State of the Chicago Bulls Address

In these desperate times I decieded to give my first annual "State of the Chicago Bulls Address" in the following article... I will outline the 5 largest problems along with my 5 step-proposed solutions...

Problemo Number 1...
Jim Boylan is not an NBA head coach, he never will be. He is a solid assistant and I think would make a solid college coach, but far from an NBA coach. NBA coaches are motivators, Boylans biggest problem is he complains about his play of his players but he doesn't motivate. (Example: Greg Popavich motivates... Popavich talks negative and bitches about his players more then any coach in the nba, but he does it in a way that motivates the players, not discourages and pisses them off) Motivation would be benching Kirk (the only unselfish pg on the team) for the start of the 4th, and then putting him in with 5 minutes to go, pissed off with something to prove, not benching him the entire quarter and pissing him off... (Would Popavich ever bench Tony Parker the entire 4th quarter) When the Bulls released Scott Skiles, and then failed to replace Skiles with an adaquete head coach... they did everything but waive the white flag on this 2007-2008 Season. Boylan is looking at this situation ALL WRONG, Boylan is making lineups... trying to make the playoffs and save his job. If he wanted to save his Job, he would develope Thabo, Tyrus, and Noah into productive NBA starters, not role players. Paxson is a smart GM and he's not afraid to make a bold move. Paxson would keep Boylan around if he developed current talent, but Paxson won't keep Boylan around if the Bulls make the 1st round this year and get smacked in 4-5 games.

Solution 1: Dump Boylan.... Pick up either....
LARRY BROWN no introduction needed or the sleeper and my sexy pick...
Del Harris... it will make sense later

Problemo Number 2....
Develop an Identity...
Either a team style (Uptempo like Golden State, Defensive like Detriot), face of the franchise (Lebron, Kobe, D-Howard, Chris Paul)... winning teams have identities... I've said you can't win without a superstar in the NBA but now I'm thinking that's false... you cannot win without an Identity. Superstars usually make up a teams identity, but they are not an absolute requirement.

Solution number 2:
Grab up a superstar in the off-season (Unlikely), or bring in a coach that will give the team an identity. I think the Bulls really could bring the West Coast style to the East and be successful. What better way to do this then bring Del Harris...
Del Harris is a very sexy choice why??? He has been coaching the Western Conf. Style for the past decade for the Mavericks. Del Harris has been voted as the top assistant coach in the league in the annual General Manager’s poll the past 4 seasons... and finally he is actually known for his Defensive Mindness. So you would be getting an experienced head coach in the Western Conference style, who stresses Defense over Offense. Isn't this what the Bulls are looking for???

Problemo Number 3....
Get rid of the Bad Apples, get the right personel to run the Western Style....
First off you need 8 players that fit the style... (Key to success in the run and gun style is make the extra pass)
Keepers from the roster...
Minutes per game in " "
1. Tyrus Thomas -PF "30 min"
2. Noah -C-PF "30 min"
3. Larry Hughes PG"30 min"
4. Kirk Hinrich PG "35 min"
5. Luol Deng SF "32 min"
6. Antawn Jamison (2008 Free Agent) PF "34 min"
Sign and trade with Wizards (Nocioni, Draft Pick #10, and Release Gordon create cap room)
7. Thabo SG-PG "20 min"
8. Gooden PF-C "25 min"
These minutes per game work with some minutes to spare... The Bulls are the youngest team in the league, they need to play that way... They aren't going to be able to pound it out possession by possession in the half court with anyone, without a Superstar.
The only negative about this is getting rid of Noce, it kills bc I love this guy, but he doesn't fit in an uptempo style. But you have a great defensive team that can score uptempo... You have Defensive stoppers in Thabo Hinrich and Hughes plays scetchy D (tries for steals instead of just playing hard D) but it's still effective... With Noah and Tyrus as athletic players that can play downlow, with Gooden who can bang hard with his big body. The biggest problem with Noce, is that him and Deng can only play the 3... Jamison can play the 3 and 4. Which means he can play the 3 when Deng isn't on the floor and the 4 when he is. This would give Mr. Del Harris lots of options and lineup options. (Noce and Deng can't stay together they just don't fit) A run and gun lineup with Kirk, Gordon, Deng, Jamison, Tyrus??????

