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NBA ANNOUNCES CHICAGO WILL HOST 2020 ALL STAR GAME

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May 7, 2015 — The NBA announced today that Jimmy Butler won the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Improved Player Award.  In his fourth season in the NBA, Butler posted career highs in scoring, rebounding and assists, and also made his first trip to the NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the East.  The Most Improved Player Award was created to recognize an up-and-coming player who has made a dramatic improvement from the previous season or seasons.  Butler is the first Bull to win the award since its inception in 1985-86.

“We are all very proud of Jimmy.  He is very deserving of this award,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He is incredibly driven and it is great to see all of the work that he has put in pay off for him and for us.”

In 2014-15, Butler enjoyed his finest season in the NBA, as he improved his scoring from 13.1 to 20.0 ppg (15th in the NBA).  His 6.9-point improvement from 2013-14 was the greatest among all players who appeared in at least 40 games in each of the last two seasons.  He also raised his field goal shooting 6.5 percent (.397 to .462), which ranked second (Harrison Barnes with 8.3 percent: .399 to 482) among all players with at least 600 field goal attempts in each of the last two seasons.

Overall, the 25-year old native of Tomball, Texas appeared in 65 games (all starts) and averaged a team-high 20.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.75 spg (11th in the NBA) in a league-high 38.7 mpg.  After posting a total of nine games with 20 or more points in his first three seasons (191 games), he produced 34 such games, including seven contests with 30 or more points, this past season.

As part of the Kia NBA Performance Awards, a series of on-court performance awards, this award was determined by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the NBA.  Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.  Butler received 92 of the 129 (71.3 percent) first-place votes and 535 total points; Golden State’s Draymond Green finished second with 11 first-place votes and 200 total points.

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Jimmy Butler named Kia NBA Most Improved Player

Adam Fluck

Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah have been stars on and off the court all season, and as the playoffs begin, the NBA is giving fans a way to recognize them for their incredible community contributions.  Gasol and Noah are among the 10 player finalists for the 2014-15 NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente, and the winner will be determined in part by a fan vote.   So please show your support for these two big men with big hearts by voting on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #NBACommunityAssist and #PauGasol and/or #JoakimNoah.  There are no limits to the number of times you can vote! 

Gasol made an immediate impact upon arriving in Chicago last fall, intent to continue giving back to his community with a focus on children’s health and well-being.  Gasol has made numerous visits to Lurie Children’s Hospital to spend time with patients and their families. Last month, he devoted an evening at the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. He has also continued with his work as a Hoops for St. Jude ambassador.  Gasol and his brother, Marc, are also actively committed to their charitable organization, the Gasol Foundation, which empowers young people to live healthier lives. At the beginning of the 2014-15 school year, the Gasol Foundation launched Vida!, a health and wellness enrichment program, with the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. Gasol has remained active in the program from Chicago by skyping into events and visiting during road games in Los Angeles. 

Noah has actively committed himself to taking a stand against violence through his work with the Bulls and his Noah’s Arc Foundation. His “Rock Your Drop: The Drop of Consciousness” movement supports those impacted by violence and encourages creative outlets for youth and young adults in the form of self-expression through sport and art. Noah and his foundation also produced an anti-violence video, “You’re Not Alone” and a public service announcement, “ChicagoStandUp”. He has further demonstrated his commitment through his ongoing participation with Youth Guidance’s B.A.M. (Becoming A Man) initiative. Noah and his foundation also work regularly with Major Adams Community Committee, which is located just a few blocks from the United Center and dedicates itself to mentoring and teaching at-risk students.

Noah was selected in February as one of the league’s seven monthly Community Assist winners during the season, while Gasol is among three additional players chosen by the NBA for the season-long award. 

From now through Monday, April 27, there are three ways to cast votes and there is no limit on how many times you can vote.  So vote early and vote often!

nbas-community-assist-award-vote-now-for-gasol-and-noah

NBA’s Community Assist Award: Vote now for Gasol and Noah!

The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. All opinions expressed by Sam Smith are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Chicago Bulls or its Basketball Operations staff, parent company, partners, or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Bulls and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

By Sam Smith | 2.19.2015 | 6:56 p.m. CT

The Bulls remained resolute as the NBA trading deadline passed 2:00 p.m. Thursday. And with good reason. The Bulls don’t really have any major holes to fill and have not even effectively used all the players they could, like Tony Snell and Doug McDermott. So there wasn’t much need for change.

Actually, few of the teams in the league with the best records, like the Hawks, Warriors, Grizzlies, Raptors, Bulls and Cavaliers made any moves.

But the Bulls—and some other top teams—may be looking over their shoulders some as teams creeping up from behind executed deals that should substantially enhance their chances to make the playoffs and have post season success.

That’s primarily the Heat and Bucks in the Eastern Conference and the Thunder and Trail Blazers in the Western Conference. Suddenly, you don’t want to be facing the Heat in the first round. Similarly with the Thunder, who likely will be able to move beyond the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

That’s because the Suns were big losers Thursday and probably the 76ers, the latter who continue to make the most confusing moves while seemingly destined to produce losing for the next decade.

