The Bulls pulled out a difficult win Wednesday night against a VanVleetless Raptors squad. Coming off a win against OKC, I expected the Bulls to continue playing strong against a very solid team. DeMar will always play tough & aggressive against his former team & the rest of the team would follow. The Bulls played a very good game with their Big 3 popping off; all three of the Bulls stars flirted with a triple double & played excellent team basketball. However, turnovers & lack of bench scoring created a lot of issues down the stretch for the Bulls. Give a lot of credit to the Raptors head coach, Nick Nurse, for putting together a great game plan & necessary adjustments coming out of the half. The Bulls nearly threw this game away by allowing Toronto to cut down their 17-point halftime deficit & even taking a one-point lead with about three minutes left in the game. The Bulls once again struggled against taller, lengthier players & against the traps & presses. The lapses on defense were also shown & Billy Donovan got outcoached. Luckily, the Bulls were able to band together with the help of their Big 3 & the energy of Javonte Green to seal a victory.
The Bulls started off really hot the first few minutes of the game with exceptional passing & off-ball movement. Zach & DeMar were getting theirs while Vooch looked great on both sides of the ball. The Bulls looked like a team that wasn’t going to miss that night, shooting an insane 66% from the field on 11 assists. Like usual though, they got stagnant on offense which carried over defensively—with five turnovers & allowing five threes. Trent Jr. looked great & he’d need to be, since the Raptors were missing Fred VanVleet. With the Raptors being a taller, lengthier team with active hands, the Bulls needed to be careful with their passing & drives. With the Bulls committing turnovers, the Raptors went on a 13-2 run towards the end of the quarter, trimming the lead from 14 to 4. Somehow, the Bulls do the same things every game. It doesn’t make sense. Their offense struggled in the beginning of the second quarter—with less ball movement & player movement. Toronto continued to play aggressive causing deflections & flustering the Bulls. The Bulls then turn it around, with the help of Zach & DeMar, to go on a 11-0 run. Vooch looked a lot better on both sides of the floor; Vooch continued to play inside & making the right passes—leading to five assists. His defense looked better & didn’t look aloof on rotations. The Bulls won the quarter by 13 & took a commanding 67-50 lead, with the help of their Big 3.
Toronto came out of the half with a great gameplan. The Bulls began by letting Vooch work inside but seemed to quickly abandon it. Toronto was a lot more physical & continued to play great defense with three steals & two blocks in the quarter. As usual, the Bulls let their mistakes get into their heads & looked visibly frustrated with their poor play. They struggled against the trap, similar to Monday night, and turned the ball over five times. The Raptors also shot seven free throws compared to the Bulls two, with one of those two being a technical. With the help of Trent Jr., who the Bulls seemed to have no answer for, the Raptors went on an 11-0 run to win the quarter by eight points & asserting themselves back into the game. Then, when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it did. In the final frame, the Bulls shot an abysmal 37% from the field & only four free throws compared to the Raptors 42% & ten free throws. Nick Nurse continued to make excellent adjustments by having a lineup where no matter how many switches the Bulls would make, the defender would still be able to guard or disrupt the play. The Bulls looked straight up looked lost on both offense & defense with multiple empty possessions & poor rotations. The Raptors had no turnovers in the quarter, showing the poor defensive intensity from the Bulls. Luckily Javonte Green brought that intensity by giving Siakam a hard time & flushing down some emphatic jams, sparking the Bulls. Toronto took a one-point lead with about three minutes left & the game nearly looked over; Zach then immediately attacks the basket with a tough and-one—giving the Bulls a two-point lead. The Bulls then got a huge break with Trent Jr., receiving his second technical of the game & therefore ejected. The Bulls had a terrible turnover with about 50 seconds left & Siakam couldn’t capitalize. The Bulls were up by three when Vooch hit the biggest shot of the night by cashing in a three—only his second attempt of the game. The Bulls narrowly pull this one out 111-105, moving to 30-17 on the season.
The Bulls are giving blueprints to opposing defenses by struggling against lengthier teams & their presses/traps. This is where Billy Donovan needs to try to make adjustments, regardless of which personnel are missing. Other teams will continue to trap the Bulls & attack them on the pick & roll. Luckily, the Bulls do have the king of the fourth to help close out close games. The Bulls also need more help from their bench in order to win games; Coby is going through a rough shooting stretch the last few games but I fully expect him to get straight soon. The Bulls Big 3 had a great performance combining for 69 points & 23 assists, one of the best group game this season. The Chicago Bulls go to San Antonio to face off another one of DeMar’s former teams, the Spurs. As the Bulls traveled to San Antonio, they received the expected announcement of DeMar DeRozan being selected as a starter for this year's all-star game. The Spurs aren’t the same team they once were but can’t be slept on; the Spurs have a bright spot in Dejounte Murray, who is nearly averaging a triple-double. Keldon Johnson is having a solid season & Jakob Poeltl is a very good defensive big. Also, they are coached by the great Gregg Popovich. I expect the Bulls, especially DeMar, to have yet another solid game tonight.
