If the Bulls were to change the starting front line

[kulaz3000]

I personally would prefer a Pau and Gibson starting line up change, because it's a weapon to be able to start off the game having an option like Pau in the post for easy scoring options. It also allows a true power forward to start along side Pau, who is quicker on his feet and more active. It also allows the bench bigs to play their natural positions, with Noah being able to remain at center, and Mirotic in at power forward.

Now I don't know whether a starting line up change is the answer, but I think it's worth looking into because right now, with Noah starting along side Pau, it negates so much of the positives that Noah is able to provide for this team, because he is being drawn away from the paint where he is so good at. Not only that, when we didn't have a true post up player, it was fine having Noah at the top of the key holding the ball and looking for cutters, but with Pau mostly down in the paint, it creates less driving lanes for the slashers for Noah to actually seek out.

With Gibson, he can not only play in the post but he is a capable mid-range shooter, so on the offensive end, he can spread the floor some but actually be a weapon when bigs double team Pau, which can't be said for Noah.

[Rerisen]

While I think Noah *might* play a lot better at center, where he is used to, based on performance Gasol has earned staying in the lineup more, so I would keep him and add Taj.

Nothing has to be permanent. If everyone are team players we might go through several iterations till we find what's right.

In 2011 Spoelstra tried dozens of lineups with a new team, they still made the Finals and could have won till LeBron's mental midget breakdown.

[RedBulls23]

It has to be Pau and Taj. Not only would that help our defense, but it would help our offense to start the games.

I really wish Thibs would make this adjustments, but it's like pulling teeth with him in regards to something like this happening.

I know the Skiles comparisons get made with Thibs, but I wish he was like Skiles in his willingness to change up the lineup to what works the best.

[fleet]

Taj can get low and score while Gasol plays high

[SearsTower]

I can't imagine Thibs has the balls to take Noah out of the starting lineup. There is a workaround though. He can still start both Noah and Gasol to stroke their egos but just pull one of them earlier in the quarter, like after 3-4 minutes. Then the rest of the way, play the Gasol/Gibson and Noah/Mirotic combinations.

[Leto]

I agree that Noah and Pau are not a good combo mostly because Jo is most effective at center. But, I'd start Jo and Taj because I think the strength of our defense has always been the ability to guard P&R. In fact, I'd say that was the identity of our team. We have lost that with Pau at center and I think we've lost the identity of the team because of it.

I think we start Jo and Taj and bring in Pau as the first big off the bench. Regain our identity on the defensive side of the ball.

[RedBulls23]

Taj can get low and score while Gasol plays high

And vice versa.

[aaqubed]

Pop was willing to change lineups even in the playoffs. Thibs has to try out different combinations, it's just not working right now. Limit Noah's minutes until he's 100%.

[jcuuofd]

Noah is putting up Kendrick Perkins like numbers this year and he deserves to be benched. Anyone who plays like garbage should not be getting minutes, Kirk Hinrich included. If Rose wants to take stupid shots he should also be benched.

[[e]]

Pau and Taj is the logical choice. Pau has been the best big by a big margin. Best balance would be go with Taj. Then you've got a Noah and Niko pairing off the bench too.

If you were to make a change, that's the move you make by benching Noah for Taj

[bullsRlife]

This is part of Thibs end game. Yeah, he sucks right now, but sooner or later he won't. In the meantime, let him get used to playing with Pau, and start getting more acclimated with the starting unit,
while hopefully getting better in the future.

Not saying its the best thing for us, but I get what he's doing.

Kills 2 birds with one stone. Get Noah comfortable with the starting unit, and especially with Pau, and when he stops sucking (if ever), he'll already be comfortable with the starting unit while not sucking anymore.

[SteelerSpartan]

It's really maddening to see our defense become this trash after we supposedly got rid of the weak link in boozer.

Until that Defense starts to play consistently elite again...we are stuck in " pretender" status

Noah hasn't shown yet that he's mobile enough to play that 4 with Pau and should be coming off the bench with Niko earlier in the 1st so that Pau isn't having to play entire qrts.......if noah gets healthy and back up to speed then you can start to work him back onto the court with Pau......

My thoughts on this from the game thread......of course I doubt we see any changes by thibs

[WindyCityBorn]

Paul and Taj.

[poolshark52]

I still think pau and jo. Niko is far from ready to start, worst of the four, great for a rookie, but still the weak link. And Taj has regressed.

[jax98]

Honestly, I'd also go with Joakim and Pau, but only after having sat Noah for about five games. A combination of rest and rehab might do him good right now, and in the meantime Pau and Taj should start, with Nikola getting the bulk of the PF minutes:

C Gasol 36/Gibson 12
F Gibson 20/Mirotic 28

[pduh01]

Honestly, I would do this I keep Pau and Noah starting together however instead of having Noah play out of his position shift him back to his natural position let Noah defend the five, and let Gasol defend the four(including stretch fours.).

Don't let Noah play out of his position ever again. At all times when Noah is on the court play at the five. Now, we always throw different combination. You know in sports the job is use the team's strengths and cover their weakness. That is where Thibs needs to step in and realize something is not working part of it is the front court as I pointed out keep Noah & Gasol as starters but have Noah guard fives, and Gasol guard fours from now on.

Then throw different combination to throw the teams different looks.

Noah/Gasol
Gasol/Taj
Noah/Taj
Noah/Nikola
Taj/Nikola
Gasol/Nikola

That kind of nature. Also when a player Noah not playing well reduced his minutes, and give most minutes to Taj and Nikola. That's what I would do if I was Thibs.

[kingkirk]

Re and I were discussing this in a separate thread, and whilst i noted that i was always against this earlier in the season as i could not justify benching the reigning DPOY and a top 5 MVP candidate.

That said, i've seen enough.

We're half way through the season. Our defense is not improving and it is nowhere near good enough to compete for a title. We're starting 2 centers and benching 2 PFs.

Currently, Taj is by far our best defender. He can also reliably give us a consistent 12 points a night as a starter whilst also being our best option to defender the stretch 4s.

Niko hasn't done anything to deserve starting at PF, and it would create a political nightmare with starting a rookie over Gibson, who had the starting role before Pau arrived.

I don't think Thibs has the nads to do this. He never benched Boozer, why would he bench one of his favourites in Noah?

As for Noah, i would hope he could handle this demotion. Andre Iguadala handled it well and it has benefited the Warriors immensely.

This is an internal move that we can make, without trades, that could very well benefit both sides of the ball and improve our balance.

[TimRobbins]

Putting Noah on the bench would create a political drama on its own.

The real move to make it to trade one of Taj/Noah. The more I see this group, the more I get convinced that we're close, but without a trade, we're not really there. I can't see anyway around it.

[pylb]

I don't think it needs to be changed.

Just the rotations should be adjusted. Putting Noah at C and Gasol at PF would hurt Pau defensively, but I think team-wise it might actually help us.

[ImSlower]

God, I wish Noah would embrace coming off the bench, knowing the team would be better off.

Taj showed us last year what a solid starting PF he can be.

It makes too much sense this season, except that Noah was dpoy and is the heart of the Bulls. Damnit