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Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:06:03 -0700

Bulls Coaching In Disarray

Chicago Bulls Interim Head Coach Jim Boylan has been given his first Head Coaching stint in the NBA, and has led the Bulls to a 16-21 record under tough circumstances. He believes he is "in control," but the team's appearance begs otherwise.

The Chicago Bulls are in turmoil, and not just by what you see in the standings. Players are in open revolt to Boylan's authority, missing practices, arriving late, talking back, acting up. The Bulls look unprofessional, on and off the court.

It is the Coach's job to tighten the reigns when necessary and the Bulls look like they have no one to do the job. There will be Bulls suitors this off-season, and I do not believe that Boylan has been strong enough to warrant becoming the next Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls are a young and easily influenced group. They need an NBA Head Coach with experience, and someone that they know will be at the helm of the Bulls for several years, not just on an interim basis. Larry Brown's name has been bandied about for the Bulls job. Not sure if he is the answer, but Boylan to date is not either.

Chicago Bulls General Manager John Paxson has not given a sign one way or the other if Boylan will be back. I am not convinced that this stretch run, success or failure, will make much difference with concern to Boylan's future, unless the Bulls really catch fire and make a serious run through the NBA East. Don't bet on that happening.

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18652217/

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:58:48 -0700

Bulls--Ben Gordon or Larry Hughes?

The Chicago Bulls will have many decisions to make after the NBA season, a disappointing one even if they make it to the NBA Playoffs. A big one is at shooting guard, where Ben Gordon and Larry Hughes both demand starting money.

The Chicago Bulls offered Ben Gordon $10 million per year earlier in the season to remain a Bull, and Gordon turned them down, as did Luol Deng. Gordon figured a good season would propel his market value above the Bulls offer. Whether that comes to fruition or not remains to be seen, but NBA teams will surely give Gordon a good look.

The Bulls guard will draw some NBA suitors, but the bigger question is, which shooting guard the Bulls will want to keep for their roster? The addition from the Cleveland Cavaliers of Larry Hughes gives the Bulls some room to maneuver. Both have their upside and downside, but for me, I like Hughes' game better than Gordon's.

Larry Hughes, when he wants to, can be a stifling NBA defender, and is taller than the postable Gordon. Although Gordon can be electric offensively, he is often inconsistent, whereas with Hughes, you can pencil him in for 15 points a night, with hopefully a much better defensive effort than Gordon.

Many other questions still need to be answered concerning the Bulls roster, but with Larry Hughes penciled into the 2-spot for the next few years, at least the team is covered on both sides of the court, and the issue of the small backcourt is handled.

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18652170/

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:57:18 -0700

Bulls GM Interviewed

The Chicago Bulls General Manager, John Paxson, believes that changes are on the way. He is unhappy with the Bulls disappointing season, and expects to get the Bulls back to "winning and competing."

Paxson offered no excuses for the Bulls this year, and said he did not see this lackluster performance by the team coming. The Bulls were expected to go deep into the NBA Playoffs this year, and Paxson expected a further maturing of a young team, tweaking the roster, instead of making any wholesale changes.

Paxson said there is no definitive direction for the Chicago Bulls, but that "everyone is on notice, and we will analyze everything that we do. Expectations for this group were high, and we came nowhere close to those expectations." Paxson is not sure if this is the beginning of a rebuilding scene for the Bulls, or if they are closer than it appears.

The Bulls Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, was a move to compete this season, according to Paxson. Paxson stated that the move was also made to keep options open when trade talks are in session this off-season.

Paxson seems disappointed, but is realistic that the Bulls have several needs that must be filled. He claims that Bulls Head Coach Jim Boylan is the one coaching the team, and that he does not interfere with Boylan's game planning or team management. However, Paxson gave no signal that Boylan would be back to coach the Chicago Bulls next year.

"Jim is the Coach, and he has to coach this basketball team, and this is his (Boylan's) job interview," according to Paxson. Paxson also stated that he has to "keep all his options open." As for Tyrus Thomas, Paxson said he is "a supporter of Tyrus Thomas. I tried to explain to him that nothing is going to be handed to you (Thomas), and younger players get frustrated at times. Tyrus is not lost here at all. Tyrus has to make a commitment to the weight room, and play through contact." Paxson feels that Thomas' "future is a bright one," although he did not specify if that future is with the Chicago Bulls.

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18522349/

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:35:44 -0800

Chicago Bulls, NBA: Bulls Trashed By Boston Celtics, 116-93

The Chicago Bulls looked like an also ran, run out of the Celtics building, 116-93. The Chicago Bulls trailed by 20 at the half, and looked every bit the NBA lottery team, while the Boston Celtics improved to 48-12, leaders of the NBA Eastern Division.

