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Posted by Sam Smith | asksam@bulls.com | 11.06.09 | 1:30 p.m. CT
I was wondering if you could clear up this new (I think new) replay rule that came into play at the end of the win against the Cavs tonight when LeBron was lobbying for a foul with .2 seconds left as the ball went out of bounds. The announcer said that the officials could turn to a replay to verify a call when there are two minutes left in a game. What I wanted to know is was there really the potential for the call to be changed to a foul after the refs called it out or were they just double checking for which team the ball was out on? Also, why wasn't the replay checked for the shot clock violation on Luol's miss with 4 seconds left (replay on TNT showed it nicked the rim)? This replay rule scares me and I think I would have thrown up if Lebron got that foul call after whining to the refs. The league is already plagued with All-Star treatment, this replay rule would give them all chances for a closing argument at the end of games.
Dustin Kintanar
Although I am generally pleased with the Bulls start to this season, I am concerned about the scoring, as they have failed to score 100 points in their first five games, and score mostly in the 80s. Despite their current 3-2 record, over an entire season, this won't cut it. What pure scorers are out there who might be available and what would it take for the Bulls to acquire them?
Paul Zukor
I remember last year after Noce got traded he said something along the lines of the Bulls only worrying about themseleves getting shots and not about the entire team. Now, after last night's game most of the players were saying that everyone got their shots within the offense and that no one forced anything...and that they just seemed like they gelled more...
Are these all subtle shots at Gordon...now that he's gone? I thought everyone liked him?
Jason Quaid
What are some names that you think Bulls might be able to make a run at in February at trading deadline. I imagine there will be a lot of Boozer rumors but unless we are willing to do Hinrich and Thomas for Boozer and filler I am not sure anything can be done there. What about a guy like David West (Tyrus and James plus 2010 1st rd pick)? Brand, Bogut, Jefferson?
B. Basghetti
Do you have any update on Jerome James' situation? I know the guy had this bad injury... but why he has not been declared "unable to play"? When is his contract expiring?
Lorenzo Giulianotti
I know its early to be asking you about trades, but what would you think of the Bulls trading Tyrus Thomas and Kirk Hinrich to Miami for D-Wade? I don't know if it is even in the ball park for what Miami would want but I look at it this way. Miami gets the defensive guard and (potential) explosive forward that they want, and they don't have to deal with the distraction of D-Wade's free agent status. For the Bulls, they get their All-Star before the summer and with the money they save from trading Kirk, they might be able to sign another big name, like maybe Bosh.
Jake Hird
There's plenty of buzz surrounding this 09-10 season, as many fans expect it to be the best of the decade. So many storylines and so many equally matched contenders (Cavs, Celtics, Lakers, Spurs, Magic).. Ultimately, though, I see this season going down as the year of the darkhorse. In the west, you have the Mavs (long, athletic, experienced, and well coached), Suns (back to run and gun and I always thought Bell and Diaw were overrated), and Nuggets (Carmelo looks like early MVP and Billups is a winner). In the East, you have the Wizards (deep, well-balanced, and have a bonafide closer in Arenas) and Raptors (can play interesting lineups and a very European style of game which gives more traditional lineups all kinds of problems). Do you think any of these darkhorse teams can be a threat and maybe spoil those Spurs/Lakers---Celtics/Cavs conference finals matchups everyone seems to want?
James Fleming
I am a great Bulls fam from Argentina, I has been befote Noce and keep on being nowdays, my concerní is that in the last 10 years the Bulls have made mosto f their moves base don financial decisión, they sem. More a bank than a NBA franchise, in 10 years they have been unable to land any big players so how are they going to do to get Wade, Lebron or CB4,I really doubt they have the chance of making this happen.
