Tag Archives: Luol Deng

by | April 27, 2012 · 5:20 PM

Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers First Round Preview

Why so serious?

It was an almost monumental collapse that sent the Philadelphia 76ers to the verge of missing the playoffs entirely. Luckily, they aren’t the 2007 New York Mets and they just squeezed into the postseason, aided by the perpetual hump that taunts the Milwaukee Bucks. As with anything in this culture of spin, the Sixers readily admitted that they prefer to face the Chicago Bulls, who are the number one seed in the East. It seems as though they have an aversion to playing the Miami Heat and as such they didn’t even try to win their last regular season game so that they could lock up the eighth seed. If this logic seems flawed, that’s because it is. Yet, when a team realizes who and what it is, as the Sixers may have done as they watched their excellent first half of the season be for not, they must adapt to a mindset that reaches above limited expectations. Therefore: bring on the Bulls!

Obviously, this is not an ideal scenario for the Sixers. They are the eighth seed and have lost all sense of identity as the shortened season slogged into a battle of attrition with body, fatigue, and Doug Collins. Despite having capable players and some depth the defined roles of players have been blurred and they can no longer threaten an opponent from all sides. Especially in late game situations, Philadelphia becomes a haphazard mess as player take arrant, contested jumpers and become uninterested defensively. Though they possess the ability to force turnovers late, and have done so repeatedly, their instinct to close and win games is nonexistent. If they hope to overcome this self-imposed obstacle they better have a damn good plan and execute it flawlessly because at the end of games, Chicago is their antithesis.

Perhaps, with an oft ailing Derrick Rose, the Sixers thought they matched up well with the Bulls. On paper, maybe. Andre Iguodala and Luol Deng matchup well and should cancel one another out. This same line of thinking is extended to the matchups of Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer; and Lou Williams and the shell formerly known as Rip Hamilton, who, despite riding the pine (a dated term as the folding chairs the players sit on resemble the luxury of a fine recliner) for much of the season, has shown occasional bursts of his former, productive self; and Thaddeus Young, with his range, could conceivably draw Taj Gibson out of the paint, where his shot blocking is to be feared. That is where the comparisons, flawed as they are, end.

Jrue Holiday is not the reigning NBA MVP, Rose is. Evan Turner was the second overall draft pick a couple of years ago but he has yet to fully understand his roll on the Sixers and can get completely lost over the course of a game. Then there is Jodie Meeks and Spencer Hawes. All are decent players, unrefined, but decent nonetheless. Yet, they cannot fully match the depth that Chicago brings to the table.

The Bulls, to go along with the players already mentioned, have Joakim Noah, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, John Lucas, C.J. Watson, Omer Asik, Mike James (remember him?), and the main man, Brian Scalabrine. Here the advantage is the Bulls’. Oh, and they have Rose.

One interesting note, however, is that the Sixers, this season, performed better against the Bulls when Rose was on the court. Their net rating goes from -5.2 with him on the bench to 5.8 while he is in the game. This can be attributed to the rise in their 3-point percentage from 18.8 percent to 26.3 percent with Rose on the floor.

It will be interesting to see who Iguodala guards. He will likely split time between Rose and Deng but when not guarding one, the other has the potential to thrive.

Personnel aside, the Bulls implement one of the most disciplined defenses in the league. They hold their opponents to a league low 88.2 points per game on 42.1 percent field goal shooting, a number that is second best in the league. Chicago also allowed a league low in number of 3-point shots they allowed their opponents to take as they are quick to chase players off the arc, forcing them into the teeth of their defense. Perhaps the heart of their defense is their rebounding. They led the league in defensive rebounding, rarely allowing a second chance opportunity. What the Bulls lack in mediocre offense, and it is just that, make no mistake, they more than make up for in superb defense that will be tough for the Sixers to crack.

This series will be dominated by defense. The 76ers have the third best defense in the NBA so Chicago shouldn’t feel all high and mighty entering this match up. Where the Sixers should try and exploit the Bulls is by getting to the free throw line. Philadelphia is much more adept at creating fouls and going to the line than Chicago. This could be a great equalizer as the Sixers are ranked 23 in points per game and 24 in pace.

Essentially, the meeting of the Bulls and Sixers will not be exciting to the casual fan. It will be marred with slow, tedious action, countless turnovers forced by two good defenses, and a veritable lack of scoring. In the end the Bulls will out bore (and it will be boring) the Sixers and advance to the second round. One could hope this series would be similar to the Bulls and Pacers first round meeting last season, but that seems a bit far-fetched. Those Pacers were hungry, these Sixers are lost.

