So the city is in a tizzy. The NBA has switched its Jeremy
Lin addiction and toggled to a new focus with two of the game’s most explosive
players at their respective positions playing together in a league that has decidedly
become more perimeter oriented due to the dearth of big men.
It’s the kind of basketball we haven’t seen much of in the
past 15 years and won’t for a while: a point guard and a center running high
screen and roll, inside-outside action that would drive teams mad.
The Bulls are without Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and
the Charlotte Bobcats pick. They now feature a lineup of Howard, Carlos Boozer,
Ronnie Brewer, Rip Hamilton and Rose. Hedu Turkoglu would come off the bench
because he can actually hit a few shots and is a pretty awful defensive player.
And does that even get you a championship? Probably not in
the first season, but that isn’t the intent of the trade. Adding Hamilton was
supposed to put the Bulls over the top this year and it doesn’t look like he
has much to add to the cumulus.
When Gar-Pax looked at the makeup of this team in the offseason,
they must have believed they were closer to a championship than the national
consensus.
“If, we just get a few more rebounds and hit a few more
shots...”
“Or, if we can get someone to move off the ball for Derrick.”
And then eventually…
“Shit, this Boozer contract really fucked us!”
And then…
“What the hell happened to Omer? Everyone was calling us
last year about him.”
The Bulls picked up Hamilton because they believed their fierce
defense and incredible point guard could muscle their way through Miami if they
just had someone who can free him up occasionally and knock down shots. Oh, and
remember that Joakim and Carlos were mostly hurt and never developed the kind
of repoire we envisioned?
That’s why in my pretend world of Chicago Bulls basketball,
Howard is wearing red by mid march (what if that meant he was shipped to the
Atlanta Hawks for Al Horford and Josh Smith? I should shut up now). Howard’s immediate defensive impact is seen as
he is being coached to block shots to teammates or tip them to himself. That
would also rally several fast breaks for the game’s fastest player with the
ball. It’s one of the aspects of suspending ego in the process of the Tom Thibodeau baptism.
The Bulls would be masterful at defense, replicating its
amoeba effect from the 2010-11 season but with a failsafe near the rim. Howard is
still the game’s best shot-blocker and redirects shots on nearly every possession
from the paint.
Rose would also occasionally get plays off on both ends of
the court. This is crucial since he is a point, and not a two, which
historically has been the position that is supposed to carry the offense—a la,
Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. Howard can play from the post
effectively, but the game-plan often goes awry when every halfcourt set
revolves around him.
Nevertheless, it would enable Rose to play off the ball more
since Howard has become more adept at passing from the post and hasn’t played
with anyone who can attack the rim or slash like Rose. You can also get a hint
of what the LA Clippers are doing with the troika of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin
and DeAndre Jordan.
And remember, while Boozer is one of the team’s poorest
defenders, Howard would do a splendid job of covering for him. Noah is good at
this as well, but he simply doesn’t have the leaping ability to close on those
who are attacking the rim. Boozer, a sound defensive rebounder, would also
flourish playing alongside another big who will keep opposing defenses honest—unlike
Jo.
Oh, yeah, the Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic on Thursday in
what mostly looked like tired legs. It was another poor effort with some
terrible shooting peppered in (Kyle Korver and Derrick Rose). That happens. I imagine top teams are
beginning to long for April as the season closes. It’s already clear who the top three teams in
the East are. They’re still shuffling the deck in the West and the trade
deadline is nearing.
Dwight Howard is probably going to stay in a Magic uniform,
but anyone who doesn’t want to see him in a
Chicago Bulls uniform, doesn’t have
much of an imagination for the obvious.
Contact Mike Mitchell
at michaelkennethmitchell@gmail.com.
3 comments:
I think what would make this hypothetical Bulls team a real killer is if they had slightly more dynamic Rashard Lewis to replace Hamilton or Brewer in the starting lineup. I think that's the kind of player you need that would make the Howard-Rose team complete. But Howard-Rose needs to happen in any case.
Of course I mean Rashard Lewis circa 2007ish, and even then slightly upgraded to Rashard Lewis 2007 2.0.
I was wondering that: Is there a stretch four that can compliment Rose's game better? Think about how devastating Rose is when he gets the proper court spacing, instead of the pack the lane mentality that the Heat employ.
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