Hey. Real Bulls fan checking in!
My first memories pretaining to sports come from the '88-'89 and '89-'90 Bulls being coached by Doug Collins and losing to the Bad Boys in the playoffs. It's been famine in Chicago without Michael, and finally there's something to watch again.
Hinrich is the leader, but right now he's having a down year because he's playing out of position. We've got Duhon running the point and Hinrich playing the 2, and it's not a very good thing because Hinrich can't create his own shot too well, and his shooting% is down. That's why me, and a lot of my non-OSU biased friends believe that Michael Redd would be a perfect fit for the team. Hinrich can move back to the point, and, depending on who the Bulls would deal to get him, provide more depth where they need it most.
The good thing is, they have 3 guards who rotate and there's not a huge dropoff when they do, and it's the least deep part of the team! Hinrich is playing 37.1 minutes a game as of 2 nights ago, and he's the only one averaging over 30 minutes a game. Duhon's a great backup point guard. He can handle the ball really well and is a great effort defender. A good passer as well. I cringe when he chucks up the three ball though. I saw him drive the basketball last night and I about had a heart attack :). Gordon is a machine... we'd have probably 5-6 more losses without Ben's fourth quarters. He's undersized defensively, and he'll never be anything more than not-a-liability on that end of the court. He's got a pretty runner, a sweet shot, and a whole lot of heart though. Eric Piatkowski is the 12th or 13th man off the bench and he's a shooter. Doesn't play much, but he's stepped up when asked to.
The depth in the frontcourt with Othella Harrington, Antonio Davis, Tyson Chandler, and Eddie Curry has allowed Eddie to stay fresh this year. It doesn't hurt that Eddie's actually gotten in shape this season. He played 44 minutes the other night when AD and Chandler were both out. No way could he have done that any of the past 3 years in the league. Tyson is averaging 9.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks and he's only playing 27 minutes a game. He's been great defensively. Othella has been a great fill in, he had (2) 20+ point 10+ rebound games when AD missed time earlier.
Deng is a sensational player. He's got long arms, is a lockdown defender (he needs to focus defensively more and be more consistant), and sure can score the basketball. Reminds me a lot of a former Bull, Scottie Pippen. His backup, Andres Nocioni, is a fabulous player. Gritty, tough, physical player. In your face defensively, he really frustrates a lot of people. Can't really fill it up like Deng, but he's fixed the shot selection problems he's had in the beginning of the year and is seeing more time on the court because of it.
The depth of the Bulls and Scot Skiles are the biggest differences between this year and years since '97-'98. They're not world beaters without a 2-guard who can create, but if they can get one it would be sweet.
My idea for a trade if I were John Paxon? Ben Gordon, Chris Duhon, Othella Harrington for Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson. Peja wants out, get it done John!