DivineBovine

I don't buy the 2 stars thing really. The Bulls have none, and they aren't as far as you might think. I'd say that one reason everyone views Pippen, McHale, and Parker as stars is because they had Jordan, Bird and Duncan. Yeah, they are all great players, but if they played for crappy teams, you'd view them differently. If the Bulls were able to win with Kobe, all the sudden players like Gordon, Nocioni, Hinrich, and Thomas would be stars. With the current Bulls team, I think their biggest need is for a guy that can create a shot and score. Their offense is too reliant on motion and execution. They can go cold for long periods when they get sloppy. Nobody can take the ball and create his own shot. They basically need a player or players who give them more of a margin for error. Whether its a guy who can catch it in the post and demand a double team (ie a big man) or a guy who can score at will off the dribble or with a turnaround jump shot (ie Kobe), I don't think it matters much. Either will do just fine. Personally, I'd prefer watching a team with a stellar shooting guard/small forward. All this talk about how teams need a low post presence to win is nonsense. The Bulls never had one, and they got 6 rings. Bill Cartwright and Will Perdue don't count.

I'd rather keep Thomas than Hinrich. Me too. I think that if there's a time to move Hinrich, its now. I hate to say it, but he's overrated. A great role player, but he is no star. I'd also move Deng, if that's what it takes. Deng has the most trade value on the team, and he's a rock solid player. That said, I'd give him up yesterday if that's what it took to get Kobe Bryant. Kobe is the best player in the NBA, period. If the Bulls had some team left- ie Wallace, TT or Nocioni, BG or Hinrich, they'd be clear contenders. There are few people in the league that can create their own shot and score, even when everyone on the floor knows they are going to get the ball. You can barely count them on 1 hand, and Kobe is the best there is right now. And anyone who thinks the deal can possibly be done by keeping Deng + Gordon or Hinrich is crazy. At least I'll be super impressed if Paxson manages to pull that one off.

I have enough faith in Pax that he's not going to gut the team. That said, I say go get him! If they do it, Deng is definitely gone. And I'd be all for it. And same with Gordon/Hinrich. I hope they could get away with keeping Gordon and losing Hinrich instead- Gordon would be deadly in Kobe's backcourt. If we somehow managed to keep Nocioni, Wallace, and BG with Kobe, we'd be okay.

They came from behind and actually won a 1 run game??!!! Unreal. Just so you guys don't think I make pessimistic posts only after they win... I agree with the original poster. The team has shown that it lacks a spine this year. We can debate clutch vs. non-clutch all we want. But in my mind, I can't say it is just bad luck that they have such a horrific record in 1 run games, extra inning games, and games where they trail after 7 innings. I can't just chalk that up to chance, especially when they have outscored opponents 295-269 going into today. Everyone believes in clutchness when it comes to basketball, or even football, yet a lot of people believe that baseball is more just a game of chance and statistics. Can't say I've ever played competitive baseball, but I'd imagine its easier to hit a 3 run homer when you're up 5 and the opposing pitcher just doesn't care that much about the outcome of the game any more. Or it's easier to throw strikes when the game is decided and the bases are empty. I hate to say it, but in my mind, there are winners- Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong. And there are losers- like the 2007 Chicago Cubs have been. And it's been a collective effort. Maybe today is a start to something, maybe they can turn it around. And of course I'll continue to follow them and root for them, but what's even the point in taking a pathetic NL central and squeaking into the playoffs at this point- unless there's a chance in the loser's mentality, they have no chance at all.

What a bunch of mental midgets. The only way they can possibly win a freaking game is if they have a big enough lead that they can't manage to lose it. They suck. I'm so sick of them. Pieces of crap. They are losers like MJ, Tiger Woods, and Lance Armstrong are winners.

It's hard to fault strategic decisions for the complete ineptitude by the Cubs. I can maybe fault Lou because the team is absolutely playing like a bunch of losers and he's the manager, but he's not the guy botching stupid plays, who can't get a clutch hit, who can't get a guy out in extra innings. This is getting more absurd every day. They shouldn't even play extra innings anymore, they should just forfeit the game after the 9th and stop wasting everyone's time. Bunch of pathetic losers.

He hasn't rarely batted leadoff. In fact, he has batted leadoff most of his career. He has 2186 at-bats in the leadoff spot, and the next highest number from any spot is 630 from the 3rd spot. Oh, I guess I overlooked the Yankee years. But are where are those stats from? There are a lot of hitters who would bat better in the Yankee lineup, regardless of where they hit. I still think its absurd. There is plenty of protection in the lineup from Lee and Ramirez. There's just no need to put a pitcher and #8 hitter in front of him.

This is just great. A team effort at sucking s!@#. If one or two guys try and not suck, the whole team picks up the slack to create a fantastic losing effort. This is what losing is all about. The Cubs are doing it to perfection. Everyone does their part to make sure the other team, no matter what, manages to score at least 1 run more on a given day. You have to love it. This team sucks more than any Cub team in recent memory. They make the absolute most out of their talent to suck as much a humanly possible. Bunch of f---ing losers.

Tiger, that is way too small a sample size. If we could guarantee he hits .360 if he bats leadoff, that's one thing, but we can't. He has rarely bat leadoff before. The fact is, he has 9 lousy RBI going in despite 14 doubles and 4 homers. It's an absolute waste. And he is not historically an OBP guy as it is. It sucks that he keeps coming up after the 8 and 9 hitters. It's killing a stength of our team. It's Dusty Bakeresque to think speed=leadoff. I'd put DLee at #2 before I put Soriano at #1. I'd go Lee, Soriano, Ramirez or Soriano, Lee, Ramirez at 345.

We F ING suck, I'm sick of this S.. What a bunch of losers. Collectively, they are the most unclutch team in all of sports.

The Cubs keep giving away runs by not having Soriano in the middle of the lineup. Not to beat a dead horse, because I know a lot of people here agree with me. But it gets me sick everytime I see a box score and see him batting first. I hope they realize it soon.

I've long been done thinking that Kerry will ever be a starter again. But I must admit, I was holding out hope for that light's out short reliever that we saw a couple years ago for that short period of time. Too bad that that's becoming just a dream as well.

2 events will make the team instantly better- The firing of Jim "I don't believe in walks" Hendry The sale of the team by the penny pinching, fan scamming tribune company. Fortunately, both events should come pretty soon.

The Bulls biggest weakness is nobody can take it off the dribble and create his own shot. It's really showing here.

What absolutely pathetic shooting.

BS. The officials are a friggen joke.

Why is everyone pulling a Duhon and passing on open shots???!!!

The Bulls are showing their inexperience now.

Ouch, that hurt.

I'm guessing punch someone out. In fairness to Sheed, he did walk away. In the regular season, he'd definitely be in the ref's face.

The Bulls keep passing on open shots. Their cold shooting has killed their confidence.

I honestly think this game is going to be tougher to win than game 7, if it gets that far. The Bulls need to avoid a letdown here and play with the same desperation they did in 4 and 5. If they get to game 7, the Pistons are really going to be questioning themselves.

I don't care what his walks/obp state, he should NOT be batting leadoff. He is a middle of the lineup player. It's hurting the team not having him bat more with men on base.

They are trying to blow it again, but they are making a few shots this time.

All told, not a bad season. Skiles should not go. The Bulls should look to add a low post guy. They could be a lot better next year, just due to increased experience and the lottery pick with some cap room. They are better that they have played in the Pistons series.