Staying Grounded
Hi everyone,
As much as we'd all like the Bulls to get off to a great start this year, I think the key point to emphasize is patience. Number one - they have seven new players on the roster this year. Number two - Scott Skiles wants to play a large rotation of players this year and that rotation may be nine, ten, or even eleven different players on a given night who would be part of the rotation. This takes time.
When you consider that ten of the first fourteen games in the month of November are on the road, that compounds the potential problems. But this is a new team with half the roster brand new and definitely some exciting additions such as Ben Wallace and PJ Brown, veterans who know how to play and win on the road. They've got some great young talent as well - Tyrus Thomas is going to be an outstanding player. Thabo Sefolosha has really impressed with me with his ability to use his long wingspan on the defensive end. He could be the kind of guy who could develop into a defensive stopper, but right now he's playing like a rookie - a bit in awe of the situation and that's understandable coming from Europe where he played most of his basketball.
There's no doubt that this team has great ability. I caution patience only because we have a lot of road games, a lot of new faces, and because we have the the type of talent and depth that allows, and almost demands that Scott Skiles use a large rotation. It will take some time for the Bulls to pull all of that together.
Can they get off to a good start? Absolutely, because they have the talent and the ability to do so. But if by chance they don't, that's no reason to panic in the month of November or even December.. This team is going to be a much better basketball team regardless of their start when we hit January and February. That's when they can really hit stride and, given good health, they will be a very, very good basketball team heading into the second half of the season.
Wayne