Blog: Bulls Quiet Wolves for Another Preseason Win

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If the playoff started today—that’s right; we can’t wait—the Bulls would be fourth in the Eastern Conference with home court advantage and a first round playoff series with Ben Gordon and the Detroit Pistons.

We could only hope. What fun that would be.

This is so right. A home court advantage first playoff round against the Pistons sounds good.

Does Chicago have a go-to scorer to replace Ben Gordon, who can carry an offense single-handedly?

Can Chicago field a rotation 10-11 players deep?

Does Chicago have someone to help Brad Miller in the post?

Be careful what you wish for.

Piston Boris wrote:Does Chicago have a go-to scorer to replace Ben Gordon, who can carry an offense single-handedly?

When it is playoff time then the Bulls have one.

Piston Boris wrote:Can Chicago field a rotation 10-11 players deep?

Sure.

Piston Boris wrote:Does Chicago have someone to help Brad Miller in the post?

Better question is will Brad Miller help Noah enough? Which he will.

bullsger wrote:

Piston Boris wrote:Does Chicago have a go-to scorer to replace Ben Gordon, who can carry an offense single-handedly?

When it is playoff time then the Bulls have one.

As the Bulls roster stands now, Rose, Salmons, Hinrich, and Jannero, who are expected to fill in Gordon's shoes by committee are not explosive scorers who have ever carried a team's offense and won games single-handedly.

Piston Boris wrote:Can Chicago field a rotation 10-11 players deep?

Sure.

Since this is the same team minus Ben Gordon at the end of last season, as I recall there were 8 players who Del Negro used regularly. Gordon, Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Deng, Noah, Thomas, & Miller.

Piston Boris wrote:Does Chicago have someone to help Brad Miller in the post?

Better question is will Brad Miller help Noah enough? Which he will.

Miller is the most fundamentally sound and complete big man on the Bulls. Thomas and Noah are highly athletic players who finish on the break, but have limited offensive repetoires that are still developing.

It's interesting that there are some Chicago sports writers who like to comment on the Pistons (inaccurately) and imagine playing them in the playoffs. In Detroit, everyone is going about their business and watching the new Pistons team gel.

Piston Boris wrote:
As the Bulls roster stands now, Rose, Salmons, Hinrich, and Jannero, who are expected to fill in Gordon's shoes by committee are not explosive scorers who have ever carried a team's offense and won games single-handedly.

Rose can do this by end of the regular season I think.

Piston Boris wrote:Since this is the same team minus Ben Gordon at the end of last season, as I recall there were 8 players who Del Negro used regularly. Gordon, Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Deng, Noah, Thomas, & Miller.

Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Deng, Noah, Thomas, Miller, Gibson, Pargo & Johnson - 10 players

Piston Boris wrote:Miller is the most fundamentally sound and complete big man on the Bulls. Thomas and Noah are highly athletic players who finish on the break, but have limited offensive repetoires that are still developing.

Still developing, that is right. But really developing!

bullsger wrote:Rose can do this by end of the regular season I think.

When making predictions and estimates, one will need more than "I think" to back it up. Time will tell whether Rose has developed his outside shot or not. If he doesn't, he'll be like Rajon Rondo, stuck at a ceiling.

bullsger wrote:Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Deng, Noah, Thomas, Miller, Gibson, Pargo & Johnson - 10 players

Pargo, Gibson, and Johnson weren't on the Bulls last season.

Pargo bounced around the NBA and Europe before being resigned. That is not a promising resume of a journeyman 2 guard brought in to replace a quasi-All Star/elite scorer in Gordon.

Johnson, the 16th pick in the 2009 draft, in college was athletic and strong with a long wingspan. He was a good rebounder and finisher. He has some shooting range. He lacks focus, though, and is inconsistent and plays out of control. His basketball IQ is average.

Gibson, the 26th pick in the 2009 draft, in college was athletic with excellent leaping abilities. Those attributes along with his long arms and good timing make him a promising defender. In college, he was a good rebounder. In the NBA, he can struggle at the next level against the bigger, stronger forward players since he is somewhat fragile. He tends to shy away from contact against bigger players and does not have that fiery attitude needed to get dirty in the paint. He was a good scorer in college, but his post moves are limited.

Neither Gibson nor Johnson strike me as being a young Elton Brand or Tim Duncan ready to burst on the NBA scene.

bullsger wrote:Still developing, that is right. But really developing!

When Thomas and Noah can "outplay" Pau Gasol, Al Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dwight Howard, etc. in the regular season and average 16 points and 10 rebounds, then they can take the lead over Miller in Chicago's depth chart.

Piston Boris wrote:

bullsger wrote:Rose can do this by end of the regular season I think.

When making predictions and estimates, one will need more than "I think" to back it up. Time will tell whether Rose has developed his outside shot or not. If he doesn't, he'll be like Rajon Rondo, stuck at a ceiling.

All things that I have read or heard are pointing to an improved shot from Rose. So I'm positive.

