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.
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