Bulls (30-8) @ 76ers (22-15) (03/04/2012) on ESPN

[Kobblehead]

I'm just tired of niche players. Most winning basketball teams have them as assets. We, on the other hand, seem to build around them and depend on them to win us games. Next to Spencer Hawes going down, expanding Lou Williams' role was the next biggest reason for our downfall.

Also, it would be great if we could just develop our young guys. It seems like every one of them has regressed. It would be a whole lot easier to get excited for our future if we actually knew what we had and what to get rid of.

[SJSF]

This team is showing its true colors. Mediocrity. A few moves are needed. This team needs a true scorer at the SG position. Iggy can't score. Hell he is shooting barely 40% from the field and 60% from the Ft line. Meeks is a bencher. they certainly have to make a move for next season. I do think that this year is done. They will be bounced in the first round.

[phifans]

please Desy let me know which team will give us a quality big man or a closer for the junk that we will offer them

if quality big man and closers were so easy to find they wouldent we have them by now?

You are underestimating sixers talent. Iggy's value is at all time high and they also have other pieces (Young, Lou, Turner, Nocioni's expiring contract). Im sure sixers can get a go to scorer with a combination of these pieces (if they wanted).

Problem is you still don't know how good Turner will turn out to be and if a lineup of Holiday, Turner and Iggy can work. Which is why i have a feeling they won't make a trade.

The problem is our head coach refuse to even try that.

[phifans]

This team is showing its true colors. Mediocrity. A few moves are needed. This team needs a true scorer at the SG position. Iggy can't score. Hell he is shooting barely 40% from the field and 60% from the Ft line. Meeks is a bencher. they certainly have to make a move for next season. I do think that this year is done. They will be bounced in the first round.

Don't use that word "mediocrity" unless we go back to .500 cause very few people are willing to admit that.

[Mik317]

This is a difficult season to develop players.

The lack of practice time makes it harder to go over things and work on them,..this leads you to try and do them on the fly.

I wouldn't say that they all have regressed at all tho.

Thad has added a few moves to his game, has become a better defender and rebounder(the stats may not back this one up though...so don't take my word for this one), and as much as I hate to see him shoot he's been a better shooter, he even hits his free throws lately.

Jrue looks like he's regressed but with him it's more that he's stagnated which happens with young players. DRose stagnated at one point (not saying Jrue is Rose), plus Jrue is still crazy young so he has time.

Lou for all his bull has gotten better. He doesn't turn it over that much (except when the game is on the line..trolololol). Before this god awful game he's been shooting 38% from 3 and trails only Kobe and Durant in 4th quarter points.

Then you have Voosh, who has been solid for us. and Lavoy has shown stretches of being productive too.

Turner is pretty much the only one who has "regresses" and with him It's more like he hasn't improved than gotten worse.

Meeks is Meeks.

So to say we haven't developed our players is rushing to judgement. Just because they may have not reached the insanely high expectations we set on them (Jrue better than Prime Billups, Turner being Penny Hardaway, Lou better than Ellis type ****) doesn't mean they haven't made progress.

Besides with young players they are always movable because every GM,Coach believes they can get the most out of them. It's the reason guys like Stromile Swift and Tyrus Thomas have 10-12 yr careers.

Luckily for us, our guys work hard and for the most part aren't stupid.

We obviously still need that guy and he isn't on the roster at the moment sadly but if New Jersey can get Deron for Favors and Junk or NY can get Melo for Gallinari and stuff. Then we should be pretty good.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Question is..Who can we get? Who's available? I would do a trade for a star player if he's out there and is being offered.
First and foremost we need an upgrade at the shooting guard position. We need a consistant scorer from that position. Jodie Meeks is just too up and down on and off for me to put my faith into and Turner is for some reason still learning how to hit a jump shot. Consistancy from the guard position is what is really hurting because we just don't have it.