Piston Boris wrote:

bullsger wrote:Rose, Hinrich, Salmons, Deng, Noah, Thomas, Miller, Gibson, Pargo & Johnson - 10 players

Pargo, Gibson, and Johnson weren't on the Bulls last season.

I'm talking about 2009-10 not last season.

Piston Boris wrote:Pargo bounced around the NBA and Europe before being resigned. That is not a promising resume of a journeyman 2 guard brought in to replace a quasi-All Star/elite scorer in Gordon.

Neither Gibson nor Johnson strike me as being a young Elton Brand or Tim Duncan ready to burst on the NBA scene.

Pargo will help as scorer when he has hot nights, but wouldn't be so helpful when cold shooting. That's ok. That is his role for the Bulls.

Nobody says Gibson and Johson are near a young Brand or Duncan. That is unrealistic. But they would help. They will have a bumping road for the first season as all rookies have. What they have show in the preseason is good. Hopefully they have a good regular season, too.

Bulls rookie forwards

Rookie James Johnson has been erratic in the preseason, but he's an impressive athlete with a wide supply of skills
[...]

Thomas' injury gave Gibson a golden opportunity to grab playing time during the preseason and he's taken advantage. The 6-foot-9 forward from USC has averaged 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and shot better than 50 percent from the field. His biggest weakness has been foul trouble.

Piston Boris wrote:

bullsger wrote:Still developing, that is right. But really developing!

When Thomas and Noah can "outplay" Pau Gasol, Al Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dwight Howard, etc. in the regular season and average 16 points and 10 rebounds, then they can take the lead over Miller in Chicago's depth chart.

Charlie Villanueva? Do you really think that he is as good as Gasol, Aldridge or Howard?

Thomas and Noah can't outplay Howard. That's for sure.

bullsger wrote:All things that I have read or heard are pointing to an improved shot from Rose. So I'm positive.

Rose's play in the regular season will show whether he has a jump shot or not.

bullsger wrote:I'm talking about 2009-10 not last season.

The Bulls are counting on rookies and developing players with limited offensive skillsets. I find it best to wait and see on rookies especially, before considering them to be contributors.

bullsger wrote:Pargo will help as scorer when he has hot nights, but wouldn't be so helpful when cold shooting. That's ok. That is his role for the Bulls.

He may be all the Bulls could get, but he's not the equivalent of another Ben Gordon.

bullsger wrote:Nobody says Gibson and Johson are near a young Brand or Duncan. That is unrealistic. But they would help. They will have a bumping road for the first season as all rookies have. What they have show in the preseason is good. Hopefully they have a good regular season, too.

Bulls rookie forwards

Rookie James Johnson has been erratic in the preseason, but he's an impressive athlete with a wide supply of skills
[...]

Thomas' injury gave Gibson a golden opportunity to grab playing time during the preseason and he's taken advantage. The 6-foot-9 forward from USC has averaged 12.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and shot better than 50 percent from the field. His biggest weakness has been foul trouble.

As I said above, it's best to wait and see on rookies. What happens in the preseason doesn't necessarily carry over to the regular season.

bullsger wrote:Charlie Villanueva? Do you really think that he is as good as Gasol, Aldridge or Howard?

I take it that you're unaware that Villanueva is an under the radar superstar or that Hollinger has compared Villanueva to Rasheed Wallace at his age.

As a starter in 29 games for Milwaukee last year, Villanueva averaged 23.1 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36 minutes. Chris Bosh averaged 22.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in 38 minutes last season.

While everyone is focused on the obvious stars, Dumars has an aptitude for finding people on the verge of going to the next level in their careers.

Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Corliss Williamson, etc. were all unheralded when they were first brought to Detroit.

Villanueva is the latest of Dumars' low profile, high reward acquistions.

It's interesting that Bulls sports writers and fans are thinking about the Pistons. Most people in Detroit are going about their own business and watching their own team.

Piston Boris wrote:Rose's play in the regular season will show whether he has a jump shot or not.

Yes. So we will see what the Pistons can do Gordon.

Piston Boris wrote:He may be all the Bulls could get, but he's not the equivalent of another Ben Gordon.

I don't think that it wasn't the goal to get another Gordon. The Bulls plays will be different this year. That is fine.

Gordon was a Bulls and is now a Piston. Bulls should (even when you totally disagree here ;-) ) win every game against the Pistons to make this a non-story.

Piston Boris wrote:As I said above, it's best to wait and see on rookies. What happens in the preseason doesn't necessarily carry over to the regular season.

Right. 100%.

Piston Boris wrote:As a starter in 29 games for Milwaukee last year, Villanueva averaged 23.1 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36 minutes. Chris Bosh averaged 22.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in 38 minutes last season.

Oh, I didn't noticed that. Nice stats. If he can make this for a full season would be really good for the Pistons.
That is the problem that I can't watch NBA on television here. I'm losing many informations. Can't read the whole NBA internet.

Piston Boris wrote:It's interesting that Bulls sports writers and fans are thinking about the Pistons. Most people in Detroit are going about their own business and watching their own team.

And you aren't one of the most people in Detroit with all your Bulls information?!

bullsger wrote:You accidentally edited my post instead of quoting it. So I answer to my (your) reply. ;-)

My mistake.

bullsger wrote:Yes. So we will see what the Pistons can do Gordon.

We will indeed. It'll be fun watching Ben light up other teams in a Piston jersey.

And we saw what Kuester did with Cleveland's talent.

bullsger wrote:I don't think that it wasn't the goal to get another Gordon. The Bulls plays will be different this year. That is fine.

Chicago's goal was to shed salary so that it could chase major free agents in 2010.

Two problems with that goal:

1. It kept the Bulls from improving on their team via trade and free agency this season.
2. The salary cap is forecasted to drop further to about $53 million, so Chicago and other teams that have been waiting for 2010 won't have as much money to throw around.

bullsger wrote:Gordon was a Bulls and is now a Piston. Bulls should (even when you totally disagree here ;-) ) win every game against the Pistons to make this a non-story.

I understand this is homerism speaking here.

When I look at the two teams, though, I see that the Pistons' frontcourt on average has more height and weight than the Bulls' frontcourt.

Miller is solid. Noah and Thomas are developing incrementally by all accounts, but are starting from limited skill sets.

Tayshaun Prince is Tayshaun Prince, a near All Star, who can score in bunches and guard opposing perimeter players. Villanueva has an outside-inside game and can rebound like a young Rasheed Wallace. Chris Wilcox is a fast big man, who runs well in transition and is a capable 15 foot shooter. He put up numbers of 13 points and 7 rebounds for horrible Clippers and Sonics teams. Kwame Brown has been having a very good preseason, and is showing assertiveness in the low post to go along with his traditional defense and rebounding. Kwame has guarded all the elite big men of the NBA and held his own. Jason Maxiell is an energy player who runs in transition, has a 15 foot shot, gets off a couple of highlight dunks per game, and defends.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bBeGy5Lroo[/youtube]

The Pistons have resigned Ben Wallace and signed Ben Gordon, giving them Chicago's short-lived Big Ben-Little Ben combo.

The Pistons have 4 quality guards who are all capable of starting and averaging 20 points per game, if they were on other teams. Hamilton, a 3 time All Star with a ring. Stuckey, one of 2009's projected breakout stars who scored a career high 40 points against Chicago at the Palace on 12-23-08, Ben Gordon, and Will Bynum, who is the most underrated guard in the NBA averaging 12 points coming off the bench.

I'm taking a wait and see attitude on Derrick Rose's shot. The scouting report on Salmons and Hinrich is that opposing defenses don't need to close out on them like they would Ray Allen. Pargo is a journeyman unless he's been hiding some major skills because he enjoys Europe.

You've said the Bulls are high on 2 rookies.

The Pistons are high on 4 rookies.

1. Austin Daye, a taller Tayshaun Prince, who can play point forward, shoots better from 3 point range, runs like a gazelle, and defends.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QohX0dBEz4w[/youtube]

2. Jonas Jerebko, a Swedish David Lee, who also has a 3 point shot and point forward skills (he was a point guard as a kid before a growth spurt kicks in.

Daye will be backing up Prince and Jerebko will be getting major minutes as a reserve power forward.

3. DaJuan Summers. He has an NBA ready body for small forward, postup moves, and a midrange shot. He matches up physically with LeBron and Paul Pierce, so he can be used to guard dominant small forwards.

4. Deron Washingon. A hyperathletic guard/forward who can leap over other players for rebounds and dunks. He has 3 point range and runs the fast break, but is being developed to be a defensive stopper and rebounder.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYTg1TIAjZY[/youtube]

Everyone on the Pistons 14 man roster deserves minutes, but 5 will not got playing time depending on opposing matchups.

bullsger wrote:

Piston Boris wrote:As I said above, it's best to wait and see on rookies. What happens in the preseason doesn't necessarily carry over to the regular season.

Right. 100%.

This applies to the Piston rookies, too.

bullsger wrote:

Piston Boris wrote:As a starter in 29 games for Milwaukee last year, Villanueva averaged 23.1 points and 9.0 rebounds in 36 minutes. Chris Bosh averaged 22.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in 38 minutes last season.

Oh, I didn't noticed that. Nice stats. If he can make this for a full season would be really good for the Pistons.
That is the problem that I can't watch NBA on television here. I'm losing many informations. Can't read the whole NBA internet.

Villanueva is capable of more, but the Pistons will have as many as 5 frontcourt players vying for minutes, so individual stats won't be as high.

bullsger wrote:

Piston Boris wrote:It's interesting that Bulls sports writers and fans are thinking about the Pistons. Most people in Detroit are going about their own business and watching their own team.

And you aren't one of the most people in Detroit with all your Bulls information?!

You've been feeding information for a little while now.

But I also keep an eye on the rest of the NBA. To paraphrase the "Art of War": Know yourself and know the other side, and you will come away victorious.