Training camp open positive for the Bulls

.Today the Chicago Bulls start their training camp, lot of positive vibes come by the first practice for the Bulls. Lots of good quotes from Sam Smith’s blog.

Per Sam Smith:

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I walked over to talk to Omer Asik…“I am excited,” he said. “I am happy to be here, to be part of it. I hope I am helping the team. It is going to be a short period for me to adapt to the team.”…I had heard around the team that in some informal workouts Noah was having difficulty making moves against Asik’s huge size, and Noah was positive about Asik and said he felt he’d help sooner than many expect.

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Omer Asik will probably be limited from the offensively end but his defense is where he will shine. It may take some time for him to adapt in the NBA, I still do not see him get much playing time or no playing time at all this season or early prior to the season so it may take him time to develop in the NBA. The one thing I am still concern is Joakim Noah still having difficult time making moves against a size, he will probably will struggle that for the rest of his career unless one he gets stronger, work on the moves in the post, or both. He should most likely work on both.

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“I think it’s all there for us to be very good,” said Korver. “Maybe we didn’t get the big names some teams got, Miami got. But the Bulls did a great job of bringing in pieces that fit together. When all is said and done chemistry gets overlooked by a lot of people in the media, the hype, preseason magazines.”

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I do not think chemistry will be a problem for this team, sure the Chicago Bulls have seven new players coming in but they are hard workers and three new players have play together before from another team. So I do not think it will be a problem but I do think it may take some time to adapt to get use to one another so they can gel as a unit, it may take the whole training camp, preseason, and maybe some early of the regular season.

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Luol Deng, seemed in great spirits. He also alluded to the somewhat predictable offense last season and said he was most excited about the plan to throw the ball inside more, which would give him more opportunities to cut and move.

“I can go back to moving without the ball,” said Deng. “It will allow me to use my instincts

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Not to bash Vinny Del Negro but it shows that Luol Deng have been misused the past couple season, If I remember correctly when Tom Thibodeau was first hired and talk about how Luol Deng have been misused over the years. I have not see Luol Deng move without the ball the past couple season or so and cut to the baskets which was one of his biggest strengths. It only happen rarely last season but not much in Vinny Del Negro’s offense. So it will be a big plus to see Luol Deng move without the ball and cut to the baskets instead of just shooting long two.

Lot of quotes even players are excited about the offense that Tom Thibodeau puts in and so the Chicago Bulls fans including myself and possible basketball fans in general as well.

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I thought this was somewhat unfair given Thomas is the team’s oldest player and the implication was he was there when the wheel was discovered.

Thomas did say he planned to play physically and be tough and let people know he was there. He didn’t grunt even once, though.

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I always a big fan of Kurt Thomas, I am a fan of the signing he is old but he can still contribute plays good defense, show veteran leadership, solid rebounder, and bring toughness. I love the last sentence part of the quote which is he stated that he planned to play physically, be tough, and let people know he was there. He is the enforcer his entire and there will be no different, the Chicago Bulls do not have an enforcer since the Antonio Davis days.

A team could always use and need an enforcer type of player, stand up for their teammates when needed, play his role get physical and bring toughness. That is what Kurt Thomas will provide for this team.

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And then there was Taj Gibson, who also was mentioned in trade talk, supposedly for Anthony, and Gibson, typically for his upbeat, I-can’t-believe-I’m-in-the-NBA attitude, was thrilled.

He said it was an honor to be mentioned in trade talk. He lost his starting job to Boozer, but he said he talks to Boozer all the time and is thrilled to be mentored by him.

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As I say time after time, with the signing of Carlos Boozer it could benefit Taj Gibson and hopefully he’ll learn a thing or two with post moves from Carlos Boozer. With the front court depth is going to be nice and hopefully they stay healthy especially Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng.