That's for damn sure.
The Bulls are the toast of the town once again. They absolutely embarrassed the Heat on Saturday, completing an improbable 4 game sweep of the defending champs. So much for the "Baby Bulls." These are men.
And these men may be the best team in the East. Detroit no longer looks like the clear favorite. They can turn it on and off at will, but they don't look nearly as hungry as they did 2 years ago. The Cavs have had the Bulls' number over the last couple years, but as much as I love the Wine and Gold, I think the Bulls just look like a more complete team.
They're fun as hell to watch, playing an 80's style of fundamentals-first basketball. But just to cover their bases they do have Ben Gordon, a Vinnie Johnson-style chucker who will either catch fire and torch you, or be cold as ice. I'm just hoping the Bulls'll be too tuckered after going 7 with the Pistons to go 7 with the Cavs...
Here's hoping.
Showing posts with label Wallace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wallace. Show all posts
Monday, April 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Weak End at Bernie's
Bernie Bickerstaff will not be returning as the head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. Read the whole story here, from Yahoo! Sports.
Much like the firing of Dwayne Casey earlier this year, I'm not crazy about this move. Bick has been, in my opinion, one of the best GMs in the league over the last couple seasons, putting together the hottest looking young core of 1st round picks in the league. He's done it while maintaining an almost impossibly low payroll. To put it in perspective; the Bobcats pay Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, Ray Felton, Sean May, Primoz Brezec, Matt Carroll, Brevin Knight, Adam Morrison less in combined salary, than the Knicks pay for just Franchise and Starbury. Who would you rather have? Granted there are a lot of rookie contracts in there, and the reason they have so many good rookies is that they're so perennially awful that they always have a high 1st round pick. Still, Okafor and Wallace should both have been All Stars this year, Felton and May could both become major contributors, and the other guys have bright futures as role players. Bickerstaff is the one who put the team in position to sign both Vinsanity and Rashard Lewis this off season. They're the only team in the league that can literally outbid anyone. If they play their cards right, they could be in the hunt for Lewis, Carter, Garnett, Gasol, Billups, and anyone else who might hit the market this summer. As a coach, I also like what Bickerstaff has done with a constant injury epidemic. His team could be a lot worse, with Okafor and Wallace always down, and the young guys having no vets to look up to, Charlotte is a piece or two away from the playoffs. They've got 22 million in contracts coming off the books as soon as the season ends. They have to consider giving Wallace fat money to keep him, but it's not a necessity, as they'll also be walking into the best draft since '03 with yet another top 5 pick. I feel like this is the wrong time to announce this. They're already deep enough in the hole that they don't need to "play for the draft." Meaning they could go 15-5 to finish the year (massively unlikely) and still end up with a top 5 pick. So why completely undermine the rest of Bick's tenure by announcing his lame duck status? The Cats are in a unique position to really start getting creative and juggling lines. They have 20 games that don't matter at all, maybe they should spend them getting to know just how good Brezec, Carroll and Hollins are? Now's the time. Okafor's injured, again, might as well deactivate him for the homestretch, let him rest up and give the "younger" guys a chance to show what they've got. On top of that, is the fact that they're either gonna re-sign Wallace, sign-and-trade him, or let him go. Regardless of the situation, now's the time to showcase him. If they want to use him to get Pau, they'll need to up his dollar. Wallace, a Bickerstaff favorite, is less likely to be amenable to... anything, with Bernie gone. Jordan's saying Bickerstaff will remain in the organization, but as what GM? Cheerleader? By being shadowy, Jordan gives me the sneaking suspicion he's about to get his hands dirty and his feet wet. Can you say coach Jordan? I know the fans of Charlotte can...
UPDATE: This just occurred to me, but can you think of a better fit to replace Bickerstaff than Paul Silas?? Oh man, that'd be flawless casting by Jordan...
