2008-09 Season Team Preview thread

[SG_Fred]

I figured we could get one of these up so fans of different teams can preview their teams to other members. Expection, stars, rookies, etc...

2008-09 Season Team Preview thread

Members who post a preview will get 300 vcash points added to their account.

[SG_Fred]

Chicago Bulls 2008-2009 Team Preview

HEAD COACH
Vinny Del Negro (College - North Carolina State)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Del Harris (College - Milligan College)
Bernie Bickerstaff (College - San Diego)
Bob Ociepka (College - Quincy College)
Pete Myers (College - Arkansas-Little Rock)
Mike Wilhelm (College - Southampton)
STRENGTH-AND-CONDITIONING COACH
Erik Helland (College - Wisconsin-Eau Claire)
ATHLETIC TRAINER
Fred Tedeschi (College - University of the Pacific)

Team Roster NO. NAME POS AGE HT WT COLLEGE

• 25--Omer Asik |C| 22| 7-0| 255
• 9-- Elton Brown | F/C| 25| 6-9 | 255 |Virginia
• 9-- Luol Deng | SF| 23| 6-9 |220 |Duke
• 90- Drew Gooden |PF| 27| 6-10| 250| Kansas
• 7---Ben Gordon |SG |25| 6-3 |200 |Connecticut
• 34 -Aaron Gray |C |23 |7-0 |270 |Pittsburgh
• 12- Kirk Hinrich |PG| 27| 6-3 |190 |Kansas
• 32- Larry Hughes |SG| 29| 6-5| 184| Saint Louis
• 35- Demetris Nichols |SF |24 |6-8| 216| Syracuse
• 13- Joakim Noah |C |23| 6-11| 232 |Florida
• 5-- Andres Nocioni |SF |28| 6-7| 225
• 43- Roger Powell |SF |25| 6-6 |235 |Illinois
• 1-- Derrick Rose |PG |19 |6-3 |190 |Memphis
• 2-- Thabo Sefolosha |SG |24| 6-7| 215
• 15- Cedric Simmons |PF| 22| 6-9 |235 |North Carolina State
• 24- Tyrus Thomas |PF |22 |6-9 |215| LSU
• 35- Darius Washington |PG |22 |6-2 |195 |Memphis

Team Links:

• 2008-2009 Team Schedule
• 2008-2009 Team Stats
• Official Site of the Chicago Bulls: Speaks for itself, home of the Bulls

Media Links:

• ChicagoSports.com-Chicago Tribune's sports section
• Chicago Sun-Times.com-Sun Times sports section
• Blogabull.com-A good blog for Chicago Bulls info

Team Preview:
The Chicago Bulls enter their 43rd season in the NBA with plenty of questions marks. With a new and inexperienced head coach, a new rookie point guard running the offense, and questions about how good this really is, training camp looks to be an interesting one.

It was obvious the Bulls completely tuned out Scott Skiles last season. He came in and did the job, but once again he wore out his welcome with players. Interim head coach Jim Boylan didn't fare much better. In the off-season GM John Paxson went out and surprised us all by signing Vinny Del Negro to coach the Bulls this season. Nobody really knows how good of a coach Del Negro will be since his only experience is has been with the front office of the Phoenix Suns. On the plus side Del Negro does have some veteran assistants who can definitely help him. Del Harris, Bernie Bickerstaff and Bob Ociepka will surely play a key role for the Bulls this season. And could we possibly get an idea of what type of offense the Bulls will run considering Del Negro is coming from Phoenix?

Now moving on to the players the Bulls are loaded with talent. Unfortunately, it's quite a bit of undeveloped talent. Last season the Bulls saw two of their key players in Luol Deng and Ben Gordon have a bad season. The Kobe trade, injuries and contract extensions surrounded them all season. Luol Deng ended up signing an extension in the off-season, but Gordon still remains un-signed. I read today that he will report to camp and sign the Bulls qualifying offer. Unfortunately Gordon's demands are unrealistic. The Bulls offered him $10 million a year last off-season, which he rejected. Now he'll be lucky to get such an offer.

