Wilbon: Special Season Still Within Reach

[bullboy18]

Well, I'm not totally discounting Wilbon but from what I've seen this year -- I think it's unlikely we win a championship this year. Far too many horrific losses, inconsistent and often times poor effort, disjointed team defense, and bad coaching to win a title.

Could things click and we get some lucky draws come playoff time? Sure -- anything could happen. But I'm concerned with Thibs ability to adjust in the later rounds of the playoffs. Honestly I'm not sure if he's good enough to make the necessary adjustments to win a title.

I hope to God it happens but I'm not convinced it's in the cards this year.

So based on this, the only team in the east that has a chance is the hawks, which i assume you have in the finals? West the warriors and grizz are the only teams that havent really been in any slump this year or have horrible losses (though grizz just lost to minn).

[Stratmaster]

Wilbon isn't just "too easy" on Rose. He's a PR spinning advocate. And he's a sportswriter, not an internet message boarder like me. Its just a pet peeve of mine.

And your recollection about the "consistency" of my treatment of Rose is inaccurate, though understandable, for what its worth. Quick summary:

1. Hated his refusal to play three seasons ago.
2. Repeatedly defended his not playing last season.
3. Had a big problem with his comments early in the year about not playing because he didn't want to be sore in a post-retirement business meeting.
4. But have advocated patience with his game this season, while criticizing some pretty glaring problems (3 ball, defense).

I don't trust Derrick Rose between the ears anymore and doubt I ever will. I admit that. But I don't take the anti-Rose stance across the board. I defend him or don't depending on the issue. I think sometimes posters who are harsh on Rose for some things are viewed around here is "always against Rose" when that really isn't the case.

Why does this bother people so much? I would feel exactly the same way and I think it's refreshing to hear an honest answer from an athlete. There is life after basketball. To suggest someone shouldn't be concerned about their longterm health so you can derive a little bit more entertainment is asinine.

Because most people dont actually care for the players or their lives. They just want the team they cheer for to win. But if someone told them they dont care about that persons kid or personal life and that they had to work 80hrs a week, that person would have a meltdown. It is all hypocritical really. Everyone (myself included at times) is selfish and only want whats best for them and dont think about others.

???? The kid is making 20mil a year to play basketball, not 40k a year working in coal mines.I suggest anyone here who has a job that involved physical activity go to their boss with the Rose approach.

Damn, i am a Rose fan, and a Bulls fan, and I am committed to getting into positive mode for the rest of this season. But Rose isn't playing running back or offensive line for the Bears. He is 26 years old and playing basketball.

I'm going to stop posting so much. I might get carpal tunnel syndrome.

[nrockwaychicago]

Why does this bother people so much? I would feel exactly the same way and I think it's refreshing to hear an honest answer from an athlete. There is life after basketball. To suggest someone shouldn't be concerned about their longterm health so you can derive a little bit more entertainment is asinine.

Because most people dont actually care for the players or their lives. They just want the team they cheer for to win. But if someone told them they dont care about that persons kid or personal life and that they had to work 80hrs a week, that person would have a meltdown. It is all hypocritical really. Everyone (myself included at times) is selfish and only want whats best for them and dont think about others.

???? The kid is making 20mil a year to play basketball, not 40k a year working in coal mines.I suggest anyone here who has a job that involved physical activity go to their boss with the Rose approach.

Damn, i am a Rose fan, and a Bulls fan, and I am committed to getting into positive mode for the rest of this season. But Rose isn't playing running back or offensive line for the Bears. He is 26 years old and playing basketball.

I'm going to stop posting so much. I might get carpal tunnel syndrome.

a 26-year-old who had 2 major knee surgeries, so what if he makes a lot of money? he isn't paid that out of the kindness of people's hearts, he's the best in the world at his craft and makes less money now than he would on a truly open market.

my point is, he has every right to be concerned about his future, whatever amount of money he's paid.

[Stratmaster]

Because most people dont actually care for the players or their lives. They just want the team they cheer for to win. But if someone told them they dont care about that persons kid or personal life and that they had to work 80hrs a week, that person would have a meltdown. It is all hypocritical really. Everyone (myself included at times) is selfish and only want whats best for them and dont think about others.

???? The kid is making 20mil a year to play basketball, not 40k a year working in coal mines.I suggest anyone here who has a job that involved physical activity go to their boss with the Rose approach.

Damn, i am a Rose fan, and a Bulls fan, and I am committed to getting into positive mode for the rest of this season. But Rose isn't playing running back or offensive line for the Bears. He is 26 years old and playing basketball.

I'm going to stop posting so much. I might get carpal tunnel syndrome.

a 26-year-old who had 2 major knee surgeries, so what if he makes a lot of money? he isn't paid that out of the kindness of people's hearts, he's the best in the world at his craft and makes less money now than he would on a truly open market.

my point is, he has every right to be concerned about his future, whatever amount of money he's paid.

The point is that everyone has something they could look at as a health risk in their job. Most people can't afford to take days off and do their job half-assed; and if they can get away with it they certainly can't get away with it publicly. You would expect a statement like that from a football player, or a hockey player. I can not recall ever hearing a statement like that from a basketball or baseball player.

rose can afford to say it because he is 26 and rich. That doesn't make it sound right to the rest of the world.

[dougthonus]

The Dallas title was irrelevant to the world because the Heat were expected to prevail and it was only Dallas FIRST title ( LBJ gave that series away btw )

You really think so? I think the Dallas title was one of the most cheered for and memorable titles for a team I didn't care about in the past 20 years, and I think fans around the NBA generally felt the same way.

If the Bulls win #7, It will be a celebration across the globe. It's hard to hate the Bulls. White Sox aren't exactly the Bulls globally either.

