[GH0STrider]

Honestly the slow starts that have plauged the bulls the last 3 seaons are really getting anoying. There are a lot of die hard fans who wait all summer for the season to start and we deserve to see our team play well right out of the gate. There aren't to many new faces on the bulls this year. the core is back and the chemistry should be there. It just seems very disrespectful to us fans to see them halfassing it. All 3 loses were winnable games. It gets old watching them need the first 30 games to start playing championship basketball. Crap like that makes me wish kobe was a bull. Ben gordon has not shot the ball well and turned it over a lot, and ben wallace has just flat out done nothing so far. I know it's 3 games, but it is very annoying. All we read here in chicago is how hard this team prepared for this season and how they are going to win the east, blah, blah, blah. So far I see the same guys making the same mistakes. The lone bright spots are joe smith playing well and tyrus thomas kicking ass.

[zimbloth]

What's that sound? Oh, that must be Ray Allen burying yet another 3. Man... what a great time to be a Celtics fan (or Boston fan period).

Misc Thoughts:

- Good to see Peja is back to his old form. Hope he can stay healthy.

- Marvin Williams has looked good so far. I really didn't think he'd be anything special.

- Mike Miller is one of the most underrated players in the league. If he were black he'd be a very popular player.

- Very surprised at the Pacers hot start. Jim O'Brien is not a very good coach IMO though, so I think they'll come down to earth. Plus Jermaine O'Neal is always hurt.

- Toronto is really good. Very impressed.

- James Posey will win the 6th man of the year award.

- Anyone else kind of sad to see what has become of Shaquille O'Neal these days? Seems just like yesterday he was the predominant force in the NBA. Now? He's Brendan Haywood.

- Ben Wallace really sucks. Why Chicago drafted Noah instead of a more talented player I'll never know. Talk about duplication. I really think the Bulls are a decent team at best. They have a bunch of solid players, but just no one you can really count on to carry the team game in and game out. Gordon and Deng are good, but they really dropped by ball by not making better use of the Knicks picks and their trades (or lack their of).

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by GH0STrider

I know it's 3 games, but it is very annoying.

I know what you mean, dude. But take comfort in knowing it is a 82-game season, unlike the NFL. Actually I don't need to cheer you up like this, but hell... YOUR 97 - 98 Bulls started the season 7-7, and ended up winning their 6th ring, so be patient!

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Misc Thoughts:
- Mike Miller is one of the most underrated players in the league. If he were black he'd be a very popular player.

Very true The Magic were totally stupid in trading him away back in 2002. Even without Grant Hill, they could've created something special with Miller and T-Mac together.

Originally Posted by zimbloth

- Toronto is really good. Very impressed.

It seems like you've been living under a rock, bro.

Originally Posted by zimbloth

- James Posey will win the 6th man of the year award.

Yeah, the chances for that to happen would be as high as him stop drunk driving.

Originally Posted by zimbloth

- Anyone else kind of sad to see what has become of Shaquille O'Neal these days? Seems just like yesterday he was the predominant force in the NBA. Now? He's Brendan Haywood.

Dude, again, did you not watch the Wiz @ Celtics Friday night? Sure, the Wiz sucked as a team, but I bet Shaq WISHES he IS Haywood right around now. That kid suddenly seems very active in defense and good enough on the offensive ends too, ever since he gets some real PT. The last I check, Haywood averages a double-double (13.8 boards per game!) after 3 games!!!

[GH0STrider]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

-- Very surprised at the Pacers hot start. Jim O'Brien is not a very good coach IMO though, so I think they'll come down to earth. Plus Jermaine O'Neal is always hurt.

Totally agree.

Originally Posted by zimbloth

- James Posey will win the 6th man of the year award.

Hah, keep dreaming. Guys who win 6th man awards typically contribute big offensivly. This is a guys who's best scoring average was 13 points as a starter for memphis. It's sad they don't give this award for good defenders nick I know. Maybe they give it to thugs?

Originally Posted by zimbloth

- Anyone else kind of sad to see what has become of Shaquille O'Neal these days? Seems just like yesterday he was the predominant force in the NBA. Now? He's Brendan Haywood.

It's only three games man. Not to mention dwade is out. Wait till wade comes back to fully evaluate him. Wade demands a lot of attention from the defense. Yeah he isn't the shaq we know and love but I bet he is still pretty affective. Brendan Haywood? Not yet.

Originally Posted by zimbloth

- Ben Wallace really sucks. Why Chicago drafted Noah instead of a more talented player I'll never know. Talk about duplication. I really think the Bulls are a decent team at best. They have a bunch of solid players, but just no one you can really count on to carry the team game in and game out. Gordon and Deng are good, but they really dropped by ball by not making better use of the Knicks picks and their trades (or lack their of).

Ben hardly sucks. the season is 3 games in. way to early to make that judgement. He is one of the all time great rebounders and defenders. Find me better pics in that draft for those knicks picks. The past two years drafts have been horrible. They addressed needs with thomas. I hate Noah and can't argue there. He is a tyson chandler clone. I was pissed the day pax wasted a top10 pick on another offensivly challenged big man and I'm still pissed today. Our 49th overall pick aron gray looked a million times better than noah in preseason.

