Bulls to return to glory days. posted by john howard

The face of the Chicago Bulls has drastically changed in recent years.  But, apparently for the better.  Here is a quick run down of who they have under contract and how they stack up in the East.

PG Derrick Rose is as good as they get.  He could emerge as the top point guard in the league this year.

SG Kyle Korver.  A sharpshooter that can spread the floor.

SF Luol Deng.  He can do a little bit of everything well.  A really good third option to have on the floor.

PF Carlos Boozer.  The Bulls may have the best pick and roll pair in the league. 

C Jakim Noah.   Heart, sole, passion, hustle.

Taj Gibson helps form a rotation in the post.  The Bulls have signed JJ Reddick to an offer sheet and Orlando can match it.  They still need help. As of now there are no other guards or bigs on the roster.  But, this is a solid starting 5.  They are a year or two away from acquiring the pieces to challenge to tops.  Orlando, Miami, and Boston should be the top 3.  Atlanta should also be 3rd or 4th.  But, Chicago may over take them.  A second round playoff appearance would be a very successful season.

Boozer signs with Bulls, plans to flirt with LeBron posted by Joe Anello

After being left out in the cold by Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, John Paxson and GM Gar Forman have struck back in the LeBron sweepstakes, signing free agent power forward Carlos Boozer to a 5, year, $80 million contract according to ESPN. 

Damn that's scary. 

For those of you not in the know about Carlos Boozer, go look up his stats. He's a 20-point and 10-rebound a game forward who has dominating low-post moves. He's been playing with Derron Williams in Utah for the past few years, so he knows how to play with a premiere point guard. Tom Thibodeau already has a play in his offensive playbook: just steal Utah's pick-and-roll! Signing him to not quite max money means the Bulls have left themselves room for one max contract...

They may have lost out on a Wade/Bosh/LeBron super-team, but the Bulls are not quite out of the LeBron chase yet. Snagging Boozer means the big men LeBron may have preferred to team are in destinations other than Cleveland. If the King wants to win a title from an Eastern conference squad, his best chances are Miami or Chicago. The Cavaliers are an awful team, despite their solid/great regular season records. When Mo Williams or an aging Antawn Jamison are your second and third options, your team isn't very good.

Reportedly Boozer will extend a hand to James in the time remaining before LeBron's hour-long televised announcement special on ESPN. (Which is kinda silly.) Even if the Bulls don't land LeBron, they're only a piece or two away from being a major player in the east. A spot-up shooter like Ray Allen or Kyle Korver will spread out this offense and add some much needed perimeter play.

Hawks Are New Heroes in Chicago posted by richard Kagan

They don't have too many parades in Chicago for it's sports teams.  Of course when Phil and Michael and Scottie were plying their trade for the Bulls, they used to have rallies in Grant Park.  But winning the Stanley Cup is so new and unique to this loyal sports town, that loves the Bears, the city had to do something.  So Friday late morning, the city stopped and paid tribute to a bunch of young guys who captivated it's collective heart.

49 years is a long time to wait, when Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita were kids, when the Hawks last won the Cup.  So today the city held a parade and rally on Michigan Avenue.  Two million citizens overnight it seems, became hockey mavens.  Cheering the site of Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, and John Madden.   Patrick Kane, who scored the zany OT goal in game 6, has been instantly placed in the pantheon of Chicago greats...and Jonathan Toews is right behind him.

Two million fans in a sea of red is quite a tribute to a hockey team.  A team that was all but written off by sports fans in Chicago as recently as 3 years ago.  Then something strange happened.  They starting winning again and became fan friendly.  The Hawks embraced the greats of past years.  Suddenly Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito became stars again.

The current Blackhawks are the stars now.  And management too.  Winning a title in Chicago can do that.  And, millions turned out to say thanks.

Here Come the 'Hawks posted by richard Kagan

The big news in Chicago sports is not the Bears, or Cubs nor White Sox.  It is not the Bulls either.  No, here we are in May and the Chicago Blackhawks are on the verge of returning to the Stanley Cup Finals.  The last time was in 1992 and the Penguins came away with the Cup. 

Here is hoping the Hawks can do it this year.  They have a 3-0 lead vs. San Jose, who despite being down in the series, has played well.  But the Hawks are moving forward and Chicago is excited to have a team in the Finals of something.

This team is well rounded and has scoring and very good defense. Goalie Niemi has answered the bell in goal, and has been very good in the playoffs.  Just what the Hawks need at this point.  Jonathan Toews is the real deal and has played at times, spectacularly.  Dave Bolland has scored key goals as well as Dustin Byfugliin.  Patrick Kane has put togther a solid series, assisting on goals.  Kane and Toews are the stars of the team and have broken through this season.  No one can dispute their talents.  Duncan Keith is also having a great playoffs on defense. 

The Hawks are for real this season.  Let's see if the Blackhawks can close out this series.

