Back to Blogging

Over the last several months I have been toying with the idea of moving back to Chicago, living with my mom, and following the Chicago Bulls around the country. My plan was to write a blog and a book about my experience. Everything was in place, until our buyer backed out of buying our house, so now my wife and I are back to square one and stuck in St. Augustine, Florida. So I am back to blogging about my Bulls and the rest of the NBA on this site. Oh well, I'm only out 15 hundred bucks for a Bulls season ticket.

Anyway, here is my breakdown of the Bulls offseason...It was GREAT! Yes they missed out on LeCoward, Wade, and Bosh, but they did fulfill everyone of their needs. They added arguably the best PF in free agency (when healthy) in Carlos Boozer. He can score in the post, play the pick and roll game with Rose, and is a ridiculously good rebounder. His only downside (besides health) is his average defense, but playing alongside Noah should help a lot with that. Noah will be able to guard the team's best and biggest post player and he is also excellent at covering up for mistakes his teammates make, like Ben Gordon and Taj Gibson. Speaking of Taj, bringing in Boozer sends him to the bench where he instantly becomes one of the best big men bench guys in the league and is now free from my wrath of him not being good enough to be a starter on almost every other team in the league. Boozer is a perfect for the Bulls and with Taj backing him up even if he misses 10-15 games the Bulls won't miss a beat. Ok, they'll miss half a beat, but still the important thing is for Boozer to be healthy come playoff time.

The Bulls also brought in Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer. Korver is the stud 3-point shooter the Bulls desperately needed and Brewer is the stud defensive perimeter player they needed. These two will probably split time throughout the year based upon the opponent and what the team needs are on any particular night. I expect Brewer to start because defense wins championships, plus he is excellent in the open court filling the lanes and that is going to be the Bulls offensive plan, run, run, and run some more. Both of these additions are huge and I believe both players were a better fit for the Bulls than any other options on the market. The Bulls did make a run at JJ Redick before signing Brewer, but I believe they would have signed Brewer no matter what. He just fits too perfectly. The Bulls also brought in Keith Bogans as insurance should anyone get hurt. He is a veteran who will except his roll, no matter how big or small, and be ready to play whenever he is called upon. He's a perfect 11th man.

The Bulls then made a move and brought in PG CJ Watson. Watson played for Golden State last year, so his defense is non existent, but I'm pretty sure that will change on day one of training camp. Watson is athletic, a good shooter, and can run a team when Rose is on the bench. Since the Bulls traded away Kirk Hinrich they had to get a Backup PG somewhere and Watson is a much better option then I thought they would end up with. I loved this pickup and I can't believe they got him from GS for virtually nothing (a second round pick).

The Bulls also signed former second round draft pick Omer Asik from Turkey. He looks like a shot blocking, rebounding, lane filling dunking machine in the FIBA World Championships, but time will tell if this was a good signing or just a waste of money. I have no idea, because my viewing sample size is almost nothing. The Bulls were smart this offseason though, signing veteran Kurt Thomas as well. This means Asik can learn the Bulls system and learn the NBA game without having to be thrust right into action if he isn't ready. Thomas is also an enforcer who has a nice streak of crazy in him that the Bulls need. Any time a hard foul needs to be committed I will guarantee it is Thomas that does it.

Lastly, the Bulls hired the hottest coaching prospect on the planet, Tom Thibodeau. He's coached in the NBA for almost two decades as an assistant. Every coach he's ever been with speaks about his work ethic and his knowledge of the game. His former players love him (including Kobe Bryant), and he's consider a defensive genius. Brilliant. This was the first signing the Bulls made this offseason and it got everything in motion. Thibodeau will get this team to play above it's head instead of what Vinny did (which I won't talk about ever again).

Needless to say I'm excited about everything the Bulls did. Once they missed out on the so called Big Three they did everything they should have, they filled every hole, and best of all they didn't have to give up any of their own talent to do it. So here is the lineup as of 9/1/10

PG-Rose, Watson
SG-Brewer, Korver, Bogans
SF-Deng, Korver, James Johnson
PF-Boozer, Gibson
C-Noah, Asik, Thomas

That's pretty damn good! And in the coming weeks I will break down their chances against the elite in the League: Miami, LA, Orlando, Boston, Dallas and anyone else that has a shot at making the Finals. This team is significantly better than last year's squad and barring a major injury to Rose or Noah should jump up to fifty wins and a top four seed. Hell, just adding Thibs is good for at least 5 wins!