Questions Loom Over Season Opener

1. Who starts for the Bulls?
2. Who should start for the Bulls?
3. Does Hinrich love basketball anymore?
4. Who taught Larry Hughes how to play basketball?
5. Who taught Ben Gordon how to play basketball?
6. When will Noce realize that Europe is where he and his family belong?
7. Is Tyrus Thomas really a double double?
8. How many games before Thabo averages 30 minutes a game?
9. Is Derrick Rose better than Michael Beasley?
10. Does Vinny have any idea what his vision is?
11. How long does it take Vinny to order at a restaurant?
12. Why was Noah a lottery pick?
13. Is the beard more important to Drew Gooden than basketball?
14. Will Luol stop pretending he's a post player?
15. Will the Bulls win more than 30 games this year?
16. Why does Larry Hughes have a job in this economy?
17. Why does Ben Gordon have a job in this economy?
18. If Derrick Rose plays 30 minutes and Thabo plays 30 minutes, how do you split 36 minutes between Hinrich, Gordon, and Hughes?
19. If the season starts tomorrow, why can't I order the NBA league pass tonight on Comcast and instead have to wait until tomorrow when it is too late to dvr the game before I go to work?
20. Can we borrow Skiles tomorrow just for one minute to cut Larry Hughes and alienate him from the team?


After flirting with greatness for 3 straight seasons, this year's Bulls are down to their last chance to regain Chicago's admiration for a team that used to be selfless, naive, hard-nosed, defensive, opportunistic, energetic, and whatever positive adjective in the English language. It is so easy to forget that the core of those up and coming rosters are still here today: Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and Andres Nocioni. Actually, I know why it's easy...because they don't exist anymore. Kirk is slow, married, uncoordinated. Luol isn't the greatest midrange jumpshooter no longer and is obsessed with being a threat inside. Ben isn't the free shooting microwave but trying to train to be an actual basketball player. Nocioni shoots threes and gets 25% of his charges called now. So with that being said, I take that back...the core of those Bulls are long gone and this year it starts all over again. Bulls fans should just write off the last four seasons and reset their minds to viewing this season as a whole new rebuilding era. Win 30 games, celebrate. Win a road game, take a shot. Win a game on the circus trip, play an extra round of golf. Simply put, with so many questions marks this year, winning should not be an expectation.

I'm looking forward to the first year of Bunch of Bulls, honestly, as I begin somewhat of a journal of what could be the first steps to something special. Imagine if this site began with Hinrich's rookie year...it would be done by now. But I get to start with Derrick Rose's first game, Tyrus Thomas coming into his own, the realization of Thabo being the second coming of Pippen. The exodus of Ben Gordon. I'm tired of naming my fantasy basketball teams "Trade BG" by the way, so I would be most thankful if this is the last year of Ben's "progression"...please regress, Ben. There's so much to comment on, that I'm at a loss of words at times, so it will be refreshing to let this season unfold and experience it with Bulls fans and NBA fans all over, after each game, each growing pain.

Here is some analysis for the Bulls 2008-09...at the end of the year, you will see that the Bulls would be better off if I ran the team.

Thabo Sefolosha - Surprisingly, many of you are still not sold on Thabo...I guess his 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 16 minutes didn't convince you? His mid range shot is almost as consistent as Luol's in Luol's 1st and 2nd year. Those two years I had heated discussions that Luol had a better 18 footer than Kobe. Well this year it's Thabo and I can't wait to have that conversation again...like tomorrow when he hits shot after shot against Redd. He actually has much better range on the shot than Luol. He dribbles better than Luol and can shut down any 2 guard in the league. Luol is pretty much the poor man's version of Thabo.

Derrick Rose - Already the quickest and fastest player in the NBA. Chris Paul actually is the most comparable player to Rose, with the way he shakes on the pick and roll and hits acrobatic unorthodox shots that Ben Gordon used to make. He is ready now, treat him like we treated Jay Williams' rookie year...don't make him earn it...just give it to him. Rookie of the Year is guaranteed, please email me if you want to wager.

Tyrus Thomas - Is not the real deal, but will put up real deal numbers. His basketball IQ will always be bad, that's something you don't develop...ask Ben. Or don't because he will think you can. If he plays over 30 minutes a game, you should expect him to lead the league in blocks. I expect to get nervous any time he is around the ball on offense still and I don't see that changing maybe ever.

Drew Gooden - Are you sure that wasn't Boozer vs. Boozer last weekend? He seems to be one of the strongest players in the league, has a dependable pick and pop shot, can rebound with the best of them, and has above average post moves. Stop saying the Bulls need a post presence because you don't need much more than what Drew can do down low. I've heard all the head case issues he's had in the past, but I want to see it to believe it. Mental mistakes is one thing I'll be watching for. But other than that, I don't know why Boozer would have a better year than Gooden.

Larry Hughes - Tim Thomas. Tim Thomas. Larry Hughes. Cut him, trade him, send him to the d-league, make up injuries, force him to have season ending surgery on his shoulder...he must go.

Kirk Hinrich - From watching some of the preseason, Kirk seems to be everything he was last year--a step behind, bored, a loner, and look like he hasn't shot a basketball for three months. Although seeing him push Richard Jefferson brings back memories of when he had some balls and had a chip on his shoulder (run ins with Ray Allen, Posey, Richard Jefferson...), maybe he does care, but I wouldn't bet on it. And his wife actually isn't ugly.

Ben Gordon - Will try to do too much playmaking instead of standing behind the three point line and calling for the ball like Brian Mcknight did when I saw him play basketball at the gym. He was literally standing at the three point line and clapping his hands saying "ball ball ball!" and scowl when his teammates didn't get him the ball. Obviously, Mcknight's defense extended to the other three point line if he ever did cross the half court line. If Ben does not do this, he is doomed and is worthless. If he does this, then rack him up for his 2nd of ten Sixth Man of the Year awards to come.

The starting five should be:
PG Derrick Rose
SG Thabo Sefolosha
SF Luol Deng
PF Tyrus Thomas
C Aaron Gray

The finishing five should be:
PG Derrick Rose
SG Ben Gordon
SF Thabo Sefolosha
PF Drew Gooden
C Joakim Noah

If we start and end this way, 40 wins is guaranteed. I was the biggest Vinny fan after he picked up Joakim's random dinner tab in the city, but with his indecisiveness, I wonder if anybody respects him in the organization anymore. Didn't he have enough tape to study his players and formulate some sort of vision for this team? Look, I did it with no tape and in twenty seconds. The two lineups I have above are what Vinny should have. If it doesn't work, then tinker with it. But you have to have some sort of vision and Vinny has none. Scott Skiles for President. Bulls win, Rose is valuable in his debut, Thabo's defense comes through in the 4th, Ben Gordon seals the win in the 4th, and Hinrich is the first one out of the locker rooms to go home to Jill after forgetting what the hell just happened in the first game. Finally, however, we'll get some answers.