The Bulls beat the Wizards tonight 93-70, closing out their preseason with a 6-2 record. One of the losses was to Orlando, who have been an absolute machine this preseason (8-0, with a huge 37 point win tonight over the Hawks, 123-86), but even with those two losses, the Bulls the third best preseason record in the NBA. The only two better ones belong to last year's finalists, the Magic and the Lakers. That can't be bad.
Of course, tonight didn't really count. They weren't playing anybody. The Wizards completely forgot to turn up; as the final score will have alluded to, they were really, really, really, really, really bad. The Bulls weren't great, despite what the big margin of victory might suggest, but they were good enough to take at least half of what the Wizards gave them. And the Wizards gave them everything. In a bad way.
Here's the report card.
The Bulls started the game 2-17 with 5 turnovers. At that point, Brad Miller came into the game. They then went 12-18 with only 1 turnover before he came out again. He essentially ran the offense from the high post, combining open jumpshots with his customary really slow drives, throwing lob passes and kick-outs with equal effect, and being the best player in the game. He finished with 18 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in 25 minutes, even splashing in two threes for the hell of it. In Kirk Hinrich, the Bulls might have the best backup point in the league; with Brad Miller, they've got one of the best back-up centres too.
The Bulls only other good player was their other centre. Remember that brief time before he got injured when Brendan Haywood's penny dropped, and he became a physical two-way player on the interior? Well, not tonight he wasn't. Noah had his way on the rebounding glass tonight, outathleticisming even the athletic Wizards big men such as Blatche and McGee, and finishing with 13 points, 16 rebounds and 4 assists on the night. He's also continuing to demonstrate better and better offense, incorpoating left handed hook shots, drives from the three point line, and even a jumpshot tonight.
(Meanwhile, his starting counterpart Fabricio Oberto had 0 points and 0 rebounds. Even if that's not entirely unusual for Oberto, it's still a scalp for Noah.)
Tyrus' shooting night was made to look worse by three shot clock buzzer beaters, all misses, as well as a couple of bad shots that he took. He played fairly well on offense; he was jumpshot-centric, as he's always going to be, but he was effective with his wild flails to the rim and got to the foul line as a result. Unfortunately, he didn't try especially hard on the defensive glass, and while playing so much at small forward gives him kind of an excuse - as does the Bulls Noah-sized rebounding advantage
- he still stood and watched too much.
Much of what was true about Tyrus was also true of Taj. He too is jumpshot-centric, and NBA defenses still haven't got used to the fact that he's a good jumpshooter. (Nor have I, really.) He also picked up his usual five fouls, challening too many shots (which is something of a rarity in the NBA) and making some rookie mistakes. That'll take about a year to iron out, but it's entirely doable. Tyrus has done it, after all.
John Salmons didn't shoot well, but he was better at point guard than Lindsey Hunter was. So was Brad Miller. So was Luol Deng. So would have been Mother Teresa.
James Johnson is definitely athletic enough to be an occasional big two guard, but that handle needs some refining.
Deng's problem tonight has been the same as it has been all preseason; he's missing shots that he used to make. He's still not explosive, and he's doing his usual thing of trying to avoid contact around the basket for cleaner looks. Unfortunately, he's just not hitting those looks, and the mid range jumpshot is simply not as automatic as it was. At the moment, this will still be rust, but it needs to have blown off by Christmas time.
Lindsey Hunter played 37 scoreless minutes, which is not good. But none of his limbs fell off, so that's a positive from a negative. If he's able to stay healthy, he can go scoreless in the regular season too. Sweet.
All in all, not the best standard game. The Bulls did play some good defense, but it was the Wizards completely painful lack of offensive understanding that was really responsible for their shocking offensive night. If they had any sets, they forgot to bring them with them, and they still have scant little defensive personel. Their main highlight might have been Dominic McGuire defying Nostradamus and hitting two shots from outside of 20 feet. That doesn't happen often.
The game became such a garbage time showcase that fifteen seconds of one Bulls fourth quarter possession was spent with the camera focused on a close-up of Aaron Gray's beard. That's when you know you've had a good night.
good recap. Thanks.
