As a Bulls fan, I feel deceived, and I don't like it.
The so-called core of the team, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon, who could not be traded for Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol or Kobe Bryant, have turned into soft, self-centered street-ball players who have given up the work ethic on defense so they can expend more energy on offense. Great results, huh?
The coach who seemed to have the team on the brink of success gets whacked at the first sign of trouble and is replaced by a guy who is in way over his head. Where would the Bulls be if they could hold anybody under 100 points? Probably in the playoffs with 10 games to spare. Scott Skiles would have made these guys play defense if it killed them. That they don't is the biggest reason Kendall Gill and Norm Van Lier openly question the Bulls' heart on TV broadcasts. Fans agree.
Finally, the "Windy City" babbling of Joakim Noah, Ben Wallace, Tyrus Thomas, Chris Duhon and Andres Nocioni has given an almost childish appearance to a team we all thought was ready to compete with the NBA's men.
In a radio interview, Bulls beat writer K.C. Johnson described the "quiet" crowd reaction to an important game with Atlanta and attributed it to the fact that "fans do not like this team." Considering how those fans have supported this team through thick and thin since the Jordan era, that's probably an accurate statement. It's not that I don't like this team, but I certainly don't like what has happened to the team I was so proud of.
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