Problemo Number 4....
In my opinion this team is very nice, but not an NBA championship team. But it's close. By trimming the roster down into 8 very quality young players and a soon to be expiring huge larry hughes contract. The Bulls are putting themself right in place, to make a huge trade to get the final piece. Put this roster together for 2008-2009, get to the 2nd round with a 48-52 win team... come into 2009-2010 with confidence and hughes's expiring contract. You have that huge contract and then players who have "inflated" stats from the run and gun style to pull the trigger on a attractive big piece. Did i mention that will be the D-Wade opt out year?????? I'm not positive but I am thinking Melo, Bosh, and Lebron could be free agents this year too??
By the way D-Wade plays under Riley... Del Harris coached under Riley... Do you think D-Wade would like the new Bulls system???????? D-Wade is from Chicagoland too

Problemo Number 5...
The United Center fans are fucking weak... It's too corporate in there... We need some ralley towel give aways, cheaper beer, and college night in the UC... Basketball is all confidence and energy. An uptempo style would get the crowd into it, attract younger fans, and give the Bulls the needed energy and crunk atmosphere to be a legit eastern conference threat.
2009-2010 NBA CHAMPION Chicago Bulls

No Playoff Shoes This Year?

Yes Kirk, you might have to leave those in the box.

The Bulls have an unofficial tradition of wearing black shoes (regardless of being home or away) during the playoffs, which dates all the way back to 1989 when they debuted the tradition. It was noted when the Bulls made their first playoff appearance during the 2004-05 season after a six-year hiatus, they went back to the tradition and wore black shoes. They were also the first NBA team to outfit the black socks with black shoes when they made their championship run during the 1996 playoffs. Starting with the 1999 playoffs, this fashion became the norm around the NBA.

I remember when the Bulls made the playoffs in 2004 and they wore the black shoes that was the first thing I noticed. Now that is in jeopardy this year because they may not be in the playoffs.

My Chicago Bulls Promise

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

My frustrations of this season have boiled over. I am so pissed about the Bulls season this year that I can't take shi*t no more. I decided to do a competition with the Bulls (kind of a carbon copy of the Gooden). I will NOT shave my beard until the Bulls are OFFICIALLY done with the season. If the Bulls make the playoffs than I will not shave it until they are eliminated. For those of you who don't know me I have red facial hair, so if they make the playoffs we might see a red forest on my face, or I may end up looking like Benny The Bull.

Larry Hughes Cocky?

From the sounds of this interview, Larry Hughes sounded pretty confident that he will be a starter. He was right, he is a starter now, but what does this mean for Gordon? Is Gordon done as a Chicago Bull after this year? My answer is Yes. What about Hinrich's benching? Where are the Bulls headed in the future? Stay tuned for tomorrow's podcast for everyone's insight.

Johnny Red Kerr Disappears

Last week against the Pacers, Johnny Red Kerr disapperead from the telecast. You can hear a loud thump from the microphone. Stacey King started to laugh and say that Red is gone. I wondered where Red went. I actually have found out from my sources that Red had to sh** himself so bad that he couldn't wait for the final 18 seconds of the half to finish. Eye witnesses said that after Red got out of the bathroom he looked and felt like a million bucks.

Bulls Continue Losing Ways

photo from espn.comBulls continue looking for answers?????

After dropping 4 of their last 5 games, and two huge losses over the weekend to Eastern Conference playoff squads, the 2007-2008 season is not looking good for the Chicago Bulls. Although, they still remain in the playoff hunt, time is running out. The Bulls need to put together a winning steak and soon. Over the weekend, the Bulls, who lead late in both games, managed to let them slip out of out reach. On Friday, the Bulls lost to a depleted Wizards roster missing Arenas and Butler and blew a 20 points lead. On Sunday the Bulls lead through 3 quarters, until King James decieded to show up and snatch a victory from the Bulls.

Tyrus and Noah have continued their good play along with Larry Hughes. Ben Gordon remains streaky as hell, and Luol Deng still doesn't look the same coming off his injury. The Bulls have a favorable schedule in late March but they must play .500+ here on out to have any last chance at a playoff run.

Nocioni "Wizzes" on Wizards

Andres Nocioni finally returns the favor of posterizing with this monster dunk on some wizards bum