Paxson is on target
Topic: Bulls
Paxson conceded his team is made up of role players and expressed disappointment that some have an agenda that steers them away from the game plan.

"I don't think the agendas are out of selfishness or anything like that," he said.

"I think most of these guys really want to win, but they're trying to do too much on their own thinking they can do it, and we don't have those types of players.

"I think they're out there trying to do too much instead of relying on the team concept and the things that have gotten them through."

Exactly what I think.

Skiles is on the money
Topic: Bulls
They lost again last night and their effort sucked. I was reminded why no one likes the NBA anymore, it's just a bunch of guys arguing with the refs and trying to look good for the crowd.

But the Bulls weren't that way last season, I got hooked after the opening game and now I can barely watch them.

What is it?

Here is Skiles:

"I wish I could articulate it better. There are definitely things that are different in our key players since I've known them. It's clear we are struggling. During one stretch [the Bobcats] got four shots at the basket. They outhustled us around the basket. That's our formula. We have a healthy list of things we need to do."

I think it's the fact that those young players are focusing on their own struggles (Gordon, Chandler) and it's because of that that they aren't looking at the big, team picture. You can't play aggressive defense when the only thing going through your head is "Why aren't I starting? Why aren't my shots going in? Do I have to prove something after signing such a big contract?"

All these individual concerns are overshadowing the team. This isn't THE problem, but I'm sure it has to do with it.

I also liked this bit:

If Eddie Basden were a Knick, he probably would have started here Wednesday, where he went to college. Knicks coach Larry Brown has a tradition of starting players when they play in their hometowns or college towns. But Basden was inactive for the game. So did coach Scott Skiles give that any thought? "I gave it some thought until he missed the first bus (to the arena for extra practice for reserves)," Skiles said.

My man.

What's happening?
Topic: Bulls
A great article by Sam Smith in the Tribune about why the Bulls aren't playing defense like they were last year.

It's true, there's something that can't be quantified that the Bulls are missing. Scrappiness, hustle, whatever you want to call it - but it's gone right now and watching them can be outright painful.

One thing that I found kind of humorous:

This is not a particularly difficult Cavs team to figure out. They play defense occasionally and then run to the corners to watch James dribble around and dunk on someone or pass out to the corners.

Lost again, but good signs
Topic: Bulls
They lost again last night, I caught the end of it. They played well, lost in OT to the defending champ Spurs.

They played hard and beat a much bigger team.

Revelation of the night: Sweetney is going to be real good once he gets going.

We already knew Deng was going to rock.

Too bad we don't have Davis back, he would be clutch.

Da Bulls
Topic: Bulls
Well, the BUlls opened up their season last night and were down 25 points to the Hornets in the 3rd quarter. I don't have cable so I was listening online. I was thinking, "Ugh."

But guess what folks, for the second year in a row, the opening game of the season was awesome (although they won this one) and they pulled out the victory.

Duhon had a triple double and Hinrich was lost with an ankle injury.

Curry and High School draftees
Topic: Bulls
So Eddy Curry has been traded to the Knicks after all the business about DNA testing, heart problems, etc. While reading about it, I came across these pearls of wisdom from Isiah Thomas, the Knicks GM who acquired Curry, he's referring to the risk involved in this trade and how good Curry will be:

''It's simply because I think he's one of the most talented big men in our league,'' Thomas said. ''Guys like him only come along every 15 or 20 years.''

Thomas compared Curry to other preps-to-pros players he has tutored.

''I'm from Chicago and I have followed Eddy's career since [Thornwood High School] and the summer leagues,'' Thomas said. ''In Toronto, I drafted Tracy McGrady out of high school, and in Indianapolis, my first trade was for Jermaine O'Neal, whom Portland had drafted out of high school four years earlier. From my experiences, I find that the first four NBA years of guys straight out of high school are very difficult years. They're still growing, they're still maturing mentally and physically and there are a lot of things they have trouble adjusting to when thrusted into the NBA.

''For big people like Eddy, one big problem they have is diet and controlling weight. That takes four or five years for them to figure out. In the process, they make a lot of mistakes and do a lot of silly things that get on your nerves and irritate you. But when they get to be 23 or 24, they start acting like men. I believe that I am getting Eddy at that right time, just as I got Jermaine at a very good time. In three years under me, Jermaine became a 20-point, 10-rebound All-Star. I'm not saying Eddy will become as great as Jermaine or Tracy or Kevin [Garnett]. I'm just saying that now, as he continues maturing under coach Larry Brown, he has a chance to be great.''


Let me just run that back again:

From my experiences, I find that the first four NBA years of guys straight out of high school are very difficult years. They're still growing, they're still maturing mentally and physically and there are a lot of things they have trouble adjusting to when thrusted into the NBA.

Ummm then why don't you just draft them 3-4 years later you fucking idiots? It's such bad business because now he's paying a guy (who might have a heart problem and just die one day) over 10 million dollars a year for being huge, that's it. Same with Chandler - they've both shows some promise, but 10 million dollars' worth of promise? I don't think so. You look at the numbers these players put up and then look at their salaries and it just doesn't match up.

Granted, you can look at baseball and the screwy logic that will give guys like Corey Patterson a raise after an absolutely horrible year because of arbitration

BUT

You will NOT see a guy sign a new contract worth 10 million bucks after having an "average" year (although Richie Sexson did, but he had already had some success).

It just makes no sense to me. The NBA is the most out-of-wack of the pro sports in terms of salaries.