Readers have their say

Bulls should make conference finals

When I look at the additions of Joe Smith and Joakim Noah down-low, the addition of a healthy Andres Nocioni off the bench, and the overall continued improvement of Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Tyrus Thomas, and Thabo Sefolosha, I see nothing less than an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.

Ben Wallace is much more settled in as a Bull and should play better than last year regardless if he is a year older. If the Bulls can reach a new level of improvement as a team and as individuals, there is no reason this team can't go to the finals.

I believe the Bulls' depth, youth and overall team chemistry can outplay the Celtics and their "Big 3". I also believe this is the year the Bulls surpass the Pistons in the regular season and playoffs.

If things aren't going better than last year by mid-December, Kobe Bryant to the Bulls could become much more likely. I trust John Paxson to make the right moves when they need to be made.

Scott Taylor

Wheaton

Be patient, Pax

People are missing the point when they say that the Bulls need a low-post scorer. No, they don't, they just need someone who can get us an easy bucket without a play being called.

I think having a low-post scorer would actually hurt the Bulls, because our offense is based on motion and ball movement. … We have three emerging offensive players, in Hinrich-Deng-Gordon, and the deepest bench in the league. All we have to do is defend and rebound.

With that said, I think the Bulls will get to the Finals. Winning the East is in our grasp, with or with out Kobe, hopefully without him. The Bulls don't need him, and the city deserves to see if this group can do it. If they crap out this year, then it's time to move in another direction, but I think Pax should wait just one more year.

Sharvil Sheth

Hanover Park

Keep the core

The Bulls don't need to break up the solid group of young players they have for Kobe Bryant. They need to get someone like Pau Gasol, who can score in the post.

Aaron Gray at times has shown what a true center could do. He isn't ready for prime time. Ben Wallace is being paid to play like Dennis Rodman. He doesn't score as much as Rodman did, and is 8-9 rebounds a game short of what Dennis did. He is the highest paid Bull. How much are Gordon,and Deng going to want? They are both better players than he is at this time in his career.

Frank Dollinger

Channahon

Bears coaches shouldn't stand pat

This team is underachieving. The worst thing Lovie Smith should do is stand pat. Start by demonstrating that no one's job is safe.

• Give Griese one more chance, then it's Orton time.

• Play pass first to open up the run, play Hester and Olsen more frequently, use multiple formations with 3- and 4-receiver sets and repeatedly deploy the shotgun.

• Start Adrian Peterson. Use Garrett Wolfe too, get him into space instead of runs up the middle.

• Decide which guard is playing the worst and start Beekman instead.

• On defense, start Brown on obvious running downs. If Urlacher's back pain limits his play, start Williams.

• Our DB is in shambles without Mike Brown and Nathan Vasher. When Vasher returns, sit Archuleta and try various other combinations to team with Danieal Manning.

Fred Bradley

Itasca

Emotion is lacking

After viewing the latest debacle in person against the Lions, one can see a multitude of problems with this team. This team lacks the emotion that the '06 team displayed week to week.

Other than Hester, the team seems to have gone into hibernation a few months early. Urlacher clearly is hurting? Archuleta has clearly lost a step and is a liability. Insert Jamar Williams in the middle and see if he is a capable replacement.

Offensively, Kyle Orton should be given a chance. The team needs to find out now if he can be a front line QB. Griese is only a stop gap.

If Orton fails, the team needs to draft or sign a starter. The offensive line also needs to be addressed in the draft. This team will be lucky to win 6 games this year.

Bill Ankerholtz

Hoffman Estates

Switch up the backs

One way of improving the offense is to make more of an impact running game utilizing tandem backs. Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe should get the nod over Cedric Benson. Peterson is a strong runner with good hands who can carry the workload. Utilize Wolfe's strengths with pitchouts and screens… he finds a hole and he's gone.

Grossman didn't produce, and he got pulled. Benson isn't producing so take a hint and try another route

Brandon Spilotro

Villa Park