Bulls newcomers want a chance
By Mike McGraw
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Sunday, October 09, 2005

The three newest Bulls finally followed the wooden path from the sideline to the practice court Saturday, five days after the Eddy Curry trade with New York was first announced.

All three plan to ask the Bulls for something. Tim Thomas is seeking unselfish teammates. Michael Sweetney wants more playing time. And journeyman guard Jermaine Jackson would simply like an opportunity.

Thomas is often depicted as an underachieving player. He’s a 6-foot-10 forward with the dribbling and shooting skills of a guard, but he owns a career scoring average of 11.9 points.

The 28-year-old Paterson, N.J., native believes the truth is he’s sacrificed his scoring skills because of so many teammates who loved to shoot. Thomas claimed that when he did manage a shot attempt in Milwaukee, it was usually by accident.

“I came out (of Villanova) as a scorer,” Thomas said. “I got drafted by Philly and you had (Allen) Iverson and (Jerry) Stackhouse. I get traded from Philly to Milwaukee with Ray (Allen), Sam (Cassell) and Glenn (Robinson). And I get traded from Milwaukee to New York with scorers all around there.

“I’ve been sacrificing for nine years in my career. Hopefully (Bulls coach Scott Skiles) will put me in a situation where I can go out and prove to people the talents that I really, really have.”

This week, Thomas spent two days watching the Bulls practice while waiting to hear if Curry passed his physical in New York. So far, he’s impressed.

“I just like the work ethic,” Thomas said. “They go out, they have fun, they work hard and they’re very unselfish. It’s pretty much like a college atmosphere around here. I’ve been in some situations where things can get very, very selfish on the basketball court. Here, it’s definitely a team. That’s a good thing.”

Sweetney is a wide-bodied, 6-8 power forward who shows up among the NBA’s rebounding leaders per 48 minutes. Overall, Sweetney ranked 23rd in the league last year, just ahead of Yao Ming, with 13.3 boards per 48 minutes. In offensive rebounds, the former Georgetown star ranked ninth.

But he averaged just 19.6 minutes with the Knicks last season and hopes that will change.

“Not to sound arrogant, but I know for a fact if I get more minutes, I can produce,” the usually mild-mannered Sweetney said. “Because that’s the way I play. I’ve played hard my whole life.”

Jackson, 29, may get a brief opportunity to suit up for the Bulls in the preseason. But realistically, the team doesn’t have a roster spot for him. Jackson has had brief stints with four NBA teams, including 21 games with New York last season.

“I played well in New York,” he said. “I’ve played well in a lot of places, but it always comes down to a numbers game.”

Jackson downplayed the notion that he basically won the lottery — at least Little Lotto — by being included in this trade. A week ago, he was an unsigned free agent. When the Knicks needed another salary to throw into this deal, he was signed and traded to the Bulls. He received a guaranteed contract worth $835,810 for his trouble.

“I wouldn’t say nothing like that,” Jackson said. “I’m blessed that the situation happened, but who says it happened in favor for me? I’m not a player just for money. I’m a player to go out there and prove I can play this game.”

tim is always up to his old antics. he is the definition of fugazy.

memo to skiles: GIVE SWEETS THE DAMN BALL!!!

I don't like how Tim didn't take responsibility for 11 ppg average. You had all of what scorers on the kicks last year? He should have been the 2nd leading scorer, we needed him alot last year.

Tim is a selfish player that wants offenses designed around him but doesnt take any responsibility when he sucks. He should be a top player in the NBA with his size. He taller than our starting Centers last year. Why are you letting KT with zero hops and smaller than you outrebound you Timmy?

Tim Thomas has been breaking hearts around the NBA for going on ten years. Enjoy him, Bulls fans.

What about when Lenny Wilkens tried to give you all the shot attempts in the beginning of the game, and you kept coming up short. Or all the open shot you missed. I don't wanna here how he didn't score because he played with other scorers other than Miluakee. Dallas has had more scorers than us, but they manage to all produce quality #s. And if there were to many scorers for you than maybe you should have focused more on rebounding and defense. If you averaged 12pts a game but also grabbed 8rebs which you 6'10 frame a couple blocks and stls here and there with a good fg% then there would be less critizm. He doesn't have enough explosiveness in his game to get it done.

sweentey's last 7 games on the season:

@ind - 20/9 53% 2 fouls 37 mins
tor - 12/7 38% 2 fouls 21 mins
@cle - 14/5 67% 3 fouls 21 mins
@cha - 14/7 75% 2 fouls 27 mins
atl - 16/2 75% 6 fouls 31 mins
@chi - 2/5 33% 4 fouls 13 mins
was - 16/13 60% 6 fouls 24 mins

skiles: GET SWEETS THE DAMN BALL

I'm just glad Tim Thomas is not on our roster. He talks so much **** it's annoying.

[IMG_block] http://www.forcounsel.com/products/1012.jpg [/IMG_block]

[Edited by - enyspree on 10-09-2005 9:09 PM]

Posted by LongIslandKnicksFan:

Seriously, Tim Thomas is a good player, but just needs to be on the right team. We shall find out next month if he can walk the walk. I think on a team with okay scorers, he cane shine and average 20 PPG.

He really had no use here in NY.

It is all about the system and how you fit in.....

Tim still has Nocioni and Deng to contend with.....he's gonna have to beat them out. He is still stuck on a team with scorers so I dunno what all that crap he said was all about.

I hope he like Chicagp.....kinda ironic that he would end up going to a city and a team that has the most annoying and clueless fans in all of basketball!!!!(my opinion of course)

Tim Thomas is not a good player, never will be. The Knicks did everything they could to feature him the last couple of years and he didn't come through. Why? Because he doesn't have, and never will have the mental ability to be a top notch athlete. Good riddance.

Tim: You must have had a lot of selfish defenders and rebounders on those teams as well, because it seems like you have sacrificed those parts of your game too.