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How obvious has it become that Chris Duhon and Andres Nocioni are the two guys pushing the Bulls forward this December?  Their gutsy, put-the-team-on-their-back performances have added more than just energy to the Bulls — they’ve added wins.  Duhon’s prowess early on this season (3 12-point performances in consecutive games this month, including 9 assists in a win at Charlotte) may look slightly better because of Captain Kirk’s rough going so far in 2007-2008, but prowess is a rare commodity for these Bulls.

And maybe it’s partly due to the word in front of “Kirk” — Skiles has refused to start Duhon instead of one of our team captains, despite benching Hinrich routinely while Duhon and Noc turn games around and help the Bulls build larger leads.  Hinrich seems to be getting back to form but the only given for his play is that it’s sure to vary between “on” one night and “who-knows-where-the-switch-is” off the next.

In the meantime, Skiles has chosen his typical tight-lipped approach…starting the same 5 guys (Deng, Smith, Wallace, Gordon, Hinrich), but showing everyone who he thinks the best 5 are by playing them during key stretches of several 3rd  quarters (Deng, Nocioni, Noah, Gordon/Hinrich, Duhon).

Why not start this group?

• Is it because Ben Wallace makes more money per game than the cost of 18,000 headbands?

• Is it because Noc’s crazy awesomeness increases to a peak level after watching his team get outhustled for the first 6-10 minutes of the game?

• Is it because Skiles loves lists of 3 from bloggers?

The Bulls are starting to right the ship, and beating the Pistons for the 2nd time this season last week was great — but until we see a new starting lineup, we aren’t going to beat the likes of the Celtics.  Don’t even get me started on the Western Conference.

Well well well Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s about that time again, as the Bulls preseason schedule is nearly upon us. We will soon resume our rigorous in season podcasting (minus the rigor), as we will finally have something to talk about again. Please, don’t cry for us though, we do indeed love bringing you our take on all things Bulls.

We do apologize for the lack of summer content, but as discussed in a recent episode, it may be for the best. If you didn’t listen to said episode, well, to sum it up, no news can be good news. We all have a solid set of expectations that don’t have any recent developments to throw them off. So yes, boys and girls, for once, being the stable one isn’t an awful thing.

Remember, there is a game on Friday night this week too, but Comcast SportsNet isn’t airing it in primetime, instead opting for Blackhawks action (be sure to check out Hawkscast if hockey is your cup of tea). It will instead be on at about 2 AM central time. Just like those recent Cubs games!

Hopefully you will hear from us soon, and vice versa…

We recently decided to take a look at the best and worst fee agent signings of the summer season. As always, we would love to use topics from our listeners in our episodes (or on this blog), so email any possibilities to hosts@bullscast.com. If you send in a topic, we will also publish your opinions!

Nick

The Good

Jason Kapono - I really think the one thing Toronto lacked was a consistent outside threat in the playoffs. MoPete may have been that at one point but hasn’t been lately.

Brandon Bass - Dalls needs a hustle guy, they lost a lot when they lost Adrian Griffin, and I think Bass may be a hustling, PF version of Adrian.

Desmond Mason - He is still very young and athletic, even if his shot is broken right now. He could turn into a big gamble that pays off, especially if Bobby Simmons doesn’t come back.

Honorable mention to Maceo Baston, Grant Hill and Casey Jacobsen

The Bad

Penny - Really, Penny is back in the league? Didn’t he have like 7 really great years and then spend the next 7 being a huge albatross of a contract?

Jamaal Maggloire - Nope, cannot support the signing and then touting of signing by New Jersey. He had 1 good year, count em, one. I am SO FREAKING GLAD the Bulls didn’t sign him.

Smush Parker - I love Smush, but he is not a good fit for Miami. I think Riles may actually be trying to cause this team to fail so that he has a good enough reason to leave. And really, is he an upgrade?
Honorable mention to Eddie Jones (been done for 2 years now) and Rashard Lewis (not worth that much $ and not going to change the east).

Brad

The Sweet

Jarvis Hayes – He is a solid player and the Pistons needed somebody to be able to come off the bench, be athletic and play a lot of positions.

Ime Udoka – The Spurs keep getting richer. The guy can D it up and learn from Bowen as well as provide a decent 3-point shot. The guy fits the Spur mold perfectly.

Grant Hill – Maybe he will be the “Magic” the suns need to finally get to the finals. He is a steady veteran presence who will be just as important in the locker room as he is on the floor – maybe he can even back up Nash at point!

The Salty

Rashard Lewis – He is a really nice player, but just not worth the money and I don’t think he even guarentess the Magic the playoffs let alone a serious run at the finals. Yes I know it was a sign and trade, but for all intents and purposes it was a free agent deal.

Austin Croshere – He had one good year and I don’t really see him fitting in the style of the Warriors…Nelly’s problem now.

Jason Kapono – Way overpaid to not play any defense. I believe he can shoot, but that is it…he looked just silly against the Bulls in the playoffs and didn’t even play that much. He doesn’t do half of what MoPete does and I think the tradeoff actually makes the Raps a little worse.

The NBA shopping season over and pre-season is right around the corner…enjoy the start of football season and the Cubs while they’re battling it out in the NL Central and get ready for a great winter of NBA basketball.

Time to do some mocking…and watch Nick totally wipe the floor with Brad despite his countless hours of prep.  By the way, Brad took the mock as though he were the GM for every team.  On the other hand…let’s just say Nick figured out enough not to over think it.