Doyle Rader predicts: Bulls defeat 76ers 4-1

Travis Huse predicts: Bulls defeat 76ers 4-1

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by | December 26, 2011 · 5:24 PM

NBA Christmas Wrap

Merry Christmas

With much fanfare and an obnoxious LMFAO ad that was played almost every commercial intermission, the NBA season kicked off in superb, albeit rusty, fashion. Yes, lockout legs could be seen throughout the five games that were aired but that is to be expected with abbreviated training camps. chemistry was also an issue as many teams have a number of new players to integrate into their rotations. Nonetheless, the NBA is back and fans and players are happy. A reaction:

Boston Celtics 104 – New York Knicks 106

Carmelo Anthony looked great in this game. His 17 points in the fourth quarter were the difference and why the Knicks thought it necessary to gut their team to acquire him. Throughout his time in the NBA, Anthony has proven he has a knack for performing in the clutch and he showed it on Sunday. However, the already shaky depth of the Knicks has grown even more unstable with a knee injury to rookie Iman Shumpert which will sideline him for at least a couple of weeks.

As for the Celtics, Rajon Rondo and Brandon Bass, who is finally free from the tyranny of Stan Van Gundy, were the offense with Paul Pierce missing the game. Rondo continually broke down New York’s defense and got to the rim. When Pierce comes back to the lineup the Celtics should be a more rounded offensive unit, until then this will be Rondo’s team.

Naughty: Kevin Garnett choking Bill Walker.

Nice: Carmelo Anthony’s clutch play.

Miami Heat 105 – Dallas Mavericks 94

The Mavericks raised their championship banner but that is all they had to celebrate on Sunday. Dallas came out looking flat and out of sync, in essence, they looked old. That should be no surprise because their entire core is over the age of 30. Rick Carlisle is integrating Vince Carter, Lamar Odom, Delonte West, who played well, and Brandan Wright into the rotation while dealing with key losses across the board. Jason Terry was the only Maverick who showed up to this one.

Miami looked like they were just rolled off of a German assembly line. They were well oiled and fine tuned. What they did to the Mavericks was scary. Say what you will about all the exhibition games this summer but they seem to have kept LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in game shape, that and their complete desire to destroy everything in their path. This was a blowout, like a brand new Mercedes-Benz S-Class versus a Trabant. Not only were the Heat good but they will get better. Rookie Norris Cole turned some heads with his play in 24 minutes of action. If he continues to improve he could supplant Mario Chalmers as the starting point guard.

Naughty: The Mavs’ 37.8 percent field goal shooting.

Nice: LeBron James‘ box score: 37 points, 10 rebounds, six assists.

Chicago Bulls 88 – Los Angeles Lakers 87

Forget Showtime, these are the Slowtime Lakers. That is not a knock on them, however, not in the least bit. This Lakers squad proved to be as scrappy and gritty as any I have seen. Perhaps this is what Mike Brown brings to the team, perhaps this is what a bunch of blue-collar white guys bring to a team, or perhaps this is just what happens when you lose Odom and Andrew Bynum serving his suspension. Nonetheless, I like the Slowtime Lakers. Where they do need to improve is offensive player rotation. Too many times they reverted to Hawks-esque isolation with three players around the perimeter and one near the post.

Chicago played well throughout, with the exception being the third quarter. With the game close, Luol Deng stepped up and made the big plays. It was his defense against Kobe Bryant and his steal late in the game that allowed the Bulls to go on a 7-0 run, capped by Derrick Rose‘s floater in the lane, to win the game. Rip Hamilton started for the Bulls but did not contribute much due to foul trouble therefore his time was split with Ronnie Brewer. Brewer is a solid defender with good court vision and should see more minutes this season.

Naughty: Kobe’s last shot attempt.

Nice: Rose’s floater to win the game.

Orlando Magic 89 – Oklahoma City Thunder 97

Much like the Heat Mavericks game, the final score does not do justice to the thrashing that actually occurred. Like Miami, the Thunder look ready for the season. Very ready.  Oklahoma City pounced on Orlando early and never relented. Their team is largely the same as it was last year so their learning curve is near zero when it comes to knowing each other and how to execute plays…when they are not freewheeling. Speed and athleticism are the monikers of this team and they will serve them well out of the gate. If only they could improve their shot selections *cough* Westbrook *cough*.

Where the Thunder took plenty of questionable shots when they had built their sizable lead, the Magic took even more haphazard shots throughout the entire game. I have said it many times: the Magic’s offense is terrible. There is nothing more that can be said. It looked like they thought that there was a pit of lava inside the three-point line. Get Dwight Howard the ball in the post and let him work.

Naughty: Hedo Turkoglu clearly indulged his gluttonous side during the lockout. Dude is chunky.

Nice: Kevin Durant. Need I say more?

