The Bulls are in trouble.
by Russ Bengtson
Things just went from bad to worst.
Look, I can understand a slow start. The Bulls have a team loaded with undersized players at all five positions, jumpshooters who can’t shoot (at least for the moment) and a high-priced would-be team leader who seems to have zero interest in actually leading. Oh yeah, and the coach manages to offend a different player roughly once a month week.
But this? The Bulls not only lost to the Knicks, but they now have a worse record than the denizens of the World’s Most Shameless Arena. In New York, coach Isiah Thomas and point guard Stephon Marbury are booed relentlessly as they’re introduced (and Marbury is booed every time he touches the ball after that, at least during the opening quarter). How much longer will the United Center faithful be able to keep the faith? And when they lose it, who will be the first to go?
55 Responses to “The Bulls are in trouble.”
Nov.24 at 9:21 pm
Captain America says:
T’wolves are in a better place.
Nov.24 at 9:53 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Tell me something I don’t know. Joe Kennedy is in a better place.
Nov.24 at 10:31 pm
Myles Brown says:
Good question. All I know is it won’t be Wallace. Benny the Bull has more trade value right now.
Nov.24 at 11:35 pm
Jukai says:
I don’t know how, but somehow, SOMEHOW… this is all going to be blamed on Joakin Noah
Nov.25 at 12:00 am
docta j says:
haha probably
Nov.25 at 12:30 am
Ben says:
Hopefully if they keep this up for much longer they’ll get Kobe…
Nov.25 at 1:37 am
jay says:
i wrote a comment in myles` leftover column that disappeared into thin air, but i was basically rambling about how bad i wanted to gauge my eyeballs out and rip my long locks off my scalp while watching the Bulls-Knicks game, my first mistake was to actually spend money on buying tickets for the game, second mistake was that i was expecting something from the bulls, i kept telling myself that they will pick up the slack and i was hoping it would be today, but boy was i wrong. i left at halftime cause i couldnt further take it any more, jump shot after jump shot, miss after miss, couldnt finish the drives, lazy turn overs and stupid fouls, everything put together was enough to make me leave & then on my way back i kinda started to regret thinking that the bulls would make an ill comeback in the second half and im probably missing out, but thnk lord i didnt stay.
Nov.25 at 4:09 am
Kevin Wilson says:
To every friend I have who followed the NBA, I said, “Just you wait … two years down the road, when the Bulls are not making strides toward a championship, and they say, ‘Hey, our 34-year-old, 6-foot-8 center is still due $34 million,’ and the Pistons are still competing for conference titles, remember who told you.”
Nov.25 at 4:52 am
Tariq says:
Yeah. I would blow everything up right about now.
Nov.25 at 7:06 am
nothin personal says:
I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. the point that russ cracks. There is only one way up, and that’s going down first. IMo, tey should pack the Ben’s together to a semi-contender, and get 2-3 medium talented youngsters and picks. Then continue tanking, and hope they can grab Mike Beasly. (they wouldn’t mind if they had to “settle” with Derrick Rose or OJ). All this, after Skiles is gone.
Nov.25 at 7:17 am
Sesa says:
Skiles for Assistant Coach!
Y’know for a team that consists of perimeter players, none of them were actually a pure shooter.
Nov.25 at 7:27 am
nothin personal says:
Hinrich is. it’s just that somebody had the crazy idea to ask him to have the ball in is hands instead of spotting up in the corner!
Nov.25 at 11:25 am
Joel O's says:
Free Noah. I’m sure he’s dying to play, and he isn’t playing enough. I have a feeling Kobe’s rather, kinda, slightly happy right now the way the Lakers are playing… so Chicago might’ve missed the boat on the Kobe sweepstakes. I think honestly though that Chicago’s biggest weakness is that there isn’t anyone on their team who can create his own shot, who is a “defence-buster”.
Nov.25 at 11:28 am
Joel O's says:
To elaborate on my point, I agree that their lack of a post game really hurts them, but it all boils down to this - Chicago doesn’t have anyone who can effectively create his own shot, either by a wicked crossover or a solid post game. In crunch time, they can only run their plays and whip the ball around in hope that a shooter is open or a big is slashing to the hoop. They lack a creative spark, a shot-maker; in short, the Bulls lack a star player.