Derrick Byars was awesome tonight. I believe he shot 100% from the field. He's a keeper!!! I mean that too.
What's with James Johnson? He's struggling out there.
You do know Derrick only played two minutes.
Doug,
Your wish is my command.
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ygxslly
Now, blink 3 times and maybe this will come true.
The longer we keep him, the more his value goes up. His play should go up, and even if it doesn't, his contract will be a bit shorter. The contract may well need shifting one day, but there's plenty of time to reclaim him yet,
TRADE-DEADLINE DEAL:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nxe4xz
* Give Toronto and New Orleans a #1 Pick
I'll be damned. I think all teams would have to take a deeper look at that one, even if it never materialized.
Tyrus Rodman,
I'm glad you liked my trade idea. I think it works. Now, if Doug, Mark, K.C., Sam or anybody near the Chicago Bulls could just get that trade to John Paxson, then the Bulls might be a title contender again, especially after they sign DWADE in the off-season.
How's this team sound?
PG - Rose/Hinrich/Banks
SG - Wade/Pargo/Byars
SF - Salmons/Johnson/Peterson
PF - Bosh/Gibson
C - Noah/Asik (and maybe Miller again...he's a UFA)
I rather trade Jerome James, 2011 1st. pick, and 2012 1st. pick for Shane Battier because Rockets will be getting John Wall next year. I just don't see them going anywhere with their cast of players. They owe to Battier in my opinion. What do you guys think?
Battier can play defense like none other. Remeber, we also have Hinrich. That would be a lovely view!
PG: Rose - Hinrich
SG: Salmons - Battier
SF: Deng - Johnson
PF: Gibson - Thomas
C: Noah - Miller
Arenas contract makes Luols look like a vet minum type deal.
Gibson reminds me of Joe Smith too much. I like Gibson instead of Thomas. Gibson seems to really have a feel for the game, he doesnt take dumb jumpers, ppl gaurd the drive and he makes em pay. Where as Thomas decides before he gets the ball that he's gonna take a jumper. And he jumps way too high when shooting, it looks worse than Noah's free throws.
In terms of a good Gibson comparison, I was thinking along the lines of PJ Brown.
I think it is my civic duty to inform NBA Security that Lindsey Hunter has incriminating photographs of Jerry Reinsdorf having sex with a four-legged animal. That is the only conceivable thing I can think of why Hunter is still in the NBA.
Mark,
I know you hail from Britain. How are you able to watch all of these games? I don't live in Chicago (or surrounding area) so I have a hard time catching Bulls games (especially preseason). Do you have a subscription to NBA League Pass or have you found a free website that streams games? I have been using ATDHE.net but they don't always have the games and the quality is pretty terrible. Any advice?
By the way, if anyone else has any suggestions I would love to hear them.
Thanks.
Try JUSTIN.TV or USTREAM.TV. Outside of that, I'm still searching for more links.
There has to be a way to buy-out Jerome James. $6 million, won't get it done? Give the $600,000 left over to Derrick Byars. He's earned it this pre-season.
What is Jerome's incentive to give away $600,000? He's not going to get it back, because no other NBA team will sign him. Antonio Daniels's incentive to give up a little money was that someone else will sign him, meaning he'll make up the money he sacrificed, and maybe even make a little profit. But this is not true of James.
Mark,
I was thinking since he ISN'T EARNING his $6.6 million dollar contract, maybe he would consider taking a buy-out. By the way, where is he anyway? I haven't even seen him on the Bulls bench.
That sends a great message...GREED w/o being a team player!!!
He doesn't have to earn it. He's getting it anyway.
There is something seriously wrong with that.
Next summer, the Bulls should trade for Chris Bosh...
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nxe4xz
...then, sign DWADE via free-agency.
PG - Rose/Hinrich/Banks
SG - Wade/Byars
SF - Salmons/Johnson/Peterson
PF - Bosh/Gibson
C - Noah/Asik/Miller (he'll come back to the Bulls)
This can definitely work!!!
They Bulls would also have to kick in a #1 pick to Toronto and possibly to New Orleans.
How about passing that idea onto John Paxson this year?
Make that at the TRADE-DEADLINE.