Kori Ellis
01-04-2005, 03:29 AM
Sam Smith
Curry a dilemma for Bulls
January 3, 2005
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-050103smith,1,3155128.column?coll=cs-home-utility
Was it a great night for Eddy Curry? Other than the nausea, of course.
We assume that was Curry's night Monday after he stayed home with the flu and missed the Pistons' 87-80 victory over the Bulls.
It's easy to suggest the loss demonstrated Curry's inestimable value to the Bulls because they were outscored in the lane 42-14. When the Bulls won on Dec. 22 in Detroit, they had Curry and won the points-in-the-paint battle 30-22.
But Curry wasn't much of a factor in that game, playing just 24 minutes and getting 12 points and three rebounds. Tyson Chandler was pivotal in that December win with 13 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. And again Monday, Chandler offset Ben Wallace with an aggressive game, getting 14 rebounds, including eight offensive, three blocks and six points as the starting center.
"Chandler is one of my favorite players in the league," Pistons coach Larry Brown said.
"You look tonight. He had six points but also an unbelievable effect on the game. Tyson rebounds, defends and challenges shots."
And gives the Bulls at the starting center a much different look, one that is becoming more popular around the NBA.
"Obviously, Eddy would have gotten some points in the paint," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "But we had a hold of the game even without Eddy. Eddy scores early and establishes something in the paint.
"We don't have that option on our team to throw the ball down low to someone who can catch and score. But when I look at points in the paint [for the Pistons], I believe I'll see a lot of transition baskets and [Richard] Hamilton curling tight and shooting 14-footers."
He'll see shots that came over the Bulls' small guards, one issue that offsets Ben Gordon's shooting, which is becoming brilliant. As the old Pistons can see, he's the new Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson. Gordon can heat up, as he did with a 17-point second quarter, but because he's small and not a great ballhandler, you cannot play him that much.
No, the Bulls' issue remains Curry.
The Bulls played good defense Monday. They hustled and were active. They outrebounded the bigger Pistons, forced more turnovers and led in floor burns.
It was the kind of hustle, aggressiveness and activity Skiles and general manager John Paxson have talked about in the team they want to build and the appreciative crowd of nearly 19,000 enjoyed.
It's not quite the same team when Curry plays, a little slower and less aggressive, but better offensively.
Certainly, this Bulls team remains a work in progress. Chris Duhon isn't a quality starting player, and eventually Antonio Davis will wear out. Monday, their combined 1-for-10 shooting hurt, though they frustrated the Pistons with their hustle.
The question facing the Bulls, and their future, is whether they want the type of team they had on the floor Monday or the stronger, inside team they can have with Curry.
Curry has played well this season and shown what kind of player he'll likely be—a good scorer in the post, an average to below-average rebounder and a sometimes defender.
There are worse things to have than a 7-foot, 300-pounder. And if you happen to get into the playoffs, which never seems out of the question in the Eastern Conference, it might help to have that presence in the halfcourt.
As one team executive put it: "The day you trade Curry you'll be looking for someone like that."
Yes, Curry has opened some eyes. It happens mostly when the team wins, which the Bulls have been doing with some regularity of late.
It has been a nice formula. Ben has been Gordonesque at times, and Andres Nocioni gives that defensive and hustle lift off the bench; he once raced among four Pistons' defenders awaiting a rebound and stole it.
There are some pieces needed, but there's a decidedly different look to the Bulls without Curry.
And that kind of basketball is growing in popularity around the NBA and becoming effective.
It didn't hurt Seattle on Monday night going on the road against the league's dominant center without a true center and winning in Miami. Same with the Suns, the league's best team playing Amare Stoudemire at center and Shawn Marion at power forward.
Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien, one of the coaching students of the game, said recently when he came to the 76ers he asked general manager Billy King to build a team with perimeter players and a shot blocker.
The question is whether that kind of game can endure in the playoffs inasmuch as the conventional thinking is the game slows in the playoffs and a team needs a halfcourt game.
It remains the question facing the Bulls.
With a few pieces, which would involve trading Curry, they could field a look like Seattle, say, or what many around the NBA are urging with defensive rules aimed to help perimeter players. Or ride Curry at a time when there are few legitimate post players and use that as their edge?
Get well, soon, Eddy, and give the Bulls a chance to decide.
