Denver Broncos Prediction

There's not much to talk about as far as the Bulls' offseason goes, compared to next year when D-Wade jumps on the D-Rose bandwagon, and I'm getting the itch to write about something...so why not about my first love, the Denver Broncos. I'm mainly writing this to document my opinions so I can a) test my predictions and assessment of a team and its players/coaches and b) prove that my predictions are right so my main man, Mike Uyeda can confidently pick the Tony Scheffler's of football in his fantasy football draft. I've been known to be somewhat biased in my opinions of the Bulls and Broncos, and this will put all our careless accusations to the test. Let me just say, before I get into the Broncos, that the Bulls will finish top 5 in the east this year and it disgusts me that some are questioning whether they make the playoffs. They clearly overvalued Ben Gordon, but I will get to all these things when the time is right.

I look everyday to read anything on the Broncos...it could be about practice, assessments, their diet, their family, their childhood...anything. And there's never enough and the commentary or breakdown of their roster is always weak and not detailed enough. How are Broncos fans supposed to feel like they're getting something they can't get at ESPN? If I watch every Broncos game and pay attention to it meticulously, wouldn't I know more than the analyst at ESPN who quickly breaks down film in segments? There's a flow to the game, there are nuances of players, the way their bodies react after 8 catches, a fatigue point in a game, momentum, resolve, that numbers and clips will never show. Not sure if the rest of your fantasy draft will be any good, but at least your Bronco knowledge will be good and better than draft gurus out there.

QB - Kyle Orton...3 interceptions on the first 3 drives. No need to panic here. It looks like his arm will be weak and will have trouble with 3rd and long situations. He is still a smart quarterback and has proven to be capable enough to win games. The Broncos will not win or lose depending on Orton's play, but rather those surrounding him.

Prediction: 3400 yds, 24 TD, 10 INT

RB - Correll Buckhalter...the guy knows what he doing. He will make many big plays for the Broncos this year, the big plays that are not easily noticed. The shift of his body for a couple extra yards on the outlet throw, the blitz pick up, the timing he releases out of the backfield, almost like the Brandon Stokely of our backfield.

Prediction: 480 yds rushing, 370 yds receiving, 3 TD

RB - Knowshown Moreno...he actually is the next Terrell Davis except Josh McDaniels won't run the classic running formations and pound the running game. He looks more like a mini Brandon Jacobs right now. From day 1 of training camp, it's clear he is a very strong runner. Injuries/holdout will lead to a slow start, but by the 4th game, he will be taking the majority of the reps in regular running situations.

Prediction: 950 yds rushing, 160 yds receiving, 5 TD

FB - Peyton Hillis...arguably the most talented fullback in the NFL, perhaps in the last decade. Peyton is a straight football player and would be successful at HB, FB, or TE. Not your sexiest back which is why he doesn't get the most carries, but he makes the most out of every opportunity. When we get in the 5yds or less zone, we should just run Peyton all day, or pass it to him. If Kyle does this, he won't be turning the ball over in the redzone no more. He runs hard, is smart, is focused, plays every play like it's his last, humble, confident...the perfect Bronco.

Prediction: (barring any injuries to top 2 HB) 280 yds rushing, 200 yds receiving, 5 TD

WR - Brandon Marshall...after having character issues out of college, Brandon Marshall realized he was a beast in the NFL and had the ability to dominate at this level. Somewhere he realized that he had to control his anger and issues in order to be a Bronco and a pro. Rod Smith was his mentor, Shanahan had faith in him, and he flourished. But like my girlfriend says, people don't change. She's always skeptical about those who go from extreme to extreme, gangbangers to pastors, straight to gays (she never said this, I just threw this in here), fat to skinny...she thinks they will all go back to their original sin...self. Brandon Marshall is making her look right. If he hasn't figured it out by now (he's gotten like 10 chances), he's not gonna get it. And I thought OJ got away with the most obvious crime years ago, but Brandon Marshall just outdid him with being not guilty on domestic violence or whatever he was up against. He clearly beat the shit out of Watley, but because she was crazy ass girl, the jury said let him go. I've accepted it, now you need to accept it. Do not draft Brandon Marshall like I did in the 3rd round. He is not going to be involved. The Patriots of the west do not have space for babies like 15 or 6. 6 is gone, and 15 will be gone shortly. It's like negotiating with terrorists...you give in once, you'll have end. Even if Josh and the team want him back, they can't just out of principle. He'll be the next Javon Walker, the next TO, the next David Boston (not sure if he was an asshole, but he looked really strong and I imagine he probably beat up a couple ho's back then and now)...B Marsh clearly has the most physical ability in the NFL though...best combo of hands, strength, length, speed, agility...easily best YAC ability for a receiver.

