DBAHO

So what game are people most lookin forward to in 2011? Mass Effect 3 for me personally.

QUOTE (hitlesswonder @ Dec 27, 2010 -> 10:54 PM) I think people are really over-estimating Mayo. Obviously he's a high draft pick and has always had a bunch of hype around him. But he's having a bad year his third year in the league, his shooting is down, his assist and rebound numbers are bad. He can shoot OK from 3 and he has a quick first step and shown a willingness to defend. But it's not like he looks like he's going to make an all-star team any time soon. Compare Mayo to Courtney Lee and then explain why Mayo is worth Taj Gibson, Omer Asik, James Johnson, and the Charlotte draft pick while Lee's value is so much less. Obviously Mayo still has some potential, but I think that's just too much to give up for a player that has performed at the level Mayo has. For what you'd have to give up to get either player, I think a Lee / Brewer rotation at SG makes a lot of sense for the Bulls going forward.

The issue I see with Mayo is that he's not really a 2. He's more of a 1 than a 2 but he's that classic sort of combo guard. And he also needs the ball in his hands a lot to be effective. That would be an issue playing alongside Rose.

Love that Dwight can play that badly offensively, and so can the rest of the guards, and we still pick up the win. Seen a lot of upside with this team over the past 2 games beating the Spurs and Celtics. I like where we are at right now. The most important thing is Hedo has actually gotten back into his 07-08 form, that is going to be crucial, especially if we play Boston again, because he's a tough defensive matchup for Pierce with his size at the 3. If we can somehow trade either Duhon or Q-Rich for a decent backup big, I think we can do some damage come playoff time.

Willie's already 21? Damn I feel old. Make it a good one!!!

Larry Brown bites the dust in Charlotte. I actually think he and Joe Dumars kind of need each other right now. Maybe Jordan will start listening to offers for the likes of Wallace and Jackson and go into a full scale rebuilding mode. Certainly not going to contend in the Southeast anytime soon.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 21, 2010 -> 07:40 PM) The Bulls shouldn't care about contracts from now on, aside from what they're worth in trades. They're now over the cap forever after Noah's extension, and it'll get even worse once a new CBA is decided on, because the first order of business then is a large salary boost for this Derrick Rose kid. Expiring contracts are only useful to the Bulls now if they're trading them or if they want to save money under the tax, just like for your Magic. Hamilton shouldn't hurt the Bulls on defense and probably makes them stronger there, while replacing a couple guys who can't shoot with a guy who can shoot sometimes. He's 35% for his career from 3 which is better than what the Bulls are putting out there at SG right now. My concern about Hamilton is that he's 30, but he's been in the league for 12 seasons now, so he's an "old" 30 if you will. And he's quite injury prone, just reminds me a lot of the Vince Carter situation where I think Hamilton's best basketball is behind him. I think the Bulls just need to give Brewer the starter's job for 2 months and then make a move at the deadline if it doesn't work out. To me as Soxfan1 said, Rip's a guy who's fantastic coming off screens, and he'll shoot the occasional 3 but that isn't really his game. Affalo would be perfect as Zoom said, but he seems like a keeper for Senver now, someone who should part of their core after Melo departs.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 21, 2010 -> 04:30 PM) That would be a perfect player for the Bulls. Is it? Rip's contract is pretty bad to say the least, and he doesn't exactly have great 3PT range, which a SG probably needs in Chicago's style of offense I'd say. As much of a headcase he may be, J.R Smith could be a better option, and he's got an expiring contract to boot.

And I remember the days when Steve Francis was actually decent; http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont...?urn=nba-297966

28 points in 8 mins. Got to be one of the best comebacks ever in NFL history.

Gees our secondary blows. That whole unit needs to be blown up come the off-season. Bring in some good defensive lineman as well.

Rex's 1st INT was a goody...

Some people are speculating that we could move Redick for a big now. I'd still like to hang onto him, as I think we'll need him more in the future especially if we let J Rich walk after this season.

I'm actually more excited about the acquisition of Richardson than the other 2. He's been a good fit in different offenses (Charlotte and Phoenix for example), and to put it simply, he should be an upgrade on VC in the clutch. That alone, makes that trade worthwhile IMO. Now sign that 5 year extension Dwight. Nelson's not really a pass first type of PG, but he's been better at that this season, he'll still score when he'll need to. And Hedo's also a better fit running our pick and roll offense, which SVG loves to roll out. How Arenas is going to fit I don't know, some people are speculating he may be the 6th man, but you don't really want a max contract guy like him coming off your bench I would have thought.