Curry a dilemma for Bulls
January 3, 2005
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-050103smith,1,3155128.column?coll=cs-home-utility
Was it a great night for Eddy Curry? Other than the nausea, of course.
We assume that was Curry's night Monday after he stayed home with the flu and missed the Pistons' 87-80 victory over the Bulls.
It's easy to suggest the loss demonstrated Curry's inestimable value to the Bulls because they were outscored in the lane 42-14. When the Bulls won on Dec. 22 in Detroit, they had Curry and won the points-in-the-paint battle 30-22.
But Curry wasn't much of a factor in that game, playing just 24 minutes and getting 12 points and three rebounds. Tyson Chandler was pivotal in that December win with 13 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. And again Monday, Chandler offset Ben Wallace with an aggressive game, getting 14 rebounds, including eight offensive, three blocks and six points as the starting center.
"Chandler is one of my favorite players in the league," Pistons coach Larry Brown said.
"You look tonight. He had six points but also an unbelievable effect on the game. Tyson rebounds, defends and challenges shots."
And gives the Bulls at the starting center a much different look, one that is becoming more popular around the NBA.
"Obviously, Eddy would have gotten some points in the paint," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "But we had a hold of the game even without Eddy. Eddy scores early and establishes something in the paint.
"We don't have that option on our team to throw the ball down low to someone who can catch and score. But when I look at points in the paint [for the Pistons], I believe I'll see a lot of transition baskets and [Richard] Hamilton curling tight and shooting 14-footers."
He'll see shots that came over the Bulls' small guards, one issue that offsets Ben Gordon's shooting, which is becoming brilliant. As the old Pistons can see, he's the new Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson. Gordon can heat up, as he did with a 17-point second quarter, but because he's small and not a great ballhandler, you cannot play him that much.
No, the Bulls' issue remains Curry.
The Bulls played good defense Monday. They hustled and were active. They outrebounded the bigger Pistons, forced more turnovers and led in floor burns.
It was the kind of hustle, aggressiveness and activity Skiles and general manager John Paxson have talked about in the team they want to build and the appreciative crowd of nearly 19,000 enjoyed.
It's not quite the same team when Curry plays, a little slower and less aggressive, but better offensively.
Certainly, this Bulls team remains a work in progress. Chris Duhon isn't a quality starting player, and eventually Antonio Davis will wear out. Monday, their combined 1-for-10 shooting hurt, though they frustrated the Pistons with their hustle.
The question facing the Bulls, and their future, is whether they want the type of team they had on the floor Monday or the stronger, inside team they can have with Curry.
Curry has played well this season and shown what kind of player he'll likely be—a good scorer in the post, an average to below-average rebounder and a sometimes defender.
There are worse things to have than a 7-foot, 300-pounder. And if you happen to get into the playoffs, which never seems out of the question in the Eastern Conference, it might help to have that presence in the halfcourt.
As one team executive put it: "The day you trade Curry you'll be looking for someone like that."
Yes, Curry has opened some eyes. It happens mostly when the team wins, which the Bulls have been doing with some regularity of late.
It has been a nice formula. Ben has been Gordonesque at times, and Andres Nocioni gives that defensive and hustle lift off the bench; he once raced among four Pistons' defenders awaiting a rebound and stole it.
There are some pieces needed, but there's a decidedly different look to the Bulls without Curry.
And that kind of basketball is growing in popularity around the NBA and becoming effective.
It didn't hurt Seattle on Monday night going on the road against the league's dominant center without a true center and winning in Miami. Same with the Suns, the league's best team playing Amare Stoudemire at center and Shawn Marion at power forward.
Philadelphia coach Jim O'Brien, one of the coaching students of the game, said recently when he came to the 76ers he asked general manager Billy King to build a team with perimeter players and a shot blocker.
The question is whether that kind of game can endure in the playoffs inasmuch as the conventional thinking is the game slows in the playoffs and a team needs a halfcourt game.
It remains the question facing the Bulls.
With a few pieces, which would involve trading Curry, they could field a look like Seattle, say, or what many around the NBA are urging with defensive rules aimed to help perimeter players. Or ride Curry at a time when there are few legitimate post players and use that as their edge?
Get well, soon, Eddy, and give the Bulls a chance to decide.