Bulls preview (quick one)

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

This probably won't make it in time for the IGTC digest 
version, but here's a couple of very obvious and quick 
thoughts about tonight.

Watch the battle of the boards closely against da Bulls' 
tall youngsters and wide-butts. 

One guy we need to grind down is Donyell Marshall off the 
bench, who delivered a scintillating 12 rebounds and 16.7 
ppg on .583 shooting in just 26 mpg during the preseason 
(3 games).  

That's 12 boards, in limited minutes. 4 offensive boards 
too.

The two teen towers, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, 
delivered 26.6 ppg, 13.4 rebounds and 2.4 swats in a 
combined 51 mpg.  Curry hit .566 from the field. Tyson 
hit .581. 

Between those three players, you had 8 offensive boards 
per game.

But there's more. You have Pfizer, who wants to be a 6th 
man of the year candidate in the Corliss Williamson mold. 
He averaged 8.3 points and 6.0 boards in the preseason.

A better story than that is the rookie 2nd rounder, 
Lonnie Baxter. He had play perfectly to make the team, 
and he did. In just 12.0 mpg as a third string power 
forward, the NCAA champ shot .731 from the field and .762 
from the line over 7 games. Not only that, but he 
averaged 7.7 ppg including 28 points in a game last week. 
He beat out Bagaric for the 12th spot on the active 
roster.

It's an opening night, and these guys will have a lot of 
energy. 

Some other issues. The pointguards (Jay Williams and 
Jamal Crawford) are another challenge, because they both 
can dribble and score the ball (23 ppg game in 51 
combined minutes). Crawford has decent size too. I think 
both will turn the ball over initially against 
experienced veterans, but we don't exactly have that 
either.

The best playmakers on the pre-season Bulls have been 
Jalen Rose (4.8 assists) and surprisingly, the acrobatic 
Eddie Robinson (4.0 assists).

The guy who got the most minutes per game? Trenton 
Hassell at 30.5 (7.9 points and 3.9 boards).

Bill Cartwright just named his starting five over the 
weekend, and it includes Trenton Hassell (who beat out 
both a healthy Donyell Marshall and Eddie Robinson). I 
guess he's kind of their Eric Williams. They have too 
many shooters already, I suppose.

But this means that all these guys will play in waves 
tonight, so our bench has to be cohesive and active too. 
And dont forget the mayor, Fred Hoiberg, who is a 
Celtics killer of sorts. It is by no means a weak NBA 
bench, so second and late third quarters will be key 
moments to hold the fort. 

But to simplify things, the one thing probably already up 
on the chalkboard: "BOX OUT". 

BTW, Im outlining only the positives with the Bulls, 
which Im sure Obie and Harter have been doing as well in 
game preparation. 

In the preseason at least, the Bulls played horrible 
defense giving up 24.3 assists, even getting out-
rebounded, and having big deficits in steals and 
turnovers as well. They barely shot 70% from the line. 

Moreover, the SI preview gives a no defense rating to 
four of their announced starters (Jay Williams, Chandler, 
Curry and Hassell).

But look out on the boards. Its the opener, and everyone 
will be flying around like gangbusters. 

Boston has to grind down all these big young bodies 
tonight. This game is another reminder of the (mostly 
raw) talent in the league. The Bulls matchup has NEVER 
been anything like a gimmie for Boston, even when Pink 
Floyd was the coach. Superior team cohesion and veteran 
composure still will require focus and leadership from 
the regulars. Without that, our team won't be able to 
walk this first one home.
 





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