The big winner has to be the Thunder with the Heat a close second and then the Bucks.

The Thunder succeeded on several levels in perhaps their best move since drafting Russell Westbrook No. 4 in 2008. They acquired young big man Enes Kanter from the Jazz along with D.J. Augustin and Kyle Singler from the Pistons. They gave up much-in-decline Kendrick Perkins with an expiring deal and unhappy Reggie Jackson, who’d also become a locker room distraction, it seemed.

The trades pretty much assure not only the Thunder making the playoffs after the early season injuries to Westbrook and Kevin Durant but perhaps moving up past the Spurs, Clippers, Mavericks and Rockets. With Blake Griffin out and no major moves, the Clippers seem most likely to slip and perhaps even fall out of the top eight if the Pelicans can get going. The Suns became a parachute with a hole plummeting out of the playoffs. The moves are an immediate boon to the Bulls, who open the post All-Star Friday in Detroit, who is without Augustin after trading for Jackson. The Pistons also gave up Singler and Jonas Jerebko. And in apparently committing to Jackson with Brandon Jennings to return, the Pistons look like a loser with issues to come.

The Thunder much improve their starting lineup with a young big man who is a high level offensive player to go along with Serge Ibaka, Durant and Westbrook. Singler and the wily Augustin fit in as good veterans who can play a role. The moves also signal to potential 2016 and 2017 free agents Durant and Westbrook the Thunder is serious about finding them support players with whom they can compete for a title.

There were rumors Perkins would be bought out or released and the Bulls were among those interested. Though that would not seem to make sense as they have too many inside players and not the stretch four type to defend players like Chris Bosh.

The scare in the Eastern Conference is the Heat.

Previously even a question mark to make the playoffs, Miami suddenly looks like a team you want to avoid in the first round. The addition of Goran Dragic from the Suns gives them one of the league’s best point guards—all-NBA third team last season—to fill out what now looks like a formidable starting five.

Dwyane Wade, assuming he is healthier, now can get off the ball some and Luol Deng finally gets to work with a guard who can pass and knows where other players are on the floor. Bosh becomes an elite stretch four, and that has proven the toughest position for a team like the Bulls to guard. Hassan Whiteside gives Miami an interior physical presence. Suddenly, it becomes perhaps a delicious Miami/Cleveland first round matchup. Maybe the Heat owner should have tweeted they’d win the title before LeBron does. Pat Riley has done it again.

Also, the Bucks are quietly looking like one of the top competitors in the Eastern Conference and a tough Central Division foe.

No one has any idea what the 76ers are about in shipping out the reigning Rookie of the Year in Michael Carter Williams to the Bucks along with K.J. McDaniels to the Rockets. It fits with their dump last year of trading players when they help them get wins, though the 76ers did get a potentially high Lakers pick through Phoenix. Still, when are they going to start trying?

It’s a terrific addition for the Bucks, who do give up Brandon Knight to the Suns. Knight has been having a good season and some felt could/should have been an All-Star given Milwaukee’s surprise good season. But Carter-Williams fits the Bucks’ new style of long, athletic players. They’ll be difficult to even bring the ball up court against in the future in a sort of Bulls ‘90s model. Plus, they add Miles Plumlee from the Suns, another athletic big man to a team with intriguing possibilities. The Bucks also acquired rookie point guard Tyler Ennis, a good prospect.

It seemed to rank mostly as a destruction of the Suns, who are in the United Center Saturday. Thus another weakened opponent for the Bulls. The Suns added spare parts in Marcus Thornton, Danny Granger and Jordan Hamilton.

The Suns, whose curious signing of Isaiah Thomas last summer for no apparent reason helped alienate Dragic, who was their best player last season, now traded Thomas. He went to Boston, where he’ll likely dribble the ball a lot and have others watch there as well. The Suns drove out their best player like few franchises ever have in signing Thomas and then paying a max deal to Eric Bledsoe, who isn’t as good as Dragic.

The other winner was likely the Trail Blazers with the acquisition of Denver shooting guard Arron Afflalo, a strong bench addition and support if Nicolas Batum continues to have physical problems. By solidifying, the Trail Blazers move up with the Warriors, Grizzlies and perhaps the Spurs as a top four in the West.

The Nuggets seem to be pretty much dumping their roster to start yet again—so much for the brilliant Carmelo Anthony deal—in taking on a bunch of expiring deals from Portland. They get a pick and did drop JaVale McGee’s deal with $12 million next season to the 76ers. The 76ers with such a low payroll needed some salary to avoid a penalty payment to the union. They get a pick to take the deal.

The Kings made a financial move of Ramon Sessions for Andre Miller, which was a talent upgrade for the Wizards and help for Washington as Miller had clearly come to the end of his usefulness as a player.

The Minnesota trade was intriguing in bringing back franchise favorite Kevin Garnett. Even though it’s a decline in talent at this stage for Thaddeus Young, Garnett can be a veteran presence. And the ‘wolves weren’t going anywhere with Young.

