2009-10 Chicago Bulls Season Starts Tonight! Season Predictions!

By Sean Mackey

Finally, after a 4 month hiatus, the Bulls are back! Tonight Chicago will open up the season at home and in front of a nationally televised audience against the new look San Antonio Spurs.

Derrick Rose will be starting after playing only one preseason game way back on Oct 2nd. Tony Parker was injured late in the 3rd quarter and never returned during last nights 17 point victory over the New Orleans Hornets last night. He is however expected to start tonight.

Tonights game is going to be tough after watching how San Antonio played last night. They have a very deep bench now that includes Antonio McDyess and rookie sleeper Dejuan Blair. Blair had 14 points and 11 rebounds last night coming off the bench. Thomas and Gibson are going to have to out hustle him if they want the ball or 2nd chance opportunities.

Anyways, I'm SUPER excited for this tonight's game and tomorrow's rematch with the Celtics. Tonight's game will be on TNT and tomorrow's on ESPN. Here are my predictons for the 2009-10 season.

Final Standings for the East:
1. Orlando Magic
2. Boston Celtics
3. Cleveland Cavs
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Chicago Bulls.
6. Washington Wizards
7. Toronto Raptors
8. Miami Heat
----------------------
9. Philly 76ers
10. Detroit Pistons
11. New York Knicks
12. New Jersey Nets
13. Milwaukee Bucks
14. Charlotte Bobcats
15. Indiana Pacers

Final Standings for the West
1. LA Lakers
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Portland Trailblazers
5. Utah Jazz
6. New Orleans Hornets
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
-----------------------------
9. Phoenix Suns
10. Golden State Warriors
11. Memphis Grizzlies
12. OKC Thunder
13. LA Clippers
14. Houston Rockets
15. Sacramento Kings

Finals Prediction: Lakers over Magic (4-2)

MVP: Lebron James
Defensive Player of the Year: Lebron James
Coach of the Year: Stan Van Gundy
Sixth Man of the Year: DeJuan Blair
Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Player of the Year: Brook Lopez

Bulls Fall To Magic 101-98, Free Money is Upset

By Sean Mackey

The Chicago Bulls preseason record fell to 5-2 with a loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night. The Bulls were without Derrick Rose (Achilles injury) and Lindsay Hunter (flu-like symptoms).

During the first quarter, Chicago was matching Orlando shot for shot. Noah got 2 fouls early on and was taken out and thankfully, so was Dwight Howard. With Rashard Lewis out, Michael Pietrus played a lot of unnecessary time at the 3 spot and was taking some horrible shots. This alone kept the Bulls into the game throughout the entire 1st half. At one point the Bulls were up by 9. Chicago stayed in the game until the final seconds when Vince Carter made two free throws to put the game away.

I was only able to watch the first half on one of those poor quality peer to peer sites that wouldn't enlarge to full screen until I passed out at half time. The Bulls defense was fantastic and I couldn't have been happier to see them stay in a game with the defending Eastern Conference Champions. Noah and Miller did their best against the NBA's best center but there's not much you can do with a guy who's that quick. Miller even took Dwight Howard off the dribble showing how deceiving his quickness is when he decides to use it.

The story of the night was how Taj Gibson started over Tyrus Thomas after putting up that monster double-double against Minnesota the other night. After the game, Thomas voiced his disgust to the press about not starting. "I don't think it should even be questionable from what I contributed to this team last season and what I did throughout camp, but like I said, he (Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro)is the guy that makes the decisions. Whatever decision he makes I still I have to go out and play,".

In Tyrus' defense, he is the starting PF for the Bulls and can only be consistant if he's starting and given the minutes. He was noticeably sour after coming off the bench and what VDN has against him is beyond me. Then again, in VDN's defense, it's only the preseason and he needs to see what his best option is at the PF spot to help win more games and keep his job.

Overall, the Bulls put in a great effort against one of the best teams in the league and almost won without their star player. The Bulls have one last preseason game left against the Washington Wizards on Friday before the nationally televised season opener against the San Antonio Spurs next week. Derrick Rose is unfortunately questionable for both games.

Preseason Win Over Indiana , Rose, Salmons & Thomas Out for Today's Game and NBA 2K10!

