2008 Woodie Awards
Bulls hope to repeat last years success
Young team will hope to have another strong season, desite having a new look
Mark Johnson
Issue date: 11/14/05 Section: Sports
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With White Sox hysteria in full swing these past few weeks, it's easy to overlook the Chicago Bulls who kicked off their season this week. Chicago is coming off a season in which it made the playoffs for the first time since the Jordan years. The roster for this year will look different due to the loss of center Eddy Curry.
After missing several games, including the playoffs because of a heart ailment and refusing a DNA test proving his ability to play, general manager John Paxson dealt Curry to a new NBA team. On Oct. 4, Curry along with Antonio Davis were traded to the New York Knicks.
In return, the Bulls received forwards Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney, as well as guard Jermaine Jackson. Sweetney, who performed well in the preseason, averaging 12.3 points per game, is expected to start as a power forward, though he came off the bench in the Bulls' season-opening win over Charlotte on Wednesday.
Thomas is also being considered a pivotal part of the Bulls rotation. Still, Curry led the Bulls with 16.1 points per game last season. The team now has no proven inside scoring option to take his place.
Chicago is also relying heavily on Tyson Chandler, who was drafted along with Curry in the 2001 NBA Draft and will now have to work with Elton Brand. Chandler signed a six-year contract extension in the offseason, insuring he will be in Chicago through the end of the decade.
Although Chandler stands 7-1, he weighs only 235 pounds and has yet to prove himself as a scoring threat at the professional level. He led the Bulls with 9.7 rebounds per game in 2004-05. He scored only eight points a contest, though being played mostly in a reserve role. He will almost certainly be the Bulls' starting center in this year's roster.
Along with Chandler and Sweetney, Bulls coach Scott Skiles is expected to start SF Luol Deng (11.7 points/5.3 rebounds per game in 2004-05), SG Kirk Hinrich (15.7/3.9), and PG Chris Duhon (5.9/2.6).
Hinrich, in particular, is expected to elevate his game after averaging 21.2 points a contest during the Bulls' postseason loss to Washington. Deng and Duhon are both second-year players, with Deng showing flashes of brillance during his rookie year. Duhon is doing a steady job running the point. Both should display elevated games this year.
After missing several games, including the playoffs because of a heart ailment and refusing a DNA test proving his ability to play, general manager John Paxson dealt Curry to a new NBA team. On Oct. 4, Curry along with Antonio Davis were traded to the New York Knicks.
In return, the Bulls received forwards Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney, as well as guard Jermaine Jackson. Sweetney, who performed well in the preseason, averaging 12.3 points per game, is expected to start as a power forward, though he came off the bench in the Bulls' season-opening win over Charlotte on Wednesday.
Thomas is also being considered a pivotal part of the Bulls rotation. Still, Curry led the Bulls with 16.1 points per game last season. The team now has no proven inside scoring option to take his place.
Chicago is also relying heavily on Tyson Chandler, who was drafted along with Curry in the 2001 NBA Draft and will now have to work with Elton Brand. Chandler signed a six-year contract extension in the offseason, insuring he will be in Chicago through the end of the decade.
Although Chandler stands 7-1, he weighs only 235 pounds and has yet to prove himself as a scoring threat at the professional level. He led the Bulls with 9.7 rebounds per game in 2004-05. He scored only eight points a contest, though being played mostly in a reserve role. He will almost certainly be the Bulls' starting center in this year's roster.
Along with Chandler and Sweetney, Bulls coach Scott Skiles is expected to start SF Luol Deng (11.7 points/5.3 rebounds per game in 2004-05), SG Kirk Hinrich (15.7/3.9), and PG Chris Duhon (5.9/2.6).
Hinrich, in particular, is expected to elevate his game after averaging 21.2 points a contest during the Bulls' postseason loss to Washington. Deng and Duhon are both second-year players, with Deng showing flashes of brillance during his rookie year. Duhon is doing a steady job running the point. Both should display elevated games this year.
