2014-15 NBA Season

[thrill]

if he's an MVP candidate, then Aldridge absolutely is.

Aldridge for sure is in the running.

The chicago media is already starting the Jimmy Buckets MVP narrative, which is all chicago fan needs to run with it and assume he's the clear favorite and start the free throw line chants, etc, because that's what Chicago fan does. It watches only chicago sports and loves only chicago players.

It's early January. The MVP race is an unclear as the championship contenders list. It's wide open.

That said, I think the Bulls will win the title and Steph Curry will win MVP. The Bulls because they have more depth and scoring versatility than anyone in the league as well as a proven defensive system with proven individual defenders that will show itself more and more effective as the season grinds on and especially so in the playoffs. They have the perfect mix of veteran leadership and youthful energy. They have an incredible coach who can play chess with any coach in the league and they're not even playing close to their potential yet. Especially D Rose.

Steph Curry because the media LOVES him.

The Bulls 2012 draft is turning into a franchise changer. Jimmy Butler at 30 and Niko Mirotic at 23rd. Jimmy is unquestionably an all star at 25 and in two years, Mirotic could be hitting the same kind of ascension at age 25. The Paxson/Forman regime has been brilliant at finding late round talent.

[MrSaigon]

Maybe my perspective is tilted having just lost to them, but I'd fear Atlanta. We shot cold like we always do for a stretch, but every time we started to come back like we also always do, they'd call time out and then put in an incredible stretch. They're very well coached.

Until/if SA and/or OKC turn it on, it's really fun right now because anything seems possible in the West and in the league in whole. This trade deadline is going to be great, could really shift some power around. What if Atlanta adds a piece? Or Portland or Phoenix. A Memphis/Washington Finals doesn't seem ridiculous right now.

[Socnorb11]

Maybe my perspective is tilted having just lost to them, but I'd fear Atlanta. We shot cold like we always do for a stretch, but every time we started to come back like we also always do, they'd call time out and then put in an incredible stretch. They're very well coached.

Until/if SA and/or OKC turn it on, it's really fun right now because anything seems possible in the West and in the league in whole. This trade deadline is going to be great, could really shift some power around. What if Atlanta adds a piece? Or Portland or Phoenix. A Memphis/Washington Finals doesn't seem ridiculous right now.

Atlanta is really good. Right now, they look like the only team in the East that can compete consistently with the West (Atlanta is 11-2 against the West, and nobody else in the East has done nearly that well against the West).

I realize this is extremely premature, but I don't know how anybody beats Golden State in a 7-game series. They are 11-0 againt the East, winning those games by an average of 15 points.


It's going to be fun to watch, because it definitely looks like there's some new blood ready to crash the party.

[thrill]

I don't believe in Atlanta when the playoffs hit. It's a different game. The Bulls are the only real contender in the east right now, imo. Washington is the second toughest playoff out in the east.

[jim]

I don't know why but I'm just not confident the Bulls will keep everything together. Getting destroyed by a couple of pretty bad teams within a couple of weeks (while beating some very good teams I admit) might have something to do with that.

[thrill]

It's funny that in years when everyone else thought the Bulls were contenders, I didn't, and now I do, and other people don't. The weird losses to Brooklyn and Utah can be chalked up to Thibs coaching differently this year, I think. He's got a real Popovich thing going on. Taken the foot off the gas a little in the regular season which is wise. Bad games will happen.

I honestly think the only thing that can stop the Bulls in the East is injuries, which are very possible with an aged Gasol, constantly knicked up Noah and Gibson and D Rose's papier mache knees.

[MrSaigon]

Speaking of Atlanta, I heard some Hawks to Seattle (wild) speculation. That's a situation I'd be cool with.

[thrill]

Speaking of Atlanta, I heard some Hawks to Seattle (wild) speculation. That's a situation I'd be cool with.

That would be awesome, but it would be weird to not have a basketball team in Atlanta. Especially with TNT being there.

[lukethedrifter]

Speaking of Atlanta, I heard some Hawks to Seattle (wild) speculation. That's a situation I'd be cool with.

That would be awesome, but it would be weird to not have a basketball team in Atlanta. Especially with TNT being there.

Atlanta is the Capital of Black America. Are they really at risk of losing their team?

[stlouie_lipp]

It's funny that in years when everyone else thought the Bulls were contenders, I didn't, and now I do, and other people don't. The weird losses to Brooklyn and Utah can be chalked up to Thibs coaching differently this year, I think. He's got a real Popovich thing going on. Taken the foot off the gas a little in the regular season which is wise. Bad games will happen.

I honestly think the only thing that can stop the Bulls in the East is injuries, which are very possible with an aged Gasol, constantly knicked up Noah and Gibson and D Rose's papier mache knees.

I agree with thrill on this one, except maybe for this:

they're not even playing close to their potential yet. Especially D Rose

While I do think he will get better as he still gets his basketball legs under him, I'm just not sure what his potential is anymore (not implying you think he'll get back to an MVP). When I watched him last Saturday (from really good seats) he just doesn't look "right" to me. I don't think he'll shoot this poorly all season, but I'm not sure that what we're seeing now isn't what he is.