Love #5: P. 88, Bulls 'moving on' from Love

[DanTown8587]

Taj Gibson has played 44 playoff games. How many times has he scored above 15 points in those games? Twice, games 2 and 4 against Washington.

What "excellent" history in the playoffs are we talking about? He was **** atrocious last year.

12 games
6.5 points
3.0 rebounds
17.2 minutes
PER of 12.3
TS of .515

Got to love Taj having two really strong playoff games and now all of the sudden he's a playoff legend. And in one of those games, the Wizards were without a starting big man due to suspension and then had their third big in foul trouble.

Are we going to be fair in analysis? Taj played well for some of that series and didn't play well for other parts of it.

Who are we comparing his playoff stats too?

It doesn't matter if you want to say that Taj making the playoffs as a sixth man makes him better than Love not being able to take his team to the playoffs. That's fine.

It doesn't change the fact that Taj Gibson's playoff career isn't that good in the long run and people are using average numbers in a five game series to paint a picture.

Taj's game four is a massive outlier in his career and people are using that to extrapolate averages into his career.

Taj's numbers in April before the playoffs
Eight Games
27.4 minutes
10.9 points
5.5 rebounds
.410 FG%
.482 TS%

So we should just completely forgot those games and say Taj, because he had a great four game stretch, has massively changed his game?

That's the problem I have with any of this. If we're going to use just the Wizards series to evaluate players, why didn't the Bulls throw 10 million at Trevor Ariza? 16-8 on a .491FG% and .615 TS%?

[danzou]

So we should just completely forgot those games and say Taj, because he had a great four game stretch, has massively changed his game?

Why not, we do the same with Butler. Hey, let's forget Jimmy's poor career shooting numbers and focus on a 2-month stretch a couple years ago. Plus, Derrick is coming back, everyone is going to become a good offensive player when that happens!

[Proven_Winner]

Taj Gibson has played 44 playoff games. How many times has he scored above 15 points in those games? Twice, games 2 and 4 against Washington.

What "excellent" history in the playoffs are we talking about? He was **** atrocious last year.

12 games
6.5 points
3.0 rebounds
17.2 minutes
PER of 12.3
TS of .515

Got to love Taj having two really strong playoff games and now all of the sudden he's a playoff legend. And in one of those games, the Wizards were without a starting big man due to suspension and then had their third big in foul trouble.

Are we going to be fair in analysis? Taj played well for some of that series and didn't play well for other parts of it.

Who are we comparing his playoff stats too?

It doesn't matter if you want to say that Taj making the playoffs as a sixth man makes him better than Love not being able to take his team to the playoffs. That's fine.

It doesn't change the fact that Taj Gibson's playoff career isn't that good in the long run and people are using average numbers in a five game series to paint a picture.

Taj's game four is a massive outlier in his career and people are using that to extrapolate averages into his career.

Taj's numbers in April before the playoffs
Eight Games
27.4 minutes
10.9 points
5.5 rebounds
.410 FG%
.482 TS%

So we should just completely forgot those games and say Taj, because he had a great four game stretch, has massively changed his game?

That's the problem I have with any of this. If we're going to use just the Wizards series to evaluate players, why didn't the Bulls throw 10 million at Trevor Ariza? 16-8 on a .491FG% and .615 TS%?

Your right it doesn't matter because I didn't even say that.

Well all these points your bringing up is pointless because people do this with everyone. Doesn't just apply to Taj or a Bulls player. If Love had a 5 game stretch where he got 5 blocks per game people would be saying his defense is good, It's called overreaction something that is normal in these Love threads. Like I said people are divided into 2 sides ones that agree and other that don't both sides have things they try to do to prove their point, but in the end it doesn't mean much.

[Proven_Winner]

So we should just completely forgot those games and say Taj, because he had a great four game stretch, has massively changed his game?

Why not, we do the same with Butler. Hey, let's forget Jimmy's poor career shooting numbers and focus on a 2-month stretch a couple years ago. Plus, Derrick is coming back, everyone is going to become a good offensive player when that happens!

In the 10 games the beginning of the season Jimmy's shooting looked just like it did the year before.

Is it hard to believe everyone could be better offensively since we have some shooters and Derrick can get guys easier looks?

