Chi wrote:MGB8 wrote:
The Hawks have Schroeder, a solid, if mediocre Bazemore, a promising combo forward in Prince, a solid defensive center in Dedmond, a young prospect in Collins who some liked more than LM, and few solid vets in Illyasova, Bellinelli (a career reserve, but still), and Plumlee.
The Bulls? The most established player is RoLo. Holiday is a career backup who would be a rotation player on a good team - maybe talented enough to be a 5th best starter. LaVine is injured and will be rusty. Dunn is hurt and coming off a poor rookie year, with a lot to work on before anyone thinks he's a legit NBA starter. Niko is a madly overpaid inconsistent reserve. Portis is an inconsistent reserve on a rookie deal who, at least right now, doesn't look like he has built off of last year's progress. Markannen has talent but will need to battle for playing time, and is still a rookie, regardless. Grant is a rotation type player whose ceiling looks a lot like Etwan Moore. Valentine's another rotation player.
So, basically, a team with one legit starter (RoLo) unless LaVine comes back fully healthy and/or others take major steps up.
The Bulls are THE WORST TEAM in the NBA. They might end up with the 2nd or 3rd worst record just out of luck or effort or whatnot... but it won't be due to talent.
I don't care how you try to word it to make it sound bad, the Bulls are in no way shape or form worse than Atlanta...
Coach: Atlanta-Bud vs. Chicago-Hoiberg - edge - Atlanta
PG: ATL - Schroeder (just turned 24, last season 18/6 in under 32mpg on .45/.34, TS .53) vs. CHI- Dunn/J.Grant
Edge - ATL, big time
SG: ATL - Bazemore v. CHI - J.Holiday
Edge - being generous to the Bulls, we'll call it a draw - but in reality there is a reason Bazemore got a nice deal, and Holiday was kind of an afterthought.
SF: ATL - T.Prince v. CHI - P.Zipser
Edge - ATL
PF: ATL - Ilysasova/Collins vs. CHI - Niko/Portis/Markannen
Edge: draw... some might argue edge to the Bulls... but at the end of the day Niko and Portis have proven nothing more than Ilyasova has, and Markannen and Collins are both rookies. Through everyone in since it is hard to tell who is starting at this point / playing more for either team at this point (well, Niko and Ilyasova will start, but unsettled).
CC: ATL - Dedmond vs. CHI - Rolo
Edge - Chicago
Depth - ATL - Bellineli, Plumlee, ??? vs. CHI - Felicio, Valentine, Felder, ???
Edge - being generous to CHI, edge Chicago (lots of folks would call it a draw).
IF (a big IF) LaVine comes back without rust from his injury, then the Bulls are arguably more talented - but only by a bit. And the Bulls could also be more talented with big improvements from Dunn or one of the PFs, etc. - but hard to count on that.
Until then, Atlanta has the edge in both coaching and talent of the starters / primary rotation players. Just hard reality.