Alejandro Gorry
During last night's blowout against the Celtics, Hubbie Brown casually remarked that teams with a "reputation for tough defense" get away with a lot of fouls inside (and he said he is OK with this). Why does everyone associated with the association accept reputation refereeing so casually? Just because KG is amazing and the C's play great team defense does not mean that Sheldon Williams should be able to hack players when they come into the paint. If he got those no-calls in Atlanta, he wouldn't have been a bust and Billy Knight would still have a job. And how can Lebron James play 40 minutes every night and get called for one foul??? I also heard Stacey King state during a pre-season game that Taj should know that a "rookie won't get that call." Why is this ok to say? Could you imagine if the refs were reviewing a sideline catch in the NFL, and the announcers were saying "Johnny Knox can't expect to get this call"? I feel that NBA refs do a great job overall (especially compared to the NCAA), but it makes the league look silly when (a) it is accepted that home teams will get calls (are the refs scared of the fans? I mean really...); (b) rookies have a different standard when it comes to fouling/getting fouled than veterans; (c) anyone playing for a team known for having good D can get away with murder; and (d) superstars get super treatment from their friends with the whistles. This is why the outcome of an NBA game is less in doubt before it starts than any other major sport. The NFL sells drama based on wins and losses; the NBA sells drama based on how much a superstar will score tonight. No wonder half the teams are losing money!
Scott Wetendorf
Do you think there is any chance the bulls can pry away David Lee from the knicks? He is everything the bulls need. First a good guy. He is a low post player who will consistently average a double-double. How about Tyrus Thomas and a first round pick for Mr Lee. The bulls need no more young guys and David Lee is definitely worth giving up the first for. If that is not enough make it enough. I live in Florida and get to watch maybe 30 games. Everytime i watch they have no low post game and continually shoot from the outside. It is boring to watch. The game on 10/30 against the Celtics they shot less than 30% because continually shooting from the outside. Get David Lee. Forget wade need a low post player anyways.
Daniel Mallen
Lots has been written about maybe Wade going to the Bulls next summer. My question is would Wade or a more frugal Joe Johnson be a better fit both team wise and money wise? I'd love to see Salmons move to #3 and have Deng come off the bench until he is tradeable. Dengs looks ok so far but he has also looks slow, heavy and clumsy to me. I think Bulls improve more by improving #4 or #5 spot than #2 spot.
Eddie. Krezel
Derrick Rose is clearly hurting and he is no where near as explosive as he can be. Do you think this is something he can play into for the rest of the season or is this something that will eventually require surgery? It pains me to watch an 80% Rose, so do you think the Bulls should shelve him until he is fully 100% or keep playing him at 80% for the rest of the season?
Justin Thrush
Let me preface this question by saying that I am one of the biggest Derrick Rose fans. I have owned him on my fantasy team each of his 2 seasons. He is a young exciting player with potential, quickness, & strength, is a tough competitor, and seems to be one of the truly exceptional high character guys in the association. With that being said, I'm starting to look at him more objectively now that the team is a week into his second season, and he has failed to take over the team. I realize those are lofty expectations for a 21 year old, but they are realistic ones for many fans and NBA followers. As I look at him objectively, I can't help but feel he could be a little overrated. I really hate saying that, however I don't see the hype created by all the experts & analysts being met. I don't see him as a dynamic scorer, he's certainly not a good defender (although will develop into one), and most importantly, I don't see his passing game as all that great, despite his unselfish personality and desire to involve his teammates. Am I way off base here in my assessment?
Ryan Schlanser
I recently read your article explaining the potential for a move bringing soon to be free agent Lebron James to LA. On the surface this appears to be a logical move, but I have doubts as to whether or not LA would be willing to part with a future All-Star like Bynum. The Lakers would be required to gut a nucleous that already has the potential to win the next three championships just to take the rist that Kobe would be willing to play alongside Lebron. And I cannot imagine Lebron wanting to leave Cleveland, it provides him the opportunity to lead a lost franchise out the darkness and into the Promised Land that is NBA titles much like Jordan did with the Chicago Bulls in the 80s and 90s.
Troy Pryor
It appears we're close to giving up on the 23 year old big man with perhaps the most explosive athleticism and a 12 year career left in the league. How do we feel? Fans are probably happy. My friend came by yesterday wondering aloud why we still keep the big man who seems to not know which foot to jump off to finish a layup. I can imagine that view shared among Bulls fans. I have a problem with the Bulls inability to keep such a distinctive guy off the court. Perhaps, his defensive rotations should be quicker. Perhaps, his jumper should be purer. Hey, we're Bulls fans. We focus on what a guy can't do and run him out of town. Brad Miller was too slow and unathletic. Ron Artest too volatile. Jamal Crawford no defense. Ben Gordon too small. JR Smith and Tim Thomas weren't team guys. Tyson Chandler too soft. I know: "we" all celebrated their farewell.