Friday, January 28, 2022
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Bulls Avoid a Breakdown
The anticipated return of Zach LaVine & Javonte Green came with the news of DeMar DeRozan sitting out for rest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It made sense, DeMar had taken the burden of carrying the Bulls offense, especially the last few games. Zach didn’t have a minute's restriction & was good to go. He looked good to go as well; filling up the stat sheet with 23, 7 & 7—all in 35 minutes of playing time. This was a classic show by the Chicago Bulls, they go up by a large number & just start playing sloppy—blowing a 28-point lead. This was reminiscent of a very similar game last year, a game against OKC, where the Bulls blew a huge lead & let them come back to win. Luckily, that didn’t happen this time around. Although Javonte didn’t stuff the stat sheet, his presence was immediately felt on defense & hustle. Vooch had a “redemption” game with 26-points on 55% shooting & snagging 15 boards. His energy on defense looked way better & there were fewer mental lapses. This was much needed with his recent struggles on both offense & defense. The Bulls avoid a scare & pull out a win in OKC, snapping a 5-game road game skid.
The energy & intensity of the Chicago Bulls was different & it was sensed off the bat. Clearly, the return of Zach LaVine, an all-star, had a large impact on the team. The first half was all Ayo Dosunmu though. Hadn’t missed a shot the entire first half & played exceptional defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Bulls were getting out in transition with the help of active hands on defense; transition buckets were something the Bulls have been lacking of late & was great to see. The Bulls moved the ball well with ten assists in the quarter, equaling the total number of assists in the entire game against the Magic. The Bulls led the Thunder, 35-27. The second quarter started off a little rough with some careless turnovers & missing open shots. The Thunder began creeping back into the game but the Bulls continued to play solid defense & get their hands in the passing lanes. The Bulls began to go inside to Vooch which helped the inside-outside game. Vooch played solid defense logging in a block & a steal to go along with his seven points in the first half. Ayo continued his perfect shooting from the field, dropping in 18 in the first half, complimented by 10 & 5 from Zach LaVine. The Bulls looked like this one was theirs going into the half up by 10.
The Bulls came out of halftime roaring. In the first six minutes, the Bulls went on a 26-8 run & had a comfortable 28-point lead. This was the best they’ve looked since their game against Detroit. Then, as they usually do, took their foot of the gas. The Bulls began to play a little sloppy on both offense & defense. They let the Thunder chip away the large lead & gain confidence. Shai got going & got his teammates involved, dropping in 12 points & 5 assists in the quarter. Often times when the Bulls would look flustered, DeMar was there to calm them down—this time he was not. The Bulls ended up scoring only eight points in the final six minutes compared to their 26 in the first six minutes; it would’ve only been five points in the final six minutes if Ayo hadn’t cashed a 50-foot heave at the end of the quarter. The Bulls allowed the Thunder to go on a 22-8 run & let them gain confidence going into the final frame. The Bulls had trouble with ball security in the fourth quarter giving up seven turnovers & struggling against full-court pressure & traps. The Thunder did shoot extremely well, 46% from the field, thanks to defensive miscues from the Bulls. Ayo fouling out was a tough loss for Chicago as well, letting Shai do whatever he pleased. The Thunder continued to reduce the Bulls lead & trailed by six points with about three minutes remaining. This is where DeMar was missed; Zach LaVine being the closer, was the primary ball-handler in the final possessions but led multiple empty possessions by bad clock management & bad shots. Zach also had a major defensive lapse where Josh Giddey back-cut for a layup to make it a one-point game with about 15 seconds left in the game. He did end up hitting two clutch free throws to put the game away. Vooch should be given his flowers for keeping the Bulls afloat in the beginning of the quarter with ten points. His defense down the stretch was very good & he looked the best he’s looked since the Detroit game. The Bulls avoided a complete breakdown & secured their 29th win.
The Bulls got pretty lucky & this is something an elite team should not be going through. Of course, the Bulls have their share of injuries but against a bad team there isn’t room for many excuses. Defense is something Billy Donovan has preached since he was brought in & the team needs to realize that defense wins championships. It was great to see Zach & Javonte back with the Bulls, especially with the loss of Caruso, Ball & now DJJ. The Bulls reported last night that Derrick Jones Jr., who was supposed to return soon, suffered a index fingers fracture in his non-shooting hand & will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks. Seems like 6-8 weeks is just the Bulls motto now. The Bull take on Toronto tonight in Chicago, a makeup game from December 16th. DeMar will return from his rest & the Bulls should be able to secure one more for the win column.
The energy & intensity of the Chicago Bulls was different & it was sensed off the bat. Clearly, the return of Zach LaVine, an all-star, had a large impact on the team. The first half was all Ayo Dosunmu though. Hadn’t missed a shot the entire first half & played exceptional defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Bulls were getting out in transition with the help of active hands on defense; transition buckets were something the Bulls have been lacking of late & was great to see. The Bulls moved the ball well with ten assists in the quarter, equaling the total number of assists in the entire game against the Magic. The Bulls led the Thunder, 35-27. The second quarter started off a little rough with some careless turnovers & missing open shots. The Thunder began creeping back into the game but the Bulls continued to play solid defense & get their hands in the passing lanes. The Bulls began to go inside to Vooch which helped the inside-outside game. Vooch played solid defense logging in a block & a steal to go along with his seven points in the first half. Ayo continued his perfect shooting from the field, dropping in 18 in the first half, complimented by 10 & 5 from Zach LaVine. The Bulls looked like this one was theirs going into the half up by 10.