First up Nick

1. Portland – Greg Oden. Duh.

2. Seattle – Kevin Durant. Duh.

3. Atlanta – Al Horford. Too much talent to pass, they can get a PG later.

4. Memphis – Mike Conley. Best available, and they don’t have a PG.

5. Boston – Brandan Wright. I don’t know, everybody seems to like him though.

6. Milwaukee – Jeff Green. He’s good, and it would free up Michael Redd some on D.  If Bobby Simmons comes back, ever, they could create huge matchup problems.

7. Minnesota – Spencer Hawes. The wolves have evidently made a promise.

8. Charlotte – Corey Brewer. Defense, Defense, Defense.

9. Chicago – Yi Jianlin.  Best available- we’ll see.

10. Sacramento – Joakim Noah. PLEASE PAX DON’T DRAFT HIM!!

11. Atlanta – Acie Law.  Finally a PG for the Hawks.

12. Philadelphia – Al Thornton. Scoring and size, what’s not to like.

13. New Orleans – Nick Young. Could be a dangerous combo with Chris Paul, plus if Peja plays like Peja again.

14. Los Angeles Clippers – Julian Wright.  He is slipping mightily because he won’t work out, I think.

Now Brad’s Turn

1.      Portland – Greg Oden.  This is the only choice to make.  He is the bigger difference maker of picks 1 and 1a.  You don’t pass up on the big time center for the big time scoring forward.  Oden, Aldridge, Roy, Randolph etc. is pretty sweet!

2.      Seattle – Kevin Durant.  The Sonics don’t have any work to do in this draft.  They just take the other guy.  Kevin Durant will be good for them.  He can be paired with Rashard Lewis or replace him and they still have 3 project centers that could step up.

3.      Atlanta – Al Horford.  The Hawks have a ton of forwards, so it may not make sense, but Horford is the 3^rd best player in the draft and the Hawks should decide to go with the best player available and he can go in and start over their #5 pick from last year Shelden Williams and provide a huge upgrade for a franchise that if they can clear up their logjam at forward and get a PG, they could be decent in 3 years

4.      Memphis – Mike Conley.  I did everything I could to not have Memphis make this selection here, but they have to do it.  They have 4 other starters in Gasol, Gay, Warrick, Miller and Conley could be the engine that might make them go.

5.      Boston – Yi Jianlin.  They will probably be involved in some sort of trade and I am sticking with the best player available strategy.  Yi and Jefferson would make provide them with a small running front line to go along with their young guards and Pierce.  No one left makes a difference for them and Boston is a big enough market for Yi to be happy, but they probably won’t be making those picks.

6.      Milwaukee – Joakim Noah.  They could use a point guard, but there isn’t one available that is worth picking unless Conley falls.  Noah adds some beef to the front line with Bogut and Villanueva to go along with their decent combination of small forwards and standout Michael Redd.  Noah’s energy and defense could put the Bucks in the playoff picture if they can stay healthy.

7.      Minnesota – Spencer Hawes.  The kid has the offensive skill that can team with Garnett and learn the defense.  There is a chance that Garnett is gone and this pick becomes Jeff Green instead or maybe even Brandan Wright.  Minnesota should reload and trade Garnett, but if they keep the team as is I think Hawes should be the pick.

8.      Charlotte – Corey Brewer.  He is the best player on the board and can play the 2 or the 3 for Morrison and Wallace assuming they resign him.  He would be a great defensive ying to their offensive yang.  He is a great player and would move right into their rotation or even starting at the 2 guard.

9.      Chicago – Jeff Green.  I don’t think the Bulls will keep this pick, but it is clear it will be between Green and Brandan Wright based on this mock and Green is more polished and can play right away without repeating Tyrus Thomas’s rookie year.  Green should be a solid pro and contributor or a trade piece or even allow us to sign and trade Noc for our frontcourt scorer.  The Bulls are really in a tough spot because this is not a great place to be picking because they probably will have a list of guys they want and will get whoever is left.

10.  Sacramento – Brandan Wright.  He is the best player on the board.  The questions about his motor and his being NBA ready.  Either way, he has skills and shouldn’t have fallen this far.  The Kings get a good player and grab the clear end of the top 10.

11.  Atlanta – Acie Law.  They have to take their point guard now if they don’t take Conley at number 3.  Acie Law is pro ready and can run the team next to Joe Johnson in the backcourt and the coach will have to figure out the front court rotation or the GM will need to make some moves.  Acie Law is a good safe pick and if the Hawks screw this up and don’t get a point guard, they should just allow me to be their GM because they have talent.  They just need to put it together in the right way.

12.  Philadelphia – Al Thornton.  He can step in and start at the 3, something Carney couldn’t do last year.  Iggy can play the 2 next to Miller.  They could use a power forward, but there isn’t one available that is worth of the pick.  I expect them to take McRoberts later on and see if he can pan out in the pro world better than he finished his short college career.  One other possibility might be Jason Smith from Colorado St. who would fill a void in the frontcourt, but it might be a bit early.

13.  New Orleans – Julian Wright.  Again he is the best player available and again there is a drop-off in talent after Wright.  He can play the 3 for the Hornets and assuming Peja is healthy he can play a big 2 guard.  Wright has a good all around game and can definitely replace Mason if they don’t resign him.  He is a good player and a steal at this point.

14.  Los Angeles Clippers – Javarus Crittenton.  He is a big point guard that might be able to replace the unfortunate injury of Shaun Livingston who won’t be playing this year and maybe never again.  He is a big guard and can play both guard positions in a back up role this year and learn a bit from San Cassell as he rides off into the sunset at the end of a good career.