Trades

CNNSI graded the February trades, including the Bulls trades with Charlotte and Milwaukee.  It's not surprising the Bulls were labeled LOSERS.

I like the trades but the failing grade is to be expected,  the Bulls franchise has been heavily, and often unreasonably criticized.  It started when the GM didn't over pay for top scoring Ben Gorden, and the owner allegly scaring away coach DiAntoni, with his focus on defense.  Signing unexperienced Vinny Del Negro as a coach seemed to be the final blow to fans and the media.  

With the trade, Chicago cleared enough cap space to sign a max free agent, their GM's goal, and they kept their starting line up, something a coach has got to love.  In trading away Thomas and Salmons, the Bulls received comprable players, Warrick and Murray. Thomas also netted Charlotte's first round pick while dumping Salmons salary cost two 2nd round picks.

Chicago is strong enough to make a playoff run but they traded with eastern "rivals" also fighting for a playoff spot.  Every team got better. Salmons can start for Milwaukee which needed a SG, and Thomas is more than athletic enough to team with SG Jackson and SF/PF Wallace.  Charlotte can be very good and *if* Thomas improves his game.

Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte and Miami are four teams within 2.5 games of each other and competing for the three lower playoff spots.  Add Toronto, only 2 games ahead of the Bulls, and that's 4.5 game separating 5 teams competing for 4 slots.   Clearly Chicago took a step back letting Salmons and Thomas go but if Murray and Warrick can fill in, they'll make that step up.

Last night, in the win over Minnesota, VDN played Warrick and Murray.  Welcome to the team and the playoff hunt.

The Next 4; LAC, PHI, ATL and MIA

Bulls face the LAC and @PHI back to back.
Then there is a day off followed by another back-to-back @ATL and MIA at home.

A sweep would be outstanding.  More likely the ATL game is the one they'll lose.  The MIA Heat at home might be difficult but the home crowd should get the Bulls excited.

LAC are beatable and since the Bulls lost to these guys recently, I expect it's a game Chicago will not look past.  No let down or surprise, Bulls are going for a blow out.  That would help with PHI the next day.

PHI is team that's having problems and would like to beat Chicago to make a statement.  Since it's a 2nd game in as many days and a road game. PHI is going to a test of the Bulls focus.  If Chicago can blow out the LAC, then the team rests their starters for the PHI game.

The rest day would be welcome.  Then to Atlanta for a tough game against a team looking to make a statement, they're #4 seed and the Bulls a likely 5th seed.  This would be a game to set the table for the playoffs.  ATL wants to tell the Bulls to forgetaboutit.

MIA at home is one of those games where we want to get some distance between them for the 5th seed. For Wade, it's a chance to see what a real home court advantage would look like.

Mid-point 2009-2010 predictions.

At the mid-point, here are the eastern standings.
Eastern Conference Team
  1. Cleveland -
  2. Orlando 5.5
  3. Atlanta 6.5
  4. Boston 7.0
  5. Toronto 11.5
  6. Charlotte 12.5
  7. Chicago 13.0
  8. Miami 13.0

  9. Milwaukee 16.0
 10. New York 18.5
 11. Washington 20.5
 12. Philadelphia 21.0
 13. Indiana 21.5
 14. Detroit 21.5
 15. New Jersey 32.5

The four lower tier playoff teams will consist of ...

• The Larry Brown coached Charlotte with StackJack.  They're improved since the trade and Brown's a demanding coach who will keep the team together.
• Miami, with Beasley, O'Neal and Wade.  They have enough talent and star power to close out strong.  If Wade gets hurt, it's all over.
• Toronto,  with Bosh this team has done well enough to stay near the top of the lower half most of the season.  
• Chicago, Rose is a recognized all-star, Noah will become one with a solid playoff run this spring.  Taj is enough of an addition in the post to get this team over .500 and make up for pouting Tyrus Thomas.

Of course there will be trades and all bets are off if any key player is moved.

Hack Job

Why is this a hack job?

The invective ...

Del Negro, who stumbled upon a winning formula as the 8th seed in last year's playoffs (go small and run, run, run!), spent most of his first season rolling out head-scratching lineups and poorly-drawn plays that made Don Nelson look like he wasn't daydreaming about scotch. Most coaches progress year after year, but Del Negro has mirrored his team (or perhaps the team has mirrored their soon-to-be-fired coach) in taking a clumsy step backward. 

As a sidenote, VDN's hair certainly isn't helping the situation either. 

And Del Negro knows it. He's been feisty with the media who have suggested that his leash is pretty much at the last link right now. After stories haphazardly leaked on ESPN that Del Negro had been fired, he was quoted as saying the reports were "just funny." He's also lashed out in his own defense at the media in weeks prior, showing both his immaturity with the media and the complete lack of leadership at the club right now. That cuts to the core of the problem: Confidence

Re-read this and then ask yourself, exactly who lacks confidence?

The guy's eventual point?  Bulls should trade Loul Deng for Stoudemire, then,if it doesn't work out Stoudemire can walk away leaving salary cap space.

Stoudemire's contract expires at the end of the season as well, so if the experiment works, he's already in a big free agent market, on a rising team, in an easier conference, dramatically increasing the likelihood of him re-signing. 

Stoudemire's been available for two years on a struggling team, yeah he's worth Deng.

Nice Surprises

It's far enough in the 2009-2010 season to evaluate the current NBA rookie class.   According to an NBA scout, the Bulls got lucky.

Taj Gibson, Bulls."A large percentage of his points is off putbacks, which makes him a good blend guy. He's not a particularly good jump shooter and he's not going to be a household name, but he's a guy who's going to give you spirited minutes."

So maybe Taj works on his jump shot this summer.

Bulls 2010

Posting real soon now.