By Sean Mackey

The Bulls were able to pull out a win in their first preseason contest against the Indiana Pacers, 104-95. Rookie Taj Gibson led the way with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Derrick Rose had a solid game with 17 points and 3 assists and Luol Deng returned to the starting lineup with 15 points, going 9-9 at the free throw line. Salmons also chipped in a decent 15 points, going 6-8 on shooting.

Alex and I were in attendance for the first preseason game and I came to the conclusion that I feel really bad for Indiana fans. Literally, 1/3 of the arena was full and they have even less to be excited about than we do. I understand they're in a rebuilding stage but they need some lotto luck to get John Wall or something so they can start going in the right direction. Danny Granger is fantastic but he's really the only scorer they have. Then again, the Bulls don't really have a designated scorer either but I at least think we're going somewhat in the right direction. Taj Gibson looked decent. He's a hustler and seems like he really puts in an effort on every play. James Johnson looked lost and he couldn't get decent look the entire game.

Anyways, today the Bulls are playing the Utah Jazz, a team they were 4-0 against last season. The game is part of the NBA Europe Live Tour and they'll be playing in Luol Deng's hometown, London. The Bulls will be without John Salmons, Derrick Rose and Tyrus Thomas . Salmons is with his wife welcoming their second child, Rose is out with a sore right Achilles and ankle and Thomas is out with right hip contusion. Who in the hell VDN will start is completely up in the air, here's my projected starters of the game:

PG: Kirk Hinrich

SG: Derrick Byars

SF: Luol Deng

PF: Taj Gibson

C: Joakim Noah

PG: Deron Williams

SG: Ronnie Brewer

SF: Paul Millsap

PF: Carlos Boozer

C: Mehmet Okur

I'll be posting a web feed of the game via our Twitter account if one becomes available through Justin TV later today.

Also, in other news, NBA 2K10 comes out today! This is the 11th installment in the NBA 2K series. My Xbox 360 unfortunately crapped out with the "Red Ring of Death" about a week ago so it won't be until next week that I'm able to play it....sad face. This year's game boasts the inclusion of the D-League and the NBA Draft Combine (purchased separately through Xbox Live or the Playstation Network). If they could just include All-Star Weekend (3 point contest, dunk contest, skills challenge) like NBA Live does and actually change where the all-star game is every year in Association mode, the game would be perfect. I can't stand how you can go 7 seasons into association mode and still play the all-star game in the same location with the same coaches (even though the coaches have retired in the game). Talk about a continuity error. Regardless, you should pick up the game! It's hands down the best one out on the market and the one Alex and I would endorse....if we endorsed things. NBA Live hasn't been great since 2003 and this year's version is even more arcade-like than in year's past. They do however have a great NBA All-Star Weekend feature though.

Preseason Starts Tomorrow in Indiana!

By Sean Mackey

Finally, after a 5 month wait, the Chicago Bulls are back! The boys in red will be taking on the Indiana Pacers at the Conseco Fieldhouse tomorrow night at 7pm in the first of 8 preseason exhibitions. I didn't think I would be this excited with Ben Gordon leaving us for the dirty Pistons, but I have some faith that Chicago can make it to the playoffs this year. With a new emphasis on defense, the Bulls will look to shut teams down then run the ball. I like that idea but can the Bulls actually play defense? Well, we'll get our first glance at the team tomorrow night and see how well they do against a team they "should" be blowing out by 20 on a regular basis. Here's a look at the projected starters:

PG: Derrick Rose
SG: John Salmons
SF: Luol Deng
PF: Tyrus Thomas
C: Joakim Noah

PG: TJ Ford
SG: Brandon Rush
SF: Danny Granger
PF: Troy Murphy
C: Roy Hibbert

Chicago's A-Gray is going to be out for 6-8 weeks with an injury and Indiana will be without rookie Tyler Hansbrough and SG Mike Dunleavy. Overall, the Pacers starting five is terrible. Granger's a great player but he can't shoulder that kind of load.

Things to Watch For:

1. James Johnson - The biggest question mark in the 2009 NBA Draft, will he succeed?

2. Joakim Noah - Worked on post moves and put on 5 lbs of muscle. The man is ready to bang.

3. Luol Deng - Out for most of last season, will he return in top form?

4. John Salmons - Can he compensate for the loss of Ben Gordon?

5. Derrick Rose - All-star material? You bet.

Alex and I will be in attendance towards the nosebleeds for this colossal battle of crappiness sporting our ridiculous 1990's Champion jerseys and heckling Pacers fans.