Nov.25 at 11:32 am
Joel O's says:
You don’t NEED a great post-up player to win. Neither Amare nor Marion has a true post game, but they get by because guys like Nash and Leandro can create easy shots for them. Ditto with Big Z (more of a shooter) and Gooden in Cleveland - Lebron’s presence gives them easy layups and jumpers. I think similarly, if the Bulls had someone who can break down defenses, guys like Noah and Thomas would get tons of easy points, making their lack of a post game a lot less apparent.
Nov.25 at 12:11 pm
Dan says:
I agree Joel, but only to a cetain extent. There is a difference between some post skills, which teams like Cleveland and Phoenix enjoy, and none, which is what Chicago has. Joe Smith is a shooting big man, Tyrus Thomas is a fast-break dunker, and Noah seems to just flail his body around like Elaine Benice’s dancing until something happens.
Nov.25 at 12:14 pm
white hot eboy says:
Russ, don’t feel so horrible. The Heat can’t find a way to win more than a game at a time, even with the $20,000,000 albatross actually ballin’ at a high level. Still, there’s 69 games left, so there IS time to try and get things going. So just let it play out and see if things turn.
Nov.25 at 12:17 pm
Dan says:
Eboy, I give you credit; you are a very optimistic person.
Nov.25 at 1:05 pm
white hot eboy says:
Dan, if the Heat can’t be .500 by the All-Star break, then my optimism will be squashed.
Nov.25 at 1:37 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Call Michael Jordan and ask…nevermind.
“Letting it play out” ceased to be an option when the Bulls were beaten handily by the Knicks. The Bulls are a flawed team built on a flawed premise. I’m not saying they need to blow the whole thing up, but some serious changes need to take place. 1) Admit that signing Ben Wallace was a horrible idea, and trade him to whoever will take him. 2) Move Ben Gordon. He’s a great scoring sixth man for somebody. He’s NOT a starting NBA two guard on a would-be contender. He’s also not a $50 million player. 3) Tyrus Thomas or Joakim Noah. Pick one. 4) Tell Scott Skiles to pack his bags. 5) Find a two-guard who’s at least 6-5. Preferably one who cal score. 6) Find a seven-footer capable of scoring in the post. Hell, bring back Michael Sweetney and play him until he a) loses weight, or b) drops dead. 7) Implement an offense other than the “keep the ball moving and keep cutting until someone’s open for a 20-footer.” Because you know what? It ain’t workin’.
Nov.25 at 1:38 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I hate emoticons more than anything else in the entire world.
Nov.25 at 1:44 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Kobe would make this team a championship contender.
Nov.25 at 1:44 pm
white hot eboy says:
Russ, all that sh*t’s true, but really, what have they lost since last season, that is causing them to struggle? The talent level is the same, so that shouldn’t be the issue. And most of their team is young, so unlike how the Heat are always called out for being ancient, the Bulls don’t have that problem. Maybe Skiles just needs to go away, and Pax can use the rest of this season to find a replacement and figure out who will wear a unifirm and who won’t next year.
Nov.25 at 1:51 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Last year they were lucky as hell, obviously. Shots were falling, Skiles wasn’t as grating, Ben Wallace hadn’t started mailing it in on a regular basis yet. Hey, they might still get it together this year and make the playoffs without making a single change. It wouldn’t shock me. But that doesn’t change the fact that there are serious problems that need to be addressed. NOW.
Nov.25 at 2:03 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Of course all of this would be a non-factor had they just taken Amare Stoudemire second overall in 2002.
Nov.25 at 2:06 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Or if they took Carlos Boozer 30th. Of course then he would have left them instead of the Cavs, but still.
Nov.25 at 2:15 pm
white hot eboy says:
Hard to argue, Russ.
Nov.25 at 2:56 pm
Co Co says:
Russ, I told you to just be patient until next summer when they buy out Ben’s contract or when Isiah trades for him as his last big move before being fired.
Nov.25 at 3:00 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
If Isiah trades for Ben Wallace (I’ll take David Lee, Quentin Richardson and Malik Rose), I’ll be a witness for the defense in his next sexual harassment trial.
Nov.25 at 3:16 pm
Co Co says:
Just be patient with this young team Russ.
Nov.25 at 3:20 pm
underdog says:
I understood the problems while in the baby bulls era. But now? They need to do some adjustments. And Paxson knows that. Question, if he knows exactly what should be changed (I say Skiles). But hell, he get paid to know the answers for these kind of questions.
Nov.25 at 3:26 pm
nothin personal says:
It all comes down to undervaluing Ty Chandler. Several times in Bullls history. By various GMs
Nov.25 at 3:27 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
They’re not all that young anymore.