I agree, there are a ton of Bulls fans around the globe. If the Bulls win, it would be big, I don't think it'd be as big as that Dallas one though.

[bullboy18]

The point is that everyone has something they could look at as a health risk in their job. Most people can't afford to take days off and do their job half-assed; and if they can get away with it they certainly can't get away with it publicly. You would expect a statement like that from a football player, or a hockey player. I can not recall ever hearing a statement like that from a basketball or baseball player.

rose can afford to say it because he is 26 and rich. That doesn't make it sound right to the rest of the world.

hahaha at taking days off/half assing it. I guarantee he works way harder at his job than 99.99999% of people in the world. Heck I bet most posters on here are posting while at work or browsing sports websites and other sites. You dont come back from 2 knee surgeries and still perform or get to a high level like Rose is starting to do now by taking days off or half assing it.

Plus Id be willing to bet Roses job is a lot more taxing mentally and physically than most jobs outside of like Surgeons. And the fact that he is top 1% of 1%, he is getting market value, just like those who only make 40k. That is their market value.

But again, I love this myth that rose wasnt working hard at all these last few years to come back. If it is that easy playing in the nba, I am gonna go tryout tomorrow and should make the team since people think you can take days off and not be serious.

[WesleyExChiFan]

Is it just me, or is Wilbon kind of smug?

[NecessaryEvil]

The Dallas title was irrelevant to the world because the Heat were expected to prevail and it was only Dallas FIRST title ( LBJ gave that series away btw )

You really think so? I think the Dallas title was one of the most cheered for and memorable titles for a team I didn't care about in the past 20 years, and I think fans around the NBA generally felt the same way.

If the Bulls win #7, It will be a celebration across the globe. It's hard to hate the Bulls. White Sox aren't exactly the Bulls globally either.

I agree, there are a ton of Bulls fans around the globe. If the Bulls win, it would be big, I don't think it'd be as big as that Dallas one though.

I take that back. Ur right. Everybody, EVERYBODY HATED the Heat that year. But it seemed like the world was happier with the Heat losing rather than the Mavs winning.

[blumeany]

He is such a jock sniffer.

That and he's a faux Chicagoan. You can tell he barely keeps on top of Bears and Bulls news, but is more than willing to pontificate about it. Go home Wilbon.

[bullsRlife]

I sorta agree but I feel like even if we won it all it wouldn't have felt like a special season. It's been too bordering on disaster for it to create that feeling. Special seasons are like when the White Sox won it all and you felt after two weeks it was their year. This year feels odd in the sense that no one would be surprised if we got swept in the first round but no one would be too surprised if we won the championship. We're sort of that team that's just there in the picture but it doesn't have a special feeling anymore. It'd be a lot more like that Dallas championship team if anything.

Dude, shuuuut uuuuuup....lmao you gotta be kidding me.

[tedwilliams1999]

I think Wilbon is correct as far as the opportunity is still there for the Bulls, and i think they are going to step up. I don; care how good you are, nothing is guaranteed as all it takes is a bad bounce at a bad time in a tightly contested playoff series to knock a team out. However, I think we are going to see a strong run by the Bulls in the playoffs, and it all starts now that the ASG break is over and the real season is beginning. Everything up to this point has been warmups... not meaningless games mind you, but warmups.

I agree - it's just more fun to bullieve. We're winning the championship this year.

[Stratmaster]

The point is that everyone has something they could look at as a health risk in their job. Most people can't afford to take days off and do their job half-assed; and if they can get away with it they certainly can't get away with it publicly. You would expect a statement like that from a football player, or a hockey player. I can not recall ever hearing a statement like that from a basketball or baseball player.

rose can afford to say it because he is 26 and rich. That doesn't make it sound right to the rest of the world.

hahaha at taking days off/half assing it. I guarantee he works way harder at his job than 99.99999% of people in the world. Heck I bet most posters on here are posting while at work or browsing sports websites and other sites. You dont come back from 2 knee surgeries and still perform or get to a high level like Rose is starting to do now by taking days off or half assing it.

Plus Id be willing to bet Roses job is a lot more taxing mentally and physically than most jobs outside of like Surgeons. And the fact that he is top 1% of 1%, he is getting market value, just like those who only make 40k. That is their market value.

But again, I love this myth that rose wasnt working hard at all these last few years to come back. If it is that easy playing in the nba, I am gonna go tryout tomorrow and should make the team since people think you can take days off and not be serious.

I was specifically commenting on his comment about his future and his approach to when he should be in the game. I never said he didn't train hard.

[pb-ceo]

But haven't you been pretty consistenty very hard on Rose ever since the infamous post-deadline Reggie comments? You argue that Wilbon is taking too easy on Rose, but isn't it possible that you're being too hard on him as well?

Wilbon isn't just "too easy" on Rose. He's a PR spinning advocate. And he's a sportswriter, not an internet message boarder like me. Its just a pet peeve of mine.

And your recollection about the "consistency" of my treatment of Rose is inaccurate, though understandable, for what its worth. Quick summary:

1. Hated his refusal to play three seasons ago.
2. Repeatedly defended his not playing last season.
3. Had a big problem with his comments early in the year about not playing because he didn't want to be sore in a post-retirement business meeting.
4. But have advocated patience with his game this season, while criticizing some pretty glaring problems (3 ball, defense).

I don't trust Derrick Rose between the ears anymore and doubt I ever will. I admit that. But I don't take the anti-Rose stance across the board. I defend him or don't depending on the issue. I think sometimes posters who are harsh on Rose for some things are viewed around here is "always against Rose" when that really isn't the case.

in total agreement about wilbon/rose camp. if bj needed to be replaced MW would be a natural fit to represent. Hey every great player needs somebody in the media to be in their in their back pocket....