While Keith Bogans was a solid starting guard for the Chicago Bulls last season, he was not a consistent offensive threat. This fact may have gone unnoticed because Chicago finished with the best record in the league. However, in the playoffs against the Miami Heat, this was definitely one of the team’s shortcomings. Once LeBron James began defending Derrick Rose, the Bulls’ offense struggled to say the least and the Bulls fell to the Heat in five games. In order to address their need for an upgrade at the two-guard spot, Chicago signed Richard Hamilton. Here is my take on why this was a smart move.

Experience:

There is no doubt in my mind that the Bulls will do well in the regular season. However, the playoffs are a different story and every team needs players with experience, who can make a difference in the later rounds. Hamilton is a playoff-tested veteran to say the least, who has been to the Finals twice, playing a vital role on the Pistons’ championship team in 2004. The Bulls have a lot of talented players on their roster, but most of them do not have a lot postseason experience. Hamilton will prove to be an asset in this area.

Capable scorer:

While some people feel that improved play by the bench would have made the difference against the Heat, There is another angle that needs to be considered as well. In my opinion, Chicago needed more scoring in the back-court, someone who could help Rose shoulder the offensive load in crunch time. Being that Hamilton has averaged close to 18 points during his career, opposing defenses will no longer have the luxury of trying to lock in on Rose.

In addition that, Hamilton moves well without the ball and he is a good passer as well. In the second preseason game against the Pacers, Hamilton had six assists to go along with 13 points. Once Hamilton gets acclimated to the Bulls’ schemes, watching him and Rose should give fans a lot to cheer about this season.

Another thing that Hamilton brings to the Bulls is height. At 6-7, not only will Hamilton be a threat on the offensive end, he will also provide length on the defense as well. Yes, I know Hamilton is only a short-term solution in providing a complementary player to Rose, but at least the need has been addressed for the next few years.

James Tillman is a resident of the Chicago-land area who has been a Bulls’ fan since the 1987-1988 season. James is also a fan blogger on Yahoo Sports and NJFFL Dynasty. For interesting discussions about the NBA, NFL and MLB, follow him on Twitter @jtillman9693.

Source:

“Hard to say what year has in store”, Neil Hayes, Chicago Sun-Times

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I’ve been a 50-plus year fan of the National Basketball Association (NBA) as well as a middle school basketball coach for years. As a youngster I was a die hard Boston Celtics’ fan, but being from Illinois, when the Chicago Bulls arrived on the scene, I soon jumped on their bandwagon.

I’ve been disappointed with the NBA this year because they have delayed the beginning of the 2012 season. However I’m still enough of a Chicago Bulls’ fan that I will identify five special moments from the 2011 season.

The Chicago Bulls’ regular season performance:

Nothing was more astounding than the Chicago Bulls’ overall record for 2011. They finished the season with a (62-20) record which was good enough to win the Eastern Conference. Further, it was the best record in the entire NBA.

What was really satisfying was that the Bulls finished ahead of the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. Both of these teams were favored to be better than Chicago.

Chicago Bulls sweep Miami Heat in regular season:

Yes I know that in the playoffs the Bulls got whipped. However, the Miami Heat were considered to be, at the beginning of the 2011 season, invincible. Chicago swept Miami (3-0) with the last game taking place in Miami. It was very exciting.

Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose, Derrick Rose from 2011:

Unfortunately near the end of the 2011 season Derrick Rose got injured. However as these plays show you, the savvy point guard of the Bulls can penetrate, guard, dunk the ball and pass as well as any player. When I think of 2011 I must think of him.

Dennis Rodman’s Hall of Fame Speech:

Pro forward and super rebounder Dennis Rodman was a hard nose player for the Bulls (and Detroit Pistons ) who lived on the edge of insanity and odd behaviors. He gave one of the most touching Hall of Fame speeches ever given.

Dennis Rodman made me proud to be a Bulls’ fan.

Ultimate Disaster: Heat Beat Bulls in Playoffs:

All Bulls’ fans knew their playoff team wasn’t the same team from the regular season and to make matters worse the team they would ultimately lose to the Miami Heat.

Looking back over 2011 the course of events that stood out included winning the Eastern Conference with the best NBA record, watching Derrick Rose, beating the Miami Heat, listening to Dennis Rodman enter the Hall of Fame and unfortunately losing to the Miami Heat in the playoffs.

A little revenge – Lack of Miami Heat class:

The Miami Heat ultimately lost to the Dallas Mavericks. During this time the Heat players showed how little class they had by mocking Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James showed how he could “fake a foul.”

As always there was good and bad in during the season but overall for Bulls’ fans 2011 brought more pleasure than pain.

