Are You Ready? Break It Down!

...Bow to the masters, suck it!

Yeah that headline is a D-Generation X reference from 97'. Deal with it.

Before we get into the Bulls, congratulations to Mark Buehrle, the first White Sox pitcher to throw a no hitter in 16 years. Along with Paul Konerko, Buehrle has been the face of the franchise since the turn of the millennium, and has always been one of baseball’s most unheralded pitchers. Even though it appears unlikely to happen, we’d love to see Buehrle retire as a South Sider. He’s one of our favorite White Sox ever, and something like this couldn’t
happen to a better guy.

There was only one little problem. We saw like four pitches of the game! A Sox pitcher throws a no hitter for the first time since we were 3 years old, and we miss the entire thing because the Bulls were on. We were so into the Bulls game, we almost forgot the Sox were playing. The immortal Johnny Red Kerr broke the good news just as the final seconds were ticking off the Bulls’ regular season. Say what you will about Johnny Red (he’s old, senile, old, blind, deaf, old) but those were some of the best words we have ever heard come out of his mouth.
And as for the Bulls, we’re not so worried. There are going to be tons of people between now and Game 1 against the Heat saying the Bulls ruined their entire season by losing to the Nets Wednesday night. We’re definitely not buying that. One loss doesn’t overshadow the fact that this team had a fantastic season, winning more games then any Bulls team since His Airness left. It was just an enjoyable season all around. Honestly, how many NBA teams are there that are actually likable? Three maybe four? Well this Bulls team is one of the few; a group of NBA ballers that aren’t complete thugs.

That’s the best part about this Bulls team, they win the right way. All of their major components, besides for Big Ben, are homegrown, and they’re all high character guys. Nobody is taking bereavement leave to go to a strip club like Zach Randolph and getting three technical fouls every night like Rasheed Wallace. This group of guys generally seems like they like each other and they banded together to do things no post-MJ Bulls team has done. Remember like a week ago when the Knicks were flipping out because the Bulls were beating them by too much? For those of us that remember the Marcus Fizer and Jay Williams years (or year) that was one of the most enjoyable nights of the season. A few years ago, teams were running up the score on the Bulls, now it’s the other way around. We really couldn’t be happier about this transformation.

The Bulls made the transition from competitive to good this season a couple different ways. People might automatically assume that Ben Wallace played the most pivotal role in all of this, but that could be any further from the truth. The real reason the Bulls are legit is because three guys have made the jump to become all star caliber players: Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and Kirk Hinrich. Though they’re all still young- Hinrich is the oldest at 26 and Deng is only 22- the entire trio transformed into veterans this season.

Hinrich is the best defender on the team and one of the better perimeter defenders in the league. His defense often overshadows his offense, but after Nocioni went down, Hinrich really picked up his scoring. He posted the career highs in minutes, points, field goal percentage, and three point percentage. He’s unquestionably the leader of this team on the court and runs the
show as well as any Bull since Pippen.

Deng has a great year too, probably becoming the Bulls best all around player. He’s so gifted offensively and is becoming one of the top small forwards in the NBA. Usually guys like him turn out to be second fiddles on good teams (Josh Howard, Tashaun Prince), but everyone sees Deng developing into the type of player that can carry a title contender. He improved his game as much as any player in the NBA; transforming from a 3-point chucking small forward to a dude who can score in the paint and knock down a mid-range J. He’s become one of the most versatile scorers in the Eastern Conference, and that has allowed the Bulls to contender this season.

But neither have been the teams’ most important player this season. When the Bulls recently announced their team MVP, and they awarded it to the entire team. While that’s nice, the Bulls real MVP is Gordon. The Bulls might have been able to withstand injuries to Luol and Kirk- they wouldn’t be good but they’d manage- but Gordo is the one player that was indispensable this season. Past criticisms of Ben included his streaky shooting, lack of height, and propensity to get into foul trouble. While he didn’t grow (but imagine if he did), Gordo has become a go-to scorer in this league. He finished top 20 in the association in scoring and joined A.I. as the only two players 6’3 and under to average 20 a night. He seemed to regress some in his sophomore season after a stellar rookie campaign, but Gordon’s improvement has meant more to the Bulls than anything else.