[eyeatoma]

Question is..Who can we get? Who's available? I would do a trade for a star player if he's out there and is being offered.
First and foremost we need an upgrade at the shooting guard position. We need a consistant scorer from that position. Jodie Meeks is just too up and down on and off for me to put my faith into and Turner is for some reason still learning how to hit a jump shot. Consistancy from the guard position is what is really hurting because we just don't have it.

Players that I would be willling to deal for even though some might have defensive deficiencies:

Monta Ellis
Rudy Gay
Marcus Thornton
Paul George
James Harden
Wes Matthews
Mo Williams
Tyreke Evans (Shudder, but maybe he can improve under Collins)

Out of those players, Ellis, Gay, Harden make us elite, especially if we get a really good big after amnestying brand...

Thornton George Matthews Williams give us a consistent three point threat. Out of which George has tons of potential. Tyreke Evans isn't great at spreading the floor, but he is a Pennsylvania product and has some upside still

[9th Wonder]

You are underestimating sixers talent. Iggy's value is at all time high and they also have other pieces (Young, Lou, Turner, Nocioni's expiring contract). Im sure sixers can get a go to scorer with a combination of these pieces (if they wanted).

Problem is you still don't know how good Turner will turn out to be and if a lineup of Holiday, Turner and Iggy can work. Which is why i have a feeling they won't make a trade.

The problem is our head coach refuse to even try that.

We saw a fair amount of it tonight. Evan didn't really do himself any favours by clanking every shot he took.

[9th Wonder]

Kinda frustrating to see the guys be handed several chances to win the game. Iggy airballs an open three, Young shoots over Noah instead of taking it to the rack, and Iggy ignores a wide open Holiday to brick a three over two defenders. If he makes the pass to Holiday, it's 50/50 that the game goes to overtime.

Anyways, a nice job by the coaching staff down the stretch to trap Rose and force turnovers. Some decent play calls on the other side of the ball, but execution wasn't the players' strong suit tonight. Oh well. Can't always win against the Bulls.

[Iversean]

Ever since the 2nd half meltdown versus the Mavs, we been stinking it up. This team as constructed right now can't compete with the upper echelon teams. Heck against good teams (MIN,HOU,ORL,MEM,etc) we got exposed. Before the GS game, we were what 19 games without scoring 100+? That is truly pathetic.

It seems as if everybody shows up when we play bad teams, but once a we face a good/great teams we somehow find a way to lose. I don't know if thats coaching or just lack of options and talent.

Lou with another poor showing. Ugh, if we still manage somehow to win the Atlantic there is a great chance we will be without HC advantage. Probably will be against (ORL,IND,ATL) Besides ATL, I doubt we win a first round series against ORL or IND. I don't think we will finish higher than #4.

[Chicago-Bull-E]

Good game. I want to desperately steal Lou Williams and Nikola Vucevic from your team. Lou would be the other creator we really need (although he struggled shooting today), and Vucevic comes across as a big that has no problem banging for rebounds, and can hit a jumper when he needs to.

And don't fall to 7th/8th. Would much rather play Boston/New York

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

"eyeatoma"

Players that I would be willling to deal for even though some might have defensive deficiencies:

Monta Ellis

Golden State doesn't seem to want to part with him right now.

Rudy Gay

Memphis I feel believes in their core..On top of that Gay is a small forward like Iguodala. Moving Iguodala to shooting guard is an experiment that has already been tried. It doesn't work.

Marcus Thornton

Kings have struck gold with this kid and I don't think they are gonna move him. We had a chance to get him in the draft and decided to be cheapskates about it.. I remember.

Paul George

He's no longer a secret in Indiana and there is probably no way they part with him unless it's for a superstar player.

James Harden

Maybe we throw a huge offer his way in the offseason and OKC just doesn't find a way to match. They are going to have to pay up Ibaka too so I think they lose one of them and my guess is that it would be James Harden. If we do try to get him it's got to be a max contract we offer. Does the front office wanna do that? Is he worth that?

