Saturday, February 10, 2007
The bearded Spaniard
When you're a Chicago sports fan, your sports lessons mostly center around disappointment and frustration. Personally, the Cubs made me an expert in the first one, and the Bears (Rex Grossman, specifically) do a good job of honing the frustration factor.
But I think it's the Bulls that best combine the two.
After last night's 123-121 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors, I realized that the Bulls probably just aren't that good.
There's the disappointment.
And after some thought, I couldn't exactly figure out why they weren't better.
Cue frustration.
The worst part about this team is the horrendous home-road disparity. Coming into the season, Scott Skiles preached that the Bulls had to take care of business on their home court, and then let the road wins come to them. They've done the first part, going 20-6 at the United Center. But they're 8-17 away from Chicago, which is the worst disparity in the league (though Toronto is close with an 18-7/9-16 split).
Maybe I'm mistaken, but aren't all basketball courts the same? Does Skiles need to whip out the tape measure and pull a Hoosiers-style measurement, letting everyone know that the baskets are ten feet tall at every arena in the league?
On second thought, that might help Tyrus Thomas.
Looking at the makeup of the team, they've got key elements in place. Kirk Hinrich is having his most efficient season, shooting better and distributing the ball. Luol Deng has emerged as one of the best slashers and mid-range shooters in the Eastern Conference. And Ben Gordon, while a bit inconsistent, is easily having his best season. Ben Wallace, despite being a general bust, is still an asset on defense.
So what's missing? There's got to be something missing that every single championship team has ever had.
Okay, brief correction. The late-90s Bulls didn't really have it, but they had Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, so they don't count.
But most great NBA teams have an inside presence. And the Bulls don't.
It's not even that their inside options are simply mediocre. The Bulls flat out don't have any inside options. None. Ben Wallace is a total offensive catastrophe. PJ Brown has one post move, and that's the one where he spins to his left and gets his shot blocked. Michael Sweetney can't play more than six minutes at a time, and has trouble catching the basketball, usually because he has a Reuben sandwich in one hand. Tyrus Thomas has all the offensive prowess of an intoxicated Craig Ehlo.
These problems became apparent last night when the Bulls needed a score and worked the ball down low to Wallace, who dribbled with his back to the basket for five full seconds, then spun and launched a 12-foot fadeaway jumper that barely drew iron.
Not the way to win a ballgame.
Fortunately, for the Bulls, there's a great low post option available. He's Spanish, he's got a beard and his first name is comprised of 66 percent vowels.
For the record, I am not Spanish, nor do I have a beard. But I can still score on the block better than Ben Wallace.
It's Pau Gasol, and John Paxson needs to go and get him. I'm convinced that Pax is just waiting around until Memphis' offer comes down, but he already has in mind what he's willing to give up. There's some speculation that the deal could get done without giving up Hinrich, Deng or Gordon, but I find myself skeptical of that.
Deng is the most expendable, despite oddly being the best player of the three. But Memphis doesn't need a small forward, and probably would want Hinrich or Gordon. I say give 'em up.
Sure it's a risk to give one of those guys up and insert Chris Duhon into the lineup, but something needs to happen. By signing Ben Wallace for $60 million, the Bulls made the decision to try and win soon; it can't be done with a team totally reliant on jump shots.
Unless the Bulls can convince Jordan to come back out of retirement, they're not winning without someone in the post. And Jordan isn't coming back.
Though I bet he could still put up 18 a night.
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This is what Chicago sports fans do. Like other major markets, they think a superstar on some mediocre team can be had -- preferably for less than the Chicago team is willing to give up. Then, the same fans react with horror when New York or Boston or Los Angeles fans say the same things about other players.
You're a good writer, though.
RUOL DENG!
Chicago sports fans are nothing if not overly hopeful.
Thanks for the semi-compliment though.
A-frickin-men to the Bulls getting off their ass and doing something. The recent string of mediocrity is as sure a sign as you're going to get.
Good Bye, Ben Gordon and at least the Knicks' first rounder.
I'm trying to say more, but it boils down to the team needs a ton of inside help; Pau is a beast; Knicks aren't going to win the lottery; and I never really liked Ben Gordon. I could lose Tyrus Thomas while we're at it- you know how I feel about Stromile Swift Jr.
So wait, you are telling me people from Kansas, Duke, UConn, and Virginia Union (I had to look that one up) all have joined forces in some sort of professional venture? And a Spaniard is about to play a prominent role? Is this The Princess Bride?
A slight correction: Sweeney usually snacks on ham and (Swiss) cheese on rye in the low post.
I'm with you on Luol Deng being somehow the best player and also the most expendable. I don't get it but it's the truth.