Preview: Bulls @ Clippers Tonight at 9:30pm

The Bulls face the 18-22 Los Angeles Clippers on the second game of their extended road trip.  It’s going to be another tough matchup for them.  Last game, the Warriors were able to beat the Bulls by forcing the Bulls to play the Warriors’ style of play. It’s not that the Bulls were outmatched, they just simply could not keep up, and thus couldn’t execute in their own right.

The Clippers, on the other hand, do outmatch the Bulls.  Chris Kaman is going to be an incredibly tough matchup for Joakim Noah.  He’s averaging 20.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.  He shoots at a high percentage is very fundamentally sound in the post.  What always seems to happen against gifted scoring big-men when Joakim Noah guards them is that he does not slow them down at all.  He simply isn’t big enough nor defensively sound enough quite yet to stop a scorer in his tracks.  That’s not to say that Joakim probably won’t grab 16 rebounds of his own, but that doesn’t mean that he’ll be able to stop Kaman from getting his.  The one hope the Bulls have in containing Kaman is that he recently came off a four game stint with a bad back, so hopefully that bad back is still hindering him a bit.

On top of that, the Clippers have another imposing big-man in Marcus Camby.  The man is 35 years old yet continues to nearly average a double-double with 8.2 points and 11.6 rebounds, with 2.1 blocks per game to boot.  That puts him third in the league in rebounding right behind our boy Joakim Noah.  That also puts him at number 7 in the league in blocked shots.  Basically, he is a defensive juggernaut.  Joakim is going to have a really really tough time today with both Camby and Kaman crashing the glass.

I don’t see how Taj or Tyrus or going to have any effect whatsoever in slowing down Camby.  That’s sad to say considering that they are both over a decade younger than him.  I’m also hoping Brad Miller sees limited action tonight.  He has been absolutely atrocious lately.  I don’t think there’s any other word to describe his play.  Maybe pathetic.  Imagine if Tyrus and Brad Miller were our best options to start right now based on how they’re playing currently.  I can picture Kaman and Camby high-fiving themselves with drool rolling down their chins as soon as they take a look at the announced starters if that were the case.  I guess we should be thankful that it isn’t the case.

Besides the big-men, the Clippers are also gifted around the perimeter.  Baron Davis can be as good as anyone in the league when he wants to be, and when he’s healthy.  Davis was sick on Tuesday and didn’t practice, but he supposedly is slated to play tonight.  Maybe he caught the same thing as Kirk and Salmons.  If he plays, Derrick is going to have his hands full guarding Baron, who can drain it from anywhere anytime.  He’s also quick, even though he’s constantly hampered by injuries.  The key is for Derrick to be aggressive and attack Davis all four quarters.  As the game goes on, Baron should eventually give up on defense as he tends to do, and there’s no way he should be even close to keeping up with Derrick Rose by the time the 4th quarter roles around.  It’s all up to Derrick to maintain that aggressive mindset instead of that annoying passiveness that he exhibited against a pion like Stephen Curry.

Also, Eric Gordon is having a tremendous sophomore season.  Averaging 17.1 points per game.  He doesn’t really pass or rebound, but he’s a good spot-up shooter and create off the dribble with ease.  He’s also shooting at very impressive 47% from the field, which I found to be pretty surprising for a sophomore on the Clippers.  He’s learned how to shoot the 3-point shot, especially in the Staple Center, so I see him chucking a bunch tonight.  If Kirk is back in the line-up, he should do a nice job containing Gordon, since Gordon isn’t really taller than him, although he is more athletic.  If John Salmons has recovered from his stomach ailment and ends up playing tonight, he will have no excuse for letting the smaller Eric Gordon get the best of him on offense when he’s in the game.

Hopefully Kirk and Salmons are healthy.  We can’t afford anybody to be unavailable on this road trip in any game whatsoever.  As seen last game, we really do need Kirk’s defense, and I guess Salmons’s ability to spread the court (as ridiculous as that sounds).  Also, hopefully we get a good shooting effort from Luol Deng, since I don’t foresee us getting much inside with Kaman and Camby clogging the lanes.  This is a game where the Bulls will be forced to continue to rely on the 19 foot 2-point jumpshot aka no-man’s land.  It’s the space in between the three point line and the paint, and it’s where the Bulls, specifically, Luol Deng and Derrick Rose, love to shoot from.  You’ll also see Taj, Kirk Hinrich, and Tyrus (G-d help us) shooting those shots continuously as well.  AND THEY’RE PRETTY BAD AT IT.  But it’s all they can do, especially in games like today’s where the lane will almost surely be blocked off the entire time.  Hopefully Derrick doesn’t just get discouraged and stop attacking.  You have to keep attacking and at least try to draw fouls.