Wes Matthews

He's an option...Good defender, can knock down the three. I'm down but what are we giving up? Portland is talking rebuild with LMA and Batum so they are gonna want young players and prospects in return.. Are we ready to part with Evan Turner? Thats who they will ask for.. Is the potential of Turner really worth Wes Mathews (who is already tapped out)? No doubt Mathews is a nice player but Turner may be way better than him in another year or two.

Mo Williams

No thanks...Besides I think he's staying put in LA right now for their run.. Besides we already have an undersized scorer in Lou.

Tyreke Evans (Shudder, but maybe he can improve under Collins)

Why shudder over that? I think he's the most talented of the group you listed and while he's not a floor spacer he is a scorer and a damn good one. Gets to the line and still is playing with a ton of untapped potential.. I also think he's a coachable player under Collins.

[phifans]

"eyeatoma"

Players that I would be willling to deal for even though some might have defensive deficiencies:

Monta Ellis

Golden State doesn't seem to want to part with him right now.

Rudy Gay

Memphis I feel believes in their core..On top of that Gay is a small forward like Iguodala. Moving Iguodala to shooting guard is an experiment that has already been tried. It doesn't work.

Marcus Thornton

Kings have struck gold with this kid and I don't think they are gonna move him. We had a chance to get him in the draft and decided to be cheapskates about it.. I remember.

Paul George

He's no longer a secret in Indiana and there is probably no way they part with him unless it's for a superstar player.

James Harden

Maybe we throw a huge offer his way in the offseason and OKC just doesn't find a way to match. They are going to have to pay up Ibaka too so I think they lose one of them and my guess is that it would be James Harden. If we do try to get him it's got to be a max contract we offer. Does the front office wanna do that? Is he worth that?

Wes Matthews

He's an option...Good defender, can knock down the three. I'm down but what are we giving up? Portland is talking rebuild with LMA and Batum so they are gonna want young players and prospects in return.. Are we ready to part with Evan Turner? Thats who they will ask for.. Is the potential of Turner really worth Wes Mathews (who is already tapped out)? No doubt Mathews is a nice player but Turner may be way better than him in another year or two.

Mo Williams

No thanks...Besides I think he's staying put in LA right now for their run.. Besides we already have an undersized scorer in Lou.

Tyreke Evans (Shudder, but maybe he can improve under Collins)

Why shudder over that? I think he's the most talented of the group you listed and while he's not a floor spacer he is a scorer and a damn good one. Gets to the line and still is playing with a ton of untapped potential.. I also think he's a coachable player under Collins.

True . Tyreke is the only one of that list who a) seems available b) are real talented c) I'd like to give Turner up for.

[Ben]

I was at the game with my 9 year old son, who brought six friends for his birthday. The Bulls are the only team for whom I would root against the Sixers; I'm a Chicago guy first and foremost, but living on the east coast I've adopted Philly as my 2nd team. I felt really bad for my son and his friends when the Bulls went up by 13, and I felt better for them when the Sixers pulled within 4. When they pulled within 2 I didn't feel bad for them any more.

Sixers showed what a well-coached team they are. Wonderful ball movement on many possessions. Offensive rebounding was amazing. Vucevic had one of the best games I've seen him play. Showed great touch near the basket and showed way more toughness than I've seen from him for a while.

Obviously, as many of you have been saying, the Sixers need a scorer & closer. My idea is Kevin Martin. The reason is that in addition to shooting he can get to the foul line. He hasn't drawn fouls at the same rate he did in the past, partly b/c of the no-rip-through foul change this season. But it also might in part be due to the way Houston has been utilizing him (as a spot up shooter). Tonight he was 10-10 from the line, something I saw only after I spent the ride home thinking about ways that the Sixers could get him.

I would offer Evan Turner, Nocioni's expiring, and a 1st round draft pick. That might not be enough for Houston, but perhaps Utah would take Turner, Brackins & a 2nd for Millsap, and then send Millsap, Nocioni & a #1 to Houston for Martin.

Don't know what Utah & Houston would say, but if the basic skeleton is there for a Martin deal I would really hope that the Sixers would pursue it. They NEED that guy who can get the ball and know that he's either going to score it or go to the line. Martin's probably about as close as they could get to that. They're a very well coached and athletic team otherwise...

