to happen. It all begins with the biggest question facing the Bulls this season: can Luol Deng develop into a franchise player this season. We all feel he’ll get there eventually, but the Bulls have an outstanding opportunity this season, and to get there, Deng has to be the superstar the team has lacked since His Airness retired. Bulls fans and management have heard it for years: this team will never take the next step until they get a true star. That’s why the rumors for Paul Pierce, Jermaine O’Neal, and KG never died down. Conventional NBA wisdom says you can’t go all the way without a star, and for the Bulls to be in that position, Deng has to take over. He has to undoubtedly become the team’s best player, which he wasn’t for much of last season. His playoff series against the Heat is as heroic a Chicago sports performance as you’ll find this side of MJ, Walter, and 05’ Sox. He proved he could take over a game on the biggest level in that series- now Luol Deng must do it for a whole season. Talk of a stronger Luol who can play in the post would be killing two birds with one British/Sudanese stone, but I fear we’re all putting too much on the plate of a 22-year old kid. It’s not that anyone particularly wants to do this, I’m certain Pax and Skiles don’t, but Deng’s development represents this franchises’ brightest beacon of hope to contend for a title.
The rest of the burden lies on the front court, primarily Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, and Joe Smith. I hate when people say “the Bulls have to get win now because Ben Wallace is going to keep declining”. That really isn’t true, the level Wallace played at last season was nothing spectacular, but it will probably remain constant for at least the next two or three seasons. Wallace will not spiral downhill during that period; the Bulls know what they’re getting from him. Because of that, it’s up to the three aforementioned forwards to take this team over the top.
Tyrus Thomas might have more upside then Deng, he just has to be able to harness it. Even while going through more inevitable offensive growing pains this season, Thomas does enough things well to warrant significant playing time throughout the season. Scoring isn’t everything in the NBA, and people have to remember that (even more so for Noah). Thomas isn’t a horrible offensive player, like, say, Ben Wallace, but he isn’t yet the polished low post scorer the Bulls are praying he turns in to. He has one simple move to get around people, and it works alarmingly often because of his superior athletic ability: a one dribble power move to hoop followed by a ferocious slam. If Tyrus develops more then this, like the baby hook he showed late in the second half, he’ll be scary. But he has to be on the floor even if that doesn’t come fully around this year because he is such a key rebounder and shot blocker. Those things are more important then novice NBA fans realize. Tyrus’ ability to change the direction of shots, and the timing on his jumps for blocks is something that can’t be taught. It’s why he deserves big minutes this season, no matter how unpolished he is offensively. A wise man once said that Thomas may the NBA’s best player who can not shoot, dribble, or pass. If he learns to do those things, no ceiling would be high enough.
Same goes for Noah, who has quickly become a favorite of coach Skiles due to his intensity and work ethic. He’ll never win over fans nationally who will always remember him from his college days, but he’ll be a Bulls fan favorite for sure. The selection of Noah was panned by some because he does similar things to Thomas. While that is true, I would argue that athletic 7-footers don’t come around every season- when you can grab one you have to. He also makes the Bulls taller, which is more important than it seems. We’re talking about a team that starts a 6’1 shooting guard and a center that isn’t taller then 6’6 despite what program says. Noah is ready to contribute this year and he will- he’ll contribute toughness, energy, dunks, rebounds, blocks, and intimidation. Not bad for a guy who doesn’t know how to shoot. Think of him as a more intense version of Tyson Chander but with better hands. Chandler always got a bad rap in this town because of expectations. Noah will never be compared with KG, and the lack of that powerful burden could prove consequential.
The selection of Noah was one of three critical offseason moves by Paxson. The other two were signing Joe Smith and resigning Andres Nocioni. Smith will hopefully prove he’s a sizeable upgrade over PJ Brown, a trade off some are calling a wash. He’s certainly a more gifted offensive player, and while he doesn’t really have a back-to-the-basket game, his ability to shoot the ball from 18-feet and in will key on pick-and-rolls.
The resigning of Nocioni was met with mixed reviews as well around the league. It’s true that he plays the same position as the team’s best player and was atrocious because of a foot injury in the playoffs last season. But he is a pivotal fourth scorer on a team that gets all its hoops from three guys- because of that, the deal was smart. He didn’t play for his home country over the summer (unlike seemingly the rest of the team), and should be ready to go this season. People forget how good he was in the beginning of last season, when he may have been the Bulls best player, and how good he has been in playoff series against the Wizards and Heat, when he was clearly the Bulls best player. A lineup of Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Noce, and Wallace will have a surprising amount of pop and will mean that this years Bulls won’t suffer from the same scoring famines last year’s team faced.
In the end, it comes down to how much the trio of Hinrich, Gordon, and Deng improve. They are the backbone of this team- everything the Bulls accomplish in 2007 will be because of these three players. This is they’re third season playing every game together, and they have improved every year. Each one of those guys should have a career season this year, and they better for the Bulls to live up to expectations. While he’s the least exciting of the big three, Hinrich’s development is as important as any. I’ve always felt Hinrich kind of gets screwed over on the Bulls and that he’d be more highly regarded on another team. He always has to guard the opposition’s best scorer because everyone knows Gordon can’t, and that extra burden takes away from his offensive game. I think he could be the ever-coveted facilitating point guard, but it’s hard when teamed up with a 6’1 2-guard who couldn’t lock down Sue Bird.
As far as predictions go, I don’t think I’m as high on this team as others are. They’ll be fun to watch again, and it’s great how all of the important pieces are homegrown, but I don’t see the Bulls winning the conference. No body else is really that good, so the Bulls certainly have a great opportunity, but the team is just so flawed. The shooting guard can’t do anything but score, the center is 6’6 and can’t make a layup, and the teams two youngest and most exciting players- Noah and Tyrus- don’t know how to shoot, despite playing basketball for a living. I apologize for being such a Negative Nancy- and I’m totally pumped up for this season to start- but that’s just the way I see it. All that being said, expect at least 55 wins and another exciting season. This is the best team the Bulls have had since 1998. That season ended with a parade in Grant Park, maybe this one can too.
|
Comments
a slow start is inevitable with the circus road trip.
I actually think that this group of guys has no problem taking orders from Skiles (except for Wallace). I'm sure alot of teams wouldn't put up with Skiles' shit, but guys like Kirk, Gord0, Deng,Noce and Duhon like the discipline.
As for the circus trip-- this is the year they finally conquer it. That'll be a great test against some tough Western Conference teams to see exactly how good the Bulls are. I'm super excited for this season, hopefully it'll start off just like last year. With a 40 point win.
well good news for the bulls is that the circus road trip is going to be a little bit shorter than usual. hopefully they can capitalize on this.
p.s. gordon rocks
I think that's a pretty solid take on the Bulls. You are dead on when you talk about Ben Gordon's need to get to the line more, and how it'll improve his consistancy. I don't know if it will happen or not, but that is what he needs to do to make the leap into a Kevin Martin type who can drop 25 ppg effortlessly (and without hoggin the ball too much).
It'll be interesting to see how the Bulls play this year. Also, beware of the "Skiles is getting old" factor... the players may soon get to the point where they might start tuning him out, and that could lead to problems this season. A slow start could be disasterous. I doubt it will actually happen, but it is a potential pitfall...