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.