Stuff from the United Center

[superdave]

Nice writeup bro. Don't think Lebron will really ever grow up with his 20 man entourage suckling on his teet. This being said, damn good basketball player.

[WinCity]

that i'll agree with. derrick needs to work on his dump off passes. his kickout passes are better than his dump off passes in traffic though. with bargs parked at the 3 pt line, there would definitely be less help in the paint.

still doesnt change the fact that boozer's one of the least respected "20/10" players in the game. with this team as currently constructed and factoring in derrick's tendencies, boozer is NOT a 20/10 player.

Well I do really like the idea of a stretch 4 or 5, I just disagree with moving Booz for Bargs specifically.

I do think Booz is respected more than you say. Granted, he isn't respected NOW, obviously everyone knows he has been trash and has been hurt. But he was 20/10 earlier in the season when he was healthy. i believe it all started to spiral down for him after the Kwame shove and nasty ankle sprain.

Also, Booz has drawn plenty of doubles when playing well. I recall the Lakers game in which he was getting plenty of doubles in the post and kicking to Rose for spot up 3's which he nailed. Boston doubled him also, when he is healthy and playing well he draws the double because opponents know he can get on a roll.

Booz and Rose can still play better together i agree. Pick and roll, and drive and dish etc. can all improve. But to me I am far more concerned with how Booz and Noah work together rather than Booz and Rose.

I see a lot of frustration brewing with Noah, especially on defense, and I truly believe Noah's struggles can be traced in large part to his emotional reaction to playing alongside Booz on defense.

[ManualRam]

that i'll agree with. derrick needs to work on his dump off passes. his kickout passes are better than his dump off passes in traffic though. with bargs parked at the 3 pt line, there would definitely be less help in the paint.

still doesnt change the fact that boozer's one of the least respected "20/10" players in the game. with this team as currently constructed and factoring in derrick's tendencies, boozer is NOT a 20/10 player.

Well I do really like the idea of a stretch 4 or 5, I just disagree with moving Booz for Bargs specifically.

I do think Booz is respected more than you say. Granted, he isn't respected NOW, obviously everyone knows he has been trash and has been hurt. But he was 20/10 earlier in the season when he was healthy. i believe it all started to spiral down for him after the Kwame shove and nasty ankle sprain.

Also, Booz has drawn plenty of doubles when playing well. I recall the Lakers game in which he was getting plenty of doubles in the post and kicking to Rose for spot up 3's which he nailed. Boston doubled him also, when he is healthy and playing well he draws the double because opponents know he can get on a roll.

Booz and Rose can still play better together i agree. Pick and roll, and drive and dish etc. can all improve. But to me I am far more concerned with how Booz and Noah work together rather than Booz and Rose.

look at booz's splits. its all been downhill from his first month.
i've said this before, but there is no reason to double boozer because he cannot create his own offense. any team that does that is making a huge mistake.

i see noah as part of the team going forward (at least i hope so). the concerns about he and boozer playing together are just as important.

[step]

Thanks for the input Sherron.

I see a lot of frustration brewing with Noah, especially on defense, and I truly believe Noah's struggles can be traced in large part to his emotional reaction to playing alongside Booz on defense.

I think in large part is because he is the one that usually has to rotate to cover for him leaving his man open, thus being partially blamed for the breakdown.

I'm all for trading him, but only for a move that makes us better. Not a knee jerk reaction trade just to part ways with him.

As painful as today was, I can't wait till next season.

[WinCity]

look at booz's splits. its all been downhill from his first month.
i've said this before, but there is no reason to double boozer because he cannot create his own offense. any team that does that is making a huge mistake.

i see noah as part of the team going forward (at least i hope so). the concerns about he and boozer playing together are just as important.

