SB Nation User Blog: Sambossanova

Lakers-Rockets and Hinrich

Sambossanova — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:13:15 -0000

I am starting to wonder if maybe the Lakers might be interested in accquiring hinrich, especially if they dont win a championship this year. Derek Fisher has been awful and can only get worse. I don't think they view jordan farmar as their future PG and if they do, yikes.

I am sure Kobe would be happy to have kirk playing along his side, take a little bit of the defensive pressure off of kobe. And keeping the franchise player happy is always the most important thing in basetball right? They are the lakers and they have lots of money so that shouldn't be an issue in terms of his salary. Kobe and Phil only have so many years left to work things out...

I don't mean to be all speculative, but since I personally want Gordon over Hinrich, I thought about it as I was watching the rockets-lakers. Someone indulge me with a creative way to get Hinrich to the Lakers that makes sense. And by sense, I mean not having to take on Lamar Odom for the same amount of money for 5 years. After all, the draft this year sucks, so we might as well procrastinate by coming up with trade proposals.

Jared Reiner

Sambossanova — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:39:28 -0000

For everyone who misses him, here is a jewel of a find.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/fashion/08Skin.html?ref=fashion

I don't know how or why he is in this article but its still funny. Wish him all the best in Spain, but we could really use a big body like him to help us out in the rebounding sector with Wallace playing all gimpy.

USA Basketball 1 commentary

Sambossanova — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:35:04 -0000

Team USA won the first game against Venzuela by a wide margin of 43 points (112-69). I saw a bit of the game and although it might seem like this is a good sign for team USA, I think they still havent figured it out. I am not talking about just the players...the coaches and the selection committee. First things first, they stunk it up from the three point line (which is only five feet further back than the free throw line). Venezuela's defense was atrocious, so US still scored 112 points. Against better defenses that know how to play team usa, they arent going to do so well with that starting line up.

Lebron is the least fitted for international game cause he dribbles too much and everything revolves around him (not in the good magic/larry bird sort of way). More importantly, his outside shot is not consistent. Carmelo has sort of figured it out more than lebron and is good at scoring a bunch of points but is a lousy defender and not much of outside shooter. Jason kidd has no outside shot whatsoever and the three headed monster of Howard, Stoudemire, and Chandler doesn't seem to be scaring many because they don't execute well. It will be interesting to see if Chandler scores any baskets at all this whole tournament. He should be able to get a tip in or something at some point.

I think they should have Redd and Miller play more because they can shoot. Also have Tayshaun play instead of lebron because he doesn't need the ball and he plays better defense. Kobe and Melo should be the two go to guys when they need points. Whatever happened to the we need role players instead of superstars philosophy? They will qualify now but they should restructure the team and fill it up with role players that can shoot and are better suited for international games. Heck, even throw anthony parker into the mix.

As an aside: Here's a truehoop post about kobe:

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-27-94/Kobe-Bryant-is-Not-Messing-Around.html

He seems to really really really want to prove everyone wrong. He might also be auditioning for the bulls. Or maybe hes just motivated by the fact that he is playing on a team that has a chance to win and it might be his last chance for any sort of championship. Either way, the guy has spectacular work ethic along with all the physical tools. Anyone who doesn't want him on their team is crazy.
Kobe is like all the positive things about nocioni/deng/gordon/hinrich combined. Except for the flopping/taking charges part.

Future of line-up

Sambossanova — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 23:17:06 -0000

Alright, this post might be over ambitious/redundant but here we go:

Seeing that there will be very few changes this summer (Unless paxson is being ultra secretive), I was trying to think of how the bulls would operate for the years to come if the bulls just stick with the current roster.

First off, I think the bulls have the talent to win a championship in the next two years or three with the current roster developing etc... It would be really hard to win though because the type of players the bulls have. Not that I like charles barkley, but they need a low post presence/stop living by the jump shot solution.

Part of what worries me is that now I see tyrus playing out in the perimeter during summer league and then they draft Noah. I think Noah is better than Spencer Hawes, but in some ways drafting hawes would have been the better move in terms of potential down the road. Plus it is the second year in a row that they pass up on a post up threat (assuming you call aldridge a post up threat, which he sort of is). Either way, it is not like Noah is going to get more than 15 minutes this year, they might as well have signed a short term vet like Moore, Smith or something and drafted Hawes.

Anyways moving on, as I have mentioned, Tyrus perimeter game has been developing. The more I see him play, the more I think he has the potential to be a better SF than a PF when it comes to offense. There are going to be lots of forwards either hanging around in the perimeter/playing pick and roll OR waiting for something to happen while down low and trying to pick up offensive rebounds or easy baskets off of hand offs. This probably wont work unless Deng and Gordon are able to consistently be more aggressive driving to the hoop drawing double teams, in which case an easy basket wouldn't be as hard to come by. Somehow, I am less hopeful about Deng playing Pf and posting people up after watching him get pushed by Tayshaun Prince (as others have also observed)

Unless the bulls are holding out till mid season for a big trade or waiting for Garnett to opt out, the current team very much limits their options offensively and at certain times stifles thier offensive abilities. No one to break the defense down on a consistent basis (like a Chris Paul/Nash or even Deron Williams) or draw double teams in the post like Duncan.

