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QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 6, 2015 -> 11:45 AM) One look at his efficiency numbers tells you that Gasol this year hasn't been leaps and bounds better than Gasol with the Lakers in the past 2. Gasol's shooting 48% this year, he shot 48% last year. His TS% is .540 this year, it's been in the .520 range the past two years. He's getting to the line a bit more this year, but in terms of actually shooting the ball, he's not any better. His rebounding rates are better, especially on offense, which helps his ORtg a bit. Prime Gasol once led the league in ORtg and had a TS% around .600. This isn't that guy and he'll never be that guy again. But I'm fine with it. I just don't think he's this team's MVP. That title belongs to Butler. Sorry, I should have bolded only the "The Gasol we are seeing isn't that different from the Gasol on the Lakers the past 2 years". I completely disagree with that.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 6, 2015 -> 11:58 AM) It was actually a true statement. Gasol's prime has come and gone, where he never dipped below 50% shooting and peaked at 57% in his best fully healthy season. He's now shooting about the same as last year (actually, worse), but he's playing way more minutes and working the glass and getting blocks in the system. He's a perfect player for any system, but being on a team with other focal points on the roster definitely helps him out - last year with Kobe down the Lakers had f*** all else save Pau. "but he's playing way more minutes and working the glass and getting blocks in the system." These things matter. Eye test also matters, the Bulls letting Pau post-up has re-engaged him. He was reasonably efficient under D'antoni as everyone is, but sorry, Pau is absolutely better than 2012-2014 Lakers Gasol.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 6, 2015 -> 11:02 AM) Jimmy's been extremely consistent this year, whereas there's been games where Gasol couldn't hit the side of a barn with his jumper. Gasol's good games are really good, but he's also disappeared a handful of times this year when the team needed him. He's also not the best defender. His length is nice to have, but he's very slow. People who are saying this is old Gasol...stop that. Old Gasol was an elite post player who shot 55% from the field. The Gasol we're getting this year isn't that much different than the Gasol on the Lakers the past 3 years, with the exception that he has a way better team, coach, and system around him. I like the signing, but let's not sugar-coat it too much. This is idiotic.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 6, 2015 -> 10:46 AM) He's being ignored a little. At this point he's my MVP for the Bulls, as much as Butler deserves the mention as well. 1 off the league lead in double doubles, putting up career stats in boards and blocks. He's "won" us more games than Jimmy at this point. But both have been amazing. I just don't think Bulls fans like post players. People are so quick to jump on Gasol's weaknesses (which are pretty natural for old 7 footers), but just are like "yup" when he has a great game. It was also Gasol's pass to Niko for 3 that iced that game. EDIT: and also, Gasol can take the ball at the perimeter and make something of it, where Boozer would be an auto turnover. I was pretty forgiving of Boozer, but his effectiveness grew to be further and further from the hoop and it really killed the offense.

Gonna shout out to Gasol, who was probably the reason we won last night. His jumpers kept us in it in the first half, and shut down Dwight where Noah could not.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 6, 2015 -> 09:51 AM) I like it for the Knicks mainly. Any chance you have to get rid of someone like Smith you do it. And like I said, if I'm the Cavs, I'd just dump Smith and keep Shumpert. They have a toxic enough lockeroom right now, don't see how adding Smith is a wise decision. I'm sure I'll regret that statement as Smith hits some game winning three to knock the Bulls out of the playoffs. JR Smith is under contract for next year, so you can see why Knicks bit. They have ... 1 player under contract next year?

Butler's usage rate is pretty low (though he is very efficient). May be why, he's not ball dominant, but that's also why he's so great. He's one of the few player always moving. There was a possession toward end of game where Harden iso'd on Jimmy and he could not shake him, and ended up getting stuck under the hoop and out of bounds. It was awesome.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 09:53 PM) It's being reported that Ballard has been offered the job and is likely to accept. Good thing they paid Accorsi to do his thing "Accorsi, would you be interested in taking a bunch of money to confirm our bias? You would! Oh thank goodness"

Niko really is gonna be something. Playing on a team like this is also a perfect fit, he looks like he's loving it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 09:32 PM) The great part is that Thibs can throw dozens of possible combo's out there to close games, and not need to worry about it. How many teams are legitimately two deep at every single position on the floor, with starter calibur players? The Bulls really are. In the past fouR games, we have closed with a lineup of Rose-Brooks-Kirk and then Niko-NoahGasol. That's some awesome versatility (minus Kirk).

QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 09:16 PM) Is Mirotic our starting sf going forward? To reverse myself one day later, it's looking more likely. At very least, something I would have never imagined: Thibs seems to like him enough that closers include Niko, Noah, Pau. Dun Dun wasn't closing. Kirk was, Niko is the new closing SF?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 09:13 PM) Not that, more like WTF is Cleveland doing? John Starks busy? I think Iman will shine, but CLE also gets a 1st. Not a bad return.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 09:11 PM) Butler is insane. Great comeback. Now finish it. Keep Kirk off the court then!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 09:07 PM) Wat? Obviously an autocorrect issue.

Not sure we have another run in us. That was a terrible missed call.

AND NIKO aNSWERs

Bulls gotta stop this run or its game over. Really bad offense being run by Brooks

Waiters just got traded to OKC. OKC gave up nothing, Cavs get iman stumpers and jr smith

This is wonderful. Not bad defense just. Host of weapons just creating space and great passing. Bulls in a western conference pace is right at home.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 05:06 PM) On a minor league deal, sure. I would too. Everyone was such a dumpster fire in April last year, and then we shuffled him into roles until he was injured. If he's not ready to retire, I'd give him a shot. Bullpens don't make sense very often.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 04:03 PM) try Wikipedia it is easier. You are probably right.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 03:48 PM) What about the last 2 years for DV? I'm not sure including 2013 for Bonifacio helps him either.

Would anyone sign Lindstrom again?

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 10:12 AM) the FR is not just 1 book and it describe the situation. it was mostly of economic and the inbreeding of the aristocracy at the time. read on the mentality of the King of the time, the queen coming from the other country, the little safe haven she made for herself, the politic of the time. start at 20 yrs before the FR and how it lead up to it. the wanton abuse of the people, the lowly serf. the hunger and the reigning monarch not knowing, not having the cabinet members to deal with it, the continue expense of the noble houses. most important how the cabinet members kept it hidden from the king. then the strife of the poor and the breaking point. here is the main point, how there was no government and how later the military came to power b/c of the void. many different books explains it all. This sounds like when I took a Bolshevik Revolution class in college and we had to start with Peter the Great.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 08:58 AM) I'd say he wants to read something about the French Revolution. I've got a friend pursuing a phd in history in a different era from the FR but he always nerds out about the FR. He hasn't read a lot of "overview" books on the FR I guess, but this is what he said: He hasn't read the 12, but says the author is pretty well-regarded. The closest he could really recommend to a broad overview is this collection of essays by historians. It's more about what historians have thought and said about the FR over time, but I thought you might be interested. His first recommendation would still be the pop history book by Mark Steel mentioned above. Not a rigorous analysis but a good way to get into it as long as you take some things with a grain of salt. Carlisle was on the gutenberg project for free, ha. It's really incredible to me how hard this is. Like, I don't even know basic chronology, but nobody has been able to point to something all encompassing. If I wanted someone to learn about the Civil War, I'd point them to McPherson and then onward and upward. I'm going to try the essays.