The Bulls were led by backup Guard Ben Gordon, who poured in 20 points, while new acquisition Larry Hughes added 16. Ben Gordon had 4 assists as well. Joakim Noah, now the starting Center since the trade of Ben Wallace, played relatively well versus the Celtics' big-men, scoring 10 points to go with 7 rebounds.

The Chicago Bulls lost an opportunity to keep up with the New Jersey Nets, who currently are the 8th seed in the NBA East. The Bulls are at 25-37, and play versus the Detroit Pistons, another difficult contest, Sunday night.

The Bulls, even if a run is to be made for the 8th seed, would face these same Boston Celtics in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. Not a pleasant thought considering the carnage of this game. Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 8 boards, and should go over 20,000 career points in his next outing.

The 4th Quarter was garbage time for both the Bulls and the Celtics, and old friend PJ Brown was actually inserted, as well as new Celtic Sam Cassell, looking for another ring this year.

New Chicago Bulls big-man Drew Gooden did not come to play, going for only 3 points and 4 rebounds in the loss. He is the only real low-court presence for the Bulls, and will be needed desperately down the stretch if any kind of NBA Playoffs push is to be realized.

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18522318/

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:35:15 -0800

BULLS CRUSHED BY CELTICS, 116-93

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18485220/

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:03:39 -0800

Giants--Coughlin Worth $20 million?

NFL New York Giants - Is Coughlin Worth $20 Million

The New York Giants, off their Super Bowl triumph, knew that some key personnel would have to get paid. One such member, Head Coach of the Champion New York Giants, Tom Coughlin, is ready to roll with a brand new deal, to the tune of $20 mil.

The New York Giants, with about a month left in the season, were probably not sure if they were even going to keep Tom Coughlin, much less grant him a Super Bowl-sized contract. Details are said to be a four-year deal, in the range of $20 million. Coughlin would be 65 years old at the end of the deal, as he is wrapping up a 4 year, $12 million contract, which ended in the New York Giants' Super Bowl win. Timing is everything.

Tom Coughlin has paid his dues, and is now in his second stint with the New York Giants. During his Head Coaching tenure these four years with the Giants, his record has been uneven at times, not just in the standings but with players as well. Dissention on the team in past years, questions about Coughlin being able to communicate, and that maybe today's players were just not buying his hard-edged style.

Eli Manning seems to have no issue with Coughlin, coming of age at just the right time for Coughlin and Coughlin's bank account. Worth it? In today's market, probably so. Coughlin proved that he could outcoach the game's best, when it mattered most. Congrats to Coach Coughlin, who when no one said they could do it, made a playoff run for the ages.

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18477887/

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:54:24 -0800

CHICAGO BULLS--MANY PROBLEMS, NO SOLUTIONS

The Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are marred as a gang of enigmas these days. The Chicago Bulls head the class courtesy of questions that have remained unanswered for several seasons now, finally coming home to roost. The Bulls are a collection of useful parts that had been billed as able to win the Daytona 500 as presently built.

Not so fast (pun intended). The Chicago Bulls have drafted slyly on paper. Utilizing a formula of plucking good character players from big-time Universities, who have a degree to pin on their wall and have been coached up right seems like a solid plan of attack.

That's just it. Solid is not great. Solid is not elite. Solid is not championship material. General Manager John Paxson looks the part as a savvy Executive plotting the course of his organization. However, something is sorely lacking even before this abyss of a season.

The players drafted are of quality, some at times very good. Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon, Chris Duhon, etc all in their own way have shown themselves to be good players with some NBA staying power. However, each player brings with them glaring weaknesses that has produced a squad that peaked well below the championship curve.

Under glass you can see the marks that the Chicago Bulls would have you believe are not relevant long-term. These cracks enable opposing coaching staffs to have relatively easy times game-planning for them, as their lack of dimensionality forces the Chicago Bulls to rely on high risk strategies each and every night in order to be victorious.

The lack of an inside-outside game for one is helping prohibit the Chicago Bulls from taking that "next step". That leap into elite territory, Conference-Finals plus territory, is the most difficult and in reality the only one that counts.

Several potential landmines litter the path in and around the United Center. Mines that must be cleared before this organization can bring true dreams of reaching heights it has seen in recent history. Further unnerving is how many landmines there are. Worse, these mines have been in the fields for years without anyone minding their whereabouts. Finally this season they are blowing up all over downtown Chicago.

