The Chicago Bulls - Star Player Continues to be the Difference.
| 11
|
by user Dayala718
Where to begin this argument? Well, being that the Bulls were the team of the 90's and featured (arguably) the greatest player to ever play the game, it would be completely acceptable if they never won another championship. However, after seeing their progression over the past three seasons, it is clear that they are on the cusp of greatness. From their early playoff departure in the '04-'05 season, due in large part to Gilbert Arenas, to their latest battle against the Detroit Pistons, it is clear that the Bulls lack one thing that propels all great teams to the next level: a star player.
Sure, you could argue that Luol Deng may be that player, but it is hard to envision him being the player that will take Kirk Hinrich and Ben Wallace to the promised land. Although they have improved over the past three seasons, the Bulls still lack a player that can consistently take over a game. Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon show flashes of success from time to time but continue to be plagued by inconsistent performances when it matters most. Ben Wallace did propel the Bulls to 49 wins in 2006 but many think that was a byproduct of increased production at other positions and added athleticism. Andres Nocioni was affected by injuries during the '06 season but also faces problems dealing with inconsistency and turning the ball over. With young, smart players being added to the roster on a yearly basis (Joakim Noah the latest addition), the Bulls seem headed in the right direction. However, with many trade chips in Chris Duhon, Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, etc, the time seems right for the Bulls to pull off a blockbuster trade for one of the games elite players.
At this point in time, there are many star players apparently on the market. In this week alone, these names have been thrown around: Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, Amare Stoudemire. Sure, the Bulls are in a good situation and no one can question John Paxson's decisions thus far, but is it time for a trade? In each of their last three season, no one on the Bulls has shown the talent to make everyone else around them better. Nor have they shown the ability to take over a series and carry a team through the playoffs. The closest thing to this was Luol Deng's performance during the '06-'07 first round. Kobe Bryant hasn't shown the ability to be the "Michael Jordan" that he wanted to become. Kevin Garnett continues to struggle in the playoffs, if he even makes them. Paul Pierce, Jermaine O'Neal, and Amare Stoudemire are also on the block for certain reasons. Personally, I am tired of seeing the Bulls squander twenty point leads, take foolish shots in crunch time, and get killed by the opposing teams star player. In my opinion, I would make any trade for these aforementioned players so long as they are in the right age range (27-31) and wouldn't cost the Bulls Luol Deng. It would be sweet to find out what Kobe would look like in Bull Red, or see if K.G. would be the difference, but only time will tell. So, in light of all of this, is it time for the Bulls to make a deal or would it be in their best interest to ante up for another run in '07?