[danzou]

So we should just completely forgot those games and say Taj, because he had a great four game stretch, has massively changed his game?

Why not, we do the same with Butler. Hey, let's forget Jimmy's poor career shooting numbers and focus on a 2-month stretch a couple years ago. Plus, Derrick is coming back, everyone is going to become a good offensive player when that happens!

In the 10 games the beginning of the season Jimmy's shooting looked just like it did the year before.

Is it hard to believe everyone could be better offensively since we have some shooters and Derrick can get guys easier looks?

A little better, sure. I still think its a crapshoot to think Jimmy will shoot close to 40% from 3pt based on a relatively small sample size. A lot of his looks last year were good looks and he just missed them. His shot looked flat.

[2015nbachamps]

every 20 pages or so...i feel the need to inject that Love is really really good and likely just what we need...but not at the expense of our newly acquired shooting. In mind there is just no trade for us to make. unless they want to take back Rose and give us Love and Rubio...who blinks first? If i'm the Bulls I have to do that trade given Rose's injusry histroy. I would throw in Snell and Taj to make it more papatable for them (if necessary?). And I would take back Kevin martin if needed.

Rubio/hinrich/Brooks
butler/martin
mcderm/duleavy
Love/Mirotic
Gasol/Noah (is he willing to come off the bench for a year to appease Gasol?)

hmmmm? how good is that team? Thats perhaps the best bench ever in the NBA and perhaps a top 5 starting 5 in the NBA right now...defense would suffer but our own TS% might hover around 63% for the season...defensively...we would just need to be slightly above average to win 65-70 games given we are in the east...even if Mcderm and martin starts that team would destroy the NBA. Very skilled and willing passers 10 deep.

[Proven_Winner]

Why not, we do the same with Butler. Hey, let's forget Jimmy's poor career shooting numbers and focus on a 2-month stretch a couple years ago. Plus, Derrick is coming back, everyone is going to become a good offensive player when that happens!

In the 10 games the beginning of the season Jimmy's shooting looked just like it did the year before.

Is it hard to believe everyone could be better offensively since we have some shooters and Derrick can get guys easier looks?

A little better, sure. I still think its a crapshoot to think Jimmy will shoot close to 40% from 3pt based on a relatively small sample size. A lot of his looks last year were good looks and he just missed them. His shot looked flat.

No one is expecting 40% especially since he's never averaged that, but somewhere between 34-38 is pretty reasonable. He was also put out there for minutes than what he was before and thus took even more 3s than he should have because when Deng left we were really forcing Jimmy out of his comfort zone. Like I said before Jimmy is a high efficiency low shot player. You can't force him to score he's better when he's scoring within the flow of the game.

[jump]

Love is an odd last name. I wonder as to its origin. Makes me think about the last name Loveless. That a pretty messed up name to ponder.

I have a good friend named Love. He tells me it is derivative of "wolf". Ironic, no?

[NecessaryEvil]

every 20 pages or so...i feel the need to inject that Love is really really good and likely just what we need...but not at the expense of our newly acquired shooting. In mind there is just no trade for us to make. unless they want to take back Rose and give us Love and Rubio...who blinks first? If i'm the Bulls I have to do that trade given Rose's injusry histroy. I would throw in Snell and Taj to make it more papatable for them (if necessary?). And I would take back Kevin martin if needed.

Rubio/hinrich/Brooks
butler/martin
mcderm/duleavy
Love/Mirotic
Gasol/Noah (is he willing to come off the bench for a year to appease Gasol?)

hmmmm? how good is that team? Thats perhaps the best bench ever in the NBA and perhaps a top 5 starting 5 in the NBA right now...defense would suffer but our own TS% might hover around 63% for the season...defensively...we would just need to be slightly above average to win 65-70 games given we are in the east...even if Mcderm and martin starts that team would destroy the NBA. Very skilled and willing passers 10 deep.

[AKfanatic]

Love is an odd last name. I wonder as to its origin. Makes me think about the last name Loveless. That a pretty messed up name to ponder.

I have a good friend named Love. He tells me it is derivative of "wolf". Ironic, no?