The Rockets are unable to let a deadline pass without doing something. They were about to make some fantasy deals with fans when they got McDaniels for a draft pick and Pablo Prigoni. It’s also not trading deadline if Thomas Robinson isn’t traded, and he was packed off to the Nuggets.

The Pelicans got Norris Cole with Jrue Holiday out, which isn’t that much help, while the Suns also apparently took back John Salmons as some deals still are being cleared. And Tayshaun Prince in another sentimental move went back to Detroit for Jonas Jerebko to Boston in an underrated move for the Celtics. The Knicks picked up some cap room trading Prigoni to the Rockets.

Whew! What a trading season. With Rajon Rondo, the previous Nuggets and Knicks deals to the Cavs, Mo Williams to the Hornets and Corey Brewer to Houston, Jeff Green to Memphis and Dion Waiters to Oklahoma City, it’s been a wild few months. The NBA is back!

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Whopper of a trade deadline toughens East

The NBA is the league of dynasties. In the 1960’s, it was the Boston Celtics; there was none in the 1970’s. In the 1980’s it was the Celtics/Los Angeles Lakers; in the 1990’s, it was the Bulls. And in the last decade it’s been the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat, who have been the teams of the 21st century.

Ok, along with the early 2000's Lakers. But the Spurs and Heat are now. They have combined for six titles in the last 11 seasons, making them the elite teams of the new millennium. And they’ll add yet another title in the next two weeks as the Spurs and Heat open the NBA Finals Thursday (8:00 p.m. CT | ABC) and will make it a combined seven championships in the last 12 years.

For this era, and just about any other, that’s dominance.

It’s not quite as celebrated as it was previously.

No team ever has been quite as supreme as Bill Russell’s Celtics, who won 11 titles between 1957 and 1969. In the 1970’s, the Knicks and Celtics each won a pair of championships, but no true rivalries emerged like it did in the 1980’s with the Celtics and Lakers splitting eight titles between 1980 and 1988. Then it was Michael Jordan’s Bulls with six titles in eight years in the 1990’s.

There are not supposed to be dynasties and rivalries any longer. But this Finals is the first back to back since the Bulls and Jazz in 1997 and 1998. And even though the Spurs and Heat have not met previously in the Finals, they have emerged as the predominant teams in their conference for the last decade.

It’s with grudging respect for the Spurs, often accused of being uninteresting. Though that’s more a product of their laconic star, Tim Duncan, who has been something of an efficient machine under coach Gregg Popovich with five Finals appearances and four wins since 1999. The Heat have been the stars of every Finals they’ve been in with LeBron James, now their fourth consecutive and the first time a team has done that since Boston from 1984 through 1987. Only those 1960’s Celtics previously had accomplished that. Though the 1960’s Lakers were in eight Finals in 11 years into the early 1970’s, losing all but one.

Are the Spurs a dynasty? They have never won consecutive titles.

Is the Heat a dynasty? This would be three straight if they win, though the Bulls weren’t a dynasty until they won three straight twice.

But this is as close to basketball royalty as the NBA has to offer anymore, the stubborn Spurs and the smokin’ Heat. The irony is the supposedly dull Spurs play at a much more wide open, faster pace with higher scoring than Miami. But the Heat has the ultimate star of the game, LeBron James, who is the elite player of the era and the biggest star.

It makes this series a tough one to call.

The conventional wisdom is you cannot beat the No. 1 star of the game four times in two weeks. No one ever could against the Bulls with Jordan, and there seem some similarities to the Bulls and Jazz series when Utah got close in 1997, only to be turned away by the illness-ravaged Jordan in his memorable food poisoning/flu game and then again in 1998 with Jordan’s farewell shot in Salt Lake City to avoid a Game 7.

Of course, that wasn’t the situation in the 1980’s as Larry Bird and Magic Johnson traded series losses almost every other year.

It just takes someone better, and the Spurs have their stars, if aging a bit, in Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, though the latter is coming off an ankle sprain in the conference finals. That complicates things as Parker was the Finals’ MVP the last time the Spurs won a title. Both James and Dwyane Wade have been Finals MVPs for Miami.

Miami comes in off the easier road in the Eastern Conference with a 12-3 record. The Spurs with a seven-game first round are 12-6. But the Spurs are the far deeper team with a roster that employed 12 even in the playoffs. And we may see that again with two coaches in the Spurs’ Popovich and Miami’s Erik Spoelstra who both have used multiple lineups and starters all season and during the playoffs.

In fact, the conference finals concluded with the Spurs’ Matt Bonner and the Heat’s Rashard Lewis getting their first starts of the playoffs. During the regular season as the Spurs regularly rested their top players and the Heat did likewise with Wade, the Spurs used 31 different lineups and Miami used 21, the latter with 14 different starters.

The series also will lend itself to multiple adjustment and matchup changes as the teams will both work to impose their styles on the other.

