Chicago Bulls preview by Nels Wadycki
1. What can the Bulls learn from the 2006-07 season to help them improve their 2007-08 campaign?
Play Tyrus Thomas more. Do the same with Thabo Sefolosha. And don't use the three-guard lineup. Ever.
2. What was Chicago's best and/or worst move during the offseason, either by free agency, trade, or draft?
There wasn't a lot going on in Chicago, but picking up Joakim Noah is pretty big. He's not going to be a superstar, but he'll be training with Ben Wallace, and that's a good place to be.
3. Who is the Most Important Player on the Bulls? The MIP is not necessarily the most talented, but the one that makes the biggest difference in his team doing well each game.
Ben Gordon. It's pretty close between Gordon and Luol Deng, but it always seems like even if Luol has a great game, Ben has to kick in if the Bulls are going to win. And Gordon has an ability to take over games that Deng has yet to develop. Luol has shown flashes of it, but not as regularly as Ben. That's not to say that Gordon is consistent. Just that he brings it more often than Deng does.
4. What needs to go right for the Bulls to succeed this coming season?
1. Tyrus Thomas needs to develop.
He will be the starting PF and his development will make more of difference than that of any other player. Kirk Hinrich, Gordon, and Deng will all progress, but Thomas has the most potential on the team, and he'll have to use that to bring some wins for the Bulls
2. Scott Skiles needs to figure out good lineups.
He likes to throw some bizarre five-somes out there sometimes. With Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha developing, and the addition of Joakim Noah and Joe Smith, he's got some new pieces to fit into the puzzle. He needs to figure out how to manage the roster to keep effective lineups on the floor. It's not the strongest aspect of his coaching, so it's somewhat hard (and scary) to imagine what the Bulls will actually look like on the floor.
3. Ben Wallace needs to not get old.
He's up to 33 years of age now. We knew the Bulls were buying him for a limited time, and he's clearly on the downside of his career. If he can muster two more good years, that will probably afford the Bulls their best opportunities to win. I'm not saying "win a championship" - just "win" in the sense of "win some games."
5. Who are the contenders for the NBA Championship and who do you see taking the title?
The Bulls have to be considered a contender, if not for the NBA Championship, at least for the Eastern Conference. Cleveland Cavaliers will be hard to beat, as will the Boston Celtics. The Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards will also be at the top.
Of course, as much as the East has improved, I don't think any of those teams will beat the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, or Phoenix Suns. I'm afraid that the Spurs will probably take the title again this season. But the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Utah Jazz will continue to be contenders.
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