Record Predictions

With the roster as-is, my prediction is:

35-47

They are not that good, but we have Cleveland, Atlanta, Detroit in our division, so I think that we can possibly go over .500 for the series with those teams.

We have also had some success with New Jersey, Boston, and Washington. I think we can split those series.

We usually steal one from Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana, and Philadelphia, and I think that we can beat NY at least once this year.

Outside of that, I think at best we can split or go better with the scrubs out west: Golden State, Denver, Vancouver, and Clips.

Throw in an upset or two, and I think that somewhere in the 30's for victories is a reasonable goal. I think that the play-offs would be a realistic expectation only in the event that we get someone significant in the next 8-12 weeks: Glen Robinson, Hardaway, Rice, Joe Smith? (now that the T-wolves are in trouble).

I would be happy with that. It would show good improvement and some hope for the future. Unfortunately, I think you are a little optimistic. I would guess that it will be closer to 23-59.

Seems reasonable, but it could range anywhere from 25 to 40 wins, since younger players tend to be inconsistent.

Indiana lost Dale Davis to Jermaine O'neal, a huge downgrade, and Mark Jackson. And with the departure of Bird, Reggie Miller getting older and more 1-dimensional, Smits and Perkins both injury-plagued and useless, and Chris Mullin applying for social security, I would be disappointed if the Bulls do not finish with a better record than the Pacers.

I think Vancouver will be a the Bucks of last year, and should make the playoffs.

Rice would be a perfect fit in the Bulls, but would take playing time away from Fizer and Artest, who might actually contribute more then Rice. Tim Hardaway has too good of a thing to leave Miami, but there is still some hope. Glenn Robinson is under contract and would be acquired by either Fizer or Crawford. Joe Smith would make a quality back-up to Brand, but he is extremely overpaid.

42-40...

I am eternal optimist.

Hi... I don't really know, why your faith is so weak...

last year when Kukoc came back to play we had some .500 in over 15 games... do you remember that...?

and now, instead of Kukoc we have such additions like:

Mercer Fizer Crawford Tarlac Miller Bagaric (i know... young and weak... but if he develope well he can become the best our center ever... really he's only 20... he has made a really huge numbers in Europe over 18 ppg, 10,4 rpg, close to 2 apg and over 1,5 spg... and he is only 20 year old!!! and he is 215!!! he knows english very well and really want to learn and develope... I don't want to excite with him, but who knows... we will see... for 2 or 3 years he might become a really solid player, like Divac...)

and you think, that our record will be only 6 games more than last year? I am not too optymistic, but I think that if Fizer will could work out between 3/4 and Crawford will be able to create game without losing the ball too often, we will win more than 35 games...

Mercer is constant shooter... he can make 16-18 ppg... some 3-4 rpg and 3apg Miller can make some 10-12 ppg and 7-8 rpg (25 minutes pg), Tarlac 10ppg 6 rpg form the bench Fizer can make 16 ppg 6-7 rpg Crawford 15 ppg and 4-7 (hard to say...) apg Bagaric... it depends... i believe he can make some 8 ppg and 4-6 rpg but who knows...

Brand should hold his 20ppg and over 10rpg, maybe more... Artest should develope to 14 ppg 5rpg and 4-5 apg

maybe playoffs... maybe not... but if Brand will lead, they could get it (he's not a born leader, but he has proven something last year and deserves for it)... he has a hunger for victories... and he will be fight in every game to do it... I love the guy... and the others should follow him...

even if we wont win more than 43 games... lets hope to win at least 41... it could be enough to reach playoffs in the east... I do believe than we can do it...

28-54............

