Deng - What if...

[ramblingrose33]

Let's jump to conclusions based on Doug's latest Bulls Confidential post about Deng's missed practice and assume we lose him for 20 - 30 games. Thoughts on this team then?

Starting Line up
Rose PG
Hinrich SG
Salmons SF
Thomas PF
Noah C

 

[clonetrooper264]

We're screwed. No depth in the backcourt. Hinrich would probably be playing a lot more minutes than he had in the past because not only would he start, he would have to play PG when Rose came out. Same with Salmons playing SG. Rose would be playing like 40+ minutes per game and so would Hinrich and Salmons probably. That's a lot of wear and tear for them. James Johnson better be a lot better than many people think he is if that is to happen. I think Taj Gibson would also be getting some significant minutes at PF if Johnson plays SF in this case. And of course, every time Jannero Pargo plays significant backup minutes, that's a bad sign.

 

[cool007]

If we still had Gordon, then it would not have mattered but now without Gordon and no Thabo, it will definitely hurt us in the long run (for playoff push).

 

[pinkizdead]

well we're getting out in the first round anyways. I guess we're a lottery team without deng. That's not sooooo bad. maybe we might luck out again. plus we would get ample playing time for james johnson. i'm kewl with giving Johnson time to develope.

 

[RC_Skinny22]

I would start with:

PG: Rose
SG: Salmons
SF: Johnson
PF: Thomas
C: Noah

I don´t know if it would be good to see Pargo playing the PG backup. So let Kirk do that and let Pargo stay at the SG backup.

Johnson should be able to play the SF. DelNegro said in an interview that he wants Johnson to play both forward spots anyway.

 

[dougthonus]

If Deng goes down then we'll rely on James Johnson and Jannero Pargo to play a combined 40 minutes or so a night. That might not absolutely kill us, but it probably won't be as good as what Deng could do or even close.

What would hurt us more is that if Deng went down and any other player missed a game, we'd be deep into an unproven bench.

 

[Hendu0520]

If Deng goes down my dream of a big backcourt is shattered and the Bulls will miss the playoffs. Unfortunately I have a horrible feeling that it is inevitable that he misses 40-60 games. If James Johnson can prove to be a solid starter that would be fantastic but I am not counting on that. Hinrich cannot play extended minutes at the 2 spot and even if he does well they don't have a backup coming off the bench.

Something not many people are mentioning is the fact that a Deng injury will put a lot more pressure on Noah and Thomas to develop as well. If they can dominate or atleast hold down the paint it can hide a small 3 and make up for weaknesses in the backcourt. If they can't then it will be a disaster.

For now I am going to think positive that DRose will start to dominate entire games and that can ease the loss of Deng as well and keep the Bulls in the playoffs.