Prediction: (if he plays 16 games with a team) 65 receptions, 720 yds, 5 TD

Prediction '10-11: 110 receptions, 1500 yds, 12 TD

Eddie Royal...ahh, the new number one receiver, humble, Bronco for life, smooth in running routes, disciplined, great hands, no moment too big for him, YAC ability, stronger than last year, nice traps, versatile. If he had 97 receptions as a rookie, scary for what he'll do this year. Denver's Patriot offense is based on quick throws, quick reads, and efficiency. The pass is often the run as well. Figure Eddie will multiple double digit reception games, so if your league values receptions at all, he is 1 round upgraded already. How many other receivers in the NFL will produce like Eddie is week in and week out? Respectful, hard working, confident, lining up in slots for mismatches...take him 5th round at the latest.

Prediction: 115 receptions, 1250 yards, 7 TD

TE: don't even bother looking this way with Denver this year...Tony Scheffler, waste of talent in this offense...trade him and BMarsh and get something decent and a couple picks in return.

OL: Madden NFL 2010 is ridiculous. How do you have Chris Kuper and Ryan Harris under an 80 rating? don't they realize this line gave up the fewest sacks in the league last year? Ryan Harris gave up less than 5 sack all year and he's a 78 rated tackle? Ben Hamilton in the low 80's? That's just silly...this line will still get it done, especially with the quick passing scheme, and still make our running attack effective. I guarantee that Cutler gets sacked more than Orton this year. Casey, Clady, Harris, Hamilton all deserve Pro Bowl spots. But they won't get it, because they're too light...and white...except Clady.

DL: Weak. I still think Marcus Thomas should be our starting defensive end and I have no answer as to why he is not getting more reps with the ones. Ronald Fields is not the answer at nose tackle and we need to go get one who is fatter, meaner, and cockier than fields. They will be the cause of our weak run defense, but they'll do just enough to free up our edge linebackers to get some sacks in the pass rush.

LB: DJ Williams will be a tackling beast again this year. Dumervil looks like he'll be fine on the edge and the guy is just a football player. I'd be shocked if he isn't close to 10 sacks this year. Andre Davis will be solid as well, but still we are lacking that one All World linebacker that can intimidate and take over games defensively (Urlacher, Willis, Ray Lewis, Merriman, any Steeler linebacker)

CB: Champ Bailey...he was and is still the best corner in this league. Asoumghua is amazing, but still not Champ Bailey amazing. Champ is the best all around cornerback since Rod Woodson and is healthy this year. What's great is that he will have Andre Goodman opposite of him and Alphonso Smith at nickel. This will be the best 1,2,3 CB in the league this year.

S: Brian Dawkins...Weapon X, the guy is crazy, focused, awareness 99, and an emotional leader and the heart and soul of this defense from the day he stepped off the airplane in Denver. He'll be going to the Pro Bowl with Champ and already the defense is ten times better than last year's scrubs we played back there (Marquand Manuel?). Renaldo Hill was part of a great Miami defense last year with Goodman, so this secondary is going to be just fine.

K: Matt Prater...he'll still boom 50 yarders all day, but his accuracy sucks and is not a pressure player. With that being said, he'll improve on last year's accuracy and be much more reliable down the stretch to finish off a decent year. 28 FGM/35 FGA

I could have broken this down so much more, but I think Brandon Marshall took too much out of me. Also, I have to take him off my desktop wallpaper...I put him there after hearing "not guilty" but now must take him off as he is guilty of being a little bitch.

Broncos: win the AFC West 9-7 record

Knowshown: AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year

Raiders suck.

