Kanyewest wrote:Krizko Zero wrote:(2008 Chicago Bulls)
PG-Derrick Rose/Kirk Hinrich
SG-Ben Gordon/Thabo Sefolosha
SF-Luol Deng/Andres Nocioni
PF-Tyrus Thomas/Drew Gooden
C-Joakim Noah/Aaron Gray
Vs.
(Potential 2010 Washington Wizards)
PG-John Wall/Kirk Hinrich
SG-Gilbert Arenas/Nick Young
SF-Al Thornton/Trevor Booker
PF-Andray Blatche/Yi Jianlian
C-JaValle McGee/Kevin Seraphin/Hamady N'Diaye
I don't see how these teams differ that much, and I also doubt the East as a whole improves much over last season (with FA considered). So I see the team fairing similarly to that Bulls team, a 6-8 seed who may fight hard and could maybe Win a 1st Round series with a lucky matchup, but will most likely be out in the 1st Round.
Except that Chicago wasn't a playoff team until they made this deal:
The Chicago Bulls acquired center Brad Miller and John Salmons from the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday for four players, including forwards Drew Gooden and Andres Nocioni.
PG- Rose/Hinrich
SG- Gordon/Hinrich
SF- Salmons/Hinrich
PF- Tyrus Thomas/Noah
C- Noah/Brad Miller
The Bulls had other players (Tim Thomas, Linton Johnson, Lindsay Hunter, Gray) but essentially went to a 7 man rotation when it came to the playoffs. And Luol Deng was injured IIRC. Chicago had an exciting series against the Celtics who were without KG and Leon Powe.
Center and SF. That's kind of what I was getting at and that is what still has me worried about our roster. We may have found some answers at center. Just hard to tell how soon we will know for sure.
Personally, I would have felt more comfortable with
PG-Kirk Hinrich/Livingston - both fighting for the starting spot with hopefully Liv getting it.
SG-Gilbert Arenas/Nick Young
SF-Wesley/Al Thornton/Trevor Booker - Wes is smooth and has star SF potential.
PF-Andray Blatche/Yi Jianlian
C-Haywood - JaValle McGee/Kevin Seraphin
But this is what we have. It is still good. hopefully.
PG-Kirk Hinrich/Wall
SG-Gilbert Arenas/Nick Young
SF-Al Thornton/Trevor Booker - Howard or Miller - Howard to a one year if that works
PF-Andray Blatche/Yi Jianlian
C-Haywood - JaValle McGee/Kevin Seraphin
I don't trust AT to be a star SF longer term so we are just delaying the inevitable. We have to draft or trade for one and then let that player find their way on and mix in with the team which take time. Specially for a star SF.
In either case though, center is a ???. I have high hopes for Kevin. I think he will pass McGee pretty quickly because of this superior D. Center first and foremost is about D. Who knows. Maybe that will be the wake up call for McGee to finally learn to do it better. But Seraphin is a man while McGee is a boy. You need a man at center.
But I doubt we will get a player like Haywood. It would just delay learning what we need to learn which is... do we have someone in our three centers who is going to be able to man that position for the next 3-5 years and do we have back ups. So we are back to
PG-Kirk Hinrich/Walli
SG-Gilbert Arenas/Nick Young
SF-Al Thornton/Trevor Booker - Howard or Miller - Howard to a one year if that works
PF-Andray Blatche/Yi Jianlian
C-JaValle McGee/Kevin Seraphin and maybe Hamady
and let it ride.
I recall AT playing some solid D man up a few game. The IIRC he got dinged and missed some games.
He is athletic. Not terrible having him there. And I think Booker is going to contribute right away. Kid seems NBA ready regarding his motor and toughness so that is a decent split for minutes.
That could be a pretty decent team if things work out at center. Most teams have questions coming in a season. We just happen to have a lot of them. And while McGee hasn't been the best at D, I did see him getting leverage later in the year and he is super long and athletic. He is going to cause other teams problems on the other end, specially with two true PGs to lob his balls. I suspect Gil will even get in on the act not wanting to be shown up.
I'm excited to see them on the court. Its been a long wait to see Dray start at PF and this time we have true PGs and with Gil at SG, it could work.