H Brill
I know you know that Tyrus has got to go. The Bulls are a team predicated on team effort and cohesiveness and Tyrus is not that.
Check this trade out:G John SalmonsF Tyrus Thomas for G Stephen Jackson F Anthony Randolph or find a way money wise to put Hinrich instead of John in that deal, either way. I know we hate to see John go as he is great, and Jackson is a headcase as well, but the guy wants to win and play on a good team and is a great passer and can give the Bulls some of the swagger that is sorely lacking. And Randolph's ceiling is so much higher than Tyrus, this would be a great deal...think the next Garnett some point down the line, but left handed. Either way, start making some proposals for Tyrus asap in your articles.
Kenny Lim
I really like Brad Miller and how he fits in with this team. Do you see the bulls keeping him for this season and signing him beyond? Does he seem to like playing here? Do you know how much longer he plans on playing?
Adam Rosauer
I was just wondering why Taj Gibson was playing ahead of James Johnson, and why he has barely even seen the floor. I like what Taj is doing and I love having a southpaw on the court, but doesn't Johnson deserve a chance to get some playing time early on in the season just to get his feet wet? Is there something I am missing here?
Matt Fremgen
With Memphis choosing not to extend Rudy Gay, don't you think we have to do whatever it takes to make a run at him?....he could play a big 2 or his natural 3 and we could move Deng to 4 in the smaller lineups that seem to work for us? What do you think realistically Memphis would want this side of Rose....would Tyrus and future 1st do it...swap problem for problem and they dont have to extend Tyrus......I can see Gay being traded for a bag of peanuts to some contender and being a difference maker....I think we need to strike now.
Mark Dittmeier
If Lebron doesn't want any part of the Jordan legacy in Chicago, would he want any part of the West/Baylor/Magic/Kareen/Wilt/Kobe/Mikan/etc legacy in LA? I think LBJ could easily become the best 3 in Laker history, but best player wouldn't be as unquestioned.
Chris Corlew
How close were the Bulls a couple of years ago to swapping Deng for Kobe (the summer he claimed to want out)? I remember thinking at the time that if there were any chance at all to get Bryant we should pull the trigger, but now I think that if Deng could stay healthy in long run we may not be missing much and we kept our team chemistry in place. But I have always wondered since that summer if there was ever any real chance Kobe left LA.
Troy Pryor
When did you stop focusing on being a credible sports writer and start focusing on spreading baseless rumors about Lebron James? I understand the Bulls aren't what they used to be and this must trouble you. Without Jordan, you would be just another beat writer but with Jordan, you wrote one of the quintessential books on the NBA. It pains me to keep reading the sourceless and unfounded crap you've been writing as of late.
Jeffrey Warren
Sam: I did upset some people with that LeBron/Kobe column, though most seem to be from Ohio. I got a bunch of these and do understand the Cleveland mentality with so many near misses and disappointments, and then to lose LeBron. But I did make it clear it was my belief and my column and my opinion. I know in this Internet era too much of what is published is unfounded rumor dressed up as reality. I like to raise ideas to make people think about What If. But I find "out of the box" thought less welcome when you can watch a video. I will keep trying to make my readers think, as painful for many as it will be.
Are these "NBA people" who said LeBron is going to L.A. the same ones who told you Larry Hughes was coming to Cleveland? It has to be hard for you to sit around making this stuff up all day.
Jimmy Kozy
What made you write the article man? He may go to the Clippers where they have Blake Griffin, Gordon, Davis. That makes more sense he's not going to play second fiddle to a player that he's better than that's crazy. He would win a championship with the Clippers if you add Lebron today.
Mike James
Over/under dwight howard & ginobili team up to do some cheesy superman/batman thing all-star weekend?
Hank Stubanski