Is 45 wins even realistic?

-Noah constantly injured and suddenly bad
-Gibson is not good
-Gasol is going to fall off at any minute
- Rose likely to miss half the season with injury

Will any defense be played? Tell me why I should be optimistic?

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They should have added somebody in the off season. This team is average or maybe a little better.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I like Portis
I like 2015 Rose
I like the coach.

They will play little D but should be contenders in the East. I see this as the year LeBron starts following Oscar Robertson's end of career slide.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Which minute of his only practice was your favorite?

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55 wins minimum. It's contingent upon the health of Rose. I have Gasol regressing some. Don't know if Butler fits in Hoiberg's offense. Mirotic and McDermott will be better, though in McDermott's case he can't be worse. Noah has to play better, if he is done it's good to find out now so you don't have to pay him after the season.

East is weak, but the Bulls at full strength have a better starting lineup than Golden State. 55 wins is definitely within their grasp.

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44 minimum, probably 48, out in the second round.

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I need the Kool Aid you are drinking.

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Rose at full strength is better than Stephen Curry. Probably will never see that again though.

Butler and Thompson are a wash. If anything slightest of edge goes to Thompson.

Barnes is slightly better than whomever the Bulls starts between McDermott/Dunleavy/Snell.

Gasol is much better than Draemond Green.

Fully healthy Noah is better than Bogut.

Is there disagreement with any of these assessments?

Key being fully healthy Bulls team.

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Well, by your admission, your argument hinges on a fully healthy Rose, which is getting into angels-on-pins levels of hypothetical. And don't the Warriors draw a lot of their strength from the depth of their bench?

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Yes they do but I think their bench is essentially Iggy and Livingston. I've always been a fan of Livingston.

The Bulls have a solid bench also. Not as good as GS but not as big of a disparity it may seem at first glance.

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Noah was destined to be bad. A big man whose main asset is energy won't last more than a few decent seasons. They always have foot problems and the energy wanes by the late 20s. I knew he was going to blow after a few 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

long time guy, a few others and I seem to be on an island when it comes to belief in the Bull.

This is a talented roster. There's no reason they shouldn't win at least 50 this season especially in this Eastern conference. Do the Hawks, Wizard and Bucks really scare you? The Bull can play with any of those teams. I'm expecting that we contend for the second seed in the East and anything short of a conference final would be a huge disappointment.

What?

Noah has exceeded any expectation the team probably ever had for him. I don't know how anyone could be down on the guy. Yes he was never going to be an offensive force but he was the heart and soul of a team that had the best record in the league two years in a row. The shame of it all was that he and Rose never got to play together while they were each at their best.

If he fades away sooner then he should, you can point directly to his overuse by the coaching staff.

Fear the Deer, Fear the Deer!!!!

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

I think Milwaukee has a good year, but in no way should that preclude the Bull from winning at least 50.

so like Fred Hoiberg, you feel defense is just that annoying time between when you have the ball.

Limit the minutes of the Noah and Gasol. The East is weak. Pencil them in as the 4 or 5 seed with a first round bouncing. I'm ready for the NBA to return!

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-- source

Agreed, I am hoping for Cub like surprise from them though.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Bulls have easily the second best roster in the East. There is a lot of Thibodeau love on here and the narrative fails about him being a great coach if the Bulls win more than last year. There will be a lot of excuse making about injuries and guys not playing hard for him last year. I'm expecting it that's why I'm jumping out now to avoid the soon to come revisionist history.

The Hawks Wizard or Buck don't scare me to be honest. Next Best starting five is possibly Miami but there is a lot of tread on those tires. We have been out there on that Bull island but the interesting thing is that the non Chicago guys who follow the Bulls believe that they will better. I havent one person state that they expect them to take a step back because of the loss of Thibs. Greg Anthony was the latest to state it.

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I value it, but the reigning MVP from last year is also one of the worst defenders in the league. The league obviously doesn't place a premium on it if guys like Curry and Nash can continue to win MVPs. Gasol blocks shots and rebounds. He plays a little D just cant guard screen roll at this stage of the game.

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The guy finished 4th in MVP voting two years ago. Yep counts for bum in my book.

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That means the point is irrelevant and that Curry is better than Rose. Part of the reason why the warriors are better.

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

I dont think fans in Atlanta, Washington, and Milwaukee are scared of the Bulls either. I would be surprised if the Bulls were better than the Wizards this year. I agree with others who have said 45-50 wins and a first or second round loss 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

I expect the Bulls to be much better than last year because they will be healthier. Mirotic should improve dramatically and McDermott should be more comfortable. This is a team that could make some noise and win it all.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

lol

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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

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https://twitter.com/kcjhoop/status/657243859374747648

Hoiberg said there's a "pretty good chance" Opening Night starters are Gasol, Mirotic, Snell, Butler and Rose/Hinrich.

God damnit I have had enough of seeing Kirk's name now and forever. Did Moore's legs fall off earlier today and I missed it?

Is Hoiberg high as fuck? Kirk running an actual offense? I sort of get it when it's Thibs' "ah, fuck it; who cares" offense.

That's enough to piss off the Pope. I don't need this kind of aggravation on a Thursday afternoon.

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

But Don, just think how well Hoiberg gets along with the office staff.

You're only going to see Kirk out there for about 20 minutes max. He can still contribute in a reduced role. Thibs always asked him to do too much.