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I thought the Bulls were tanking? I mean, they let Deng go to save money? Their starting lineup is Butler, Hinrich, Dunleavy Jr., Boozer, and Noah. Nothing much in terms of players. However, they just smashed the Rockets. D12 played, Harden Played, Chandler played... And they got beat by 24 points.
Here's the gist. Bud spent many years being an assistant next to Thibodeau. Didn't Bud pick up any defensive tips or tricks? I thought the Bulls were tanking. Their lineup looks anemic. Yet. they have done this to Houston, Golden State, Dallas, and Miami. They aren't totally invincible, I mean, they did lose to the Spurs. However, it's that time of year, where the Spurs... much like the undertaker... Finds special powers that can revive them for one more run.

So here's the thing. What do we need to play defense like that?? I mean, Dunleavy Jr. is not some defensive great. And we've seen Hinrich close up. He's Alright but I don't think Scottie Pippen when I see him. Is it all about Noah?
How long will it take before Bebe is ready to at least sit on our bench and look intimidating??

diesel50 wrote:... Bud spent many years being an assistant next to Thibodeau. Didn't Bud pick up any defensive tips or tricks?

It seems they never were in the same team in their career.

I thought the Bulls were tanking...

It would certainly hard for the front office to convince Noah to tank, and maybe other players like Butler or Dunleavy even if we don't see him as a hard player at first (last season, MIL was only playing some good basketball while he was on the floor and I would have liked to sign him).

Don't forget that Bud is on his first year here, while Thibodeau already spent some years in CHI
They are on a different situation than ATL, and while we know that Al will come back as good as he was before the injury, CHI is not sure that Rose will be the "real leader" of their team in the future, so why not try new offensive plays, with Noah being more involved, and try to find a new balance on the team ?

I remember that during the draft, their were rumor of team(s) wanting to pair two or more players of this Florida team. Can you imagine if we could have trade up from 11th to 9th a get the pick of Noah, pairing him with Al.

They are drinking Thibs-Aid.

So here's the thing. What do we need to play defense like that??

An All Star Talent like Noah and 2 other enforcers behind him (Gibson, Boozer)

We have no athletic Center, thats the #1 problem. Pero isnt exactly quick or fast.

Noah is that good.

The Bulls win because Thibodeau coaches every regular season game like it is a playoff game. it is very effective, but the problem with Thib's system is that it gets his players hurt. that is why the Bulls always have health issues with Rose, Noah, Deng, and Boozer.

Thib's system is like the complete opposite to the Spurs or Pops' system of resting star in regular season games.

Thibs does have a good few gimicks, but i really wouldn't want him to be head coach if i was building a franchise.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Joakim Noah has a message for Chicago Bulls fans who believe the team should tank games to slide into the NBA draft lottery.

"What do I say to those fans?" Noah told ESPNChicago.com after the Bulls' 128-125 triple-overtime victory Wednesday over the Orlando Magic. "I don't say nothing to those fans. It's all good. You're allowed to have your opinion. It's just ... that's not a real fan to me. You know what I'm saying? You want your team to lose? What is that? But it's all good."

Forward Taj Gibson wonders what fans would do if they were in the situation the players face.
"Those people, if they were in our shoes, they wouldn't just lose," Gibson said. "The majority of time people just have their opinions and that's fine and dandy, but they're not on the court and they're not giving their heart and soul into this game the way we do. I respect their opinion, but we're not going to do that."

Hinrich and Butler are very good individual defenders compared to Teague and Korver. It's all about, Noah is the quarterback of the defense - he talks ALOT on the court. We have Elton doing that - he's good at it but Elton is also older and just not as quick. The effort is there though.

1) People who suspected they were tanking to begin with were fools. They already addressed depth at wing through the draft and free agency with Snell and Dunleavy Jr. and groomed Butler for years. That made Deng wholly expendable.

2) Chemistry. That core has both played together and under their coach for a number of years, they know what to do, where to be and who is covering them even in the absence of Rose because at this point they've played more without him than with.

They are no different than the Hawks with LD after Woody and in the years that Al was injured or Joe gone, there was still continuity both in coaching and other parts of the core roster to overcome whatever drop in overall talent.

Plus, Noah(should be Defensive player of the year honestly and get some MVP votes), Butler, Hinrich, Gibson gives you 4 really gifted defensive players, with a system that allows the lesser defensively skilled players (Dunlevey, Boozer) to thrive. Snell isn't great but he is pretty solid defensively as well.

You can't just toss to the side 5 solid defensive players, one of which happens to be probably the best in all of the NBA, and act like its something weird about them playing good defense. You realize they have a very good defensive player at EVERY position...right?