Bulls, Deng - overrated

[Mr October]

Admittedly I've only caught bits and pieces of the Bulls Sixers series.

My first observation: Luol Deng is not an all star level player. He is a role player. All stars don't have stat lines like these 3 games in a row in the playoffs, when their teammates really need them to score:

mins:33   FG: 5-11 .455 3pt:1-3 .333 FT:0-1 .000   PTS 11 REB 5 AST 0
mins:37   FG: 2-7 .286 3pt:1-3 .333 FT:0-1 .000   PTS 5 REB 9 AST 2   
mins:33   FG: 3-12 .250 3pt:1-3 .333 FT:1-2 .500   PTS 8 REB 5 AST 3

Just how bad are these Bulls players outside of Rose and Noah? Boozer can only be effective against undersized PFs. Their primary shooters are streaky: Hamilton, Watson, Lucas. Korver is good at shooting 3s, but is 1 dimensional. Asik and Gibson are solid bench players.

A championship level favorite minus their 2 best players should still make short work of the Sixers. The Sixers almost fell out of the playoffs all together! This makes me doubt that the Bulls will ever win the big one, even at full health. The Heat and Thunder are just that much better at multiple positions. And the Bulls might not be able to afford to keep Asik and Gibson much longer. I'm not sure they are ready to commit to $85+ in salaries in a soon to be heavy luxury tax NBA economy.

I'm looking ahead to the next round. And I think Boston will be a heavy favorite against either of these teams. Go Celtics!
 

[Celts Fan 92]

man u shoulda been here when some posters said Deng was their best player and betta then rose rofl, they caught feelings nd tried bashin my grammar Luol is average nd not a star smh at people thinkin he betta then Pierce

[LB3533]

The dude's playing hurt. Need to chill, he not jacking 20 shots per either.

[soap07]

A championship level favorite minus their 2 best players should still make short work of the Sixers.

This is seriously short changing the Sixers. I don't think the Celtics in 2008 would beat the current Sixers without KG and Pierce.

[Donoghus]

You're not "overrated" if you lose your starting PG (who is the reigning MVP) and your starting C.  You're "seriously banged up"

There is a big difference between "overrated" and "seriously banged up".

I know there is a tendency for posters on here to jump on the Bulls but I have a feeling they'd be fighting the "overrated" label if the Celtics were in the same situation without Rondo & Pierce or Rondo & KG.

[Who]

Deng is a top 7/8 small forward which is more in line with a top 35/40 player than an All-Star.

A notch below All-Star level. A top ten player at his position.

[StartOrien]

Andre Iguodala has scored 11, 11, 5 and 14 points this series while shooting .341 from the field.

[SHAQATTACK]

I believe Deng is injured himself.   Too many issues with players for even the Bulls depth to handle. Banged up like they are , I don't expect much from them at this point.  

Overated thread should be about Boozer , over paid and over rated , and under achieving.

[RedSpades]

Deng is injured and now two of his best teammates are injured.

Give the man a break.

[CelticG1]

This team is all about Rose.

Found it kinda laughable that people thought after he went down that they would still sweep or make short work of the Sixers.

They overachieved without Rose during the season and people automatically translate that to the Bulls just being THAT good.

Its more in line with the Celtics in 09the without KG.

By the way if Noah is their second best player god help them

[thestackshow]

Deng cant get his own shot, thats well documented, I dont know how many "stars" cant get their own shot.

Hes always been a role player, hes a good player but he isnt a star and by no means an all-star.

Also Iguodala was never a prolific scorer, hes in the same model as Deng, very good role-players that happen to be the #2 option on their teams because their teams lack a true star or #2 option.

[Donoghus]

I've always maintained that Deng is a "glue" guy and I think I'd feel most comfortable as having him as a third wheel on a team.  You just can't hitch your wagon to him but a guy that you'd want on your team in the right situation. 

I think he was in the right situation for the Bulls this year (this after years of myself opining that he was a square peg trying to fit in a round hole with the Bulls).  Unfortunately, the situation has changed dramatically in the last week.

[nickagneta]

I've always considered Deng one of the most under rated players in the NBA. As far as SFs go there are only a few I would rank as better overall than he is: Lebron, Durant, Pierce, and Melo, are the only SFs I think are clearly better than Deng as an overall player. I would put him on par with Granger, gay, Iguodala and a few others that are fringe All-Star players at the SF position.

He's played injured almost all season. He has lost his starting MVP PG and his starting high quality defensive rebounding center. he isn't a superstar. He should be expected to carry this team and clearly can't.

But when people talk about his game, I think they almost always undervalue his total contributions rather than over rate them.

[coco]

Loul -"the silent killer" - Deng.  Just ask PPierce.  Deng is that one that kills us all the time.  Looks like he isn't doing much, next thing you know, he scored 20 on Pierce while grabing 10 rebounds.  Yep overrated is what PP calls him too.

[Mr October]

The dude's playing hurt. Need to chill, he not jacking 20 shots per either.

Is Deng more hurt than Pierce? Pierce is an all star level player and he is performing like it against physical odds. Deng is not. He's more on the Lamar Odom in his good years level - a solid notch below all star. Even healthy, Deng has a tendency to disappear for long stretches, even a full game. All star wing players don't do that. You always feel the presence of Kobe, Pierce, James, Wade, Anthony, Durant, etc.

This is seriously short changing the Sixers. I don't think the Celtics in 2008 would beat the current Sixers without KG and Pierce.

&

I know there is a tendency for posters on here to jump on the Bulls but I have a feeling they'd be fighting the "overrated" label if the Celtics were in the same situation without Rondo & Pierce or Rondo & KG.

The 2008 Celtics were never considered to have incredible depth. Whats the point of incredible depth if you can't take out an 8th seed that finished the last 2/3 of the season with a 17-24 record.

Also in 2009 when the Celtics lost KG (and Posey/Brown via free agency) and had to rely on the likes of Mikki Moore, they still brought it in the post season. They had an epic series against the Bulls and then almost pulled off the upset of the eventual Eastern Champs in Orlando.

Overated thread should be about Boozer , over paid and over rated , and under achieving.

I didn't focus on Boozer (who i thought has been overrated over his entire career), because I think this year the vast majority of NBA fans have caught onto his decline and lack of consistent big games against top level opponents. 

Andre Iguodala has scored 11, 11, 5 and 14 points this series while shooting .341 from the field.

Iguodala's bread and butter is defense, and everyone knows he can't shoot from the outside, thus can't score in the playoffs. He's a really nice weapon to have on your team as a defender, hustler, passer, slasher - but I also think is not an all star caliber player.