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When former Chicago Bulls head honcho Jerry Krause moved Elton Brand to the Clippers in order to select Tyson Chandler in the 2001 NBA Draft, he had pulled off an unprecedented move. Drafting two 7-footers straight out of high school, it would the first experiment of its kind.

Krause thought he had made a brilliant move. Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler would be like putting Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett on the same team.

Curry being Shaq; dominating the post, and having the triangle offense run though him. He was over 300 lbs. when drafted, so Krause figured he could put Curry deep down low, and let him dominate the weak Eastern Conference big men. Curry would just need a little bit of experience, and he was the next Shaquille O'Neal.

While Curry dominated the post, Tyson Chandler would create wild mismatches on the perimeter, while dominating the low block with his length. Chandler's quickness and versatility would make him just like Kevin Garnett. He would develop a 20 foot jumper, become a great dribbler, and create major problems for the defense. He could out-quick the big post guys guarding him, while just posting up the smaller defenders.

Well, it didn't work out so well. Curry couldn't find consistency, or a grasp of the NBA game. He suffered from a lack of work ethic, ballooned to over 325 lbs., and wasn't shutting down other big men on the defensive end. Meanwhile, Chandler was a poor shooter. He couldn't really find his offensive game, and was always a step slow covering players on the perimeter.

Krause's plan had failed miserably.

That is, until this year. The year Eddy Curry stopped being Shaq, and Tyson Chandler stopped trying to impersonate Kevin Garnett. They actually became themselves.

In the last month, Eddy Curry has found his offensive game. He is now put on the weaker offensive player on the other end. The Bulls are allowing him to spread himself out, and shoot more turnaround jumpers and play to his newfound agility.

Chandler is quickly becoming one of the most feared defenders in the NBA. He has all but totally given up the offensive game, now pounding the glass on both ends, and swatting anything that comes near him. Tyson has had multiple 15+ rebound games, and a couple of 5-block games this year. With Chandler guarding the better offensive player of the other team, it allows Curry to be more rested on offense, and puts the better defender on the opponents best post player.

The common opinion coming into this year was that Curry and Chandler weren't good players, and were both absolute busts as high draft picks. Well, Curry isn't Shaq, and Chandler isn't KG, but the two are finally starting to play to their own strengths while minimizing their weaknesses, and it's helping Chicago win as a team.