I think people understimate how much Lewis has regressed over the past season or 2. That said, we're going to miss Gortat's size against the likes of Boston come playoff time. I think a move had to be made as it's been said about Dwight Howard opting out of his contract next off-season. However our TO ratio probably went up quite a lot with the acquisitions of Hedo and Arenas. Is this the right move, I don't know. It's going to take Arenas at least half a season to learn SVG's complicated defensive schemes, and learn how to play the 1 in 4 out style of offense we employ.I'm hoping Hedo can get back to where he was when he made the NBA Finals but I think he's past his best, PHX have done well to dump that contract and get a decent big back.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 07:31 PM) Are the Magic just going to try and outshoot the living hell out of everyone? They're perimeter defense is going to take a hit. Nelson/Arenas/Richardson/Hedo/Howard? Well Carter's been pretty woeful defensively, and the way Carmelo Anthony tore us to shreds the other night was probably the final straw. I would still like to keep Bass in the starting lineup, and play J Rich in a Jason Terry style 6th man actually.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 07:27 PM) I swear someone called me an idiot for saying that Gilbert Arenas to the Magic would be a possibility. Can't remember if that was me, think I shot down that possibility at the time because I didn't see Arenas fitting into our system, and apprently SVG is very wary of acquiring him. Pietrus is also going to Phoenix and we're getting Earl Clark back. That said here's what our rotation is going to end up lookin like if this goes down; PG - Nelson, Duhon, Williams SG - Arenas, Redick SF - J Rich / Turkloglu, Q Rich PF - Turkloglu / Bass, Anderson C - Howard, Allen, Orton Richardson's an expiring deal, so we're basically swapping the contracts of Gortat, Pietrus and Lewis out for Hedo and Arenas. Have very mixed feelings on Hedo, considering what he has since he left Orlando. He's an inconsistent player, but then again he moves the ball very well on offense and we haven't really been the same offensive team since he left. That contract is BAD though. Otis Smith tends to think Arenas is a "sleeping giant". Whether he can ever get back to his form of a few seasons ago is doubtful, but I think he had a better chance than Lewis did considering he's only 28.

Chris Broussard reporting that Vince Carter and Marcin Gortat for Jason Richardson and Hedo Turklogu is 90% done, and that Arenas for Lewis is still expected to go ahead. Well talk about making a splash. We're going to have a very jumbled rotation at the 2/3 spot going forward if that's the case.

Get some f***in Self Confidence.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 18, 2010 -> 02:14 PM) I have no idea why the Magic appear to be so enamored with Arenas. The guy is a shell of the player he was 3-4 years ago. And it's rarely ever a good idea when a player plays the role of GM. It worked when Kobe went on his crybaby girl tantrum. But that was rare. Same with Rashard Lewis though really. I think a move definitely had to be made considering the improvements Boston and Miami have obviously made, and what we've shown over the past 6-7 games, and we may not be done. Apparently it'll be a 1st + Lewis for Arenas, and then we're offering VC and Gortat around to see what we can get there.

Ummm wowee;

Oh and people keep sayin Keith Bogans running is apparently the funniest thing they've seen all year. Haven't seen it myself, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 15, 2010 -> 08:23 PM) He got paid and that was that. Yep and when Otis Smith signed him he was all "Oh no, Rashard's very modest etc. he won't b**** etc. "but boy oh boy he was really fallen off the face of the map right now. That said, we get Redick in the starting 5, Lewis becomes a much better player. I get worried about a whole Shaq scenario happening with Dwight in the future though if we don't fix things...

I am seriously tempted to drunkily buy $600 return tickets for this nite right now.... (if someone will gimme free accomodation in Chicago for the w/e that is...)

Work Christmas Drinks tonite, always an oppurtune time to get bojangled (my new word for drunk / pissed Shipps). Ended up at an 80's bar in the middle of London, prob the best nite since I've been here. I got Hangover sweets / Tea / Coffee for my Secret Santa work Christmas presents as well, very practical in the upcoming months I figure...