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Chicago Bulls fans looking for a silver lining in the passing NBA lockout cloud, take consolation: The proposed 66-game season, which now awaits a vote by players and owners, could benefit the Bulls.

After reeling off a league-best 62 regular season wins last season, the Bulls wore down during the playoffs. Despite not losing more than two consecutive games all season, the Bull lost four straight to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and lost the series, 4-1.

By the time it was all done, MVP Derrick Rose(notes) was playing through nagging ankle, back and wrist injuries, two teammates were battling turf toe and backup center Omer Asik(notes) was out with a fractured fibula.

The result: All four of the Bulls’ four core starters – Rose, Luol Deng(notes), Carlos Boozer(notes) and Joakim Noah(notes) – significantly underperformed their regular season field goal averages during the playoffs, and three of the four – Rose being the lone exception – posted lower point per game averages.

Sure, some of the drop-off can be attributed to tougher playoff defenses, but the point remains: The Bulls were clearly winded and banged by the end of the playoffs, and some extra time off, combined with fewer games, could be a big benefit.

One factor that will definitely work to the Bulls’ advantage during a shorter season is the team’s great depth, especially up front, and the ability of Rose and Deng to play heavy minutes. Coach Tom Thibodeau will have more options and be able to more evenly spread work around.

Additionally, the Bulls are so well-established at four positions, the new shooting guard – and yes, Virginia, there will be a new two when the season opens on Christmas Day – should be able to make a smooth transition into the starting lineup. The Bulls had to develop their chemistry on the court last year, and while it took half a season to do so, the end result was impressive. In short, the foundation for great team chemistry is firmly established and will require little, if any, development, new starter or not.

And finally, as the Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson points out, the Bulls’ central location will reduce the amount of time the Bulls spend in the air on cross-country flights. It’s not a minor point: Any time you can keep your players off the plane, it’s a good thing.

There are, however, a couple of areas for concern.

A more condensed season means less rest, which increases the potential for injuries to those with a history of injuries, namely Boozer, Noah and Deng (on the other hand, a 66-game season is just about perfect for Boozer, who has averaged just 63.2 games per season during his nine-year career). Hopefully, everyone stayed in shape during the lockout – especially Boozer – as conditioning will be a key.

Another concern is the lack of time for Boozer and Noah to work on their on-court chemistry; the two only played 29 games together last season, and often looked awkward and out of sync when on the court together.

All things considered, the Bulls appear to have the kind of team – young, athletic, deep – that can handle a shorter, more condensed season. I’m just happy we’re going to get the chance to find out.

Sources: Owners, players reach handshake deal to end lockout, Yahoo Sports; Bulls’ depth, particularly up front, could pay dividends, Chicago Tribune; Rose admits he wore down during playoffs, CSNChicago.com; Depressed Rose shut self in after playoffs, Chicago Tribune

YCN featured sports contributor Steve Merritt is – for better or worse – a lifelong Chicago Bulls, Bears and Cubs fan.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published Saturday July 30, 2011

The Chicago Bulls player is spending a couple of days in Omaha as part of Native Omahan Days. Friday, the 6-foot-9 forward spent time visiting patients at Children’s Hospital. He’ll attend a function from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Omaha Boys and Girls Club, then will participate in a celebrity All-Star basketball game at Omaha Benson at 3:30 p.m.

Gibson and his Bulls teammates reached the Eastern Conference finals last season. Although the Bulls lost to the Miami Heat, Gibson produced one of the more memorable plays with his putback dunk over Heat star Dwyane Wade. Seems Gibson has had a lot of practice dunking: He threw down his first one in the sixth grade.

* * *

WH: how tall were you as a sixth-grader?

A: I was short, about 6-foot-1, but I had long arms that allowed me to sneak a dunk down.

WH: What did your buddies think when you got that first one down?

A: I had a bunch of guys watching, but it took me about 10 times before I did it. At first, everyone was telling me I could do it. But they got tired of seeing me miss and gave up on me. I was by myself, and I said, ‘One more time.’ And I did it. Then, when I told the guys they wouldn’t believe me. They thought I was lying, but I came back next time and showed them.

WH: The Bulls reached the Eastern Conference final. How much progress did the team make this season?

A: We made a big leap. We had a bunch of new guys, and we just gelled well together. Our late run in the playoffs showed that we are a talented team and that there is more yet to come.

WH: What do the Bulls need to do to continue improving as a team?

A: We have to mature. We faced a tough Miami team, one that was more experienced, in the Eastern Conference finals. That was our first go-around, making it late into the playoffs like that. We have to get a lot stronger, know our roles and know what we need to do to get those wins. I can’t wait until training camp.

WH: What do you need to do individually to improve your game?

A: Coach told me he wants me to take my game to the next level, knowing how I played in the playoffs. I just have to be smarter, work on my jump shot and my offensive game. And I have to just have fun and enjoy playing with the Bulls.

