As I See It: "Can't Wait!"

I can't wait for the playoffs....

I can't wait for Jo' to get back, hopefully before the All-Star break...

I can't wait for the Chicago Bulls to look like the contender that we all know that they are...

Bart Scott said it best.....



"Can't Wait" for Jo' to get back...

• When Joakim Noah went out against the Toronto Raptors, the Bulls were 18-12. Carlos Boozer was just getting back after missing the first three months, and the team was finding its niche. Defense is the Chicago Bulls identity, youthful vigor is the fuel that makes them go. Without Joakim Noah, the Bulls lack that intensity in roves. It is without a doubt what intangibles Joakim Noah brings to the team. His stats speak for themselves, averaging a double/double daily in both points and gaudy rebounding numbers. It is his intensity on the defensive end, his energy on the court despite suffering through any kind of pain or adversity, being booed or otherwise. It is those things rather, that motivate him to play at an even higher level. Game 6 vs the Boston Celtics in the 2009 NBA Playoffs was Noah's coming out party. Displaying the heart and relentless effort and hustle that have now become the staple that identifies who Joakim Noah is as an athlete, teammate and representative of the Chicago Bulls.

• After Carlos Boozer came back after injury on Dec. 1, the Bulls were 7-2 leading up to Noah's injury. All wins were consecutive wins, including a 88-84 win against the L.A. Lakers. The Bulls have gone 16-7 in Jo's absence. The biggest flaw in the time spent without Joakim Noah isn't that he is desperately needed back, but rather the need to find some competency at the 2-guard spot. The offense has stalled without any significant production from the position. In recent games it seems as if defense has had to take a backseat to compensate for the lack of any offensive consistentcy. Derrick Rose has had to pick up a significant amount of offensive slack and has suffered substantially on the defensive side of the ball. Keith Bogans is scoring 3 points per game, but only shooting the ball about three times per games. With Noah's return, and his newfound conviction to the offensive end, that should take alot of the slack off of the shooting guard position in the half court game. Working the ball from inside out with two legitimate offensive front court players will make it easy for Derrick and Keith and even Deng. The Bulls pick & roll game could be the most dangerous in the league if Noah and Boozer can continue to learn to play with each other and Derrick becomes more comfortable distributing and not having to take over the game offensively. Derrick Rose's ppg has increased significantly in the both Boozer and Noah's absence. Look for it to drop with them both back healthy, hopefully that does not affect his MVP chances, as long as his assists improves and he continues to be the leader of the team. Improvements statistcally on the defensive end couldn't hurt either..

"Can't Wait" for the playoffs...

• I think it is safe to say that we will not see neither the Miami Heat nor the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs this year. That is great considering the fact that the last two seasons we have lost to both the LeBron James Caveliers ( James' now with the Miami Heat ), and the Boston Celtics in that epic first round battle ( Boston has reloaded in the front court adding Jermaine and Shaquille O'Neal ) that has them tagged playoff rivals. So the emotion can be saved for later on the playoffs, we might just get the opportunity to see the Bulls best an unworthy lower seed ( Charlotte, Orlando, Philly, Indiana ) and move into the second round of the playoff. That should be all the motivation that the young Bulls roster needs to propel them into a deep playoff run. There is an ample amount of Bulls playoff experience; Coach Thib's won a NBA Championship in Boston with Brian Scalabrine, and every other Chicago Bulls player outside of rookie Omer Asik, has saw minutes in the playoffs. The most significant x-factor being 15yr veteran Kurt Thomas, playing in over  89 games and starting 44 playoff games averaging 5 pts and 5 rebounds, he provides the exact experience and leadership in the front court that the likes of Boozer, Noah, Gibson, and Asik will need on their journey to the Eastern Conference and NBA Finals.

"Can't Wait" for the Bulls to look like the playoff contenders we all know that they are...

• The starting rotation of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, and Keith Bogans doesn't exactly sound like a 30 Rock style cast to take into the playoffs, comparing to the likes of the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, and L.A. Lakers. But one things that all the above teams can tell you about the Chicago Bulls is that they are dangerous. Not Atlanta Hawks 3,4 seed upset dangerous, no they are play up to or down to anyone's skill level dangerous. For better or worse. But the one constant that sticks more than any is the staple that this can easily be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, given that they improve in the shooting guard position. Regardless if they trade of sign anyone at the 2-spot, with a healthy Noah back into the lineup, the Bulls are a threat to challenge any team in the NBA. They have already beat the defending champ Lakers, the Miami Heat, and bitter rival Boston Celtics, all without completely healthy parts. The resume is still being written, but thus far it is safe to say that the playoffs can't come soon enough. Can't wait.... But first things first, Joakim Noah gets healthy and rejoins and hungry Bulls team looking to prove " Why can't we be NBA Champions?"... 

"Can't Wait".....