Los Angeles Clippers 105 – Golden State Warriors 86

If ESPN had their way, this would have been a documentary about Mark Jackson and the greatness of his coaching style. Nevermind the fact Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were on the court, this broadcast was about Mark Jackson, hands down (man down). They showed a clip of him quoting Shakespeare before the game. He was the only coach shown in the huddle, mostly saying cliché motivational shit like “execution” and “focus.” That is all fine and good, but he does have a decent team that the broadcast could have talked about. I think Jackson will be a good coach but that much attention is unwarranted, especially on a nationally televised game. His first coaching milestone was the hack-a-Jordan technique he used on DeAndre Jordan.

The final score is not indicative of how the Warriors remained close for much of the game. Clearly, the Wizards of Lob are the better team but last night they showed chinks in their armor. The aforementioned hack-a-Jordan technique stymied the Clippers offense and brought it to a halt. Luckily, the Clippers have Paul, Chauncey Billups, and Griffin. All played well as they were able to outlast the Warrior. The new look Clippers are a work in progress to say the least and last night they showed it.

Naughty: ESPN’s love affair with Mark “Momma, there goes that man” Jackson.

Nice: Caron Butler‘s circus shot.

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by | July 12, 2011 · 10:23 AM

South Sudan: Basketball for a New Nation

Luol Deng at his basketball camp in Juba

There have not been many bright spots in Sudan’s recent history. The country was ravaged by a civil war, between north and south, that only ended in 2005 which took the lives of some two million people. Ethnic and religious differences, the north of the country is predominantly Muslim while the south is Christian, were at the heart of the conflict. Now, however, there is a new hope. On July 9, 2011, South Sudan officially broke free from the north to become the world’s newest nation.

Nothing is easy for a country that has just been born. There are still border disputes with Sudan and armed militias roaming about in some regions, but these issues could not kill the spirit and hope that independence has brought to the South Sudanese. What better time than now for the country to have the national spirit and pride represented by two national sports teams?

South Sudan’s first foray into international sports was on the pitch as their national soccer team faced off against Kenya. The South Sudanese had much to cheer for early as they took a one-to-nothing lead before the Kenyans made a comeback to take the game. Second on their sporting agenda was the assembly of a national basketball team.

Sudan, especially the south, is not unfamiliar with the game of basketball and have had several players find success in the United States. The most popular of these players in South Sudan is Manute Bol. Bol played in the NBA from 1985-94 and was a prodigious shot blocker as well as the tallest player in NBA history. Another is Kueth Duany, who frequently returns to his home country to promote the game of basketball. Duany played alongside Carmelo Anthony on the 2003 National Championship team at Syracuse.

The independence celebration brought the country’s current NBA representative, Luol Deng, back to witness the events and to host a basketball clinic in the capital of Juba. Deng was forced to leave the country at the age of five as fighting was escalating. His parents took him to Egypt and then onto England, where he became a citizen in 2006.

“I was watching some of those young kids today on that court,” Deng told Global Post. “Some of the stuff they’re doing I’m shaking my head at how talented they are and I’m sure if they get the opportunity they’ll be doing what I’m doing or even better. I’m just excited.” He continued, “You know, if you draw a basketball player you draw a Sudanese or a Dinka and that’s exciting because they are tall, they’re coordinated, they’re athletic and that’s what the game of basketball needs.”

Both Deng and the late Bol are ethnic Dinka.

While Deng was focused on his basketball camp for kids, which was held behind a primary school for girls, he was also in the country to attend the men’s national team take on Uganda in an exhibition game. Coached by Deng Lek, the South Sudanese team is composed of 30 players, all of whom have been effected by the country’s turbulent past. However, the past will not get in the way of their future aspirations.

Though they have not officially been recognized by FIBA, the international governing body of basketball, Lek and his players have hopes not only to compete in the FIBA Africa tournaments but also reach the 2012 Olympics in London. Lofty aspirations, perhaps? Not likely, though it will be a tough road to get there. There is plenty of raw talent to go around on the team and it has attracted some very watchful eyes.

Deng was not the only representative of the NBA to attend the independence celebrations in Juba. NBA scouts were also in attendance along with NBA Africa’s vice president Amadou Gallo Fall and Patrick Engelbrecht, who is a coach with the NBA’s developmental arm in Africa. Clearly, South Sudan is seen as a potential resource for basketball talent and could potentially be ranked among the better teams in Africa in several years, alongside Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, and Tunisia, with the right coaching and facilities.

Sports is a great uniter and after years of struggle they are exactly what the South Sudanese need. The information minister had this to say about the national basketball team: “We may not be very good at football. But I can assure you that when it comes to basketball, we will win.” With the continued support of players like Deng and Duany as well as interest by NBA scouts it looks as though they have a bright future ahead of them that will bring many wins for the worlds youngest nation.