2009-10 Bulls National TV Broadcast Schedule Released!

By Sean Mackey

The Chicago Bulls 2009-10 National TV Broadcast Schedule was finally released yesterday afternoon. This year, the Bulls have 27 national television appearances between TNT, ESPN and WGN America. This is two more appearances than last season yet it still doesn't top the 2006-07 season's 36 nationally televised games. I once again chose not to include the NBA TV games on this listing since us Northern Kentuckians do not get NBA TV unless we have a subscription to Direct TV or Dish Network (which I don't). This will also be the first time since the infamous Miami Heat ring night massacre, that the Bulls first game of the season will be nationally televised. With that being said, I'm hoping for a 50 point win over the Spurs.

Here's the listing:

Thursday October 29th vs. San Antonio Spurs, 8:00 p.m. TNT
Friday October 30th at Boston Celtics, 8:00 p.m. ESPN
Thursday November 5th at Cleveland Cavaliers, 8:00 p.m. TNT
Saturday November 7th vs. Charlotte Bobcats, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Thursday November 19th at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. TNT
Thursday November 26th at Utah Jazz, 10:30 p.m. TNT
Friday December 4th at Cleveland Cavaliers, 8:00 p.m. ESPN
Tuesday December 15th vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Saturday December 19th vs. Atlanta Hawks, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Saturday December 26th vs. New Orleans Hornets, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Saturday January 2nd vs. Orlando Magic, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Saturday January 9th vs. Minnesota T-Wolves, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Thursday January 14th at Boston Celtics, 8:00 p.m. TNT
Friday January 22nd at Phoenix Suns, 10:30 p.m. ESPN
Saturday January 23rd at Houston Rockets, 8:30 p.m. WGN
Friday February 5th at Atlanta Hawks, 8:00 p.m. ESPN
Saturday February 6th vs. Miami Heat, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Tuesday February 16th vs. New York Knicks, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Saturday February 20th vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Monday March 1st vs. Atlanta Hawks, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Thursday March 11th at Orlando Magic, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Saturday March 20th at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:00 p.m. WGN
Thursday March 25th vs. Miami Heat, 8:00 p.m. TNT
Saturday March 27th vs. New Jersey Nets, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Saturday April 3rd vs. Charlotte Bobcats, 8:00 p.m. WGN
Thursday April 8th vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 8:00 p.m. TNT
Tuesday April 13th vs. Boston Celtics, 8:00 p.m. TNT

Chicago Bulls 2009-10 Schedule Released!

By Sean Mackey

The Chicago Bulls 2009-10 schedule was leaked today onto the Real GM forums. The Bulls open up their season on Thursday, October 29th against the San Antonio Spurs. The following night we get our playoff rematch against the Celtics on their home turf. Since it's on Friday, it seems like everyone assuming this one will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN. The schedule also features a disgusting set of 22 back to back games and a circus trip that will probably end with a 2-4 record (at best). February is going to be our one (semi)easy month with a ton of games against sub par teams.

Not to say I don't have faith that the Bulls can't win 45 games this next year, because they can but I'm just not that optimistic yet. I'm still very sceptical on how James Johnson will fit into the system and how well Deng is going to play at the 4 spot. However, a full season with a better Derrick Rose, John Salmons and a healthy Deng just might be enough to be as good, if not better than last year's team. Below you will see the schedule along with the link of the forum post on Real GM so you can talk back with the nerdiest of Bulls fans.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=934842&p=20449755#p20449755

October:

29th - vs San Antonio Spurs
30th - @ Boston Celtics

November:

1st - @ Miami Heat
3rd - vs Milwaukee Bucks
5th - @ Cleveland Cavaliers
7th - vs Charlotte Bobcats
10th - vs. Denver Nuggets
11 th - @ Toronto Raptors
14th - vs Philadelphia 76'ers
17th - @ Sacramento Kings
19th - @ Los Angeles Lakers
21st - @ Denver Nuggets
23rd - @ Portland Trail Blazers
26th - @ Utah Jazz
30th - @ Milwaukee Bucks

December:

2nd - vs Detroit Pistons
4th - @ Cleveland Cavaliers
5th - vs Toronto Raptors
8th - vs New Jersey Nets
9th - @ Atlanta Hawks
11th - vs Golden State Warriors
12th - vs Boston Celtics
15th - vs Los Angeles Lakers
17th - vs New York Knicks
19th - vs Atlanta Hawks
21st - vs Sacramento Kings
22nd - @ New York Knicks
26th - vs New Orleans Hornets
29th - vs Indiana Pacers
31st - @ Detroit Pistons

