How the East was won?

4 Responses to “ How the East was won?”

1. GK

   July 5, 20061:12 pm

   Some good points there, specifically the fact of the Bulls not bringing in a post scorer. However it is definately being proven in the emergence of the NBA’s second renaissance that is possible perhaps even more effective to win without an offensive post-presence. Case in point, the Suns, the Mavs, the Nets, the Cavs, even the Pistons and Heat can fall into this category. I realize the names Rasheed Wallace and Shaquille O’Neal are flashing in your head right now but allow me to explain. First-off, Rasheed Wallace is a power forward, yes, but his offensive game is more focused on his ability to spread all the way out to the perimeter opening up the post for both himself and his teammates. ‘Sheed is not a tradititonal post player, he is not great with his back to the basket and is more finesse than power unlike traditional post scorers. Now to Shaq, obviously he shares no comparison to Wallace’s (Rasheed not Ben) game offensively. However, and Shaq will admit this himself, the Heat win because Dwayne Wade scores, not because he does. Of course, Shaq’s mere presence alters defenses, however he is a shadow of the player he was 5 years ago. Simply put, when the Lakers won with Shaq it was more because of him than because of Kobe, but Miami’s success came on the back of Wade not O’Neal. Now back to my list of teams winning without post scoring. You may notice not only are all of those teams playoff teams, they are all teams who made it into the second round or beyond. The NBA admitts the rule changes made in the last two years have been to benefit perimeter players and slashers/scorers. If I am John Paxson building a team I hope can win a championship, I will be smart enough to realize my team needs to win with the rules in place and not those of a few years ago. Meaning, if I build a team centered around post scoring, I run the risk of building a team whose offense is stuck on the bench with foul-trouble everytime we play a decent team with a capable coach. Shaq’s foul troubles these playoffs serve as a good example. The Bulls have proven themselves efficient with their drive-and-kick offense both in the playoffs and in their unlikely late season push for a the seventh spot. One can only assume as the games of young players like Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Louie Deng, and the great captain Kirk Henrich, all players with offensive potential yet reached, continues to mature the Bulls offense will continue to improve. I appologize as I realize that sentence was confusing and possibly a run-on. So I believe it is possible instead of missing the chance to address their biggest problem, the Bulls don’t see their post scoring as a problem and instead have solidified what was already one of the best defenses in the league with the hopes they can follow the blue-prints from other succesful teams and score with players outside the post. At very least the Bulls are an improved team, how improved cannot be known until they play the games but Paxson, in my opinion, has yet to make a bad move so I’ll trust he made the right choice on this one.
2. sulltrain

   July 5, 20066:36 pm

   All good points- good article and comment, but I don’t think it is as much a low post threat as it is just simply a go-to scorer. No one has emerged as one and although Hinrich carried us in the playoffs, he ,Nocioni, and Deng will not likely be a number one scorer over their careers. We all know Gordon’s consistency issues. So ya we have a stacked defense but no garantees on offense. Third years are huge in NBA careers as history has depicted so I do not think we should make any other huge moves to get a scorer. We should wait until after this year. We are almost there but we still need patience. We are trying to be as competitive as possible next year, but next year is not the year to make a run for it. As far as low post threats, keep in mind Sweetney is very young and talented.
   Good talk…Ill see you out there
   SUlly
3. jorge

   July 6, 20064:47 am

   You raise several interesting points. I’m not as pumped as I would normally be with the acquisition; Wallace is turning 32 and the Bulls were already good defensively. I’m also concerned about their ability to sign other people as well; reports now put the contract at the $60M mark (so forget about KG unless they do a trade with Ben for him), which is really an exorbitant amount of money to give to a one-sided player. He does give them a certain swagger though, which is important. So I’m totally with you on the pessimism angle; I hope the Bulls prove me wrong (again)!
4. GK

   July 6, 20066:59 pm

   Ryno, when Paxson wins executive of the year next summer, you’re taking me out for drinks, on you, right?

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