Which Players on tis team actually care about winning?
Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:39 pm
From observing the players on the court and on the bench, I would say that these players still care about winning (this is in no particular order)
Nocioni - Plays harder than anyone on the team, even if by playing hard sometimes equals laying out-of-control. He's fiery and would seemingly make a good leader of the team, but seems very reluctant to step up and do this -- maybe because of the language barrier? Or maybe because he doesn't seem to consider himself anything more than a role player?
Smith - Despite him laughing on the bench duing last night's blowout, he almost always gives a good effort and has shown at least some willingness to speak up and be a leader in the locker room. But I worry that he won't speak up against Wallace if necessary.
Hinrich - He is having a very poor season, but the effort has still been there, at least most of the time. I really wish he had the personality to be the leader, to have the guts to call out Wallace (not necessarily in the media, but at least in the locker room). Just because he's quiet doesn't mean he can't show leadership -- does it? There must be guys in the NBA who are quiet/shy by nature but still are considered leaders on their teams -- aren't there? I wonder if his contract kicking in this season, or his marriage (or both) has messed him up in some way, because the dropoff in his play is too drastic for a guy who is still pretty young and has been made consistent (if minor) statistical improvement in most areas of his game in each of his previous seasons
Noah - Yes, he's immature, and his tardiness and knowledge of the plays might put him in the "not sure" category. But he plays very hard when he's given the chance and I think he's just very frustrated about how this season is going and confused about why his teammates seemed to turn on him. But now it's up to him to show that he did learn his lesson and will approach the rest of his career in a more professional manner.
Griffin - He seems to be the team's leader, but what direction is he taking them? Is he going to go along with whatever Wallace wants, or will he speak up now that there seems to be real dissention?
Deng - With Smith, the best and/or most consistent player on the team this year. He disappears in games when he should be stepping up (like last night), but I don't think that means he doesn't care. He may simply not have the mentality to be a go-to guy, preferring to be a secondary option. Like Hinrich and Gordon, he's too quiet and really needs to find a way -- ANY way -- to take some responsibility for leading the team
Sefolosha - I'm just guessing here. He doesn't play enough for me to judge his effort/lack thereof on the court. And he isn't usually jumping up and down on the bench cheering. But he seems to have a good attitude, despite (until recently) his lack of playing time
Gray - Plays hard in his limited minutes and appears to be one of the more enthusiastic guys cheering for eammates when on the bench.
Not sure about whether these guys care about the Bulls' winning
Gordon - I probably should put him in the above group, as I think he genuinely does care about winning. But I wonder whether he cares more about his contract and whether he's starting or not. Again, doesn't seem interested in being the leader of this team. Like Hinrich and Deng, he may simply not have the right temperament to be comfortable in speaking up. He seems very quiet and a little aloof.
Duhon - Usually plays hard, so I would give him the benefit of the doubt that he cares about winning. But his past discipline problems and rumored party ways makes me wonder a little bit about him...
Thomas - I don't know if he doesn't care or whether he's just screwed up from the coaches' refusal to play him
Khryapa - To be honest, I wouldn't blame him if the only hing he cares about is getting off this team, since he doesn't seem to really be a part of it anyway
Definitely doesn't care
Wallace - All he cares about is his $$$
In short, if the Bulls could just get rid of Wallace, things might turn around very quickly. Not necessarily in terms of wins and losses -- they would still be a flawed roster -- but at least in attitude and effort. Unfortunately, with his big contract and his poor rep, I just don't see any other team trading for him this year. Maybe sometime next year they will be able to move him, sine his contract will be up after the 2008-09 season.
Nocioni - Plays harder than anyone on the team, even if by playing hard sometimes equals laying out-of-control. He's fiery and would seemingly make a good leader of the team, but seems very reluctant to step up and do this -- maybe because of the language barrier? Or maybe because he doesn't seem to consider himself anything more than a role player?
Smith - Despite him laughing on the bench duing last night's blowout, he almost always gives a good effort and has shown at least some willingness to speak up and be a leader in the locker room. But I worry that he won't speak up against Wallace if necessary.
Hinrich - He is having a very poor season, but the effort has still been there, at least most of the time. I really wish he had the personality to be the leader, to have the guts to call out Wallace (not necessarily in the media, but at least in the locker room). Just because he's quiet doesn't mean he can't show leadership -- does it? There must be guys in the NBA who are quiet/shy by nature but still are considered leaders on their teams -- aren't there? I wonder if his contract kicking in this season, or his marriage (or both) has messed him up in some way, because the dropoff in his play is too drastic for a guy who is still pretty young and has been made consistent (if minor) statistical improvement in most areas of his game in each of his previous seasons
Noah - Yes, he's immature, and his tardiness and knowledge of the plays might put him in the "not sure" category. But he plays very hard when he's given the chance and I think he's just very frustrated about how this season is going and confused about why his teammates seemed to turn on him. But now it's up to him to show that he did learn his lesson and will approach the rest of his career in a more professional manner.
Griffin - He seems to be the team's leader, but what direction is he taking them? Is he going to go along with whatever Wallace wants, or will he speak up now that there seems to be real dissention?
Deng - With Smith, the best and/or most consistent player on the team this year. He disappears in games when he should be stepping up (like last night), but I don't think that means he doesn't care. He may simply not have the mentality to be a go-to guy, preferring to be a secondary option. Like Hinrich and Gordon, he's too quiet and really needs to find a way -- ANY way -- to take some responsibility for leading the team
Sefolosha - I'm just guessing here. He doesn't play enough for me to judge his effort/lack thereof on the court. And he isn't usually jumping up and down on the bench cheering. But he seems to have a good attitude, despite (until recently) his lack of playing time
Gray - Plays hard in his limited minutes and appears to be one of the more enthusiastic guys cheering for eammates when on the bench.
Not sure about whether these guys care about the Bulls' winning
Gordon - I probably should put him in the above group, as I think he genuinely does care about winning. But I wonder whether he cares more about his contract and whether he's starting or not. Again, doesn't seem interested in being the leader of this team. Like Hinrich and Deng, he may simply not have the right temperament to be comfortable in speaking up. He seems very quiet and a little aloof.
Duhon - Usually plays hard, so I would give him the benefit of the doubt that he cares about winning. But his past discipline problems and rumored party ways makes me wonder a little bit about him...
Thomas - I don't know if he doesn't care or whether he's just screwed up from the coaches' refusal to play him
Khryapa - To be honest, I wouldn't blame him if the only hing he cares about is getting off this team, since he doesn't seem to really be a part of it anyway
Definitely doesn't care
Wallace - All he cares about is his $$$
In short, if the Bulls could just get rid of Wallace, things might turn around very quickly. Not necessarily in terms of wins and losses -- they would still be a flawed roster -- but at least in attitude and effort. Unfortunately, with his big contract and his poor rep, I just don't see any other team trading for him this year. Maybe sometime next year they will be able to move him, sine his contract will be up after the 2008-09 season.