It’s also easy to forget about Notch because he missed 28 games during the second half when this team was starting to make their push, but when healthy, he can be just as important as anyone.

If there is one thing we know for sure about this Bulls team it’s that their not going to roll over for anyone. And people who think the Bulls are going to bow down against the defending champs are crazy. Honestly, we here at TUP would rather see the Bulls play the Heat then the Nets in the first round. Maybe there’s something mental blocking the Bulls from winning in New Jersey; we know that isn’t the case with Miami. The Bulls played the Heat tougher then anyone last season during the playoffs (that includes Dallas) and took 3 of 4 meeting with them this year. And don’t think Miami doesn’t remember the 42 point beat down the Bulls laid on them opening night.

Did the Bulls make things tougher for themselves by losing yesterday? Of course, but really, how good is the 2007 incarnation of the Miami Heat? People forget just how beat up the Heat are. D-Wade is more injured then he leads on, Shaq had the burden of carrying them into the playoffs for the last two months, and guys like Eddie Jones and Jason Williams have also battled injuries all season.

Objectively, it’s hard not to like the Bulls in a lot of these matchups. It’s alright to point out how Shaq could have his way with Ben Wallace (something that may or may not happen), but how about Deng and Tyrus blowing by Zo and Udonus Haslem? Wade’s injuries are going to force him to focus most of his energy on scoring, so there a decent chance Gordo explodes for 40 multiple times during this series. Jason Williams has never been good defensively, and the Glove is just plain washed up at this point. Those dogs can’t handle Captain Kirk.

The most underrated aspect of this series might be the Bulls’ big three wanting to finally garner some respect. Outside of Chicago, no one considers Hinrich, Deng, and Gordon all star caliber players, and that is what they became this season. In the NBA, more then any other league, guys yearn for that respect. They want the recognition and treatment that comes with such lofty respect and status. What better way for them to get it then by beating the defending champs?

Prediction: Bulls in 6

PS: Fuck James Posey.

Oden Not Turning Pro Yet

Contrary to a published report, Greg Oden has not yet decided his basketball future. This according to Mike Conley Sr., one day after Greg Oden Sr. said his son was leaving Ohio State for the NBA. Conley Sr., who is expected to be Oden’s agent whenever his professional career begins, said Oden has not committed to turning pro just yet.

"No. Definitely not. Not to say he's not going to decide that -- but, 100 percent, as of this moment, he hasn't decided," Conley, father of Oden's high school and college teammate, Mike Conley Jr., told The Associated Press.
"I talk to his mother every day, and I talk to [Ohio State coach] Thad Matta every day, and if Thad Matta and his mother and I don't know, then how can anyone else know?"

The news that Oden may not leave Columbus after just one year will surprise a lot of people, but I’ve figured all along that Oden would return to Ohio State for his sophomore season. Oden just seems like a different kind of cat; he’s unbelievably humble and said earlier this season that he feels he still needs to work on his game at the college level. He even told ESPN’s Andy Katz that after he found out he needed surgery on his right wrist, he asked Ohio State coach Thad Matta if he could redshirt. If anyone else of Oden’s stature said that it would be assumed they were joking, but I’m not sure if Greg Oden knows how to be funny. He will almost certainly be the #1 pick whenever he comes out, so Oden may not feel the pressure most college ballers do to make their millions right away.

And if Oden doesn’t come out, that would beg the question, just how good is this incoming draft class? For a year people have been saying how this is one of the most stacked classes in NBA history with two guaranteed blue chippers at the top (Oden and Durant), and a slew of other freshman (not to mention Florida’s trio of juniors) who were barred from entering the NBA out of high school because of a new rule passed by David Stern. If Oden goes back to school, Durant is the for-sure number one pick, but who would go after him? Guys like Al Horford, Brendan Wright, and Corey Brewer are all considered possible top 5 picks, but now one of those guys has to go #2 to an NBA team pissed off they didn’t land Oden or Durant.

