2014-2015 Chicago Bulls Regular Season

[Guest]

bukie thought rose tore 2 ACLs. i don't think he's allowed to argue about this subject anymore

[bukie]

Yes, because the second knee injury being the meniscus completely changes the point. Oh wait, it doesn't at all, just change ACL to meniscus.

[Guest]

i don't know how you can criticize somebody's opinion about a subject when you don't know the most basic facts. also, a meniscus tear is a lot different than an acl tear. if he really wanted to, he could have gone the chris paul route and come back 2 months later. i'm not saying he should have (he shouldn't have), but it's relevant to the conversation.

[SABR Gamer]

Pretty sure Rose finished this game like he did as a direct "[expletive] you" to UMFan. So awesome.

 

Hah. Glad he got somewhat hot. 7-18 in the second half.

 

PS I really hope that someday everyone can constantly call me out for being critical of Rose because he's back to being a star. I really really hope so. I feel so conflicted because I havent loved a player as much as Rose since I was like 12 when all my favorite teams players were demigods. But the things he said and done and the way he's played have frustrated me to the point of being critical. Maybe unfair but whatever. I can't change how I feel although I'd like to and hopefully I can someday soon.

Yeah, how dare the guy go out and tear both ACLs and then take time to heal. I can't believe he didn't score 45 points in his first game back. And then he had the gall to miss games during the season, as if he were some guy that had reason to gradually work into game shape. The nerve!

 

He absolutely deserves the criticism for the way he handled the returns from the injuries, but the stuff UMFan is doing now with his play and bitching about something every other post is just meatballery.

 

I do agree one other thing. I just don't love him like I did anymore. He's just a guy now. My heart is with Jimmy.

 

I'm not super well versed in advanced stats for the NBA, but Butler's WS/48 is at .234 this year, and Rose's best was .211 ('11-'12). Rose was at .208 in his MVP year. Jimmy is the Bulls' superstar, and according to that is better than Rose ever has been.

 

ETA -

Bulls' top 5 this year:

1. Butler (.234) - 8th best in the NBA

2. Mirotic (.200)

3. Gibson (.160)

4. Gasol (.156)

5. Noah (.135)

...

8. Rose (.049)

 

Bulls' top 5 in 2010-2011:

1. Rose (.208) - 10th best in the NBA

2. Noah (.205)

3. Deng (.149)

4. Boozer (.149)

5. Korver (.149)

[Guest]

OH MY GOODNESS JIMMY

[Careless]

This team is the opposite in likeability from the Bears.

[Cubswin11]

Jimmy is the man

 

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--i3ZccgKo--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/qiqzrgj1lff7jmqtyabt.gif

[Sammy Sofa]

Dude gets way more blocks than I would have expected.

[Sammy Sofa]

And holy [expletive], is Gasol bathing in stem cells or something this season? I love this team.

[Guest]

Maybe because the Bulls are woefully weak on the wing, and trading one of the bigs for one is probably going to be the only way to find a player who can make an impact? Do you think the Bulls are going to worry Cleveland, never mind any good Western team, with Dunleavy starting and Kirk playing 30 plus a night?

 

Guess you were right. Good thing they got that taken care of.

[gscool89]

Went to the game tonight and couldn't help but notice how bad Joakim Noah is right now. The Bulls need him to be right if they want to win a title.

[Sammy Sofa]

But you weren't able to notice this watching on TV?

[Deeg]

If the point is that the Bulls are much better with Hinrich playing not at all and Dunleavy a lot less than yes - I think the last three weeks have certainly borne that out. Now we'll see if Thibs is smart enough to stick with what's won them 10 of 11 when both those guys are healthy.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, we'll have to wait and see if the really smart coach is smart enough to play the better players.

[Guest]

If the point is that the Bulls are much better with Hinrich playing not at all and Dunleavy a lot less than yes - I think the last three weeks have certainly borne that out. Now we'll see if Thibs is smart enough to stick with what's won them 10 of 11 when both those guys are healthy.

 

The weird thing is that Hinrich has actually been playing and Dunleavy hasn't at all for the past few games. You'd almost think it really didn't mean much because they have lots of other good players, which is actually what the point is. Because you absurdly suggested that the Bulls aren't going to worry Cleveland and good teams because Dunleavy and Hinrich have roles.

 

Granted, Hinrich needs to not play like ever, because he's terrible and that's not really the goal when you are doling out minutes, but that's besides the point.

[Ryne Ween]

Kirk is actually way better than the white guard that is getting a bunch of minutes for the Cavs.

[Banedon]

This team is the opposite in likeability from the Bears.

 

Yep. I said something very similar last night. And like I said a few days ago, it's great to see them just hang in there all game, and put it away at the end. This team closes out games really well.

 

Butler rightly got the attention last night, but hot damn Mirotic was a stud last night.

 

http://giant.gfycat.com/GreatBrownKatydid.gif

[RynoRules]

But you weren't able to notice this watching on TV?

 

I've seen them twice in-person this season. Yes, you can see that Noah is struggling some on TV, but you can see the extent of some of it (lateral movement; lift in his jump) better in-person. His straight ahead speed seems fine.

 

Rose looked filthy fast and strong the two times I saw him. His D was just ok.

 

Butler is a freaking beast. I didn't realize how muscular he has become until I saw him in-person. His strength really shows on D. His leap is also amazingly quick and effortless, making him a great rebounder for his position.

[RynoRules]

This team is the opposite in likeability from the Bears.

 

Yep. I said something very similar last night. And like I said a few days ago, it's great to see them just hang in there all game, and put it away at the end. This team closes out games really well.

 

Butler rightly got the attention last night, but hot damn Mirotic was a stud last night.

 

http://giant.gfycat.com/GreatBrownKatydid.gif

 

He's really, really skilled offensively. But he's going to struggle on D all season. He doesn't get it yet.

[UMFan83]

This team is the opposite in likeability from the Bears.

 

Yep. I said something very similar last night. And like I said a few days ago, it's great to see them just hang in there all game, and put it away at the end. This team closes out games really well.

 

Butler rightly got the attention last night, but hot damn Mirotic was a stud last night.

 

http://giant.gfycat.com/GreatBrownKatydid.gif

 

Mirotic was awesome all night. What's amazing is that his jumper wasn't falling until the last 3 but he was still able to affect the game pretty much everywhere. The guy is definitely on the road to being a star if he's not there already.

[UMFan83]

But you weren't able to notice this watching on TV?

 

I've seen them twice in-person this season. Yes, you can see that Noah is struggling some on TV, but you can see the extent of some of it (lateral movement; lift in his jump) better in-person. His straight ahead speed seems fine.

 

Rose looked filthy fast and strong the two times I saw him. His D was just ok.

 

Butler is a freaking beast. I didn't realize how muscular he has become until I saw him in-person. His strength really shows on D. His leap is also amazingly quick and effortless, making him a great rebounder for his position.

 

I think Noah has been better lately. He did a good job limiting Howard last night when he was guarding him and that's especially commendable because with Mirotic playing SF he had to be extra diligent of playing help defense. It's obvious he's not 100% but he's been improving as the season has gone on IMO. Offensively you aren't going to see the Noah of last year because they don't need that Noah this year.

 

If you look at Noah's Per 36 numbers, other than FG% and PPG his stats are in line with his career numbers..and when you consider Noah starts out slow pretty much every season for some reason, I think he's fine.

Edited January 6, 2015 by UMFan83

[Banedon]

He's really, really skilled offensively. But he's going to struggle on D all season. He doesn't get it yet.

 

I disagree. He's played extremely solid defense.

[UMFan83]

He's really, really skilled offensively. But he's going to struggle on D all season. He doesn't get it yet.

 

I disagree. He's played extremely solid defense.

 

Yeah he has good defensive instincts, and overall has been pretty good lately but he still makes mistakes occasionally, which I think a lot of players do when they a) transition from europe to the nba and b) learn thibs' defense. Also the only thing I worry about with Niko playing the 3 is having to defend smaller and more athletic players that can blow by him.

[Banedon]

He's really, really skilled offensively. But he's going to struggle on D all season. He doesn't get it yet.

 

I disagree. He's played extremely solid defense.

 

Yeah he has good defensive instincts, and overall has been pretty good lately but he still makes mistakes occasionally, which I think a lot of players do when they a) transition from europe to the nba and b) learn thibs' defense. Also the only thing I worry about with Niko playing the 3 is having to defend smaller and more athletic players that can blow by him.

 

Right, his D is gonna suffer when he plays the 3, but it's been good enough to keep him from being a liability there.

[RynoRules]

Don't agree re Niko's D. His off-the-ball instincts need work. When the D breaks down due to a quick guy penetrating or a pick-and-roll, he looks lost to me.

 

That said, I agree its not a big deal inasmuch as he's young and will get better. He certainly has what he needs physically.