Oh yeah, one last thing…make some freakin’ free-throws.  If I see Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, and John Salmons go 1-2 from the line multiple times with less than 5 minutes to go in a close game on many more occasions, my head might explode.

Prediction:  Bulls lose 108-96.  The defense just hasn’t been there.  They’re horrible on the road.  And like I said, I can see the Bulls going 0-7 on this trip, and tonight, just too many matchup problems against a team that is definitely better.  If the Clippers were in the Eastern Conference, they would be a 5-seed, so if the Bulls want to pull off this upset tonight, they’re going to have to bring the intensity…something they always lack on the road.

Recap: Bulls Look Pathetic in 114-97 Loss to Warriors

Vinny had no answer for the Warriors on offense or defense and likely remains on the hot-seat after this game. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images via espn.com)

This game is, in my opinion, the worst game played by the Bulls this season.  The first game that might pop up into your mind is the 35 point loss to the Kings.  That was horrible.  I mean I got sick after it, literally.  But in that game, we at least were close in the end and played well for about 75% of the game.  Plus, that Kings team isn’t terrible.  This Golden State team is just AWFUL.  Their style of play and their quality of talent is just about as bad as it gets in the NBA.  So how did the Bulls lose this game?  Several ways, all of which are inexcusable.

Let me just make it clear that the Bulls were playing against a 3.5 NBA players with the rest of Golden State being D-leaguers.  Who are the 3.5 players?  Monte Ellis, Cory Maggette, and Stephen Curry.  Who’s the half?  Andres Biedrins…he only counts on defense.  So who were the rest of the players on the Warriors?  Devean George, Anthony Tolliver, Cartier Martin, and Chris Hunter.  Who?  Seriously, WHO?!?!?  Are you kidding me?  I just laughed to myself.  Those were the 8 players that logged minutes tonight for the Warriors.  And Christ Hunter and Devean George respectively played 9 minutes and 6 minutes each, which actually means the Warriors really only played 6 PLAYERS.  6 PLAYERS.  Wow.  6 Players.  2 of them D-leaguers.  I mean this team has been just decimated by injuries.  And they not only beat the Bulls, but destroyed them.

So how did this atrocity of a team with a 12-26 record coming into this game beat the surging Bulls who were playing with confidence and on a winning streak?  The Bulls played 0 defense.  None.  They also simultaneously got just about 0 offense from anyone not named Salmons, and maybe Deng.  The Bulls kept it close for a little over 3 quarters and then they just deflated.

The Bulls knew coming into this game that they needed to contain three players and let the rest beat you.  If D-league players have to beat you, then so be it.  What ends up happening?  Maggette goes for 17 points in the first quarter and finishes with 32 points on 11-14 shooting, with 6 rebounds and 5 assists.  He also went 10-11 from the line.

Monte Ellis finished with 36 points after getting off 39 shots (good lord).  Stephen Curry finished with 26 points on 9-18 from the field and 10 rebounds.  Stephen Curry with 10 rebounds.  Yup.  That’s a 6’3″ point guard who is actually a shooting guard stuck playing point guard who is killing you on the glass.  Here’s the best line of all, Andres Biedrins, with 9 points, 18 rebounds, and 8 BLOCKS.  A near triple double.  8 Blocks is obviously a career high.  Is it me or are big men always setting career highs in blocks against the Bulls?  The Bulls are every shot-blocker’s fantasy.  Not one player on the Bulls knows how or is able to go up strong with the ball.  It’s honestly pathetic.

In fact, pathetic is the best word to sum up this game.  Derrick Rose got absolutely outplayed by the rookie, Stephen Curry.  Curry is not that good defensively, but Derrick  was made to look BAD.  Curry’s only averaging 12 points on the season, but he manages to outscore and out play Derrick Rose in a game where he was supposed to foul out in the 3rd quarter and logged 43 minutes.  Which brings me to my next point.

