Chicago Bulls To Ride That 'D' In 2009

Part of the reason the Chicago Bulls brought in Vinny Del Negro to coach this team was to instill the kind of offensive firepower he oversaw during his time as a front office member of the Phoenix Suns.

So, why all the talk about defense?

It could be because the team sincerely wants to get back to its championship roots. 

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen carried much of the offensive load during the golden era of Bulls basketball, but it was their defense that was overlooked because of it.  Jordan is known as the greatest player ever because he could defend like a damn doberman after soaring to the hoop.  Like His Airness, Pippen's could guard four different positions on the court if you asked him to.  His build and athletic ability, not to mention his instincts carried him to anchoring the Bulls' defense.

Or it could be because the team sorely lacks the offensive weapons to outscore teams.

When the Bulls have their scoring droughts, losing Ben Gordon's offensive output will likely be the main reason.  Sure, Luol Deng returns ... but the Bulls need to find out which one will show up to the court.  And fast.  Will it be the player that averaged 18.8 points per game in 2006 or the oft-injured star who had to see more doctors than pregnant Maury Show guest in 2008?

John Salmons averaged 18.3 points per game after joining the Bulls at the trade deadline, but did most of his damage when Deng was out of the line-up.  Salmons will be a small forward lining up at the shooting guard position, which will be good on the defensive side of the ball.  However, it has yet to be seen how a pair of wing forwards will play on the offensive side of the ball when they're on the court at the same time.

Kirk Hinirch is the team's sixth man ... and a damn good (but expensive) one at that.

Here's hoping Joakim Noah spent as much time refining his offensive game as he did refining his game spitting.  I expect nothing more offensively from Tyrus Thomas than a few tip-dunks, fast-break slams and an 18-footer once in every 10 attempts.

Then there's Derrick Rose.  No Bulls player will be met with higher expectations than the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.  If he takes the kind of leaps Deron Williams and Chris Paul took after their respective rookie seasons, then the Bulls will be fine.  If he doesn't, then the Bulls might be sending extra scouts to see Ed Davis, Derrick Favors or Cole Aldrich.

Don't get it twisted, Bulls fans.  The 2009-10 Bulls will go only as far as Derrick Rose will take them.

Bulls front court full just that, bull...

All Bulls fans want for Christmas is a post-player with offensive skills.

The play of rookie point guard Derrick Rose has erased my issues with him being selected over forward Michael Beasley with the No. 1 overall pick. However, the play of Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas has not.

Thomas and Noah have struggled so much this season, the Bulls have gone with a college-esque starting lineup that features three guards. And while Chicago currently stands one game under .500 (10-11) and would be the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed if the playoffs started today (they don't, not even close) it is no thanks to the powerless towers.

It might be too soon to call it, but I'm willing to stand up and call it the way I see it. Noah and Thomas are flat out busts.

Why? Well let head coach Vinny Del Negro explain:

"They're young and have to find their way. When you're on the court, you have to value those minutes. The guys who are focused, know their role, commit to it and come with effort every day will play. I can handle mistakes. But I can't handle lack of effort. And I can't handle lack of commitment to the team. Those guys know that. They're working better. That's always a work in progress with a young team."

Vinny is sounding a little like a man I cover on a daily basis, SIU men's basketball coach Chris Lowery, who constantly stresses the value of the ball and playing time to his young players.

In Thomas and Noah's defense, it's kind of hard to value the ball when you can't get your hands on it. And that's not an indictment on D-Rose, but it is an indictment on the hands of stone possessed by two of the Bulls' recent top draft picks.

For me, Thomas' issues are effort-based. He's an athletic son-of-a-gun who has a penchant for highlight reel dunks and shot blocks. But it's obvious when you see him in the game that he only makes an effort when he feels he is going to make SportsCenter's Top 10.

There is no reason for an athletic beast to be averaging 6.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, especially when he was traded for a guy who averages 16.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

As for Noah, he's just short on talent. Plain and simple.

I can see him being a half-decent big man who provides energy, defense and rebounding coming off the bench. And that's fine and dandy, but that's not the kind of player you choose with the No. 9 overall pick.

Joakim the Joke is actually doing worse than T-Squared when it comes to production. Noah is averaging 3.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. But he has these flashes, like against the New York Knicks where he swats four shots and grabs five rebounds in less than 20 minutes.

But until Noah and TT can extrapolate those numbers over an extended period of time, they are worth as much as the Confederate dollar.

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro takes Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah to task [Chicago Tribune]

Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune