Defense is X-Factor to Upcoming Bulls Season
We haven’t heard much about the Bulls in the news lately, but with the preseason right around the corner, it’s as good a time as any to start thinking about the season. Most people feel that the Bulls could be as high as a top 4 seed in the East, or as low as 10th. With the departure of Ben Gordon, most people are focused on replacing his points on the offensive end. Other big factors being thrown out there are Rose taking the next step, Deng coming back strong from injury, and even Noah and Thomas refining and developing their post game.
But what about defense? If the Bulls all play the exact same as they did last year, minus Gordon’s defensive deficiencies (which were overblown, but did exist…we don’t have to go over this again), then its safe to say Rose, Salmons and a rejuvenated Deng will replace his offense and the Bulls will be a similar team in terms of wins and losses. The biggest difference we could see which could catapult us up the Eastern ladder, or down into the cellar, is defense. The organization seems to agree with that:
“We’re all on the same page that we must get better defensively,” Forman said.
“We’ll emphasize defense. We’ll emphasize rebounding,” added second-year coach Vinny Del Negro. “Offense usually takes care of itself.”
Defense. That’s the key. While many fans are looking forward to the big free agent summer of 2010, the Bulls’ heads are in the right place for the upcoming season. Defense is the key to this team taking a step forward. If Kirk, Salmons and a healthy Deng are taking most or all of Gordon’s minutes, the defense will have to improve, but how much? Skiles may have been a dick, but everyone who ever played for him played defense with more intensity. That has been missing the last couple years from Hinrich especially.
Oh, and Vinny? I wouldn’t plan on the offense “tak[ing] care of itself”. You already tried that last year and it did not work at all. Sounds like he doesn’t really have a strategy (again). Rose covers up the weaknesses of that with his great ability to score in transition and improvise in the halfcourt, but at some point there will need to be some structure on the offensive end.
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Comments
Comment from Stormin’ Norman Disciple
Time October 1, 2009 at 12:11 am
Here we go again. Without Gordon, what crazy position will I take about the Bulls this season that is supported by tenuous logic at best? I’m thinking that I will claim Vinny Del Negro DOES have an offensive strategy and you’re all idiots for not seeing it.
Pingback from Not Qualified To Comment » Experts Agree With Me About Ben Gordon’s Value
Time October 1, 2009 at 8:02 am
[...] be a terrible team this year because of the loss of Gordon, however. As I explained in an earlier post, the combination of Kirk, Deng and Salmons taking his minutes on defense, coupled with Rose’s [...]
Pingback from Not Qualified To Comment » It’s Crazy, But I Kind Of Miss Scott Skiles
Time October 12, 2009 at 10:01 am
[...] I discussed earlier, defense will be the key to a successful season for the Chicago Bulls. That got me thinking about [...]
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Comment from Zoner
Time September 30, 2009 at 12:55 pm
“which were overblown, but did exist…we don’t have to go over this again”
Yet you felt the need to put that in there. And the Bulls played with plenty of intensity after the big trade. They will be much better defensively this year, although they still lack size in the frontcourt. I still don’t understand why you feel that way about Gordon. Defense is the key, but Gordon’s horrendous D was okay?