There is absolutely no excuse for the Bulls being unable to cause a single Warriors player to foul out.  I don’t know if VDN was telling the players to go after the Warriors players in foul trouble or not.  Frankly, he shouldn’t have to.  It’s fundamental basketball.  Cory Magette had 4 fouls with over 9 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter.  Stephen Curry had over 4 fouls with over 8 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter.  Andres Biedrins had over 4 fouls with over 5 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter.  NOT ONE OF THEM FOULED OUT.  This goes back to the Wizards game where I talked about Salmons not going after Butler when he had 5 fouls until there was 14 seconds left in the first overtime.  Similarly, neither Salmons, nor Deng, went after Maggette after he acquired 4 fouls.  He sat out a good portion of the 3rd after he picked up the 4th foul, but he came back in for nearly the entire 4th and nobody went at him.  WHY???????

But worst of all, Derrick Rose, shame on you.  Stephen Curry absolutely embarrassed you out there because of both what he did and what you didn’t do.  There is no way Stephen Curry is able to defend Derrick Rose.  Derrick is twice as strong and twice as fast.  He should be able to blow by Curry EVERY TIME.  Instead, Derrick was passive and shooting jumpers.  I think there was maybe only one instance where Derrick Rose decided to drive the lane and go for a layup.  Absolutely inexcusable.  Even worse, he did not at all attack Stephen Curry in the 4th quarter.  Vinny decided to sit Derrick most of the third to prepare for a run in the 4th, which in hindsight, was probably a poor decision that allowed Curry to avoid any further foul trouble and prevented the Bulls from using Derrick on offense which may have allowed them to create some distance in the score (assuming Derrick came out and played like a man).  But even when Rose came back in the 4th, Curry managed to survive the entire 4th quarter without getting a foul called on him.  So after Curry being called for 3 fouls in the 1st quarter, he finished with 4.  Amazing.

To go even further, Derrick’s refusal to slash to the basket allowed Biedrins, who also had 4 fouls midway through the third, to stick around and have his very own block party in the lane while the other Bulls put up WNBA style layups any time they were in the lane.  Maggette, Curry, and Biedrins all finished with 4 fouls.  Just ridiculous.  I just don’t get how some games Derrick  knows exactly what to do, and other games he is just so passive.  On top of that he was just so sloppy and nonchalant with the basketball, simply throwing it away to the other team on several occasions.   I mean there were some horrible passes.  I refuse to believe Stephen Curry’s defense altered Derrick’s game that much.  It’s all mental.  Probably the worst game I’ve seen Derrick Rose play in a long long time.  Stephen Curry made him look like the rookie while Curry looked like a rookie of the year contender.  All-Star nothing.

Joakim Noah managed 4 points and 16 boards.  I’m glad he got his share in rebounds, but Noah looked totally and utterly outclassed by Biedrins tonight.  He absolutely could not do a thing on the offensive end.  It almost looked like he couldn’t see passed Biedrins.  He also was in foul trouble again and was hacking away at the Warrior guards.  He continues to complain after every single foul call, and it’s actually getting a little annoying.  He might be right a bunch of the time, but he’s starting to remind me a little of Alonzo Mourning and Kendrick Perkins…you don’t need to complain EVERY TIME.  He also provided little to know defensive relief at the glass as the Warriors were getting to the basket at will and draining layup after layup.  It was just a pathetic display.  Again, the theme is pathetic.

Tyrus Thomas continues to stink up the court.  He is STILL DOING THE SAME THING EVERY GAME.  It is probably the most frustrating thing I’ve ever watched.  Tyrus is averaging probably 3 botched fast breaks per game.  I don’t want to say he is dumb…but…I’m speechless.  How does a power forward continue to try and run fast breaks and turn it over every time?  It’s like he is literally incapable of learning ANYTHING.  The true definition of a dunce.  I mean when you look up the definition, Tyrus’s face should be there.  I mean I know Vinny is at least trying to teach him because he’s said what he wants Tyrus to do in the press.  And it isn’t attempt to be point guard.  He had one fast break where he telegraphed a pass to Derrick (who should have had the ball immediately) and he had one where he got called for a blatant charge when all they needed was a good possession.  He also keeps shooting 17 foot jumpers and is NEVER close.  WHEN WILL IT END?!?!?!?  Somebody tell me, will we ever rid ourselves of this dunce?  He went 2-7 on the night from the field.  And let me just say, he is incapable of making a layup underneath and it’s fairly obvious that Tyrus can only truly score on a dunk.