The Spurs have a size advantage as their main starting lineup this season included Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter. But the Spurs ended up downsizing with Bonner and Boris Diaw to open the court and bring the Thunder’s Serge Ibaka away from the basket to inhibit Oklahoma City’s defense.

The Spurs, though, prefer to use their two big men. But the Heat play small, emphasizing perimeter shooting with Chris Bosh starting at center, though he mostly shoots three pointers and brings the opposing big man away from the basket. That could change the Spurs thinking and have them back to a smaller lineup again, but this time to defend the perimeter better rather than, like against the Thunder, when they went small on offense.

In last season’s Finals, the Spurs started with the Duncan/Splitter front line duo along with their regulars Parker, Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. The Heat went with Bosh and Udonis Haslem along with their regulars of James, Wade and Mario Chalmers. But after a bad loss and going down 2-1, the Heat switched to start Mike Miller for Haslem. The Spurs stayed with Splitter and lost Game 4. The Spurs then moved Ginobili into the starting lineup and both teams remained smaller through the seventh game, which went to Miami after the Spurs were that infamous five seconds away from a win in Game 6.

So perhaps the question becomes who blinks first and goes small, though the Heat opened Game 1 against the taller Pacers in the conference finals with Shane Battier at power forward. After losing Game 1, Miami changed to Haslem and finished the series going back with a shooter in Lewis. Which could make this the most unconventional matchup series with each coach experienced in numerous changes. It’s also a 2-2-1-1-1 format for the first time since 1984 when the Celtics and Lakers were going coast to coast and the league decided on a 2-3-2 Finals format. Now it’s back to the same for all post season rounds. The Spurs have the extra home game if it goes seven by finishing 62-20 in the much tougher Western Conference compared to 54-28 for Miami, which made them No. 2 seed in the East. The Spurs had the league’s best record. But did Miami just cruise knowing the strain of going for a third consecutive title and the lack of serious competition in the East?

Can the Spurs exorcise the demons of perhaps the most excruciating loss in Finals history and make their claim with their fifth title since 1999? Can the Heat win three straight joining only the Celtics, Bulls and Lakers? Can anyone figure out who’ll be starting?

Point Guard: Tony Parker vs Mario Chalmers

This has been the big question mark coming in, though Popovich said Parker will start. Parker sat out the second half of the clinching game against the Thunder, which was impressive enough for the Spurs in winning despite that. The Spurs have adequate backups, but Parker has been, when healthy, their best player the last few seasons and crucial to breaking down defenses with his drive and mid range game. Chalmers is the Heat guy who gets yelled at if Wade doesn’t get back on defense. He’ll make some threes and throw balls away with his hustle.

Shooting Guard: Danny Green vs Dwyane Wade

The story of the Heat’s demise was to have been the decline of Wade. But Wade is averaging 18.7 points and shooting 39 percent on threes, of all things, for a generally poor three-point shooter. Wade isn’t as explosive as he was, but he’s been able to work in and get position for his mid range shots. Green was a revelation early in last year’s Finals with his three-point shooting, though he cooled later in the series and made perhaps the blunder of Game 6. Most point to Popovich taking out Duncan and Bosh getting key late rebounds. But Green leaked out when the Spurs didn’t need any more points, leaving James open for that late crucial three.

Small Forward: Kawhi Leonard vs LeBron James

It’s the highlight matchup, which basically is anywhere James goes. Leonard is an excellent defender who can stay with James and limit the necessity to double team. James hasn’t gone into the post much, anyway, and the question is whether you can beat the Spurs defense playing from on top as much. Leonard will try to make James work on defense as much as possible to try to tire him and hope Ed Malloy is there to get James in foul trouble as he was in Game 5 in Indianapolis. James is playing at a very high level and sees the finish line after the long season and appears highly motivated. Can you beat a great player four times when he is like that? No one ever could with Michael Jordan.

Really, I have no idea. No one does. I assume the Spurs start Splitter, who generally has been their center with Duncan a titular power forward, though the positions are interchangeable depending on matchups. After all, Bosh is the center and plays the farthest from the basket of all the Heat players. What the heck has happened to basketball? Though Bonner started late in the Thunder series, I wouldn’t expect to see him for defensive reasons. The Spurs will use Diaw, but they prefer to bring him off the bench. Thus starters will matter less in this series with starters at some positions just being auditioned. Battier about to retire has regressed. The Heat appeared to find Lewis after all season to fill that Mike Miller role, though they could go with Haslem figuring the Spurs go with Splitter. But then if they think the Spurs will go with the low scoring Splitter, they may just start with perimeter shooting to open the court immediately. Similarly, they like to bring Chris Andersen off the bench. The guess is they start Lewis.

Duncan generally breaks out in hives if you call him a center. And as stated if you are by the basket you generally can’t hear Bosh unless he’s screaming. The edge for just about everyone against Miami is rebounding. You have to beat them by at least 10. If they stay close in rebounding they’ll beat you with accurate shooting and fast breaks from turnovers. And with Parker and Ginobili, the Spurs will commit turnovers. Duncan continues to amaze with his efficient play, but he won’t chase Bosh. And neither will Splitter. Then who?

The Spurs reserves are quasi starters with as much as they have this season among Diaw, Patty Mills, Cory Joseph, Bonner, Ginobili and Marco Belinelli. While Wade is the unexpected, in a sense for Miami, it’s Ginobili for the Spurs. He looked done last season, but has been a star in the playoffs. Miami still has Ray Allen hitting big shots and Norris Cole timely shots. Plus Andersen can be distracting with all those tattoos.

Coaching: Gregg Popovich vs Erik Spoelstra

Popovich is becoming a perennial coach of the year and star of the end of quarter interviews. It’s tough to compete against him, though Spoelstra has shown a willingness to take chances and make changes. But he still revolves mostly around LeBron.

sam-smith-previews-the-nba-finals

Sam Smith previews the NBA Finals

NEW YORK, June 2, 2014 – Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, winner of the 2013-14 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, headlines the 2013-14 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. Noah, who received 105 First Team votes (223 points), makes his second consecutive appearance on the First Team.

Joining Noah on the NBA All-Defensive First Team are forward Paul George of the Indiana Pacers (161 points, 65 First Team votes), guard Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers (156 points, 64 First Team votes), forward Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder (152 points, 54 First Team votes) and guard/forward Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors (148 points, 57 First Team Votes).  The voting panel consisted of 123 writers and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada. Two points were awarded for a First Team vote and one point was awarded for a Second Team vote.

Noah, who appeared in 80 of Chicago’s 82 games, ranked sixth in the NBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg), 12th in blocks (1.51 bpg) and added 1.24 steals.  He was one of just three players (Detroit’s Andre Drummond and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis) to average at least 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals.  Behind Noah, the Bulls held opponents to a .430 field goal percentage, second-stingiest in the league.

Paul led the NBA in steals (2.48 spg) for the fourth consecutive season and sixth time in his career to earn his fourth First Team nod. George ranked fifth in the NBA in steals (1.89 spg) and was the only player in the NBA to average at least 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals. In his first season with the Warriors, Iguodala averaged 1.50 steals, as the Warriors improved from the NBA’s 19th best defense in terms of points allowed last season to 10th in 2013-14.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of forward LeBron James of the Miami Heat (57 First Team votes), guard Patrick Beverley of the Houston Rockets (44 First Team votes), guard Jimmy Butler of the Bulls (29 First Team votes), forward Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs (16 First Team votes) and Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers (15 First Team votes).

For the first time this season, complete media voting results for each NBA annual award will be posted on nba.com/official following the announcement of each winner. Attached are the results for the 2013-14 NBA All-Defensive Teams balloting. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst and Young LLP:

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): DeAndre Jordan, L.A. Clippers 63 (14); Anthony Davis, New Orleans, 62 (18); Tony Allen, Memphis, 60 (17); Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 45 (12); Dwight Howard, Houston, 26 (6); TAJ GIBSON, CHICAGO, 21 (2); Mike Conley, Memphis, 21 (5); Ricky Rubio, Minnesota, 19 (5); Lance Stephenson, Indiana, 14 (3); P.J. Tucker, Phoenix, 13 (2); Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City, 10 (2); Kyle Lowry, Toronto, 10 (3); Eric Bledsoe, Phoenix, 9 (1); Marc Gasol, Memphis, 8; John Wall, Washington, 8 (1); Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City, 8 (1); KIRK HINRICH, CHICAGO, 7 (2); Trevor Ariza, Washington, 5 (2); Avery Bradley, Boston, 5 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 5 (1); Klay Thompson, Golden State, 5; Andrew Bogut, Golden State, 4; Chris Bosh, Miami, 4 (1); Luol Deng, Cleveland, 4 (1); Wesley Matthews, Portland, 4 (1); Tony Parker, San Antonio, 4 (1); Nicolas Batum, Portland, 3 (1); Stephen Curry, Golden State, 3 (1); Danny Green, San Antonio, 3 (1); Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte, 3; Shaun Livingston, Brooklyn, 3 (1); Victor Oladipo, Orlando, 3 (1); DeMarre Carroll, Atlanta, 2; Matt Barnes, L.A. Clippers, 2 (1); James Harden, Houston, 2; George Hill, Indiana, 2; Jeff  Teague, Atlanta, 2; Dwyane Wade, Miami, 2 (1); Kemba Walker, Charlotte, 2; David West, Indiana, 2; Arron Afflalo, Orlando, 1; Corey Brewer, Minnesota, 1; Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia,1; Darren Collison, L.A. Clippers, 1; DeMar DeRozan, Toronto, 1; Andre Drummond, Detroit, 1; Monta Ellis, Dallas, 1; Danny Granger, L.A. Clippers, 1; Draymond Green, Golden State, 1; Reggie Jackson, Oklahoma City, 1; David Lee, Golden State, 1; Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 1; Rajon Rondo, Boston, 1.

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Noah, Butler named to NBA All-Defensive teams

You've been gunning down every "go for Melo fan" and I'm with you in that, just want to ask you who you think the Bulls will go for in the free agency?
Bruce Dela Cruz

While I doubt the Bulls will get Carmelo Anthony this summer, there is one possibility I can think of him coming over without the Bulls losing much. Melo signing a 2 year deal at a lesser rate with the idea that the players opt out of the labor agreement after the 2016 NBA season. I think the players will opt out because the league will have a new TV deal probably worth $2 billion+ which also means bigger contracts for players. It would take a lot of convincing (which the Knicks will do too) and a lot of long term thinking by Melo for it to work. Would Melo sign a 2 year $30 million deal (assuming Bulls clear enough cap space) with the hope that the next labor deal allows him to sign a 4-5 year deal that nets him $100-$120 million, more money than a current 6 year $129 million deal? I don't think a player would leave money on the table like that, but I wouldn't rule it out. After all, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade all signed short 3 year deals before the 2007 season in the hopes they'd be able to obtain a bigger contract after a new labor agreement.
Belal Tiba

Oklahoma City? They have no offense. Ball into Westbrook, shoot. Ball into Durant, shoot. Zero movement with that PG. They have Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka. They should play better than that.
Rui Dias

What is the situation with Thibs? Why are there so many rumors about Golden State reaching out to him, the Lakers, the Knicks, and any other opening? Is the divide between Thibs and "GarPax" really that great? Is there some level of dissatisfaction on one side or the other that has not been reported? During the Bull Run in the 90's there was never news about teams reaching out to Phil Jackson (not until we knew his run was done). You never heard rumors about teams reaching out to Pat Riley in the 80's, or Bill Fitch. Even on teams that were not winning championships coaches like Doug Moe, Jerry Sloan, etc... were never rumored to be contacted by other teams. I hope this not a stealth courtship of Fred Hoiberg (although I like him). Where's the fire from all of this smoke?
Greg Mendel

I know the Bulls are not going to let Thibodeau go if they have any chance to get Carmelo, but if Golden State is serious about his services, what do you think they would have to give up for the Bulls to even consider something? Do you think Klay Thompson and at least 1 first would be enough?
Dan Mallen

Thibodeau has proven to be a great regular season coach but do you think his relentlessness and stubbornness, traits that have helped the Bulls achieve success during an 82 game season, become weaknesses in the Playoffs? I get that the Bulls do not scrimmage a lot during the season and have a lot of off days, but they are held to a very high standard, especially defensively, during the regular season which I believe eventually wears them down. I'm aware the team made the Conference Finals the one year Rose was healthy but remember Thibodeau didn't do himself or the team any favors that season by keeping Kurt Thomas and by not isolating Rose enough against the Heat, and this year he waited until they were down two games to change his fourth quarter lineup.
Daniel Brecher

Because I have too much time on my hands, I follow a half-dozen mock drafts. It's as pointless as pulling dandelions, but you don't get your hands dirty and you can do it sitting on your butt. I find myself snickering when mock drafters project the Bulls drafting high scoring college players who have a reputation for low motor and bad defense. I especially laugh when the mock drafter points out the Bulls have a scoring problem. They do, but no #16 pick in history has ever solved a contender's offensive woes as a rookie. I'm interested in knowing what you think the team's strategy will be in this year's draft?

Might they trade one or both first-round picks so they can invest that money in veterans? Do you think they would expect a #16 or #19 pick to be a rotation player as a rookie? I understand that happened with Taj and to a lesser extent with Tony Snell, but would they expect that?  What is it with the #16 pick? In the last 10 years it has been one of the worst draft slots, producing Vucovic, Babbitt, Speights and Nick Young as the four best. Most of the 17-30 slots have been at least as productive and many have been better. #21, for example, has produced Gorgui Deng, Jared Sullinger, Dareen Collison, Ryan Anderson, Dequan Cook, Rajon Rondo, and Nate Robinson... plus Boris Diaw in 2003.
Kirk Landers

If OKC gets sent home packing after round 2 do you think they would make a big trade to shake it up? If so, who says no to this one... Westbrook to Boston for Rondo, their #1 pick this year plus one of Brooklyn's unprotected picks? (Of course Boston would have to throw in another player to make salaries match)
Billy Habibi

I wonder how folks around the NBA are responding to Houstong going out of the playofffs.  Proud is positive, pompous encourages backlash.  Houston has playmakers, the Bulls have a system.  No disrespect directed at McHale who seemed to do what he could nor really at the players who are the players they are.  Does Howard need a bossy point guard to keep him in line? Glowering Kobe didn't work, or was that just LA?  Harden doesn't seem to overflow with a need to ride herd on his team.
Pete Zievers

I'm an Arizona guy and Steve Kerr is god here. Who wins the Steve Kerr sweepstakes?
John Rallis

Does Anthony Morrow ever come up as a possible acquisition? He certainly would fill a need as an excellent shooter.
Matthew Mikulice

I'm hearing that the Bulls could go after Zach Randolph. That would mean Noah can slide to 4 and Taj plays the 3, Butler the 2?
LongGiang Le