The Truth in Miami posted by Joe Franciosa, Jr.

The Miami Heat had a foul to give, and Paul Pierce still intimidated his defender enough to dribble within the arc and take a shot that was so clutch in this series it gave me the chance to shout, "Miami can't  handle The Truth!".

In reality, Miami would probably have lost if the game had gone to over-time. With Dwayne Wade on the Heat bench after landing awkwardly on Ray Allen's foot after taking an ill-advised 3, it was apparent that the Heat would eventually lose this game. That's despite the Heat's bench outscoring the C's bench 31 to 10. Of course, aside from Kendrick Perkins having a cold night, the other four Celtic's starters looked like they wanted to just get this Heat series over with.

 So now the C's are up 3-0 in the series, and they're actually one game away from not just sweeping the Heat in 4, but sweeping them in 7 if the regular season games are taken into account. That means that this aging team will have a few extra days off before the probable Cavalier's match up in the second round. The Cav's were foolish to let the Bulls win a game. After the grueling 7 game series the C's had against the Bulls last year, we're all too aware of how tenacious that Bulls team can be. They're young, but they don't quit, and I'm willing to bet they take the Cav's to at least game 6 now.

 So Garnett has already rested a game because of his suspension (that ended up being a blessing in disguise, as Garnett really played with his old intensity last night. The fall-away baseline jumper? Vintage Garnett, and its because his legs were fresh.) So, if Wade's injury is more serious than just a muscle cramp, and he is out for game 4, this series is over and done with. That will give the rest of the Celtics time to rest up, and come at the Cav's with the full fury of a Boston team that's sniffing another banner.

NBA Playoffs Eastern conference posted by john howard

It's the All-Star break and time to asses where the season is at.  There are roughly 30 games left and the trading deadline is looming.  Here is a look at the playoffs if they were today.

1 Cleveland vs.  8 Chicago

2 Orlando vs   7 Miami

3 Atlanta vs 6 Charlotte

4 Boston vs 5 Toronto

Chicago looks like they have regressed overall from last year. But lately, they have started getting into the groove. Derrick Rose is unreal and they might win a game but they won't beat Cleveland.

Miami has one of the top 3 players in the game in Dwayne Wade.  This team could look different by playoff time. No matter how the team looks, it would take an incredible performance for even Wade to beat out Orlando.

Charlotte is a great story of over achieving.  They might be able to push Atlanta to a game 6, but that would be the best they could do.

The quietest success has been Toronto.  They are the 5th seed and no one is talking about them.  They have a shot to beat the Celtics if Boston is plagued with injuries.  But this has been a good year so far for the Raptors.

Boston has fallen from favorite to the 4th seed.  They still have the experience and firepower to go all the way. But, to do that everyone is going to have to get healthy and be at peak level which hasn't happened this year. Time is running out on the Celtics.

3 Atlanta has the best team in years.  They could be the underdog favorite after the first round.  A matchup with Orlando in round 2 is going to be fun.  Should they get past the Magic, they will be convinced they can beat anybody. 

Collinson gets his big chance posted by Andy Charles

That collective sigh you heard was the one coming from New Orleans Hornets fans when they learned that All-Star point guard Chris Paul would be missing for maybe as long as two months in the wake of knee surgery.

Paul needs arthroscopic surgery for a cartilage tear in his left knee, an injury suffered in freak fashion seconds from the end of the loss to the Chicago Bulls last week when he collided with a photographer on the baseline as he went to retrieve an errant shot.

Results of a scan showed that Paul had a partial tear of his meniscus, an injury that really cannot be played through and could develop into something serious if left untreated for a long spell of time.

But maybe, just maybe, Paul’s absence will not be felt as badly as some NBA Predictions first thought, based on the performance of his replacement Darren Collinson in the 109-102 overtime win over a decent Memphis outfit on Saturday night.

Collinson played all but a few minutes of regulation and ended the game with 17 points and a superb Paul-esque 18 assists, working well in tandem with fellow rookie Marcus Thornton in the backcourt.

But is playing two rookie guards, with very little depth to come off the bench, what the Hornets need in the middle of a fierce playoff race that sees eight teams covered by only three-and-a-half games (as of Monday).

Sure the Hornets have plenty of experience further up the court in David West, Emeka Okafor and Peja Stojakovic, but another injury among their current starting five would put them in deep trouble with most NBA Bets and there isn’t really much coming off the bench that could be traded for an established veteran to help out.

Goons Gone Wild - Jr. Edition posted by Goon Squad

I really hate to call this kid a Goon. I think punk ass bitch fits him better!

Patrice Cormier, Team Canada's World Junior captain and forward for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies was ejected from a QMJHL game in overtime on Sunday when he came off the bench for a line change, cut through the faceoff circle at center ice, and layed an elbow to the face of Quebec Remparts defenseman Mikael Tam.

