Will the Bulls put the moves on the Nets in the
Continental Love Shack?
Opponent File
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls play in the United Center in
Chicago, Il. Here is the Chicago
Bulls Roster.
Local Paper
Chicago
Sun-Times | Bulls
Chicago
Tribune | Bulls
Team Pages:
CNNSI.com
| Bulls
ESPN.com
| Bulls
NBA.com | Bulls
The
Sporting News | Bulls
Sportsline.com
| Bulls
Head Coach: Bill Cartwright.
2002 Draft: Jay Williams, PG (Duke), selected
at #2. Roger Mason, SG (Virginia), selected at #31. Lonny Baxter, PF (Maryland),
selected at #44.
New Players: Corrie Blount, C (Philadelphia,
Free Agency). Rick Brunson, G (Portland, Free Agency). Donyell Marshall,
F (Utah, Free Agency).
Season Goal: Grow up and try to become competitive
while keeping the United Center filled.
Record vs. Nets: 1- 1
Game
7: Bulls 100, Nets 93
Game
28: Nets 99, Bulls 83
Other Opponent Files
Projected Midwest Division Standing:
Chris Carrino: 6
Champagne: 6
Frank DiGraci: 7
Ian Eagle: 7
Joe Netsfan: 7
Love Shack
Can't the Nets get a little love here in the second half of the season? Well, into their annual Byron Scott-era second half swoon comes the Chicago Bulls, one great team to play if you're broken hearted over a cruel losing streak. The Bulls are struggling mightily with all the young lovers on the roster, having dropped seven in a row and 14 of their last 20 games since January 1. The lack of maturity has resulted in many quarrels, chiefly with Coach Bill Cartwright and GM Jerry Krause, over the difficulty of the triangle offense, playing time and rotations. Meanwhile, the Nets love doing the Continental, where their moves are silky smooth and their victories always as sweet as a Dove bar. And hey, no performance anxiety since there's hardly anyone watching and no reason to feel self-conscious. It's Valentine's Day in New Jersey: will the Bulls be passionate about extending the Nets mini-losing streak with some drinks, dinner, dunks and defense? Or will the Nets jilt the luckless Bulls with a "love 'em and leave 'em" quickie win?
See You in Hell, Dolans: No love for Cablevision fans on this Valentine's Day either. Tonight will be game number 41 lost to the Cablevision/YES mess. Do something about it: Click here.
- Joe
Chicago Bulls Cheat Sheet
The Story from Chicago: Stop the presses! Bulls GM Jerry Krause is being inflexible when it comes to trading his young players, according to Roman Modrowski (Chicago Sun-Times). With neither Bull point guard (Jay Williams or Jamal Crawford) happy about having to worry about which player will get playing time, Krause refuses to make a trade involving one of them so they'll feel better. Crawford feels like it's already been decided that Williams will be the point guard of the future and wants out, but Krause says not so fast. ''I don't think we've committed to anybody for anything. Nothing has been decided. 'We have two young guys who are both very good players. The story isn't told yet. It can work that way until something better comes along.''
Want more? Dalibor Bagaric wants to be traded as well. He told Bill Cartwright, ''If you don't want to play me, trade me. 'Speak to [Krause] and say, 'You don't give these guys an opportunity, let's give them an opportunity somewhere else.' " Modrowski reports that "Krause recently extended Bagaric's contract for a fourth season for $1.3 million, which is twice as much as Bagaric might have received as a free agent. But Bagaric denied having a good relationship with Krause." And this guy wants to be traded? He should be having Krause's babies for paying him that much.
Krause, again, on making trades to make players happy or just for the sake of a change: "I'm not doing what's in their best interest. I'm doing what's in our best interest. Ö If I don't get an offer I like, nobody's getting traded."
Pain Game: Marcus Fizer, F, (torn ligaments in right knee), Roger Mason, G (shoulder) and Dalibor Bagaric, C (knee) are on injured reserve.
Controversy: Jerry Krause's rebuilding plan, which called for completely gutting a championship powerhouse, remains controversial years later, and has yet to result in a good-looking team. Add to that number one pick Jay Williams' apparent unhappiness with all things triangle, and his "I want to go/I want to stay" backpedal.
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