Are they for real? I don't know how they do it. Obviously Kirk Hinrich is a very good combo guard and has been playing steady. Ben Gordon provides the team instant offense off the bench. Eddy is finally playing like a top pick, and Chandler although lacking skills on the offensive end, is a rebounding machine especially in the 4th quarter. They are 11-2 in January including wins over Detroit and Orlando. Granted they are playing in the East, but still 11-2 is a great achievement. Are they playoff bound? With so many young players on the team, do they have significant upside pontential down the road?
The Bulls are a team. They have great chemistry. They play defense and they hustle; their set offenses have been solid. And they've had an easy schedule. February will be a test for them. If they are still in the playoffs picture by the end of next month, I'd say they're for real.
They found their chemistry. Rock solid. I think their bench unit of Ben Gordon, Tyson Chandler and Nocioni is the key. They have been solid. Ben Gordon is one of the top 4th quarter scorers and Chandler is one of the top 4th quarter rebounders and shot blockers. Nocioni is a good energy player. These guys help the team "close" the game and that's why they are winning. What is amazing is they are doing this with all of this YOUTH! Gordon, Deng, Duhon and Nocioni are all rookies yet are in their rotation. Hinrich is a 2nd year player and Chandler and Curry are still very young. Antonio Davis is the only vet getting serious minutes each night.
They're certainly looking good, but I still am convinced that Eddy Curry is playing simply with a new contract in mind. It's no coincidence that this was the first summer in his short career that he put forth any effort at all in the offseason, that his agents tried to force a trade so that he could get more minutes (rather than put more effort in practice to earn them), and now finally starts playing with passion. This isn't hard to decifier, and if the Bulls have any sense, they'll S&T him if he wants the max. He has Derrick Coleman written all over him, and a max contract would be a poison pill. Chandler, I can't get a great bead on. I think he's more sincere in his effort, but those back problems are troublesome. He looks like he'll be a borderline All-Star. If they can get him to agree to contract around 6 or 7 million, they should keep him. Deng has been looking great, and Hinrich is legit. They could very possibly become an attractive place for free agents if they spend wisely on Curry/Chandler and get rid of Davis' titanic contract. Add a good vet with a good attitude and leadership, and this team could really prosper. Evan
they're doing really well, but you gotta wonder what they'd be like with artest, brand, miller, jamal crawford and one of either tyson chandler or eddy curry.
I love watching them play, they compete each and every game. I wish the Rocks would play with that much moxy. DD
Hinrich is probably a legitimate border line all star. Or can he become an all star down the road? Eddy, Tyson, Deng can all become borderline all star. Ben Gordon surely has a sweet touch from anywhere on the court. I am beginning to wonder whether we can beat them at Chicago. The most amazing thing is that they have so many good young players on the team and somehow they just buy the fact that Kirk is the man that makes them go. They put balls in his hands in late 4th quarter and he usually makes pretty good decisions with the ball. 4 years ago Larry Brown said that among the group of Kansas stars (Gooden, Collison, and Hinrich), Hinrich had the best potential in the NBA. I was like WTF Larry was talking about. Now obviously Larry is right and that's why he is the coach and I am nothing.
I am excited for them and their fans, it has been a long drought for them all. However, my dream of somehow getting Hinrich is fading fast. I love team basketball where ever I see it. Memphis is another team that is playing exceptionally well, but I am not excited for them because they are in the Rocket's way.
Needless to say, when the Rockets and Bulls hook up, I'll be pretty nervous. I keep waiting for the Bulls to start a losing streak but they seem more determined then ever to make their mark.
Young, Athletic, w/ Chemisty to boot. Hinrich and Gordon are the best back court in basketball right now!
their defense allows the lowest FG% out of all teams in the NBA! opponents fg% Chicago-.410 San Antonio-.417 Houston-.422
! Slow down there......... Better than Nash/Johnson/Q? Better than Parker/Ginobili? Better than Ray Allen/Luke Ridnour/Daniels? Better than Kidd/Carter? Arenas/Hughes? Bibby/Cat? Evan
I knew, I just knew some one would ask me this. I felt it coming. Thats why if you read what i said "Hinrich and Gordon are the best back court in basketball RIGHT NOW!" Maybe not next month, hell maybe not next week but right now they are the best in the NBA, IMO of course!
Gordon is not even starting for the Bulls right now. However, he is playing great. And Hinrich is just phenomenal. He has everything that I want from my PG: great passer, great court vision, draining 3s, tough man to man defense. Only if we could steal him......
I did in NBA live 2005..........Hinrich for Lue and a #1..........what do you think, Gaines and a #1??? Yeah, I think our chances of getting Hinrich are about as good as us getting Duncan or KG. Not that Kirk is THAT good. But, he is all that to the Bulls right now. Plus, why break up that young chemistry if it's working, and it is working big time right now.
Actually, Ben Gordon has somewhat hit a wall this past week or so, but nothing he can't climb out of. However, I'm most impressed with how Duhon is keeping that team chemistry together. He's probably one of the best things to happen to this team recently. Since inserted into the starting lineup, he's consistantly averaging 5-6+ assists with about 10 points a game. But the stats doesn't show what he brings. Lately, it seems as though Duhon is the ball handler, while Hinrich is taking advantage to spot up for more jumpers. Duhon, although a rookie, has the mentality and "experience" to calm down a high-flying youthful offense and add more basketball IQ. I think with time, he'll bring that steadiness (minus the 20+ points) that Joe Dumars brought to the Pistons in the late 80s
On the one hand, what they've done lately is impressive. On the other hand, not so much... Good for them for being over .500 for the first time in years, and they are actually enjoyable to watch...they are definitely a better team, BUT... In going 17-4 over their last 21 games, they have quality wins against Detroit twice and Memphis. That is it. On the next tier, teams that it is still pretty surprising that the one-time lowly Bulls actually beat, you have Indiana - though they were playing without all 3 of the suspended, and Orlando. The other remaining 12 wins came against teams who currently in aggregate don't even have a 35% winning % in total. As a whole, their 17 wins have come against teams with winning % of almost 41%. As a comparison, the Rockets last 17 wins on their tear has been against teams with a winning almost 47%. Anyway...the true test for Chicago will be February. Between February 5th and 25th, they play Miami 2 times, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Minnesota, Sacramento, Cleveland, Washington and Toronto - with the Dallas/Houston and Miami/Cleveland on back-to-backs. The schedule remains fairly difficult into early March, but if they can get past that stretch, then they'll be something to talk about.
Tyson Chandler - 2nd Overall Pick Eddy Curry - 4th Overall Pick Luol Deng - 7th Overall Pick Kirk Hinrich - 7th Overall Pick Ben Gordon - 3rd Overall Pick The talent has been there... The difference is that Paxson had some patience and allowed it to grow. Remember, earlier in the year when they started 0-9, we were talking about Curry and Chandler possibly being shipped out.
Again, they're definitely much better now, but it is interesting to note that in that 4-15 start, they played and lost to the Suns twice, full strength Pacers, Sacramento, the Lakers, Cleveland, Miami, Washington, San Antonio and Dallas. They're schedule got MUCH easier, they got better.
as JayZ pointed out, they're beating some lowly teams, but nonetheless it's amazing the bulls are doing this. this seems like catching lightning in a bottle to me and that it can't last forever. chemistry is perfect, they hit every big shot they need to (i swear when i watch them hinrich shoots about 108% from the field), teams miss when they need to, everyone's excited, no one's injured. everything is perfect. things don't usually stay perfect. one thing to note is that duhon may be the worst shooter to play a perimeter position i've ever heard of through about the first 25 to 30 games (he's finally improving). i don't watch the bulls that often and duhon's not always in but his shooting percentage was for a long time below 30% (like 28% at one point i think) and his ft% was in the mid 50's. that's damn near impossible for a guard. i mean going below 40% is horrendous and makes you one of the worst of the worst (especially if you aren't creating your own shot) and this guy wasn't just below 40, he wasn't below 35%, he was friggin' below 30%. i've never seen that before. he's still only at 32.2% but damn that was sad. i guess that makes it even more impressive they're winning.
