The Fun Begins Tonight-ish

I admit that it's a little unusual for me to be blogging right before any game, much less a preseason game that has no merit.  But this is the first one of the season, our first official look of the new Chicago Bulls.  They'll be taking on the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at the United Center.  I'm currently downstate in Charleston, but I'll watch what I can when I'm out tonight.  If my postgame blog doesn't come tonight, it'll be sometime tomorrow after I get home.  But enough about me.  Let's talk about what we have here.

As mentioned, the new-look Bulls will play in front of paying customers for the first time tonight.  Folks have formed opinions about the new players already going by what's been observed by their play with other teams.  Truthfully, many Bulls' fans opinions aren't entirely objective or informed because they spend most of their time watching their team as opposed to the other 29 in the NBA.  We know what to expect out of Hinrich since he's been around these parts before, but what will see tonight out of Teague, Belinelli, Radmanovic, Robinson and Mohammed?  We can catch a glance of what to expect when the real games begin.

Despite earlier claims to the contrary, Joakim Noah, who has been away from the team for personal reasons, will start tonight.  It's important to have what is often thought of as the heart and soul of this team in there.  Luol Deng is a quiet leader.  Noah shows his emotions and hustle less subtly.  It's important for the new players to realize early on just what kind of center they'll be counting on to play tough post defense and grab loose balls wherever they go.  While it's equally crucial, probably more so, to get a feel with Derrick Rose, Noah will have to lead by example so his new teammates can pick up on his tendencies and intangibles that make him stand out in this league.

Speaking of leading, it appears I won't have to worry about the new players and their relationship with Tom Thibodeau.  Early reports out of camp indicate that they're already buying into what he has to say.  While many of us are a bit skeptical of what the so-called new Bench Mob can bring to the table, at least we can't say that their tuning Thibodeau out.  It's all a part of the magic the head coach seems to possess.  I can tell you I would have loved to play for someone like him back in junior high.  Really, the strongest seem to survive through him. 

The main thing to watch tonight is how they're currently able to carry out Thibodeau's strategy.  It might take some time for them to adjust to it.  Remember that Michael Jordan struggled with the Triangle the first year he used it.  The trust issue will be nonexistent though and that's an early sign that there's some pretty good chemistry between the roster and staff.