-- I was on the road and caught up with Noce the other day at a Kings game. He was still Noce, arguing every call, hammering guys and not letting anyone get a three-point play, talking to himself on the court and the coaches in the huddle.
"I don't understand what happened (to the Bulls team)," Nocioni was saying. "For me, two years ago, I think this team will be in the Finals. Maybe it is about contracts, rumors about Kobe Bryant, Ben Wallace, Scott Skiles. I am really sad for them. Two years ago, I think I will be in the Finals this year. Now I am here."
Nocioni laughed enthusiastically at the sudden juxtaposition. He didn't seem embittered at all, just disappointed and resigned to his situation. He stirred things up a bit after arriving in Sacramento when he suggested to a Spanish language publication he could want to be traded and the players were selfish, like in Chicago last season. He backed off that, and when I asked him he said the small city was fine with him, the fans and everyone treating him well. It's just...
"I have no complaints," he said. "I just feel bad for the (losing) situation. This time in my career I (hoped) for something better. All my life I was with good teams. I was in Europe fighting for the title, same thing with the national (Argentina) team. Right now, it is a little frustrating to be in this situation. It is what happened. That is it. I will try to help put Sacramento back in the playoffs."
But Nocioni seems delighted for the Bulls.
"Brad Miller is playing well," he noted. "(John) Salmons, too. It was a good trade for Chicago. I saw some games. They are playing much better. They are going to be in the playoffs. For sure. I understand. It's part of the business. With me, the team was not working out really well. So I was part of the deal. Chicago Bulls proved it is a good trade for them. That's it.
"I was disappointed to leave Chicago," Nocioni said. "I love Chicago, the people. Everybody was with me. For the team, it wasn't going really well the last two years. John Paxson needs to do some moves. We lost confidence in ourselves, about the system of play. After that, we threw away so many games. John Paxson did a good move trading people because the thing was not going well. I was frustrated this year. I can see we have a lot of talent, a lot of people who can do a lot of things. And we throw away the opportunity. I think we are a great team. I don't know what happened."
I asked Nocioni about his highlight, and it was in the playoff series with Washington with everyone chanting his name.
"It was awesome," he said. "To be in Michael Jordan's house and people chanting out your name. Awesome. The people were great to me. I give my effort and I feel well with what I did. I could not have done anymore. I left everything on the floor. I try to play hard. I tried to do too much last year. Things were not going well. But I could not do nothing for my teammates.
"It was like a train going forward," said Nocioni. "Everything was going well. The first three years. No problem. After that, everything started going down. I am happy for the situation now. With Brad Miller it is a different team, a center with experience. He knows the game well. John Salmons plays strong without Luol Deng."
But one thing was good recently, Nocioni said.
"I met Michael in Sacramento when we play Charlotte," Nocioni said. "I play five years in Chicago and never meet him. So that was good. But it is a business. I have, how you say, no rancor. Is that right?"
Yes, right. It was a heck of a trade for the Bulls. But we miss the guy.
No-Ci-O-Ni! No-Ci-O-Ni!
