RynoRules

I appreciate that Gar doesn't want to overreact, that he has built a solid base, and that he still has one great and one or two good pieces to build around (Rose, Noah, and Deng respectively). However, I wonder whether the league is changing to the point where teams built like the Spurs and Pistons of the early 2000's (IMO, the models for the current incarnation of the Bulls) can no longer go farther than a round or two in the playoffs. I also don't see a way out right now. You could amnesty Boozer, but who do you replace him with? In order to get Howard (assuming he'd even re-sign with us) you have to be willing to part with Noah (Deng is untradeable right now given his wrist and contract), Korver and Brewer (soon to expire contracts), plus a No. 1 pick. With Rose down until at best March that would leave us with a team of Howard, Deng (when/if he gets back), Taj, Watson, Hamilton, Butler, Teague and a bunch of spare parts. Luis Scoal is rumored to be available, but then you are effectively replacing Boozer with himself. Scola will be 32, has a big contract and is coming off a relatively down yer (PER of 15 after several years in the high teens). Pau Gasol? More or less the same deal as Scola. Plus, Deng is not a member of any "Big Three". He's a high-ranking member of the league's second tier. I love his game and appreciate him. But in the modern NBA he is not a superstar in the manner of Howard, James, Wade, Bosh, Deron Williams or even Joe Johnson, who is a better scorer, ball handler, and passer than Deng.

Perhaps last night helps the argument that he's a viable DH. Soriano has some very legit value to an AL team in the post-steroid era.

'Nother dinger by Soriano tonight. 9 on the season. Keep hitting Fonzy...

No. No no no.

I'm a really big fan of this. We should probably send theo a link to that post Sign me up.

Jay is awesome.

I'm fine with Q leaving if that's what he wants. His approach to the PP and PK are a mystery to me, as was his refusal to utilize Montador after the first 1/3 of the season. To me this could be a big offseason for Bowman. Obviously the supporting cast needs a good deal of work - second line center, third pairing, probably the wings on the third line. That's a lot to look at for one offseason.

I don't have a huge problem with their approach thus far. Cutler will have several more weapons (I would have preferred they draft another TE in the 5th) in Marshall, Jeffrey, Bush, and Rodriguez, and if Carimi is ready the O-Line will improve. Really my only quibble is the 3rd round pick. Should have gone O-Line there.

He's six feet tall. That's not undersized.

Bears should draft Kellen Moore's teeth in the 7th.

It was just going to happen. It wasn't on the jump it was the landing. Diid you miss every replay? He jumped, felt injured, grimaced, passed instead of shooting because of the pain, then landed on one foot because he knew it was injured. The buckle seemed to happen on the back-end of the jump-stop move. I didn't mean it happened after his final jump.

Nice

And he was never injured before this season.

I haven't drunk-posted in a while. Seems like an appropriate idea.

It was just going to happen. It wasn't on the jump it was the landing.

Cutler, Forte, Hossa, Rose, Garza probably tears his rotator cuff next month. Im fine if Roberto gets hurt.

Start drinking early tonight. At best it's a tweak that keeps him out two weeks.

Emery's analysis of Shea is interesting. Talks about his natural ability to hit gaps and not get stuck on blocks. He sounds much more like a scout than Angelo did. On the down side, he mentions that McClellin was the highest rated special team player on the board. Not exactly an inspiring statement in explaining he rational for making him the first pick.

Draft Hill or the kid from Rutgers in Rnd 2 and all will be forgiven...then again they already traded for Marshall.

Not sure I get this pick. Reiff was on the board. So was Wright.

Just watching Saban on tv makes me feel like I need a shower.

I would hesitate, big time. I would need to figure out a way to get their 2nd round pick in that situation. Forte, 19 and 50 for 4 and 35? I don't know. Forte and the 19 should be worth a lot. And they'd be coming out of this draft down a RB. yeah, good point on the 2nd round pick. Forte, 19th pick, and our 3rd round pick for No. 4, their 2nd Rnd pick and Hardesty?

If it means trading him to Cleavland so we can draft Richardson, count me in. :wink: Teams that might want him: Jets Tampa Bay Redskins Miami

Stalberg had a very good season but a bad series. He's not someone that is untouchable but he got a lot better this year- rather keep him. Oduya is a UFA. The Hawks don't have to worry about getting rid of him if they decide that they don't want him. He probably cost himself a couple million dollars with his bad series. I wish they had sent Hayes back to the Rock so he could have played more. Yeah never mind on Oduya. I was sure he had one more year, but thankfully he doesn't. As to Stalberg, you need guys who can show up in the regular season, but this is two years in a row the guy completely disappears in the playoffs. Stalberg makes sense as a third line wing. He will still be cheap next year as I believe he is a RFA, so we can control him via tender. Oduya was disappointing. He's a UFA, so he's gone any way. Looking at the lines, we are pretty good on the first (Carcillo-Toews-Kane), but we need a center for the second (Hossa (if he is able to skate by then) - [ ] -Sharpe). We have plenty of in-house options for the third and fourth lines (Bolland, Frolik (RFA?), Bickell, Hayes, Shaw, Stalberg, Saad, etc.), but I wonder whether we need to add a genuine, veteran scorer to the third to go with Bolland and Stalberg. Then you can mix and match on the 4th line as needed. First pair is set on D (Keith-Seabrook), but I'm not sure I trust Leddy to be part of the second pair with Hammer. I'd rather find a veteran who can move the puck and put it on the net....like Brain Campbell. Leddy can be part of the third pair with Montador. And of course we need to address goaltending. Carwford wasn't good in the playoffs, and we was - at best - inconsistent during the season. Of all the needs, this might be the hardest to address. Not even sure where we start.

He's a 3rd line C making 2nd line money. We need a second line C, power wing or two, help on the 3rd pairing and a goalie. That's a big shopping list.