The Bulls play the Pacers in their 41st game Wednesday at the United Center. It’s their season’s halfway point. For some sadistic reason, an idea came to revisit the exact questions first raised in the Tribune’s NBA preview section back in October.
You remember those days, right? Back when Scott Skiles could do no wrong, general manager John Paxson was a genius and expectations were higher than Ben Wallace’s ‘fro.
Perhaps a horribly inconsistent first half has made you forget them. That’s why we’re here, even if Skiles — and those high expectations — no longer are.
How is Joakim Noah looking?
Pretty much like your typical NBA rookie. He has shown flashes, particularly during a 17-point, six-rebound, four-assist effort Jan. 2 in Charlotte. And it’s pretty clear the organization has committed to him over Tyrus Thomas moving forward. But Noah’s habitual tardiness, lack of focus and, at his lowest point, tirade against assistant Ron Adams Jan. 11 in Philadelphia have created headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Are any rookies in the rotation?
At this rate, pretty soon all of them will be. Then again, with disciplinary action coming soon against second-round pick JamesOn Curry, arrested Jan. 17 for public urination, only Noah and Aaron Gray might remain.
The point is: Paxson’s proclamation on the day interim coach Jim Boylan was elevated that development minutes would be doled out if the won-lost record didn’t improve is perilously close to being enacted. That means Noah, Gray and second-year players Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha could see major minutes down the stretch.
Weren’t the Bulls missing a post presence last season?
This question was asked because of the surprising preseason emergence of Gray.
And while the second-round pick has displayed solid fundamentals and reliable post moves at times, the Bulls still lack that reliable go-to scorer they can use to slow the game down and exhale.
For all the preseason talk about using Luol Deng at shooting guard and posting him up occasionally, it hasn’t happened with any consistency. How fitting.
Has Deng been ineffective?
He certainly hasn’t been himself. Deng’s numbers are decent; his 17.9 points and 47.8 percent shooting are similar to last season’s. But he has been bothered by a balky back and left Achilles’ tendinitis and hasn’t sniffed the All-Star status so many predicted for him.
Worse, Deng turned down a $57.5 million contract extension before the season and has played at times like somebody who regrets the decision.
Too often he has appeared individualistic on offense and disinterested on defense.
What about Ben Gordon?
Like Deng, Gordon turned down an extension before the season, his for five years and $50 million. But given that his camp sought near maximum money, Gordon doesn’t regret his decision.
That said, he, like Deng, at times has played on his own agenda. Gordon has told confidantes he might sign the Bulls’ tender offer next summer and then become an unrestricted free agent in 2009. Give Gordon credit for handling Boylan’s decision to bring him off the bench; he has averaged 23.4 points in 14 games since then.
What can fans expect of Joe Smith?
Exactly what he has provided: A team-first mind-set that allows him to start or come off the bench with similar results, an ability to hit the face-up jumper and solid defense.
What’s the schedule like?
The Bulls are in the thick of their so-called soft spot. The Pacers game marks the second straight in a string of seven of eight games against sub-.500 teams. But unlike previous seasons, there is no such thing as a winnable game on paper with these Bulls. They’re too inconsistent at both ends. And is now the time to mention that of 13 games in February, nine are on the road?
So how many victories?
This one is painful. As one who is proud of predictions rich in both accuracy and symbolism — 52 predicted victories last season to honor the departed Eric Piatkowski, 49 actual; 32 predicted victories in 2002-03 to honor Eddie Robinson, 30 actual — the Kool-Aid was consumed and 53 victories and a trip to the conference finals was the forecast.
So if the Bulls can just go 37-5 …
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
![Volunteers who have been providing care packages and assisting migrants off of buses and onto trains at Wilmette’s Metra Station urged the Wilmette Village Board to not follow neighboring communities by adopting a busing ordinance during Wednesday night’s meeting. Despite concerns, trustees voted unanimously to limit unscheduled bus drop-offs to weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Village Manager Michael Braiman, who told Pioneer Press in early January the village had no plans to move forward with busing ordinances, said increased late-night drop-offs have begun to cause concern. According to the village, 68 buses with approximately 2,700 people have arrived […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PPN-L-WLM-busingordinance-050224-01.jpg?w=467 "Volunteers who have been providing care packages and assisting migrants off of buses and onto trains at Wilmette’s Metra Station urged the Wilmette Village Board to not follow neighboring communities by adopting a busing ordinance during Wednesday night’s meeting. Despite concerns, trustees voted unanimously to limit unscheduled bus drop-offs to weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Village Manager Michael Braiman, who told Pioneer Press in early January the village had no plans to move forward with busing ordinances, said increased late-night drop-offs have begun to cause concern. According to the village, 68 buses with approximately 2,700 people have arrived […]")