I will take a 2nd look at his numbers, but I recall a very good first month, good second month and than downhill coinciding with th ankle injury and Noah's return. And he was punishing teams a lot in the post when he was at this best this season so I disagree that he cant create in that sense, however as he does require a very good post feed to get there I can see what your saying about not creating in that sense. Look, the guy was considering a top offensive PF for a number of years, and played well here for a stretch. We know he's hurt I doubt he's declined to epic bad levels already.

That being said I'm fine with trading him but its got to be a move up, or lateral, not down. I'm still open to changing my mind about Bargs so feel free to work me on that, but I'm really not close to there now.

[WinCity]

Thanks for the input Sherron.

I see a lot of frustration brewing with Noah, especially on defense, and I truly believe Noah's struggles can be traced in large part to his emotional reaction to playing alongside Booz on defense.

I think in large part is because he is the one that usually has to rotate to cover for him leaving his man open, thus being partially blamed for the breakdown.

I'm all for trading him, but only for a move that makes us better. Not a knee jerk reaction trade just to part ways with him.

As painful as today was, I can't wait till next season.

Gasol and Bynum also had the same problem this off season. Lack of good communication and rotations. Magic and Jerry West both said they need to trade one to split them up.

[JDRochholz]

Good stuff once again Sherron! Thanks for the report. And great job this season!

[SherronShabazz]

Good stuff once again Sherron! Thanks for the report. And great job this season!

thanks!!!

i got credentialed to cover the nba finals.. but i declined. i just can't do it. it sucks being a bulls fan and trying to be in the media too. i don't know how to not care.

[Godzilla039]

All that Boozer talk so soon is interesting... wonder where that comes from.

it was too much. it surprised me. i think somebody let something leak. somebody heard something or knows something. hey, pax and gar can't be happy with what booz has done. but he's owed what, 60 million? good luck dumping that on someone

DWill knows how to get him the ball. The Brooklyn Nets would probably take him.

[spaceheat]

Ill bet money it was Pax who went off within earshot of a reporter about trading Booz. Pax is the kind of guy who would blow up like that. And given Booz's performance I wouldn't blame him for feeling this way. Not only was he bad on D he doesn't give effort. Even OG Kurt can move his feet to rotate, Booz should be able to at least match Kurt at that! Its clearly not ability its effort. On offense has been purtrid, so basically all we got was rebounding.

I'm on the get Andrea Bargnani train.\

He does what bosh does for miami he clears the lane of a big body so Wade and Ledouche can drive the lane and if you choose to sag off he can burn you with the 18 footer or the 3pt shot. He has post moves and can run the floor.

Honestly, when healthy Booz is probably still better. Not sure Bargs is the answer. Now if Pax is responding to something more than what we know, e.g. Booz being a locker room problem than yes you trade him for a lesser player.

The thing is... you can not depend on Carlos for anything. He appears to be the model of inconsistency. Give me someone who shows up on a nightly basis. They don't have to be as good as Carlos Boozer's best effort, they just have to give me something consistently.

[umfan83]

i agree 100%. a buddy of mine loves lebron and said, "i don't understand why everyone hates lebron because he's the best player in the world."

i said dude... people don't hate him because he's a great player, they hate him because he's a douche.

he of course replied, but michael jordan was a douche!!

And again, I might be biased, but there is a big difference between being competitive and being a douche.

Maybe, but can't you at least a little bit, knowing Jordan, see him shooting around before a Finals game and trash talking to Delta Center employees "This is y'all last game of work this season, we ain't coming back here!" ?

Because I can totally see that,

[blumeany]

Look - even if a Bulls player DID cry, this was the time to do it. You play your ass off in the ECF and it just isn't enough and your season is over. It's not after a regular season loss with your team in 2nd place and only a few games left in the season.

[blumeany]

Thanks for the inside info SS! I can definitely see Paxson losing his cool. I think he's the ultimate hothead Bulls fan.

Buy me a ticket on the 'Ship Boozer Out' train. I just don't see that guy getting any better, honestly. You can make all the excuses in the world, but in the end Noah and Boozer had plenty of time to work together and find a chemistry. Also, a lot of Boozer's problems were things like finishing at the rim or boxing out, or not making stupid fouls. That's separate from his awful team defense.