References:

Yahoo! Sports

Global Post

Haveeru Online

The Daily Beast

Asahi

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by | May 15, 2011 · 2:38 PM

Eastern Conference Finals Prediction: Bulls vs. Heat

Battle of wills.

The league’s MVP squares off against Miami’s three-headed beast for the chance to go to the NBA Finals.

1. Chicago Bulls vs. 2. Miami Heat

What the regular season taught us was that the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are very evenly matched. Their three meetings were decided by a combined total of eight points, all Bulls victories. That was the regular season, and that was before each of these teams slogged their way to within a series of the NBA Finals. Miami, despite having to go through the Boston Celtics, has seemingly had the easier road thus far. They were never in any real trouble against the Philadelphia 76ers and handled the Celtics better than most anyone could have imagined. They celebrated like East and West Germans did when the Berlin Wall fell after they beat the Celtics. All they needed was David Hasselhoff in a light-up jacket and their celebration would have been complete. Perhaps the celebration was a bit premature; Ganesa has not removed all of their obstacles. Miami is, after all, only half way to their goal and have to face the team with the best record in the league.

Chicago faced their largest test in the first round as the Indiana Pacers threw everything they had at the Bulls, exposing a multitude of weaknesses that had been overlooked by outside observers. The Pacers eventually succumbed to the Bulls’ rebounding might. Though the Atlanta Hawks won two games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, they were their own Achilles heel falling back into predictable Isolation sets late in games which allowed Tom Thibodeau to keep his defensive unit on the floor stifling Atlanta’s best efforts to play one-on-one basketball.

Defense will dominate this series. It has been the hallmark of both of these clubs throughout the regular season and in the playoffs. This post season, Chicago has limited its opponents to the fewest points per possession while Miami ranks fourth. Defensive rebounding has a lot to do with limiting an opponent’s points and both teams are adept at cleaning the defensive glass.  Where the Bulls do out-pace the Heat is in turnovers. Chicago creates more turnovers, and thereby more scoring opportunities, than the Heat. However, history would not appear to be on Chicago’s side despite the similarities of the two clubs. Six times in NBA history a team with the league MVP and no All Star teammates has faced a club with three or more All Stars in the playoffs. The team with more All Stars has won five of those meetings. The last time this happened was last season when the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated by the Celtics in the second round.

Marquee Matchups:

Derrick Rose vs. the Miami Heat

Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and LeBron James have made it very clear that Miami will employ multiple defenders in their attempts to slow down the league’s MVP. Everyone from Mike Bibby, Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, and James will spend time guarding Rose. Bibby will start the game “guarding” Rose, Spoelstra has said, but Chalmers will be the one tasked with defending him for much of the game. “I think he’s one of the best in the NBA in getting in the paint. I have to do a good job of keeping him out,” Chalmers said and the numbers support his belief. Rose leads the playoffs in points inside of five feet with 106. When Rose gets into the paint he is shooting 45 percent, but when he gets within the restricted area his average climbs to 54 percent. In terms of shot distribution, 38.7 percent of Rose’s field goal attempts are taken at the rim. If the Heat does manage to limit Rose’s drives to the rim they still have not completely stopped him. He is shooting 46 percent on his midrange field goal attempts and most of these shots come as a result of the pick-and-roll. Rose leads the playoffs in scoring off the pick-and-roll with 118 points and runs 11.9 of them per game. To contain Rose’s scoring Miami must trap him along the perimeter and force him into a three-point shot. Beyond the arc, where Rose takes his second highest percentage of shots, he only shoots 27 percent.

Chicago’s defense vs. Miami’s offense

King Ghidorah

Slowing down the trio of James, Wade, and Chris Bosh (or Ghidorah as Hoopdata refers to them) is near to impossible. Even if one has a bad night or is swept into the emotion of a game, the other two will step up. What makes them especially potent is their ability to get to the free throw line. During the regular season, the Heat’s trio went to the charity stripe 36.3 percent of the time they attempted a field goal against the Bulls. As a team, Miami has the third highest offensive rating at 111.7 and that is despite playing a slow paced game. However, Chicago has the top rated defense in the league.

The Bulls have the pieces in place to pester Miami’s attack. Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer will be the primary defenders on Wade. Both are defensive minded two guards who can make Wade’s offense not flow as smoothly as it did against the Celtics. In the post, Joakim Noah will guard Chris Bosh. Noah has flustered each and every opponent that he has defended this post season and even had Josh McRoberts take a half-hearted punch at him that missed out of frustration. If Bosh let the ambiance of the TD Garden get to him, Noah will have him completely off kilter. As for James, his main defender will be Luol Deng. Size wise, Deng matches up well with James, however, in their regular season meetings James connected on 54.6 percent of his shots with Deng defending him.