The 18-year-old defenseman suffered trauma to the skull and brain and lost many teeth. He is now hospitalized in stable condition and is expected to be released possibly as early Tuesday.

A Remparts spokespesron said a brain scan was taken after the game, and a second scan Monday showed "everything normal."

The Remparts' official team website says fans can send "get well" messages to Tam.

Cormier, a 19-year-old native of New Brunswick, was traded to the Huskies on January 7th. The little bastard who was playing in just his third game with the team, has not yet been heard from publicly.

Remparts head douchetard/coach, Patrick Roy, filed a complaint with the Quebec Provincial Police following the game. They are now handling the incident and have collected several witness statements. (I guess video proof isn't enough these days.)

Could this be Karma coming back at Roy for the shit he's encouraged his own children to do in the past?

Ron Artest is an alcoholic lunatic posted by Colin Linneweber

Psychotic Los Angeles Lakers small forward Ron Artest claimed this week that he boozed a French cognac during games when he played for the Chicago Bulls from 1999-2002.

“I used to drink Hennessy at halftime,” Artest, 30, said in an interview with the Sporting News. “I kept it in my locker. I’d just walk to the liquor store and get it.”

Artest, who was born and raised in the Queensbridge projects in Queens, New York, played college basketball at St. John’s University and he was selected by the Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.

“When I was a 19-year-old father, whew. I was a single pimp! I was wild,” said the unbalanced hoopster who infamously once attended a practice with the Indiana Pacers donning only a bath robe. “A lot of marijuana and alcohol. I still party and have fun, but not like I used to. I used to drink every night and party every night.”

Artest, the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, also revealed to the famed athletic periodical that he doesn’t regret as a Pacer inciting the violent brawl in Detroit that halted a contest against the Pistons.

The vicious melee “wasn’t my fault…I don’t see anything I could have done differently.”

Artest is simply crazier than a shithouse rat.

The ghetto ballplayer from Gotham needlessly mugged Pistons center Ben Wallace in the waning minutes of a Pacers blowout victory in November 2004.

New Era of NBA Bigs? posted by Scott Shepherd

Have you looked at the league leaders yet this season?

There are some familiar faces atop some of the big categories. Kobe leads the league in scoring. Nash leads the league in assists. Rondo leads the league in steals.

You almost expect to see those guys near the top of those categories.

But have you taken a look at the league leaders in rebounds? It’s not exactly a who’s who of NBA big men over the past few years.

Here’s the top ten:

1. Gerald Wallace 13.8

2. Marc Gasol 11.9

T3. Chris Bosh 11.6

T3. Carlos Boozer 11.6

5. Dwight Howard 11.1

6. Joakim Noah 11.0

T7. Brendan Haywood 10.7

T7. Al Horford 10.7

T7. Zach Randolph 10.7

10. Emeka Okafor 10.5

I know it’s still very early in the season, and inevitably some of these names will fall out of the top ten. But as of right now, only three of the top ten rebounders have ever played in an all-star game (Bosh, Boozer, Howard).

Last year, six of the top ten rebounders have been all-stars. The year before that the number was five. Before that, it was eight.

What does it all mean? Probably nothing. Like I said, it’s still early.

But, it could mean that there has been a shift in the way teams are putting together their rosters.

Earlier in the decade, there seemed to be a real focus on finding big guys who could not only rebound, but contribute offensively as well. The logic behind that makes sense; you want a player that can do everything in your lineup.

Bulls, Kurt Thomas agree to 1-year deal (AP)

A person familiar with the negotiations says veteran forward Kurt Thomas has agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. Several outlets reported late Thursday that Thomas was headed to Chicago. The 37-year-old Thomas gives the Bulls a strong defender and rebounder in the frontcourt to go with Joakim... [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Source: Bulls sign veteran F Thomas (AP)

A person familiar with the negotiations says veteran forward Kurt Thomas has agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. Several outlets reported late Thursday that Thomas was headed to Chicago. The 37-year-old Thomas gives the Bulls a strong defender and rebounder in the frontcourt to go with Joakim... [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Bulls acquire G Watson in sign-and-trade (AP)

The Chicago Bulls have finalized a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors for backup guard C.J. Watson. The Warriors will get a 2011 second-round pick in the deal, which was agreed to earlier this week. Watson can play both guard spots, though his primary role with the Bulls would likely be to back up All-Star Derrick Rose at the point. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Bulls finalizing deal for G Watson (AP)

A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the Chicago Bulls are finalizing a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors for guard C.J. Watson. The Warriors would likely receive a 2011 second-round pick. The person spoke Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not official. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports

Bulls, G Brewer agree to 3-year contract (AP)

The agent for Ronnie Brewer confirmed Friday the guard has agreed to a three-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. The deal reunites Brewer with former Utah teammates Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver, who became Bulls earlier this month. Brewer finished last season with Memphis after being dealt from Utah at the trade deadline in February. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports