CB Draft '09 Mock Press Conference: Central Division

[johnnyrondo]

Chicago:

Any concern about this report?

Pau Gasol had surgery Monday after breaking the middle finger in his left hand during practice with the Spanish national team.

Gasol is expected to be sidelined for three weeks, but agent Arn Tellum said that there were no problems with the surgery.

No its actually somewhat of a blessing in disguise for the Bulls. National team commitments can often fatigue a player come the NBA regular season, so Gasol resting should leave him even stronger this upcoming season. It's like teachers working Summer School. When we do, we end up being burned out mid school year. Bummer for Spain, but this is good news for the Bulls. You also didn't quote the part where they said he's be fine by training camp and its his non shooting hand.

[Roy Hobbs]

Chicago:

Any concern about this report?

Pau Gasol had surgery Monday after breaking the middle finger in his left hand during practice with the Spanish national team.

Gasol is expected to be sidelined for three weeks, but agent Arn Tellum said that there were no problems with the surgery.

No its actually somewhat of a blessing in disguise for the Bulls. National team commitments can often fatigue a player come the NBA regular season, so Gasol resting should leave him even stronger this upcoming season. It's like teachers working Summer School. When we do, we end up being burned out mid school year. Bummer for Spain, but this is good news for the Bulls. You also didn't quote the part where they said he's be fine by training camp and its his non shooting hand.

I just quoted the part from RealGm.  I can't imagine it's a huge deal, either.

[johnnyrondo]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/aug/11/grizzlies-interview-work-out-jason-williams/?partner=RSS

Looks like the Grizz offered their backup point guard position to J-Will (demoting Marcus Williams to 3rd string), but J-Will is taking his time wisely to find the best fit. The real C's should sign him!

I think J-Will will be a sweet backup pg for the fake Bulls. Adding J-Will, Deshawn, Bogans, and Crittendon post draft, which increased the Bulls playable depth to 13 should really help the Bulls begin the playoffs super fresh. 


More good news for the Bulls:
Small Forwards:
Bruce Bowen (guarded Lebron as the Spurs won the title 2 yrs ago) weight: 200 lbs
Trevor Ariza (guarded Melo and Hedo as the Lakers won the title this year): 210 lbs

Bulls SF options:

Raja Bell: 215 lbs
Deshawn Stevenson: 218 lbs
Keith Bogans: 215 lbs
James Johnson 235 lbs
Chase Buddinger: 218 lbs


Also Rockets are treating Buddinger like a 1st rounder http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2009-08-11/rockets-sign-budinger-four-year-deal

[johnnyrondo]

Not sure if anyone saw this article today in the Chicago newspapers. While the the Bulls are the obvious favorites in 2009/2010, comparing them to the 72 win Bulls is some huge expectations. Let me give it a read before I judge.   http://www.chicagotribunetimes.com/sports/bullsnewdynasty.html

Chicago Tribune-Times



Comparing the Bulls Dynasties
   by Smam Sith
 With all the buzz about the superpower Bulls team that has been assembled there is talk that they might challenge the greatest winning team ever the 1996 NBA Champion Bulls and their 72 wins. Hard to tell if they'll go for that record. We hear they want to take advantage of their “13 playable deep” roster during the regular season, so while they will almost definitely end up with the #1 seed, we here at The Chicago Tribune-Times are not sure about that record. But as we approach the 2009/2010 season, we thought it would be fun to compare these two teams if they were matched up in a playoff series:
For reference here is our dear Bulls 96 Team
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1996.html
Here is The New Bulls Dynasty: http://tinyurl.com/pzxcu8

Starting Point Guard:

96 Bulls: Ron Harper    New Bulls Chris Paul
Huge advantage for the New Bulls as Paul is an elite MVP candidate and Harper only averaged 8.8 pts and 2.5 assists in the playoffs. Paul is also the better defender by far.

Starting Shooting Guard:

96 Bulls: Michael Jordan  New Bulls: Kevin Martin
In 41 mpg in the playoffs Jordan averaged 30.7 ppg. Kevin Martin averages 25 ppg and is only getting better, but come on here. We're talking about Jordan and all his intangibles here. So while Martin will be an all-star this year for the New Bulls. Advantage Jordan definitely.

Starting Small Forward:

96 Bulls: Scottie Pippen   New Bulls: Raja Bell
Not as big of a mismatch as the pg position, and while Raja is a good starter, Pippen was a great player, so Scottie Pippen with the very large advantage over Raja.

Starting Power Forward:

96 Bulls Dennis Rodman   New Bulls: Pau Gasol
Dennis the Mennace definitely fit a role for the 96 Bulls. He rebounded, played tough D, and gave you no offense, but Pau Gasol is a player that could lead a team by himself into the playoffs and is a huge luxury as a 2nd star, while Dennis is a 3rd star type of player. Advantage New Bulls

Starting Center:
96 Bulls: Luc Longley   New Bulls: Al Horford
Jordan made Longley into a serviceable center. Longley was not good before or after his Bulls stay. CP3 will make Horford an all-star. Very Large advantage New Bulls

While the 96 Bulls had only 7 players in double digit minutes in the playoffs, the New Bulls are deeper, but for comparison sake we'll add the  96 Bulls 8-10 men who did fill a role and do deserve recognition.  We're also not including JJ or Budinger for the new Bulls, because while they will see regular season minutes for the Bulls, prior to the season we have to rank them in the 12-14th range with fellow rookie Daye. I know rookie discrimination, but it's unfair to be so deep.


Back-up PG

96 Bulls: Randy Brown   New Bulls: Jason Williams/Javaris Crittendon
Randy Brown was a pesky defender, but Jason Willimas is a starting caliber floor leader. Advantage New Bulls

Back-Up SG

96 Bulls: Steve Kerr  New Bulls: Keith Bogans
Kerr also played the 1, but is more of  a  2 than Brown. While Steve Kerr definitely benefitted from playing with Jordan and Pippen after almost falling out of the league he was much more important than Bogans who will have to batte Raja, Deshawn, and Buddinger for back-up minutes at the 2. Bogans is a good defender and can hit the 3, but advantage Old Bulls

Back-up SF

96 Bulls: Jud Buechler  New Bulls: Deshawn Stevenson
Large advantage for the New Bulls. Bueshler compares more to New Bulls rookie Chase Buddinger, while Deshawn is an NBA starting caliber wing. You can throw Deshawn on Lebron or Pierce. You couldn't do that with Jud.

Back-up PF
96 Bulls: Tony Kukoc  New Bulls: Ryan Anderson

Kukoc also played the 3, but is more of a 4 than Buechler. Kukoc and Anderson are both long players who can hit the 3 and while Anderson is tougher defensively, Kukoc was a great 6th man who could put it on the floor and create or score. New Bulls have their 4th star (Horford) in the starting line-up.  96  Bulls do to Pippen and Rodman, had their 4th star as 6th man.  Advantage 96 Bulls

Back-up Center

96 Bulls: Bill Wennington   New Bulls Hilton Armstrong

Wennington averaged 3 ppg and 1.7 rpg, while Armstrong is more of a 5/4 guy, so while the stats might favor Armstrong, fit wise, Wennigton fit the 96 Bulls well and Armstrong fits the running New Bulls better. Interesting stat that in 4 rounds of playoff action, Wennington had one total block. While we should go with Advantage New Bulls, call us nostalgic, but we're going to call this one a draw.

Final Tally:
New Bulls Dynasty 5, '96 Bulls 4

[Roy Hobbs]

. . . and folks call Portland a hype machine.

[Rondo2287]

Rodman averaged 6 ppg,3 Apg, and 16 rebounds per game that year and was on the NBA all Defense first team.  I dont think the advantage to pau is all that sizeable.

[Roy Hobbs]

Rodman averaged 6 ppg,3 Apg, and 16 rebounds per game that year and was on the NBA all Defense first team.  I dont think the advantage to pau is all that sizeable.

I don't think it exists, period.  Rodman is one of the best rebounders of all-time -- maybe the best, relative to his era -- and was an amazing defender who could guard three positions.

Of course, teams can't be compared as a "sum of their parts".  The Chicago "big three" was one of the most dominating trios ever assembled.

[Rondo2287]

Rodman averaged 6 ppg,3 Apg, and 16 rebounds per game that year and was on the NBA all Defense first team.  I dont think the advantage to pau is all that sizeable.

I don't think it exists, period.  Rodman is one of the best rebounders of all-time -- maybe the best, relative to his era -- and was an amazing defender who could guard three positions.

Of course, teams can't be compared as a "sum of their parts".  The Chicago "big three" was one of the most dominating trios ever assembled.

I always loved the stories of how he would stay after practice and throw the ball off the rim and backboard just to see where they would bounce so he had a better idea of where rebounds were going to end up.  Its like somebody taking the time to figure out the physics behind plinco on Price is Right. 

[wdleehi]

You really want us comparing those two team when we vote?

[johnnyrondo]

I think its premature for this writer to compare the two Bulls dynasties. I mean in yesterday's Chicago Sun they compared these Bulls to the most recent NBA Champions. That might have been more fair.

http://www.chicagosun.com/sports/bullsvsalekers.html

Chris Paul>Kobe
Pau Gasol*>Pau Gasol
Kevin Martin>Trevor Ariza
Al Horford> Andrew Bynum
Raja Bell> Derek Fisher
Ryan Anderson<Lamar Odom
Jason Williams>Jordan Farmar
Deshawn Stevenson>Sasha Vujacic
*(with CP3 over a ballhog like Kobe)

[Rondo2287]

I think its premature for this writer to compare the two Bulls dynasties. I mean in yesterday's Chicago Sun they compared these Bulls to the most recent NBA Champions. That might have been more fair.

http://www.chicagosun.com/sports/bullsvsalekers.html

Chris Paul>Kobe
Pau Gasol*>Pau Gasol
Kevin Martin>Trevor Ariza
Al Horford> Andrew Bynum
Raja Bell> Derek Fisher
Ryan Anderson<Lamar Odom
Jason Williams>Jordan Farmar
Deshawn Stevenson>Sasha Vujacic
*(with CP3 over a ballhog like Kobe)

How can you possibly say Williams is better than Farmar when Williams didnt play this year?

[johnnyrondo]

I think its premature for this writer to compare the two Bulls dynasties. I mean in yesterday's Chicago Sun they compared these Bulls to the most recent NBA Champions. That might have been more fair.

http://www.chicagosun.com/sports/bullsvsalekers.html

Chris Paul>Kobe
Pau Gasol*>Pau Gasol
Kevin Martin>Trevor Ariza
Al Horford> Andrew Bynum
Raja Bell> Derek Fisher
Ryan Anderson<Lamar Odom
Jason Williams>Jordan Farmar
Deshawn Stevenson>Sasha Vujacic
*(with CP3 over a ballhog like Kobe)

How can you possibly say Williams is better than Farmar when Williams didnt play this year?

Not comparing the two players obviously, but Jordan didn't play a yr and a half , but he was better than many sg's when he came back don't you think? J-Will took time off to be with his wife after a difficult pregnancy and now he's back. He's a better player than Farmar.

[Rondo2287]

Ya but you are comparing him to a guy entering his 4th year.  The difference as I see it is, at the stages of their careers, Williams gets worse with every season, Farmar gets better with every season. 

[johnnyrondo]

Ya but you are comparing him to a guy entering his 4th year.  The difference as I see it is, at the stages of their careers, Williams gets worse with every season, Farmar gets better with every season. 

I thought this "game" was one season long.

[Rondo2287]

Exactly, so you take into the account regression of Jason Williams from a year of not playing and a year of getting older, then take into account reduced minutes.  I think Farmar would be far more effective for your team in those minutes.