X-Factors:

Because Miami will not be able to keep Rose out of the paint all the time, Joel Anthony will be the team’s last line of defense. Luckily for the Heat, he is their best defender and a more than capable shot blocker, blocking 4.1 percent of the shots taken while he is on the court. In fact, he is much more than that. He is Miami’s version of what Kendrick Perkins was for the Celtics in previous seasons. Anthony’s efficiency rating during the playoffs is a +101. In another nod to how valuable he is to the team, Miami’s opponents shoot 50 percent while Anthony in on the bench. While he is on the floor their opponents shoot 39 percent.

What are we to make of Carlos Boozer? This has been his worst post season statistically. He has shown flashes of why the Bulls signed him last summer, but they have yet to be consistent. He must show up in this series. Miami will focus primarily on Rose which will create opportunities for Boozer and he must capitalize on them. Many of his scoring opportunities will come off missed shots and he needs to be in position to get the offensive rebound and the put-back. Activity on the offensive glass will help the Bulls limit Miami’s possessions and their transition offense. If Boozer continues to slump, Taj Gibson will be called upon. Gibson is far more active on the offensive glass than Boozer and has been more productive over all. His athleticism could be the key to creating more scoring opportunities for the Bulls, especially when bench players are in the game. Chicago’s bench out-classes Miami’s.

Prediction:

This will not be high scoring series, that much is certain. Both of these teams’ defenses are too good. Since these teams are evenly matched across the board, this series will not feature many, if any, blowouts. These games will be close. Can the Bulls find their offense when Rose is not creating off the dribble? They have yet to show that they can. What does Miami have left in its tank after their emotional series victory over the Celtics? Did they exhaust themselves? In terms of an overall team, Chicago has the advantage. Yet, when it comes to edge, Miami is the team that has it after defeating its archetype. The Heat defeats the Bulls 4-3.

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by | April 14, 2011 · 10:33 AM

Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions: Bulls vs. Pacers

Rose will be particularly thorny for the Pacers

Two rookie head coaches square off as division rivals become first round opponents.

1. Chicago Bulls vs 8. Indiana Pacers

The Bulls enter the postseason with a 60 plus win season for the first time since the Jordan era. Headed up by the likely MVP, Derrick Rose, the Bulls, coached by the likely COY in Tom Thibodeau, bring a formidable defense to the playoffs. Chicago has the best team defensive rating in the league at 100.2 and the second best opponents points per game holding the  opposition to 91.3 points. With that strong defense, the Bulls are also tops in the league in rebounding margin. They average 44.1 rebounds per game while holding their opponents to 38.5. The Pacers will have their work cut out for them if they hope to have a chance in this series.

Chicago won the regular season series three games to one and averaged 102.3 points per contest while Indiana mustered an average of 90.8 points. However, the Pacers are one of the few teams that were able to keep up with the Bulls on the glass in their regular season meetings. Indiana averaged 45.8 rebounds against Chicago, which averaged 48. They will need to keep the rebounding close if they wish to keep games manageable.

Marquee Matchups:

Darren Collison vs Derrick Rose

This will be the point guard matchup for the series. It will be up to Collison to stop, or at least steer Rose into the defense behind him which is easier said than done. Their regular season meetings this season were a lopsided affair to say the least. Rose averaged 27 points against Collison and the Pacers this season. This is because of all the Isolation plays that the Bulls run for Rose. Chicago is tops in the league in terms of offensive Isolation efficiency while Indiana is one of the worst at defending it. Collison, himself, allows 1.16 points per possession when an opposing player isolates him. That mark is the worst on the Pacers and he will be the one tasked with covering Rose most often.

Danny Granger vs Luol Deng

Neither Deng nor Granger shot particularly well when matched up with against each other this season. Both small forwards are lengthy which gives them the ability to pester shots and disrupt the passing lanes. Deng’s primary weapon is his work off the ball and his ability to slash into the paint for easy scoring opportunities. Granger will likely have to work through a variety of screens to keep up with Deng’s movement around the court.  Luckily for Granger, the Pacers are one of the better teams in the league at defending ball and off ball screens.

Granger’s takes his shots either at the rim or from 16 feet and out. These are the area’s where he is most effective as he shoots 61.1 percent at the rim, 35 percent from 16-23 feet, and has an effective field goal percentage of 57.9 from behind the arc. Deng will need to defend the perimeter well and also keep Granger from getting into the paint. Limiting Granger to mid-range jumpers will be key for Deng and the Bulls.

X-Factors:

Despite what Dr. Jack Ramsay thinks, Keith Bogans is not that great of a defender. That much will be shown during this series when he is forced to chase Mike Dunleavy Jr. all over the court. Dunleavy is not a Reggie Miller type in terms of movement but picks his spots nicely. Dunleavy, who is six-foot-nine, should have no problem shooting over the six-foot-five frame of Bogans either. For these reasons Thibodeau should call on Ronnie Brewer to take over the main duties of defending Dunleavy. Brewer is six-foot-seven and the best defender on the Bulls. He wont be on the floor for scoring purposes, Chicago has plenty of scoring threats, but his play will be crucial in disrupting the offense of the Pacers and creating turnovers.