Much like the firing of Dwayne Casey earlier this year, I'm not crazy about this move. Bick has been, in my opinion, one of the best GMs in the league over the last couple seasons, putting together the hottest looking young core of 1st round picks in the league. He's done it while maintaining an almost impossibly low payroll. To put it in perspective; the Bobcats pay Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor, Ray Felton, Sean May, Primoz Brezec, Matt Carroll, Brevin Knight, Adam Morrison less in combined salary, than the Knicks pay for just Franchise and Starbury. Who would you rather have? Granted there are a lot of rookie contracts in there, and the reason they have so many good rookies is that they're so perennially awful that they always have a high 1st round pick. Still, Okafor and Wallace should both have been All Stars this year, Felton and May could both become major contributors, and the other guys have bright futures as role players. Bickerstaff is the one who put the team in position to sign both Vinsanity and Rashard Lewis this off season. They're the only team in the league that can literally outbid anyone. If they play their cards right, they could be in the hunt for Lewis, Carter, Garnett, Gasol, Billups, and anyone else who might hit the market this summer. As a coach, I also like what Bickerstaff has done with a constant injury epidemic. His team could be a lot worse, with Okafor and Wallace always down, and the young guys having no vets to look up to, Charlotte is a piece or two away from the playoffs. They've got 22 million in contracts coming off the books as soon as the season ends. They have to consider giving Wallace fat money to keep him, but it's not a necessity, as they'll also be walking into the best draft since '03 with yet another top 5 pick. I feel like this is the wrong time to announce this. They're already deep enough in the hole that they don't need to "play for the draft." Meaning they could go 15-5 to finish the year (massively unlikely) and still end up with a top 5 pick. So why completely undermine the rest of Bick's tenure by announcing his lame duck status? The Cats are in a unique position to really start getting creative and juggling lines. They have 20 games that don't matter at all, maybe they should spend them getting to know just how good Brezec, Carroll and Hollins are? Now's the time. Okafor's injured, again, might as well deactivate him for the homestretch, let him rest up and give the "younger" guys a chance to show what they've got. On top of that, is the fact that they're either gonna re-sign Wallace, sign-and-trade him, or let him go. Regardless of the situation, now's the time to showcase him. If they want to use him to get Pau, they'll need to up his dollar. Wallace, a Bickerstaff favorite, is less likely to be amenable to... anything, with Bernie gone. Jordan's saying Bickerstaff will remain in the organization, but as what GM? Cheerleader? By being shadowy, Jordan gives me the sneaking suspicion he's about to get his hands dirty and his feet wet. Can you say coach Jordan? I know the fans of Charlotte can...
UPDATE: This just occurred to me, but can you think of a better fit to replace Bickerstaff than Paul Silas?? Oh man, that'd be flawless casting by Jordan...
Friday, March 9, 2007
CHauncey Heading West?
Everybody seems to agree that Chauncey has no choice but to leave Detroit. I'm not sure I understand why; I thought the whole point of letting Big Ben walk last off season was so they could afford to pay Billups this off season.
From Mark Kiszla at the Denver Post:
Billups would be receptive to the idea of a sign-and-trade deal that could land him with the Nuggets, according to agent Andy Miller, who represents the 10th-year veteran.
That I have no doubt about. If Billups flourished with Rip and Tayshaun, imagine what he'd do with AI and 'Melo. That would be an absolutely absurd starting line.
Also from Kiszla:
The raise sought by Billups, an NBA bargain at $6.36 million in the final year of his contract of Detroit, would almost certainly force Denver to trade center Marcus Camby or forward Nene to acquire the all-star guard.
If Denver can get Chauncey for Marcus Camby, Joe Dumars should fire himself. Why would Detroit, who passed on paying money to an aging Wallace for Chauncey, be interested in dealing for the even more aging Camby? That's just stupid. The deal would have to involve Nene, and that's just for starters, because of the obscene 60 million dollar deal Hilario signed, the Nuggs would have to throw in some serious prospects to Detroit to sweeten the pot. The deal would have to be something along the lines of Detroit signing Chauncey to 4 years at 13 mil/year, and trading him to Denver along with Nazr Mohammed(4 remaining at 5mil) for Nene (5 remaining at 10mil), Diawara (1 remaining at 800k), Kleiza (1 remaining at 845k), Blake (expiring at 1.4) and maybe some sort draft picks arrangement.
From Mark Kiszla at the Denver Post:
Billups would be receptive to the idea of a sign-and-trade deal that could land him with the Nuggets, according to agent Andy Miller, who represents the 10th-year veteran.
That I have no doubt about. If Billups flourished with Rip and Tayshaun, imagine what he'd do with AI and 'Melo. That would be an absolutely absurd starting line.
Also from Kiszla:
The raise sought by Billups, an NBA bargain at $6.36 million in the final year of his contract of Detroit, would almost certainly force Denver to trade center Marcus Camby or forward Nene to acquire the all-star guard.
If Denver can get Chauncey for Marcus Camby, Joe Dumars should fire himself. Why would Detroit, who passed on paying money to an aging Wallace for Chauncey, be interested in dealing for the even more aging Camby? That's just stupid. The deal would have to involve Nene, and that's just for starters, because of the obscene 60 million dollar deal Hilario signed, the Nuggs would have to throw in some serious prospects to Detroit to sweeten the pot. The deal would have to be something along the lines of Detroit signing Chauncey to 4 years at 13 mil/year, and trading him to Denver along with Nazr Mohammed(4 remaining at 5mil) for Nene (5 remaining at 10mil), Diawara (1 remaining at 800k), Kleiza (1 remaining at 845k), Blake (expiring at 1.4) and maybe some sort draft picks arrangement.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Open Letter to Rashard Lewis: Listen Close
Dear 'Shardy,
Don't sign with New York. It would just end badly for you. I know how hard it is to resist the apple's draw. But if you want to be the #1 or, at least, #2 guy on a squad, don't go to New York. The fans are great, the arena is great, and the team could become not so bad. The problem is with a guy called Zeke. He has proven this year that he did amass enough talent to win some games. And people have kind of eased off him, because the Knicks are suddenly a possibility to make the playoffs. But the fact remains that a team with Franchise, Starbury, Frye, Lee, Crawford, Curry, Jeffries and Robinson, should flat out run away with the Atlantic division. The reason they haven't is because every dude on the team, other than Curry, is constantly looking over their shoulder for Thomas' next hairbrained scheme. Lee and Frye should both be blossoming into studs this year, instead they're constantly replacing each other and having their confidence and rhythm undermined. Crawford may be the best player on the team, and has no cohesiveness with the players next to him. Starbury is underachieving because he's a baby, but he has a point about being annoyed that the team would go out and get Francis. Francis is Francis, and Curry is Curry. Get where I'm going with this? You would be the next non-fitting piece on a team loaded with talent that has no identity. Why not consider a better destination, maybe a place where you could take over as the #1 scoring option? I'm looking South and East.
