Luol Deng totally redeems himself

[Rush]

A couple days after emotional Bulls fans declared James Johnson the new Bulls starting SF, Luol Deng responds with 40 points on 14/19 shooting, 3/5 from the three point line, and 9/11 from the charity stripe. The Bulls pull off...

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By: Doug Thonus

 

[Crystallas]

Deng raises his trade value, is more like it

We'll see if he can stay motivated.

 

[JCM]

deng needs to keep it up.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

To be fair, all Deng did is catch fire and blaze Portland hitting open jumpers... but I'll take it.

 

[X]

Meh...I'll give credit where it's due...he won the game for us tonight...and staying hot for an entire game isn't easy...but he had his way. Rose looked REAL good finding the open man all night -- something he's going to have to do when he's double teamed...and w/ all of our big men in foul trouble, we handled this game extremely well, imo...

 

[Shakes]

To be fair, all Deng did is catch fire and blaze Portland hitting open jumpers... but I'll take it.

I don't think that's entirely fair, once he was hot and they were forced to guard him close he managed to drive in for some easy buckets and fouls as well. You can't score 40 on just open jumpshots unless the defense is asleep.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Hall of Famer

 

[pinkizdead]

Instead of focusing on deng's 40, we should turn to the more obvious point. i think we all can agree on the FACT that batum is the next pippen.

 

[Lefty]

Hall of Famer

Prope, don't start with me. You're still my guy, but let's try to keep it that way.

 

[WearShades]

Instead of focusing on deng's 40, we should turn to the more obvious point. i think we all can agree on the FACT that batum is the next pippen.

Basketball Prospectus/Blazersedge has been pushing that for as long as he's been in the league. I can't completely dismiss it as he's actually outperforming Pippen at the same age, but I doubt right now that Batum will ever be more than a fringe all-star.

 

[Shakes]

Instead of focusing on deng's 40, we should turn to the more obvious point. i think we all can agree on the FACT that batum is the next pippen.

Based on tonight's game? I can see how he resembles a 45 year old who hasn't played in nearly 7 years.

 

[zack54attack]

Normally Deng couldn't hit a 15 foot Jumpshot with only a chair in his way.. But he added to his trade value tonight.

 

[houheffna]

I believe it was Stacey King who pointed out that Deng was the team's best player during the preseason, not because its the preseason, but because of how Thibodeau used him. I would think that he will play at a high level (comparable to his play the last few years) throughout the season. I am anxious to see how he plays Thursday and Friday...that will tell a lot.

 

[pinkizdead]

Based on tonight's game? I can see how he resembles a 45 year old who hasn't played in nearly 7 years.

yeah i really can't understand what the portland fan base see's i the guy. he's a decent player, but he's not over and above a player like jared dudley.

 

[Anytime23]

He had a good game but i wouldnt say he redeemed himself after so many stretches of playing like garbage.

 

[PrideisBears]

Good for Deng!!!! Now that thats overs I expect him to disappear again

 

[Derkach77]

Great game but I want to see consistent 20 plus ppg performances with Boozer out.

 

[Shakes]

yeah i really can't understand what the portland fan base see's i the guy. he's a decent player, but he's not over and above a player like jared dudley.

It's easy to project a guy as a best case scenario when you've got a young up and coming team. Give them a couple of years and the Portland fans will hate all their players just like the Bulls fans went from being high on the team after the 49 win season to wanting all of Hinrich/Gordon/Deng/Thomas out of town.