The two players I would target are PG/SG Austin Rivers and SG/SF Harrison Barnes. Austin Rivers seemed to take a step forward the last two months of the season. He's athletic and can definitely create his own shot. He can be the backup point guard and get minutes at shooting guard as well playing with Rose. As for Harrison Barnes, AI is blocking his way and there is not enough shots to go around in Golden State while there are plenty of shots to go around on the Bulls. He's big and strong and a good defender. He averaged nearly 10 points in taking only eight shots per game. I think using our mid 1st round picks to bring in these two players would be better than bringing in rookies.
Rocky Rosado

How about a shooter in Jason Terry? He's not young and had a rough two years but he was injured. The guy is a proven shot maker and champion who could be that vocal leader we need.   Terry/Dunleavy/Snell may be enough shooting off the bench for us. Now Terry will have to agree to come cheap. We can tell him to come for a chance at a ring and a chance for payback against the Nets/Celts/Heat.
Mike Queensworst

What’s up with Roy Hibbert? The guy is 7'2" and doesn't grab rebounds, nor does he score a 3rd time in a playoff game? What's up with this guy? How do you not even score on your home court?
Kieron Smith

John Wall looked like Washington’s weakest link in that Game 2 loss in Indiana.
Mike Sutera

Up 24 with 4 minutes to go, Tony Parker still in the game. This is what the great coaches do, it's why complaining about how the coaches play their stars too many minutes at the ends of games, with big leads, is for talk radio, etc. Note that Parker had two drives where he went down to the court and Pop still kept him in. So much for the silly criticism of Thibs via Rose, starter minutes.
Matt Adler

I am going to disagree with you and predict that the agency that represents both Melo and Thibs will somehow work out a deal that sends Thibs to L.A. with assurance Melo joins up with Kobe and and then Love next season. Bulls will then take the 6th pick and trade that along with the 16th and 19th picks to move up to select Parker. Then the Bulls hire Jerry Sloan.
Mike Kay

ask-sam-sam-smith-opens-his-mailbag-5-09-14

Ask Sam | Sam Smith opens his mailbag - 5.09.14

So at the end of if not the greatest opening playoff round in NBA history, but likely the most competitive, there basically were no real upsets.

Sure, the No. 3 seeded Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference lost to the Brooklyn Nets. Though the Nets did a bit of a late season crossover move to get into the sixth spot and a potential second round matchup with Miami. They got it, though just barely with Sunday’s one-point Game 7 win over the Raptors.

The conference semifinals begin Monday in Oklahoma City and Indiana with the top three regular season teams in the West, the Spurs, Thunder and Clippers, and the top two in the East, the Pacers and Heat, moving on. The No. 5 seeds in each conference, the Wizards and Trail Blazers, each scored an “upset” of a sort, though four/five teams are generally viewed as even. Perhaps the upset would be Washington taking only five games to knock off the Bulls.

But before taking a look at the conference semifinals matchups below, here’s a top 10 list of the first round highlights.

1. Damian Lillard’s three-pointer at the buzzer trailing by two to win the series over the fourth-seeded Houston Rockets with Dwight Howard and James Harden. Lillard’s three was one of the great shots in playoff history given the circumstances, trailing by two with the inbounds with less than a second left to avoid a seventh game on the road for a franchise with the longest active streak of failing to win a playoff series. The Rockets had been picked by some to win the NBA title with the addition of Howard, so they become the biggest loser of the first round on an amazing shot.

2. Vince Carter’s buzzer-beater three to give the Mavs a one-point win after a Manu Ginobili shot with 1.7 seconds left appeared to win it for the Spurs. Carter’s unlikely left corner winner gave both eighth seeds a 2-1 lead over the No. 1 seed and helped force both series to seven games before the No. 1 seeds prevailed relatively easily in the Game 7s.

3. LaMarcus Aldridge’s 46 points in Game 1 for Portland in their Game 1 overtime win in Houston before Lillard closed it out with free throws to set the tone for the Portland series victory. Aldridge would follow that with 43 points in Game 2 for the top overall performance in the first round even though LeBron James was the leading scorer in the Miami sweep over Charlotte.

4. Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan making the big plays in the last two minutes as the Clippers prevailed in Game 7 over the Warriors in the most emotional series after the owner Donald Sterling controversy over his racial comments. The Clippers held off yet another remarkable Stephen Curry shooting performance amidst the backdrop of coach Mark Jackson perhaps being let go despite one of the five best seasons in franchise history. Memphis and Denver had such seasons last year and fired their coaches and were not as good. The same fate may await the Warriors, who competed relentlessly despite major injuries in a testament to Jackson as well. Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford also came up big for the Clippers and coach Doc Rivers, who was the team’s spokesman during the crisis, was outstanding.

5. Serge Ibaka’s putback a fraction too late as the Memphis Grizzlies win the fourth consecutive overtime game in their series with the Thunder. It was Kevin Durant’s shot missing and Ibaka too late after video review stunning the celebrating home crowd as the Grizzlies take a 3-2 lead in the series on the way to perhaps a major upset. It would only lead to a Game 7 Thunder win with Zach Randolph suspended after a punch in Game 6.