Actually derived from "Louve", meaning female wolf

and yes, pretty ironic

[jc23]

**** it, where u at bulllas?

[NecessaryEvil]

**** it, where u at bulllas?

"Don't worry guys, its in the BAG! Melo is a Bull!"

That guy?

[Axl Rose]

**** it, where u at bulllas?

yeah i miss his one worders that got everybody quoting him and complaining

BOOM

[ChiBulls09]

I've been contemplating and I think Taj + MDJr for Kevin Martin, Dion Waiters, Gorgui Dieng/Tristan Thompson (or both) is a pretty good deal. Give Taj for a decent big in Gorgui Dieng or TT. We also get a starting 2 guard in KMart and some more wing depth in DWait (el oh el.) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxD2-rTU1C4[/youtube]

[Harmoo]

Taj Gibson has played 44 playoff games. How many times has he scored above 15 points in those games? Twice, games 2 and 4 against Washington.

What "excellent" history in the playoffs are we talking about? He was **** atrocious last year.

12 games
6.5 points
3.0 rebounds
17.2 minutes
PER of 12.3
TS of .515

Got to love Taj having two really strong playoff games and now all of the sudden he's a playoff legend. And in one of those games, the Wizards were without a starting big man due to suspension and then had their third big in foul trouble.

Are we going to be fair in analysis? Taj played well for some of that series and didn't play well for other parts of it.

Why would anyone trying to discuss Taj Gibson's playoff worth not look at his performance this past playoffs?

He had a PER of 26+, a TS% of 62%+ and averaged 21 ppg, 7 boards and nearly 3 blocks per36. He was the most productive player on the team during that series. Not to mention his effort on defense.

He's not a better player than Love but let's not pretend like he wasn't glorious against the Wiz.

[[e]]

Taj Gibson has played 44 playoff games. How many times has he scored above 15 points in those games? Twice, games 2 and 4 against Washington.

What "excellent" history in the playoffs are we talking about? He was **** atrocious last year.

12 games
6.5 points
3.0 rebounds
17.2 minutes
PER of 12.3
TS of .515

Got to love Taj having two really strong playoff games and now all of the sudden he's a playoff legend. And in one of those games, the Wizards were without a starting big man due to suspension and then had their third big in foul trouble.

Are we going to be fair in analysis? Taj played well for some of that series and didn't play well for other parts of it.

Who are we comparing his playoff stats too?

Kevin Love...oh wait. By the time he actually makes the Playoffs he will "almost be 30."

[coldfish]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.

[bulls_4_life]

every 20 pages or so...i feel the need to inject that Love is really really good and likely just what we need...but not at the expense of our newly acquired shooting. In mind there is just no trade for us to make. unless they want to take back Rose and give us Love and Rubio...who blinks first? If i'm the Bulls I have to do that trade given Rose's injusry histroy. I would throw in Snell and Taj to make it more papatable for them (if necessary?). And I would take back Kevin martin if needed.

Rubio/hinrich/Brooks
butler/martin
mcderm/duleavy
Love/Mirotic
Gasol/Noah (is he willing to come off the bench for a year to appease Gasol?)

hmmmm? how good is that team? Thats perhaps the best bench ever in the NBA and perhaps a top 5 starting 5 in the NBA right now...defense would suffer but our own TS% might hover around 63% for the season...defensively...we would just need to be slightly above average to win 65-70 games given we are in the east...even if Mcderm and martin starts that team would destroy the NBA. Very skilled and willing passers 10 deep.

With all due respect, rose is not getting traded.

[Ralphb07]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.

I'd be shocked if the deal is just Wiggins and Bennett. From what I've heard ,Minny is not a fan of anyone other than Wiggins on their team and as good as Wiggins MIGHT become, they need more than just him.

Also I don't think Flip is as high on Wiggins as people seem to feel.

[Proven_Winner]

Several twitter reports floating around that its a done deal. If its just for Bennet and Wiggins, then I think people are sleeping on the Cavs.

Lebron / Love / Irving is close to what Lebron / Bosh / Wade was and the Cavs are going to have some depth. Varejao, Waiters, Miller, Thompson, etc.

They might take some time to iron things out but when they do, I think the east is Lebron's again.