Chicago Bulls: In defense of Tyrus Thomas and Noah.

It’s pretty easy to make fun of Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah. Sort of like taking shots at Rex Grossman. Just lob up the insults and they’ll all stick. Even I have been negligent of those unfair criticisms. Well, it’s about time I spit some logic. I bring you the truth in the usual DaChiFan bullet point format.

1. During the past 8 years or so the Chicago Bulls failed in growing the following big men: Eddy Curry, Elton Brand, Marcus Fizer, Tyson Chandler, and now, Noah and Thomas. In the cases of Brand and Chandler, these players have moved on and otherwise prospered at other teams. Using this sample size for our survey, the Bulls are 0 and 6 when it comes to producing big men.

2. I will be the first to admit that it shouldn’t be an NBA team’s job to hold the hands of its 1^st round picks. This is the NBA and players should step on the court as professionals. However, that’s a fantasy especially in the world of players jumping from high school and the current universe of one-and-done players coming out of college. In today’s NBA, you have to have organizations that teach these young men how to play ball. Based on the Bulls record, they have failed to teach and foster an environment for Big Men to prosper.

3. Of course, a lot of the blame falls on these players. I won’t stick up for Marcus Fizer or Eddy Curry here. No amount of coaching and hand holding would save those guys. But I argue that Tyrus and Noah are different. When the Bulls drafted Tyrus Thomas he was a raw, skinny tweener, one year out of high school. The Bulls knew that he would need time to grow up and develop an offensive game and professional attitude. With Noah, the same can’t necessarily be said because he came out after his senior season. But with Noah, he also had little offensive weapons and was skinny. The Bulls had to have known that both players would be projects. Remember, neither is as physically gifted as players like Shaq, Ewing, Olajuwan, Robinson or even Dwight Howard and Greg Oden. The Bulls and us fans should never have thought that either of these two would be franchise type players.

4. Some of the criticism levied at Tyrus and Noah was fair. Noah came into this year out of shape and Tyrus offered inconsistent effort on both ends. But again, they’re both project players. Moreover, they were both players that needed time on the floor to develop. The Bulls seem to think that the projects would somehow miraculously develop in the 15 minutes (or even 0 minutes) of playing time they got in their first few years. Again, we’re not talking about Olajuwon or Malone here. Both guys needed time to understand the game on the court. And with increased playing time due to Gooden’s absence, here are their numbers over the last 8 games.

5. Joakim Noah:

Min: Points- 14, O. Rebounds- 6, D. Rebounds- 4 (10) , Blocks- 8

Lac: Points- 10, . Rebounds-5, D. Rebounds-3 (8) , Blocks-4

Sac: Points- 17, O. Rebounds- 3, D. Rebounds-3(6) , Blocks-3

Phx: Points- 4, O. Rebounds-2, D. Rebounds-6 (8) , Blocks-0

Hou: Points- 2, O. Rebounds-1, D. Rebounds-0(1) , Blocks-1

NOH: Points-16 , O. Rebounds-2, D. Rebounds-7 (9) , Blocks-2

DAL: Points- 8, O. Rebounds-2, D. Rebounds-8 (10) , Blocks-1

DET: Points-12 , O. Rebounds-8, D. Rebounds-8 (16) , Blocks-1

Average: Points – 10.4, Rebounds-8.5, Blocks-2.5

Not bad for a player chosen 9^th overall in the 07 draft. I also suspect that these numbers would have been better if Del Negro played him a few more minutes against Houston and Phoenix (he only played 18 against Houston).

6. Tyrus Thomas:

Min: Points- 11, O. Rebounds-2 , D. Rebounds-7 (9) , Blocks-1

Lac: Points- 16, O. Rebounds-6, D. Rebounds- 4(10) , Blocks-1

Sac: Points- 14, O. Rebounds-3 , D. Rebounds-7(10) , Blocks-2

Phx: Points- 10, O. Rebounds-2, D. Rebounds-2 (4) , Blocks-2

Hou: Points- 14, O. Rebounds-3, D. Rebounds-10(13) , Blocks-3

NOH: Points-15 , O. Rebounds-2, D. Rebounds-8 (10) , Blocks-3

DAL: Points- 23, O. Rebounds-4, D. Rebounds-8(12) , Blocks-1

DET: Points-22 , O. Rebounds-6, D. Rebounds- 4(10) , Blocks-1

Average: Points – 15.6, Rebounds-9.8, Blocks-1.8

Pretty decent numbers if you ask me.

7. But what’s been even more persuasive is the Bulls record in those 8 games. 5 wins and 3 losses. They’re best winning margin of the year. In my opinion, Noah and Thomas are starting to mature into starting caliber players. They’re making an impact that’s translating in wins. Isn’t this what we’ve been asking for the past 2 years from these guys? They’re starting to produce. Remember they’re project players.

8. The ultimate question is whether the Bulls should trade these two (and likely a couple other players) for Amare Stoudemire. Of course having Amare would be great, but I wouldn’t be so interested in trading him for our entire front line. To me, a good deal would require that the Bulls keep either Thomas or Noah. Wouldn’t a lineup of Stoudemire and Noah or Thomas be better than Gray and Stoudemire?

9. Thus to my ultimate point. I believe that Noah and Thomas will excel in the NBA, whether with the Bulls or on another team. In my opinion the Bulls troubles lie more with their back court. Not Rose of course, but with the problems at the SG spot. Ben Gordon is a marvelous scorer, but his size severally limits the Bulls’ defensive ability. Kirk Hinrich is a bench player and Tabo is a role player. If the Bulls really want to make a splash, they need to get better at that position. In my mind (and this is crazy to say), I’d like Tyrus or Noah on our team. I could do without Ben Gordon, Hinrich, Tabo, or even Nocioni or Deng.

I’m being overly optimist here, but I just don’t want Thomas or Noah becoming the next Brand or Chandler on other teams.