Bull’s Woes Surprising?

I’m finding it hard to believe that anybody is finding the Bulls start surprising. What people should be surprised is that it took this many years for the flaw in the Bulls system to show itself so completely. Their defense, to date, is always one of the stingiest in the league. Though some would consider it cheap shots, they’ve established themselves as a defensive team, same as the Pistons, and do get a bit of leeway as far as calls are concerned, but I’ve yet to see anything overt. They’re small quick and play beautiful team defense, and this has never been their problem, and if they make the right moves it never will be.

The Bulls problem has been, and always will be, their offense. It’s anemia is only just now being displayed but the numbers have been there for quite some time. Look at how this team is built. The Baby Bulls, to a T, are all jump shooters. Deng is a brilliant player, and he’ll be a great one someday, but he cannot create. Ben Gordon and Kirk Henrich both are quick ball handlers and can get open shots sometimes, but are terrible on the inside and their passing skills are sub par at best. Your point guard should not average a paltry 5.5 assists a game.

Their inside game and post presence is even worse. Deng seems to have regressed this year and is pulling up far too quickly, settling for jumpers and turnarounds. He could easily back down or dribble his way to the interior of the defense, but seems to have chose this year to stay on the fringes. We all know that relying on Wallace for interior offense is a moot venture. So what do the Bulls have to go inside and allow their jump shooting guards some room to take shots? You’re really going to rely on Smith, Noah, and Thomas to get your post presence established?

This is the reason the Bulls would never ever, with this lineup, compete for a title. They swept the Heat last season (and gave them trouble the year before) because Miami is an admittedly slow team on defense, though great at defending the basket. Teams like the Bulls and the Suns expose this weakness by making the myriad of jump shots they take. The Bulls, though, don’t have an Amare Stoudemire, so they rely exclusively on their jump shooting, and they have no Nash, so they rely on self creating shots and passing around the horn. Past the Heat though, any mediocre defense would supplant the Bulls and their feisty defense, scoring just enough to push them aside.

Usually in the regular season the Bulls are able to post a decent record because of pure luck. The numbers were on their side shooting from the outside that much that they’re bound to make a few, win some games and lose others. They’re able to win more because of their defense. Come play off time, their flaws are exposed. Playing 7 games in about a 1 and a half to 2 week period against one opponent, a playoff team will sweep them aside fairly quickly, the numbers finally catching up with them.

The only solution would have been the block buster trade that they were rumored to be in the works with, and the one they should have pulled the trigger on. You schlump off Luol Deng and a few others to pick up Kobe and they’re an instant play off contender. He’s one of the best one on one defenders in the league and would fit in nicely with Scott’s style of play. His style of offense would also instantly raise the Baby Bulls to stardom. Scoring 25+ a night and the ability to create and make everyone around him better? Just set up everyone on the outside, have him drive and dish or shoot and there’s your offense. This team plays far better defense than the Lakers and has just as many offensive role players.

They didn’t pull the trigger though. I suspect the numbers will balance out eventually and the Baby Bulls will be able to limp their way into an Eastern Conference playoff spot, but, unless they face the Heat, don’t expect their stay to be long.

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