One word: DEFENSE. Okay, this is probably stating the obvious here, but it cannot be understated. Reason being, no team expecting to make the playoffs can have as porous a defense as the Bulls and still have a chance at winning 42-45 games (to obtain a possible 8th seed).
If there's one thing I've learned by living in Chicago my whole life is that Chicago fans are eternal optimists. We all tasted glory in 6 championships and we feel that there is some sort of entitlement and that we will be back soon enough. Maybe. The team, as it is now, will not make the playoffs.
The Bulls do not have a defensive stopper on this team (ala Artest, Bowen, Jones, or the like). They do have a nice on-the-ball defender in Hassell and some good help D shot blockers in Curry and Chandler. Your 2k2 starting lineup:
Jay Williams - a good defender on the ball, quick, but still a rookie (and remember rookies get all sort of @#$% called against them)
Jamal Crawford - not shown much on D, gets clobbered in pick-and-roll, needs to improve
Jalen Rose - this guy is a pimp but he doesn't play defense, the Bulls best player is a very good offensive player, just not a good defensive presence
Tyson Chandler - I believe he is our best post defender; gets into foul trouble though and has trouble guarding wider 4's in the league; may turn out to be dominant in 2-3 years time
Eddy Curry - an enigma on D, good shot blocker and wide body, but soft at times and got into foul trouble in almost EVERY game he started; (backed up by Bagaric - yikes!!!)
I see lots of potential here, as does everyone else. But teams that play poor defense do not make the playoffs, even in the weak East. Many of the teams that made teh playoffs in the East had veteran guys who can scrum and play D. The Bulls are young, energetic, but 1-2 years away from tasting the postseason.
Your opinions, as always, are welcome.
VD
If there's one thing I've learned by living in Chicago my whole life is that Chicago fans are eternal optimists. We all tasted glory in 6 championships and we feel that there is some sort of entitlement and that we will be back soon enough. Maybe. The team, as it is now, will not make the playoffs.
The Bulls do not have a defensive stopper on this team (ala Artest, Bowen, Jones, or the like). They do have a nice on-the-ball defender in Hassell and some good help D shot blockers in Curry and Chandler. Your 2k2 starting lineup:
Jay Williams - a good defender on the ball, quick, but still a rookie (and remember rookies get all sort of @#$% called against them)
Jamal Crawford - not shown much on D, gets clobbered in pick-and-roll, needs to improve
Jalen Rose - this guy is a pimp but he doesn't play defense, the Bulls best player is a very good offensive player, just not a good defensive presence
Tyson Chandler - I believe he is our best post defender; gets into foul trouble though and has trouble guarding wider 4's in the league; may turn out to be dominant in 2-3 years time
Eddy Curry - an enigma on D, good shot blocker and wide body, but soft at times and got into foul trouble in almost EVERY game he started; (backed up by Bagaric - yikes!!!)
I see lots of potential here, as does everyone else. But teams that play poor defense do not make the playoffs, even in the weak East. Many of the teams that made teh playoffs in the East had veteran guys who can scrum and play D. The Bulls are young, energetic, but 1-2 years away from tasting the postseason.
Your opinions, as always, are welcome.
VD