Bulls Look As Good As Chris Paul...In Street Clothes

With Chris Paul sidelined due to a groin injury, NBA fans did not get the chance to see the #1 and #2 point guards of the future go head to head for their first time.  As expected, without Paul at the helm, the Hornets looked disinterested and looked like they threw in the towel as soon as Tyrus had three dunks to open up the game in the first quarter.  His fourth double double in a row and inspired defense sparked the Chicago Bulls to a 4-2 road trip record.  The fact that Tyrus is growing into a consistent factor in the NBA deserves its own blog, and when he scores over 20 and grabs over 15 rebounds with 3 blocks, the blog will be written.  

Aside from Luol taking a well deserved night off (6 points), most of the ingredients to a competitvie Bulls outing was there last night: Derrick Rose was aggressive, shooting early and often to the tune of 21 points, Ben Gordon put up a good amount of 3's, Noah was extremely active with 16 and 9, Hinrich did nothing and everything, Thabo did nothing and everything, Aaron Gray was limited, Hughes was inactive, Noce hit some threes and made some out of nowhere scores that he seems to have a knack for.  And although my championship intramural teams probably could've beaten the Hornets last night (I've played Peja's father at my college gym once or so it seemed), we'll take anything at this point...I do see and feel the sentiment that fans are being reminded of the playoff Bulls not a few years removed that was energetic, confident, unfazed, and had different contributions every night.  Regardless, things seem to be headed in the right path and if these Bulls can hit that stride soon, a 6th seed in the East would not be a joke.

It is important to point out one great coaching move that Vinny Del Negro executed at the end of the 3rd quarter that involved a benching of a certain Bull.  Yes, Ben Gordon.  After a Derrick Rose turnover, Ben Gordon was the last guard back and half walked half daydreamed to make an attempt to stop the fast break.  His laziness was accentuated by Tyrus Thomas sprinting back from underneath the opposite hoop to almost getting his 4th block of the game.  Now as the years have gone by, I find myself getting back on defense as often as Ben Gordon, and while I appreciate that he didn't put his efforts in anything other than shooting last night, there was something annoying about it.  Maybe it was the fact that he plays so many minutes without earning it...or isn't there some rule where if you suck at defense, at least try your best if you're the last man standing?  I may hang out my own three point line when I play defense, but if it's a fast break and I have a chance to disrupt a 2 on 1 break by myself and get all the glory for a defensive effort, I'll be going after that play as hard as Sweetney would go after Dunkin Donuts.  Thankfully, Vinny benched Ben for the longest rest of the game and hopefully suspended him from working out his arms for two days.  

Now, with all the trade desires and speculations:  Everything I have heard up to this point has been dreams like the fantasy trade offers I get every year, or don't end up helping us at all.  Hughes for Simmons--wash.  Hinrich for Channing Frye--wash.  So after thinking about it and verifying that this would work through ESPN's trade machine, I have thought of the most realistic and beneficial trade request that Paxson should pull if he had a spine.  

Bulls Get: Chris Bosh, Anthony Parker

Raptors Get: Derrick Rose, Larry Hughes

Bulls Lineup:  PG Kirk Hinrich SG Ben Gordon SF Luol Deng PF Tyrus Thomas C Chris Bosh

Bulls Bench: PG Thabo SG Anthony Parker SF Noce PF Drew Gooden C Joakim Noah

No one appreciates Rose's skills and demeanor more than myself, but you don't get anything good if you don't give anything good.  Paxson has talked about using his high picks to package and trade and consolidate.  The problem his picks before Rose didn't have much trade value, but enough value where he was not willing to get hosed in a deal.  He finally got what he wanted in Rose, but now is too afraid to follow through with his original plan--package some picks to get an inside star to team with his core.  Don't think the Raptors would do it?  They are going to lose Bosh in 2010--this is as certain as my buddy being called Yao or Yi or Ching Chong in a pick up game.  They have Bargnani who is developing nicely and sure could use a top 3 point guard to pair with the big guy.  Just like the Lakers chose Kobe over Shaq because of age and marketability, the Raptors would jump on this deal instantly.  You could have Bosh dominating the Mavericks on Saturday and coming home to Chicago for a rousing ovation for their homestand.  It would hurt to lose Rose, but these Bulls would be a top 3 eastern team for the next 5 years...and I don't see Wade not wanting to come here as a free agent to join that team in 2010.  That's a low risk high reward trade...why am I not the GM of the Bulls?  and the Coach?  and the official Blogger for Bulls.com or the Tribune?  