A few words about Brad Miller.  He looked like a true D-leaguer out there.  0-5 from the field, 1-2 from the line, for 1 point.  All he did was hurt the Bulls out there.  With no athleticism, an inability to hit a wide-open jumpshot, and no way to stop ANYONE, he was totally and utterly outclassed and looked like an old man at the Y playing against NBA All-Stars.  Again, pathetic.

This is a game where the Bulls really missed Kirk Hinrich, who was out with the flu.  His defense could have been put to use against the likes of Ellis and Curry, both of whom no one else on the Bulls could come even close to stopping.  They could have also used his free throw shooting, as on top of everything else, the Bulls missed 11 from the line shooting 66% on the night.  Worst of all, Derrick Rose continues to brick from the free throw line…simply cannot happen.  Who knows if Hinrich actually would have had an effect on the outcome of the game, but it was pretty clear that the Bulls could have used him out there.

Bottom line…Bulls lost a game they should have won. I don’t care if they were on the road.  I mean, are you trying to tell me the Bulls are absolutely incapable of winning on the road?  I don’t buy it.  In a game where the opposition had only 2 quality players, a fairly good rookie, and a big man who only plays defense, with only 4 other players all D-leaguers, and only 6 players who actually logged real minutes…the Bulls should have been able to win this game with the crowd shooting darts at them.  Instead, they got destroyed.  This game was a joke.  It’s the type of game they would have played a month ago with Vinny about to get fired.  Instead, it looks like Vinny’s seat should remain hot after this stinker.  It’s a game they needed on a west coast road trip that only gets tougher.  I hate to say it, but after this loss, I can see the Bulls going 0-7.  I fear for what’s in store.

Preview: Bulls vs. Wiz Tonight @ 7:00pm

The Bulls square up against an unimposing Washington Wizards team tonight.  This should be an easy W for the Bulls.  But as we have found out this season, wins for the Bulls rarely come easy, regardless of the opponent.  This Wizards team is just about ready to begin the rebuilding process.  They’ve been shopping Caron Butler, with talks even suggesting that he was coming to the Bulls in a trade for Kirk Hinrich a few weeks ago.  Clearly this trade never happened, but it shows the Wizards are ready to start over.  Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler are the Wizards’ two best players.  Jamison is having a very very good year, averaging 22.4 points and 8.8 rebounds a game.  Very much all-star caliber numbers.  And Butler is averaging 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds, also very solid numbers.

But of course, the biggest story of all involving the Wiz revolves around the enigmatic Gilbert Arenas.  Unless you live under a rock or have been in a coma, you have heard about Gilbert Arenas and his spaghetti western style showdown with teammate Javaris Crittenton.  One of the best players in the league when healthy, and also probably the most entertaining, Arenas has been indefinitely suspended since catching a couple felony gun charges after bringing his guns to the Wiz practice facility.  Probably the dumbest move by a professional athlete of all time.  In my opinion, it surpasses anything Ron Artest has ever done.  Especially considering Gilbert’s $111 million dollar contract that now might be VOIDED.  This is a huge deal for the Wiz because they’d love to get rid of his contract, since Gilbert has not at all lived up to it and has been injury prone since he signed it.  If the Wiz can void Gilbert’s contract and trade Butler, they can truly clear up a TON of capspace and now will have the ability to totally change the complexion of the franchise.  Something I’m sure they’d love to do.

I liked Gilbert…I thought he was entertaining, so it’s upsetting to see that he pulled such a bonehead move.  But I also simultaneously hate Gilbert ever since the 2005 game 5 buzzer beater, giving the Wizards a 3-2 lead in the Bulls’ first playoff series since Jordan retired.  The Wiz ended up winning that series.  So I guess I actually don’t like Gilbert that much.

Tonight, the Bulls obviously face an Arenas-less Wizards team with only two solid players.   Taj Gibson and Tyrus Thomas will collectively be dominated tonight by Antawn Jamison.  This much I promise you.  I think Taj will fair better than Tyrus guarding him, because Taj is simply smarter (which is sad considering he’s a rookie), but I expect him to be in foul trouble, allowing Tyrus to maybe use his athleticism to stall Jamison a little bit.

