Current BULLS backcourt SG Shannon Brown, 6-4, 211 2008 stats: 21 G, 11.4 mpg, 5.4/1.0/.8, .349/.300/.586 2008 stats (NBDL): 6 G, 35.0 mpg, 25.7/6.5/3.3, .436/.405/.921 Most Successful Team Role: Energy, defense, and a touch of scoring off the bench. Likely the odd man out in the backcourt even with BEASLEY instead of ROSE. With ROSE, almost certainly the odd man out. SG JamesOn Curry, 6-3, 190 2008 stats (NBDL): 13 G, 39.7 mpg, 20.2/3.2/5.6, .463/.377//719 Most Successful Team Role: Energy and scoring off the bench, a la Jannero Pargo. Likely looking at another season just on the cusp of the active roster, but a valuable scoring guard to have in the arsenal in case of injury. PG Chris Duhon, 6-1, 185 2008 stats: 66 G, 22.6 mpg, 5.8/1.8/4.0, .387/.348/.813 Most Successful Team Role: Pure point guard, leader of second unit, veteran calm, spot-up three point shooting, can score when needed. HIGH TEAM VALUE SG Ben Gordon, 6-3, 200 2008 stats: 72 G, 31.8 mpg, 18.6/3.1/3.0, .434/.410/.908 Most Successful Team Role: The Juice-25 minutes of pure scoring off the bench. When Ben Gordon is on the floor, his only responsibility is to put the ball in the bucket. Also the man with the best shot at hitting a game-winner. A better version of the Toni Kukoc role. Should easily bag 20 points a night. That is where his NBA value lies. HIGH TEAM VALUE G Kirk Hinrich, 6-3, 190 2008 stats: 75 G, 31.7 mpg, 11.5/3.3/6.0, .414/.350/.831 Most Successful Team Role with ROSE: Starting off guard, defender of opponent’s best perimeter player. Should be scoring at least 14 a night on high percentages. Solid three point shooting, great leadership, can play both guard spots. DEFINITE STARTER Most Successful Team Role with BEASLEY: Starting point guard, still defender of opponent’s best perimeter player. Everything from above still applies, though with 60 points a night already accounted for from BEASLEY, Deng, and Gordon, Hinrich’s main offensive responsibilities lie as ball-handler and points-distributor. DEFINITE STARTER SG Larry Hughes, 6-5, 185 2008 stats: 68 G, 29.7 mpg, 12.2/3.4/2.7, .381/.345/.798 Most Successful Team Role: The Doberman — 15 to 20 minutes of rabid-dog perimeter defense. Don’t really need his scoring, and probably don’t have too many shots for him. His NBA value lies in his perimeter defense, which is top-of-the-line. GOOD TEAM VALUE PG DERRICK ROSE, 6-3, 205 2008 stats (college): 40 G, 29.2 mpg, 14.9/4.5/4.7, .477/.337/.712 Most Successful Team Role: Starting point guard. Floor leader and organizer, team leader, main ball- handler and points-distributor. Not sure what kind of scoring we can expect from him at the start of the season, but certainly 14-16 points seems like an achievable starting goal. MAIN TEAM SCORING comes from Deng and Gordon (minimum 20 each), with Rose, Hinrich, Noah, and Nocioni all chipping in with double figures. DEFINITE STARTER SG Thabo Sefolosha, 6-7, 215 2008 stats: 69 G, 20.8 mpg, 6.7/3.7/1.9, .428/.330/.721 Most Successful Team Role: A defensive hound dog, a rebounder from the guard position, the number one man to give Hinrich a defensive breather. Can develop a knack for guarding key division perimeter threats James, Hamilton, Redd, and Granger, as well as other East perimeter players Wade, Arenas, Joe Johnson, Pierce, Igoudala, and Jefferson. HIGH TEAM VALUE Current BULLS frontcourt F MICHAEL BEASLEY, 6-10, 235 2008 stats (college): 33 G, 31.5 mpg, 26.2/12.4/1.2, .532/.379/.774 Most Successful Team Role: Probable starting forward, either at the 4 in a frontcourt with Deng and Noah, or at the 3 in a frontcourt with Gooden and Noah. What would prevent Beasley from being a starter would be simply a tactical option of having a paced starting unit of Hinrich, Sefolosha, Deng, Gooden, and Noah and a high-scoring flash second unit of Duhon, Gordon, Nocioni, Beasley, and Thomas. Either way, Beasley will be the team’s PRIMARY SCORING OPTION, a trait that will open up the floor for Deng and Gordon. He is also a part of their best crunch-time lineup. Provides scoring with ease; should completely alleviate any concern over this team’s abilities to succeed offensively. Points, boards, athleticism. PROBABLE STARTER SF Luol Deng, 6-9, 220 2008 stats: 63 G, 33.8 mpg, 17.0/6.3/2.5, .479/.364/.770 Most Successful Team Role with BEASLEY: Probable starter, either at the 3 with Beasley at the 4, or at the 2 