January:

2nd - vs Orlando Magic
4th - vs Oklahoma City Thunder
5th - @ Charlotte Bobcats
8th - @ Milwaukee Bucks
9th - vs Minnesota Timberwolves
11th - vs Detroit Pistons
14th - @ Boston Celtics
15th - vs Washington Wizards
18th - @ Golden State Warriors
20th - @ Los Angeles Clippers
22nd - @ Phoenix Suns
23rd - @ Houston Rockets
25th - @ San Antonio Spurs
27th - @ Oklahoma City Thunder
29th - @ New Orleans Hornets

February:

2nd - vs Los Angeles Clippers
3rd - @ Philadelphia 76'ers
5th - @ Atlanta Hawks
6th - vs Miami Heat
9th - @ Indiana Pacers
10th - vs Orlando Magic
-- ALL-STAR BREAK --
16th - vs New York Knicks
17th - @ New York Knicks
19th - @ Minnesota Timberwolves
20th - vs Philadelphia 76'ers
22nd - @ Washington Wizards
24th - vs Indiana Pacers
26th - vs Portland Trail Blazers
27th - @ Indiana Pacers

March:

1st - vs Atlanta Hawks
4th - vs Memphis Grizzlies
6th - vs Dallas Mavericks
9th - vs Utah Jazz
11th - @ Orlando Magic
12th - @ Miami Heat
16th - @ Memphis Grizzlies
17th - @ Dallas Mavericks
19th - vs Cleveland Cavaliers
20th - @ Philadelphia 76'ers
22nd - vs Houston Rockets
25th - vs Miami Heat
27th - vs New Jersey Nets
28th - @ Detroit Pistons
30th - vs Phoenix Suns

April:

2nd - @ Washington Wizards
3rd - vs Charlotte Bobcats
6th - vs Milwaukee Bucks
8th - vs Cleveland Cavaliers
9th - @ New Jersey Nets
11th - @ Toronto Raptors
13th - vs Boston Celtics
14th - @ Charlotte Bobcats

Bulls Waive Linton Johnson and Demarcus Nelson...Odom Re-signs with Lakers!

By Sean Mackey

The Bulls finally decided to cut ties with Linton Johnson and Demarcus Nelson yesterday. Johnson was here on his 2nd stint as a Bulls player and after being signed to a 10 day contact, was kept for the remainder of last season. I don't think Demarcus Nelson even saw a minute of playing time last season. This now puts the 2009-10 Bulls roster at 13.

You can tell it's a pretty slow news day when I'm even mentioning something as pointless as that.

The somewhat notable NBA news of the day comes from LA. Lamar Odom is re-signing with the Lakers!

Why am I excited you ask? Because Pat Riley couldn't lure him to Miami therefore not improving his rather mediocre team. I think Riley is gonna have a hard time trying to bring in a high quality player to South Beach this year by the trade deadline. If he does land someone, it's gonna be Amare, Boozer or Bosh. This would be disastrous for the Bulls who are expected to make a push for Mr. Dwayne Wade next summer. So, lets keep our fingers crossed that Riley is tradeblocked (yep, new term i made up) from making any moves that are going to improve his squad and satisfy his star player.

ESPN NBA analyst, Ric Bucher tweeted last night that the Odom's supposed meeting with Riley and Wade never even happened. Who the hell is making this shit up and who's telling the truth?

The Lakers are my favorite team in the west so I'm glad they got their 6th man locked down for the next few years. I also can't wait to see how Ron Ron is gonna work out. I hope he beats up Celtics fans this year instead of white trash from Detroit. "Boston Brawl"....gotta nice ring to it right? I think so.

Also, Ricky Rubio is said to have a 50/50 chance of playing for the T-Wolves this season. I don't really particularly care for how he or his family have handled this whole debacle but I'd like to see him play this year. It'd be good for the league and for Minnesota who are building a decent club. However, I'd rather see Bill Laimbeer be the coach as opposed to Mark Jackson but if it gets Mark out of the broadcast booth, than so be it. I hate that guy. Why he was selected to call the NBA Finals is beyond me. I would have rather had Isiah Thomas back behind the desk.

That is all for this week, have a great weekend!