It'll be very interesting to see what the Bulls develop into. They still have elite defensive potentially, removed that hack Boozer from the team, and added Doug McDermott to the team who should be, at the very least, a decent scorer in the NBA.
I don't THINK they are better than the Cavaliers, and if/when we get Kevin Love I think it's a complete mismatch, but they'll give us a fight.
The Pacers, for as huge as losing Paul George was, were not going anywhere after Stephenson left. That guy was their best ball handler and defacto point guard. Without him, Gary Neal was going to have to be the primary ball handler...yikes. Now? Pacers may be looking at a top 5 pick, IMO. They could be a threat again as soon as 2015, though.
Great Point. Pacers should liquidate Hibbert, right now.
A Pau-Noah front court is scary. It is huge in size, yet compliments each other perfectly. Having the offense of Pau mixed with the defense of Noah. With Taj and Mirotic off the bench? Another offense and defense tandem, which creates the perfect mixture between any combo of these players. Better believe this team will be scary.
They have much needed shooting with Jimmy Butler, McDermott, Dunleavy, and Mirotic. This a pretty complete team. And dangerous team. Of course, their contention hinges on the health of Rose, but if he looks half as good as he did yesterday, this team is going to be a problem.
I don't think people fully comprehend Kevin Love as being a
must check, tightly guy guy from 3. That is going to have the PF out of position, in no man's land, and because of that 1/2 step extra he's got to take, someone is wide open for a rhythm jumper.
I just trust David Blatt, I really sense something different about this guy. He's genuine, likeable, and builds deep bonds with his players. Managers who build deep bonds, and take the time to understand each person, and what motivates them.... Ultimately will have workers who will be loyal and fight for them. Having ol' yeller like Stan Van Gundy or Mike Brown; it's a joke, it's laughable. "master of panic" is on point -shaq.
Russell Westbrook looked pretty good last season coming back from his meniscus tear. I just hope DRose doesn't have the post surgery cleanups Russell had to get. Normally they say you need 2 years to fully recover (mentally and physically) from an ACL. Has been 2+. In the first 10 games last season he looked like he still had his speed and explosiveness. He was just rusty as fuck. Lets say I am more optimistic about the prospects given all the evidence I have.
Put LeBron James on Derrick Rose, make Jimmy Butler have to guard Dion Waiters or Kyrie. LeBron's penetration, he can own Noah. LeBron can psychologically have Noah scrambling, especially when he's got Kevin Love setting picks, flaring out for a steady stream of rhythm jumpers.
And you have every right to be optimistic. I would be too. The Bulls have a very, very good team. I just don't see them finishing ahead of the Cavs if the Cavs end up with Kevin Love. Thibs is a very good defensive minded coach an should be able to keep them among the elite defensive teams again this year. But, even with how good they have been defensively, Cleveland would have far too much offensive firepower around LeBron for Chicagoto stop. I also have no doubt that Cleveland's team defense improves dramatically as LeBron will demand more out of Kyrie and Kevin Love than any of their previous teammates have been able to. Chicago will no doubt be better than Cleveland defensively, but I like Cleveland's offensive firepower much more than I like Chicago's.
The pressure of LeBron James, the ultimate professional.... That's exactly what Kyrie Irving needed. We needed someone higher in the food chain than him, someone who's won a championship. LeBron would be the first guy to tell you how hard winning a championship actually is. There's a huge degree of selflessness that needs to occur, and it's a maturation process with these 22 year old kids who became millionaires overnight.
I am a huge Cavs fan but I actually worry more about the Bulls if we get KLove than with no trade. My biggest concern is Chicago has a ton of depth, if the Cavs lose Wiggins and Bennett that is two huge pieces, even if they both were coming off the bench. I think Bulls will beat Cavs in a 6-7 game series this year but it's going to be close. Any team with LBJ on it is going to have a shot to win it all.
They're still rookies. In a finals series, you can't reasonably expect these guys to show up. They're like a bunch of shy timid guys, give them a bullet pass and their hands turn to play doh.
How are we losing depth? We would be trading a guy who has played zero games for us and a widely considered bust for an All-NBA PF.
We're getting a guy who puts up stat lines like 49 pts, 19 rebounds, 6-7 assists. Charles Barkley on the fan, laughed, he's like "if the Cavs get Kevin Love... Best PF in the game, Cleveland would be a lock to go to the finals."
I trust these guys, they have their hoops PHD, they have a higher level of sensitivity of what would work on the court, and what wouldn't. If these guys tone says "sure-thing, do it without question, acquire the best PF in the game.
For Cleveland to have 3/10 players in the league potentially, younger and a better fit for James' talents....
Seriously guys think about Detroit game 5. We could of used a guy (or 2!) who can go off for 49/19/6 in a single outing.
Just fucking do it. Don't overthink this. Sure, there's qualititave aspects to Love's game that he needs to work on, but dominating the glass, being a lethal outlet passer, being a respectable 3pt threat who must be honored from the D. I think the good outweighs the bad.
Here's our opportunity to snag a 25 year old guy, who has never won, and is a heady baller of the highest order. Blatt said it himself.
http://www.si.com/nba/video/2014/08/01/cavs-coach-blatt-evaluates-love-and-wiggins