maggsmaggs

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 08:03 AM) Uncertain if Rose can go on Friday. If Rose can't go, then John Lucas (III) is probably the Bulls only point guard on Friday in Orlando. And that one is, I'd say, kinda likely a loss. I would honestly prefer Brewer running the point with Deng at the 2 and Butler at the 3. Lucas is bad notwithstanding his eight-minute spurt the other night. It would be like throwing a game on purpose. While Brewer doesn't quite have PG handles, he may be able to do it for one game. On a side note, I really like Butler and think he is already better overall than Korver who only plays because he has a 3-point shot. However, he isn't making it consistently, so his purpose is quite frustrated.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 5, 2012 -> 01:21 AM) Today was the best Boozer and Noah ever played with each others. They both hit their jumpers, found each other in the post, rebounded, and Boozer is actually playing D this year. His DRtg is 92. He's 7th in the league. http://www.basketball-reference.com/leader...rtg_top_10.html Now, that SHOULD change, but he was 7th in the league last year as well. That defensive rating stat is very team dependent. I think it measures more of the team while the player is on the court than the player itself. In no world was Boozer even close to playing above-average defense last year. He was helped tremendously by the fact that when he was on the court, he was surrounded by great defenders and great team scheme.

QUOTE (3E8 @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 07:40 PM) Or he could be like Alexei, who came here when he was Cespedes' age, and provide league-average offense right out the gate. Iguchi similarly succeeded without any adjustment period. It's pretty obvious he has the tools. Our scouts have to determine whether or not he has the skill to make them useful at the big league level. But Alexei made just over $1 million in his first year and Iguchi made just over $2 million. Cespedes will be making probably over $10 million in his first year. Alexei and Iguchi were never All-Star-level players, just solid ones. And for what Cespedes will make, you can't afford for him to provide just league-average offense. And as we saw Alexei and Iguchi peaked in their first years, too.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 03:35 PM) Great. Another player that if sucks will be untradeable. It's such a huge risk. As good as this guy is supposed to be, the Cuban Leagues aren't close to Major League Baseball. What happens if he is too raw in Spring Training? We gonna have a $10-million man in AAA.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 4, 2012 -> 03:17 PM) I love me some Lu, but he's not a superstar. Anyone hoping he'll be an All-Star is probably crazy as well. He is an All-Star-caliber player. He won't make the All Star game because he isn't a household name, but he is one of the more complete players in the NBA. And I would argue he is one of the top 30 overall players in the game, probably right at 30. That is definitely All-Star caliber.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 09:33 PM) I think it was designed that way. Who said Thibs was a defense-only coach? He draws up some great plays.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 09:30 PM) Wow. Best 4th quarter team. With three bench players on the court down the stretch. Amazing comeback.

No 3s please.

LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 07:49 PM) I don't think our line play is as bad as it seems...especially if we run an offense that no longer requires 7 step drops every other passing attempt. I think we are solid in the guards and center, but I seriously cannot stand seeing J'Marcus Webb starting at tackle again. And I am very concerned about Carimi and his ability to stay healthy. Had medical yellow flags coming out of Wiscy and that didn't change in Year One.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 05:41 PM) The first order of business for our next GM is PROTECT our franchise QB with quality OLineman (first and foremost), find a #1 WR through free agency and start finding defensive replacements for our aging D through the draft. Don't get cheap on us now, McCaskey. I agree. The most important positions in football, in my opinion, are QB, OL and DL (in order with the latter two being interchangeable). And the only way to acquire talent at these spots is through hitting on your first- and second-round picks or through free agency. The latter is not the most efficient way to build, but might have to be done with the Bears this year. The Bears really need to add a No. 1 WR through free agency (Bowe/V-Jax would be perfect), add two veteran Olinemen in free agency and a stud in the secondary. Finally, they need to draft the BEST PLAYER available in the first and second round unless it's a QB/RB. The best teams in the NFL don't draft for need, it's always on talent. We have so many glaring needs, it really doesn't matter what position the player is, he can find meaningful snaps.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 12:11 PM) If they sign Cespedes and plan on having him start, then De Aza at least deserves to split time with Rios in CF and rotate into LF and RF once or twice a week. The guy flat-out earned that right last season. They can make him the 4th OF, but it should really be more along the lines of a regular/rotating outfielder. This. At this point Rios is a sunk cost, so why not just put the player who gives us the best chance to win out in CF? After last year's end to the season, that guy is De Aza. He has earned that right and it should only be taken away from him by Rios earning it back.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 10:26 AM) Brad Biggs @BradBiggs Worth wondering - would #Bears consider #Packers director of football operations Reggie McKenzie? Interesting choice. I personally would like a proven commodity, but beyond Cowher/Fisher who probably want to coach, McKenzie might be the best first-time GM candidate. If we hire from another organization, I would hope it would be from Green Bay, New England, San Francisco, Baltimore or Pittsburgh.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 10:20 AM) What exactly have Gar Forman & Jed Hoyer accomplished as GMs? Gar Forman has proven to be pretty good, but you're right about both. KW has a championship and they don't. Granted, right now both are doing better, but neither have the all-important ring.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 09:39 AM) Cowher/Fisher 2012? Drool....Bears can't afford that though since it would also mean paying Lovie for two years. I would take one of them though easy right now as GM.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 11:21 PM) So, didn't see the Heat lost. Unbeatable. Also, the Big 3 will be dead tired and one is going to get hurt. Even with their loss, they are still on pace to be 55-11. Everyone loses. And with the crazy schedule, it's going to be tough to be on your game every night. No one said the Heat were invincible.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 09:35 AM) Are the bears going to hire bill polian and a fisher? Or are they going after cowher? Would love stay? I have no idea what the bears plan is now and am curious to see what happens. It's a great day!! I think Lovie gets a bad rap and is still a pretty solid coach, but Fisher/Cowher are two all-time greats. Wonder if Cowher would want to be the GM?