Despite what many people assume, the Bulls do not have good offensive post production. Chicago is ranked 22nd in the league in points per possession when posting up. They will not have much success in the post against the Pacers because of Indiana’s frontcourt size and especially because of Jeff Foster. Foster is the best post defender on the team and will force players like Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson out of any semblance of a comfort zone when down on the blocks. Along with his post defense, Foster will also provide much-needed rebounding for the Pacers. Anyone familiar with his game knows that he is a rebounding machine. Foster averages 6.1 offensive and 7.3 defensive rebounds per 36 minutes of game time. Those numbers are good for a total rebounding percentage of 20.7 while he is on the floor.

Prediction:

The Indiana Pacers matchup with the Chicago Bulls fairly well in every way except one. They cannot stop Derrick Rose. For Frank Vogel’s team to have any chance at drawing out this series they will need to get out in transition and press the issue. Unfortunately, the Pacers are very poor at scoring in transition and too often settle for contested or low percentage shots. They need to get to the rim and finish. All of this is moot, however, because Derrick Rose is going to slice though their defense and create open looks and layups for himself. It is not out of the question that Indiana might be able to squeak out two wins this series but it is somewhat improbable. Bulls defeat the Pacers 4-1.

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by | March 7, 2011 · 5:34 PM

It’s getting hot in here

It's been a long season of disappointment.

With the final weeks of the regular season approaching, the heat is on for Miami to actually prove something.

The Heat have yet to show that they can even approach the preseason hype that had sports pundits claiming that a “super team” such as theirs could win 72 games.  They lost ten games by early January.

Miami is currently on a four-game losing streak with losses against teams that will be playing in the playoffs.

They blew the lead against a Knicks team that was adjusting to newly acquired superstar Carmelo Anthony.

Orlando overcame a 24-point deficit with a 40-9 run to pull out their second win over Miami this season.

San Antonio demolished them 125-95 in a game that was never competitive.

Yesterday, the Bulls’ stayed a perfect 3-0 against Miami as LeBron James missed another clutch shot.

However, it’s not just their missed shots that are causing such astounding losses.  Luol Deng sunk a late game three last week to clinch a win for the Bulls and Chauncey Billups hit a late one as well to help seal the Knicks’ win.  This sloppy, late game defense has put the Heat at 5-13 in games decided by five points or less.

We could also blame Karma following LeBron down to South Beach but it would make more sense to blame that bench.  That TERRIBLE bench is last in the league in scoring with a measly 22.3 points a game.  That same group of players is only dishing out 3.9 assists per game, which is also last in the league.  They are 4-6 in their last ten games and their bench has done even worse with just 14 points a game including only six against the Bulls yesterday.

A team will not win with a bench that only scores six points in a game.

They are having starting problems as well.

Erik Spoelstra has gone from Carlos Arroyo to Mario Chalmers to Mike Bibby who has been virtually invisible since coming to Miami.  Dwyane Wade sometimes brings it up and sometimes LeBron does.  Who runs the floor?  Nobody knows.

Now, it has been revealed that players were actually crying in the locker room after the game and Spoelstra is the one that broke the news.  Why is he giving the media more fuel to criticize his underachieving team?

It sounds like even he understands how pathetic the Heat’s situation is.

It is he who allowed Chris Bosh to keep taking shots during their game last week against the Bulls and go 1 for 18 from the floor.  It is he who keeps giving LeBron the ball at the end of games and it is he who isn’t responding well to having the heaviest thumb in the NBA over his head.

Pat Riley should be embarrassed about his team that cries in the locker room and a coach that can’t seem to get it right.

We have already seen Spoelstra on the hot seat once this season and his crying comments wont help.  It took a player-only meeting the first time around to help save his job and more loses before the playoffs will just turn the heat up even more.

Just when things seem to be at their worst, rock bottom hasn’t been hit yet.

In the next week, they have to face Portland that is pulling out the craftiest wins.  They will host the Lakers who are currently on a winning streak.  They have to play Memphis who is hot and has already beaten them once this year.  They have to play San Antonio who we all know is good and they have to play Oklahoma City.

All of the games are at home which will make it even more embarrassing when they lose.

It’s almost too easy to criticize this team that was crowned before the season even started and it’s just going to get easier.  The Heat have a lot of problems and not a lot of time to fix them.

