So the Bulls look like the likely 5 seed. Not bad for a team without its best player, played a lot without its best player's backup, played almost the entire season with backups at the 2 (again, sometimes 2 backups deep), had its 5 miss significant time, had its best post player off the bench miss big time, and had its All-Star 3 miss some time as well.

 

Not bad.

 

I don't care what any thinks, Thibs is the NBA coach of the year.

I don't care what any thinks, Thibs is the NBA coach of the year.

This has been the case for the last 3 years.

The Lakers and Utah games should be interesting tonite.

I don't care what any thinks, Thibs is the NBA coach of the year.

 

I have to agree. This is a god-awful (and just painful to watch at times) roster that he's somehow squeezed 44/45 wins out of. Unfortunately, I think the dude from Indy gets it.

The Lakers and Utah games should be interesting tonite.

 

Over under on Lakers free throw attempts: 45

 

That was the story of the GS game until Kobe broke down

I still think Popovich should get it.

 

But I think this year dispels all doubt that Thibs is a Doug Colllins burn you out type coach. He pushes players hard, but he's fair, and he never calls a player out to the media if he's not liking their effort. And as you saw with Bellinelli, he will immediately reward with playing time if they start to understand the defense in practice.

 

And especially those big high profile games like vs. miami and ny, with garbage lineups, the teams play incredibly disciplined and get big wins. I think those get him a lot of buy-in from his players, who know the system works if they play within it.

I still think Popovich should get it.

 

But I think this year dispels all doubt that Thibs is a Doug Colllins burn you out type coach. He pushes players hard, but he's fair, and he never calls a player out to the media if he's not liking their effort. And as you saw with Bellinelli, he will immediately reward with playing time if they start to understand the defense in practice.

 

And especially those big high profile games like vs. miami and ny, with garbage lineups, the teams play incredibly disciplined and get big wins. I think those get him a lot of buy-in from his players, who know the system works if they play within it.

 

Yeah, that's always the worry...that he'll run players away. It is possible some guys choose not to come because of Thibs, but that's okay. All you have to know is that Thibs is pragmatic -- he obviously believes in defense as a primary, primary, primary concern. However, it doesn't matter if you can't score. Enter Nate Robinson. If he was a stubborn coach, Nate would sit until he grew 4 or 5 inches and started playing better defense.

 

The way Jimmy has turned out is reflecting very well on both GarPax and Thibs as well. If we get something out of Marquis Teague, that's 2/2 for Thibs with young guys riding the bench but still getting better. Unfortunately, I can't see Teague ever being worth much to this team, even if he is pretty damn good. Do you think, if he became a good PG, we'd start putting Derrick at the 2? That would test the limits of Thibs' willingness to sacrifice defense. Do you see a squad with:

 

Teague

Rose

Jimmy

Taj

Noah

 

at some point in about 2 years? It seems like the one position we're still looking for longer term answers is 2, because we don't want Derrick or Teague spending that much time there. If we find some way to keep Lu around after current contract, I'd imagine we'd look at keeping Jimmy at 2. We would still have to be on the lookout for a real scorer at that spot and have either mythical scoring 2 guard or Jimmy be the 6th man. Our boy abroad may be coming into the fold around this time, so hopefully that helps our depth. Not sure how well or if he fits into Thibs' system though, hopefully he doesn't need to spend years on the bench to adjust.

 

I also think it would be nice to keep Marco in the fold, if possible. He's a nice complimentary player with a bit of upside.

So will Kevin Durant's 2013 go down as the best non-MVP winning season ever? ANY other year it's probably his. Only season that comes to mind is Jordan's '89 campaign.

Yeah, that's always the worry...that he'll run players away. It is possible some guys choose not to come because of Thibs, but that's okay. All you have to know is that Thibs is pragmatic -- he obviously believes in defense as a primary, primary, primary concern. However, it doesn't matter if you can't score. Enter Nate Robinson. If he was a stubborn coach, Nate would sit until he grew 4 or 5 inches and started playing better defense.