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 10:39 PM) Promising news on Nikola Mirotic It would be nice to see this kid make an impact in the next few years. Ideally, Mirotic would come over for the 2013-2014 so he can have one year as a role player and then take over for Boozer as the starting power forward in 2014-2015. But I am guessing he will take an extra year or two. But he looks like a terrific player at only 20 years old. He's got three to four years to add bulk and get an NBA body, which definitely is doable. He already has the skills.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 04:56 PM) Ronnie Brewer is nailing 3's, therefore we are the best team. Ever. This is possibly the best development for the Bulls this year. If he can become an offensive threat consistently, you can play him 30+ against the Heat on Wade or LeBron with Deng on the other. Bogans, as good at D as he was, was too small to guard LeBron and too slow to guard Wade. Brewer has both the length and athleticism. Brewer is a top-10 defensive wing. I just hope he can continually knock down the open shots. QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 04:58 PM) Balta, Rose was hampered by a bum ankle, he was hurt in the Pacers series, it slowed him down, LBJ is fast for his size but he isn't that quick/fast.Believe me, just like Kevin Johnson gave MJ fits (MJ was a superior wing defender to LBJ), there is no way a 100% healthy Rose can't beat LBJ off the dribble. You do make a good point though, Rose would need to take it to LBJ and kick out to an open man, just like he did in one of the reg season game last year when he sucked in LBJ and kicked out to Deng who hit an open 3 that won the game. What Rose has on LeBron in terms of speed/quickness, LeBron makes up for in size/length. When LBJ is right on top of Rose, speed/quickness goes out the window because he isn't getting by the 6-9, 270-pound freak.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 11:10 AM) Did both teams play their best in the playoff series last year? because even though the HEat won in 5, that was at least a close series, and the Bulls still have plenty of room to improve from there. I don't think the Heat did at all. But I think there is no way to stop the Heat when LeBron/Wade are playing at full capacity. Rose was unable to do anything when LeBron guarded him. Now they have three elite wing defenders with him, Wade and Battier. Bulls still have a serious problem in that there is no second ball handler to create their own shot. When you play a team like the Heat who can put the league's most athletic player and possibly the league's best wing defender (when LeBron wants to be), you desperately need that second ball handler. Rip ain't it. Brewer ain't it either. Crawford was probably the best ball handler out there, but he wasn't a good fit defensively. And the Bulls could compensate for the lack of a second ball handler with a dominant post scorer, but we don't have either. Boozer appears and disappears and isn't really even scoring in the post.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 10:33 AM) But...they aren't athletic enough BTW, the Heat are 5-0 but aside from a very different Mavs team and a Pierce-less Celtics, they haven't really impressed me...Bulls beat the Lakers, Clippers and Grizzlies, teams that are supposed to make some noise in the WC. Bulls beat a Bynum-less Lakers team. If both are playing their best, the Bulls will not beat the Heat. We just got to hope that if/when we play the Heat, they don't play up to their potential.

There is a chance (though remote) that no Grizzlies player reaches double figures in points.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 1, 2012 -> 02:33 PM) This is the kind of young talent you get when you trade away people who are expensive and don't have a ton of time before free agency. If you want to get stellar talent, you need to trade away John Danks after the 2008 season or so, when he's got several years left pre-FA. I honestly don't think there was much more talent out there for KW to get this off-season, so I don't blame him for the hauls we are getting now. I blame KW for putting us in the position we are in now where we are a 80-win ball club with a $120-million payroll (now it's obviously shrunk, but that's what we were).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 1, 2012 -> 02:26 PM) Who do you want to trade that the Sox haven't dealt yet? I am not just referring to this year, it's the last few years where we clearly have needed to rebuild and get young talent yet KW refuses to do that.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 1, 2012 -> 02:24 PM) Not much. And I hate this we can still win while rebuilding garbage. We can win. Just win like 80 games. It's crap. KW's fickleness is gonna put us in the perpetual 75-85 win window. That does nothing, but just make us "competitive" for most the year.