SB Nation User Blog: Ayeljay54

Noah, Thomas not acting like "Pros"

Ayeljay54 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:11:01 -0000

Noah, Thomas not acting like "Pros"

[From the FanShots. It's on you, Pax. Just embarrassing that this continues to happen. For both drafting these guys and getting yet another coach that thinks the only way to coach is to bench (and only bench Thomas and Noah), even if it's to the detriment of the team. -ed.]

Seems like there might be a reason for the recent DNP's

Game Preview #16 - Chicago Bulls at San Antonio Spurs

Ayeljay54 — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:36:34 -0000

[Thanks to Ayeljay for today's game preview -ed.]

Gametime: 7:30pm
Channel: Comcast SportsNet
Bulls: 7-8 (2-3 on current west coast swing)
Spurs: 7-6 (4-2 @ home)

The Spurs are still missing Tony Parker, while Manu is back from injury. As always with the Bulls, the question is will our frontcourt come to play? If they can limit the Spurs second chance points, I believe the Bulls should be able to get out and run. Look for D. Rose to really push the tempo tonight....depending on Tyrus, Drew and Joakim cleaning the glass.

Before I launch into a rant, I'm actually predicting a Bulls win tonight:

Bulls 111
Spurs 104

Random Thoughts:

Can Tyrus learn fundamentals from Duncan by virtue of Osmosis?

Who will win the battle of South American floppers; Manu or Noc?

Can Bowen stick his foot under Hughes' foot when he shoots a J, and take him out of commission for a few weeks? (errr....just joking)

Seriously...

When discussing the Spurs, the obvious focus is on the Big Fundamental himself, Tim Duncan. Secondary focus is placed on two great complimetary parts, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. This franchise has been arguably the model franchise for the past 10 years. The Bulls...well....they haven't even been an average franchise over the last 10 years. Actually, there's been a few years in which an argument could be made that they didn't field a franchise at all.

The Spurs have a great piece to build around in Tim Duncan. We believe the Bulls have stumbled upon a great piece as well in D.Rose. Now here comes the primary difference between the two franchises as I see it:

Who do you place more faith in to build a team around a star: The team of Pop and R.C. Buford or the Paxson's?

Now granted, the Spurs did stumble across Tim Duncan by virtue of David Robinson getting hurt the previous season, and then tanking the season to increase their chances of landing the #1 pick. Even so, Pop and Buford have done a great job of putting the correct pieces in place to complement Duncan, especially during the 2003, 2005, and 2007 championship runs.

Do you really trust the Paxson's (John, Jim, Lil Marine Ryan or even Grandpa Paxson) to find the right pieces to place around Mr. Rose. Pax has drafted solid players, don't get me wrong: Deng, Gordon, Hinrich, as well as potential solid players in Noah and Thomas....and maybe Sefolosha. Solid, but not spectacular.

Meanwhile, the Spurs have drafted Tony Parker, Manu, Luis Scola and even Leandro Barbosa...with very late first round or second round picks. They even seem to have landed a steal this year with the choice of George Hill out of IUPUI.

Hell, even Crumbs Krause drafted "Scott" Pippen out of Central Arkansas, Ho. Grant, B.J. Armstrong, Toni Kukoc from the other side of the world, Ron Artest, Tyson Chandler and Elton Brand.

Point is...Do you really trust Paxson to put the pieces in place(as Dave Wannstedt would say)?

Bloggin' with the Enemy: Pounding the Rock, 48 Minutes of Hell

Game Preview #10 - Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers

Ayeljay54 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:38:32 -0000

[Thanks to Ayeljay for today's game preview -ed.]

Aww....there's nothing like a fierce early season Bulls - Pacers game to get the blood going. Jordan, Pippen, Grant...Person, Miller, Smits, Schrempf....

Huh? What?....You mean it's Deng, Gordon and Nocioni vs Granger, Dunleavy(possibly) and Ford....

And there lies the problem with these two rosters....a serious lack of stars on these two teams. Frankly, I had to go to NBA.com to grab a glimpse of who exactly the Pacers have on their roster.( I bet you can't name 8 Pacers.) Let's just say the Davis brothers aren't walking thru that door.

No matter where these two teams finish in the rankings this year, whether the Pacers finish as the seventh or eight seed while the bulls don't make the playoffs or vice-versa...there's a greater cause for hope on the west side of Chicago. Why?... because there's a star forming...and he goes by the name of Derrick Poohdini Rose.

Right now these rosters(minus Rose) are chalk full of third and fourth options on championship caliber teams. While I would rather have Danny Granger than Luol Deng, he's still no better than a third option on a team like the Lakers or Celtics. Acquiring a star - whether by the luck of the draw(cough*Rose*cough) or by a free agent signing or trade- makes the most incompetent GM look good, the most horrendous coach look like john Wooden, and the most mediocre players look like world beaters(cough*Tyson Chandler*cough).

So when viewing these teams on Saturday night - think about the following things:

1. How fortunate the Bulls were to have that lucky lottery ball fall the way it did.

2. The fact that if the Pacers aren't careful, they will be stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. Unless they create enough cap room to lure a top-flight free agent(I don't know to many athletes that are making plans to play in central Indiana), or get lucky in the draft(I don't see them getting anything higher that a low lottery pick), it's going to be very difficult to find that top five to seven guy you need to win a championship.

3. Which of these Bulls players will be around 2-3 years from now after the finish of the Derrick Rose Re-construction Process.(Which is hopefully shorter than the amount of time they plan on spending re-constructing I-88)

4. Which Pacers would look great in the jerseys of other teams looking for possibly that final complimentary piece to get them over the hump.

5. Will the Bulls regret not signing Gordon last off-season?

6. When Chuck "The Rifleman" Person kicked a basketball or two into the upper reaches of Chicago Stadium in a game during the 90's. Those were the days!

All in all, it should be a fun game watching two teams doing battle...trying to join the Cavs, Celtics, and Pistons for Eastern Conference supremacy.

Game time: 7:30 CST

Channel: WGN [ed. note: It's actually nationally televised on WGN America]
Location: United Center

Bulls: 4-5 Pacers: 4-4

Bulls:
Leading Scorer: Gordon 21.6 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Gooden 8.4 RPG
Leading Assist: PointGod 5.3 APG

Pacers:
Leading Scorer: Granger 25.3 PPG (Goodness!)
Leading Rebounder: Troy Murphy 9.3RPG
Leading Assist: T.J. Ford 6.4 APG (until his next injury which is scheduled for Dec.1)

Pacers playing the second of a back to back. [ed. note: They blew a 25 point lead at home Friday night]