So my buddies, who grew up in Chicago, but now live in NYC, got their grubby hands on 900 dollar court side seats for the Xmas game. Here are some of their observations from the game:

1. Kurt Thomas is the man- he plays super smart basketball, manages the refs like a senator, and gets along with all the players (replacement glue now that the captain is gone?).

2. The refs fucked us- he said being so close not only could he see fouls, but also hear fouls (hands slapping hand and arms) not being called countless times.

3. Derrick Rose was kinda acting like a baby, scowling and complaining about no calls, which obviously makes senses considering how jobbed he was on body contact fouls not being called.

4. All the players are super loud during the game, most notably BOOZE CRUISE.

...

First, the Bulls number one draft pick, Rose, does not get a single number 1 vote for rookie of the year in the ESPN poll and the analysis torches the Bulls for not taking B-Easy.

Second, Hollinger´s PER ranking abosolutey crap on all the bulls best players.

Third, Thorpe ranks Rose number 7 among rookies, throwing salt on our wounds by stating, at least the bulls still have Hinrich.

Now, I know that Rose is not really projected to make an immediate impact, being a point guard and all, and that the Bulls collectivley shat the bed last year, screwing thier own PERS in the process...but for whatever reason, I still find it depressing.

looks like leisure suit Larry has actually been working hard this off season to improve his game with Tim Grover at hoops the gym in chi-town this summer. now, i know a couple of other bulls have put in some time with Tim over this summer, IE. Deng and Thomas, but it is refreshing to read that Hughes, a guy who says that he just likes to have fun is putting in extra effort.

here is the article on hoops they gym.

anyway, i think most of the reason that bulls management is not crapping in their collective pants over losing BG has to do with the expectation that Hughes can turn his game around and become the slashing offensive presence that he once was with his former defensive prowess to boot. having watched Hughes in dc during his prime i know what he is capable of, and its definitely next level. anyway, i am going to go out on a limb and say that Larry will have a re-breakthrough season this year and really change the dynamic of the bulls offense for the positive. all you Larry haters, keep hating, but watch out...

So for all of you still bitching about how we didn't trade for Pau Gasol last year please refer to his weakass european championship preformence. Evidently, according to Sheridan, Pau choked underneath the pressure of the big game atmosphere and missed five very crucial free throws down the stretch in a game where Spain, who the favorites of the tourney, lost to Russia by one point. Oh, and also Gasol had the turnover, being stripped of the ball by Russia's American born point guard, that lead to Russia's game winning shot. And another thing, Gasol allowed AK-47 to score 17 points despite being held off the floor with foul trouble. I know the bulls would not have relyed on Gasol to defend the other team's offensive big man, but did you really want to morgage our team's future on a guy that can't hit his free throws down the stretch and turns the ball over at the last second?

side note this post does not even address Gasol's character issues, which are plentiful enough for a post of thier own.

Does this bother anyone else? He signed a two year contract, only half of which is gaurantied, for 7.5 million dollars.

I was kind looking foward to half heartingly rooting for the new look celtics as an interesting on going experiement in lopsided talent mixtures. But now that Posey is on their squad, I hate them passionately. More importantly, though, the C's are alot nastier for the bulls to match up with because now Possey will be on defensive Deng duty, and our offensive will probably rest competely on our guards.

On a positive note, Posey's defection diffinitely takes the heat down a couple of notches-unless they let him go because they are going to trade for Ron-Ron.