fdr2012 wrote:BTW - Bulls looked pretty pathetic yesterday against the Clips. They look like a lottery team.
well, i think it was expected. They won't even be the same team when Rose comes back. They'll be better for sure, but they won't be as good as they were.
The Knicks have Brewer who was doing a lot of the same things. Fiesty D, awesome cuts to the basket. Gone.
Asik has been a great big in Houston providing very good defense and decent offense. Gone
CJ Watson was their backup point. I don't think the Bulls suffered that hard with Nate taking his place, but he's a short player and a defensive liability.
Those guys did all the little things and they were a part of a potent defensive 2nd unit. They've been replaced by guys that simply can't play the same D and don't really provide a big offensive punch. More pressure is being put on Noah to fill in for Asik's defense, but that's got to be a concern because Noah is injury prone.
Rose isn't fixing all of that and I don't know if the Bulls have the leverage to address the issues. I'd be surprised if they return to their former level over the past 2 years.