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by | January 24, 2011 · 11:37 AM

Deng Efficient

Deng good

When attention is given to the Chicago Bulls much of it is focused on the young rising talent that is Derrick Rose. Rose is quickly climbing the ranks of celebrity among point guards despite his number of detractors who complain that his game is far too one-dimensional (i.e. restricted to driving the lane). Nonetheless, Rose’s numbers speak for themselves as he is averaging 24.7 points, eight assists, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per contest. To go along with these impressive numbers, he is shooting 44.8 percent from the floor and a career best 37.9 percent from beyond the arc. Because of his youth and talent it is no wonder why he has become the face of the franchise.

However, it is not just Rose who has helped the Bulls into the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 30-14. Over the summer, Chicago brought in a host of talent to surround their young point guard with including Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, Keith Bogans, Kurt Thomas, C.J. Watson, and they even thought that having Brian Scalabrine on the roster was a good idea. This is a completely different Bulls team than the one that was fielded last season under Vinny Del Negro. Yet, they kept three main pieces as a core to build around: Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng.

Deng has found himself over looked in most discussions surrounding the Bulls. It is not surprising when his surrounding cast consists of Rose, Boozer, and Noah (especially his personality). Deng is quiet compared to his counterparts and his game is by no means flashy so it is rare to see him appear in the Sports Center highlight factory. His game does speak volumes, though.

In his seventh year out of Duke, Deng, who is just 25 years old, has established himself as a consistent and efficient wing scorer and all-around player. Yes, his numbers throughout his career have been a model of consistency but a couple of his seasons, his fourth and fifth, were shortened due to injury. His numbers across the board are close if not identical to the ones he put up in 70 games last season. This is the kind of consistency that coaches want to see and that players strive for during the course of a career.

This season Deng is averaging 17.6 points, which is third highest on the team, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Each of these statistics is in the top three on the team. His effective field goal percentage stands at 50 percent. Beyond his offensive numbers, he has lowered his defensive rating down to 102 from 106 last season. Head Coach Tom Thibodeau has definitely played a role in emphasizing defense this season as the Bulls, as a team, have the best defense in the league right now with a rating of 99.4 and they have accomplished this feat with Noah, the anchor of their interior defense, still sidelined recuperating from surgery to his right thumb. Much like Deng’s game, the team defense of Chicago is rarely discussed.

At full strength, the Bulls are difficult to match up with. Deng’s ability to stretch the floor, he is shooting 35.4 percent from long range, pared with their two big men and slashing guard pose a bevy of defensive challenges. However, it is because of Deng’s versatility and consistency that they are headed towards a high playoff seed just half way through the season. He does the dirty work for the team on both ends of the court.

Big three? No, Chicago has a big four and Deng fits squarely in it. John Paxson has been wise to refuse any offer that comes his way if it would be to send away Deng or Noah. These are two of their core players that the team hopes to build around for the foreseeable future. Especially now that Deng has become such a model of efficiency for the team it would be unlikely that any team could lure him away without giving up more than they are willing to. Though he may be quiet, Deng has solidified his role with his team and in the NBA as a premier (not elite) small forward and looks to only replicate his production year after year. Let Rose have the spotlight, Deng thrives with consistency because he does not need to drop 40 points every night but it is nice to know that he can every once in a while.

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by | November 2, 2010 · 6:48 AM

Dang, Deng!

Last night the Chicago Bulls hosted the Portland Trailblazers who were looking to start their season with a 4-0 record. Unfortunately for the Blazers, Luol Deng had other intentions. Deng scored a career best 40 points, connecting on 14 of his 19 shot attempts including 3-for-5 from behind the arc. He also defended Brandon Roy well as Roy was limited to 17 points on 4-for-12 shooting. Deng showcased his entire package last night after two rather forgettable games to start the season where he was a combined 7-for-23 from the floor. Hopefully, his performance last night will quite some of the Carmelo Anthony rumblings that seem to go hand-in-hand when a small forward struggles just a little bit. (Seriously, ‘Melo is like the bat signal when a small forward under performs.) Deng also contributed four rebounds, two dimes, and a steal in 41 minutes of play as Chicago defeated Portland 110-98.

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by | October 24, 2010 · 11:36 PM

The Kobe Beef indulges a Fantasy

Our fantasy does not exist on an island

Soon everything will be right with the world again. The NBA resumes on Tuesday night. Once again we will be treated to the poor calls of referees especially on the quick on the draw technical fouls, the media will continue to sweat everything Miami, Los Angeles (not the Clippers), Boston, and Oklahoma City, and the league and the players union will grow ever closer to an impasse and eventual lockout. Yes, the world will be right. What this time of year also means is that fantasy basketball is here too. Our draft was Sunday night. Here at the Beef it will be our third nonconsecutive year that we have played together. There are eight other teams in our league. We figured that we would share our opening day rosters with you.

