Chicago Bulls Take 'Em or Leave 'Em: Tyrus Thomas

As little as three weeks ago you couldn’t find three Bulls fans in the country that had a positive thing to say about Tyrus Thomas, unless of course you count comments about his vast potential as a Beach Volleyball player.

Thomas was looking like a classic first round bust.  The former LSU star seemed like a guy who came out of college too early and whose raw athleticism wasn’t getting it down anymore in the NBA.

He could block shots but not play good man-to-man defense.  He could dunk the ball but not hit a lay up and a jump shot? Forget about it.  When he touched the ball more than four feet from the basket fans cringed, anticipating the coming turnover or bricked jump shot.

But now Thomas is the talk of Bulls land.  Some people have him in the center of the Amare Stoudemire trade talks, other say he is the key to turning the Bulls season around.

Here are the facts about Thomas’s recent play.  He has scored in double figures in his last 8 ball games.  In all but one of those games he has had at least nine rebounds.  He has had a block and at least two free throw attempts as well.  Even his jump shot has started to fall, a little bit.

Put simply, Tyrus Thomas is making a huge impact on the game each and every night out.  He is developing right in front of our eyes, not into a middle of the road player, but into a star.  Amare Stoudemire has one double double in his last six games.  Tyrus Thomas has five.

And is this so hard to believe?  Isn’t it just halfway through Thomas’s third season?  Isn’t this the first season in which he has gotten an extended opportunity to start? 

Plenty of Bulls fans and Chicago media people still say it’s just a fluke.  They are urging John Paxson to deal Thomas for Stoudemire because he is an All-Star and he sells shoes and is on commercials.

Now looks like the pivotal moment for Tyrus Thomas’s career as a Bull.  If they keep him and his productivity falters he could be sat on the bench forever, or traded away for parts.  If they trade him and he busts everyone will pat Pax on the back for the shrewd move.  If he leaves and produces he’s the next Elton Brand.

But if he stays, and he keeps getting double-doubles every night than the Bulls have their answer for a inside scoring presence and Derrick Rose and Tyrus Thomas might be the next Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire.

Tyrus Thomas Bulls fans, take ‘em or leave em?     

check out more "Take 'Em or Leave 'Ems" at:

http://mynba.mysportspen.com/bulls/