4 Game Streak Out Of Reach - Bulls 100 Rockets 107

The Chicago Bulls ended their longest streak in 2+ years at 3 games in a row Tuesday night against an overpowering performance from the Rockets' frontcourt of Yao, Scola, and Artest.  Amongst other reasons to point out that led to this loss, the inability to keep the Rockets off the offensive glass proved to be to big of a hurdle to steal one on the road.  With Yao constantly demanding attention from two or three defenders, this was bound to happen, so onwards with those other reasons...nothing really surprising here, just another typical Bulls 08-09 night of basketball.

The Ben Gordon Watch:  Ben Gordon wants to be a starter, but if he doesn't chuck up 5 threes in the first 5 minutes, it's time to put the guy in a new role...like 7th man (Hinrich being the 6th). Ben was called for an illegal defense, missed a 1 ft. carnival shot, got a layup blocked by Yao, missed 1 three pointer.  It was no surprise that the Rockets got off to a good lead in the first, leaving it up to Thabo and Kirk to claw their way back to two points before the end of the half.  There is nothing curious about the case of Benjamin Gordon...he is a terrible basketball player and an unbelievable shooter and scorer, so bring him off the bench to shoot 5 three pointers per half and drive two times and then take him out.  They should challenge him to see how quickly he can take his three pointers and then give him bonus minutes if he makes 3 of them under 3 minutes.  Basically, just give him his shots and get him out the game and let out a sigh of relief that he didn't give the game away in his minutes. 

Then you have Tyrus Thomas, who really was robbed of a block against Yao that was called for goaltending.  Tyrus really is understanding where he can be affective with rebounds and blocks.  But just when you think he has it figured out, you realize he's so far from it.  Shouldn't there be a rule that prevents Tyrus from creating his own shot?  I suggest that he is not allowed to shoot the ball unless the person passing it to him yells "all day!" right before he catches it.  If he does not hear "all day!" then he must pass the ball.  There were about 5 possessions lost to his spin move, pump fake that fooled nobody, and force up a half fadeaway half prayer shot.  

After the Bulls pulled within 2 by half time, we got a look at classic Vinny Del Negro's lack of developing a sense of in game substitutions.  When he should have had a quick leash on Ben Gordon in the 3rd, he has Ben Gordon play the entire way and squander away any hope of a competitive game.  When you have the option to play Kirk/Derrick, Thabo/Derrick, Kirk/Thabo, Lindsay/Thabo...how do you go with Ben Gordon and anybody for the whole 3rd quarter as the game slowly slips away?  

This led to another scrappy effort to pull with 5 at 82-77, but too late as the Bulls almost got to the 2nd half spread of +6 1/2 (this is the only way I can get my roommate to follow the Bulls and this site with an Argentine passion) and gave that away with a 7 point loss.  Derrick Rose clearly is not okay as he was passive the whole game until the end.  One glimmer of hope was with 3 minutes to go, Rose and Tyrus had a Paul/Chandler moment on the pick and roll alley oop which they should do more of.  And although they probably won't see too much of that tonight without Chandler or Paul playing, they will have plenty to worry about if they can't straighten out the 3 biggest flaws of this season:  Vinny's rotations, the not so Curious case of Ben's play, and Tyrus' offensive limitations.  

Prediction: Bulls pull out an upset on the road without Paul picking apart the defense.  Hinrich plays more minutes then Ben Gordon, Thabo plays majority of 2nd and 4th quarters, Tyrus has been scolded and plays within his game, Noah rebounds from a tough matchup against Yao.  

And who voted that the two Asian men in the last article have no resemblance?  Show yourself, oh person of blind eyes!

Bulls Attempt 4 In a Row--Yao!!!!!!

Which one is Yao...left or right?????  This game against the Rockets tonight is dedicated to all the tall (6'1" +) Asian pick up basketball players who get called Yao Ming more than...well, Yao Ming.  One of these men is Yao Ming, and the other is a good friend of mine who has this happen quite often...

Yes, Bunch of Bulls is back, just like the Chicago Bulls are back.  You didn't really expect me to put my precious time discussing the past however many games until now did you?  I swore to some I would not follow the Bulls until:

a. Larry Hughes is traded

b. Ben Gordon is traded

c. Thabo plays 30 minutes a game

And while none of the above has happened...yet...Bunch of Bulls is back to witness the winning streaks of old. Remember the Bulls would have a top 3 record in the NBA starting in January during those playoff seasons with Skiles. 

Tonight they go up against a tall man in Yao Ming, if it's anything like their past efforts against the Rockets, the Bulls could possibly be looking at 5 in a row since Chris Paul surely cannot be back from a groin injury for Wednesday's game, right? The Bulls have played the Rockets tough every year, but it's T Mac that always hits some indefenseable shot to deflate every Bulls run, and even though he doesn't have his amazing games, he does enough to intimidate the Bulls and seal the deal in the fourth.  Yao will have his 20 points and 12 rebounds and 2 blocks, but I see the Bulls taking advantage of a slow Rockets team without the superstar forceshield that Mcgrady uses on the starry eyed Bulls.  We'll see though...come back tomorrow.  

Now I suppose you all (seven of you and the mothers of some) deserve something to fill in for the months of November, December, and January.  Where do I begin?  Tyrus Thomas blew the wind out of the sails of this site when he went 0 for 25...in the first quarter of that Boston Celtics game.  Vinny Del Negro joined him when he took Thabo out of the starting lineup.  Kirk Hinrich, best player ever, didn't help by injuring his hand and not playing basketball even more than he hadn't in the last year.  Luol still had a guilty conscience about having a contract while Ben didn't and was timid.  Joakim Noah still didn't have a friend on the team.  Drew Gooden was having the mental lapses I was curious to see and naively didn't believe existed.  Larry Hughes played.  Nocioni grew frustrated by the game when his teammates didn't show the dedication to the team or the game as he will always do...and is now easily expendable.  Ben Gordon had power issues with Rose and still pounded the ball for 20 seconds in a possession to throw up whatever.  Aaron Gray's hands seem like they are the size of Shawn Kemp's judging by his inability to hold on to a ball.  So there you have it...when every single player on the Bulls team other than the miracle in Derrick Rose is literally pissing you off, would you want to write about them, nevermind even think of them?  

There you have it...if you want to know how the Bulls did the first three months of 2008-2009, our owner summed it up the best in the best scouting report given by the Bulls organization in the last three years: "You want the grade up till today? What's the lowest grade you can give? This has been a disaster. It's embarrassing..."

And where does this leave the Bulls now?  1 1/2 games out of the playoffs, a legitimate shot to get the seventh seed and upset the Cavaliers in the first round, and regain the confidence and competitiveness that once engineered this team.  Derrick Rose is a lock for the rookie of the year, Vinny continuously talks about playing Thabo more minutes, Larry Hughes could be dead and no one would even notice, Noah and Thomas are realizing they have only a few skills and utilizing only those skills is there only means to a job in the NBA, and Hinrich seems to have gotten tired of his wife and in love with basketball yet again...and Luol no longer cares about Ben and is becoming his own man again.  With another winnable game against Houston tonight and a Paul-less Hornets tomorrow...the Bulls will be turning heads going into the allstar break...the time is YAO!

- written by Kenoy

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.

Hinrich Needs the Heimlich

As the Bulls painfully sleepwalked through last season's nightmare, I couldn't help but notice how many fingers were pointed at Hinrich's subpar performances. Clearly, the New York Knicks style of play demonstrated by Larry Hughes and Ben Gordon were the reasons for the biggest letdown since Brent Barry and John Starks were the Bulls' guards after the Jordan era. Well, playing half the season without a coach...or a man at the head coach position...didn't help, but Hinrich? And then you have bloggers and podcasters saying that Hinrich has some sort of forceshield around him that protects him from blame when he deserves it? I had to get to the bottom of it before Paxson felt some sort of public popular pressure to trade the best Bull ever (see link on the right).