The Bulls came out of halftime roaring. In the first six minutes, the Bulls went on a 26-8 run & had a comfortable 28-point lead. This was the best they’ve looked since their game against Detroit. Then, as they usually do, took their foot of the gas. The Bulls began to play a little sloppy on both offense & defense. They let the Thunder chip away the large lead & gain confidence. Shai got going & got his teammates involved, dropping in 12 points & 5 assists in the quarter. Often times when the Bulls would look flustered, DeMar was there to calm them down—this time he was not. The Bulls ended up scoring only eight points in the final six minutes compared to their 26 in the first six minutes; it would’ve only been five points in the final six minutes if Ayo hadn’t cashed a 50-foot heave at the end of the quarter. The Bulls allowed the Thunder to go on a 22-8 run & let them gain confidence going into the final frame. The Bulls had trouble with ball security in the fourth quarter giving up seven turnovers & struggling against full-court pressure & traps. The Thunder did shoot extremely well, 46% from the field, thanks to defensive miscues from the Bulls. Ayo fouling out was a tough loss for Chicago as well, letting Shai do whatever he pleased. The Thunder continued to reduce the Bulls lead & trailed by six points with about three minutes remaining. This is where DeMar was missed; Zach LaVine being the closer, was the primary ball-handler in the final possessions but led multiple empty possessions by bad clock management & bad shots. Zach also had a major defensive lapse where Josh Giddey back-cut for a layup to make it a one-point game with about 15 seconds left in the game. He did end up hitting two clutch free throws to put the game away. Vooch should be given his flowers for keeping the Bulls afloat in the beginning of the quarter with ten points. His defense down the stretch was very good & he looked the best he’s looked since the Detroit game. The Bulls avoided a complete breakdown & secured their 29th win.
The Bulls got pretty lucky & this is something an elite team should not be going through. Of course, the Bulls have their share of injuries but against a bad team there isn’t room for many excuses. Defense is something Billy Donovan has preached since he was brought in & the team needs to realize that defense wins championships. It was great to see Zach & Javonte back with the Bulls, especially with the loss of Caruso, Ball & now DJJ. The Bulls reported last night that Derrick Jones Jr., who was supposed to return soon, suffered a index fingers fracture in his non-shooting hand & will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks. Seems like 6-8 weeks is just the Bulls motto now. The Bull take on Toronto tonight in Chicago, a makeup game from December 16th. DeMar will return from his rest & the Bulls should be able to secure one more for the win column.
Monday, January 24, 2022
Disappointing Observations This Month
Alright. Today’s post isn’t going to be like my normal ones. Not really a specific quarterly & game plan analysis like I normally do. In the month of January, the former number one seed in the Eastern Conference, has a current record of 5-7. That’s pretty bad. Yes, the Chicago Bulls seemed to be injury plagued but at some point, that isn’t a valid excuse. The absence of Caruso was evidently seen in games against higher octane offenses but the effort was still atrocious. Struggling against the likes of Brooklyn, Golden State & Milwaukee are warranted but it just seems like these losses are carrying over to other games. The game plans don’t look good, the rotations at times are suspect & the mental lapses are just embarrassing. I’m just going to go ahead & point out what I’ve seen this month.
The biggest issue has been the Chicago Bulls defense. I mean come on, we let Moritz Wagner torch us last night. Losing Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Alex Caruso & Lonzo Ball will no doubt have an effect on the defensive play & intensity; the Chicago Bulls almost seem lost on defense without these guys, inexcusable. Stacey King made a great point in last night's game about players not reading the scouting reports properly. I agree. I think I saw Wendell Carter Jr. pump fake a three like three times & the players fell for it. Yeah, Wendell may hit those, but biting a pump fake from him? That’s just bad. No other way to put it. Other teams are attacking the Bulls with pick & rolls because Vooch is a liability. Luka singlehandedly exposed us. This has been an issue from the first game of the season but somehow, it’s something that doesn’t even seem like it was addressed. The same mistakes occur every game. Ayo has been the lone bright spot on defense & has been tasked with very difficult assignments, but you can’t expect him to play 48 minutes. The next man has to step up. Billy Donovan has said that, DeMar has said that but doesn’t seem like the next man is really stepping up.
Rebounding has been a struggle. That’s warranted. We’re down four power forwards & a top rebounding guard in the league. Now that’s where team rebounding needs to occur. I’ve rarely seen Chicago Bulls players follow their shot, or even their teammates shots. While on the other end, teams are getting offensive rebounds & multiple second chance opportunities. This leads to a lack of hustle. The only two games in January where the energy was visibly seen were the games Alex Caruso was present. Ayo off the bench was a spark but the starting role is definitely impacting his game & it is what it is since we no longer have Caruso or Lonzo for at least six weeks. We’re not getting out in transition as much anymore & the transition defense/hustle is downright bad.
Let’s discuss the bench. Now that Ayo & Coby are starting, there really isn’t a scoring option off the bench. Matt Thomas has been the highlight of the bench. Now, no knock-on Matt Thomas, he has a smooth jumper but others have to step up. The bench last night scored a measly 10 points against a, at that time, eight-win team in Orlando. Credit to Billy Donovan for trying to play around with the rotations to try to get some sort of help or spark but nothing works. It’s especially worse when an all-star like Vooch cannot get anything to fall.