Charlotte: Morrison has to be considered a disappointment. Wallace is a superstud, but need not be the go-to shooter. Felton needs to shoot way less, and Okafor appears to not want to shoot that much anyway. You could move right in as small forward, or power forward, and with your outside game (and the money they can throw at you) it would be a marriage made in heaven. Wallace looks to be passing on an extension anyway, and won't be there, which only makes this an even more attractive destination.
Orlando: Look, I love Hedo, Hill, Nelson, and Milicic, but this team needs a shooter. They've got no offensive identity and the front court of you, Howard and Milicic makes me literally drool. You could be a breakout 1st option scorer and I feel like you could also provide much needed leadership and camaraderie to fellow straight-from-high-school star, Dwight Howard. And between you and Howard, it's like daring the other team to double team one of you.
New Jersey: What's not to like about replacing Vinsanity in Jersey? You get one of the best pass first players ever dishing you the rock. You get to be the number 1 scoring option. And, by moving to the Atlantic division, you get to play for a team that, when healthy, is an almost lock to win the division. Factor in Krstic, Nachbar and Jefferson and that becomes a fearsome starting 5.
Progs: The universe being the cruel place it is, I bet you will be wooed by Thomas' tales of Xanadu in Madison Square. You start the first 5 games for the Knicks before Zeke benches you in favor of Jared Jeffries, to test his newest theory.
Yours on the hardwood,
Cap'nSwag
Don't sign with New York. It would just end badly for you. I know how hard it is to resist the apple's draw. But if you want to be the #1 or, at least, #2 guy on a squad, don't go to New York. The fans are great, the arena is great, and the team could become not so bad. The problem is with a guy called Zeke. He has proven this year that he did amass enough talent to win some games. And people have kind of eased off him, because the Knicks are suddenly a possibility to make the playoffs. But the fact remains that a team with Franchise, Starbury, Frye, Lee, Crawford, Curry, Jeffries and Robinson, should flat out run away with the Atlantic division. The reason they haven't is because every dude on the team, other than Curry, is constantly looking over their shoulder for Thomas' next hairbrained scheme. Lee and Frye should both be blossoming into studs this year, instead they're constantly replacing each other and having their confidence and rhythm undermined. Crawford may be the best player on the team, and has no cohesiveness with the players next to him. Starbury is underachieving because he's a baby, but he has a point about being annoyed that the team would go out and get Francis. Francis is Francis, and Curry is Curry. Get where I'm going with this? You would be the next non-fitting piece on a team loaded with talent that has no identity. Why not consider a better destination, maybe a place where you could take over as the #1 scoring option? I'm looking South and East.
Charlotte: Morrison has to be considered a disappointment. Wallace is a superstud, but need not be the go-to shooter. Felton needs to shoot way less, and Okafor appears to not want to shoot that much anyway. You could move right in as small forward, or power forward, and with your outside game (and the money they can throw at you) it would be a marriage made in heaven. Wallace looks to be passing on an extension anyway, and won't be there, which only makes this an even more attractive destination.
Orlando: Look, I love Hedo, Hill, Nelson, and Milicic, but this team needs a shooter. They've got no offensive identity and the front court of you, Howard and Milicic makes me literally drool. You could be a breakout 1st option scorer and I feel like you could also provide much needed leadership and camaraderie to fellow straight-from-high-school star, Dwight Howard. And between you and Howard, it's like daring the other team to double team one of you.
New Jersey: What's not to like about replacing Vinsanity in Jersey? You get one of the best pass first players ever dishing you the rock. You get to be the number 1 scoring option. And, by moving to the Atlantic division, you get to play for a team that, when healthy, is an almost lock to win the division. Factor in Krstic, Nachbar and Jefferson and that becomes a fearsome starting 5.
Progs: The universe being the cruel place it is, I bet you will be wooed by Thomas' tales of Xanadu in Madison Square. You start the first 5 games for the Knicks before Zeke benches you in favor of Jared Jeffries, to test his newest theory.
Yours on the hardwood,
Cap'nSwag
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