SB Nation User Blog: BarryLird

Denver Nuggets

BarryLird — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:48:29 -0000

Based on the disastrous playoff experience of the Nuggets and the horrid regular season play of the Bulls, it seems fairly obvious that both teams will look to make major off season moves. The Denver Post - "Nuggets have to Change" reported that the Nuggets will likely possibly look to move Carmelo because it seems a) they can no longer maintain the contracts of Marcus Camby, Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and Kenyon Martin considering the group has proven to be unable to compete in the playoffs (personally I say fire George Karl, but that's just me) and b) are sick of Carmelo's off the court issues.

What are the thoughts about trying to strike a deal with the Nuggets? One of the major criticisms of the Bulls has been that they lack an all star who can make the big plays come crunch time and get the friendly referee calls. It seems like Carmelo might fight that role.

I'm not too knowledgeable about the financial situation over in Denver so I don't know who would be involved in the trade really. Melo is set to make $14.4 million next year, then $15.8, $17.1 over the next two years respectively with a 4th year player option of $18.5 million. I know it's a serious contract, but he is a serious superstar.

Maybe Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich for Carmelo and Linas Kleiza (I don't know if the money works because they'd have to sign and trade Luol, plus Denver might be looking to unload cash).

Just looking for some thoughts about the idea of pursuing a trade with Denver.

Possible List for a New Coach

BarryLird — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:23:01 -0000

Jay Mariotti in Today's Chicago Sun-Times

"Assuming he even wants to return -- and I still wouldn't be shocked if he walked away after calling this the worst year of his basketball life -- Paxson also better start contacting the names of his ``short list'' of possible coaches. But who would want to coach this team? Larry Brown has shown interest through intermediaries, yet even if he took a huge cut from his astronomical rate of pay, wouldn't they also rebel against him? Jeff Van Gundy still makes the most sense, but would he want to deal with these headaches when it's clear the Celtics will rule the East for a few years? The latest interesting name is Larry Bird, who is being pushed out of an executive chair in Indiana and might want to return to coaching, an area in which he fared better (remember when he coached the Pacers to within a few minutes of a Game7 win over the Bulls in the 1998 playoffs?) Then there's Mike Krzyzewski, Chicago's very own, who might be getting sick of smallish, undertalented teams and early-round NCAA tournament losses at Duke. If you're Paxson, don't you at least put in a call to Coach K? Isn't Krzyzewski poised to be a national hero if he coaches a re-energized Olympic hoops movement to a gold medal in Beijing? Wouldn't the Bulls be smart to capitalize on his post-China cachet? Just a thought. From the Detroit News Carlisle to Chicago? "It looks like former Pistons and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle might be coming back to the Central Division. Reports across the league Sunday place him as the leading candidate to replace Jim Boylan once the Bulls get through this season from hell. It would be a great choice, by the way. Carlisle is a quieter, less outwardly abrasive version of Scott Skiles. He will impose the same structure and demand the same discipline that worked in Chicago for Skiles, without the acrimony. And without question, Carlisle's system works in the Eastern Conference. But you know he had to squirm when he saw what happened to the Bulls on Saturday. In the first half of yet another Bulls loss, Andres Nocioni blew up at Boylan, cursed him on the bench during the game, and was sent to the locker room. He never came back." Even though Mariotti is a joke, is there any validity to his statements? Personally, Coach K will never leave Duke and would Larry Bird really try to coach the Bulls? How about Carlisle? He seem like a good pick to me.

Also, any chance that Paxson calls it quits?

Deng & Gordon's Summer Plans

BarryLird — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:58:49 -0000

Gordon, Deng could restrict Bulls overhaul
The Daily Herald
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=158625&src=150

Supposedly Gordon is going to spend the summer in New York, away from the Berto Center. Both Luol and Gordon are going to play for the England National Team, which has some games in August and September.

Matt's First Poor Post

BarryLird — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:58:28 -0000

Matt,
Have you ever been a part of a sports team? I played college athletics. My friends throughout my life have been athletes, especially college athletes who are now going on to professional athletics. "On the field today, your character will be proven." Yes it can appear that character comes as a result of winning, but that's not character, that's unity. And in the case of the Bulls, winning doesn't bring unity--especially in the case of Larry Hughes now.
You can't possibly build a team if there isn't character among its players. A coach can only do so much. Letting down a teammate is far worse than letting down a coach, an organization, or a city. These are your brothers in arms, your brothers in battle. The same brothers who make you bust your ass in 6am workouts, puke during and after practice, sacrifice liberties and rights for; the same brothers who you weep with during defeat, celebrate with during victory.
There isn't anybody on the Bulls who has the character to stand up for what they believe, except probably Joakim. But, as Skiles decided to point out, rookies should keep their mouths shut and and not comment. Yes Joakim made a mistake when challenging one of his coaches, but that was an individual mistake that didn't hurt his teammates. The lack of team character is what leaked that story to the press; which it never should have been. What should have been a one-game suspension should have been labeled, "Joakim won't play tonight for team reasons."
Yes, the bulls do need better players. But character in terms of your dedication to your teammates--not the coach, not the organization, not even the city--is what matters. MJ held his teammates responsible for their actions. Take the Scottie Pippen episodes. Character isn't just not getting arrested or in trouble, but it's proving to your teammates on a daily basis that you are in this for them.
I love the blog and love your comments, but come on man.

Amare to Chicago?

BarryLird — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:25:53 -0000

This Morning on the Dan Patrick Show, Patrick's cast featured an piece about the Suns and possible trades involving either or both Amare Stoudemire and Sean Marion before the upcoming trade deadline. Patrick had a Sports Illustrated writer on who recently wrote an article in SI saying that the Suns were clearly not happy with these two players--and that the players weren't happy in Phoenix.
Patrick asked the reporter about where they'd likely go and he responded that the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls would be frontrunners.

Amare to Chicago?
I don't think there's anybody on this team who isn't expendable when it comes to getting him.

Poll

Would you want Amare and who would you be willing to give up?

Yes; Nocioni

5 votes

Yes; Gordon

16 votes

Yes; Hinrich

3 votes

Yes; Wallace

53 votes

Yes; Tyrus

13 votes

Yes; Thabo

0 votes

Yes; Duhon

13 votes

No

5 votes

108 votes | Poll has closed

Athletics anyone?

BarryLird — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:24:25 -0000

After suffering through a miserable attempt at competitive, professional athletics, the comments of such successful athletes as Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen only seem to resonate more. Yes the Bulls lack a true dominant post-player, but they also lack athletic ability at virtually every position. While yes the Hawks aren't exactly a paradigm of perfection for the NBA scene, the Bulls were simply athletically destroyed at every position. The Bulls "midget" guards (Hinrich, Gordon, Duhon) were unable to have any defensive presence or make any type of interior moves, Deng - who should be a shooting guard - played a great game and is developing into a wonderful player, but he can only do so much, and Thabo, who wasn't assigned to Johnson until the 2nd (why, may I ask?), has zero offensive ability. Tyrus, who is a true athlete, played hardly at all because of a poor attitude and poor offensive skills.
Rather than complain about not having a post up player, how about getting some athletes. That Kobe trade sounds great? Maybe McGrady?
These Bulls simply can't hang with these athletic teams and athletic players.
Is Paxon blind to the fact that these Bulls have serious personnel issues?
Every player on this team is expendable, besides Deng (I hope).