We're starting off with Kirk, Rip, Lu, Carlos and Joakim," the Bulls coach said. "We're still getting a read on things. We'll look at some different stuff in the preseason to see what makes the most sense."

Personally, I wouldn't mind trying Kirk at SG and have little Nate Robinson start a couple preseason games at the point. Rip can go kick a brick.

time to go get Bellini off the bench.

Personally, I wouldn't mind trying Kirk at SG and have little Nate Robinson start a couple preseason games at the point. Rip can go kick a brick.

Personally, I wouldn't mind trying Kirk at SG and have little Nate Robinson start a couple preseason games at the point. Rip can go kick BRick.

that lineup is nauseating. hopefully they wind up in the lottery.

that lineup is nauseating. hopefully they wind up in the lottery.

The Bulls are still a "solid" playoff team even without Rose. They may not contend for a championship...but we won't be watching a bad team at all.

I'd rather see the Bulls bottom out than finish sixth and lose to the team that loses to the team that loses to the Heat. What a waste. I mean, I guess it'll be nice to watch Kirk Hinrich and some foreigners grind their way through the schedule with their screamy defense-first coach, and I'll watch more of it than usual because the NHL season is cancelled, and OHHHH CRAP IT'S EIGHT YEARS AGO WHERE HAVE OUR LIVES GONE

Bulls will make it out of the first round of the playoffs. They aren't bad by any measure.

I agree that the Sixers should finish top 4 but they'll go as Bynum goes so that's a tough one to predict. I wouldn't be shocked if Miami doesn't win the East, although they are obviously a big favorite to do so.

I don't want to see any Nate Robinson at all. I have no idea why we signed him. I'd like to see as much of Teague and Bellinelli as possible.

I don't think the Bulls will be that bad either while Derrick is recovering from a torn ACL. In fact, this may seem absurd, but because their division isn't all that good even with Rose sidelined, the Bulls can still win the Central Division...but that's about it.

Indiana is probably winning the division. They won't do so decisively, maybe 45, 46 wins, but their time is coming, and I'll take a pretty good Pacers team over an enfeebled Bulls team.

Nate Robinson is 3 feet tall and can windmill-dunk. Anyone who says they don't want to see that is dumb.

There's no doubt that LeBron James and the Heat are the prohibitive favorites in the Eastern Conference. I'm not sure who is the second best team in the conference even though the Celtics are already talking the talk.

It's the same lineup they would have unless Rose was in there. They will probably still win 45ish games, and end up with a 4th-5th seed. Besides the Heat, nobody in the East is poised to make any kind of serious run. Here's how I see the East ranked:

1. Miami
2. Indiana
3. Boston
4. Nets
5. Bulls
6. 76ers
7. Knicks
8. Hawks

There's no one who was in the lottery last season besides the Nets that is any threat to make the playoffs. Orlando is the obvious choice to tumble to the bottom of the conference, and everyone else should stay in mediocrity.

I wouldn't mind it if the Bucks went on another run. Milwaukee as an NBA market is on life support. That you can go to the same old Bradley Center for a Marquette game and pay less money to have more fun has rendered the Bucks all but meaningless.

Milwaukee isn't really a big enough city to have actual sports teams. Should just go the minor league route and contract the Brewers and Bucks.

Milwaukee isn't really a big enough city to have actual sports teams. Should just go the minor league route and contract the Brewers and Bucks.

Once upon a time, the Bucks actually mattered up in Milwaukee...a long, long time ago. These days, not so much.

Phil, where did we all go wrong?