Thats why many advocated last year for trading for Gasol (except according to several reports West was out of his mind and asking for half the team). I would even go as far to trade Deng or Gordon but they are probably less valuable this year than last year because they are up for extensions this summer.

Tyrus/Noah/Nocioni/Wallace/Deng frontline will probably be the strongest front line defensively, but as demonstrated by the Cavs night in and night out, even if you play great defense you need some offense (in conjunction with a competent coach) to win a championship. Some would say that the same goes for the Rockets problems. In summation, its all becoming more aggravating to believe that Paxson's patient philosophy and the Skiles notion that defense and will can beat everyone. If there's is anything that might be more aggravating then temporary losing is long stretches of mediocrity, and i hope the bulls are heading that way. Throwing money at Nocioni and Wallace and then saying your not willing to go over the luxury tax also doesn't help in that regards.

New FA signings-Wallace and Darko

Sambossanova — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:44:45 -0000

Gerald Wallace apparently agreed to a 6 year deal (last year player option) with the bobcats for $57 million. The catch is that there are apparently lots of bonuses (up to 2 million a year). I hope this is the type of deal Deng gets. I think they are comparable. Here is the link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2933311

In other news, Darko and Memphis have apparently agreed to a contract for an unknown amount, but it is "believed to be for substantially more than the $5.3 million mid-level exception."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2933472

He probably signed for about what Noce signed for.

Summer League Commentary: Vegas Baby

Sambossanova — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:39:57 -0000

I am making this thread for anyone who cants to comment on any of the summer league play outside the bulls games.Just write the game on the first sentence and the date.

I am watching team china v memphis 7/7/07. This guy named wang is hitting outside shots like no other and Yi looks damn good. The guy has quick feets and made a gorgeous spin move on alexander johnson, who isnt a summer scrub but a good lookin prospect. He also made a nice outside shot. I wish he was on the bulls instead of the hobbled Noah who we arent going to see. I hope they trade him to the bulls. Sune Yue looks very turnover prone.

Deng and gordon extensions

Sambossanova — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 06:36:05 -0000

I know its early to be talking about extensions. Well actually one of my questions is what is the time frame for offering Deng and Gordon an extension?

I hope that Gerald Wallace gets no more than 10 million a year and that would set a nice precedent for Deng (they are different types of players but both good defenders with developing strong offensive game).

As for Gordon, I really dont know what will happen. There aren't many other players to compare him to contract wise(his odd combination of size, scoring ability etc..). If they can't get him to sign an extension for 10 million or under, will the bulls even extend his contract or check out how he progresses and consider resigning him (which is risky with the contract year effect plus I am not sure they'd be under the cap to sign a replacement if needed). I just hope both gordon and Deng stay with the bulls. Espescially Deng. Once his contract gets extended, I am going to buy my first bulls jersey since my Pippen jersey.

Knicks-Blazers trade

Sambossanova — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 01:56:32 -0000

I know everyone here hates the pick. But unless I am not getting something here, portland is the one that got screwed over with this trade. Steve Franchise played horrible basketball and is a complete mess. Channing Frye got worse last year and is a poor mans aldridge next year.

Aside from Randolph's jailblazer/strip club reputation, he has an inside outside game, so he doesnt completely overlap with curry. Plus he can actually rebound. Still no intimidating shot blocking presence for the knicks, but now they have freakin dan dickau. Who the hell doesnt want a guy like dan dickau. He will make page six at least once.

The only reason I see portland would make this move is because francis' huge contract expires right about the time that they will start extending their young core's contracts (Particularly roy's and aldridge). Meanwhile the knicks will be back in cap hell but no one really cares about the salary cap in nyc. Couldn't the blazers have gotten a better deal for Randolph (at least an extra pick). I guess the bulls had their chance to get randolph but didnt want him.

Boylan (UPDATED)

Sambossanova — Thu, 31 May 2007 20:19:29 -0000

UPDATE: [ Jim O'Brien (!) is going to be the new Pacers coach. Tough break for Boylan. -Matt]

So how much would Boylan leaving the bulls affect the bulls? I have no idea how much of a role he currently has in the bulls style/coaching and everythinng. Considering many here think that coaching is of marginal value and how a team performs is based almost purely on how its players perform...I guess it wouldn't matter much. Oh and its division rivals the Pacers who are most interested according to this article:

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-070523bulls,1,1526016.story?coll= cs-bulls-headlines

Eastern C.F. suck

Sambossanova — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:23:28 -0000

I am watching these conference finals and is it me or can these teams not play offense. What happened to detroit. They were very proficient and smooth in executing their offensive plan against the bulls but for some reason cleveland is making their opponent play offense that is as bad as their own and as slow a lot of the times. And even though the western finals arent phoenix vs. golden state, the spurs and the jazz are a lot more entertaining. Somehow they also manage to play well on defense and offense.