Well we finished 3-4 on the trip, with bad losses like Golden State, but great wins like Phoenix. We did what we had to do, by not getting killed out West, but we didn't exactly set the world on fire. We are missing some fire with Noc out of the line up, but it was nice to see Tyrus step up, and to see Chris Duhon scoring again.
Thoughts?
Full Version: Road trip reflections...
Deng established himself as the best and most consistent all around player on the team
Kirk is out of his early season (world championship hangover?) slump and putting up very good offensive numbers and found his defensive intensity and cut his fouling
Ben is our best scorer, but one dimensional. When he can't shoot he is a turnover prone defensive liablity. When he can, he's one of the best scorers in the league.
Everyone has learned to go the hole.
This trip was supposed to be an indicator of whether we needed gasol and who we could part with.
This sun times quote sums it up.
Would a healthy noc have been the difference in all those close losses on this trip? Maybe.
So, who do you give up? Do you sacrifice depth for a player that would seem to fit perfectly? Do you give up deng, who may soon pass up gasol's talent but is your most attractive trade piece and plays your deepest position? Do you give up Gordon instead, leaving almost as big a hole at SG that you had at pf?
This trip has left the bulls with more questions than answers, and that's not a good thing. To trade, or not to trade, that is still the question. And we're farther away than ever from an answer.
Kirk is out of his early season (world championship hangover?) slump and putting up very good offensive numbers and found his defensive intensity and cut his fouling
Ben is our best scorer, but one dimensional. When he can't shoot he is a turnover prone defensive liablity. When he can, he's one of the best scorers in the league.
Everyone has learned to go the hole.
This trip was supposed to be an indicator of whether we needed gasol and who we could part with.
This sun times quote sums it up.
QUOTE
Gordon has been slumping, shooting 50 percent in just one of the last seven games and under 40 percent on the trip. Skiles wondered whether Gordon had been affected by the All-Star snub. He's the Bulls' leading scorer at 21.2 points per game, and many expected him to make the team.
Deng is averaging 18.4, but he bettered that on this trip while playing consistently good defense.
"I've tried to focus on my defense," Deng said. "I didn't want to be ball watching."
If you're a Bulls fan, you've had a ball watching Deng lately.
He scored at least 20 points in five of the last six games on the trip. He had four double-doubles and missed a fifth by one rebound. In the last seven games he is averaging 21.9 points and 9.7 rebounds. He is shooting 50 percent and he has been aggressive, averaging more than seven free throws per game. He shot 15 against Utah and 13 against Seattle. He had three steals in the Utah and Sacramento games.
He did not attempt a three-pointer on the trip and has shot just three all season.
That represents one of the big changes in Deng's game. He hasn't been a good three-point shooter, so he has worked more on an effective short jumper. Scouts around the league say he might be the best interior cutter in the game, so effective that it tests the Bulls' guards to find him more.
In addition to his improved scoring, Deng is averaging 7.2 rebounds per game and shooting 52.2 percent. He's second on the Bulls in scoring, second in rebounding, third in steals, fourth in assists, fourth in blocks and first in minutes played."
Deng is averaging 18.4, but he bettered that on this trip while playing consistently good defense.
"I've tried to focus on my defense," Deng said. "I didn't want to be ball watching."
If you're a Bulls fan, you've had a ball watching Deng lately.
He scored at least 20 points in five of the last six games on the trip. He had four double-doubles and missed a fifth by one rebound. In the last seven games he is averaging 21.9 points and 9.7 rebounds. He is shooting 50 percent and he has been aggressive, averaging more than seven free throws per game. He shot 15 against Utah and 13 against Seattle. He had three steals in the Utah and Sacramento games.
He did not attempt a three-pointer on the trip and has shot just three all season.
That represents one of the big changes in Deng's game. He hasn't been a good three-point shooter, so he has worked more on an effective short jumper. Scouts around the league say he might be the best interior cutter in the game, so effective that it tests the Bulls' guards to find him more.