Lastly, Vooch. Listen, when the Bulls traded for him last season, I was ecstatic. He was easily a top big man in the NBA, a walking double-double & three-level scorer. The PnR game would be elite after signing Lonzo. He played okay towards the end of last season. This season, not even close. He’s shooting career-low percentages all across the board. It seems like his struggles offensively are constantly carrying over to the defensive side leading to mental lapses leading to frustration. Vooch has been visibly frustrated for some time now. It’s great that the team has utmost faith in him but for how long, is the real question. With LaVine being out these past few games, Vooch was supposed to be the help in scoring aspect, that’s why he was brought in—to help burden the load. DeMar had a very efficient 41 points last night. Vooch? 13 points & a minus-20. It simply cannot happen. He needs to get out of his own head & play like the Vooch he was in Orlando.
The Chicago Bulls should be getting back Zach LaVine & Javonte Green tonight, hopefully. This should make a huge difference. Green is needed for his energy & hustle while LaVine is needed for his efficient scoring. The Bulls are terrible from deep the last few games & the return of Zach should be a major boost. DeMar & Zach can get back to doing their thing & hopefully Greens return can help Vooch get back in rhythm. The Bulls take on the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. With a pretty bad record, this should be considered a fairly easy win; the Bulls are no longer allowed to do that & should play every game with immense intensity. I expect Ayo to be given the defensive assignment on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a walking bucket. Josh Giddey, their rookie phenom, is playing great basketball & should be treated like a veteran. He kind of reminds me of LaMelo Ball. I really hope to see a rebound win & a morale boost tonight.
The biggest issue has been the Chicago Bulls defense. I mean come on, we let Moritz Wagner torch us last night. Losing Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr., Alex Caruso & Lonzo Ball will no doubt have an effect on the defensive play & intensity; the Chicago Bulls almost seem lost on defense without these guys, inexcusable. Stacey King made a great point in last night's game about players not reading the scouting reports properly. I agree. I think I saw Wendell Carter Jr. pump fake a three like three times & the players fell for it. Yeah, Wendell may hit those, but biting a pump fake from him? That’s just bad. No other way to put it. Other teams are attacking the Bulls with pick & rolls because Vooch is a liability. Luka singlehandedly exposed us. This has been an issue from the first game of the season but somehow, it’s something that doesn’t even seem like it was addressed. The same mistakes occur every game. Ayo has been the lone bright spot on defense & has been tasked with very difficult assignments, but you can’t expect him to play 48 minutes. The next man has to step up. Billy Donovan has said that, DeMar has said that but doesn’t seem like the next man is really stepping up.
Rebounding has been a struggle. That’s warranted. We’re down four power forwards & a top rebounding guard in the league. Now that’s where team rebounding needs to occur. I’ve rarely seen Chicago Bulls players follow their shot, or even their teammates shots. While on the other end, teams are getting offensive rebounds & multiple second chance opportunities. This leads to a lack of hustle. The only two games in January where the energy was visibly seen were the games Alex Caruso was present. Ayo off the bench was a spark but the starting role is definitely impacting his game & it is what it is since we no longer have Caruso or Lonzo for at least six weeks. We’re not getting out in transition as much anymore & the transition defense/hustle is downright bad.
Let’s discuss the bench. Now that Ayo & Coby are starting, there really isn’t a scoring option off the bench. Matt Thomas has been the highlight of the bench. Now, no knock-on Matt Thomas, he has a smooth jumper but others have to step up. The bench last night scored a measly 10 points against a, at that time, eight-win team in Orlando. Credit to Billy Donovan for trying to play around with the rotations to try to get some sort of help or spark but nothing works. It’s especially worse when an all-star like Vooch cannot get anything to fall.
Lastly, Vooch. Listen, when the Bulls traded for him last season, I was ecstatic. He was easily a top big man in the NBA, a walking double-double & three-level scorer. The PnR game would be elite after signing Lonzo. He played okay towards the end of last season. This season, not even close. He’s shooting career-low percentages all across the board. It seems like his struggles offensively are constantly carrying over to the defensive side leading to mental lapses leading to frustration. Vooch has been visibly frustrated for some time now. It’s great that the team has utmost faith in him but for how long, is the real question. With LaVine being out these past few games, Vooch was supposed to be the help in scoring aspect, that’s why he was brought in—to help burden the load. DeMar had a very efficient 41 points last night. Vooch? 13 points & a minus-20. It simply cannot happen. He needs to get out of his own head & play like the Vooch he was in Orlando.
The Chicago Bulls should be getting back Zach LaVine & Javonte Green tonight, hopefully. This should make a huge difference. Green is needed for his energy & hustle while LaVine is needed for his efficient scoring. The Bulls are terrible from deep the last few games & the return of Zach should be a major boost. DeMar & Zach can get back to doing their thing & hopefully Greens return can help Vooch get back in rhythm. The Bulls take on the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight. With a pretty bad record, this should be considered a fairly easy win; the Bulls are no longer allowed to do that & should play every game with immense intensity. I expect Ayo to be given the defensive assignment on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a walking bucket. Josh Giddey, their rookie phenom, is playing great basketball & should be treated like a veteran. He kind of reminds me of LaMelo Ball. I really hope to see a rebound win & a morale boost tonight.
Friday, January 14, 2022
Brooklyn Manhandles Chicago
The Chicago Bulls got manhandled by the Brooklyn Nets & their Big 3. A game that was a marquee matchup & on national television turned out to be straight embarrassing. The Bulls were coming off an awesome win against Detroit & the expectation was for it to carry to the next game. The game was thrilling in the first half & the crowd was so into the game it was electric. The Bulls fought as much as they seemed they could in the first half & the first couple minutes of the third quarter but it was only downhill from there. I am someone that is extremely critical of the referees & especially was during this game. Being at the game, it seemed like the referees controlled the tempo of the game right from the tip-off. The disparity in free throw shooting was evident & the crowd was letting the referees hear it, me included. Even with all that, the Bulls just looked bad. No excuses, they have to play better if they want to be seen as the best. The Bulls are no longer the hunters, they are now the hunted.
First of all, the energy in the arena was electric. It was a phenomenal experience & the energy was contagious. It was a packed arena with the color red almost everywhere. ESPN was in the building for this marquee matchup & it seemed like a great matchup in the first half. Unfortunately, Derrick Jones Jr. got injured thirty-six seconds into the game, the primary defender on KD. I knew the game was going to be different after that. Alfonzo McKinnie was the next man up & had the impossible task of guarding Kevin Durant. The Bulls & Nets went back & forth during the opening quarter with baskets being traded until the whistles starting blowing. Brooklyn shot 12 free throws compared to Chicago’s three; McKinnie had a foul, Coby had two & Ayo had three—all in the first quarter. Losing Ayo to three fouls was huge since he would be guarding either Harden or Kyrie; he may not have the ability to stop them but with his defensive integrity & athleticism, he could’ve made the game slightly ever so difficult for them. Kyrie didn’t score in the first quarter but his mere presence was enough to rattle any defense. Harden & Durant both scored eight points & both made trips to the free throw line. DeMar got going with nine in the quarter while Zach & Coby added six. The Bulls struggled rebounding the ball & their defensive rotations looked elementary. A constant double team on KD left another player open for a three & the Nets did an excellent job making the extra pass. The Nets looked good, leading the Bulls 38-31 at the end of the first. Not much had changed in the second quarter except for the whistles; somehow the Bulls ended up shooting ten free throws to the Nets three. The Bulls were down by nine early in the second quarter but LaVine had showed up. Zach went on to score 11 points in the quarter & DeMar added six. Zach was hitting some tough buckets, especially at the end of the second quarter where he went on a 7-0 run on his own. The Bulls still struggled to rebound the basketball & the perimeter defense was just bad. It looked like someone was getting an open three on every possession, although they only three in the second quarter. Kyrie & Harden were the focal points in that quarter with them scoring seven & six, respectively. Blake Griffin won’t show up on the stat sheets but he was everywhere that night, providing energy & defense. The Bulls fought as much as they could being down 62-60 at the end of the first half.
Then the game just got away from Chicago. The Bulls looked lost on defense & could not stop fouling (or the refs couldn’t stop blowing the whistle). The energy was not only sucked out of the crowd but looked like it got sucked out of the players too. The Nets looked like a team that wouldn’t miss though, shooting 12-18 from the field & 5-9 from deep. There was a lid on the basket for Chicago too, going 7-23 from the field & 1-9 from deep. Just bad offense & bad defense. McKinnie racked up three fouls in the quarter too, with the Bulls losing another primary defender. The Nets were the better transition team that night as well, beating the Bulls in their own game. The Nets finished the third quarter with a 21-4 run & practically ended the game right there. To make it worse, they started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to destroy any hopes of a comeback. Billy Donovan waived the white flag & the starters barely played the rest of the game. The Bulls lose 138-112.
This game was reminiscent of the loss to the Warriors earlier this season. Not much to say about this game other than the Bulls needing to back to the film room & rewatching the third quarter. The Bulls let the game slip away with bad defense & bad rebounding. Fouling was an issue as well, especially shooting fouls. Losing DJJ is a tough one but the Bulls have to continue to fight & hope the next man up will do what they can. The Bulls were evidently missing Caruso & Green that night, especially in terms of defense & hustle. The Bulls don’t have Caruso again tonight against the Warriors but Klay & Draymond are both out so the Bulls should have an edge. They’ll need to come out with more energy & play aggressive against the second-best team in the NBA. Hopefully the perimeter defense is better & we can rebound the ball. Vooch will need to be big this game since the Warriors like to play small ball & the Bulls have the edge. The Bulls need to show heart & bounce back in another marquee matchup tonight.
First of all, the energy in the arena was electric. It was a phenomenal experience & the energy was contagious. It was a packed arena with the color red almost everywhere. ESPN was in the building for this marquee matchup & it seemed like a great matchup in the first half. Unfortunately, Derrick Jones Jr. got injured thirty-six seconds into the game, the primary defender on KD. I knew the game was going to be different after that. Alfonzo McKinnie was the next man up & had the impossible task of guarding Kevin Durant. The Bulls & Nets went back & forth during the opening quarter with baskets being traded until the whistles starting blowing. Brooklyn shot 12 free throws compared to Chicago’s three; McKinnie had a foul, Coby had two & Ayo had three—all in the first quarter. Losing Ayo to three fouls was huge since he would be guarding either Harden or Kyrie; he may not have the ability to stop them but with his defensive integrity & athleticism, he could’ve made the game slightly ever so difficult for them. Kyrie didn’t score in the first quarter but his mere presence was enough to rattle any defense. Harden & Durant both scored eight points & both made trips to the free throw line. DeMar got going with nine in the quarter while Zach & Coby added six. The Bulls struggled rebounding the ball & their defensive rotations looked elementary. A constant double team on KD left another player open for a three & the Nets did an excellent job making the extra pass. The Nets looked good, leading the Bulls 38-31 at the end of the first. Not much had changed in the second quarter except for the whistles; somehow the Bulls ended up shooting ten free throws to the Nets three. The Bulls were down by nine early in the second quarter but LaVine had showed up. Zach went on to score 11 points in the quarter & DeMar added six. Zach was hitting some tough buckets, especially at the end of the second quarter where he went on a 7-0 run on his own. The Bulls still struggled to rebound the basketball & the perimeter defense was just bad. It looked like someone was getting an open three on every possession, although they only three in the second quarter. Kyrie & Harden were the focal points in that quarter with them scoring seven & six, respectively. Blake Griffin won’t show up on the stat sheets but he was everywhere that night, providing energy & defense. The Bulls fought as much as they could being down 62-60 at the end of the first half.
Then the game just got away from Chicago. The Bulls looked lost on defense & could not stop fouling (or the refs couldn’t stop blowing the whistle). The energy was not only sucked out of the crowd but looked like it got sucked out of the players too. The Nets looked like a team that wouldn’t miss though, shooting 12-18 from the field & 5-9 from deep. There was a lid on the basket for Chicago too, going 7-23 from the field & 1-9 from deep. Just bad offense & bad defense. McKinnie racked up three fouls in the quarter too, with the Bulls losing another primary defender. The Nets were the better transition team that night as well, beating the Bulls in their own game. The Nets finished the third quarter with a 21-4 run & practically ended the game right there. To make it worse, they started the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to destroy any hopes of a comeback. Billy Donovan waived the white flag & the starters barely played the rest of the game. The Bulls lose 138-112.
This game was reminiscent of the loss to the Warriors earlier this season. Not much to say about this game other than the Bulls needing to back to the film room & rewatching the third quarter. The Bulls let the game slip away with bad defense & bad rebounding. Fouling was an issue as well, especially shooting fouls. Losing DJJ is a tough one but the Bulls have to continue to fight & hope the next man up will do what they can. The Bulls were evidently missing Caruso & Green that night, especially in terms of defense & hustle. The Bulls don’t have Caruso again tonight against the Warriors but Klay & Draymond are both out so the Bulls should have an edge. They’ll need to come out with more energy & play aggressive against the second-best team in the NBA. Hopefully the perimeter defense is better & we can rebound the ball. Vooch will need to be big this game since the Warriors like to play small ball & the Bulls have the edge. The Bulls need to show heart & bounce back in another marquee matchup tonight.
Bulls Dismantle the Pistons
The Chicago Bulls took on the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night in Chicago. What should’ve been an easy game really wasn’t, at least in the beginning. The Bulls flaws were seen evidently in the opening quarter & the energy from the team just wasn’t there. Although the first quarter was brutal, Billy Donovan figured it out along with the players—eventually clicking on every cylinder known to man. Dismantling the Pistons was quite important as the Bulls took on the Brooklyn Nets the following night. It was an amazing team effort & a fun win. Routing any team is extremely enjoyable. I attended that game & it’s great to see the United Center have that much energy again, something we’ve definitely been lacking the past few years. Cade is definitely a bright spot for the Pistons along with Saddiq Bey—a couple young but solid players. The Pistons were without their best player, Jerami Grant but I don’t think it would’ve made that much of a difference if he had played. With no doubt, the Bulls looked like the number one team in the eastern conference.
They did not look like the number one team in the eastern conference in the first quarter though. Billy Donovan had to call a timeout early in the game with the Bulls being outrebounded & outhustled on what seemed to be every play. That’s when the Chicago Native, Ayo Dsonmu, checked in. It seems that every time he checks in the crowd gets going & so does the entire team's energy, he just carries himself in a professional manner. He brought in instant offense with great transition play & hitting those corner threes. The Bulls tried to go inside to Vooch but Vooch looked like he was going to have another off night with him missing point-blank shots. Easy shots weren’t falling for anyone & it looked like it was going to be an ugly game. The Bulls led 28-27 at the end of the opening period, all thanks to Ayo. The second quarter was more of a defensive showing for the team & especially the rook; Ayo was given the task to guard Cade & did a very good job. The Bulls showed more effort rebounding & it was a team effort. Zach got going in the second with eight points but the bright spot of the quarter was Coby coming off the bench & providing instant offense with nine points in the quarter. The Bulls were able to get out more in the fastbreak & the ball movement was phenomenal. The Bulls looked like they were starting to run away with this game leading 61-52 at the half. Although, they did allow a last second offensive rebound & tip in at the buzzer. Billy Donovan’s frustration was quite visible.
Then came the third quarter. The Bulls came out on a mission going on a 17-0 run to start the second half. The ball was moving well & shots were falling. The defensive integrity had increased & the Bulls had active hands. Vooch came alive in the third quarter & basically took over scoring 16 points in the quarter while the entire Pistons team only had 14 in the quarter. The third quarter was quite the show & the Bulls put the game away. The starters barely played in the fourth quarter, as expected & the rest of the team continued to play extremely well. Zach finished the game with 10 points, nine rebounds & seven assists; for the first time in what seems forever, Zach didn’t score or shoot a lot but the Bulls still won, something that wouldn’t have happened the year prior.
