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player ready...This French guy wanted to ask me some questions before the Bulls beat Milwaukee 97-81 in Thursday night’s exhibition finale at the United Center.
He was doing a story on Bulls rookie Joakim Noah, the son of former French Open tennis champion and now singer Yannick Noah, whom the journalist said is probably the most famous person in France. I thought that would be Tony Parker’s wife.
And then it hit me, what’s missing with the Bulls this season, besides favoring Krispy Kreme doughnuts over croissants. And, by the way, is this the training table for the world’s greatest athletes? Ah, but I digress.
Joie de vivre. That’s it. This Bulls team just doesn’t seem to be having much fun.
I know, I know, it’s preseason, and everyone’s ready to get going with the real thing. And I know you don’t want to put out all that much for fear of injury, which didn’t work too well Thursday, either, as Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas and Noah limped off with injuries.
But you get the sense watching this Bulls team that we — OK, at least I — believe there’s something missing. And not just a Kobe Bryant.
The Bulls did look somewhat more interested Thursday in going to 4-3 in exhibitions, though against a Milwaukee team without three of its five starters because Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd are hurt and Mo Williams did not play.
But there has been a general lethargy that has seemed more than just the usual preseason malaise. Why that should be I’m not sure because guys are just coming back from 4 1/2 months off. And this is supposed to be their year.
Get this: The Bulls are not a young team anymore.
Kirk Hinrich has been out of high school eight years, Ben Gordon six. That’s how you measure NBA experience in this era. These are veterans. Chris Duhon is seven years out. Ben Wallace and Joe Smith are both in their 30s. Andres Nocioni turns 29 next month. This should be their time because the window is closing more than this team is developing.
Meanwhile, Smith, at least, showed Thursday the debate over Tyrus Thomas or Aaron Gray as a starter should be over. He scored 12 points in 22 spirited minutes and proved he should be the starter, which would be no question if he hadn’t been hurt. Of course, injuries have become something of a habit for him in recent years.
As for Thomas, he is young, though perhaps someone should allow him to study the system. He seems to wander around on offense looking for a lob. He doesn’t appear to have much of an impact on the game, which is somewhat embarrassing given the fabulous production of Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, coming off a 31-point, 13-rebound effort Wednesday after 29 and nine on Oct. 14.
Young players often get measured against players their size in their drafts. I won’t criticize the Bulls for getting Thomas because it was reasonable given it was the Bulls’ only true gamble based on potential in what has been a series of excellent drafts. And you can only have so many good citizens and smart players who can’t jump.
But it would be nice if Thomas took the game more seriously, though his uneven play is hardly fatal for the Bulls.
This season is a great opportunity because while there are several good teams in the East, there are no great ones. Plus there’s a chance to start fast for a change, with a relatively soft opening Western Conference trip. With the friendly December and January schedule, the Bulls could run up a big lead in the conference.
Sure, Boston should be good. But the Celtics have a whole new team with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and their development will take time. Miami’s Dwyane Wade probably is out through November after surgery. The Nets’ Nenad Krstic isn’t ready after surgery last season. The Cavs have a pair of holdouts. The East is better because it’s deeper in talent, but it hardly has a great team.
The Bulls haven’t looked yet like they will assume that role despite what appears to be the conference’s best depth.
Perhaps there’s uncertainty in the lack of contract extensions for Gordon and Luol Deng. Maybe it has been the lack of the team playing together, for the most part, until Thursday with Gordon and Deng missing games and coach Scott Skiles experimenting with nine different players starting. And that’s with Smith not starting a game yet.
Could they be satisfied being talked about as contenders and possible All-Stars?
The opportunity is there this season for the Bulls to experience the joy of NBA success. But are they ready?
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