Let's remember who the real Kirk Hinrich is:

- Roy Williams once said that when Kirk said he was going to lock someone down, it meant to gameplan a defense for the other four players because Kirk was going to do what he said (think Champ Bailey on the Broncos defense).
- pestered Ray Allen to shoot below 35% consistently when playing Seattle and caused one of the game's better shooters to cry more than the day he found out that LaLa was cheating on him
- only rookie in the heralded class of 2003 to record a triple double
- second team defense when he should have been all NBA History defensive team
- 80+% free throw shooter but should be 90% if it weren't for the tight UC rims (ask Jordan)
- A baller who cares more about his game than his hair...or at least makes it seem that way
- has received the most technical fouls on the roster, meaning he is feisty, competetive, and unwilling to back down to shallow referrees who call fouls on him for his lack of social skills.
- the best 3 point shooter ever as long as he doesn't have to do everything for Ben Gordon such as guard both guards, run around to create space that Ben disrupts on offense, and spot Ben Gordon on all his bicep curls.
- drafted as high as in the 3rd round of some fantasy basketball leagues around the nation

So what happened last year? Why was he pretty much none of the above when he was so consistent for the three years before last? It doesn't make sense that a basketball player would forget how to shoot, or get out of shape that much, or lose a step in what is supposed to be the prime of his career. So after comparing the offseason from his best year (2006-07) and worst year (2007-08), it became clear that the biggest difference was in the company he kept...please read on. Now before I continue, I am astonished that no other Bulls writer came across this fact...I'm calling this a fact, no opinion, no room for arguments, no room for your comments...that no podcaster could realize this. Did they really believe that Hinrich at the age of 26-27 would fall apart this bad, although playing with Ben Gordon and Larry Hughes could do that to anyone? I hope they are reading so they stop with this trade Hinrich propoganda nonsense.

Two summers ago, Kirk was representing the US team and practicing with Lebron, Dwayne, Michael Redd, Carmelo (unfortanately another BG, Hughes type), and other allstars. Two summers ago, Kirk was highlighted in multiple Tribune articles as getting stronger and quicker to improve his defense and late game fatigue...I'm pretty sure there was a picture of him pulling a car uphill on some street of a Chicago suburb with Ron Adams at his side. One year ago, Kirk was getting married, to Jill, honeymooning in Hawaii. There were zero articles about his preparation before a season where expectations were the NBA finals. Practicing with LBJ...eating pig in Hawaii. Staying in front of Dwayne Wade...staying in front of his wife. Pulling tanks uphill...taking the trash out. Did anyone notice how Kirk looked like the energy was sucked out of him? The obvious thing to do would be to blame Ben Gordon for making the game not fun for Kirk, but Ben's been around for a few years and it never seemed to bother Kirk before. After the marriage, my guess is that Hinrich's priorities shifted just a little bit. It probably used to be 80% lead the Bulls to the finals versus 20% spend time with the wife. Last year...30% fulfill lofty expecatations, 70% don't get yelled at by the wife.

I can't find a picture of the woman, but I found some disturbing comments saying that Jill is ugly and that she doesn't put out. Now I have no idea why I just wrote that or what that has to do with his failure to fulfill his destiny to resurrect the franchise, but it sounds like good investigative material. The summer is gone, the Bulls are 0-2 in the preseason, and I have yet to read one article on how hard Hinrich worked on his quads and shooting stroke. Bottom line, if this becomes a repeat of last year, don't trade Hinrich...just thrust out the wife he's choking on.

One More Year of "Air Gordon"

On Wednesday, October 1 2008, the Bulls and Ben Gordon agreed to a 1 year 6.4 million dollar deal as a restricted free agent which will enable the guard to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. What this means to Bulls fans is one last year (hopefully) of "Air Gordon"...the one who tries to cross over defenders, dish out no look assists, steal like a thief, takes it strong to the rim, lead the fast break and ultimately wonders why his "Airness" is asked to come off the bench behind Nocioni and Thabo.

I looked through numerous Google searches to find the article where Ben became Air Gordon or Ben Jordan. The only article I came up with was from the Sun Times that insists that Bulls fans began whispering these nicknames. Shame on you...actually, shame on me. I was the ringleader of the Michael Jordan comparisons. I was the one who tivo'd the game winner over Marty Collins and played it repeatedly over and over again, forcing my roommate to watch it when he could care less about the Bulls. What were we thinking?

That leads me to another bizarre situation. Normally, I find myself getting frustrated with players that don't execute the basic fundamentals of team basketball: swinging the ball, setting a proper pick, spacing on the floor, taking smart shots. Not with Ben. Here are common blasphemies blurted during a Bulls game.

"Why the hell did you pass that ball? Shoot the damn ball! If you ever pass again in your career, I will destroy you!"

"Another reaching foul? Will you stop trying to play defense? Just let your man go!"

"Just shoot it right now...you're five feet behind the 3 point line, you're open, just shoot."