For my money, I think Oden would be dumb not to go pro. Another year in college won’t fix any of his flaws because he dominates college ball already. He won’t need to work on his footwork and post moves because in college he can get by on his pure size and strength, something that won’t work for him in the NBA. But I’d love to see Oden go back to Ohio State just see the looks on the faces of all the NBA GM’s that instructed their teams to tank during the last two months of the NBA season. All that losing for nothing. Take that Milwaukee.

Would The Bulls Be Better With Eddy Curry?

There was a great article in the Sun Times yesterday about the Eddy Curry trade. It’s hard to believe Curry, one of the most polarizing players in Bulls history, has been in New York for two full seasons now. Most people blasted John Paxson for not getting enough in return when he shipped Curry to the Knicks for a couple draft picks, but the emergence of Tyrus Thomas and possibility of the Bulls landing another high lottery pick look like pretty good compensation for the 24 year old center.

But did the Bulls really get the better end of the deal? Would the Bulls be better this season if they still had Eddy Curry?

Seemingly the only thing keeping the Bulls from a being a shoe-in for the NBA Finals this season is their lack of a low post scoring threat. Eddy Curry could have been that guy. Playing a career high 35 minutes a game for the Knicks this season, Curry is averaging over 19 points and 7 rebounds a game. He recently dropped 43 in a road win over the Bucks including a game tying 3 pointer at the end of regulation. Before the Knicks recent string of injuries, which saw them lose David Lee, Stephon Marbury, and Jamal Crawford, Curry had New York right in the playoff hunt at 29-34. Remember, the only reason the Bulls traded Curry in the first place was because he refused to take a DNA test after it was found that he had a potentially life threatening heart condition, something that has yet to ever effect his career.

Had the Bulls kept Curry the roster could look completely different. They wouldn’t have Tyrus Thomas, probably wouldn’t have Ben Wallace, and might still have Tyson Chandler. While the Wallace versus Chandler debate could go either way, it’s impossible to overlook the impact Tyrus Thomas has had on the Bulls in the second half of the season. With Andres Nocioni virtually missing the entire half, Thomas stepped in and gave the Bulls’ bench a much needed surge. He was as important as anyone in games against the Celtics and Cavs, and his tip-in as time expired gave the Bulls a huge road win over the Denver Nuggets. Thomas’ big play ability is something the Bulls never got from Curry and it adds another dimension to the team on both ends of the court. His block of a Josh Smith dunk in Atlanta and his block-to-dunk sequence in New Orleans could be two of the best plays of the NBA season, and both were momentum changers that led to Bulls’ victories.

And don’t forget the Bulls will swap first round picks with New York this year. If the season ended today, the Knicks, at 32-46, would have the eight worst record in basketball. The Bulls could look to add a big man with that pick. If they get lucky, Ohio State’s Greg Oden would make the Bulls one of the NBA’s elite teams for the next decade (I’m on the record as a Durant guy, but the Bulls would be dumb not take Oden). Even if the pick stays at eight, the Bulls should have options with big men like Washington center Spencer Hawes, Florida forward Joakim Noah, and Georgetown center Roy Hibbert all likely available.

While having Curry would add another dimension to the Bulls offense, the pieces added via the trade with the Knicks more than make up for his absence. With the draft picks the Bulls acquired from the trade they have basically rebuilt again, only this time a steady foundation is already in place with guys like Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng. It would be unfair to say New York got fleeced in the deal, but trade let the Bulls add some young pieces that should have them competing in the Eastern Conference for years to come.

Scott Skiles Still Hates Eddy Curry

Lost in last night's beat down of Knicks was this little gem in the Sun-Times today.

''Eddy's having a very good year, but it seems like he's being put on a
pedestal here awful quickly,'' Skiles said. ''I don't think that's
necessarily
fair to him because he's still such a young player [24].

It made me remember one of my all-time favorite sports quotes. I believe it was in the middle of the 2003 season, Curry was starting to break out offensivly, but he was getting out rebounded by guards which didn't make Skiles very happy(Curry didn't even average double digit rebounds his senior year of high school). That led to this exchange:

Reporter: "Scott, what do you think Eddy can do to improve his rebounding?"
Skiles: "Jump"

Ah, the good old days.

NBA Draft Notes

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA Draft isn't until April 29, but already some of college basketball's top prospects are leaving school early. The big news today was that Kevin Durant will leave Texas after only one season. The first freshman to ever win the John Wooden Award, Durant ranked fourth in the nation in both scoring and rebounding. He is a consensus top two selection who reminds scouts of a cross between Dirk Nowitzki and Tracy McGrady. He may be the most NBA ready prospect to enter the league since Tim Duncan in 1997.

Florida's four juniors announced last week that they are also turning pro. Corey Brewer, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah are all considered top 10 picks, and point guard Tauren Green should be selected in the second round. Noah probably would have been the top pick had he decided to come out last season, and now may be the third player chosen from his own team. Horford should go top 5, as early as number 3. No player boosted their NBA stock in the tournament as much as Brewer, who could go between 3 and 7.

The two other big players to leave school this week were Washington center Spencer Hawes, who played just one year for the Huskies, and Kansas forward Julian Wright. Wright repeatedly said he was coming back to school for his junior season, but is considered the best pro prospect on a stacked Kansas team. Neither player has signed an agent yet which means they can return to school. Both are expected to be lottery picks.

Greg Oden is considered by most to be the best NBA prospect in college basketball, but has yet to declare for the draft. Fellow Ohio State freshman Mike Conley Jr. would be considered by most the top point guard if he came out and would be a lottery selection. Conley said during the season that he will return to school but is now said to be rethinking that strategy.

Fun With Trade Rumors: Kevin Durant to the Suns?

You gotta love when GM’s recklessly trade away first round draft picks. It’s how the Bulls got Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas and how the Pistons got Darko (whoops). Trading first round picks is especially ill-advised when you’re the Atlanta Hawks, but that’s exactly what they did two summers ago. In exchange for Joe Johnson (who, to be fair, does rock), the Hawks gave the Suns a boatload of goodies which included two first round picks and Boris Diaw (who the Hawks tried to make a point guard! I hate exclamation points, but come on, that deserves one).

The Suns get the first of those draft picks this year in one of the most loaded classes of all time. And with the Hawks once again bringing up the rear in the Eastern Conference, there is a good chance the Suns, who are already the most talented team in the NBA, could add another stud to the mix. The problem is this year’s pick is top 3 protected, meaning if the Hawks are one of the first three teams to choose, they get to keep their selection. On an ESPN podcast yesterday, Bill Simmons and Chad Ford raised an interesting scenario: there is a very good chance the Suns could choose fourth in this draft, and if that’s the case, would they try and move up to get Kevin Durant?

The Suns have the talent to make such a trade possible, and adding Durant in with Nash and Stoudemire could make them one of the most unstoppable offensive forces the NBA has ever seen. And to a team like Boston, Milwaukee or Memphis, a deal from the Suns could be almost impossible to refuse. For the chance to move up two picks (most people are finally agreeing Oden will go first), the Suns could offer the fourth pick, Shawn Marion, Atlanta’s unprotected first rounder in 2008, and either Leandro Barbosa, Diaw, or Raja Bell. How could anybody possibly turn that down? Imagine adding Marion, Barbosa, and Al Horford to Boston or Milwaukee. They’d be one the three best teams in the East right away.

The best part of this is that it could actually happen. If you’re the Suns, why not? They’ve already flirted with the idea of moving Marion before, and they could afford to lose one of the Barbosa, Bell, Diaw group and still be awesome, especially if they’re adding Durant. Durant is tailor-made for that system, and with Stevie Franchise and Stoudemire still in place, the Suns could have a historically great team, with two of their three best players being 6’10 and only 19 and 24 years old respectively. They’d dominate for the next decade.

Phoenix is the second seed (54-18) in the Western Conference right now but has struggled recently, only going 6-4 over their last 10 games. The consensus seems to be that the West will be decided between Dallas and San Antonio. If Phoenix fails again to advance to the NBA Finals- this is their third season with Nash- it would have to be a considered disappointment, and might make management even more willing to part with someone like Marion.

Zach Randolph is a Dickhead

Please, can we never mention Zach Randolph’s name again in any trade speculation to the Bulls. It’s no coincidence that when Randolph went on “bereavement leave”, the Trail Blazers rattled off three wins. It’s also no coincidence that while on “bereavement leave” Randolph was spotted at a local strip club (I guess everyone grieves in different ways). Seriously, the Blazers might not be so bad if not for his jab-stepping, ball hogging bullshit. If the Bulls ever got this dude, and even worse gave up someone like Gordon, Deng, Ty Thomas to get him, it would completely ruin everything John Paxson and Scott Skiles have worked to build the last four years.

Top NBA Prospects in College Basketball

Pre-Tournament Rankings. Grades out of 100.

Top NBA Prospects in College Basketball


1. SF Kevin Durant 100 Texas
Freshman: 6’10, 225
NBA Comparison: Tracy McGrady/ Dirk Nowitski

2. C Greg Oden 98 Ohio State
Freshman: 7’0, 255
NBA Comparison: David Robinson/ Emeka Okafor

3. PF Al Horford 92 Florida
Junior: 6’9, 245
NBA Comparison: Elton Brand/ Carlos Boozer

4. PF Brandan Wright 92 North Carolina
Freshman: 6’10, 205
NBA Comparison: Marcus Camby

5. SF Julian Wright 91 Kansas
Sophomore: 6’8, 225
NBA Comparison: Lamar Odom (smaller)

6. PF Joakim Noah 90 Florida
Junior: 6’10, 230
NBA Comparison: Kenyon Martin (bigger)

7. PG Acie Law IV 87 Texas A&M
Senior: 6’3, 190
NBA Comparison: Chauncey Billups

8. C Spencer Hawes 86 Washington
Freshman: 6’11, 250
NBA Comparison: Brad Miller

9. PG Darren Collison 85 UCLA
Sophomore: 6’1, 175
NBA Comparison: Tony Parker

10. PG Mike Conley Jr. 84 Ohio State
Freshman: 6’1, 185
NBA Comparison: Raymond Felton

11. SG Corey Brewer 83 Florida
Junior: 6’8, 190
NBA Comparison: Josh Howard
12. SG Chase Budinger 82 Arizona
Freshman: 6’7, 190
NBA Comparison: Darius Miles

13. SF Jeff Green 82 Georgetown
Senior: 6’8, 235
NBA Comparison: Shane Battier (better offensively, worse defensively)

14. SF Thaddeus Young 78 Georgia Tech
Freshman: 6’8, 210
NBA Comparison: Travis Outlaw (Smarter)

15. SF Alando Tucker 77 Wisconsin
Senior: 6’5, 215
NBA Comparison: Cuttino Mobley

16. PF Al Thornton 75 Florida State
Senior: 6’8, 225
NBA Comparison: David West

17. C Roy Hibbert 75 Georgetown
Junior: 7’2, 280
NBA Comparison: Zydrunas Illgauskas

18. SG Brandon Rush 74 Kansas
Sophomore: 6’6, 210
NBA Comparison: Bobby Simmons

19. PG Javaris Crittenton 73 Georgia Tech
Freshman: 6’5, 190
NBA Player Comparison: Stephon Marbury

20. C Hasheem Thabeet 71 Connecticut
Freshman: 7’3, 270
NBA Comparison: Dekembie Mutombo

Honorable Mention
SG Nick Young, USC
SG Tywon Lawson, North Carolina
C Aaron Gary, Pittsburgh
SG Marcus Williams, Arizona
PF Josh McRoberts, Duke
PF Darrell Arthur, Kansas