Matt Mchale of BullsBytheHorns does a recap for last nights game between the Bulls and the Mavericks. Without much surprise, the Bulls look much more like a “Bullock” than an actual “Bull”. Ninety percent of the piece I agree with, except for this quote:

“The Bulls are not good enough without Joakim Noah. Not defensively, not offensively, not in any way. Even with him, they’re merely above average.”

Merely above average? The Bulls deserve a little more credit than their getting. Make no mistake, I’m not calling the Bulls a title contender, but the Bulls had some positive aspects working for them. For one, they actually D up. Something you can’t say for a lot of teams. But a player of Joakim’s caliber has a lot to do with the way they approach the game. The Bulls are at their best when they get out and run, something you can’t do if your taking the ball from out of bounds or if your not rebounding. You can’t have one without the other, and without Joakim the Bulls have been exposed.

The performance of Derrick Rose may serve as cosmetic cover-up, but as the Bulls have now lost their last four it’s starting to look grim for all with hopes in the Windy City.

Jerome James “The Heavy DJ”

This should gas you up. Jerome James, bench warming hall of famer, has earned himself his most prominent NBA role according to Mike McGraw. Jerome James is being paid 6.6 million dollars this season to be the DJ in the locker room, in charge of all things music. But this isn’t Jay-Z or Nas, this is on some weird stuff….

Jerome James:

“I try to create a calm atmosphere”. “Flip (Murray) was with me in Seattle, we had a rule there, No cursing in the lyrics”

Ok, not only are you a waste of 6.6 mill, but your content on turning the remainder of the roster into a bunch of pansies. Thank you Jerome for what has been a productive tenure with the Bulls..

For one, a little less SportsCenter and a little more NBATV or league pass coverage. Anybody watching basketball knows how good Lebron James or Kobe Bryant is. We don’t need the reminder. However, when doing the Fantasy thing, it’s going to take a deeper look into the NBA.

Sounds like work? I hope not, this is the best part.

I say this because you have to look deep and find the players you truly believe in. You must scout like your getting paid.

That’s my quest right now. Noah’s injury crippled my rebounding, while Devin Harris hasn’t given me the points once promised. (I was hoping for more out of Beasley too) I’m a team with question marks looking to battle for post season position. It doesn’t sound like a good thing but you never know what your going to find. Here’s a tip:I was pretty happy after it was all said and done.

Bill Walker

Michael Beasley’s former teammate from Kansas State graduated from the Celtics with a PHD in benchwarming, but the same can’t be said for his tenure in New York. Walker has made the most of his playing time because of the absence of Wilson Chandler, showing an uncanny amount of athleticism for a player who’s already had three knee surgeries in his young career.

It’s a small sample size but the talent is obvious, as displayed by the last two games where Walker has scored 22 and 21 against the Cavaliers. If that doesn’t do anything for you, look at the increase in his minutes since the trade and the corresponding statistical production. From three minutes a game to twenty-five, while the points increase from 1 to 12.0 ppg.

This isn’t surprising for me. It was only a couple years ago that I was saying Walker could possibly replace James Posey in Boston. It’s amazing what opportunity can do for a player. And for me, I go from looking from a fool to potentially getting something out of Walker with no cost but a meaningless drop.

I would advise you to pick up Walker if somebody hasn’t already. He could be one of those players who breaks out this season to average about 14-15 ppg before the year is finished. Yes, Wilson Chandler will be back but the Knicks’ coaching staff has been so impressed with Walker that you can’t let him rot on the bench. Trust me on Walker, he will continue getting the minutes.

Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks highly of Walker. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated referred to him as being “loaded with talent“, concluding the Celtics will “regret trading him”.

Corey Maggette (If Available)

Someone in my fantasy league got the wrong piece of into on Maggette’s injury, made the drop, and now I got his 20.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 2.5 apg. Check your FA list just in case because somebody else might have made the same mistake. In truth, Maggette is slated to return by the 11th. It’s just a tweak of the Hamstring, not a tear. It’s a great move for me seeing as I couldn’t compete with the top guys in my league when it comes to points and rebounds. Once again Noah’s injury hurt me, and adding Maggette who’s stacked should lessen the blow on the backboard.

Give Him A Look

Terrence Williams-T-Will has often been called one of the most disappointing rookies this season, but he’s shown flashes recently, and with the Nets having nothing to play for it’s a good bet you could see Williams with a bigger shift in minutes.

What Potential Production Could I see From Terrence Williams?

Williams is not a natural scorer but this wouldn’t be what your looking for. His court vision and rebounding is what sets him apart from other players with his 6′4 frame. Expect assists, boards, steals with a smattering of blocks here and there. He’s an athletic freak with a amazing first step.  His jump shot will hold his scoring back, but he is capable of hitting the occasional three.

Just because Joakim Noah’s foot is a pain in the ass doesn’t mean we can’t talk free agency. Basketball prospectus has a great read on all teams lining up their ducks for this summer’s free agency. From reading this it reinforces the truth in that Chicago is as desirable as any place else contending for elite free agents. Three Reasons:

Star-Derrick Rose doesn’t lead the league in assists, but he’s a facilitator at heart. Rose is and will be the most attractive piece the Bulls have to offer. Think about Rose and Bosh on the pick & roll…or even Boozer.

Team-Add one elite player and the Bulls become incredibly deep. For instance, say Chris Bosh comes to the Bulls. The Starting lineup would like Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Bosh and Noah. Taj Gibson comes off the bench along with the possibility of Hakim Warrick. It would have been nice if we drafted Omri Casspi instead of JJ, but even bringing a consistent performer like Taj off the bench is not something every team could say.

Market-Everybody makes reference to history when speaking of Madison Square Garden, claiming it’s a huge factor when drawing free agents. I’m not saying MSG is a slouch by any stretch of the imagination. But think about it, the United Center, which has barely been around for even a third of MSG’s tenure, has seen far more “history” because of MJ and his title winning exploits. I hate to turn this into a pissing contest but the score of championships is Chicago-6 and New York-2. You want to talk history?

Everybody says MSG has the heritage, we’re not so bad either..Where’s the statue of Willis Reed?

Doug Thonus wouldn’t sign Joe Johnson long term, but makes the case for Johnson regardless. Johnson is a nice player in that he’s somewhat of a throwback, but I agree with Doug’s assessment of Johnson not being worth the money after 2-3 years. I’ll be fair also by saying Johnson has never been a big leaper (usually those players lose a step quickly, look at Vince Carter), so it’s not like he’ll have to adjust his game drastically as he gets older. But the central point should be the Bulls don’t have the need for him. What’s the point of drafting Derrick Rose then making him adjust to playing off the ball more? Not very rational in my mind. Power Forward, say it again, Power Forward.

Matt Mchale of BullsByTheHorns states his case for Norm Van Lier getting his number retired by the Bulls. Do you see any reason to disagree with Matt? I certainly don’t. Stormin’ Norman may have been under appreciated because he wasn’t an elite scorer. Kudos to Matt on a great piece, defensive legends should get their acclaim also.

The next eight games loom large for Chicago. Seven of the eight teams have a .500 record or better, with the Mavericks being in that span of games twice.

At the same time, the Bulls must make a go of it without two of their three core players. Joakim Noah, probably the most under appreciated center outside of Chicago, is dealing with the possibility of a foot injury that may jeopardize the rest of his season. Will you hear of Noah’s impact on a network like ESPN? Of course not, he’s not a flashy player, but all Bulls’ fans know Joakim’s value in regards to team defense and on the boards. You can criticize me, but Noah is the most important Bull behind Derrick Rose.

Luol Deng has his own injury concerns, albeit nowhere near as serious. The knee is more of day-to-day status, with Luol hoping for a return on Thursday against the Grizzlies.

In an effort to find a silver lining, Derrick Rose’s knee isn’t as bothersome as we worried, and we all know it will take much more to get the Memphis product out of the line-up. That’s good news so let’s grab on to it.

For Perspective:Rose, Noah, Deng and Miller. Those are the Bulls’ players not practicing today.

Upcoming Opponents (Next 8 games)

Memphis

Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Rudy Gay, OJ Mayo. That’s a team I’d look to start a franchise with in NBA live. Now in real life, the Grizzlies aren’t the Grizz we’re accustomed to.  This is a much improved offensive team that can rebound with the best of them. They’ve become a top ten scoring team to go along with guys like Randolph and Gasol who can dominate the glass on both sides.

Dallas

Speaking of rebounding, the Mavs have a guard by the name of Jason Kidd who used to be the leading rebounder on the New Jersey Nets. In Texas, Kidd doesn’t have to do everything, while the Mavericks have traded for size in Brendan Haywood and scoring in Caron Butler. Dallas has made themselves a legitimate contender, so if the Bulls can split the two games i’ll be happy.

Utah

Much like the Spurs, the Jazz usually get it together in the second half of the season. Typically the Jazz wreck people at home and struggle on the road, but Jerry Sloan’s team has improved themselves away from Energy Solutions to the tune of a 14-14 record. Boozer is playing on a natural high for the last couple months which may lead to a tenure with us, but for now, Bulls beware.

Orlando

I’m sure I’m not the only one who remembers the Bulls/Magic contest at the United Center a couple weeks ago, which makes traveling to Orlando a tougher proposition. Jameer Nelson has returned to form in recent games while the Magic are finally seeing legitimate post moves without the dunks from Dwight Howard. That’s scary, and it’s something we’ll have to deal with on the 11th.

Miami

The Heat are nothing special. I know this and you know this. It’s Dwyane Wade followed by mediocrity. Being fair though, Jermaine O’Neal has stayed healthy and put up respectable numbers for a center. Gameplan for a guy like Wade? Shrink the floor and let the others beat you.

Cleveland

Without players like Noah it will be tough to hang around with a talented Cleveland team who can not only dominate with Lebron but on the glass as well, but at least we’ll be at home. After the Cleveland game the schedule becomes a bit more friendly.

“He’s going to be out for a few days at least and miss a few games here for sure,” Del Negro would go on“He needs rest. We’re trying to figure out the best attack for this. He’s going to have some pain playing. Hopefully we can minimize that with treatments.”

“I know he’s feeling a little better (Saturday) with the treatments he has had,” Del Negro said. “Everything went well, as planned. Dr. (Brian) Cole and his staff thought it was best for him to have treatment and see how he reacts.

V.D.N. concluded the interview by stating “I played him probably a few too many minutes”.

Glad to know the Bulls’ medical staff is on top of everything.

Shock therapy has been recommended as it’s the  best method for patients having difficulty shaking off the ailment. Extra corporeal Shock Wave therapy, or ESWT as it’s commonly called, sends sound waves into the foot that break up all the damaged tissue.

If there is something simple to agree on, it’s that Joakim is a major question mark. This leads the Bulls into looking for an extra body up front that’s playoff eligible. Players have to clear waivers by March 1st to be eligible for the playoff roster.

Chris Richard is the most realistic option seeing as if he can be signed anytime and be on the playoff roster(D-League). But Mikki Moore is available and in my opinion is worth a look. Moore isn’t going to rebound like a Richard, but he gives you the ability to knock down the 18 footer. It’s at least worth considering.

Wherever the Bulls choose to go, they must make a roster move by making a cut. This should be like the job-cutting scene in the movie office space, only I demand the Bulls call Jerome James into their office and ask him “what daily operations does his job entail“. It would be hilarious to everybody but the player’s association.

Derrick Rose has nothing but kind words for Vinny Del Negro. But then again, I don’t expect a star player to go on the radio and tell the whole city of Chicago that Del Negro is a complete idiot. Honestly, Del Negro has a far way to go in his X’s and O’s. I can’t complain because of the recent success, but coaching strategy and know-how will rear it’s head at some point. Derrick also tapped into the free agency discussion speaking on the attractive commodity that is Chicago. I agree, and that’s why I think you’ll see Derrick Rose and Chris Bosh next season as a 1-2 punch.

Scottie Pippen has coaching aspirations, and clearly harbors some negative feelings towards the Bulls for not getting an ounce of consideration. He made this evident in an interview with Tim Povtak. Povtak asked if Pip still watches the Bulls, and drew this response, “They just aren’t one of the more exciting teams to watch now. I’m just being truthful. I’ll still watch them, but I’m not glued to them. I’m not making my schedule around watching them play. They are not the type of team I wish they were.” I didn’t know Derrick Rose was chop liver.

Where should I start? Oh wait, in the starting line-up. Irony at it’s finest. I’m getting minutes which will give you a variety of category boosts. Two-way boosts, offensive to defensive.

Steals and Assists are a good reason to look at me. I’ll give you those tough-to-find stats with offense being the added bonus.

Some long FG’s and a dash of three’s will keep you happy, plus my 4.6 assists per game average if your asking.

I’m in the back-court with a tempo guard much like myself only ten times better. But the tempo is the difference. Look at me and click the button, the prius is more reliable.

Right now I’ll give you around 32 minutes a game with a presence to stay healthy. Underrated quality.

I’m consistent. You know what your going to get. Keep that in mind when building your fantasy team.

I’m Kirk Hinrich. Your next Fantasy Add.

On a separate note, I just added Kirk Hinrich.

‘The Blog Jordan Built FAQ‘ will be a recurring piece that answers the most important questions on Madison Ave.

Q:Will Joakim Noah’s foot recover to the point where he’ll anchor his usual spot in the starting line-up?

A:This remains the most important question because of the sporadic minutes Noah is receiving. I’ve heard Noah say he “feels no pain”, but this clearly isn’t true just by watching him and looking at his minutes since returning. If the Bulls are going to give him ‘James Johnson Minutes’, then why not sit him down again? The schedule leans slightly toward the novice side for the rest of the season, and the team has been going well as of late so you could afford to take the chance. The Bulls clearly disagree, as development coach Dave Severns was working with Noah on his not-so-technically-sound-jumper and back-to-basket game.

Q:Should Bulls’ fans be worrisome of the current front court rotation?

A:A little bit and I don’t blame anybody for that. Let’s take a look at the options through the scope of reality. The Bulls just cut Chris Richard because of a need to take a look at Acie Law and Joe Alexander. Personally, your leaning on a player with age in Brad Miller, and another with his own foot issues in Taj Gibson. The Warrick acquisition helps but your still behind the 8-ball if you lose one of those players. In other words:The Bulls are one injury away from a Chris Richard petition.

Q:How Does Vinny’s future look with the team?

A:If your still looking for V.D.N to get the can, you probably haven’t been happy in the past month. The better the Bulls play the better it looks for Vinny. That’s not to say this guy doesn’t make his mistakes, but it’s easier to forget them when the team is finally playing to it’s strength. That being said, free agency is looming and the right coach could make Chicago a more attractive destination. Insert Avery Johnson’s name or hey, Jeff Van Gundy.

Q:Will Joe Alexander find a home with the Bulls?

A:I can’t hide my intrigue for Joe Alexander based off of his athleticism. It wasn’t long ago when he was the 8th pick of the 2008 draft, and I understand we got him as a throw-in for a reason, but it’s not uncommon to find a diamond in the rough. For Alexander it’s more relaxation and a killer instinct that’s needed. Like most young players he plays “scared” for lack of a better term. But if the glass ends up being half full, he’ll make a home for himself by providing energy (occasional blocks, 42 inch vertical leap) and an ability to get to the free throw line with his quickness.

Q:Flip Murray or Devin Brown?

A:Probably the easiest question of the day with the award going to Flip Murray. Brown is a nice player but the Bulls get enough defense out of Kirk Hinrich. There will be nights where the Bulls’ transition attack is slowed and they are forced to play out of half court sets, making Flip Murray’s ability to create his own shot even more important for the Bulls bench.

Q:Anything new on Omer Asik?

A:No, but i’ll tell you what’s getting old…his injuries. ACL, collarbone, you name it, he’s got it. We packaged three second round picks for a “ridiculous shot blocker” yet we are a notorious shot blocking team. The Bulls need to think outside the box a little bit next time.

Stay tuned for more from The Blog That Jordan Built

Luke Byrnes, also of Hoopsworld, writes of “Who’s hot and Who’s Not“. His Eastern Conference team that’s hot? The Chicago Bulls. After smacking lottery teams in the face this week to the tune of a 4-0 record, it’s hard to believe this team lost at home to the 5-51 New Jersey Nets.

Looking for another Bulls’ puff piece? Trust me, I feel you. Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune does the honors by talking about the new additions, plus the evolution of ’swagger’ in the United Center.

Good times, ahhh, Good times