[Future Coach]

As always, thank for the insight. It's great hearing/reading these close-door discussions that we typically aren't privileged to.

Like others, the Boozer talk intrigues me. You said it was coming from other reporters? Did it seem like they got the idea from someone in the organization or was it just their own speculation?


I can certainly see him being moved, and I do think other teams would be interested. His contract really isn't as bad as it seems when compared to others (for example Lee, Joe Johnson, Amare). It's small enough where he could be moved with one of our cheaper players for something decent. Something like a Stephen Jackson & Diaw package (although I don't see Jordan paying big money for a non-contender, since he said so), or something involving Josh Smith (If the Hawks commit to Horford at C and their sale talks stall). If the Bulls were simply looking to dump him the Kings might be interested as it would create a decent front court for them. I don't see the Raptors taking him given the PF spot belongs to Ed Davis. The Pistons would certainly be willing to dump some of their bad contracts. Point is, he can be moved. Just depends on how motivated the Bulls are to be rid of him. From the trades speculated above, I'd be all over a Hawks or Bobcats deal if possible.

[coolblue]

Thanks as usual for the great insider stuff. Interesting tidbit about Boozer, though the Lebron one does not surprise me at all.

[SherronShabazz]

All that Boozer talk so soon is interesting... wonder where that comes from.

it was too much. it surprised me. i think somebody let something leak. somebody heard something or knows something. hey, pax and gar can't be happy with what booz has done. but he's owed what, 60 million? good luck dumping that on someone

DWill knows how to get him the ball. The Brooklyn Nets would probably take him.

hmmmm never thought of that. they did offer him a deal in the summer didnt they?

[SherronShabazz]

Thanks for the inside info SS! I can definitely see Paxson losing his cool. I think he's the ultimate hothead Bulls fan.

Buy me a ticket on the 'Ship Boozer Out' train. I just don't see that guy getting any better, honestly. You can make all the excuses in the world, but in the end Noah and Boozer had plenty of time to work together and find a chemistry. Also, a lot of Boozer's problems were things like finishing at the rim or boxing out, or not making stupid fouls. That's separate from his awful team defense.

thanks and i agree.

[SherronShabazz]

As always, thank for the insight. It's great hearing/reading these close-door discussions that we typically aren't privileged to.

Like others, the Boozer talk intrigues me. You said it was coming from other reporters? Did it seem like they got the idea from someone in the organization or was it just their own speculation?


I can certainly see him being moved, and I do think other teams would be interested. His contract really isn't as bad as it seems when compared to others (for example Lee, Joe Johnson, Amare). It's small enough where he could be moved with one of our cheaper players for something decent. Something like a Stephen Jackson & Diaw package (although I don't see Jordan paying big money for a non-contender, since he said so), or something involving Josh Smith (If the Hawks commit to Horford at C and their sale talks stall). If the Bulls were simply looking to dump him the Kings might be interested as it would create a decent front court for them. I don't see the Raptors taking him given the PF spot belongs to Ed Davis. The Pistons would certainly be willing to dump some of their bad contracts. Point is, he can be moved. Just depends on how motivated the Bulls are to be rid of him. From the trades speculated above, I'd be all over a Hawks or Bobcats deal if possible.

thanks. it seemed to be a little bit of both.

[panthermark]

Good stuff SS....

[SherronShabazz]

Thanks as usual for the great insider stuff. Interesting tidbit about Boozer, though the Lebron one does not surprise me at all.

thanks.

it was weird to see such sadness and such happiness just a few feet away from each other. derrick's mom and joakim's mom were hugging in the hallway. they were both really sad.

even some of the beat writers were really sad. it was a crappy way to go out. really crappy.

dwyane wade's family were all smiles in their little ecf t shirts. the heat executives were high fiving each other.

weird dynamic seeing such an extreme difference in emotions.