It’s looking more and more like Derrick Rose

June 19th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanE

I think, for a while now, most people have assumed the Bulls’ No. 1 overall pick would be Derrick Rose. Ever since I was verbally rebuked by two friends for writing that Michael Beasley made more sense for the Bulls, I’ve gone with the Rose flow. To help the process, I’ve watched numerous Rose highlight films, including the above, which I hope is among John Paxson’s bookmarks. When you have the chance to add that to your team, don’t overthink. Just do it. As they say.

Anyway, the pick has remained a secret, until now. Sort of. Rose and his brother may or may not have just tipped the Bulls’ hand:

But as Rose concluded his two-day visit with the Bulls Thursday at the Berto Center, the point guard sounded unsure if he even had a workout scheduled with the Miami Heat, owners of the second pick in the June 26 NBA draft.

“I don’t think so,” Rose said. “I think I have to ask [agent] B.J. [Armstrong] or someone about it. But all I know now is that I’m here.”

Rose’s older brother and confidante, Reggie, went even stronger, saying Rose won’t visit Miami because “this is our last stop.”

It seems difficult to believe the Heat would pick Rose, even as trade bait, without working him out, so perhaps everyone knows what the Bulls are going to do. If that something is pick Derrick Rose, count me in.

Flip Saunders canned; What say you Bulls?

June 3rd, 2008 | Posted by PostmanR

So, Flip Saunders just got peaced by the Pistons. And John Paxson is still interviewing candidates. But yet, Doug Collins is supposedly still going to be the new coach of the Chicago Bulls. I would suggest to John Paxson that he might want to interview Flip Saunders for a few reasons:

1) He took an aging Pistons team to the Conference Finals three years in a row.

2) He developed their bench well this year.

3) He’s not Doug Collins. That is to say: he doesn’t run the world’s slowest offense on the eve of drafting Derrick Rose.

Discuss amongst yourselves or in the interworkings of your own brain.

Bulls out there, still searching

May 28th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanR

While Avery Johnson — at least on paper — seems like the best candidate to swoop into Chicago and take reign of the Bulls, there has been some talk of just whether or not he’s actually interested in the job. So John Paxson has been searching and interviewing and setting up more interviews and searching and interviewing and everyone is floating names out there. I suppose it’s better to be thorough then to just pick someone from the get-go. (Although, D’Antoni sure would have been nice.)

Therefore, I’m definitely digging this bit about Kurt Rambis.

Sources said Paxson came away impressed from his interview with Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis. That doesn’t rule out similar connections with other candidates.

Rambis, 50, went 25-13 in 1999 when he took over for Del Harris as Lakers interim coach. He also led the team during training camp last season when Phil Jackson recovered from hip surgery.

Rambis interviewed for the Kings’ job that went to Reggie Theus last season. The Lakers granted Paxson permission to interview Rambis and fellow assistant Brian Shaw during their break between the conference semifinals and finals.

Sure, his head coaching experience is next to nil — save for a lockout stint in ‘99 — but he’s was a grinder on the court who always gave it his “all.” And as we all know, that totally fits in with the mold of this city. Blech. OK fine: I really have no clue whether or not his coaching philosophy would fit in here with a team on the mend or really anything about him at all, but he rocked the glasses and mustache and that’s enough for me, k?

Bulls are officially dunzo

April 9th, 2008 | Posted by PostmanR

Ah, what to make of the ‘07-’08 Chicago Bulls. Was it their coach effectively resigning, saying he couldn’t control the troops anymore? Pete Myers being the interim coach for two seconds, then handing over the reigns to Jim Boylan? John Paxson not pulling the trigger on the Kobe Bryant trade? Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden of all people coming over from the Cavs? Maybe it was their listless play the whole season after they were seemingly the grittiest, guttiest team in the league?

Whatever you saw as the demise of a team that seemed so promising a year ago — sweeping the Heat in the first round of the playoffs and playing the Pistons to the wire in the second — they are now officially mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Thank God.

“We lost our identity to what got us here,” (Hinrich) said. “So whatever happens this off-season, we have to find a way to get back our edge. We need to become a better defensive team. The better teams in the league, those that compete for a championship, almost always are the best defensive teams.”

Kirk raises a good point here. Because remember friends, identity theft is not a joke! Millions of families suffer every year!

Sigh.

Big Ben’s headband makes triumphant return

October 2nd, 2007 | Posted by PostmanR

Scott Skiles is a bit of a disciplinarian. He’s hard-nosed, man. Just when you thought the NBA was full of highly-payed lazy players who value the dunk over defense, along came Skiles to set your ass straight. The guy wouldn’t even let Ben Wallace wear his headband last year. It caused a bit of a ruckus. But no longer, friends.

“We still have a no-headband rule,” coach Scott Skiles said. “I just left it up to the guys who have been here if they wanted to make an exception for Ben. I was fine with it. They were fine with it.”

That a piece of fabric could elicit questions and expend brainpower felt odd on the eve of a season in which the Bulls are expected to challenge for the Eastern Conference title.

But the fact that, 11 months removed from Wallace’s insubordinate act of wearing a headband during a game, everybody encircled for a group hug underscored the harmony that defined the end of last season and should continue in the franchise’s 42nd season.

“I think it takes a coach who is willing to adapt a little bit and listen to his players, understanding the big picture is winning,” general manager John Paxson said. “Scott’s one of the best coaches in the league. There’s no doubt in my mind. And he’s able to adapt. It’s really a non-story. But the fact that Scott has looked outside maybe a personal belief, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

No word on whether or not Skiles is going to continue to let Joakim Noah wear socks with sandals, but I’d assume that has been outlawed as well. Remember kids: Scott Skiles is HARDCORE.