The Bulls are now a season high 10 games over .500 after their victory over the Celtics last night. The Celtics certainly are a sorry team and Doc will be gone at the end of the year. Truthfully, Danny Ainge is the one who should be fired there, but that is another post.
I've been frustrated with the Bulls this season, impatient with their perceived lack of progress and zero low post game. Last night that all changed. Tyrus Thomas had a team high 23 points and was aided by Wallace's 19. That's over 40 points for our bigs! True to form for a Skiles team, the '06-'07 Bulls are improving as the season goes on and are 9-3 since the All-Star Break. What has been even more impressive is that this has all occurred with Nocioni sidelined. Nocioni's absence has allowed Tyrus Thomas to get some real playing time. I was very excited about his draft pick last June, but had been disappointed with him. Again, credit my impatience. After waiting for Eddie and Tyson for all those years, I had grown weary of waiting again. Thomas, however, might really be worth the wait.
No Doubt, Johnny 'Redd' Kerr belongs, along with Ron Santo, in the Chicago Sportscasting Retirement Home, but he did manage a coherent thought last night. He mentioned how the Bulls haven't figured out how to utilize Tyrus Thomas' athleticism yet. And I agree. Watching him last night, I was struck with how athletically challenged the Bulls have been for so long. Thomas can sky! Ben Wallace was throwing up assists all over the basket. It really was a pleasure to see someone in a Bulls uniform with some athletic ability.
If Thomas can build on this, we can get Nocioni back, this Bulls team has a real chance to go farther than the first round of the playoffs. After that, who knows?
Finally, those green unis have to go. They are horribly ugly. Please retire them.
5 comments:
with the ncaa's about to start this week, i'm reminded of how incredible thomas was in college. he was one of the best players i've seen in the last couple of years. about time skiles realizes it too!
Thomas was incredible in the tourney last year. I think he might be on fast track now to nba stardom.
I also think Tyrus is still trying to figure out how to use his athleticism. While his physical ability is certainly beyond doubt, I look forward to him learn how to play at various speeds vs. full tilt. His timing/shot blocking ability is already uncanny. His willingness to take it directly to the basket is certainly refreshing on this present team. Maybe Pete Myers can dust off the old knee high tube socks and school him on some post up moves. I’m sure Kareem keeps his goggles nearby and does the same for Bynum.
I definitely expect next year for Deng to develop some post up moves. The threat of Deng/Thomas and perhaps Nocioni (introducing the Spanish Skyhook) augmenting our perimeter offense, that could finally seal the deal and bring us to the promiseland. Can you imagine Grant Park littered with Skiles bobbleheads? Can you dig it?
Bulls won again last night. How about some more coverage of basketball on this blog.
Look for basketball coverage to increase as the NBA finally gets interesting and the tournament heats up. We are listening to our readers.
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