On Sat, 9 Sep 2000 19:51:47 -0500, 'scottweck'

It is really hard to predict the Bulls upcoming season, because of all the youth and talent upside on the team. I mean the oldest guy expected to get significant playing time on the Bulls is Dragan Tarlac and who know how good he will be. I think Elton Brand will elevate into for sure ALL Star status and improve on his 20 ppg and 10 rpg now that he has a year under his belt and more all around talent on the team. I really like the talent of Jamal Crawford and I think he will be a future All-Star PG, but how soon? I think the addition of Marcus Fizer and Brad Miller will add to our physical inside prescence in the paint. Yeah, I think Fizer will have problems guarding quicker SFW like Pippen and Grant Hill, but I think they will also have problems guarding Fizer and his incredible strength in the paint. Fizer is such a big question mark in regards to potential. At worst I think he will be at the Anthony Mason/Larry Johnson level and at best a bigger Charles Barkley. I like the scoring of Ron Mercer and defense of Ron Artest if only we could combine Mercer's scoring and Artest defense into one player we would have a hell of a player. I am an optimist about all this coming together, so I am predicting 43 wins and a playoff spot; however, I acknowledge 25 wins is possible too.

The Bulls will have a tough time hitting 30 wins. For those of you who point to the Bulls going .500 with Kukoc in the lineup, remember that Kukoc already knew the triangle. With so many new guys trying to learn it, confusion will happen for a while.

John R. Colgan

If this team won 25 games I think it would be a very good sign. Consider that Brad 'the real deal' Miller is going to have to provide a lot of veteran leadership and you are probably starting two rookies and another guy with one year under his belt. I don't like it.

Crawford or Fizer or someone will have to really come on for this team to come close to winning 30 games.

Perhaps because we have a young, inexperienced team that is unfamiliar with the offense, the defense, and each other. We have some pretty big holes when it comes to rebounding and interior defense...

And the rest of the season, we were about .210. Do you remember that?

Which one is familiar with the triangle offense? Which one is the three-point shooter that will stretch the opposing defense?

And this will happen this year? Do have any concept of just how different it is to play in the NBA compared to Europe? He's young and has plenty of talent, but you are asking for a near miracle from him. Give him a couple of years to develope....

It's funny that it never occured to you that, perhaps, the other teams have improved (with a couple of exceptions) too...

Fizer is a good inside player. Defensively, he should be able to defend most SF and a great deal of the PF as long as they are inside. Once he gets outside, he doesn't have the speed to defend the SF, especially the quicker ones that can handle the ball or shoot the three.

That means opposing defenses will be able to collapse, making it tougher for EB, Miller, and Fizer for score. Mercer also gets a great deal of his points from driving and short jumpers...

3apg

Mercer gets most of his points on short to mid-range jumpers and by driving the lane/backing smaller guards into the lane. That is going to be tougher with Fizer, Brand, and Miller all in the lane, and no real 3-point threat.

Miller did that from a backup role. Starting and being the primary center will be a much different situation. Again, he will also be working in a crowded lane, both offensively and defensively...

Probably more like 2-4 ppg and 2 rpg in limited time, and I would guess that wew will see EB and Fizer floating down to the 'center' role quite a bit.

Probably more like 12-14 ppg and 4-5 rpg. He isn't a good rebounder and will be working in a fairly crowded lane.

I would guess 12 ppg, 5 apg, maybe 2 rpg. I think that there will be a focus on getting the ball inside and most of his points will come from breaks and mid-range jumpers when the ball is thrown back out. It looks like we might be able to clear the lane and post him up...

I think he could do this, and wouldn't be suprised if he gets more time than Tarlac (his ability to pass the ball may get him some time)...

This might be hard to do. Mercer, Fizer, Miller, and Crawford will all be fighting for shots. The lane will also be more cluttered unless the Bulls can come up with a viable 3-point/longer range attack...

I'm looking for Artest to improve offensively. I'm hoping for 12-14 ppg...

I'm hoping for a better record (23-24 wins) and being competitive in every game. They have a lot to learn, but, hopefully, we have enough talent that we can be very competitive next year. Until then, I think it will be a long year.

I truly hope the Bulls prove me wrong...

Pink Floyd said that he might scrap the Triangle. This might be the time to do it.