In addition to his improved scoring, Deng is averaging 7.2 rebounds per game and shooting 52.2 percent. He's second on the Bulls in scoring, second in rebounding, third in steals, fourth in assists, fourth in blocks and first in minutes played."
Would a healthy noc have been the difference in all those close losses on this trip? Maybe.
So, who do you give up? Do you sacrifice depth for a player that would seem to fit perfectly? Do you give up deng, who may soon pass up gasol's talent but is your most attractive trade piece and plays your deepest position? Do you give up Gordon instead, leaving almost as big a hole at SG that you had at pf?
This trip has left the bulls with more questions than answers, and that's not a good thing. To trade, or not to trade, that is still the question. And we're farther away than ever from an answer.
QUOTE
This trip has left the bulls with more questions than answers, and that's not a good thing. To trade, or not to trade, that is still the question. And we're farther away than ever from an answer.
Good quote.
Overall, it wasnt a bad road trip, we did what we had to do. However we are left with alto of questions.
QUOTE (sport1016 @ Feb 13 2007, 11:48 AM) 
Deng established himself as the best and most consistent all around player on the team
Kirk is out of his early season (world championship hangover?) slump and putting up very good offensive numbers and found his defensive intensity and cut his fouling
Ben is our best scorer, but one dimensional. When he can't shoot he is a turnover prone defensive liablity. When he can, he's one of the best scorers in the league.
Everyone has learned to go the hole.
This trip was supposed to be an indicator of whether we needed gasol and who we could part with.
This sun times quote sums it up.
Would a healthy noc have been the difference in all those close losses on this trip? Maybe.
So, who do you give up? Do you sacrifice depth for a player that would seem to fit perfectly? Do you give up deng, who may soon pass up gasol's talent but is your most attractive trade piece and plays your deepest position? Do you give up Gordon instead, leaving almost as big a hole at SG that you had at pf?
This trip has left the bulls with more questions than answers, and that's not a good thing. To trade, or not to trade, that is still the question. And we're farther away than ever from an answer.
Kirk is out of his early season (world championship hangover?) slump and putting up very good offensive numbers and found his defensive intensity and cut his fouling
Ben is our best scorer, but one dimensional. When he can't shoot he is a turnover prone defensive liablity. When he can, he's one of the best scorers in the league.
Everyone has learned to go the hole.
This trip was supposed to be an indicator of whether we needed gasol and who we could part with.
This sun times quote sums it up.
Would a healthy noc have been the difference in all those close losses on this trip? Maybe.
So, who do you give up? Do you sacrifice depth for a player that would seem to fit perfectly? Do you give up deng, who may soon pass up gasol's talent but is your most attractive trade piece and plays your deepest position? Do you give up Gordon instead, leaving almost as big a hole at SG that you had at pf?
This trip has left the bulls with more questions than answers, and that's not a good thing. To trade, or not to trade, that is still the question. And we're farther away than ever from an answer.
You can give up Gordon and Brown straight up or a package of Noc/Brown and either Tyrus or Sef and the a draft pick (hopefully we can negotiate it to be next years pick). That is where I draw the line.
If we deal Gordon than we go out and look for a one year stop gap type veteran who'd be available for cheap via trade (due to his contract) and try and pick him up and hope to get him ready to give us quality minutes from the 2 (but have Deng and Noc also get minutes at the 2).
Go with a starting lineup of:
Duhon
Hinrich
Deng
Gasol
Wallace
You have Noc come in at times as a 3 and when that happens Deng is the two. Also use the guy you acquire and Sef at the 2 spot. I think that lineup would be good enough defensively as well as good enough offensively (Hinrich can hit the three's, Deng and Gasol can be consistent scorers...Duhon can help spread the floor and create space to get nice passes to Gasol and Hinrich can also do that while both play stellar d).
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