CaliforniaRaisin

Wow, that's awesome, burnt.

It's good to see Marshall's injuries won't have a big effect on him. Also, I'd have to note I'm worried about Pinto have some arm injury problems after pitching so much during the summer and winter. What do you see as the ceilings for Marshall and Pinto? I agree with you; guys like Rusch will definitely get the preference. I'm just rooting for Sergio, I've been a big fan of his ever since I met him in San Diego last season. Thanks for answering my questions, Mark. I might have had a part in it - I told UMF over AIM to keep me in suspense until Jon tells me. Thanks for the full report, UMF.

He isn't quick enough to cover most of the quicker 3s and can't cover the 2, can he be? Possibly, but the Bulls still need depth at the 3, and I would rather see that player be able to defend or hit the jumper, drafting a 3 doesn't equate to benching Deng or calling him a bust. i doubt the bulls take a 2 or 3 with this theoretical pick, they did that with their first 2 last year. any playing time that a player like carney takes away from deng is impeding the development of a future all-star. i just really doubt that paxson goes that way again, especially as successful as last year's draft is turning out to be. btw- if we draft a 3 with the pick, i'd rather have fransisco garcia. defense really isn't our problem anyways. if anything, i think we take a chance up front with a guy like simien or lorbek. if we go backcourt, i wouldn't mind luther or salim, guys who can fill it up from the outside. I'm with raw and UK on drafting the bigger 2s and 3s. Our rotation in the backcourt are three 6'3" guys or shorter. This is a major liability against the Rips, Pierces and Kobes of the world - they have torched the Bulls this year. And it'd be nice to get a lockdown 3 sorta guy since the Bulls are in the same division as the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the NBA especially (well, the MLB too, but that's for different reasons), you HAVE to draft BPA. I also would take Carney over Garcia any day of the week. Imo, we don't need a better backcourt player than Duhon - Duhon is a role player who's minutes will drop to about 20 when Gordon is ready to start everyday and play longer. Oh, and no Luther Head plz. The Bulls have one Illini already, that's enough. :P

The Playoff Standings The Bulls are a half game behind the Indiana Pacers for the 7th seed in the East and 3rd place in the Central. They're 3 games behind the Pistons.

doesn't have the ring to it that no tippin pippen does. Which is why I think it's funny. 8-[ Ok guys, but the problem is that nickname still has Gordon in it. We are trying to get away from that so I can stop with the misspelling of it :lol: Just call him "Number 7." :P

doesn't have the ring to it that no tippin pippen does. Which is why I think it's funny. 8-[

No Tippin' Gordon.

Rightly so, though: no pitcher in the system has been treated with greater care than Guzman, yet he's broken down every season but one (and that was a short season). There's no reason to expect he'll ever stay healthy long enough to compile an impressive career: the #1 predictor of future injury for a baseball player, particularly a pitcher, is past injury. I still list Guzman in my Cubs Top Ten (but not Top Five) prospects, but that's perhaps an indictment of my rating system and the current state of the system rather than a meaningful endorsement of Guzman. I was quite surprised to hear MacPhail tout Pinto over Sean Marshall -- and I say this as someone with a slight acquaintance with and a healthy respect for Pinto. But Mitre's appearance didn't surprise me at all. Interestingly, MacPhail described Sergio's sinker as "double-plus". What a far cry from the kid who couldn't throw any kind of breaking pitch when he was with the Lugnuts only 3 years ago. Thanks, Mark. I guess I have been a bit too optimistic about Guzman's health improving. It's a shame that someone so talented has had so many injury problems. Is there a chance a shift to the bullpen (as Tim suggested last summer) would help alleviate some of the injury risks? Would you rate Marshall ahead of Pinto? I think a bit more highly of Pinto since he achieved success at a higher level and hasn't had the injury problems Sean Marshall has experienced this past season. Of course Pinto has to improve his control; Sean's got an obvious advantage over Renyel there. I'd love to see Sergio win the fifth starter spot this upcoming season.

I think they should get someone at the 3, someone who lock down the opposing 2/3 or someone who can extend the defense with a solid outside jumper. The Bulls can be easily exposed by a solid 2/3, Pierce and Rip can score on anyone on a given night, but the Bulls have troubles vs. most. I agree completely. Of course the other key tto the offseason is re-signing restricted free agents Chandler and Curry.

The Bulls schedule this week: Monday: at Atlanta (Comcast) Tuesday: Denver at the UC (WCIU) Thursday: Charlotte at the UC (WGN - Chicagoland only) Saturday: Boston (revenge :twisted: ) at the UC (WGN Superstation \:D/ ) http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/DTP10801230402.jpeghttp://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/DTP10201230203.jpeg http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/DTP10501230324.jpeg

Wow, thank you for the wonderful recaps, Jon, Jessica, Mark_R, mlpeel and burnt out cubbie fan. They were great reads and I'm really envious of all of you. If the Cubs themselves aren't being that optimistic about Guzman's health, that is very worrying. It is good to see Renyel Pinto and Sergio Mitre get some love though.

I'm assuming the Suns will take it, but if they didn't, I would like Carney from Memphis (athletic SF, nice defender against the 3 and bigger 2 guards). For the 2nd rd, give me... Milan Majstorovic (another SF, who can play the 4, more offensive minded and has a nice outside touch. http://nbadraft.net/index.asp Carney goes one pick before the Bulls in the first round in their mock draft; Milan Majstrovic goes 7 picks after the Bulls' second rounder. I like what I read in the notes about Carney too. Your chocies sound good, sign me up. :)

If the Bulls keep our first rounder and it doesn't go to Phoenix, who is at the top of your list? I was never upset with drafting Deng, I wanted Igoudala over Gordon though. For now, I'm shutting up about that though. :)

Nope. The only time they've been .500 since '98 was 2002 when they started 2-0.

.500!!

I'm not the only one who thought the NBA went too soft on Ben Wallace for inciting the crowd during The Riot, am I? Of course not, I thought so too. Anyone think Larry Brown is going to have another meltdown after the game and try to kill the refs, like the last time the Bulls were in Auburn Hills? Haha, offensive foul on Rasheed!

Another offensive foul on Hamilton! :lol: Bah, Curry fouls out.

The Detroit Pistons are a dirty, dirty team. Gotta love the techincals.

Ugh, Eddy Curry with 5 fouls. :x

He looked in pain, and he's still out... :( :( Bulls on a 9-0 run and lead 81-74!

Was Deng hurt there when he was tripped? He went to the bench immediately.

I'm gonna watch the second half - just got back from some studying.

Following the game on Gamecast, it didn't look that pretty. Skiles like keeping the compliment to a minimum anyways.

I guess I dropped the ball on that one and forgot to announce it -- but I got him his ticket in good order, so I didn't totally mess it up... Ahh, he did tell me how he got the ticket, but now why. Again, kudos to Jon. If he answers no to that, I'd be freaked out. Don't let one compliment from me go to your head. [-X

Which translates to 18-19 DIAF.