Wishful Thinking

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to announce that the Chicago Bulls are 2-1 at the beginning stages of the NBA season!

Why am I so excited? Call me crazy, but I have this strange feeling that the Chicago Bulls (yes the same Bulls who are always rebuilding) have a chance to become a contender in the Eastern Conference. Now hold on for a second, I know what your thinking! I haven't fallen down and bumped my head nor been released from a mental institution. First year NBA coach Vinny Del Negro might have something up his sleeve after all.

In the season opener which took place at the United Center, the Bulls faced a decent Milwaukee Bucks team that can contend for an 8th seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Chicago looked poised to win the game, Derrick Rose dominated the point guard play with 11 points, 9 assists and 3 steals. Though at times Rose showed his immaturity with four turnovers, he got his teammates involved by distributing them the ball in positions where they could score.

Luol Deng finished the game with 21 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the floor, while Ben Gordon poured in 18 points. Both players made keys plays to secure 108 to 95 win for the Bulls. Tyrus Thomas, who at times can make viewers want to jump off the Sears Tower building, finished with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds). Thomas once again provided a look into what he can do for this Bulls franchise if he plays smart and under control.

The Bulls as a team shot the basketball well (50.7 %) and they won the rebound battle 40 to 32. It wasn't a bad showing from a team that is flooded with guards and finished the preseason with a 4-4 record.

The second game was a measuring stick for the Bulls. They would face the Boston Celtics, who are the defending NBA champions. Chicago got a defensive clinic put on them as Boston held the Bulls to a frightening 29.8% shooting from the field. The only bright spot for Chicago was Derrick Rose. The young general gutted out an 18 point effort, but lacked any support from first game stars Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas. Deng, Gordon and Thomas shot a combined 7 of 37 from the field.

The Celtics cruised to a 96 to 80 win, exposing Chicago's poor shooting and defensive. You have to pat the Bulls on their backs though. They went into a hostile Boston environment and didn't back down from the NBA champs. Coach Del Negro is still tweaking the line-ups inorder to find one that will stick. Veteran guard Larry Hughes, who played well in the preseason, was out with a dislocated shoulder he suffered in a preseason win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This past Saturday night back at the United Center, the Bulls needed to re-group. Awaiting Chicago was an athletic Memphis Grizzlies ball club that featured Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo.
Still riding his offensive high, Derrick Rose showed why he is considered to be a great point guard. The Southside phenom electrified the home crowd with 26 points and 6 rebounds. Rose took charge scoring 4 points during a 9-1 run midway through the fourth quarter. Chicago never looked back, beating the Grizzlies 96 to 86 and shooting 42.1% for the game from three.

Through three games the Bulls have shown improvements with their offensive attack (Derrick Rose). If injured guard Larry Hughes can come back and play the same way he did in preseason, the Bulls will have no problem scoring the ball from the perimeter. The achilles heel for Chicago is lack of post scoring. Drew Gooden is a decent post player, but he needs more contribution from teammate Tyrus Thomas.

Athletically Thomas is off the charts, but he has to make better decisions when he is out on the floor. In the preseason Thomas averaged a double-double in points and rebounds. If that player can show up night in and night out, the Bulls well be better off as a team.

Balanced perimeter and post play can turn Bulls fan's dreams into reality. Even though its still very early in the NBA season, Chicago has a chance to make a strong run for the playoffs and surprise some Eastern Conference teams. I hope that dream isn't too far fetched Chicago.


Be Peaceful

• Keep an eye out for Terry Porter. Porter who played 17 years in the NBA, became the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns this past June. The Suns are in second place in the Pacific Divison and Porter has slowed down the fast paced Phoenix offense to toughen up their defense. It's a new look out there in the dessert!
• Watching Greg Oden on NBA's opening night was great!..even though it only last one quarter. Oden injured his foot in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. He will be sidelined for 2-4 weeks

Strength Of The Euro

Many people believe that money makes the world go round. For many NBA players, money has focused their attention elsewhere---Europe. A growing trend has occurred this past summer for some established NBA players and it involves that All Mighty Dollar.

Josh Childress, Janero Pargo, Carlos Delfino, Carlos Arroyo, Earl Boykins, Gordon Giricek and other NBA players have left their respective NBA franchises to join teams overseas in Europe. The most shocking story would have to be Josh Childress. Childress played a significant role for the Atlanta Hawks last season as they took the Boston Celtics seven games in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Averaging 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds last season as the sixth man for the Hawks, Childress was not pleased with the way the Atlanta franchise took their time with negotiating his contract. That molasses approach by the Hawks forced Childress to sign with Greek club Olympiacos.

According to ESPN.com , the ex-Hawk signed the most lucrative current contract in European basketball and the biggest in Euroleague history. It was a three year deal worth $20 million after taxes. The money is guaranteed for Childress, he can also opt of his contract after every year and return to the NBA.

The deal stunned the NBA world as they now realize that competing with European franchises is now a reality. Childress has pioneered a movement from the NBA to Europe and fellow players have joined in this movement.

Ex-New Orleans Hornet Janero Pargo became another player to make the movement to Europe. A vital part to the New Orleans guard attack in last year's NBA playoffs, Pargo left the Hornets to sign a one year deal with Russian club Dynamo Moscow. He will make $3.5 million after taxes next year for just one season of basketball.

Everyone knows (hopefully everyone knows) that the Euro has more value and strength compared to the American dollar. In this era of sports, its all about money and how to get more money. I know that its very sad to see sports come to this, but its a reality and professional athletes want their piece of that billion dollar pie. European franchises don't have a salary cap for their basketball teams, therefore they are able to lure NBA players onto their teams and sign them to better contracts. Put yourself in the shoes of 5-foot-5 guard Earl Boykins. Boykins is a 10 year NBA veteran that has made numerous stops on NBA teams. The way the free agent market is in the NBA, it's very tough to secure a comfortable contract. The 32 year old Boykins avoided the frustration of free agent NBA contracts and signed a one-year deal with Italy's Virtus Bologna. Boykins will earn $3.5 million for just a one season of basketball in Italy. Keep in mind that the $3.5 million is tax free and Boykins will be spending at least 6 months in Italy.

Elite NBA players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant both have expressed that they would think about playing overseas, if the money was right. According to ESPN senior writer Chris Broussard, a person close to James said that the Cavalier's superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of "around $50 million a year." If you thought about the magnitude of a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant leaving their NBA teams to go overseas, it would be mind blowing. But honestly, that is very unlikely to happen if David Stern has anything to do with it.

NBA commissioner David Stern has done a fantastic job by opening the NBA game to the world. Stern realizes that he may have to compete with European franchises or globalize the NBA. And in 10 or 15 years there might be NBA teams overseas. If you don't believe that, then look at the growth of the NBA in the past 15 to 20 years.

Broadening the NBA game overseas has been a goal for Stern and he has succeeded. In fact, he has succeeded so much that the rest of the world has as much skill as American born players.

It will be very interesting to see what will happen if an NBA superstar bolts the NBA and heads to a European team. If that does happen, just remeber the person that started it all....Josh Childress.

Be Peaceful

• Liar liar, pants on fire! After lieing to the Golden State Warriors about his ankle injury, Monta Ellis has been suspended 30 regular season games without pay. Ellis first told the Warriors that he injured his ankle playing basketball, but in actuality he injured it in a moped accident. Ellis is appealing the 30 game suspension.


• The NBA season will be kicking off in less than two weeks. Teams are winding down training camps and finalizing their rosters.