Lets face it boston got lucky with the players they ended up with. You got great talent from teams desperate to ditch them and rebuild. Imo boston robbed both seatle and the wolves blind in those deals. And good for you guys. But until they are in the finals I still think they have a hard road ahead of them. the bulls and pistons aren't going to just lay down for the celtics come playoff time.

[zimbloth]

Posey's offensive numbers will be fine. He's going to be playing 25-30 mpg in all likelyhood. I think he has a good shot at winning it.

Eh, the Cavs made it past the Bulls/Pistons with just one good player. The c's have 3. I'm not worried. Not saying the C's will goto the finals, but if healthy i'm not worried. Their defense also is vastly improved.

Azyiu: I watched the game plenty. Sorry I'm not ready to say Haywood > Shaq in general yet. I just think they're comparable now, which is sad enough. I think Shaq will have an okay year. I clearly said its just sad seeing him not his former dominant self like '92-'04.

I'm not judging after 3 games in regards to Ben Wallace, I didn't think he was very good last year either for the most part. He's just not the same guy he was 3-4 years ago.

[GH0STrider]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Posey's offensive numbers will be fine. He's going to be playing 25-30 mpg in all likelyhood. I think he has a good shot at winning it.

Eh, the Cavs made it past the Bulls/Pistons with just one good player. The c's have 3. I'm not worried. Not saying the C's will goto the finals, but if healthy i'm not worried. Their defense also is vastly improved.

I'm not judging after 3 games in regards to Ben Wallace, I didn't think he was very good last year either for the most part. He's just not the same guy he was 3-4 years ago.

Posey has no chance at 6th man. None man.

The cavs did not make it past the bulls. They made it past a detroit team that once again got lazy in the conference finals.

Ben wasn't the detroit ben last year but to say he wasn't very good is a little intense. He played very well once he got used to the chicago system. He was brought in for defense, rebounding, and shot blocking. He did all 3 very well for us. Keep in mind he is 33 now too. Not 26 or 28. There aren't to many guys who don't slow down at that age. Just watch your boys pierce and allen 2 seasons from now. I would throw garnett in there too but I trully think he will be like mj and dominate till he's 40.

I do agree the boston d is greatly improved. The real test is to see them play against the bulls, pistons, or cavs and see how well there d and offense holds up against the best defensive units in the conference. I would argue that the best defensive teams in the nba are the bulls and pistons, seeing how they don't like to play defense out west anyhow.

[Azyiu]

Originally Posted by zimbloth

Azyiu: I watched the game plenty. Sorry I'm not ready to say Haywood > Shaq in general yet. I just think they're comparable now, which is sad enough. I think Shaq will have an okay year. I clearly said its just sad seeing him not his former dominant self like '92-'04.

I know what you mean, but in the first 3 games, Haywood's numbers do look better than Shaq's for sure. Speaking of Shaq, yeah, it is sad, but what goes up must come down. Hakeem, Ewing both went thru what Shaq is going thru right now before they retired. Robinson was lucky to have Duncan on his side, thus making his numbers to look better in general.

Originally Posted by GH0STrider

I would argue that the best defensive teams in the nba are the bulls and pistons, seeing how they don't like to play defense out west anyhow.

What?! You heard of a team called the San Antonio Spurs?

[GH0STrider]

Originally Posted by Azyiu

What?! You heard of a team called the San Antonio Spurs?

True, but that statement was more of a generalization. Besides the celtics have to deal with the pistons and bulls 3 or 4 times during the season. The only see the spurs twice.

[Azyiu]

I know it is WAY early, but there are few teams surprised me a little. The Hornets, Clippers and the Hawks are doing pretty well so far.

When healthy, I KNOW the Hornets ain't bad, and they are showing people what they are capable of with a 4-0 start! Also the Clippers, without Brand and an aging alien-looking creature in Cassell, they also have a 4-0 record thus far. More impressively is the fact that, they won the last two on the road! The Hawks, while 2-2, I think they are doing much better than at any point in the past 2 seasons. Hell, the other night they almost pulled off an upset @ the Pistons, that's pretty amazing. Those kids are actually competiting, good for them.

I know the Bulls are 0-4 as I type, but am I disappointed or surprised? No sir. They will bounce back, they are too good to sink (and I think Mr.Blackcock would agree). The thing I saw in them is the Kobe thing that is kind of bothering them. Hell, I probably can't concentrate either if people keep saying I would be traded and stuff on a daily basis.

The Heat are 0-4 entering tonight... I am happy, dude, don't like the Heat. Then again, it is kind of hard for me to hate them when I really like D-Wade and Shaq... I don't know, I just don't want to see them win... maybe cuz I really don't like Riley. That's all, peace out.

[GH0STrider]

I'm really pushing for the hornets. Byron scott was a great player and is a great coach. Cp3 is awesome, tyson chandler is still my boy, david west might be the most underrated pf in the nba, and peja... Wow! 10 3's in a game. He's looking to revive his career finally. the bulls always start slow. It pisses everyone here in chicago including myself off. But they do always bounce back. Wallace is clearly hurt and needs to sit out a few games till that ankle is better. Their offense is the problem right now, the d is there. They need to get in sync fast.