What's the spin if they do worse? Probably still Thibs' fault for overplaying everyone for so many years, right?

IT'S NOT EVEN THAT. There are still women who are afraid to show up to work. YOU CAN'T. WIN. WITHOUT. SUPPORT STAFF.

_________________

Forgot about that.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Plot twist: Tom Thibodeau ate the popcorn on the Metra.

_________________

Would that be considered an improvement? If they lose to Cleveland in the Conf. finals would that be considered an accomplishment? I'm not a championship or bust sort of guy so for me it would still be a successful year. It would also be an improvement.

_________________

48 wins, second round loss.

_________________
Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

i think you are right about Butler. I don't think he fits in Hoiberg's system. He is not a catch and shoot guy. Hoiberg's offense uses a lot of drive and kick and a number of guys will be allowed to break their man down off the dribble. Thibs pretty much only allowed one or guys to have such freedom. Butler will be in lot of catch and shoot situations and that is not his strength. Didn't look good in preseason but I'm still holding out hope.

_________________

Bulls the same as last year....Jimmy will still play at an All-Star level......Jimmy McBuckets will be the Korver of this team.They stopped playing D last year so this one pass and shoot O will have to average about 102 points a game.....Noah off the bench is good..means he won't be on the court that much

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Is there really a reason they shouldn't be better? They have more depth. The young guys have another year of experience and they had the chance to hit the weight room and work on their games. Mirotic should be really good this year. Health isn't an issue either. Noah can use both legs and Rose isn't afraid of his knees. I think that this could be a 60 win team.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

If Gasol has a serious regression then they can. If he plays anywhere close to last year they will be able to challenge Cleveland. I expect Rose to be better. Not MVP caliber, but I think he makes the All-Star team barring injury. Butler should still be an All Star. Noah is the key to the team. If he plays like he did last year they aren't going to make any noise. I still think he and Gasol can play together. I don't think he fits the profile of what Hoiberg envisions in a 4/5 man.

The young guys will be better. They will play much more, which will be better. Hinrich's minutes will be cut drastically. I actually prefer playing Hinrich as a backup point over Brooks. Brooks can't run a team and he is a weak defender. Hinrich 12-15 at backup point is fine. My problem with Thibs and His Hinrich bullshit was the consummate utility guy. He was avg. 25+ minutes and was backing up the 1,2, and 3 positions. If he plays exclusively as a backup to Rose he can be an asset.

Taj should be traded and Portis should be inserted as a backup at the stretch 4 and 5 positions.

_________________

I would be shocked if the Bulls aren't the best team in the East at the end of the season. Cleveland has key injuries and LeBron's back.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Prepare to be shocked.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'd look out for the Bucks. I can't see the Bulls being the second best team in the East.

I'd expect that if Taj cannot figure out how to pass more often, he'll be riding the bench. I think Pau's got one more really good year left in him. He reminds me of Robert Parish, and that dude played forever.

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

Chemistry is the only thing that can hold them back.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I hope you are right, but just not seeing it.

I think people will be ready to fire Hoiberg by Christmas.

Age and injuries will be a battle all year.

Butler will not be as good as last year.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

What's with all the Butler hate? I don't see it?

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

I agree with Walt. I expect Butler to be clearly the best player on the team.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I dont hate Butler at all. I love him as a player. I just think last year is the best he is going to be. I don't see him being able to keep building from here and becoming a superstar.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Health? Coaching?

The only thing that will keep Portis from winning ROY will be the NBA's bias towards high picks for the award.

Rose will stay healthy, but Butler will get the MVP votes (won't come close to winning though).

Niko takes the next step as a PF, but Hoiberg gives him increasing minutes at the 3 to get Portis more time at PF and Niko gets torched defensively.

Noah/Taj look good when they are on the court together and dreadful when they are apart.

I don't know if he really needs to keep building. If Jimmy's final form is what we saw last that's an NBA all star who gets in at the back end of the MVP discussion if the team wins a lot of regular season games.

I don't see him duplicating his final form last year. Again, I hope I am wrong. He is a great story and no matter what else he does he has far exceeded everyone's expectations for his career.

I think the situation with him and Rose is going to be a struggle continually. I think he is going to struggle with Hoibergs philosophy.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Also fuck the Buck love...Kidd will show his true colors as a coach

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

He's going to spill another drink on the floor?

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

That's strategy to his wife beatin ass

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Butler will be a dominant player. There's really no reason to think he will regress, or that he plateaued last year.

_________________
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

Funny and insightful little interview with Hoiberg, courtesy of Zach Lowe & Grantland.

Five Minutes With Bulls Coach Fred Hoiberg

Derrick went hard at the rim the other night, and maybe he should have gotten some calls, but a few of those drives kind of ended in chaos. If you freeze the film, you see some easy, simple passes staring him in the face: Pau open for a ball reversal, Doug McDermott spotting up. Is it hard to find the balance between making the easy play and just rushing to the rim? Because good stuff, like drawing fouls, can happen when he just puts his head down.

He’s only got one eye right now.

Well the end of the Gar Pax era is quickly upon us.....Dougie MacSuckit a number 5 pick?...he has the footwork of Herman Munster the decline of Rose and Noah,The Chairman cleans house

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

If I was able to post this when I was banned, this is what I would have said.

This guy gets it.

_________________

_________________
Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.