RealGM

I looked for another thread that might be appropriate for this but didn't really see a fit. So the usual disclaimer to the mods offering to merge, lock or do whatever that magic is mods do.

In the 20 days prior to the first game after the break, the Bulls will have played a total of 5 games. While 4 of them coming up are somewhat tight together, the Bulls shouldn't be overworked and have an opportunity to get rested and healed up.

We have talked a lot about changing starting lineups, trades, etc. My position is that the Bulls need to use this time to get everyone as healthy as possible. With that in mind I would put the following into place for the next 4 games:

1. "Find" a minor injury in game 4 that requires Gasol to sit out the farce they call an all-star game.
2. As an aside, I would do the same with Butler if A) I thought they could get away with it and B) it wasn't Butler's first, and possibly only, appearance. I expect Jimmy may feel it is important to him.
3. Leave MDJ out until after the break regardless of how he feels (this has pretty much already been stated as the plan)
4. Significantly reduce Pau and Noah's playing time the next 4 games and let Taj and Niko get more burn at C/PF. Quit playing Niko at SF except for glaring matchup advantages.
5. Reduce Hinrich's minutes and increase Brooks/Moore's minutes until after the break.
6. In lieu of sending Dougie to the D-League, play him at SF as Snell's backup until after the break. I mean...unless he is so bad he is just going to glaringly embarrass himself. This will also allow Thibs to reduce Butler's minutes the next 4 games.

Basically, I don't care about these next 4 games. I don't care about the all-star game. I want as healthy a team as possible coming out of the break. If we do that, then I believe that by 10 games after the break the Bulls should be at top speed and top form, and we will know once and for all whether they are pretenders, or contenders.

I know the flip side of this is "building chemistry". But with MDJ out and Snell his only replacement, with Noah on the edge of getting closer to his old self on the court, with the minutes and load Gasol has had the first half of the season, with Noah starting to get over his injury (why push it), and with Hinrich obviously only being able to contribute when he is relatively fresh, I think the chemistry thing takes a back seat.

What say ye?

And then the obvious summary. Whether you think the above is a great idea or pure craziness, would Thibs ever do it? Nah.....what was I thinking.

No.

kyrv wrote:No.

Lol. OK, to which question/thought? or to all of them? Or just to "would thibs ever do it"?

It's irrelevant because Pau would refuse. He's super hyped for starting the AS game against his brother. Their parents are coming in from Spain and everything.

Derrick even made a comment about 'when players get back from the AS game they are going to have to focus on the rest of the season'. As if worrying about this very thing. But yeah, he's going.

Gasols not goin to war, its only a game where the best play and fans voted for him to be there, no reason not to play in it.

He has an obligation to the fans and the league to play in the All-Star game. I voted for him, so I would be pretty disappointed if he didn't play.

Rerisen wrote:It's irrelevant because Pau would refuse. He's super hyped for starting the AS game against his brother. Their parents are coming in from Spain and everything.

Derrick even made a comment about 'when players get back from the AS game they are going to have to focus on the rest of the season'. As if worrying about this very thing. But yeah, he's going.

It seems like Gasol believes he is 24 rather than 34 for all the Thibs bashing on his minutes. He wants to play in closing, wants to start and wants to be involved a lot.

It's the 12 minute straight first and third quarters that are upsetting people. His body can't handle that. He's tired at the 7 minute mark.

I can't disagree with any of those reasons. I think the game itself is junk so I admit I am biased. So, what about these last 4 games before the break?

Stratmaster wrote:I can't disagree with any of those reasons. I think the game itself is junk so I admit I am biased. So, what about these last 4 games before the break?

Jen has the power to do it.

Gasol isn't missing the allstar game where he makes history starting with and playing against his brother.

Not sure what the OP's opinion on Luol playing in the 2012 Olympics was but sometimes there are literally once in a lifetime events that you shouldn't stand in the way of. Much like I thought Luol deserved the right to play in that game, I think Pau deserves to play against his brother in the All-Star Game and make history.

I see your point but there is no way he refuses to be there.
There are a lot of extras that have been already said in this post that make this allstar even more special for him imo, anyway, I would never quit an all star spot, especially if it is as starter.

Mech Engineer wrote:It seems like Gasol believes he is 24 rather than 34 for all the Thibs bashing on his minutes. He wants to play in closing, wants to start and wants to be involved a lot.

So when you are 34, you can't start nor finish nor being involved a lot. Interesting...
By the way, Is Thibs the one who thinks he is 24 by putting Gasol 88 minutes on the court in b2b games

Might as well tell your high school kid to skip his graduation ceremony where he's valedictorian so he can study more for his upcoming college classes.

Considering how many better teams than Chicago are out there, the Bulls should be ecstatic to even have a player the rest of the league considers a starting All-Star representing them in the ASG.

I think we should enjoy what positives this season had, because we probably won't get another starter in the ASG for a looooooooong time.

Pau probably sees the writing on the wall, the ASG will be the highlight of his season.

He'll be going up against his brother, and there's a really high chance it's his last ASG ever so nope.

15 minutes in an exhibition game aren't going to matter anyway.

The all-star game is hardly more taxing than a jog around the park.

Keller61 wrote:The all-star game is hardly more taxing than a jog around the park.

Pau won't have to play much different than he usually does actually.

Coach Bud might help Pau playing him 35 minutes and finally teaching him how to play some defense.

Rerisen wrote:It's irrelevant because Pau would refuse. He's super hyped for starting the AS game against his brother. Their parents are coming in from Spain and everything.

Derrick even made a comment about 'when players get back from the AS game they are going to have to focus on the rest of the season'. As if worrying about this very thing. But yeah, he's going.

This.

He should go if he wants to go. Which he does. That simple.