EDIT: Houston could add in Thabeet's negative-value contract to make the salaries match. Sixers take back Thabeet and cut him next year when they have a team option.

[eyeatoma]

"eyeatoma"

Players that I would be willling to deal for even though some might have defensive deficiencies:

Monta Ellis

Golden State doesn't seem to want to part with him right now.

Rudy Gay

Memphis I feel believes in their core..On top of that Gay is a small forward like Iguodala. Moving Iguodala to shooting guard is an experiment that has already been tried. It doesn't work.

Marcus Thornton

Kings have struck gold with this kid and I don't think they are gonna move him. We had a chance to get him in the draft and decided to be cheapskates about it.. I remember.

Paul George

He's no longer a secret in Indiana and there is probably no way they part with him unless it's for a superstar player.

James Harden

Maybe we throw a huge offer his way in the offseason and OKC just doesn't find a way to match. They are going to have to pay up Ibaka too so I think they lose one of them and my guess is that it would be James Harden. If we do try to get him it's got to be a max contract we offer. Does the front office wanna do that? Is he worth that?

Wes Matthews

He's an option...Good defender, can knock down the three. I'm down but what are we giving up? Portland is talking rebuild with LMA and Batum so they are gonna want young players and prospects in return.. Are we ready to part with Evan Turner? Thats who they will ask for.. Is the potential of Turner really worth Wes Mathews (who is already tapped out)? No doubt Mathews is a nice player but Turner may be way better than him in another year or two.

Mo Williams

No thanks...Besides I think he's staying put in LA right now for their run.. Besides we already have an undersized scorer in Lou.

Tyreke Evans (Shudder, but maybe he can improve under Collins)

Why shudder over that? I think he's the most talented of the group you listed and while he's not a floor spacer he is a scorer and a damn good one. Gets to the line and still is playing with a ton of untapped potential.. I also think he's a coachable player under Collins.

I think Evans is on a team that was like the Blazers of the early 00's... I feel he's selfish, and has questionable character. The fact that he can't spread the floor will irk Collins, and if he can't flourish on a floundering Kings team how well can he blossom on a team oriented Sixers team. I think he still has potential, but think he's a risk.

Out of everyone, I'd love to go with Harden. I feel that he's going to be a 22-24 ppg player who plays decent defense and isn't afraid to take the last shot...

[ryst]

Good game. I want to desperately steal Lou Williams and Nikola Vucevic from your team. Lou would be the other creator we really need (although he struggled shooting today), and Vucevic comes across as a big that has no problem banging for rebounds, and can hit a jumper when he needs to.

And don't fall to 7th/8th. Would much rather play Boston/New York

we will trade you Lou Williams for a Spieghts kind of package, yes its that easy

Lou Williams sucks playing good teams and teams who know how to defend but you will love playing the GSW of the world, up 15 in the fourth Lou Willaims will light them to win by 30 , he is that good.

[eyeatoma]

Also Evans reminds me a lot of Jerry Stackhouse and Larry Hughes...Do not want...

[Mik317]

Tyreke hasn't been coached his entire life except maybe his rookie year when he had Adelman(i think?) which was his best year (20-5-5).

At his worst he's an athletic Turner. But he's been clutch before and can score. Great handles too.

This issue is that he too needs the ball in his hands and isn't a good shooter (his form is the thing of nightmares) and he gives off that Jrue feel in that he's too cool for school.

BUT perhaps coming back home and the fact that he was traded would light a fire under him?

Turner and Lou for Reke and Jimmer?

[dafunky1]

GG gents.......... I always liked my guy Doug Collins and you guys are a splitting image of the Bulls,tough defense.Like Chicagi Bull E posted,I don't wanna meet you guys in the first round.Please stay in the 3-6 range.Good luck the rest of the year(till y'all meet the Bulls again).

[Mik317]

Bulls Fans are so damn classy.

They like our team more than we do.