Caron Butler should have a tough time tonight with Luol Deng playing terrific as of late on both sides of the floor.  Deng is longer and more of a threat, so the Bulls win the matchup there.

The Bulls’ two stars, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah should have nice games.  Rose should have no problem dominating Randy Foye at home as long as he remains focused defensively.  Foye won’t do too much to hurt you.  And Joakim matches up against Brendan Haywood who is nearly averaging a double-double.  Haywood is a good player, but Joakim has started to play on another level and should outduel Haywood similar to how he outdueled Kendrick Perkins last night.  Hopefully neither of them are too fatigued, as this is the second leg of a back-to-back.

Bulls need to come out and take care of business tonight.  Losing this game would be a major let down after a three-game winning streak and a big win on the road against the Celtics last night.  You want to go out on that road trip with your head held high instead of worrying that your play is inconsistent and you can lose on any given night against any given team.  The key is not to underestimate this team just because of their record and the drama surrounding them.

Prediction:  Bulls win 104-90.  Bulls will go out and do what they’re supposed to do with the road trip in mind, and win their 4th in a row and 8 of their last 11.

Preview: Bulls @ Celtics Tonight at 7:00pm

Bulls face the Celtics tonight in Boston.  Bottom line, these two teams hate each other.  Rajon Rondo might currently be the most despised player in Chicago Bulls fandom.  But who will win?  The Celtics.  The Bulls have been awful on the road.  They’re playing with a lot of confidence right now…but the last two games have been somewhat deceptive.  Yes, we won two games straight in very impressive fashion, but against two of the three worst teams in the NBA.  The Celtics have too many weapons and the Bulls just can’t match up defensively.  Although, Garnett is out, Rondo has been hurt, and Rasheed Wallace is day to day.  What does that mean?  We could potentially see Jackie Moon in the starting lineup for the Celtics.  If that happens, it will provide for great comedy and many Stacey King one-liners, which I am always grateful for.

With Rondo basically averaging a triple-double against the Bulls, he has become known as the Bulls killer.  With him not at a 100%, this should bode well for the Bulls.  Obviously, not having Garnett out there really hurts the Celtics as well.  And you never want Jackie Moon out there as a starter, even if he is matching up against Taj Gibson and/or Tyrus Thomas.  So overall, this is a winnable game for the Bulls, even if it is against the Celtics on the road.  The Celts’ injuries really have given the Bulls a chance here, and they need to come out sharp and take advantage.  Either way, I think it’s going to be a battle since the Celts are coming out evenly matched against the Bulls tonight.

Prediction:  94-90 Celtics with the W.

Bulls Cap Space Situation…Why They Have To Move Hinrich

There seems to be a bit of confusion in terms of the Bulls’ cap space.  I’ve already taken a bit of heat from some readers since I said I probably would not take the Celtics’ three biggest scrubs with expiring contracts for Kirk Hinrich.  Maybe I just hate Scalabrine and Tony Allen that much…maybe it’s the playoffs last year…I don’t know.  But I guess a situation such as this, not just involving the Celtics, truly deserves a closer look.

So where do the Bulls stand in terms of cap space?

Contracts on the expensive side:

• Luol Deng – $11.35 million
• Kirk Hinrich – $9 million
• Derrick Rose – $5.55 million

In 2010, using basic arithmetic, these three players’ contracts will add up to $25.9 million.

Other players under contract in 2010:

• Joakim Noah – $3.13 million
• James Johnson – $1.71 million
• Taj Gibson – $1.12 million

These contracts add up to $5.96 million.  Combined with the previous expensive contracts, we’re at $31.86 million.

In addition:

• The Bulls have Draft Picks — We’re looking at a pick somewhere in the mid teens, i.e. a cap hold of $1.2-to-$1.47 million.
• John Salmons — He’s got a player option of $5.81 million.  Whether Salmons would opt in or out is pure speculation.  He’s having a down year, so I’d imagine it’s in his best interest to opt in, since he may not get a more valuable contract than he currently has based on his current productivity.  Then again, someone could potentially offer him a long-term 5 year guaranteed contract of equal or lesser value, which is always a tough option to ignore.  You can’t really turn down long-term guaranteed money.  It’s going to be a tough choice for John, but there’s no doubt the Bulls will be waiting on the edge of their seats, unless they trade him of course.
• Paying for open roster spots — Chicago will have seven players on the books, eight if Salmons opts in, i.e. they will incur a cap charge of $1.9-to-$2.38 million.