The Bulls looked fantastic in their win against Detroit & hoped to carry this into their game the next night against arguably the best team in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets. The Bulls are 2-0 so far in that matchup but Kyrie Irving will make an appearance this time along with the Nets needing to make a statement win. KD is playing like an MVP but still needs more help from his teammates. The Bulls would need to click on every cylinder to beat the Nets & continue their reign over the Eastern Conference.
They did not look like the number one team in the eastern conference in the first quarter though. Billy Donovan had to call a timeout early in the game with the Bulls being outrebounded & outhustled on what seemed to be every play. That’s when the Chicago Native, Ayo Dsonmu, checked in. It seems that every time he checks in the crowd gets going & so does the entire team's energy, he just carries himself in a professional manner. He brought in instant offense with great transition play & hitting those corner threes. The Bulls tried to go inside to Vooch but Vooch looked like he was going to have another off night with him missing point-blank shots. Easy shots weren’t falling for anyone & it looked like it was going to be an ugly game. The Bulls led 28-27 at the end of the opening period, all thanks to Ayo. The second quarter was more of a defensive showing for the team & especially the rook; Ayo was given the task to guard Cade & did a very good job. The Bulls showed more effort rebounding & it was a team effort. Zach got going in the second with eight points but the bright spot of the quarter was Coby coming off the bench & providing instant offense with nine points in the quarter. The Bulls were able to get out more in the fastbreak & the ball movement was phenomenal. The Bulls looked like they were starting to run away with this game leading 61-52 at the half. Although, they did allow a last second offensive rebound & tip in at the buzzer. Billy Donovan’s frustration was quite visible.
Then came the third quarter. The Bulls came out on a mission going on a 17-0 run to start the second half. The ball was moving well & shots were falling. The defensive integrity had increased & the Bulls had active hands. Vooch came alive in the third quarter & basically took over scoring 16 points in the quarter while the entire Pistons team only had 14 in the quarter. The third quarter was quite the show & the Bulls put the game away. The starters barely played in the fourth quarter, as expected & the rest of the team continued to play extremely well. Zach finished the game with 10 points, nine rebounds & seven assists; for the first time in what seems forever, Zach didn’t score or shoot a lot but the Bulls still won, something that wouldn’t have happened the year prior.
The Bulls looked fantastic in their win against Detroit & hoped to carry this into their game the next night against arguably the best team in the NBA, the Brooklyn Nets. The Bulls are 2-0 so far in that matchup but Kyrie Irving will make an appearance this time along with the Nets needing to make a statement win. KD is playing like an MVP but still needs more help from his teammates. The Bulls would need to click on every cylinder to beat the Nets & continue their reign over the Eastern Conference.
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Luka Magic Halts Bulls Win Streak
Alright, I’ve been gone a while & there has been so much good that I’ve missed talking about. The Bulls have been on an absolute rampage the last month even with COVID affecting the entire team. The NBA finally stepped in & helped postpone some games amid the outbreak. In the month of December, the Bulls went a very solid 9-2 with the losses coming to Cleveland & Miami. They ended the year with an absolute bang & immediately followed the beginning of the year with another one; DeMar DeRozan hit back-to-back game winning three-pointers & continued to lead the Bulls to wins. Zach has been playing fantastic as well along with Vooch & Coby White. Coby has found his stride as of late & has been a huge reason for many of our wins. The Bulls were on a nine-game win streak heading to Dallas; although Dallas hasn’t been amazing, they’re still a top tier team. Luka is a phenomenal basketball player & Jason Kidd is doing a pretty solid job coaching the team. Jalen Brunson is having a career year & the Mavericks have surrounded Luka with very good role players. I expected the Bulls to struggle against the Mavericks only because they have struggled against the high pick & roll this whole season—while the Mavericks entire game plan relies on the high pick & roll. Vooch should have had a big game with not that many talented bigs on the team & the Bulls being able to fight fire with fire—using the pick & roll. Only four Chicago Bulls scored in double figures & the bench basically didn’t score. In a game like this, Javonte Green & Alex Caruso were missed dearly. Also, officiating during this game was downright atrocious.
I knew this game was going to be an issue when Billy Donovan had to call a timeout about 3 minutes into the game; the Bulls were down 10-2 & looked lost on defense. The timeout was well-timed & the Bulls figured it out & hopped out to a quick 9-0 run. They played well defensively, with Lonzo & Ayo handling the duties to guard Luka. Although Luka wasn’t really scoring well, his playmaking was on full display, especially in the pick & rolls. The Bulls were able to outrebound the Mavs by a couple rebounds & get out in transition. The Bulls led the Mavs by 10 going into the second period. The Bulls started the second quarter playing well & building off their solid start until Luka got going—having five assists & twelve points in the quarter. Bulls were getting outrebounded in the second quarter & nobody got going offensively. DeMar only attempted three shots & Zach attempted five. The officiating was terrible with Zach getting rocked every time he drove to the basket but the officials seemed to swallow their whistles. The Bulls played well up until the last couple minutes of the first half where they allowed the Mavs to go on a 9-0 run to finish the quarter with the help of some three balls. The Bulls lost momentum & led by one entering the second half.
