[kirkisgod]

I would have to say yes. Since Darius went down, the rest of the Bulls have turned into the Bulls of last year almost. Its gotten Sweets much more minutes, and with the Sweets/Tyson lineup, we resemble last year's squad with Eddy.

So should we make the playoffs, do we insert Songalia back into his normal role??

 

[jbulls]

I would have to say yes. Since Darius went down, the rest of the Bulls have turned into the Bulls of last year almost. Its gotten Sweets much more minutes, and with the Sweets/Tyson lineup, we resemble last year's squad with Eddy.

So should we make the playoffs, do we insert Songalia back into his normal role??

I don't believe so, no. Songaila got hurt March 10th. Since then Sweetney's averaged about 6 points, 4 boards, and 3 personal fouls in 15 minutes per. If anything the abscence of Songaila has caused Skiles to go with Nocioni and Deng more than he was, which I suppose has been beneficial as both are playing very well of late. Still, I think Songaila is our second best big after Tyson, and I wouldn't attribute the team's improved play to his abscence.

 

[kirkisgod]

My point is though that Sweetney provides more of a low post presence than songalia. Sure songalia knocks down the open shots, but teams are forced to guard sweetney in the post, and he draws fouls.

 

[jbulls]

My point is though that Sweetney provides more of a low post presence than songalia. Sure songalia knocks down the open shots, but teams are forced to guard sweetney in the post, and he draws fouls.

I suppose, but I don't think 6 and 4 in 15 minutes a game is a very substantial impact, and that's been his line since Songaila's gone down. Nocioni's play of late has been a much bigger factor in our run, IMO.

 

[kirkisgod]

Definitely Noc has had the biggest impact on our run. But Noc and Deng have had more minutes like you said because Songalia went down.

 

[nanokooshball]

The Bulls are better with Songaila. Remember, right when he went down, the Bulls struggled quite a bit including losing 4 straight. Songaila would add another dimension to our team with his passing and crisp outside shooting and ability to create a shot inside for himself. Our offense also runs smoother with him in the game than not.

 

[jbulls]

Definitely Noc has had the biggest impact on our run. But Noc and Deng have had more minutes like you said because Songalia went down.

Yes and no. Noc and Deng are getting more minutes these days, but so are Malik Allen and Michael Sweetney. If we got Songaila back we could, in theory, keep Deng and Noc at between 35 and 40 MPG and give Darius the minutes that have been going to Allen and Sweets. I'm of the opinion that Songaila is a much better player than either of those two. My ideal scenario would be Songaila at 20 MPG, Noc and Deng at 35, and Allen and Sweets getting used mainly in garbage time or when matchups necessitate a little more bulk.

 

[kirkisgod]

Alright you win. I'm sorry, sir.

 

[Machinehead]

We have too many marginal players / role players upfront

Sweetney, Songaila and Chandler are all under contract next year and Malik Allen wants to come back and the Coaching Staff love Luke Schenscher .

Then there is Othella

That's a really smelly front line

We draft a big + acquire a big in free agency ..and clearly we need to up the quality and consolidate .

Who stays ?

Chandler - for obvious reasons
Songaila - He's our best passing big man who can hit the mid range face up J and is good in a pick and roll offense - good team defender. Solid all round player
Schenscher - He's a project but does have an NBA future IMO


Who goes ?

Harrington
Allen
Sweetney ( cut )

What do we need ?

1. Vet leadership on the front line and a two way player

2. Best big man prospect from the draft

 

[DaBullz]

The Bulls are better with Songaila. Remember, right when he went down, the Bulls struggled quite a bit including losing 4 straight. Songaila would add another dimension to our team with his passing and crisp outside shooting and ability to create a shot inside for himself. Our offense also runs smoother with him in the game than not.

Bulls are 8-5 without Songaila. 8-1 since that 4 game losing streak. Call those 4 games a short period of adjustment to having more athletic players on the court.

 

[nanokooshball]

Who stays ?
...
Schenscher - He's a project but does have an NBA future IMO

Who goes ?
Harrington
Allen
Sweetney ( cut )

What do we need ?
1. Vet leadership on the front line and a two way player
2. Best big man prospect from the draft

I think everyone is under-rating Sweetney a lot. There is no chance he would be cut by the Bulls, because he has too much talent to be given up on. At the very least he will be traded to a team interested in him or to help fit salaries in a trade. Since this is a contract year for Sweetney, I fully believe that Mike will stay in Chicago and work his *** off in the Berto Center with Bulls' faculty and coaches to lose that fat and turn it into muscle. If he can get his weight from what is now probably 280-290 pounds to 260 pounds he could start for the Bulls with Tyson next season. The added muscle and decrease in muscle will make him so much more mobile and be able to play for stronger stretches without getting in foul trouble or getting winded.

I think that next season Othella will be the odd man out and I can't see Luke making the team when we probably will sign 2-3 FA's and obtain 2 players in the first round.

I think that we will draft one big and one tall SG in the draft. Sign 2 bigs.

C - Tyson/Nazr/Aldridge
PF - Sweetney/Gooden/Songaila

that may be our froncourt. I also hope that we may sign AD to the vet minimum too for some leadership.

 

[nanokooshball]

Bulls are 8-5 without Songaila. 8-1 since that 4 game losing streak. Call those 4 games a short period of adjustment to having more athletic players on the court.

We have a significantly easier schedule without Songaila than before Songaila went down.

 

[TwinkieTowers]

The Bulls are better off with Songaila. Allen is probably the most similar player on the team. From my observation, both knock down 15-18 footers pretty well, and Allen is very slightly more athletic, but Allen just drives me nuts sometimes with some big mental errors, like near the end of the loss to the 76ers earlier in the season. Songaila seems to play within himself, which makes me more comfortable considering his ability.

 

[T.Shock]

I don't see why a four man rotation of Chandler, Sweetney, Songalia, and Allen isn't beneficial. Chandler provides an outstanding defensive presence in addition to his ability on the boards. Sweetney is a low post guy who takes up a lot of space and does make opposing teams respect him on the inside. Songalia is a good shooter/passer who can draw bigs out of the paint and create more room for driving lanes and Allen is a versatile big man who can guard 4s and 5s. Imagine if we can replace Allen with somebody like Joakim Noah.

Chandler, Sweets, Songalia, and Noah all bring different, yet crucial aspects in the post. We'd be deep and talented inside. Not to mention the possibility of replacing Sweets with somebody like Nene.

 

[bbertha37]

..

 

[step]

Yes, more minutes for Nocioni the better!

 

[7RINGS?]

Yes, more minutes for Nocioni the better!

I agree with you on that step,but I think the difference has been the line up change.Songalia would still be on the bench but he would still make a big contrabution.If Nocioni played like he is now when Son was active,Skiles I believe would still let Noc get more minutes.Skiles lets the players play,and Son can't play like Noc.More depth is always good. :clap:

 

[jbulls]

Bulls are 8-5 without Songaila. 8-1 since that 4 game losing streak. Call those 4 games a short period of adjustment to having more athletic players on the court.

Yes, it takes getting used to keeping up with world class athletes like Michael Sweetney and Malik Allen.

 

[kirkisgod]

Yes, it takes getting used to keeping up with world class athletes like Michael Sweetney and Malik Allen.

I can buy that.