WH: Kyle Korver has quite a following around here, having starred for Creighton. What are your impressions of Kyle?

A: I love Kyle. He’s one of the guys that I always look to. I sit next to him every game on the bench, and we have our little rituals. He’s just an all-around good guy that does a lot for the community. He’s done a lot for the city of Chicago. He’s helping elementary schools get books and clothes. He has his coat drive. I’m watching what he does and I’m trying to learn from him.

WH: How good of a shooter is Korver?

A: When we do drills, we shoot 80 shots each and he probably only misses a couple. That’s real consistency. He’s a phenomenal shooter. I shoot a lot against him, but I never beat him.

WH: Is Korver one of the team’s leaders?

A: When you look at him, he looks like he’s only 25. But he provides us with a lot of leadership. I look up to him on the court. He’s always telling me things to do and what not to do. He’s been around the league for a long time and he’s been on some great teams. That’s one of the things I love about playing on our team. We have guys that understand how things work and are willing to teach.

WH: How much importance do you place on making appearances where there are young people?

A: Growing up, we didn’t get a chance to see many NBA players in our neighborhood. I’m just out, trying to see as many kids as I can. I’m blessed being in a position like this, and not many people get to go out and experience the things like I can. It was tough for me growing up, and I know kids need older people in their lives. I’m just here trying to show them my faith and give them some inspiration.

— Steven Pivovar

More on the conference finals teams, with the last team eliminated from the Playoffs before the Finals.

Chicago Bulls:

-  The Bulls will try to convince themselves that they are happy with their season, one where they won 62 games and got to the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  Then they will look at their roster and realize that they are stuck with Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng – good players but not special players – and worry that they may never beat a healthy Heat team.  And they should worry.

-  Carlos Boozer is Larry Hughes.  He signed a huge contract that made sense at the time, but when push came to shove he wasn’t the player the Bulls needed him to be.  And while I will never write off any player at his lowest point, it seems unlikely that Boozer will be able to grow and become that guy.  

-  Then again, people said that about Pau Gasol after his first Finals with the Lakers, and he proceeded to go out and win them two more after that.

-  I don’t blame Boozer entirely.  Want to know how many times the Bulls got a shot for Boozer out of the pick and roll during the Miami series?  15 over five games.  In those sets, Boozer made 4 shots, missed 8 shots, and got fouled 3 times.  You’ll take 7 successful plays out of 15, but the Bulls just didn’t run the pick and roll with Rose and Boozer nearly enough in my opinion.  The guy has that 15-footer in his repertoire, but the Bulls never used it.  Rose didn’t trust Boozer, Thibodeau didn’t trust Boozer, and he repaid them with poor performances.

-  As good as Derrick Rose is – and he is tremendous – I still don’t believe that he sees the court all that well.  Rose averaged 6.6 assists per game in the Heat series, but he took 24 shots per game, managing to shoot only 35%.  He has a scorer’s mentality, very much like a LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, but I’m not sure that can work for a guy who is supposed to be the point guard.  He certainly isn’t a danger in the pick and roll, and that seems to be a huge weakness for a point guard.

-  That shot Rose hit over LeBron to give the Bulls their final basket of the game, though, that was an impossible shot.  Rose made a lot of impossible shots in the series, many more than LeBron or anyone else.

-  The Bulls looked worn down throughout the series, and obviously didn’t play well in the fourth quarters of games 2 through 5.  I think the Bulls spent so much energy during the regular season, playing fantastic defense and pushing themselves to those 62 wins, that they didn’t have a lot left in the tank for this series.  You can’t blame them for going for the best record, but it’s fair to question the pace they played at throughout the regular season and the energy they exerted in games of marginal import.

-  People are going to say that the Bulls need to improve their shooting guard spot next season, and they may.  But you can’t just plug in a scorer and hope for success.  The ideal shooting guard next to Derrick Rose needs to be tall enough to not be a defensive liability, able to hit open threes, and occasionally able to create off the dribble.  He cannot be a guy who needs to have the ball in his hands to be effective.

If I’m the Bulls, I call the Pistons about Rip Hamilton.  Yes, he’s old and very overpaid.  He’s also big, solid defensively, he makes open shots, he knows how to win in the Playoffs, and you can get him for practically nothing – like Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and the 30th pick.  The nice part about a Hamilton trade, though, is that you can help resolve your shooting guard issue without using up your mid-level trade exception, giving you a chance to throw some money at another player at least the equal of either Korver or Brewer.  Maybe you talk Thaddeus Young into coming to play with you, or Glen Davis or Troy Murphy as a backup big.

-  Final thought about the Bulls.  Winning is really, really hard.