Time for Satoransky To Step Up, White Needs More, Get Those Boards, and Other Bulls Bullets

Oct 29, 2019

My coffee tastes extra bitter this morning.

The folks on the Bulls Talk Podcast sound just as deflated as the rest of us. Watching the Bulls blow an 18-point lead was like watching your nephew’s 6th-grade performance of Annie. It’s all cute at the beginning, but then you remember there are two whole hours of this. Hey, at least the sun will come out, tomorrow.

.@leilarahimi ,@KendallG13, @Will_Perdue32, and @Kevin_NBCS discuss the #Bulls after their 1-3 start on the latest Bulls Talk Podcast

LISTEN: https://t.co/qi744QJRoQ pic.twitter.com/68xJvf8nik

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) October 29, 2019

As the Bulls Talk crew makes sure to remind us, you can’t call any of the first four games in an NBA season “must-wins.” But … this next Cleveland Cavaliers game sure feels like one.

The Bulls were out-rebounded last night for the third consecutive game (44-74, yuck). New York pulled down 25 offensive rebounds to Chicago’s eight. Heading into Cleveland, the Cavaliers are currently the ninth-best rebounding team in the NBA … the Bulls are 24th. I shared yesterday in the weekly preview that the Bulls’ need to control Kevin Love greatly worries me. Now, it worries me even more.

Also, the Bulls Talk Podcast had a brief conversation on the continued poor execution of Tomas Satoransky. I’ve been high on the guy since day one, and I’m not turning back yet, but he needs to step up soon. As Will Perdue mentions, Satoransky is supposed to be the player who makes LaVine and Markkanen better. He’s supposed to be the one who helps the Bulls space the floor. While he’s managed to do that at times, he’s failed to do it consistently, especially in the game’s biggest possessions. Instead, we’ve seen Zach LaVine as the team’s primary ball-handler, and the offense comes to a screeching halt. Someone needs to tell this team *ahem Jim Boylen* to stick to the game plan. As much as Satoransky’s job is to pass the ball, he can’t become passive when crunch time comes around.

The last point I’ll take from this podcast: Why are Thaddeus Young and Otto Porter captains? At first, I didn’t think twice. Both these guys are the team’s veteran leaders, but Perdue and Kendall Gill both shared their dismay, and rightfully so. The team voted for their captains, and it’s not Zach LaVine or Lauri Markkanen. Both guys mention that with it being Markkanen’s third year, it’s understandable, but LaVine is in his sixth NBA season and apparently the team’s “guy.” How can this be the case when the team doesn’t name you captain?

Satoransky can shoot threes, but Dunn needs to stop. Last night, Dunn had several horrible offensive possessions (1-6). Someone, please let him know that’s not why he’s on the court.

Tomas Satoransky and Kris Dunn are a combined 16-of-51 overall and 2-of-16 from 3 to start the season and folks let me tell you that’s real bad
— Jason Patt (@Bulls_Jay) October 29, 2019

All right, here’s the one GOOD thing about the Knicks game. Wendell Carter Jr. dropped 20 points with 10 rebounds and three blocks. Against a Knicks team stuffed with big men, Carter Jr. stood out among them all (except Bobby Portis, but whatever). He was one of the few Bulls players who looked aggressive and consistent.

Wendell is an absolute unit pic.twitter.com/QaFXezxkvN

— Will Gottlieb (@wontgottlieb) October 29, 2019

If we’re being honest, the game plan should have been to feed him the ball on repeat at the end of the game (7-9 from the field). However, after Carter Jr. entered the game with 4:19 left, he only recorded one assist and didn’t get a single shot up.

My friend Adam sums up these Bulls struggle well.

3 noticeable things that need fixing for the Bulls after 4 games:

– DREB% of 66.7% (29th)
– REB% of 45.8% (30th)
– AST% of 51.9% (26th)

Every one of these relates to Markkanen in some way. He's been a poor rebounder and last year 64% of his FGs were asissted.

— Adam (@SouvenirCity) October 29, 2019

At least we got these cool snapshots from last night. The LaVine dunking one is incredible.

https://twitter.com/BR_NBA/status/1188961363235786752?s=20

I can’t repeat this enough, Coby White CAN NOT play the same amount of minutes as Ryan Arcidiacono. He gives you a big play and scoring element that’s desperately needed in a game like this. He literally dropped 11 points in a tight game with Memphis in the 4th quarter, he was out of the final 10:18 of this game.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1188969042758918144?s=20

NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson joined Howard Beck on The Full 48 podcast. If you want a positive take on the Bulls, I recommend giving it a listen. Keep in mind, it was recorded before the Knicks game.

written by

Elias Schuster

Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

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