Chisoxfn

Re: Ball - While I think it is okay to wait on him. I think part of this is more seeing what the whole roster can be with a real point guard. Does that make the team look even better - to where you are starting to think, hey if we can get another good player via trade closer to the deadline (or in the off-season) we are talking about moving up in the world, etc, great. I don't know that I can deal with a whole season with this sort of shit PG play. I mean the PG play I have seen from the Bulls is about as bad as I've seen. Have the Bulls ever had a worse starting PG? I'm sure they have and I just can't think of it. I can't remember who played PG when Jordan retired...but I'm sure it was someone crappy. Khalil El Amin? I mean he sucked big time, but I don't remember if he started or not.

Yeah - I try to remind myself - Coby, round peg / square hole. The thing really irking me is how bad he has been defensively. It takes a rare player who can overcome being a complete black hole defensively and have value purely as a scorer. I mean - we like to bag on Lavine's D - but Lavine is not a bad on the ball defender, his issue is he has lapses and is a bad help defender (or at least was - he's moved into a more serviceable role). But Lavine is so different than White in the sense that Lavine has more size and pure athleticism to rely on as well and as a scorer, Lavine is elite. White is streaky - but hasn't finished around the hoop, has too many turnovers, is a black hole, and his current shot is just too inconsistent. It makes the margin for White to actually project into the "best case" scenario just very low. If his D was solid - that floor projection goes up a ton and defensively he was not bad for a good chunk of last year. This could just be the old..."too much thinking" not enough playing as he has been thrust into such a different role than he has ever played. I really hope that is the case and I will admit, there have been some rare flashes - it just seems like the norm is so bad (in terms of his ability to go full ball hog mode). There is a reason there are so few Ben Gordon, Lou Williams, Jamaal Crawford types. When you have that few guys - to assume that sort of floor for White I think is tough.

I would be highly intrigued with Ball. He isn't going to be great - but the Bulls are in dire need of a PG and he is a PG. White is beyond awful - like beyond as a point guard. I hope we see a switch flip - but I am not optimistic. He is a black hole on offense and defensively he has become a dumpster fire too. Mentally he is all out of sorts. As a 2 guard - I just don't like him enough. He's way more 6 man than starter on a good team. Not sure what it would take to get Ball - but boy I would love the Bulls grabbing Ball and Towns for a combination of Lauri/Wendell, Porter, and Coby and whatever else might make it work (barring some unprotected 1st round pick). Ideally you keep one of Wendell / Lauri - but at this point - I don't really care - if I can package some of those guys for 1 or 2 better players - I do it in a heartbeat. I assume Lonzo won't be like crazy (in terms of what it takes to get him) - although I could be wrong. But as I said - I'm building around Lavine and Williams and looking to get the rest of the crew better. I don't think Lavine is a true #1 - but I think with the progression he's made every year, including this years progress, the right thing to do is put some more chips into winning with Lavine and that starts with getting better players around him. I also think at that point - you still have plenty of flexibility to build from there and still hope to find a true #1. Re: Williams - he has a lot to prove - and I know he's had a rough couple games - but I'm more than willing to be patient with him. Re: Coby White - I have never been less patient with a young player than I can remember. I really hope I'm wrong - but my god, when I watch him, more often than not I don't know if I'm watching a 1st round pick or freaking Blakeny. Guy is a total dumpster fire in terms of his bball decision making. His passing his horrific and he goes into prime AI mode way too much (and he isn't anywhere near on AI's level). Just insanely frustrating. I try to remind myself year 2 and they are putting him in a really tough position - but good god - he looks HORRID. You replaced him with a slightly above league average PG in the starting lineup - with all of the other parts the same - I think we'd see an INSTANT upgrade to the entire unit.

This - they also are probably the place that makes the most sense for Bauer. If they are going to try with Trout - they are going to need to hit on a few big name free agents + obviously really see strong development from home grown players.

And when they go back to back to back in 20, 21, and 22...this will be the place of legends!!!