First, the roster spots:

Rosters consist of 15 available slots with only 12 players being able to be played on a given night. The positions are point guard, shooting guard, guard, small forward, power forward, forward, two centers, and four utility players.

Statistics are as follows:

Field Goals Attempted (FGA) -.25; Field Goals Made (FGM) 2.25; Free Throws Attempted (FTA) -.25; Free Throws Made (FTM) 1.25; 3-point Shots Attempted (3PTA) -1; 3-point Shots Made (3PTM) 4; Points Scored (PTS) .25; Offensive Rebounds (OREB) 2; Defensive Rebounds (DREB) 1.25; Assists (AST) 2; Steals (ST) 1.75; Blocked Shots (BLK) 2; Turnovers (TO) -2

Now without further adieu, our rosters:

TruWariers 5.0 (this will be the fifth season of the TruWariers; one championship, two third place finishes)

Dipset (this will be the third season of Dipset; two second place finishes)

We’ll keep you updated (albeit infrequently) on how our teams do this season. If you have a team, good luck to you as well.

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by | October 21, 2010 · 12:45 PM

Popping the bubble in Chicago

Several factors will make the Bulls true contenders this season... and yet, they are still growing.

The stars aligned for several teams in the East this offseason.  A lot of attention has gone to the efforts in South Beach but a certain team in Illinois has made a minor rumble that along with the growth of their young players will turn them into contenders this season.

Derrick Rose has yet to take the Bulls past the first round of the playoffs.  Despite averaging nearly 27 points and 8 assists in the postseason, the Bulls have been unlucky enough to face the Celtics and the Cavs in the first round both times he has been to the playoffs.  However, at only 22, this storied franchise is already his to lead.

This 2009 Rookie of the Year hasn’t even approached his prime yet but is already a threat.  His growth will leap even more this season with him winning gold at the FIBA Championship with team USA this summer.  We have seen what international play can do to young players and the trend wont stop with the Beijing Olympic team.  Mike Krzyzewski has an effect on developing basketball players that builds teamwork play in the biggest egos.

This team has done a good job at bringing in other names that can carry the scoring load for an impressive season.  Carlos Boozer is getting a little old but can still hang in the paint.  Ronnie Brewer has nothing but ups from here and the same applies to C.J. Watson.  Bringing in veterans from high-basketball I.Q. teams will really help in Chicago.  Kurt Thomas has been in the league for a while and brings all sorts of leadership to the Bulls.  Boozer is coming from the hard-nosed system under Jerry Sloan as is Brewer who played briefly in Memphis after leaving Utah.  These players’ guidance and confidence will help this young Bulls team grow.

It just wasn't meant to be for Vinny Del Negro and John Paxson.

The head-coaching story in Chicago has been rough for the past few seasons with the exit of Scott Skiles and the disaster that was Vinny Del Negro.  John Paxson seems to have landed the right man for the job in Tom Thibodeau.  With the Celtics, Thibodeau helped turn the team into a defensively-minded squad with a little help from Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and the assortment of specialists in Boston.  From 2006-07 to the following season, the Celtics lowered their points per game by opponents from 99 to just over 90 and decreased opponent’s shooting percentage to 41 percent a game.  They have had a top-ranked defense the last three seasons with 2009-10 (fifth), 08-09 (second) and 07-08 (first).

Now, he still has a lot of different yet younger players to instill his defensive schemes with.  Joakim Noah is proving to be a very formidable player and shouldn’t let that possible trade including him trip up his season.  In addition, Luol Deng should be able to mold to a new system as well.  The team was already first in the league in rebounding last year with 44 a game and Boozer will be able to lead and transform this frontcourt into a better unit with his veteran leadership.  Loosing Hakim Warrick and Brad Miller will hurt that big-man situation but the players they have now will be able to step up.  Also, do not count the Bulls out for midseason trades.  They have done it before and they may do it again with several chips to throw on the table.

They lost some good players in Tyrus Thomas, John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich as well but they have taken some appropriate steps to replace them.  Boozer has the inside skills that are far superior than Thomas’.  Brewer has very well-rounded game like Salmons and Kyle Korver has the three than can fill the void left by Hinrich.  He was supposed to be replaced by former Duke superstar J.J. Redick but if you haven’t figured it out by now, Otis Smith and the Orlando Magic don’t give up players very easily.

The division is a lot easier now that LeBron James has left town and they no longer need to dread road trips to Cleveland.  The Pistons have also fallen completely off of the map.  But the talented Bucks and young Pacers will keep the Bulls on their heels along with the rest of the Eastern Conference that just got a lot better this offseason.

It finally looks like Chicago is on the right path and hopefully no major snags will get in the way.  They really have a chance of moving past being a bubble team to becoming a true contender with a better seeding in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  It’s scary since this team still has a lot of growing to do.

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