In no particular order here is a list of these mines and what has laid them:

1. Undersized starting backcourt

Opposing teams froth at the idea of putting on the hard hat against Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich. Hinrich is scrappy on D, but not having a big guard to get up into the grill of larger shooting guards around the league is a huge liability for the Bulls defensively. It also fails to allow for help on the boards, where the Bulls can use all the help they can muster. In addition, best of luck when opposing guards start posting and toasting you up, while the Bulls can only dream of answering in kind.

2. Who's "The Man"?

Another missing piece of the puzzle is a lack of a go-to guy during crunch-time in games. Heck, even during earlier parts of the contest when you need to have a leader slow the rock of the boat when choppy waters are inevitably below. That "Man" was supposed to be Ben Wallace, but of all people he was anything but immersed in what the team is trying to achieve.

This ironically on a team that is seemingly bristling with good-character guys with oodles of leadership potential. Going into this season, Luol Deng was also supposed to be another floor general, but alas he lacks the heart of an assassin, which can be said of the entire top-line portion of the roster.

Ben Gordon, electric at times, inevitably disappears during long stretches of games. Hinrich is extremely inconsistent and overrated with concern to his shooting touch. Tyrus Thomas has shown flashes of brilliance but is nowhere near ready to be the complete, consistent, prime-time scoring threat necessary to compete.

3. No low-post scoring.

This is the 800 pound gorilla on the team roster for several seasons now. He has been so effective that apparently Paxxson has offered him a contract extension. There is only one Tim Duncan in the league. However, there needs to be at least a hint of a scoring threat down low, where someone can put the ball on the floor in a post-up situation to keep opposing defenses honest.

When PJ Brown was your biggest low post weapon a year ago you know you have real issues. Ben Wallace was paid a king's ransom but with Wallace you know what you were supposedly getting, and that did not include a relevant offensive game from you Center position for 4 years.

All the more reason for the acquision of a forward that can bully down an opposing player, and even more importantly kick the ball out to what would be a certainly more open guard tandem from the outside.

4. Living and more often dying with jump sh

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18477868/

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:53:47 -0800

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18477275/

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:28:13 -0800

ROGER CLEMENS PROBE DEEPENS

The MLB saga over steroids is set to begin another chapter, with Roger Clemens again the lead character. Roger Clemens, it is reported, is being probed for a connection that he allegedly had with a company in Houston under investigation for selling performance-enhancing drugs.

The steroid story is not going away any time soon. Roger Clemens is getting in deeper and deeper water here, and who knows how the entire Roger Clemens/Steroids/HGH controversy will end. The bottom line is that Roger Clemens' worst nightmare has come true. His legacy will be one of steroids, and HGH, and performance-enhancing drugs. Whether he has actually used them or not, notwithstanding.

The biggest benefactor in the Roger Clemens case, at least for now, could be Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds is, for once, out of the limelight glare of steroids for the first time in years, but Bonds is not forgotten by the authorities, that is to be sure. Being public enemy #2 is no bargain.

Steroids and HGH are considered the biggest danger at this point to the integrity of MLB, with its star players such as Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds in the center of the storm. HGH is such a big problem in part because it is not testable. Donald Fehr, the Players' Union Chief, went so far as to ask Congress for measures to create a way to test for HGH. I agree that anything less will not have the sufficient bite to stop HGH usage.

http://fastbreakblog.stumbleupon.com/review/18460490/

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:25:48 -0800

Wang Fails, Yankees Staff Rocky

The New York Yankees did not envision this start to the MLB season, even if it is Spring Training. The New York Yankees' pitching staff, which will have to compete all year against the Boston Red Sox among others, are not enjoying the warm weather.

Chien-Ming Wang was the latest casualty to fall from the New York Yankees' staff, getting rocked and not making it out of the first inning in his latest start. Wang is an interesting MLB pitcher. He has won 19 games for the Yankees each of the past two years, but when you think of the best pitchers in MLB, he comes nowhere near top-of-mind.

Wang is in luck to be part of the fabled New York Yankees, and has been the recipient of a high-powered offense. Those 38 wins were needed by the Yankees to compete, no doubt. But still that many wins for a pitcher that does not strike fear into the opposition, and cannot be counted on during big spots in the playoffs, well, something there is still lacking, stats notwithstanding.

Wang's lackluster performance comes off the heels of Joba Chamberlain suffering in his latest outing of the Spring. Of course it is early on, but it is never too early for pressure to be applied in Yankees-land by the latest generation of bosses, Hank Steinbrenner.