I've been on the go get Towns (dangle Lauri / WCJ / whomever) but get yourself an elite big. Maintain your investment in Lavine, Williams. To be honest - I'd dangle White too. Lauri / WCJ / White are all on my list of guys to trade if I can get an elite player. I would like to hold on to our current 1st round pick and Lavine/Williams.

What is driving the 8PM CT start time? As a west coaster - love them - but seems really odd the last two games have started at 8PM Central.

Exactly - they outsmarted themselves. You take your shot with Rodgers and than if you fail - you hope he gets another shot. At least you know you took every shot with your MVP.

I get it - the analytics are blended and probably ignore two facts. 1 - you have Rodgers - top 2 QB in the league - which increases your probability in terms of 4th down success. Additionally - on the other side you hand the ball to the GOAT - Tom Brady, which has to greatly reduce your likilihood of getting the ball backs. That said - the factor all of us are probably ignoring is the analytics would say giving Brady the ball back with 2 minutes (if the Packers went for it on 4th down and were to score a TD/ get 2 point conversion)...there is the fact that Brady has decent shot at getting his team down the field and into FG position for a game winning kick. But at least you have a chance. I still say - go for it - if you miss - the probabilty of getting the ball back is much higher when the Pats are inside their 10 yard line vs. where they started (closer to the 20).

I'm kind of curious why everyone is implying Rodgers lost the championship game. Yes - he threw a pick, but he did throw 3 TD's and had his receivers drop some throws all while getting the snot knocked out of him. He played really good, especially when you factor the durress he was under all game. One could argue whether he could have ran in for that TD in the end or not - but bottom line - Rodgers was the better QB on the field yesterday - his team wasn't though. And I still cringe over that coaching decision - that was just brutal. Talk about outsmarting yourself.

I legit believe the Bears would be at the top of his personal list of teams to join. I legitimately think he wants nothing more than to have a chance at sticking it to the Packers. And I'm not going to lie - I'm 100% okay if that happens

That was just crazy. I really didn't get it.

Yeah

RIP - The loss of a total legend.

This is a good hire by bears. Will be interesting though given lame duck situation what sort of positional assistants he can find.

Anyone curious to see if the Bears flip to a 4-3 defense. Seems like some of the DC's they've brought in are 4-3 options and honestly - I don't know that the roster is that bad of a fit for a move to 4-3 vs. 3-4. Probably means Hicks is moved (which I love Hicks) - but he's aging and probably not someone you are going to give another contract too. I think Mack/Quinn/Roquan fit nicely in it and I think Goldman still does as well. It also probably is a better fit for Danny T at this point too.

It is why as much as getting someone like Watson is great - I can just as well make the argument to acquire assets while taking a swing with the 1st round / 2nd round pick that we have as well and maybe doubling down and taking a shot at Winston (or whomever you think is a reclamation project - D'Arnold or Wentz would have been on my list as well). Feels like a way to approach it without completely mortgaging the future (which is the only way this team could get Watson).

And I know those were just IL numbers - but literally across the country this should be a wartime effort - like literally no excuse. GET IT DONE.

It shouldn't be political. I get Affordable Care act and the political aspect of that - but coronavirus should never have been as political as it was made to be. And the politicans should have all been big boys & girls as it related to that (even if the president was unable to - the rest of them should have been able to). Period - no excuse.

I'll just make it clear - we are in a pandemic - there is zero excuse for this to not be a 7 day a week 24/7 type of thing. Period. If I could get my vaccine at 3 AM - I would get my vaccine.

Did he ever actually say the Sox are going to sign Cruz? Or just good news and re: Cruz. Maybe its as simple as Cruz is not going to be back with the Twins.

Ah yeah. The guy I had never heard of until we traded him.

Who was that prospect? Dunning?

yeah - Monday; No cancelled game; last week they had the game against Boston cancelled.

Looks like Hoosiers are going to pull this off. Havne't seen Iowa score so few points in forever.