Starting Five |
Player
Rating |
C |
Eddy Curry |
6 |
PF |
Antonio Davis |
5 |
SF |
Luol Deng |
5 |
SG |
Jamal Crawford |
6.5 |
PG |
Kirk Hinrich |
6 |
| |
|
28.5 |
* Player Rating on a 1 to 10 Scale. 10
denotes best at position in the NBA with no weaknesses, 5 would be average
player who holds his own etc.
Reserves |
Position
Rating |
C |
Tyson Chandler |
5 |
PF |
Jerome Williams / Paul Shirley |
6 |
SF |
Eddie Robinson / Linton Johnson |
4 |
SG |
Ben Gordon / Chris Jeffries |
5 |
PG |
Jannero Pargo / Chris Duhon |
4 |
| |
|
24 |
* Ratings based on ability of bench to
fill in a position. More than one backup at a position would influence
the rating as would one player's ability to play multiple positions.
Needs:
This team was a huge surprise last year -- or maybe disappointment is
a better word. A perfect case of the sum of the parts being much less
than the whole. Bulls management seems to have targeted E-Rob and to
a lesser extent, Jamal Crawford as the cause of the losing disease.
Both could be gone before the season starts though they're not willing
to give JC away too cheap. A trade with the Knicks for both in exchange
for Kurt Thomas may make sense.
This team has plenty of talent on the roster, it just hasn't done much
yet. The only weakness was small forward with a E-Rob a disappointment
and Pippen a no-show. The starting SF spot is Deng's to lose.
With Hinrich and Deng, perimeter defense improves substantially. Davis
and the Junkyard Dog will do their job, now only Curry and Chandler
need to step up -- haven't we been saying that for the last four years?
But its contract year this time around so expect better effort if nothing
else.
Small Forward
A perimeter defender/shooter to add toughness and experience,
the same job Pippen was brought in for...
Potential Candidates: Bruce Bowen
Prediction: You could expect the kids
to play better and this team to win 35-40 games but a trade would really
help speed things up. Maybe Davis and Crawford for Al Harrington and
Foster/Pollard would help both teams.