Game 2: Bulls beat Brooklyn Nets

115-110 Bulls win.
All five Bulls' starters scored in double digits.

Bulls edge Cleveland.

This NBA season snuck up like a trick or treater.

Chicago's treat was a a win over Cleveland.  The trick was played on Lebron James, a blocked shot.

Credit late game Defense for the win.  Holberg's Bulls are a cipher.

Irrational Exhuberance

It's the dog days of August for Bulls fans. Time to speculate how this team will do in the upcoming season. This article caught my eye Why the Chicago Bulls will NOT make the playoffs  and first thought "trolling", but a negative outlook is just as rational as a positive one so let's look at the playoff competition and  a few underrated players on the Bulls roster.

First we read the Pacers will finish ahead of the Bulls for spot #8. The Pacers get George back and really, if he were Rose coming back from an injury we'd be thinking he's not 100% so George isn't going be 100%. Furthermore, with recent changes to the pacers roster, he's going to playing agisnt bigger players at PF.   

" That means playing George at power forward, even though he had achieved his success with Indiana while playing at small forward." 

Pacers signing Monta Ellis is not that big a boost. As a Warriors fan since '91 I've seen Monta rack up the stats and take bad shot after shot.  The W's brought in Jerry West and he quickly shipped Ellis off and they've been better at the guard positions since.  

There is no reason to think the Celtics at #7 are going to be better than the Bulls excpet that Coach is squeezing more than expected out of the roster.  

How far the Celtics go under Stevens will come down to the talent they manage to acquire. Clever schemes can't make up for lacking stars that can elevate a team's ceiling on their own. What is crystal clear even now, is that Boston is still trying to find that elite player, and in just two years Stevens has established himself as one of the best coaches in the league, and the Celtics greatest asset.

How did the 2015 draft go ?

The Celtics tried to trade up to draft Kelly Oubre but couldn't work out a deal, according to Sporting News' Sean Deveney. This latest report only seems to confirm the terrible, terrible draft night the Celtics had.

Ainge had draft pick assets he wanted to use to trade up but had no takers so he drafted best players and now has some players to trade.  He's first pick was a surprise, another back court player.  That's not a team headed to the playoffs.

So that's two playoff spots the Bulls should land given the returning roster.


What about that Bulls roster?

Let's address Dunleavy since I'm a Warriors fan by geography and watched that franchise select him 3rd in the NBA draft.  First, Dunleavy never fit in.  He was loathed by Golden State fans.  Too slow and cannot defend. Well a guy that plays too slow who sticks in the NBA for knowing the game isn't going to lose much when he's older.  He's developed a skill set and role that doesn't depend on speed. Another year isn't going to diminish his game.  Having him with his shooting skill for the low cost they paid is a big plus.

Kirk Hinrich is a veteran PG SG which I think is needed for a playoff run. Did they over pay to keep him? No.  He's another steal for the current market and a veteran that can help a first year coach.  So that's another player they are fortunate to have kept.

Noah and Gibson are 30 and supposed to have an age related drop off.  Well LeBron James is 30 and more reliant on athleticism. Any one heard about him dropping off his game in 2015? Furthermore the front court players can play longer as they age.  A 30 year old Center/PF isn't dropping off as much as a 30 year old SF/SG.

A lot depends on how much Nikola Mirotic, Tony Snell and Doug McDermott play. Of course these are first round draft picks so it goes without saying they all need to contribute. That's the same for any team. Rookie Bobby Portis might even help out the front court.

Rose should be healthier and his wingman Jimmy Butler tells us this offseason he added PG skills. If true then the Bulls have a LeBron light. If not then the Bulls resigned a defender for James and scorer.

Do something!

Free agency time and the Bulls are bringing back the team. Jimmy Butler returns at a much higher salary.   

Fans want the Bulls to do something but what?

The Chicago Bulls have drafted well and now have to pay to keep their talent.  Their strength has been depth and now they have to develop and use it more than they have.

A new Coach must find ways to give players enough court time and get more out of a pretty familiar roster. 

Nothing is guaranteed until games are played but Tony Snell has shown he can defend and shoot threes. McBuckets should bounce back from his injury last season and develop confidence in his shot.  Old man Kirk Hinrich will back along with Mike Dunleavy.  Both return at a bargain compared to what the market is paying free agents. Guard  E'Twaun Moore will have to contribute as an alternative PG backup to Hinrich.

Cliche here and there 

I like the team chemistry and work ethic and really see them improving under Hoiberg.  

No free agency magic.  They have the squad and players will have to improve the old fashion way.  Practice.

 

Awful Tribune

Steve Rosenbloom needs to find a new job.

Fare Well Tim Duncan

X-Golden-State Warrior Matt Barnes played free safety tonight and deflected a Spurs' alley-Opp pass in the final second of play in the seven game of the series. 

That deflection sent the Spurs home for the season. The Clippers move to round two. 

The final game of the best of seven is possibly the last time we see Tim Duncan in uniform.  

As exciting as the game was with multiple lead changes in the fourth quarter, I expected more. 

Duncan accomplished so much in this era of superstars.  He needs to be remembered for what he didn't say in the media as much as what he achieved.  

This Clippers victory also marks the first time we see a red face Steve Balmer cheering from the sidelines during the playoffs.  Ugh! 

Mike Dunleavy

Watching Chicago Bulls Mike Dunleavy play against Milwaukee in game 6 reminded me of his tenure with the Warriors.

Mike was the third pick and never lived up to expectations.  When it came time to resign him, GM Chris Mullen signed Mike to a generous contract to lock him into the team.  That was it.  

Fans of the chronically dysfunction franchise soured on Mike.  He was criticized for bring slow and soft and awkward and etc. 
Check it out here.
How the Warriors remember Mike Dunleavy

He's still slow but effective.  He's not soft.  He's tough and no talker.  Dunleavy got under the Bucks' skin and helped turn the 6th game into a rout. He kept his cool and stayed in the game while contributing 20 points.

Coach Don Nelson wanted Dunleavy at PF and did the usual roster gimmicks putting Mike in and out of rotation.  Coach Thibs seems to have found a way to use a much older Mike and win.