The Bulls did get lucky in the off-season by winning the NBA Lottery and getting hometown hero Derrick Rose with the first pick in the NBA Draft. The Bulls could have used a low post scorer such as Michael Beasely, but Rose is a rare breed a player. Beasley is a key player on a championship team, while I think Rose is the star player on a championship team. Plus with the talent the Bulls have, they could possibly make a trade for a solid low post scorer. The main question on Rose will be how quickly he can grasp the game and manage the team. Paxson claims they will bring him along slowly but as a fan I don't want to see that. I've read nothing but good things about Rose over the summer. He impressed players and coaches in the training sesssions for the Olympic Games. He surprised players with how quick and strong he was. He should be an exciting player for Chicago.

The Bulls frontcourt is filled with player who can't really score. You have Joakim Noah who is basically a Tyson Chandler type player who is there for defense and rebounding. He'll get most of his points off put backs and garbage buckets. I think this is the season Tyrus Thomas has to step up and prove himself. Up to this point he's been the second coming of Stromile Swift. The guy has all the talent and athletic ability in the world, but lacks the mentality of an NBA player. One could chalk that up to just being young, but at some point you have to grow up. The Bulls still have Adres Nocioni, who will provide intensity and scoring.

Expectations:
I'm not really sure what to expect out of this team. They could surprise me and make the playoffs, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't. The turnvover on the roster isn't all that different. If anything it's been improved. If the players respond well to Del Negro's coaching style, this could be a fun season.

[MrMVP91]

Can I have a Celtics preview please? I mean we are the defending Champs !!

[SG_Fred]

Originally Posted by MrMVP91

Can I have a Celtics preview please? I mean we are the defending Champs !!

have at it. just post it, you dont need to call teams.

[DomePatrol]

Damn i wanna do one but i dont know if i can get that in depth with it

[SG_Fred]

you dont have to get that in depth. i was just had a lot of time to kill today.

[Droopizzle]

Los Angeles Lakers Preview:

Still stung by their loss in the NBA Finals,the Lakers come into 2008-09 with optimism to get back to the Finals.With Andrew Bynum returning from injury,it gives the Lakers what they lacked in the Finals:toughness.Bynum brings shotblocking and rebounding,and adding him to a frontline that has Paul Gasol and Lamar Odom has Laker fans salivating.
But Odom is the key.When he's at his best,Odom is a versatile match up nightmare.But too often he doesn't assert himself,which may lead to Lakers coach Phil Jackson to insert Trevor Ariza or Luke Walton and bring Odom off the bench.Gasol also has to get tougher. He is a skilled player,but was exposed as a softie in the Finals.How he meshes with Bynum will be the key to the Lakers fortunes.
But when you think of the Lakers,you think of one person:Kobe Bryant.The reigning NBA MVP is the key that makes the Lakers go,and one has to wonder will Bryant have enough in his tank after a deep playoff run and playing in the Olympics.Bryant also opted not to have surgery on his pinkie,which could affect his shooting.There are few players as motivated as Bryant,and you can bet he is hell bent on getting the Lakers back to the Finals.
The Lakers' bench is one of the best in the league.Sasha Vujacic is a confident gunner and back up to Derek Fisher,and the Lakers count on him for his shooting and physical defense.Jordan Farmer comes in as a change of pace and pushes the ball,and the Lakers hope he continues to improve his game.Luke Walton is a do it all player,and Ariza could be starting.The only weakness is in the frontcourt.Top sub Ronny Turiaf left in free agency,so the Lakers must rely on D.J Mbenga and Chris Mihm.
All in all the Lakers hope a return from Bynum results in a different script in the Finals this season.Expect them to represent the Western Conference again in the Finals.

[SG_Fred]

What kind of season do you think Bynum is going to have? Do you think he'll stay healthy?

[fozzyruler]

Well I am glad u put this bulls preview up so I can check out who the bulls will be playing and also they will be beast this year on the game for years to come. I love the bulls and clippers for life baby.

[zack54attack]

Can I Do A Bulls one too?