An Un-believe-a-"BULL" Theory

(Picture from Chicago Tribune)

I've got a theory. A theory that could change the NBA in Chicago for the next several years. This theory is a complete personal opinion, one that is to early to judge, but seems plausible. This theory is straight from the Doc Rivers Management hand book. A theory so terrible, so nasty, so foolish, yet it just might work. I think the Chicago Bulls might be tanking.


WHOA! I know, how could I ever accuse a team of tanking in a league known for, well, tanking, rogue officials, and a crappy lottery that determines how teams pick in the draft (but I ought not complain considering the Bulls had a 1.7% shot at winning the first round pick in 2008, which led to Derrick Rose). Was I expecting more this season? Yes. Was I expecting to get out of the first round of the playoffs? No. So with a 4 game skid in motion right now (a skid that includes loses to the worst team in the league and a 35-point beat down by the Hawks) it seems like the Bulls are at best a middle of the road team, waiting and hoping for a big off season.

Now I know with the "injury" to Tyrus Thomas that our post play is lacking. Noah is getting burnt out and its happening fast. Rose is finally getting on his feet again, but John Salmons is taking shots away (bad shots, terrible shots, ugly shots, flat shots, fade-away shots, floating shots, 5-feet away from the perimeter shots, etc, etc, etc). I was very excited for Salmons not only for his expiring contract but because Bulls fans had no idea what they would get out of Luol. But Salmons has looked terrible and uncomfortable and maybe that is because of the presence that Deng has had. Luol is actually averaging more minutes a game than anyone else on the team (Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah-Hallelujah, Hal-LEEEEE-LUUUU-JAHHHHHH), as well as leading in points. He's looked really, really good and so far has made critics look bad for saying he plays to soft (please don't let this be a jinx). Keeping the good vibes rolling, TAJ GIBSON is going to be a scrappy little player, and has kept me excited in blow out games. He has filled in as a starter for Tyrus, and played above and beyond what has been expected of him.

Now as a quick disclaimer, I know that the Bulls are only 20 games into the NBA season, and I know it is way to early to tell what is going to happen after the trade deadline. I know the Bulls played like this last year, then they added Miller and Salmons and got a 7th seed in the playoffs. So save the comments about that.

But what I am saying is that, if in fact my theory is right, I don't mind it. Why get a crappy seed and get ousted right away in the playoffs? What does that give them? Now I hate quitters as much as the next guy, but I'm looking at this as a quick fix. The Bulls are returning (pending how the rest of the season goes) Deng for another four years, Hinrich for another two, Salmons for another year, Rose for another three, Tyrus for one more year, Noah for two (which we should sign and keep for longer as soon as possible), while James Johnson and Taj have four years left as well. That's a pretty good nucleus of players, but don't be shocked to see Tyrus, James Johnson, Hinrich or Salmons dealt by the trade deadline. But with the core cast of Noah, Rose, Taj, and Deng you can see that they are missing a pure shooter and a scoring BIG man (a problem the Bulls have had for a long time). So say they are choking, or tanking (or are just that bad). What part of the Bulls losing is going to be bad for the future? Nothing! My thoughts exactly!

If the rest of the season results in bad play and loses, I would be totally OK with Vinny benching Rose and Luol to play Lindsey Hunter and Aaron Gray. A bad season would give the Bulls a lottery pick to add to whatever they get in one of the biggest summers ever (here is the list of free agents). The Bulls will be going into the offseason with $29,623,552, and I know somehow Paxson will pawn off another big contract to only add to the pot that we can offer to Lebron, Wade, Bosh or Stoudemire

Vinny, I have no idea if you will continue to coach the Chicago Bulls after this season. I don't know if you are paving the way for Avery Johnson, Byron Scott, or any other applicable coach. No matter who it may be, no matter if the Bulls are tanking or not. Next year could be very, very good. I mean look at what happened when Doc tanked (Hello KG and Ray Allen).