These Are the Chicago Bulls?

What's wrong with the Bulls ? 

They aren't the Chicago Bulls. They can't be. I'm not going to believe it. There were always some things you could love about the Bulls—whether they were the Michael Jordan Bulls, The Artis Gilmore Bulls, or The Bob Love Bulls—one was hustle, two was defense, and three was decent shooting.

Fundamental Basketball. Even Michael Jordan played it. I digress, remembering those teams doesn't help me stomach this one. 

So what's wrong? No low-post game. No defense on the perimeter or inside. No threat that forces the double team. No hustle. No heart. We saw a lot more leave it all on the floor effort from Scot Skiles' team than we have from Vinny Del Negro's. 

There have been some injuries to Hinrich and Gooden and Deng. They haven't really mattered much because of the players. 

Ben Gordon: He has looked like a quality streak shooter off the bench like Seattle once had in Freddie Brown and the Pistons had in Vinnie Johnson- but a 6'2" NBA Guard who won't dish the rock and doesn't penetrate exceptionally well better work on stopping someone.

Ben doesn't. He may be taking a cue from Larry Hughes. Ben wouldn't be on this portion of my list if he played like a point guard. 

Larry Hughes: When Hughes came out of St. Louis University, I immediately saw him as a sleeper. Wiry Frame. Good Height for a 2 guard. Even played some small forward. Hughes was Latrell Sprewell without the attitude. A tough, aggressive player with a chip on his shoulder, Hughes couldn't miss.

Then I remembered thinking the same thing about Spree. Hughes' best days are behind him and shamefully those two seasons of plus 20 scoring made him forget that his best attribute was his hustle and defense. Now Larry just loves him some Larry. He's stealing time from some deserving kids. 

Larry and Ben aren't the teams biggest issues though. Those are the high-flying combo or Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Two guys with all the athletic ability they need to be stars but two guys that also look like they'll need a release or a trade as a wake up call.  

Why are Thomas and Noah such huge disappointments?

Thomas was acquired for LaMarcus Aldridge in the 2006 draft. How would the Bulls look with a consistent 6'11" 240lb PF out there with Drew Gooden? 

Noah, well he wasn't acquired but some old fashioned Bull types were passed on to take the wunderkind from Florida. Guys like Spencer Hawes 7'0" 245 and Al Thornton and Thaddeus Young. Hawes isn't a starter but he's kind of a cross between Miller, Perdue and Boerwinkle.  Guys like that have won in Chicago. Thornton and Young—long bodies who actually get on the court. 

Then there are the injured Hinrich, Deng. I'll give them a pass. 

There's three veterans meeting expectations: Gooden, Nocioni, and Sefolosha. Thabo needs more minutes and he'll get less with Hinrich coming back.  Andreas needs a team where he isn't asked to step in and do the job of a Noah or a Thomas.

Gooden is just Mr. Consistent which is fine if the team didn't need him to be that 20 pt per game guy that Aldridge is busy being in Portland. 

Is anyone exceeding expectations? I'll give you two names for vastly different reasons Derrick Rose and Aaron Gray.

No one would fault rose for holding the rock every time down court, but he's still dishing and playing the point. He must be doing something right the prima donnas Gordon and Hughes don't want to share the ball with him. 

Gray the expectations were so low being effective in the absence of Gooden is enough for him to be an over achiever. 

And one thing these Bulls need are more overachievers. 

This teams biggest problem is that Hughes, Noah and Thomas seem to be the leaders pulling players like Gordon, Sefolosha, Deng and even Nocioni into me first funks that are all too common in today's NBA.  

They need a post presence. They need someone willing to guard a SG. They need help. They need to be rescued from the mistakes they've made in drafting Noah, Thomas, Curry, Williams and even Tyson Chandler—but mostly this team needs fire. 

Is there a Rodman, a Van Lier, a Jerry Sloan, or a Dennis Autrey kicking around the D-league? Is there a veteran on an NBA roster that wants to show this team its a privilege to get paid nba money to play a game.

Ben Wallace didn't work. Maybe no one will. 

Its a shame they have to keep paying this team, some time packing groceries might help them gain some perspective.