Showing posts with label Bulls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bulls. Show all posts

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Bulls have created a powder keg with guard glut, 15-man roster


Golden State Warriors vs Chicago Bulls - Full Game Highlights | March 2, 2017 | 2016-17 NBA Season

More often than not in recent seasons, the Bulls haven"t fielded a full 15-man roster. They"ve done so for a variety of reasons lack of need, ability to take back more players in an unbalanced trade, cost savings.

but the bulls appear poised to keep their roster at 15 after letting pass the March 1 date to waive players and let them be playoff-eligible if they sign with another team. Either that or they"ll waive somebody and he won"t be playoff-eligible, which isn"t a good look around the league.

The Bulls discussed waiving a player to ease the logjam at point guard and unbalanced roster that resulted after last week"s trade with the Thunder. But ultimately the recent injury to Michael Carter-Williams and other unknown reasons convinced management to keep the status quo.

The situation creates an unnecessary daily headache for coach Fred Hoiberg, who will have at least one disgruntled guard from the group of Carter-Williams, Jerian Grant, Cameron Payne and Rajon Rondo at all times. Isaiah Canaan, who has been out of the rotation for a while, is the fifth point guard.

Rondo recently has taken the high road and settled in with the second unit but calmly dissected his demotion in late December and early January, saying he didn"t understand it. Similar to when he lost his starting job to Grant in late January, Carter-Williams expressed frustration over his limited role.

"I"ve been a little surprised," Carter-Williams said.

Carter-Williams is close to returning from left patellar tendinitis, but the point-guard situation has become even further muddied by Payne"s arrival.

"We"ll see how it plays out. It"ll be based on different matchups," Hoiberg said. "You just have to keep talking to them and keep them ready for when their name is called."

Memory lane: Steve Kerr missed the morning shootaround because he wasn"t feeling well but was typically engaged in his pregame media session, even lightheartedly quizzing reporters on who scored the first basket in United Center history.

"You think (Scottie) Pippen or (Michael) Jordan. It"s Larry Krystkowiak," Kerr said. "Apropos of nothing, there"s one of my memories."

There are others, of course, including championships.

"Going into that locker room and pouring champagne, that"s a memory that will last forever," Kerr said. "Those were some of the best times of my life."

Sigh of relief: The Warriors will be without Kevin Durant for at least a month after he sprained his medial collateral ligament Tuesday. But it could"ve been worse.

"At first, we thought he was done for the year," Kerr said. "That second prognosis was way better. He"s feeling a lot better about things now than he was at first."

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-point-guard-logjam-bulls-spt-0303-20170302-story.html

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Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Observations after Bulls improved to 3-0: Jimmy Butler scoring with efficiency


Boston Celtics vs Chicago Bulls - Full Game Highlights | October 27, 2016 | 2016-17 NBA Season

The Bulls improved to 3-0 with their road victory over the Nets.

Here are three observations.

Jimmy Butler is scoring with efficiency

His 22 points on just 10 shots also featured nine trips to the free-throw line. That followed a 16-point effort on nine shots. In each of the last two blowout victories, Butler sat out the fourth.

Butler"s ability to get out in transition has been heightened thus far by the arrival of Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, two unselfish playmakers who like to pass the ball ahead.

"I just keep running the floor because I know Im going to get the ball, Butler said. "When you are open you are going to get the ball whether its from D-Wade, whether from Rondo, Taj (Gibson). If they miss you they know they probably missed you and its, "Im not going to do that again.""

The Bulls are rebounding effectively

The Bulls have been plus-19 over the Celtics, plus-14 over the Pacers and plus-13 against the Nets in their first three victories.

Gibson leads with a 9.7 per game rebounding average. But the Bulls are consistently limiting opponents to one shot and also wreaking havoc on the offensive glass.

Isaiah Canaan is proving himself to be more than a 3-point specialist

The guard"s defensive pressure and ability to pick up fullcourt has impressed. Mostly known as a volume shooter, Canaan has made his presence felt at the defensive end.

After missing all three 3-point attempts in the opener against the Celtics, Canaan also is 6-for-9 from beyond the arc.

His rocky opener made it seem like Michael Carter-Williams would supplant him in the rotation. Now, Canaan could be back in a more prominent role if Carter-Williams is sidelined for an extended period with his left knee injury.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-3-pointers-bulls-victory-20161101-story.html

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Thursday, January 21, 2016

Actor John Malkovich spotted courtside at Bulls game


Stephen Curry Full Highlights 2016.01.20 at Bulls - 25 Pts, 11 Assists, 7 Rebs!

The stars werent just on the court Wednesday night during the Bulls game against the Golden State Warriors one A-list star was sitting courtside.

Actor John Malkovich was taking in the game in Chicago in what looked to be some pretty pricey seats.

When the seats are in front of the broadcasters, thats usually a pretty good sign. The actor is a big basketball fan, and keeps track of the game better than some in the media. Malkovich is reportedly a big Bulls fan.

Malkovich grew up in the southern Illinois town of Christopher, just outside of Carbondale. He grew up next to ex-Bulls coach Doug Collins. According to his IMDB profile, Malkovich got his start in Chicago with Steppenwolf Theatre.

Unfortunately for Malkovich and the Bulls, he was in attendance for a blow out loss at the hands of the defending champions.

Source: http://chicago.suntimes.com/basketball/7/71/1265940/actor-john-malkovich-spotted-courtside-bulls-game

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