Nov.25 at 3:31 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Um, it’s more that they traded Elton Brand for him in the first place.
Nov.25 at 3:45 pm
Co Co says:
Bring Eddy Curry back.
Nov.25 at 3:53 pm
nothin personal says:
Eddy curry wouldn’t have been drafted if they Kept Brand. and since he was from Illinois, Krause thought why not trade a future multi AllStar for a fat kid with a heart condition (pun intended). Brand+ Chandler would make a scary frontline. Hell, they should throw all that money to the waste bin and kept Chandler instead of giving them to Ben.
Nov.25 at 5:07 pm
underdog says:
Everybody have the wisdom of hindsight.
Nov.25 at 5:13 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
At this point I would be happy had they just kept J.R. Smith.
Nov.25 at 5:34 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
In the bulls/raptors game, i didnt even remember Noah played for the bulls untill he walked by the other players shaking hands at the end.
Jamario Moon > Tyrus Thomas
Nov.25 at 6:40 pm
Joel O's says:
It’s not like the Bulls don’t have a post presence: Andres Nocioni. If Skiles is that gangsta, he would “gangsta” Nocioni into parking his butt in the post where he’s useful, instead of jacking up treys. This is the guy who, in a SLAMADAMONTH from a forgotten age, had that vicious baseline dunk on KG and Team USA. Today, he jacked up 8 threes.
Nov.25 at 7:27 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
If it wasnt for Nocioni and Deng the Bulls would be shooting 15%.
Nov.25 at 8:24 pm
Rich says:
“If Isiah trades for Ben Wallace (I’ll take David Lee, Quentin Richardson and Malik Rose), I’ll be a witness for the defense in his next sexual harassment trial.”…Russ, you kill me dude, yeah and J.R., he never had a chance there, he really never played a sec, thanks to Scotty “30 Assist Record-Owning” Skiles. This team is a mess overall straight up. You right Russ, it’s either Tyrus or Mr. Noah. Only differences between the two: One went to Shaq Almamater and jump real high, the other likes to chop his arms together and intensely dutty wine on live tv next to Billy Packer and Jim Nantz. Together, they’re both the same energy-type player: “Red Bulls”(getting my double-entendre like Jay-Z). BTW, this is only one of very many issues they got.
Nov.25 at 9:23 pm
Ben Osborne says:
:(
Nov.25 at 10:38 pm
Balling NZ says:
How the hell was Big Ben an All Star?! Novelty factor?
Nov.25 at 11:04 pm
JpT says:
Make SAM SMITH the man for bulls. He seems to know what to do for the bulls.
Nov.25 at 11:06 pm
JpT says:
And btw. WHAT?? Quentin Richardson has 3 more rebounds that Curry and Randolph combined? shameless.
Nov.26 at 12:33 am
dacre says:
The thing I dont get is they are lagging DEFENSIVELY….I wondered when Ben Wallace was going to fall from grace…. but this shocking.
Nov.26 at 2:04 am
k.o. says:
irony: when an article (the 1st link in this piece) rips on isiah and questions his job security yet is on the same page as a web ad selling an isiah thomas print of him playing college ball. its all about the benjamins baby.
Nov.26 at 3:44 am
A Pimp Named Slickback says:
holly is smart
Nov.26 at 5:39 am
Jukai says:
A lack of a post up player has nothing to do with why the bulls are losing. Hell, if they needed a post up player, they have Aaron Grey, who can’t run, but god, can he post. Honestly, I think the problem is Skiles. You can say anything you want, but Chicago was winning last year and not this year. Gotta take out the coach.
Nov.26 at 5:42 am
Jukai says:
Also,
Nov.26 at 1:03 pm
Dylan says:
The Bulls will pull it together and get back into the mix here soon…if not they will have to blow things starting with Ben Wallace working through to Skiles. Also if they can’t pull it together give the youngsters more minutes, so you can see who has some potential for the future
Nov.26 at 2:00 pm
JB says:
I think Skiles is too stubborn to change their style.
Their half court offense is doodoo, they need to break more and they don’t.
Don’t get me started on personnel either.
Nov.26 at 7:23 pm
LG says:
i don’t like the bulls but they get to be better as the season roles on like just like last year
Nov.26 at 9:48 pm
Raptors Delight says:
I agree that its mostly skiles fault but who the hell would want to coach a bunch of players that dont respond to a challenge? Either get rid of skiles or get someone through a trade to be a leader on this team.