6. Paul Pierce’s block on Kyle Lowry’s drive with six seconds left to win Game 7 in Toronto. The Nets had controlled the game, but the Raptors rallied and a Terence Ross steal gave them a chance to steal the series in front of the most raucous community support the NBA may even have seen. The Nets had the play well defended and Pierce in the last line of defenders blocked the shot after a Lowry bobble.

7. Troy Daniels’ three with 11.9 seconds in overtime saves the Rockets season, albeit temporarily, as they were about to fall behind 3-0 to Portland. The undrafted Daniels was the most unlikely star in the playoffs, a season long D-Leaguer who had played five NBA games.

8. Kevin Durant’s amazing four-point play late in regulation, though it would be a Game 2 loss to Memphis. Durant made the fabulous degree of difficulty off balance fadeaway and was fouled by Marc Gasol after the Thunder trailed by five with less than 20 seconds left. A Kendrick Perkins put back sent the game into overtime at the buzzer. But the Grizzlies recovered to win the game in overtime.

9. Atlanta’s 13 of 16 shooting second quarter with five Mike Scott threes in Indianapolis on the way to a 10-point win, Atlanta’s second on the road against the No. 1 seed, and a 3-2 lead in the series and perhaps major upset. But the Hawks ended up blowing a late lead at home in Game 6 and were outplayed in Game 7 to lose the series.

10. Reggie Jackson’s 32 points to save the Thunder from falling behind 3-1 as the previously ignored Jackson had five straight points at the end of regulation and six overtime free throws to keep the Thunder from falling onto what would seem too deep a hole from which to recover.

Honorable mention to the Raptors going ahead 3-2 on Lowry’s 36 points as they held on and avoided what would have been the all-time biggest mistake when if not for the backcourt violation at the close, Jonas Valanciunas would have been called for unnecessarily goal tending a 65 foot shot falling short that would have won the game for Brooklyn. Also to Bradley Beal and Nene for the big comeback in Game 2 against the Bulls that with two straight home losses doomed the Bulls in their playoff series with Washington.

1 Indiana Pacers (56-26) vs. 5 Washington Wizards (44-38)

The Pacers won two of three during the regular season and their story is this series suits them better as the Wizards have big men in Nene and Marcin Gortat and that will enable Roy Hibbert to play. Though it won’t make Hibbert more mobile or graceful. The Pacers have been the mystery of the season and the playoffs with some surprise discloses likely still to come. The question for the Wizards, who the Bulls saw have a balanced attack, is whether you can put pressure on them. The Bulls never did losing those first two at home since the Wizards have a history this season of cracking under pressure and with John Wall a curious decision maker. But they have a wing defender in Trevor Ariza to guard Paul George, who saved the Pacers against Atlanta. Plus, Nene is a tough matchup for David West.

2 Miami Heat (54-28) vs. 6 Brooklyn Nets (44-38)

Well, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, though just barely by a point in Toronto, got what they asked for, perhaps a last shot at LeBron James and Miami. The Nets beat the Heat all four this season, though three by a point and one in overtime. Plus, Garnett and Dwyane Wade missed two games each. The Heat sat around a week, which they said hurt them last year starting against the Bulls, while the Nets played a tough seven games. The Heat won‘t need Greg Oden yet, and it seems all their season experiments didn’t work out. They don’t have nearly as much shooting as in the championship seasons, though the Nets playing small aren’t generally the type of team to take advantage of the Heat playing small. Can LeBron carry them yet again?

1 San Antonio Spurs (62-20) vs. 5 Portland Trail Blazers (54-28)

After a tough series, the Spurs closed it out in style with a seventh game domination of the Mavericks. There’s a rivalry there that isn’t in this series. The Trail Blazers got some great stuff from Damian Lillard, though the Spurs are excellent at taking away your top options. Of course, LaMarcus Aldridge is one of those. Can Tim Duncan take that much? The Trailblazers thrive and survive on jump shooting, so the somewhat disorganized Rockets were a good matchup for them. Though the teams were 2-2 in the regular season, the Spurs’ discipline may be too much for Portland.

2 Oklahoma City Thunder (59-23) vs. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (57-25)

They split the season series 2-2 and last played in February. A lot has happened, especially for the Clippers, since then. But the emotion of the first round series controversy is past for now and it will be the Clippers interior guys against the Thunder’s perimeter stars. Can Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka hold off Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan so that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can succeed? Westbrook is going to be difficult for Paul, who had a hamstring problem in the first round. Though the biggest defensive issue for the Clippers all season has been defending the wing, and the Thunder has the soon-to-be-named MVP best wing player (West, anyway) in Durant. He’ll be a big problem to defend, though the Thunder makes themselves too easy to defend the way they run so little offense and Westbrook and Durant shoot so often. If they move the ball and get Durant better shots they’ll be difficult, though they never have done that. And they’re tough to guard, anyway. Maybe they prefer it closer.

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Historically competitive first round comes to an end

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