As fans, we want the Bulls to win games, win games, and win games. Winning games is how we-fans measure success. But what about the team owners? How do they measure success? With professional sports being a business, I expect the team owners to measure success partially on net profit (aka operating income). So, which team is the NBA Fiscal Champion? The Chicago Bulls.

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LET'S KEEP LARRY HUGHES. LET'S KEEP GOODEN. LET'S KEEP TYRUS. ROSE NEEDS MORE TIME ANYWAY. There will be better deals in 2010!

It is clear the Bulls organization is trying to get rid of Larry Hughes before this season's trade deadline.  We all on Blogabull want Larry traded away, but what we get in return is an important factor on the success of his departure. If the Bulls don't get a clear cut, kick ass player in return, I say the Bulls should keep Larry until next year. At next year's trade deadline, Larry Hughes' contract will be madly attractive to other teams because of salary relief.

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In addition to the Precircus post- here is a poll.  I'm interested in seeing everyone's opinion.

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Nuggets will  buy out McDyess' contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. Realgm reports that 19 teams have already contacted McDyess about a contract. Anyone can assume that among these teams are the Pistons, Celtics, Cavs, and Bulls.

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The Bulls only have two true centers: Joakim Noah and Aaron Gray. Last season, these two centers collectively averaged only 10.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 31 minutes per game. To view these statistics as percentages of the whole team, these two true centers accounted for 10% of all scoring, 20% of all rebounds, and 12.5% of total minutes. Even worse: Noah and Gray only attempted 8.3 shots per game, which is only 1/11 of total shots attempted by the team (team total: 83.7/game.)

At first glance, these numbers suggest that the Chicago Bulls are starting off the up-coming season with centers that are not "carrying their own weight". The center position is a pivotally important position due to its inheritly close proximity to the basket, and it MUST equate to more than 10% of scoring, 20% of rebounds, 12.5% of total minutes, and 11% of total field goals attempted!  The anchor of the Bulls' offense and defense relies on players playing well at the center position.

Last season Gooden and Smith spent time playing center. This is why the Bulls only had a true center playing 12.5% of the time! (see PS) Following this strategy in 08-09 will give more time to Thomas and Nocioni at the power forward position. Floating these players lessens the burden at Center, but Gooden is not a true center, nor is Nocioni a true power forward. Extending players as such is to move players out of their natural element and niche. This is not a solution for a winning team. (A team can only go so far playing "small".)

No matter how much love we have for Joakim Noah and Aaron Gray, they are still only 2nd year players. And we can't expect anything definitive from Asik Omer.

Noah and Gray will need to mature beyond the years and experience they have acquired in order for them to be the staple the Bulls need at center. Certainly their statistics will improve in EVERY AREA in 08-09, but by how much?

I will not end on a bad note! I'd like to provide you all with a month by month track of Joakim Noah's development from last season.

If you graph these numbers, and extend the line (with a little hope), here are the numbers Noah will start off with in 08-09 (approximately):

If Noah can start the season performing at this level, the Bulls offense and defense will be transformed into something new: a winning team.

(Postscript: The statistics in the first and second paragraphs have an important caveat: Ben Wallace played a large part of the season at the center position. He accounted for 4 points and 8 rebounds per game in 07-08 for the Bulls, which justly increased the points, rebounds, and minutes per game for players in the center position. I decided to exclude Ben Wallace from the statistics because he will not be in on the team in 08-09. I agree the statistics are not completely accurate, but by including this caveat, I hope my point is clear.)

(Postscript 2: Noah's best month came during April. Gooden sat out all of April. This may have inflated Noah's numbers that month.)

It just seems so obvious. As Kirk was flopping...i mean falling back, he puts in a left jab.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsxBWdrWgNo

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