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| Tuesday, September 11 Users: Bulls can turn things around in time ESPN.com |
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The Bulls are not a good basketball team, which is pretty clear. But how close is this team to winning more than 15 games in a season? Our users were more negative than positive, but there were plenty of people that want to give the current Bulls regime a chance with this rebuilt squad. How patient does a Bulls fan need to be?
In discussing the Summer Spotlight on the Bulls, we posed this question: This team has averaged 15 wins since MJ left? When (if?) will the Bulls top this total?:
Your Bulls Feedback The Bulls should top 15 wins by this season, simply because of the process of experience. Marcus Fizer has a year under his belt, and Ron Mercer and Brad Miller were both new last year. Look for all three to feel more comfortable in their roles and in playing with each other. In addition, I like the trades for Charles Oakley and Greg Anthony. They are both tough veterans who give an effort on defense and they are both experienced managing their teammates on the court (as evidenced by Anthony playing most of the fourth quarter for the Blazers over Damon Stoudamire). Their presence should be a huge plus late in games and also in trying to hold off opponents after building a lead. But in terms of polished talent, yes, the Bulls are lacking. So while they won't threaten for the playoffs, look for the Bulls to win 21-26 games this year.
Cameron Zargar
Granted they lost Elton Brand, but now they have a natural leader in "Oak" and a veteran in Greg Anthony. He's not a showstopper, but still. I think Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler will come along quicker under Oak's supervision because Brand was still learning the ropes himself. Now if Eddie Robinson can put up 32 ppg and play great D we'll be in good shape!
Larry Moreira
This year. Even with the trading of Brand and the drafting of two high schoolers, this year's Bulls will be deeper, more talented and, yes, more experienced. The additions of Greg Anthony, Charles Oakley and Eddie Robinson represent a significant upgrade in leadership and maturity. The Bulls were in many games last year but crumbled late due to a lack of direction and experience. Those needs have been addressed in the offseason. Don't get me wrong, I still expect the Bulls to be the worst team in the East (good, they need one more year in the high lottery). But this team will sneak up on some people and could win 20-28 games. In addition to the added experience, the emergence of Marcus Fizer and the degree to which Curry and Chandler can contribute rebounding, defense and some depth will be significant keys to any limited success the Bulls might enjoy this coming season. That being said, there is no doubt that this team has the potential for more immediate, and definitely more long-term, success than last season's futile crew.
Robert Duckels
Maybe not this season, but certainly next. Trash the Bulls all you want, but they have certainly upgraded from last year, in that they now have in quantity the main ingredient for NBA success: athleticism. It may be young and raw, but you can hardly call the cornerstone of the first rebuilding effort (Elton Brand) "athletic." Give the kids a year to mature, give Tim Floyd a chance to teach pressure defense to young, athletic (there's that word again) talent (Floyd's trademark in college), and, in a year or two, instead of talking about the up-and-coming Clippers, everyone will be talking about the up-and-coming Bulls.
Richard Heyn
It's going to be a long year for Bulls fans (something which I am not). It's usually good when a team can say it has youth on its side, but not when the veterans are outnumbered nearly three to one and "having youth" means 18-year-olds. Even if Chandler and Curry are the real deal, who's to say that they'll be around three years and 45 more wins from now when free agency comes calling? I think making the Chandler/Brand deal based on the assumption that Brand would bolt next year says something about Bulls management and what this team has to offer a franchise player (obviously, not a ring). Here's the prediction: under 200 wins this decade. Sorry Bulls fans -- maybe in 10-20 years?
Michael Videtich
You ask when the Bulls will top the 15-win total. I have an answer for you. The mighty Chicago Bulls will easily top 15 wins THIS year! Eddie Robinson will prove to be one of the most valuable free agent signs of the offseason. Marcus Fizer and Ron Mercer will put together solid seasons, and Ron Artest will, of course, play outstanding defense and surprise us with his offensive play. You have a point with Brad Miller. He is average AT BEST. But, this won't matter because Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry will shock everyone with their play. Greg Anthony isn't the best point guard, but the Toronto Raptors proved last year you don't need a great point guard to make it to the playoffs. Alvin Williams is nothing to write home about. Anyway, in closing, don't be surprised to be routing for the "Cinderella" Bulls in the 2002 NBA Playoffs!
Justin Swanson
I don't think the Bulls can win 15 games this season unless Chandler or Curry can emerge very soon as a starting NBA player. Honestly, even with Brand gone and Crawford out, I think this year's team is probably a bit better than last years. The problem is, there's really no team in the East that's anywhere near as bad as the Bulls with Washington and Atlanta showing major signs of improvement. The only teams I see the Bulls being able to compete with are the Memphis club and the pitiful Warriors, and even those clubs I'm not sure. I think this year's team will probably win 11-13 games, but not stick with teams through three quarters as much as they did last year. Floyd will be canned, Krause will bring in someone with more experience, and the Bulls will eventually find some way to win 30-35 games a season a couple of years down the road.
Michael Sacks
I think you're way too harsh on 'da Bulls (sorry George Wendt, et al). They finally seem to be heading in the right direction, which is about three years too late. Granted, they will experience growing pains for at least a year, but the Bulls have gotten hoards of young raw talent, and Tim Floyd is as good as anyone at developing young talent (see his Iowa State career, for example). True, the NBA is a much tougher hill to climb than the Big Eight, or Big Twelve, but Krause and Reinsdorf (whether or not you like them) are moving in the right direction. You can notch up at least (gasp!) 18 wins for the Bulls this year, and pencil them in as playoff contenders in three or four seasons. Then, it'll be scary.
Andy Rowe
The Bulls are a better team than last year. It's not good enough to make the playoffs but they will get 25 to 30 wins. Last year, we had no defense whatsoever. With the addition of Oakley and Anthony there's some hope. Floyd should have Oakley at center, Fizer at PF. That will add more scoring than having Miller and Oakley. I can see Fizer as being the second legit scorer in the team. Having Oak, Fizer, ERob, Mercer and Anthony looks decent. Having Miller, Chandler and Curry from the bench will be a big improvement from last year's bench. Go Bulls!
Richard Kim
It's hard, being a dedicated Bulls fan, to answer this question honestly, and without bias. I like the direction the Bulls are going in, if these two high school kids pan out. The Bulls will have a Garnett-style player in Chandler, and a guy in Curry that may potentially match up with Shaq. But the question really is, are these kids that good? The Bulls may win more than 15 games this year, maybe not. But they won't consistently get better until these kids find their niche on the floor, get playing time, and show what they can really do. I say, this year is a wash. But give the Bulls a couple of years to mature, and they will be back in the playoffs. Give them three full seasons, and if they are not back in the playoffs, it's time to get a new GM. With the potential talent they have now, they should receive more looks from future free agents, if not, there has got to someone in the front office that those guys don't want to work with, and my bet is Jerry Krause. Go Bulls.
Steve Kelley
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