So we’re looking at additional costs here between $3.58-to-$9.18, with the actual amount all depending on Salmons’s decision.

So now we’re at somewhere between $35.44-to-$41.04 million.  The NBA has stated, over the summer, that the salary cap will be somewhere between $50.4 million and $53.6 million next season.  Most people are assuming a $52.5 million salary cap, so I will use the same figure.  So the Bulls, based on the $52.5 million cap, will have $11.1 million in cap space if the Salmons opts in.  They will have $17.06 million if he opts out.  How much is a max free agent worth next year?  Approximately $15.75 million.  So if everyone under contract stays, and Salmons opts out, we can sign a max free agent and still have $1.31 million left over.  However, if Salmons opts in, after careful calculation seen above, we will not be able to sign a max free agent without going over the cap and coming fairly close to the luxury tax threshold.  This is bad news.  Never has so much depended on one John Salmons.

So you may be asking yourself…would the Bulls go over the cap to sign a couple elite free agents?  The answer is yes, only if they do not have to pay the luxury tax.  We’re not dealing with James Dolan and Donnie Walsh here.  The luxury tax threshold in 2010 has been estimated to be about $61.2 million (very low).  That leaves the Bulls with roughly an additional $9 mill in cap space.  So if Salmons opts in, we have $20 million to spend on free agents without surpassing the luxury tax threshold.  So I suppose we come to the conclusion that even if Salmons opts in, and we retain Hinrich, the Bulls will still be able to sign that one elite free agent to a max contract.  But if the Bulls are able to trade away Hinrich, which they are so desperately trying to do, then all of a sudden they have around $29-30 million before they go into the luxury tax…JUUUUUUST enough to sign two max free agents, with the second being a bottom heavy contract.  And remember, this is even after John Salmons decides to opt in.  We may have to trade away our middle of the first round draft pick for cash, instead of having to pay more in the luxury tax, but I think that’s worth doing with the prospect of signing two max free agents.  Plus, I think Jerry would be willing to pay a mill or two in luxury tax if he was able to sign not one, but two franchise players.  So basically, you lose Kirk Hinrich, who really holds minimal value to the Bulls at this point, and gain the possibility to sign to elite max free agents.  The definition of a no-brainer.  And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Bulls are trying so hard to deal Hinrich.

Are the Bulls dreaming big right now?  Yes, they are.  By trying so hard to deal Hinrich, in my opinion, they are making it clear that they want to have the financial freedom to sign a Wade and a Bosh, or a Bosh and a Joe Johnson, or…you get the gist.  All they have to do is trade away Hinrich and the world is your oyster.  With that type of move, you make it clear to the free agents that you’re getting ready to bring in two elite players and sign them to max deals…and that’s usually a good sign to elite free agents, as it shows you are determined to win a championship RIGHT NOW.  At the same time, if you deal Hinrich for a bunch of expirings, you basically forfeit your 2009-2010 season.  Our backcourt is that thin.  Who’s going to back up Rose?  Lindsey Hunter?  Jannero Pargo?  Ummmm, no.   Without Hinrich, in my humble opinion, the Bulls don’t make the playoffs unless they get a decent point guard in return, who can effectively backup Rose as Hinrich does, whose contract also happens to be expiring.  And not making the playoffs simply looks bad to any free agent.  So dealing Hinrich is not without its downside.  But it’s a gamble that you absolutely have to take, or you will forever regret that you didn’t take it.

Right now, the Bulls are having a difficult time shopping Hinrich, due to his unnecessarily large contract, his poor play (better as of late), and his injury woes.  But they MUST find a taker…one elite player makes a difference, but two wins championships.  Remember Michael before Scottie?  So looking back on the scenario proposed by Simmons, I suppose I would accept Jackie Moon and Tony Allen (UGH) on my team if it meant the very real possibility of signing two max free agents come summertime.

Brand New Logo for the Newest Blog in Town

Shoutout to my good friend Mike Eisenwasser and his company http://www.michaelwebdesign.com for fixing up/redesigning my logo for me.  Good work, Mike.