 

The way Jimmy has turned out is reflecting very well on both GarPax and Thibs as well. If we get something out of Marquis Teague, that's 2/2 for Thibs with young guys riding the bench but still getting better. Unfortunately, I can't see Teague ever being worth much to this team, even if he is pretty damn good. Do you think, if he became a good PG, we'd start putting Derrick at the 2? That would test the limits of Thibs' willingness to sacrifice defense. Do you see a squad with:

 

Teague

Rose

Jimmy

Taj

Noah

 

at some point in about 2 years? It seems like the one position we're still looking for longer term answers is 2, because we don't want Derrick or Teague spending that much time there. If we find some way to keep Lu around after current contract, I'd imagine we'd look at keeping Jimmy at 2. We would still have to be on the lookout for a real scorer at that spot and have either mythical scoring 2 guard or Jimmy be the 6th man. Our boy abroad may be coming into the fold around this time, so hopefully that helps our depth. Not sure how well or if he fits into Thibs' system though, hopefully he doesn't need to spend years on the bench to adjust.

 

I also think it would be nice to keep Marco in the fold, if possible. He's a nice complimentary player with a bit of upside.

 

Teague's development will take a lot longer than we are used to. PG is already one of the harder transitions from college to NBA, and Teague was a very raw 19 year old PG. It's going to take some time for him, but it was an interesting pick because you definitely got the feeling he was bulls BPA. He may not pan out, but those are the picks you should make in the 20s.

 

Boozer leads the East and is 4th in theNBA for double doubles.

 

Boozer leads the East and is 4th in theNBA for double doubles.

 

If he was on a small deal, Bulls fans everywhere you give praise to St. Boozer

If he was on a small deal, Bulls fans everywhere you give praise to St. Boozer

 

Not really...

 

Unless he was getting paid $4 million a year, there's no real reason to think Boozer is a good value.

 

The only thing I can applaud Boozer for the past two seasons is that he's been healthy. That's about it.

Edited April 18, 201312 yr by chw42

Not really...

 

Unless he was getting paid $4 million a year, there's no real reason to think Boozer is a good value.

 

The only thing I can applaud Boozer for the past two seasons is that he's been healthy. That's about it.

 

And that he rebounds, forms what is likely the best big man passing duo with Joakim, and can still score more reliably than Taj.

Not lookin' good for Utah. Down 14 late in the third at Memphis. Looks like the Lakers will indeed win the right to get swept by OKC. s*** is gonna be ugly.

Washington playing like they want to hurt someone

Jesus Christ this is just terrible basketball.

Utah lost, so Lakers make playoffs.

So Miami finishes the season winning 37 of their last 39 games. Only losses during said stretch were, of course, to the Bulls, and the Knicks (LeBron/Wade didn't play). Good luck rest of the NBA. f*** it. None of you have a chance.

So Miami finishes the season winning 37 of their last 39 games. Only losses during said stretch were, of course, to the Bulls, and the Knicks (LeBron/Wade didn't play). Good luck rest of the NBA. f*** it. None of you have a chance.

 

And J4L has delivered the kiss of death

And J4L has delivered the kiss of death

 

Like Steve's sources, I would like to be spectacularly wrong. I just can't come up with a realistic scenario, outside of injury, in which they lose 4 times in a series.

Holy Chandler f***ing Parsons. Dude just hit a damn near 40 footer to send the game into OT.

Edited April 18, 201312 yr by Jordan4life

Lakers win. They're actually the 7th seed now. I might've given 'em a chance against the Spurs with Kobe.

Edited April 18, 201312 yr by Jordan4life

Like Steve's sources, I would like to be spectacularly wrong. I just can't come up with a realistic scenario, outside of injury, in which they lose 4 times in a series.

 

Nate Robinson enters Beast Mode.

 

Lakers win. They're actually the 7th seed now. I might've given 'em a chance against the Spurs with Kobe.

 

Yeah, with Kobe they might have had a shot.

 

But no way now.

 

Also, Dwight's speech sounded incredibly fake.

 

If Tyson stayed out of foul trouble and defended the rim like he did the title year with Dallas, the Knicks could take Miami to 6 or 7, but that's it.

 

A Thunder/Heat II final would be the only shot at an actual series loss for them.

SportsCenter ‏@SportsCenter 13m

 

BREAKING: Doug Collins has resigned after three seasons as coach of the 76ers. He will remain with the team as a special consultant.