Dallas continued their momentum into the third quarter with an 8-2 run in the first few minutes & clearly set the tone. They had taken somewhat control over the game with Luka scoring then in the frame & assisting on four baskets. The Bulls couldn’t really get their offense going as they shot 36% during the quarter & only 25% from deep. Zach & DeMar weren’t getting calls & oddly not scoring efficiently. On the other hand, the Mavericks were shooting 50% from the floor & 38% from deep. The Bulls continued to struggle with the pick & roll, especially Vooch & struggled against the double team as well—at times even triple teams. The Bulls fought throughout the quarter & kept it close being down 79-83. The fourth quarter looked like it would be ours with DeMar doing DeMar things but the double & triple teams kept coming & the Bulls struggled immensely. Then Dallas began clicking on every cylinder, especially from deep; the Mavericks made five of their first six attempts from deep to begin the quarter & continued to shoot the ball well throughout the quarter. Luka scored 15 of his points in the final frame alone while DeMar, Zach & Vooch combined for a whopping 11 points. Shots weren’t falling for the Bulls & the bench didn’t even seem like they were there to play. Maybe we got accustomed to seeing the bench play well with Coby & Ayo playing great but it’s not wrong to expect solid play from the two night in & night out. Bad shooting nights happen though & there isn’t much you can do about it. Bulls fall to the Mavericks 113-99.
You can’t win them all. I have no issues with the loss but I had an issue with the way they lost; the Bulls seemed to lose focus & motivation. Zach complained after practically every call—yes, he was fouled but you have to get back on defense & this is an issue I’ve had with Zach for some time. Billy Donovan didn’t seem to make too many adjustments but not much you can do when nobody is shooting well. Javonte Green & Alex Caruso were definitely missed. The Bulls move on & take on the Pistons tonight with rookie Cade Cunningham coming off his best game of the season. This should definitely be a win & the Bulls need to jump out on top quick as they play the Brooklyn Nets the following night—a game where the starters will be needed at full strength. A nine-game winning streak came to an end but the brightside is that you can always restart such a streak. See red, Bulls Nation.
I knew this game was going to be an issue when Billy Donovan had to call a timeout about 3 minutes into the game; the Bulls were down 10-2 & looked lost on defense. The timeout was well-timed & the Bulls figured it out & hopped out to a quick 9-0 run. They played well defensively, with Lonzo & Ayo handling the duties to guard Luka. Although Luka wasn’t really scoring well, his playmaking was on full display, especially in the pick & rolls. The Bulls were able to outrebound the Mavs by a couple rebounds & get out in transition. The Bulls led the Mavs by 10 going into the second period. The Bulls started the second quarter playing well & building off their solid start until Luka got going—having five assists & twelve points in the quarter. Bulls were getting outrebounded in the second quarter & nobody got going offensively. DeMar only attempted three shots & Zach attempted five. The officiating was terrible with Zach getting rocked every time he drove to the basket but the officials seemed to swallow their whistles. The Bulls played well up until the last couple minutes of the first half where they allowed the Mavs to go on a 9-0 run to finish the quarter with the help of some three balls. The Bulls lost momentum & led by one entering the second half.
Dallas continued their momentum into the third quarter with an 8-2 run in the first few minutes & clearly set the tone. They had taken somewhat control over the game with Luka scoring then in the frame & assisting on four baskets. The Bulls couldn’t really get their offense going as they shot 36% during the quarter & only 25% from deep. Zach & DeMar weren’t getting calls & oddly not scoring efficiently. On the other hand, the Mavericks were shooting 50% from the floor & 38% from deep. The Bulls continued to struggle with the pick & roll, especially Vooch & struggled against the double team as well—at times even triple teams. The Bulls fought throughout the quarter & kept it close being down 79-83. The fourth quarter looked like it would be ours with DeMar doing DeMar things but the double & triple teams kept coming & the Bulls struggled immensely. Then Dallas began clicking on every cylinder, especially from deep; the Mavericks made five of their first six attempts from deep to begin the quarter & continued to shoot the ball well throughout the quarter. Luka scored 15 of his points in the final frame alone while DeMar, Zach & Vooch combined for a whopping 11 points. Shots weren’t falling for the Bulls & the bench didn’t even seem like they were there to play. Maybe we got accustomed to seeing the bench play well with Coby & Ayo playing great but it’s not wrong to expect solid play from the two night in & night out. Bad shooting nights happen though & there isn’t much you can do about it. Bulls fall to the Mavericks 113-99.
You can’t win them all. I have no issues with the loss but I had an issue with the way they lost; the Bulls seemed to lose focus & motivation. Zach complained after practically every call—yes, he was fouled but you have to get back on defense & this is an issue I’ve had with Zach for some time. Billy Donovan didn’t seem to make too many adjustments but not much you can do when nobody is shooting well. Javonte Green & Alex Caruso were definitely missed. The Bulls move on & take on the Pistons tonight with rookie Cade Cunningham coming off his best game of the season. This should definitely be a win & the Bulls need to jump out on top quick as they play the Brooklyn Nets the following night—a game where the starters will be needed at full strength. A nine-game winning streak came to an end but the brightside is that you can always restart such a streak. See red, Bulls Nation.
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