with Beasley at the 3. Possibly a reserve for tactical purposes such as unit balance, but no matter: Deng’s scoring, rebounding, ability around the rim, hustle, and work ethic makes him essential to this team. With Beasley on the floor as the primary scoring option, Deng is that much more difficult to defend. PROBABLE STARTER Most Successful Team Role with ROSE: Starting small forward. Main scoring threat along with Gordon. High percentage shooting matched with fantastic rebounding ability and skills around the rim leads to more efficient possessions, which leads to more shots for everyone on the team, which leads to more points and more pressure placed upon opponent to match pace. DEFINITE STARTER PF Drew Gooden, 6-10, 250 2008 stats: 69 G, 30.8 mpg, 12.0/8.6/.8 bpg, .449/.000/.753 Most Successful Team Role: With ROSE, Gooden is the starting power forward. With BEASLEY, he is a possible starter at the 4. Either way, Gooden is this team’s Horace Grant: physical strength from the power forward position, ability to score in low double figures on high percentage shots, near ten boards a game while providing strong interior defense. Plays well next to Noah, Deng, and Beasley. Hustle player, very valuable big. HIGH TEAM VALUE C Aaron Gray, 7-0, 270 2008 stats: 61 G, 10.0 mpg, 4.3/2.8/.3 bpg, .505/.000/.566 Most Successful Team Role: Backup center. While giving Noah a breather, can be counted on for efficient low-post scoring. Provides six more fouls on Dwight Howard. GOOD TEAM VALUE F Demetris Nichols, 6-8, 216 2008 stats: 14 G, 3.1 mpg, 1.1/.4/.2 bpg, .261/.231/.000 2008 stats (NBDL): 14 G, 37.4 mpg, 19.3/4.2/2.9, .419/.333/.778 Most Successful Team Role: Big body off the bench, providing quick breathers for frontcourt mates. Defense, hustle, scoring. C Joakim Noah, 6-11, 232 2008 stats: 74 G, 20.7 mpg, 6.6/5.6/.9 bpg, .482/.000/.691 Most Successful Team Role: Starting center. Rebounding, interior defense, shot-blocking threat that grants perimeter defenders the freedom to play tight without worrying about having no help near the rim should they get beat. Should easily chip in 10 points a night on dunks, tip-ins, and put-backs. DEFINITE STARTER F Andres Nocioni, 6-7, 225 2008 stats: 82 G, 24.6 mpg, 13.2/4.2/1.2, .432/.364/.807 Most Successful Team Role: The Nocioni provider. Key, key bench igniter. 15 ppg with a threat for 25 on the right night. Rebounding, hustle, team and one-on-one defense, good foul shooting, can stretch defenses with three point abilities, and can play either forward position depending on desired lineup approach. Effectiveness does not depend on minutes; in baseball, he would be a long reliever who can start if needed while also being trusted in tight, late-inning situations. HIGH TEAM VALUE PF Cedric Simmons, 6-9, 235 2008 stats: 14 G, 6.2 mpg, .6/1.3/.4 bpg, .286/.000/.000 2008 stats (NBDL): 6 G, 29.5 mpg, 15.3/6.8/2.2 bpg, .549/.000/.538 Most Successful Team Role: Another big body off the bench, also providing quick breathers for frontcourt mates. Better rebounder than Nichols, with better size. Defense, hustle, rebounding. PF Tyrus Thomas, 6-8, 215 2008 stats: 74 G, 18.0 mpg, 6.8/4.6/1.0 bpg, .423/.167/.741 Most Successful Team Role: The Hawk. Defensive missile, shot-blocker, rebounder, with skills to finish around the basket. Can defend the rim or the perimeter, making him a largely valuable big man. Provides energy, athleticism, and excitement off the bench, and shouldn’t need much time to make a contribution. A Cliff Levingston for the next generation, and could develop into a guy who plays D the way Dominique played O. HIGH TEAM VALUE LINEUP OPTIONS with BEASLEY Best Starting Lineup Bench PG Hinrich PG Duhon SG Sefolosha G Hughes SF Deng SG Gordon PF Beasley F Nocioni C Noah PF Gooden PF Thomas C Gray Best Second Unit PG Duhon SG Gordon SF Nocioni PF Gooden C Thomas Alternate Starting Lineups LINEUP #1 LINEUP #2 PG Hinrich PG Hinrich SG Sefolosha SG Deng SF Deng SF Beasley PF Gooden PF Gooden C Noah C Noah Best Small Lineup Best Big Lineup PG Duhon/Hinrich PG Hinrich/Sefolosha SG Gordon SG Deng SF Nocioni SF Beasley PF Deng PF Noah C Thomas C Gray Best Shooting Lineup* Best Defensive Lineup PG Duhon/Hinrich PG Hinrich SG Gordon SG Sefolosha/Hughes SF Nocioni/Deng SF Nocioni PF Beasley PF Thomas C Gray/Noah C Noah * The point guard and center double-up is there because either guy works.