"Don't use the pick, just take your man one on one, this isn't a team game, god damn it!"

"Don't pay attention to the team huddle. It's simple, go get the ball and shoot it. Stop trying to be a part of an organized play!"

Sports fans at bars watching alongside me don't know how to respond to my wild outbursts. Throughout the game they realize I know what I'm talking about with my basketball knowledge, but as soon as they hear my advice to Ben that makes all basketball Gods cringe, they freeze. Then all of a sudden I've lost any friends I've made at the bar and all thanks to Gordon, I am alone with three gulps left of my "Hinriken" and another Bulls meltdown.

Ben Gordon can make this year a success if he has right goals in mind. Right now, this is his list of goals.

1 - Get to the free throw line as much as Kobe
2 - Become an allstar
3 - Average one dunk over tallest opponent per game
4 - Average most minutes on team

If becoming an allstar means doing things other than shooting threes, I pray this never happens for him. Here are the goals he should have in mind.

1- Make most 3 pointers in nba regular season history
2- Beat Hodges with most 3 point contest wins in franchise history
3- Shoot more threes than 2 point shots
4- Extend range to 30 ft.

And that's it! That's how he can help himself, the Bulls, Hinrich, Vinny, Paxson, and most importantly, me. No more playmaking, ball handling, slipping on the floor from trying drive past his man, no more drawing contact and missing layups, botched pick and rolls, swinging the ball to the last person on earth you'd want to shoot a jumer (Noah, Thomas, Gray), dreaming of being announced last in starting lineups...none of that. Just shoot threes, over double teams, triple teams, twenty seconds left on the shot clock...just shoot.

That's why it's so hard for coaches to coach the guy. They find themselves on the verge of telling him to do something that you are taught to never do. Now that it's cemented that he's around for one more year and there's no pressure to appease him for a long term deal, Vinny is in a position to handle Ben the proper way. Bring him off the bench for 25 minutes and tell him to do everything that a smart basketball player would never, ever do. Here's hoping that I'll have my last year of lonely beers watching Ben Jordan.

No Ben? No Problem

Nobody's getting pessimistic or negative here to start the 08-09 Chicago Bulls season.  Trust me, I already know how the Bulls will take the Central division, upset the Lakers in the finals, and begin the dynasty that will last another ten years.  I've already celebrated Thabo's Defensive Player of the Year award, Derrick Rose's Rookie of Year honors, Hinrich's Comeback Player of the Year, Noce's Sixth Man, Vinny's Coach of the Year, Pax's GM of the Year, and obviously Deng's Community Assist award for the next 5 years.  But there's one player that puts all of these certainties at risk...that guy in the picture above.

It's hard to believe that we're here blaming BG for the quick fall of the rise of the Bulls.  How did he go from 4th quarter hero, mentioned in a group of elite closers such as Kobe, Lebron, and D Wade, to the next Stephon Marbury or Jamal Crawford?  How did he go from hitting game winning shots to hitting the fourth row with a pass?  Somehow analysts theorize that Skiles lost the attention of the team, or Kirk forgot how to shoot, or there was no inside game, or Noce took too many threes, or Tyrus didn't become the Matrix in his second season...but it's about time someone states what Paxson won't say with his words but has with his contract negotiations: Ben Gordon must go.

Nobody was a bigger BG fan than myself his rookie year.  Remember the formula?  Get within single digits by the fourth quarter and BG's heroics plus Tyson's rebounding equaled another Bulls upset.  He played to his strengths of shooting 3's, shooting floaters, shooting fadeaways, shooting freethrows...just shooting.  Then somebody made him believe he could be more than a shooter and he could do more than shoot.  Who the hell called him "Air Gordon"?  What was thought of as a catchy headline became the beginning of the end for BG.  You could see it in everything he did that he believed he could impact the game the way MJ would.  All of a sudden he thought he was an allround player.  Do you remember cringing everytime he had 8 assists and 6 rebounds on the stat sheet?  NOOOOO!!!!  That summer it was reported that Gordon was working on defense and passing.  He thought he was expanding his game, but he was expanding his head.  It's as if Gordon was no longer happy being in a specialized role, as if getting triple-doubles was the only measure of basketball greatness.   

Stay tuned for how this development led to the dysfunctional Bulls team we painfully watched last year...