NBA 2006-2007 Preview: Raging Bulls?

Chicago Bulls
Coach: Scott Skiles, 4th Season (107-125)
General Manager: John Paxson
’05-’06 Record: 41-41; tied 3rd Central Division
Postseason: eliminated Eastern Conference quarterfinals; Lost to MIA (4-2)


Projected Starting Lineup ('05-'06 Stats)

PG – Kirk Hinrich (15.9 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 6.3 apg.)
SG – Ben Gordon (16.9 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 3.0 apg.)
SF – Andres Nocioni (13.0 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 1.4 apg.)
PF – P.J. Brown (w/NO: 9.0 ppg., 7.3 rpg., 1.2 apg.)
C – Ben Wallace (w/CHI: 7.3 ppg., 11.3 rpg., 1.9 apg.)


Key Additions: C Ben Wallace (UFA – CHI); PF P.J. Brown (trade – NO); PG Howard Eisley (trade – DEN); SF Adrian Griffin (UFA – DAL)

Key Subtractions: SG Eric Piatkowski (UFA – PHX); C/F Tyson Chandler (trade – NO); PG Howard Eisley (trade – DEN); PF Darius Songaila (UFA – WAS); PF Othella Harrington (UFA – CHA); SG J.R. Smith (trade – DEN); PG Jannero Pargo (UFA – NO)


2006 NBA Draft
Round 1 – PF Tyrus Thomas (4th overall; from POR), Louisiana State University; SF Thabo Sefalosha (13th overall; from PHI), International - Italy
Round 2 – N/A


Positional Breakdowns

Guards
People weren’t expecting much out of Kirk Hinrich, but he’s proven over his first three seasons that he really was the perfect guy to run this Bulls’ offense. It’s hard to say that someone taken in the top 10 of a draft in any given year could have been the steal of the draft, but a legitimate case can be made for Hinrich. The Bulls knows that with Hinrich they have a young man who knows how to run an offense effectively and efficiently. He is able to get some points himself, but you have to look at his ability to run alongside Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni. He gets the ball to both of those guys and lets them get their games going, but Hinrich can hit a big shot or two and put up a decent amount of points if needed.