Predicting Rasheed's effort level is about like predicting Rex Grossman's QB rating in any given game.  Like you said Matt, the Bulls could use a big forward to match up with 'Sheed.  Someone like, oh say Jermaine O'Neal (shameless diary plug).

Great game for Deng and Wallace, with some lucky breaks going Chicago's way for once.

but the media definitely will not give us due credit until we prove ourselves come playoff time. I think we have the makeup to get to the finals, but by no means beat the Western Conference opponent this year..

Sadly, we as Bulls fans are gonna have to deal with opposing team comebacks all season because: 1) all NBA teams make runs, and 2) and more importantly, the Bulls haven't learned a killer instinct yet.

Late in the game with a 16-20 point lead and the Pistons threatening a comeback, I focused on Kirk's floor game to see how his decision making would affect things. What I saw was two straight bad pass turnovers and on the next possession a woeful shot that Mugsy Bogues could have blocked.

Couple those plays with the lackadaisical Ben Gordon/ Jason Kidd steal on the inbounds the other night, and I see a need. I see a let down when things are going well, and a few more games like the Nets and Suns and the Bulls guards will         learn the hard way that they can't take plays off.

Enough bad observations...

Nocioni needed a good game after a couple weeks of down performances.

And Ben Gordon is fast becoming the go-to guy, even if he gets lost in the offense sometimes when Kirk's on the floor.

And the Detroit stigma is gone. Would Chauney have made a difference? I doubt it, not in Chicago at any rate. But now, for me, the last two losses do become moral victories because, like Matt said the other day, I feel safe saying this is a good Bulls team and I don't have to rationalize or qualify my feelings.

I think the Bulls can win the East, and the rest of the regular season will be a time for the Bulls  to fine tune their game. Beating the team from the West, now that's a different story.  

I agree, tonight was a good example of why Nocioni is not going to work--long term--as the Bulls' 4.

Even though 'Sheed finished with only 8 points on 3 of 8 shooting, it was painfully obvious how easy it could have been for 'Sheed had he consistently attacked the basket from 8' and in.  Now Rasheed Wallace is an extraordinarily 'long' forward, no question; the only problem being that Nocioni is every bit as 'small' for a 4 as Rasheed is long for a 4.

There is no question that the NBA is trending toward 4s like Wallace, not Nocioni, which only makes Nocioni less valuable as a starter in the years to come.  And with the Pistons heading to the playoffs--it would be a SHOCK if they didn't make it--Nocioni becomes that much more of a defensive liability right now, since the road to a Championship will almost certainly run through the Palace at Auburn Hills, MI.

So if you agree with that logic, then the question becomes:  Do we have the options available to properly replace Nocioni ("properly replace" meaning: must be able to play starter's minutes, not be an offensive liablitly and be a better defender) in the starting lineup?

Tyrus Thomas?  IMO, No...more capable vertcal defender yes, but an offensive liablity for sure

P.J. Brown?  There's your starter in a series against Detroit IMO, but he appears headed out of town...why we'd let that happen I have NO IDEA.  Can we count him as an option??  Doesn't seem like it.  IMO, he's the best blend of scoring and vertical defending we've got,

Malik Allen?  No thanks...might come close offensively if he's hitting his jump shot A LOT, but not really a better defender.

Victor Khryapa?  No thanks...can't call him a better defender, and CERTAINLY won't provide the scoring that Noce does.

Thabo Sefolosha?  Could go 'small'--even though he's just as tall as Noce--and go with a three guard starting 5, but now you've given up approx. 8-10 points a game without getting appreciably better defensively.  Don't think so.

Sorry I typed a NOVEL there...just don't get to talk about my Bulls much.  What are your guys' thoughts about Nocioni?  You guys think he's a keeper as a starter?  I think he'd make a terrific off-the-bench player, a guy who gives you energy, scoring, good effort on D, everything you'd want from a bench player.

Thoughts?

You guys see anyone in college ball (alright, outside of Oden...sadly, I think we can let that dream go thanks to the Knicks sudden mini-resurgance) that you'd like to see the Bulls get?

I'm sure it's obvious, but I'd love to see the Bulls get an interior players, a player with post game...enough post game to get the "easy buckets" when our jump shots aren't falling.

The guy I see to fill that bill would be Spencer Hawes from Washington.  At 6'11" 235lbs, he's got the size, even though he's gonna have to add between 15-20lbs to consistently play starter's minutes in the NBA.

Kid's an Amazing passer for a big man...and with our offense (seems like we do more cutting than Princeton), a big man who's a skilled passer could be quite valuable.  Seems like it would translate into a lot of easy baskets for Deng, Thomas and Wallace.

You guys got your eyes on anyone else?

Yet another reason for the "furrowed brow look" when considering why we'd let P.J. walk.

IMO, if we're gonna have ANY chance of defeating the Pistons in a seven-game series, we HAVE TO HAVE P.J. Brown.