My Dear Internet Friends,
The Bulls are clearly not the team that we thought they were at the end of last year. Granted, they are all performing under expectations, with the very notable exception of Joe Smith, but I do believe that Kirk Hinrich is the base root cause of most of their troubles so far this year. Yesterday, for the second game in a row, Hinrich was basically benched for the majority of the second half.
Why is Hinrich being benched? Hinrich is averaging 10.1 PPG on .343 FG shooting, compared to last year's 16.6 PPG on .448 shooting. Last year Hinrich hit 41.5% of his three pointers, and this year he's down to 20%. That is right, his FG percentage is lower this year than his three point percentage was last year. He is continuously in foul trouble, and appears to be taking worse fouls (shall we say less functional fouls that is) from last year. At this man's age and experience in the league, there is no excuse for his numbers to be dropping. He should be steadily improving, which, in the opinion of this humble old man, he has not since his 2nd season in the Pros. He is making poor passing decisions, poor shooting decisions. He is not playing like he's playing hurt, he's playing like he is clueless out there.
Joe Smith and Joakim Noah have been pleasant surprises so far. I have not seem many opportunities for Noah to score or really get any serious minutes, but I do like his energy, and he seems to be perfectly willing to dive, jump, scurry and do whatever it takes to get in there and help. Joe Smith is making a much larger impact than his 6.7 PPG indicates.
In all, I do see this team improving around Hinrich. Deng had a solid game last night (30 Points) even though I think he plays a bit recklessly. I see him driving/diving into the lanes looking for contact rather than a quality shot, which does concern me a bit as his durability will be tested if he continues to play like this. Nocioni had a decent game yesterday as well, with 15 high energy points.
In short, if the Bulls can do something to retrieve Hinrich's Head from within his anus, I think this team can win 49 games still.
Your Dear Bullspeakink Amigo,
Evil J.A.C.K.

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My Mother was a witch...she was burned alive
Thankless little bitch, for the tears I cried
Take her down now, don't wanna see her face.
All blistered and burnt, can't hide my disgrace.
Am I evil? Yes. I am.

You're a man of your word, Jack. I pretty much agree with everything you wrote, except that I consider Deng's play to be positive rather than a negative. He gives the team a dimension that noone else can when it comes to inside scoring and getting to the hoop. Gordon can get to the hoop, but never gets any kind of calls when he does so I think he just prefers the perimeter, and Noc can get to the hoop as evidenced by his 15/16 FTs the other night, but Deng is more polished and simply a much more talented than player than Noc. Our PG play needs to improve dramatically, but I think this team will go however far Deng can take us this year.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

My Dear Internet Friend FartsFan,
I do not consider Deng's recklessness to be of total detriment to the team, however, I question if this is the proper style of play for a man of his durability. Other than that decent analysis.
I forgot to mention the 2nd major factor of the Bulls disappointing season thus far, Big Ben Wallace. Ben is not playing particularly well this year. He seems disinclined, rather than unable, to play hard. I think he is an asshole.
Your Dear Friend,
Evil J.A.C.K.

_________________
My Mother was a witch...she was burned alive
Thankless little bitch, for the tears I cried
Take her down now, don't wanna see her face.
All blistered and burnt, can't hide my disgrace.
Am I evil? Yes. I am.

Ben Wallace has been one of my favorite athletes of the past decade, so I will unconditionally be an apologist for him, much like Steve McNair. I think his injury did affect him to start the season, and there has been flashes of his old self in the past couple weeks, but the game against Dallas was a joke. How the hell does someone of his reputation play every single second of that game and finish with 8 boards and no steals and blocks? I would gladly trade him and his contract to anyone who would take it(Why havent they called Isaiah yet?), but as long as we have him I will continue to hold out hope that he gets rejuvenated and that coincides with a long Bulls winning streak. Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Nobody will take Wallace's contract. As of right now, I can't think of a worse contract in the NBA then Ben for 2.5 more years.

_________________
"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

KDdidit Martin and Larry Hughes certainly need to be in on that discussion.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Yeah, they're in the team picture, flanking Ben on both sides.

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"Tubby? Oh yes, Tubby."

I'd add Jermone James, AK-47 and Peja

Take a look at Brian Cardinal's contract. I'm a Cardinal fan but when he got that deal even I was shocked.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_34_228/ai_n6165514

Good for him though.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I'll give you that Wallace an Hinrich need to step it up, but I think Hinrich can and I don't think Wallace can. I do not think for a moment that Hinrich is playing to his potential, but Wallace has been in steady decline for a couple seasons now.
Also, you have to lay some blame on Skiles. His teams look and play like they're unprepared at the start of each season. Bad starts over the last 3 years.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

While West may be slightly overpaid at 10 mil/yr (goes down 9, 8, 7 in subsequent years), he is averaging 17.9/8.8. That's not shabby

Lewis, while unquestionably overpaid, is also averaging near 19 ppg. and has been a major factor with the Magic's success thus far

These 2, while overpaid, are actually contributing something to their teams, big difference with Wallace and the others (Jerome James, etc) who are committing the double sin of being overpaid and not doing jack shit.

How did Hinrich do last night?

I'll log off and wait for my answer.

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K-Mart's contract is definitely the worst in the NBA. 4 years, 70 million left.


I personally dont think David West is overpaid at all, especially in today's NBA.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Paxon's mancrush on Hinrich is just nauseating.

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"It's not exactly a rocket surgery." D.J.